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What corporation acquired the major UK-based online retailer, The Book Depository, in 2011?
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Amazon To Acquire Book Depository
GET.com Amazon To Acquire Book Depository
Amazon To Acquire Book Depository
Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN) has announced that it will acquire UK-based online bookseller, The Book Depository International. The acquisition will add over six million titles to Amazon’s already large stock of books.
The cost of the transaction was not revealed and the acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals.
It is unclear whether The Book Depository will retain its individuality and continue to operate as a separate website or if it will be folded into Amazon.com. But in any case, Amazon will reduce its competition in the e-commerce market as the Book Depository is one of its major rivals.
Amazon has an internationally focused website in the United Kingdom and the acquisition of The Book Depository should allow it to increase its exposure in the European market. Additionally, Book Depository is rapidly growing in Australia due to its low prices and free shipping. As a result, this acquisition will diversify and widen Amazon’s international base.
Amazon’s earnings of 44 cents per share in the first-quarter of fiscal year 2011 ending March 31, 2011, were 16 cents or 26.7% below the Zacks Consensus Estimate, on revenues that beat the Zacks Consensus by 3.6%.
The revenue miss in the last quarter was largely on account of higher operating expenses, as Amazon remains extremely focused on building its infrastructure for expansion, particularly across international markets.
The acquisition of The Book Depository, which generated £2.3 million in operating profit in 2010 and had an estimated turnover of almost $200 million (£120 million) in 2011, was likely in furtherance of this international expansion strategy. Given The Book Depository’s recent results, it is clear that the acquisition will improve Amazon’s financial performance in the near future.
Amazon is one of the leading players in an extremely fast-growing market. The Book Depository acquisition will increase users, units and partners and help Amazon grow in the attractive U.K. e-commerce market. Of course, competition from eBay Inc. (EBAY), Apple Inc (AAPL) through its iBooks app, Barnes & Noble, Inc. (BKS) and Google Inc. (GOOG) remains as strong as ever.
We are maintaining our Neutral rating over the long term (6–12 months) on Amazon. Currently, the stock carries a Zacks #3 Rank, indicating a short-term Hold recommendation.
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Amazon
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What is the popular technical term for a speech sound or letter 'articulated with complete or partial closure of the vocal tract'?
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Amazon Goes Social Shopping: What Quorus Hires Mean
Amazon Goes Social Shopping: What Quorus Hires Mean
1.5k
By Pete Pachal
2011-12-28 14:47:14 UTC
Amazon is poised to make a major leap into social shopping thanks to a rash of recent hires from Quorus (formerly Fridge Door), a company whose chief product was software that added a social experience to online retailing .
When we wrote about what 2012 may hold for the world's largest online retailer, Amazon , we mentioned the idea that Jeff Bezos and Co. may eventually pull together the site's myriad digital services and leverage its growing Kindle platform into some kind of social network. Now it appears the company may be doing just that.
Geekwire reports that Amazon has effectively hired the entire team at Quorus. Amazon previously hired Quorus co-founder Logan Bowers , and now it appears he's taking his team with him.
Quorus' former vice president of business development, Matt Scoble, confirmed to Mashable that the company's other co-founder, Michael Dougherty, now works for Amazon. The report says Amazon also snapped up Quorus employees Sam Rayachoti and Peter Abramson. Quorus.com now shows a placeholder site and the company's official Twitter feed hasn't been active since July.
Hold your horses before you think Amazon's grab at social-software talent means the company is prepping to take on Facebook . Quorus makes software that lets shoppers essentially bounce purchases off friends before committing to a buy. It's not quite the next Google+, but it could give Amazon an edge over other online retailers.
Quorus software works like this. Say you're buying a sweater for your dad, but you can't decide between two different patterns. Right from the product page, Quorus lets you call up a window to contact your mom, siblings and friends to help you out. The connection can be done by email, Facebook, Twitter or even text message.
Once you've reached out to your impromptu jury, Quorus can facilitate both a live chat and offline discussion. Not everyone will be able to stop what they're doing to help you hunt down the perfect wool cardigan, so the software saves those messages for you (and yours) to read later. The whole exchange is hosted by Quorus — it's not dependent on the social networks it uses to communicate.
That's probably why the service looks attractive to Amazon. While Amazon has an interest in playing nice with the likes of Facebook, there's no way Amazon will trust its destiny with a third party. Rather then create a social shopping experience from the ground up, Amazon simply gobbled up Quorus.
The next logical step is for Amazon to deploy Quorus' collaborative shopping system on its product pages. The question now is whether it will appear universally throughout the site or if it will be something lumped in with the premium services of Amazon Prime . By going site-wide, Amazon will have even more of an edge over other retailers. However, the company needs to convert more customers into Prime members to help push its platform and right now there just aren't a lot of good reasons for Amazon users to opt for the service.
What do you think about the Quorus experience, and does it work for Amazon? Would you use it if it was available? And more important, would you pay for it? Let us know in the comments.
BONUS: Amazon: 13 Major Milestones of 2011
Amazon: A Year in Review
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i don't know
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Dame Evelyn Glennie, who is profoundly deaf, is a world-renowned what?
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Dame Evelynn Glennie says ‘I can’ for disability charity campaign
Dame Evelynn Glennie says ‘I can’ for disability charity campaign
“For me, listening is about more than hearing”
Thursday 8 May
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- May 08 at 8:43 AM
World renowned solo percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie DBE has joined a number of celebrities, Paralympians and personalities helping to drive a new national campaign.
Disability charity Papworth Trust is encouraging everyone to see people for what they can do with its I can campaign, launched yesterday. It features a new television advertisement, as well as posters on billboards and leaflets.
Dame Evelyn, who lives in Cambridgeshire, features in the posters along with other inspirational figures fronting the campaign including Professor Stephen Hawking, quadruple amputee and mountaineer Jamie Andrew, and Paralympians Jonnie Peacock, Pam Relph, and Fran Williamson.
“Achievement comes from listening. For me, listening is about more than hearing,” is the quote from Dame Evelyn which features on the poster.
Dame Evelyn, who is profoundly deaf, has produced acclaimed work in the classical, pop, and avant-garde fields. She performed at the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics leading a 1,000-drummer ensemble performing in the Pandemonium segment of the Danny Boyle-directed show.
Papworth Trust’s Director of Strategy and Marketing, David Martin said, “We are really proud that Dame Evelyn and so many inspirational people have joined us to spread the message of our I can campaign. Dame Evelyn is a great example of being seen for what she can do and is an inspiration to us all.
“What drives us here at Papworth Trust is a passion to create a world where we are seen for what we can do, working together for equality, choice and independence.
“We support more than 20,000 people, their families and carers every year. Our services have been created with the people we work with, to support them to live their lives to the full. We aim to achieve our vision by inspiring everyone to try to change our world and work together so that we can make a difference.”
Please visit www.papworthtrust.org.uk to find out more about Papworth Trust’s I can campaign and their essential services for disabled and older people.
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Percussion instrument
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On a conventionally tuned guitar, what chord is made by fretting just the fifth (A) string on its 2nd fret?
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Hearing Essay, Dame Evelyn Glennie
Up: Introduction to the essays , previous: Practice Makes Perfect , next: Critical Review: Understanding Deaf Culture
Hearing Essay
Music represents life. A particular piece of music may describe a real, fictional or abstract scene from almost any area of human experience or imagination. It is the musicians job to paint a picture which communicates to the audience the scene the composer is trying to describe. I hope that the audience will be stimulated by what I have to say (through the language of music) and will therefore leave the concert hall feeling entertained. If the audience is instead only wondering how a deaf musician can play percussion then I have failed as a musician. For this reason my deafness is not mentioned in any of the information supplied by my office to the press or concert promoters. Unfortunately, my deafness makes good headlines. I have learnt from childhood that if I refuse to discuss my deafness with the media they will just make it up. The several hundred articles and reviews written about me every year add up to a total of many thousands, only a handful accurately describe my hearing impairment. More than 90% are so inaccurate that it would seem impossible that I could be a musician. This web page is designed to set the record straight and allow people to enjoy the experience of being entertained by an ever evolving musician rather than some freak or miracle of nature.
Deafness is poorly understood in general. For instance, there is a common misconception that deaf people live in a world of silence. To understand the nature of deafness, first one has to understand the nature of hearing.
Hearing is basically a specialized form of touch. Sound is simply vibrating air which the ear picks up and converts to electrical signals, which are then interpreted by the brain. The sense of hearing is not the only sense that can do this, touch can do this too. If you are standing by the road and a large truck goes by, do you hear or feel the vibration? The answer is both. With very low frequency vibration the ear starts becoming inefficient and the rest of the body’s sense of touch starts to take over. For some reason we tend to make a distinction between hearing a sound and feeling a vibration, in reality they are the same thing. It is interesting to note that in the Italian language this distinction does not exist. The verb ‘sentire’ means to hear and the same verb in the reflexive form ‘sentirsi’ means to feel. Deafness does not mean that you can’t hear, only that there is something wrong with the ears. Even someone who is totally deaf can still hear/feel sounds.
If we can all feel low frequency vibrations why can’t we feel higher vibrations? It is my belief that we can, it’s just that as the frequency gets higher and our ears become more efficient they drown out the more subtle sense of ‘feeling’ the vibrations. I spent a lot of time in my youth (with the help of my school Percussion teacher Ron Forbes) refining my ability to detect vibrations. I would stand with my hands against the classroom wall while Ron played notes on the timpani (timpani produce a lot of vibrations). Eventually I managed to distinguish the rough pitch of notes by associating where on my body I felt the sound with the sense of perfect pitch I had before losing my hearing. The low sounds I feel mainly in my legs and feet and high sounds might be particular places on my face, neck and chest.
It is worth pointing out at this stage that I am not totally deaf, I am profoundly deaf. Profound deafness covers a wide range of symptoms, although it is commonly taken to mean that the quality of the sound heard is not sufficient to be able to understand the spoken word from sound alone. With no other sound interfering, I can usually hear someone speaking although I cannot understand them without the additional input of lip-reading. In my case the amount of volume is reduced compared with normal hearing but more importantly the quality of the sound is very poor. For instance when a phone rings I hear a kind of crackle. However, it is a distinctive type of crackle that I associate with a phone so I know when the phone rings. This is basically the same as how normally hearing people detect a phone, the phone has a distinctive type of ring which we associate with a phone. I can in fact communicate over the phone. I do most of the talking whilst the other person can say a few words by striking the transmitter with a pen, I hear this as clicks. I have a code that depends on the number of strikes or the rhythm that I can use to communicate a handful of words.
So far we have the hearing of sounds and the feeling of vibrations. There is one other element to the equation, sight. We can also see items move and vibrate. If I see a drum head or cymbal vibrate or even see the leaves of a tree moving in the wind then subconsciously my brain creates a corresponding sound. A common and ill informed question from interviewers is “How can you be a musician when you can’t hear what you are doing?” The answer is of course that I couldn’t be a musician if I were not able to hear. Another often asked question is “How do you hear what you are playing?” The logical answer to this is; how does anyone hear?. An electrical signal is generated in the ear and various bits of other information from our other senses all get sent to the brain which then processes the data to create a sound picture. The various processes involved in hearing a sound are very complex but we all do it subconsciously so we group all these processes together and call it simply listening. The same is true for me. Some of the processes or original information may be different but to hear sound all I do is to listen. I have no more idea of how I hear than you do.
You will notice that more and more the answers are heading towards areas of philosophy. Who can say that when two normally hearing people hear a sound they hear the same sound? I would suggest that everyone’s hearing is different. All we can say is that the sound picture built up by their brain is the same, so that outwardly there is no difference. For me, as for all of us, I am better at certain things with my hearing than others. I need to lip-read to understand speech but my awareness of the acoustics in a concert venue is excellent. For instance, I will sometimes describe an acoustic in terms of how thick the air feels.
To summarize, my hearing is something that bothers other people far more than it bothers me. There are a couple of inconveniences but in general it doesn’t affect my life much. For me, my deafness is no more important than the fact I am female with brown eyes. Sure, I sometimes have to find solutions to problems related to my hearing and music but so do all musicians. Most of us know very little about hearing, even though we do it all the time. Likewise, I don’t know very much about deafness, what’s more I’m not particularly interested. I remember one occasion when uncharacteristically I became upset with a reporter for constantly asking questions only about my deafness. I said: “If you want to know about deafness, you should interview an audiologist. My speciality is music.”
In this web page I have tried to explain something which I find very difficult to explain. Even so, no one really understands how I do what I do. Please enjoy the music and forget the rest.
Credits
This essay was written by Dame Evelyn Glennie and taken from here , a page at Dame Evelyn Glennie’s website at http://www.evelyn.co.uk . Permission is given for writers and journalists to quote the essay, provided the above attributions are attached.
The Deaf Village
If you would like to talk to other hearing aid users about any aspect of coping with deafness, consider visiting The Deaf Village at http://tribalvillages.org/deaf . There you will meet a friendly bunch of people who will be more than happy to share their experiences with you.
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i don't know
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What country controversially won the bid to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup?
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BBC Sport - Football - Russia & Qatar will host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups
Russia & Qatar will host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups
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The moment Russia won 2018 World Cup bid
Russia and Qatar have been chosen to host the 2018 and 2022 World Cup finals respectively after a secret ballot of Fifa's 22 executive members in Zurich.
Russia was selected ahead of co-bidders Spain-Portugal and Holland-Belgium and England, which won only two votes.
Qatar defeated bids from South Korea, Japan, Australia and the United States.
"You have entrusted us with the Fifa World Cup for 2018 and I can promise you will never regret it," said Russian Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov.
Russia received nine votes in the first round of voting and an outright majority of 13 in the second round, while Qatar obtained an outright majority of 14 in the fourth round of voting for 2022.
It is the first time that either Russia or Qatar has been chosen as host nation for the World Cup.
"Let us make history together," Shuvalov added.
Russia's selection comes despite the absence of Prime Minister Valdimir Putin from the vote in Switzerland.
Qatar win right to host 2022 World Cup
The 58-year-old had been expected to be a prominent figurehead for the Russian bid in the final days of campaigning but instead remained in Moscow.
He is now expected to fly to Zurich to thank Fifa for what he described as "a sign of trust" for his country.
"Russia loves football, Russia knows what football is and in our country we have everything to conduct the 2018 World Cup on a very worthy level," said Putin in a televised interview.
"The decision corresponds with Fifa's philosophy for developing football, especially in those regions of the world where that development is needed."
Qatar's Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani was in attendance in Zurich, and he thanked Fifa for "believing in change".
"We have worked very hard over past two years to get to this point," Al-Thani continued. "Today we celebrate, but tomorrow, the work begins.
"We acknowledge there is a lot of work for us to do, but we also stand by our promise that we will deliver."
2018 VOTING
1st round: England 2 (eliminated), Netherlands-Belgium 4; Spain-Portugal 7; Russia 9
2nd round: Netherlands-Belgium 2; Spain-Portugal 7; Russia 13 (Russia obtain absolute majority)
The Spain-Portugal 2018 bid gained seven votes and its managing director Miguel Angel Lopez commented: "Fifa thought it was better to promote football in other latitudes and there we are. The decision is focused on taking football to regions which have never held a World Cup."
The Belgium-Netherlands bid picked up four votes in the first round and two in the second. Former Belgian star Marc Wilmots thought the decision was a negative one for football.
"Russia is a political choice and Qatar is an economic choice," Wilmots reflected. "You can say that to some extent the sport has been the loser with the decision for these two World Cups."
US President Barack Obama said he felt Fifa had made "the wrong decision" in awarding the 2022 tournament to Qatar.
The US reached the fourth round of voting before being beaten by Qatar, and US 2022 bid chairman Sunil Gulati stated: "We're disappointed. No way to get around that. We worked very hard.
"The country has been behind us in a way we haven't seen. We know it came down to two. Which automatically means it was very close.
"But there's a lot of countries in the world that want to host these events.
"People have figured out a way to do it and not lose a lot of money, especially if you don't have infrastructure issues.
"Certainly in the two winners today there are going to be a lot of infrastructure needs and commitments have been made by the governments."
Despite losing out in the first round of voting for 2022, Australia's Football Federation chief executive Ben Buckley thought the Australian bid had strengthened his country's reputation.
"We are obviously disappointed at the outcome in Zurich, however we are proud of the efforts we made in trying to secure a World Cup in Australia," Buckley added.
"We mounted a technically excellent, credible and responsible bid against enormous competition and this strong bid has delivered important benefits.
"Australia's reputation as a potential host for such a major event has been reinforced."
606: DEBATE
Giving the event to Russia has massive appeal if you take a step back and look at it. The same when you consider the Qatari bid
reddevil-666
The tiny oil-rich Gulf state of Qatar, with a population estimated to be around 1.7m, will be the first Middle Eastern country to host a major sporting event, and a central crux of their bid centred around boosting the region's global profile.
With the country's economy expected to grow by 15.5% this year and soar by 21% in 2011, Qatar is expected to spare no expense in building stadiums for the event, with the total cost of construction work expected to be about £4bn.
Under proposals submitted to Fifa, Qatar would renovate three stadiums and build nine new ones, with the 12 venues divided among seven host cities.
This includes the proposed 86,000-capacity Lusail Stadium, which is expected to be completed by 2019 and is scheduled to host the opening and final matches.
Bid organisers said that all the stadiums will be climate-controlled and zero-carbon emitting to combat what could be temperatures as high as 50C during the two hottest months of the year in Qatar.
The country has also launched a huge spending policy in recent years to accommodate its growing population, splashing out billions on rail, air and road links.
Plans are also in place to complete a metro system to connect each stadium by 2017, meaning travel time between venues would be no more than an hour.
Doubts remain over whether the country will be able to cope with an influx of approximately 400,000 fans.
The country currently has around 50,000 hotel rooms, but bid leaders have promised that 95,000 will be available come 2022.
There are also concerns that the demand for alcohol and potential rowdy behaviour from football fans could clash with the conservative social mores of a country that is still a relatively closed Islamic nation.
Russia's plans for improving facilities in host cities are also in line with Fifa's long-term ambitions for developing the sport, especially in regions with outdated infrastructure.
2022 VOTING
1st round: Australia 1 (eliminated); Japan 3; United States 3; South Korea 4; Qatar 11
2nd round: Japan 2 (eliminated); South Korea 5; United States 5; Qatar 10
3rd round: South Korea 5 (eliminated); United States 6; Qatar 11
4th round: United States 8; Qatar 14
Russia has proposed staging the tournament in 13 cities, grouped into four clusters that stretch from the exclave of Kaliningrad on the borders of the European Union to Yekaterinburg in the Urals on the fringe of Siberia.
Putin's promise to scrap visas was seen as crucial to his country's prospects of winning the vote as nationals of almost all countries outside the former Soviet Union require the paperwork to visit Russia.
There have been concerns that Russia's vast size, its remoteness from other countries and what is seen as a relatively weak transport system could make travelling around the country problematic.
All the host cities are in the European region of the country and Putin has promised that fans will be able to travel on public transport for free during the event.
The results have brought to a close an extremely controversial voting procedure, with Fifa facing a number of allegations of corruption, which has led to the suspension of two members of the executive committee.
A recent investigation by BBC's Panorama, which was broadcast on Monday, accused three executive committee members of accepting payments and alleged Fifa vice-president Jack Warner attempted to supply ticket touts.
An increasingly acrimonious climax to campaigning saw Spanish and Russian officials issue veiled attacks on the British media for reports of alleged corruption in world football's governing body.
In addition, Qatar had to endure a Fifa investigation into allegations it planned to trade blocs of votes with 2018 bidder Spain-Portugal - charges which could not be proved because of a lack of evidence.
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The Al Jazeera broadcasting organization is owned by and headquartered in what country?
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Australian police looking into 2022 FIFA World Cup bid
Australian police looking into 2022 FIFA World Cup bid
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Football Federation Australia chairman Frank Lowy (pictured in October 2014) said in an open letter that the race for the 2022 World Cup, controversially won by Qatar, was 'not clean' (AFP Photo/William West)
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Police on Thursday said they were looking into corruption claims surrounding Australia's 2022 World Cup bid, as officials made clear the country will not pitch for another major tournament until FIFA cleans ups its act.
Football Federation Australia chairman Frank Lowy said in an open letter on Wednesday that the race for the 2022 tournament, controversially won by Qatar, was "not clean" and he had shared what he knows with authorities.
He also accused Jack Warner, former FIFA vice president and head of CONCACAF, the governing body for the game in North and Central America and the Caribbean, of theft.
Warner, indicted by US authorities on corruption charges, maintains his innocence.
"The Australian Federal Police is currently evaluating allegations of the misappropriation of funds from Football Federation Australia to FIFA," police said in a statement.
"As this matter is now under evaluation it would be inappropriate to provide any further comments."
Warner has been accused of stealing Aus$500,000 from Australia's 2022 bid, an incident detailed in a damning integrity report by CONCACAF in 2013.
In his letter, Lowy said CONCACAF asked for a Aus$4.0 million donation towards a centre of excellence in Warner's Trinidad and Tobago, but the FFA and Australian bid team offered Aus$500,000.
Lowy said the money was paid to CONCACAF but it was ultimately found that Warner "had committed fraud and misappropriated the funds".
Scrutiny of Australia's doomed bid, in which it spent more than Aus$40 million but received only one vote, has been stepped up since explosive allegations of widespread corruption rocked FIFA last week, leading to the resignation of President Sepp Blatter.
Independent senator Nick Xenophon has called for an inquiry into where Australia's bid money went, and written to US Attorney-General Loretta Lynch requesting the Department of Justice investigate the funds allegedly taken by Warner.
"The fact that the money was paid into a US bank account gives the US jurisdiction to investigate," he said.
"That Aus$500,000 was meant for upgrading sporting facilities in Trinidad and Tobago, not for Mr Warner's personal use. Australia deserves that money back."
Lowy also wants the money back.
"We asked CONCACAF to give our money back because it wasn't used for the purpose we intended, and were advised by FIFA to wait until the inquiries were complete. Those inquiries are still ongoing," he said.
Australia also ran against the United States, Japan and South Korea for the 2022 World Cup, and the FIFA developments have led some to suggest Qatar should be stripped of the tournament.
One of two probes underway by US and Swiss authorities is looking into the award of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar.
Australian Sports Minister Sussan Ley said the government would need to see substantial reform at FIFA before considering any further bids.
"Appropriate governance reforms at FIFA must be undertaken, and succeed, before Australia could ever entrust taxpayer dollars towards any bid overseen by FIFA," she told The Australian newspaper.
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i don't know
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To the nearest 1000 metres, how deep is the ocean floor at its deepest?
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BBC News - Ocean trench: Take a dive 11,000m down
Ocean trench: Take a dive 11,000m down
CAMERON'S SUB Film adventure
Icy cold, pitch black and with crushing pressures - the deepest part of the ocean is one of the most hostile places on the planet. Only three explorers have made the epic journey there: 11km (seven miles) down to the bottom of the Pacific Ocean's Mariana Trench. As a new wave of deep-sea exploration begins, take a look at the mysterious world that they will be plunging into.
Scroll to see the ocean's deepest depths
Operating depth of the oil rig
Deepwater Horizon
Wreck of the RMS Titanic
found at this depth
Maximum depth of Russia's two MIR subs
Deepest point in the Atlantic Ocean
m (36,069ft)
Challenger Deep is the deepest
place on Earth. Don Walsh was in the first sub to reach the ocean's darkest depth.
Depth reached by film director James Cameron
Sunlight Zone
Sunlight or Epipelagic zone, (0-200m). Most of the life in the ocean occurs here, in the warmer surface waters. Approx temp: 12-20C
Twilight Zone
Twilight or Mesopelagic zone (200-1,000m). With depth, sunlight fades to pitch-darkness and temperatures plunge. Approx temp: 4-13C.
Midnight Zone
Midnight or Bathypelagic zone (1,000-4,000m). Bioluminescence produced by the animals here is the only light. Approx temp: 4C
Lower Midnight
Lower Midnight or Abyssal zone (4,000-6,000m). Most of the ocean floor is found in this range. Approx temp: Near freezing
The Trenches
The Trenches or Hadal zone, 6,000m plus. Food is scarce, but new life is still found in this harsh environment. Approx temp: Just above freezing
DEPTH 0 (m)
on a single fingernail
Pressure Test: Diving 100m down
With the help of some polystyrene heads, science reporter Rebecca Morelle finds out what happens at the pressure experienced 100m below sea level.
Pressure Test: Diving 1,000m down
The BBC's Rebecca Morelle reveals what happens to a polystyrene head as it is subjected to the pressure 1,000m below the waves.
Atmospheric diving suit
They may look as clunky as a suit of armour but some atmospheric diving suits (ADS) can enable people to reach depths of up to 600-700m. This ADS used by the French navy can reach 250m.
Elephant seal - expert diver
This southern elephant seal is a fantastic diver and reach depths of up to 2,000m. Large males can weigh as much as four tonnes and live mainly on a diet of fish and squid.
Anglerfish, predator in the deep
This fearsome predator has a lure above its mouth that flickers with bioluminescent light. It has evolved to catch the attention of prey and draw them near. If they come close enough, the anglerfish will strike.
Alvin - deep diving sub
The long-serving, US-submersible Alvin is capable of taking up to three people to depths of 4,500m - but an upgrade is under way that will allow it to dive even deeper. Launched in the 1960s Alvin surveyed the wreck of the RMS Titanic and many others.
Scavengers that live on the edge of a trench
Alan Jamieson, from Oceanlab at the University of Aberdeen, describes the animals that live at the top of an ocean trench.
Why 6,000m is a strange zone for life
At 6,000m down, the trenches are full of surprises, as Alan Jamieson, from Oceanlab at the University of Aberdeen, explains.
Are snailfish the world's deepest fish?
Alan Jamieson, from Oceanlab at the University of Aberdeen, says a species called the snailfish is the deepest fish he has seen in the ocean trenches.
HMS Challenger - survey vessel
The British survey vessel HMS Challenger was the first to sound the depths of the Mariana Trench in 1875. The deepest point in the trench, Challenger Deep, was eventually named after her as was the ill-fated space shuttle.
Take a fly-through the Mariana Trench
This fly through, created by Jim Gardner from the US Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping, is the most detailed map of the Mariana Trench to date.
Prawn-like creatures dominate the deepest ocean
In the deepest ocean, scavengers called amphipods dominate, as Alan Jamieson, from Oceanlab at the University of Aberdeen, explains.
Pressure Test: Diving 10,000m down
The BBC's Rebecca Morelle reveals what happens to a polystyrene head as is taken to the pressure experienced 10,000m below the waves.
Meet the man who survived the deepest ocean
In 1960, Don Walsh, with Swiss engineer Jacques Piccard, made the world's first dive to the bottom of the Mariana Trench. Here, he tells the remarkable story.
James Cameron: Deepest seabed 'like another planet'
Film director James Cameron has returned to the surface after becoming the first person in 50 years to reach the deepest point in the ocean.
Written by Rebecca Morelle. Production by John Walton, Helene Sears, Luke Ward and Charlotte Thornton. Camera work, Simon Hancock.
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11 000m
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The mineral, diamond, is naturally what crystal shape?
|
BBC News - Ocean trench: Take a dive 11,000m down
Ocean trench: Take a dive 11,000m down
CAMERON'S SUB Film adventure
Icy cold, pitch black and with crushing pressures - the deepest part of the ocean is one of the most hostile places on the planet. Only three explorers have made the epic journey there: 11km (seven miles) down to the bottom of the Pacific Ocean's Mariana Trench. As a new wave of deep-sea exploration begins, take a look at the mysterious world that they will be plunging into.
Scroll to see the ocean's deepest depths
Operating depth of the oil rig
Deepwater Horizon
Wreck of the RMS Titanic
found at this depth
Maximum depth of Russia's two MIR subs
Deepest point in the Atlantic Ocean
m (36,069ft)
Challenger Deep is the deepest
place on Earth. Don Walsh was in the first sub to reach the ocean's darkest depth.
Depth reached by film director James Cameron
Sunlight Zone
Sunlight or Epipelagic zone, (0-200m). Most of the life in the ocean occurs here, in the warmer surface waters. Approx temp: 12-20C
Twilight Zone
Twilight or Mesopelagic zone (200-1,000m). With depth, sunlight fades to pitch-darkness and temperatures plunge. Approx temp: 4-13C.
Midnight Zone
Midnight or Bathypelagic zone (1,000-4,000m). Bioluminescence produced by the animals here is the only light. Approx temp: 4C
Lower Midnight
Lower Midnight or Abyssal zone (4,000-6,000m). Most of the ocean floor is found in this range. Approx temp: Near freezing
The Trenches
The Trenches or Hadal zone, 6,000m plus. Food is scarce, but new life is still found in this harsh environment. Approx temp: Just above freezing
DEPTH 0 (m)
on a single fingernail
Pressure Test: Diving 100m down
With the help of some polystyrene heads, science reporter Rebecca Morelle finds out what happens at the pressure experienced 100m below sea level.
Pressure Test: Diving 1,000m down
The BBC's Rebecca Morelle reveals what happens to a polystyrene head as it is subjected to the pressure 1,000m below the waves.
Atmospheric diving suit
They may look as clunky as a suit of armour but some atmospheric diving suits (ADS) can enable people to reach depths of up to 600-700m. This ADS used by the French navy can reach 250m.
Elephant seal - expert diver
This southern elephant seal is a fantastic diver and reach depths of up to 2,000m. Large males can weigh as much as four tonnes and live mainly on a diet of fish and squid.
Anglerfish, predator in the deep
This fearsome predator has a lure above its mouth that flickers with bioluminescent light. It has evolved to catch the attention of prey and draw them near. If they come close enough, the anglerfish will strike.
Alvin - deep diving sub
The long-serving, US-submersible Alvin is capable of taking up to three people to depths of 4,500m - but an upgrade is under way that will allow it to dive even deeper. Launched in the 1960s Alvin surveyed the wreck of the RMS Titanic and many others.
Scavengers that live on the edge of a trench
Alan Jamieson, from Oceanlab at the University of Aberdeen, describes the animals that live at the top of an ocean trench.
Why 6,000m is a strange zone for life
At 6,000m down, the trenches are full of surprises, as Alan Jamieson, from Oceanlab at the University of Aberdeen, explains.
Are snailfish the world's deepest fish?
Alan Jamieson, from Oceanlab at the University of Aberdeen, says a species called the snailfish is the deepest fish he has seen in the ocean trenches.
HMS Challenger - survey vessel
The British survey vessel HMS Challenger was the first to sound the depths of the Mariana Trench in 1875. The deepest point in the trench, Challenger Deep, was eventually named after her as was the ill-fated space shuttle.
Take a fly-through the Mariana Trench
This fly through, created by Jim Gardner from the US Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping, is the most detailed map of the Mariana Trench to date.
Prawn-like creatures dominate the deepest ocean
In the deepest ocean, scavengers called amphipods dominate, as Alan Jamieson, from Oceanlab at the University of Aberdeen, explains.
Pressure Test: Diving 10,000m down
The BBC's Rebecca Morelle reveals what happens to a polystyrene head as is taken to the pressure experienced 10,000m below the waves.
Meet the man who survived the deepest ocean
In 1960, Don Walsh, with Swiss engineer Jacques Piccard, made the world's first dive to the bottom of the Mariana Trench. Here, he tells the remarkable story.
James Cameron: Deepest seabed 'like another planet'
Film director James Cameron has returned to the surface after becoming the first person in 50 years to reach the deepest point in the ocean.
Written by Rebecca Morelle. Production by John Walton, Helene Sears, Luke Ward and Charlotte Thornton. Camera work, Simon Hancock.
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What is two-thirds of three-quarters?
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Parts of natural numbers, Section 2 -- A complete course in arithmetic
It means that the larger number is not a multiple of the smaller.
100 is not a multiple of 75. Therefore we say that 75 is parts of 100. It is three fourth parts, or simply three fourths.
If the entire figure represents 15, then 5 is the third part of 15, and
10 is two third parts of 15.
If the entire figure represents 18, then 6 is the third part of 18, and
12 is two third parts of 18.
If the entire figure represents 21, then 7 is the third part of 21, and
14 is two third parts of 21.
And so on. Two thirds of a number are twice as much as one third.
Example 1. Fifths. Here is 10 divided into fifths, that is, into five equal parts:
Each 2 is a Fifth. Let us count them.
2 is is the fifth part of 10.
4 is two fifth parts of 10.
6 is three fifth parts of 10.
8 is four fifth parts of 10.
And 10 is all five of its fifth parts.
Example 2. How much is two thirds of 12?
Answer. To name two thirds of 12, we must first name one third. But to name one third, we can simply divide by 3 .
"12 divided by 3 is 4."
Two thirds will then be two times 4: 8.
We see, then, that to take two thirds of a number, divide it by 3, then multiply times 2.
Example 3. How much is two thirds of 27?
Answer. "3 goes into 27 nine times. Nine times 2 is 18."
(One third of 27 is 9. Two thirds are 18.)
Example 4. How much is three fourths of 28?
Answer. "4 goes into 28 seven times. Seven times 3 is 21."
We can illustrate this with any number that has a fourth part, namely any multiple of 4. For example, 12, 40, 100:
One fourth of 12 is 3. Three fourths are 9.
One fourth of 40 is 10. Three fourths are 30
One fourth of 100 is 25. Three fourths are 75.
6.
Example 5. How much is four fifths of 15?
Answer. "5 goes into 15 three times.. Three times 4 is 12."
Each 3 is a fifth part of 15.
6 is two fifth parts of 15.
9 is three fifth parts of 15.
12 is four fifth parts, or simply four fifths, of 15.
Example 6. In a class of 32 students, five eighths are girls. How many boys are there?
Answer. The whole class is eight eighths. Therefore, if five eighths are girls, then the remaining three eighths are boys.
Now, one eighth of 32 -- 32 ÷ 8 -- is 4. Therefore three eighths will be three times 4: 12. There are 12 boys in the class.
Percent: Parts of 100%
We have seen that a percent is another way of naming a part. Since 100% is the whole ( Lesson 4, Question 5 ), and since 50% is half of 100%, then 50% means half. 50% of 40 -- half of 40 -- is 20.
Since 25% is a quarter of 100%, then 25% is another way of saying a quarter. A quarter of 40 -- 25% of 40 -- is 10.
Since 75% is three quarters of 100%, then 75% means three quarters. 30 is 75% of 40.
Whichever part or parts the percent is of 100%, the percent means that part or those parts.
Fifths
Let the circle represent 100%, and let us divide it into fifths, that is, into five equal parts -- into 20's. Each 20% is a fifth of the circle. Two fifths of the circle -- of 100% -- is 40% Three fifths is 60%. Four fifths is 80%.
That is what those percents mean:
20% means one fifth.
100% is the whole; it is all five fifths.
Example 7. How much is 60% of 45?
Answer. 60% means three fifths.
"5 goes into 45 nine times. Nine times 3 is 27.
60% of 45 is 27.
Example 8. A scarf that sells for $35 is on sale at 40% off. How much do you pay?
Answer. "40% off" means that two fifths of the price will be subtracted. One fifth of 35 is 7. Therefore, two fifths are 14. You will pay $14 less:
$35 − $14 = $21.
You will pay $21.
More simply, since 40% of the price will be subtracted, then you will pay 60%. 60% -- or three fifths of $35 -- is three times $7, which is $21.
For more on percent, see Lesson 17 .
Finally, we will state this theorem:
Each number is either a part of a larger number
or parts of it.
(Euclid, VII.4.)
We will illustrate that with each number less than 9. We will see that each number less than 9 is either a part of 9 or parts of 9.
Now, 9 units can be divided either into Ninths or Thirds:
(If 9 is divided into Ninths, then it is divided into 1's. If 9 is divided into Thirds, then it is divided into 3's: 3, 6, 9.)
Let us now see how each number is related to 9.
1 is the ninth part -- or one ninth -- of 9.
2 is two ninth parts of 9.
(The point again is that each 1 is a ninth part of 9.)
3 is three ninths of 9 -- and also the third part of 9.
4 is four ninths of 9. Count them!
5 is five ninths of 9.
6 is six ninths -- and also two thirds -- of 9. 3 + 3.
7 is seven ninths of 9.
8 is eight ninths of 9.
Notice again how each number says its name:
1 is one ninth of 9.
2 is two ninths of 9.
3 is three ninths of 9.
The first number says its cardinal name. 9 says its ordinal name.
Each number less than 9, then, is either a part of 9 or parts of it. We can therefore express in words how each number is related to 9. We can say that 5, for example, is "five ninths" of 9.
Example 9. What relationship has 9 to 10?
Answer. If we divide 10 into 1's, then each 1 is a tenth part of 10.
1 is one tenth of 10.
2 is two tenths of 10.
3 is three tenths of 10. And so on, until we come to 9:
9 is nine tenths of 10.
Again, the numbers 9 and 10 say their names. 9 says its cardinal name "nine." 10 says its ordinal name "tenth."
Please "turn" the page and do some Problems .
or
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One half
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The New Caledonia archipelago in the south Pacific is a 'special collectivity' territory of which nation?
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Classifying Fractions
Classifying Fractions
Unit 14 > Lesson 2 of 11
Look at each fraction below. How are these fractions similar? How are they different?
The fractions above are similar since each one has a denominator of 4. Look at the circles below to see how these fractions are different.
one-fourth
is called a proper fraction. The fractions
and
A proper fraction is a fraction in which the numerator is less than the denominator.
Definition:
An improper fraction is a fraction in which the numerator is greater than or equal to the denominator.
In example 1, we will identify each fraction as proper or improper. We will also write each fraction using words.
Example 1
What do the fractions in example 2 have in common?
Example 2
five-fifths
six-sixths
In example 2, each fraction has a numerator that is equal to its denominator. Each of these fractions is an improper fraction, equal to one whole (1). An improper fraction can also be greater than one whole, as shown in example 3.
Example 3
In the improper fraction seven-fourths, the numerator (7) is greater than the denominator (4). We can write this improper fraction as a mixed number.
Definition:
A mixed number consists of a whole-number part and a fractional part.
In examples 4 through 6, we will write each improper fraction as a mixed number.
Example 4
In example 4, seven-fourths is an improper fraction. It is really the sum of four-fourths and three-fourths. Seven-fourths is written as the mixed number one and three-fourths, where one is the whole-number part, and three-fourths is the fractional part.
Example 5
In example 5, the improper fraction seven-thirds is written as the mixed number two and one-third, where two is the whole-number part, and one-third is the fractional part.
Example 6
In example 6, the improper fraction seventeen-fifths is written as the mixed number three and two-fifths, where three is the whole-number part, and two-fifths is the fractional part.
In example 7, we will write each number using words. We will then classify each number as a proper fraction, an improper fraction, or a mixed number. Place your mouse over the answer text see if you got it right.
Example 7
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i don't know
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Flipkart was founded and became a major online retailer, notably of books, in which country?
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The Flipkart story - The Hindu
The Flipkart story
April 07, 2012 16:34 IST
Updated:
July 12, 2016 15:08 IST
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April 07, 2012 16:34 IST
Updated:
July 12, 2016 15:08 IST
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From a start-up with an investment of just four lakhs rupees, Flipkart has grown into a $100 million-revenue online retail giant in just five years. Ushamrita Choudhury tracks the fairytale.
“It came to me as a Christmas gift from my Secret Santa, and it was all about choice, convenience and a new relationship,” is how Naveed Ansari, a 26-year-old Project Executive from Mumbai, recounts his first experience with >Flipkart . A typical professional from a metro, he's short on time, and he's invariably seeking convenience. So, an e-voucher from Flipkart seemed an ideal fit. This gift marked his initiation into the sphere of e-commerce, and the journey for him has “just begun”.
Many Indians today are embracing e-retailing with enthusiasm. Popular portals such as Flipkart are spearheading the conversion of offline shoppers into online bargain hunters. Adds Naveed, as an afterthought, “I felt Flipkart was the best option as the transaction was easy, and the variety of products was a bonus.” For >Flipkart , this means the unlocking of a vast audience waiting to experience the joys and comfort of shopping online. Sachin Bansal, CEO and one of the co-founders of Flipkart (the other being Binny Bansal), is an ardent believer in the merits of customer service. “A simple desire to create a tailor-made product for the Indian consumer has grown into something beyond what we imagined,” Sachin muses. A quick glance at Flipkart's timeline shows it was to start as a price comparison platform, but there weren't enough e-commerce sites to compare. So, both the Bansals, who were colleagues at IIT-Delhi, and then at Amazon.com, thought, “why not start an e-commerce site?” That was the genesis of Flipkart. From an initial investment of $8,000, this humble seed of desire has germinated into a $100 million e-retailing favourite. The founders' passion for the consumer Internet space manifests itself in the brand, which is synonymous with customer service and satisfaction. ‘Don't count your customers before they smile' is the company's operating mantra, and it's a mantra they're applying successfully alright!
E-commerce: Good to go?
The concept of e-commerce is downloading at a fairly rapid pace in the psyche of the Indian consumer. In the metros, shortage of time is a big driver for online shopping. On the other hand, accessibility to a variety of products makes audiences from smaller towns and cities opt for the online route. Major retailers face challenges in stocking their stores adequately. Often, customers are unable to purchase items of their choice, thus prompting them to resort to e-retailers. “For books, I usually prefer shopping from physical stores, but so far, only Flipkart has managed to supply me with Manga, Japanese literature, that's otherwise difficult to find. Plus, it's often cheaper to buy online. I'm definitely going to be a regular on their site,” enthuses Riddhima Toshniwal, a content writer from Raipur.
Such experiences explain the growing popularity of Flipkart in the non-metro regions as well. “We will close 2011-2012 with over $100 million in revenue. By 2015, we want to clock in $1billion, but looking at present trends, we may be able to do it sooner,” states Binny, Flipkart's COO. This statement doesn't seem far-fetched; a quick overview of India's Internet penetration shows a user base of approximately 100 million. The Government's National Broadband Plan, pegged at $4.5 billion, proposes to connect nearly 160 million additional Internet users by 2014. The spread, and subsequent adoption of e-commerce, thus, only seems logical. With several reputed brick-and-mortar retailers also offering online services, it seems natural the trend of shopping remotely will scale up substantially. “The value proposition in either formats of retailing, physical and online, is different. It's the experience of touch-and-feel that makes physical shopping exciting. In the online context, convenience and comfort takes over. There's ample scope for both to grow,” Sachin avers.
The Devil lies in the detail
A robust back-end is a vital pre-requisite for an online business to survive, since once the customer completes her transaction, it's this back-end that connects the dots. Flipkart began operations on the consignment model — goods were procured from suppliers on demand, based on the orders received through the website. However, eventually, the books-to-electronics e-shop adopted the warehouse model. The company has its own warehouses, and maintains its own inventory. Sales projection determines the inventory, and the available inventory accounts for the sales made; it's a self-feeding cycle of sorts. “Nearly 60 to 70 per cent of deliveries take place through our own network,” states Sachin, who thinks such a model provides for better control over the entire logistics management piece.
On the operational front, issues faced by the company pertain to delay in deliveries, or faulty products. As a customer-centric organisation, none of these issues can remain unresolved for long. “We face significant challenges in reverse logistics. It's a big task to track unsuccessful orders, which are quite costly to manage,” he continues. Hence, Flipkart stresses on customer service — it aligns with the firm's philosophy of ‘making better our service promise'. Binny pitches in saying, “Bigger investments in our supply chain and technology will enable larger warehouses and increased process automation. Our bigger objective is to redefine the way India shops.”
Consistent customer service is the hallmark of Flipkart. The founders don't think discounts can replace the customer's satisfaction of being serviced promptly and efficiently. Similarly, the trust-building exercise is accorded a lot of importance. Flipkart connects with customers in real-time, through Facebook and Twitter. Yes, honesty is the best policy for this e-commerce trailblazer. “We've trained our customer service executives to take spot decisions. Addressing customer concerns and owning up to our mistakes reassure customers we have their best interests at heart. In our business, delivery drives delight,” Sachin articulates.
‘Kart'apulting into the future
Positive word-of-mouth gives Flipkart an edge on the customer side of the business. Backstage, the story's no different. Their recent acquisition of Letsbuy.com will result in a faster expansion rate. Binny's long-term outlook includes scaling up the firm's self-delivery network, and alliancing with like-minded businesses. “We are open to partnerships that'll help us attain our goals,” he signs off. Both the founders are happy to see increased venture capital participation in the e-commerce space, which, according to Sachin, “still needs lots of investment to bolster its back-end.”
Like a typical entrepreneur, he opines innovation is the key to the company's success. Extending services like cash-on-delivery and credit card payment at doorstep were introduced to provide ample choice and comfort to customers. Now, the attempt is to widen Flipkart's reach in the digital domain through Flyte, the portal's recently launched paid music download service. Customers can buy music in MP3 format from over 700 genres, and 55 languages. The files, which are digital rights management (DRM) free, can be played without any restrictions on any type of device and for an unlimited number of times.
Innovation is just one aspect of the business universe. Today, the premise of any business, traditional or modern, rests on its ability to harness data, which prompts the question, how does Flipkart utilise its data to generate consumer insights? Since the industry is still in infancy, there is no history one can to refer to. Gathering and analysing data, hence, becomes crucial for planning the business's future course of action. This practice, in a way, adds to the ‘surprise and delight' factor for customers, because they're then treated to offers that are most suited and relevant to their preferences. Sachin reiterates, “All our efforts are invested in matching customers' expectations, and we'll do our best to bring e-commerce into the forefront.”
In this industry, the scope for growth is immense, as is the risk of failure. Consulting firm Technopak Advisors estimates India's digital economy at $600 million currently, with the potential to balloon to $70 billion by 2020. K. Vaitheeswaran, e-commerce veteran, and Founder and CEO, Indiaplaza.com, one of India's earliest, compares the vertical to a hard-fought marathon. “It's not like a 100-metre dash. Globally, we operate on the lowest margins, but we're still seeing real growth.” There's still no formula for 100 per cent success. Flipkart is running the marathon with ample support from private equity players such as Accel Partners and Tiger Global, which have collectively invested $150 million in the entity so far. Although profits after tax remain negative, the company's valuation is soaring thanks to eager participation of these private equity players. The acquisition of Letsbuy.com signals FlipKart's ambitions to capture the domestic online market. A burgeoning consumer class, coupled with a rising web-literate population and zealous venture capital funding may just propel Flipkart to become India's answer to Amazon.com!
Uncovering India's online avatar is a fascinating process. Only those companies that can successfully engage customers through novel ideas, quality products and seamless services will flourish. May be it is sheer genius, or simple common sense the e-retail hero has been able to accomplish all this during its formative years. Summing up the Flipkart experience, Abhishek Asthana, a marketing student from Pune, has dedicated an ode to the portal. He tweaks the famous MasterCard campaign to sound something like “There are some things you can't buy online… For everything else, there's Flipkart!”
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India
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What is the fruit of the tree technically known as Phoenix Dactylifera?
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Flipkart set to achieve $1 billion in sales 'one year before' its target | NDTV Gadgets360.com
Flipkart set to achieve $1 billion in sales 'one year before' its target
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Flipkart, India's answer to US online giant Amazon, said Saturday its sales would cross the milestone $1 billion-mark (roughly Rs. 6,100 crore) this year, ahead of schedule, in the country's exploding e-commerce market.
Founded in 2007 by two ex- Amazon .com employees and university friends, Flipkart.com has become India's biggest shopping portal hit and has drawn backers such as New-York based venture capitalists Tiger Global Management LLC.
"In March 2011 we announced by 2015 we wanted to hit $1 billion" in sales when they stood at just $10 million (roughly Rs. 61 crore), said founders Sanchin Bansal and Binny Bansal, who happen to share the same surname but are unrelated.
Now the privately held firm expects to hit $1 billion in sales "one year before our target" which means "we've grown 100 times in the last three years," the pair, who pool operational responsibilities, said in a statement.
The figures reinforce Flipkart's leadership position in the Indian e-retail market.
The founders, now both 32, said they were "happy and proud" at the progress of Flipkart in which they invested an initial $10,000 (roughly Rs. 6,10,000).
The Bansals are seen as typical of the new risk-ready breed of entrepreneurs that has emerged in India amid years of fast economic growth, relying not on inherited wealth but their own-start up talents to launch businesses.
"E-merchandise retailing sales stood at $1.6 billion (roughly Rs. 9,760 crore) in 2013. By 2018, we think they will be $14 billion (roughly Rs. 85,400 crore) and in 2023 they will reach $60 billion (roughly Rs. 3,66,000 crore)," Saloni Nangia, president of leading consultancy Technopak Advisors, told AFP.
While there were already Indian online sellers, Flipkart helped sales take off by allowing customers to pay cash-on-delivery, a move Nangia calls a "game-changer".
An increasing number of Indians are going online but they are uncomfortable giving credit card details over the Internet. Others do not have a credit card and the Flipkart method allows them to place orders.
"This cash-on-delivery system helped consumers gain trust in online shopping they saw products arrive," Nangia said.
Flipkart began selling books but then expanded to mobile phones, televisions, cameras, computers and home appliances.
It has yet to report a profit in the fiercely competitive market with its nearest rival, eBay-backed Snapdeal, targeting $1 billion turnover by mid-decade. The world's biggest online retailer, Amazon, also entered the market last June.
More retailers are seen going online as real estate is costly "so it makes it hard to have bricks-and-mortar stores", said Nangia.
India's vast young population, rapidly embracing the Internet, would "drive the e-tailing story", she added.
Now, months after putting retail store plans in India on hold, the world's largest retailer, Walmart, is readying a major e-merchandising push in the country based on the Amazon model, media reports say.
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i don't know
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The 18th Duchess of the House of Alba, Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart, holder of arguably more nobility titles than anyone globally, is what nationality?
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La Revista Issue 239 by LaRevista - issuu
issuu
La Revista
The BritishSpanish Society Magazine | Issue 239 | Winter/Spring 2015
The Changing World of Work Business Issue: British and Spanish start-ups, Loewe CEO interview, and el nuevo emprendimiento
EDITORIAL
W
elcome back to La Revista. In this issue we look at how technological advances and increased global connectivity have transformed the ways in which we live and work, and what the further implications of this could be. If it is possible to be connected to the Internet at any time, from anywhere, how will business structures change? What jobs might exist in the future which we cannot yet conceive of? While all of this remains uncertain, there is a greater awareness of the need to self-educate, to gain the right skills in order to be equipped for the changing world of work. The rising number of entrepreneurs and start-ups in the last couple of years is perhaps indicative of this. We speak to the founders of two new companies – one in the UK and one in Spain – about their experiences, followed by an interview with the director of INCYDE – an organisation which supports small businesses and entrepreneurs in Spain and abroad. Lisa Montague, Chief Executive of Loewe and a firm believer in the global appeal of ‘Made in Spain’, gives her perspective, while also providing an insight into how one of Spain’s leading luxury firms is run. Elsewhere Nuria Reina Bachot, winner of the 2014 prize for the best article in La Revista (presented at the BritishSpanish Society Christmas party, see pg.4), looks into English crime writer Agatha Christie’s life and the significance of the time she spent in the Canary Islands. Tom Blinkhorn conjures up the delicious flavours of Basque cooking on pg.39 and Society Chairman Jimmy Burns Marañón reflects on his Anglo-Spanish roots at the Gilbraltar Literary Festival on pg. 16. Planning a visit to Madrid any time soon? Resident Madrileña Estefanía Ruilope’s shortlist of top places to go should give you some inspiration. In fact, while you’re there (or in another part of Spain) you might want to try out some of the classic words and expressions compiled by Sitges local Dominic Begg, for example, aquí zanjamos el editorial. Amy Bell I hope you enjoy the issue!
La Revista Executive Editor: Jimmy Burns Marañón Editor: Amy Bell Corporate Supporters/Advertising/Scholarships: Marian Jiménez-Riesco Development Secretary: María Soriano Casado Events: Carmen Young, Lucia Cawdron, David Hurst (Gala events), Beatriz Gago Vazquez (Secretary) Membership, Finance, and Website Secretary: Virginia Cosano Design: Amy Bell Published by the BritishSpanish Society Honorary President: His Excellency Federico Trillo-Figueroa, Spanish Ambassador Chairman: Jimmy Burns Marañón Vice-Chairman: Sir Stephen Wright Vice-Presidents (Organisation/Strategy): Christopher Nason, José Ivars (Corporates) Jaime Arranz Coque (Treasurer) Other members of the Executive Council: María Victoria Yuste Gas, Sir Stephen Wright, Javier Fernández Hidalgo, Lady Brennan, Miguel Fernández-Longoria (Scholarships), Sarah Galea, Harriet McKenzie 102 Eaton Square, London SW1W 9AN www.britishspanishsociety.org
2 La Revista • Winter/Spring 2015
facebook.com/ BritishSpanish
@BritishSpanish @LaRevistaUK
The opinions expressed throughout this issue represent those of the authors and contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the BritishSpanish Society or those of their supporters. The BritishSpanish Society is a registered charity: 1080250
CONTENTS
CONTENTS Issue 239 SOCIETY NEWS
Julia Sukan del Rio
The BritishSpanish Society Christmas Party Upcoming Society Events
17 21 23 26 27 29 30
Duchess of Alba: Obituary & Recordatorio desde Londres Scholarship Report: Dorset to Barcelona The Other Side of the Mountain: A Visit to the Gibraltar Literary Festival Inside a Start-up: What turns an idea into a business? El Futuro de los Negocios y el Nuevo Emprendimiento Interview with Lisa Montague, CEO of Loewe Perfil de Trabajo: Midwife Talking about my Generation Memorias de la Transicón De cuando Agatha Christie visitó ‘Las Islas Afortunadas’
32
Photographer Idil Sukan Captures Comedy
34
Spaniard Leading the World of Squash: Interview with Borja Golan
& Pronounced ‘Thiria’: A Dialogue with Artist Jose Manuel Ciria
35 Iberian Words: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly 37 Contemporary Spanish Cinema 38 ¿Qué hay de nuevo en Madrid? 39 Basque Country Chronicle 42 Recipe: Tarta de Manzana vs Apple Pie Contact us:
For all editorial contributions or to comment on an article you have read in La Revista, please write to us at: [email protected] To enquire about advertising opportunities (including classified adverts) please contact: [email protected] Winter/Spring 2015 • La Revista 3
SOCIETY NEWS
The BritishSpanish Chistmas Party Tapas, cava and carols for the final event of 2014
O
ver 150 members of the British Spanish Society celebrated Christmas at the Instituto Cervantes in a delightful event presided by the Spanish Ambassador Federico Trillo-Figueroa. The atmosphere was cordial and relaxed, full of laughs and lively conversation, with many open to meeting others for the first time. The food, served by Hispania, was delicious and a good example of the best of Spanish produce. The party was an excellent opportunity for members to meet again and celebrate Christmas together. In his welcome address the Ambassador explained that “we all share the same values and roots” and congratulated Chairman Jimmy Burns Marañon and his team for their achievements. Mr Burns Marañon described the Society as a “bridge of friendship, meeting and dialogue. We want to describe what we do as a large family meeting for British people who love all things about Spain and for those Spaniards living in London and in need to feel at home.”. Perhaps this explains why the organisation has grown so quickly in the last four years, to more than 650 members. For the coming year the goals of the Society are to keep growing and to organise more events to cater for all ages. Raising funds for the scholarship programme is also a top priority, said Burns, “because it gives the opportunity to Spanish and British students to investigate in different fields”. In terms of professionalism, the plan is “to keep doing what we are good at, in honesty and
transparency. We are all volunteers with a high working speed.” The objective of the Society is to be “solid, passionate and reliable in the way we do things and the service we offer to our members”. Approaching its centenary in 2016, the Society is fortunate to have excellent sponsors who believe in the value of the organisation. One of them is the University of Navarra, whose Admissions Director, Álvaro Balibrea, thinks that the British Spanish Society is “a good forum” to be in touch with people who live in London and have roots or a relevant connection with Spain. “The relationship is always profitable; there is an exchange of views, help and mutual collaboration”. Awards were presented to the best article written in this year’s editions of La Revista, the official magazine of the Society. The prize is awarded by the University of Navarra in partnership with the BritishSpanish Society, and on this occasion there were three finalists. Mr Balibrea presented the awards on behalf of the university. The overall winner was Spanish writer Nuria Reina Bachot
Turrón
4 La Revista • Winter/Spring 2015
for her article entitled ‘Roberta, Peter y Phyllis’ recounting her experience writing the first ever Spanish translation of the British children’s literary classic, The Railway Children. Two finalists were also awarded certificates: Tomás Hill López Menchero and Bess Twiston-Davies. After that, a group of members sang some Christmas carols, conducted by Maite Aguirre. This was followed by a raffle organised by Carmen Young, full of brilliant prizes generously donated for the occasion in order to raise funds for the Society. The 2015 Christmas party will be the precursor of the activities commemorating the 4th centenary of William Shakespeare and Miguel de Cervantes’ deaths, which were both in 1616. It will be also the last activity until the celebration of the Society’s own centenary in 2016. The British Spanish Society would like to thank all of those who kindly donated prizes to the raffle. By Laura Gran Photos: Toño Figueira
SOCIETY NEWS
Maite Aguirre leads the choir with Christmas carols in English and Spanish
The Hispania team with Jimmy Burns Marañón and Carmen Young
Kidge Burns
Winter/Spring 2015 • La Revista 5
SOCIETY NEWS
Thank you to everyone who sponsored the Christmas party or donated prizes to the raffle
WANTED! The BritishSpanish Society is looking for a part-time website and social media editor Skills required: Fluent in Spanish and English, with a high level of spelling and grammar. Experience in website management. Aptitude for social media channels. Responsibilities include: Maintaining the BritishSpanish Society website, keeping it up-to-date. Building the Society’s online presence by managing activity across social media channels including Twitter and Facebook. Working with La Revista editor to build online version of the magazine. Please send applications to [email protected]
6 La Revista • Winter/Spring 2015
SOCIETY NEWS
February - March2015
Why not become a member of the BritishSpanish Society? www.britishspanishsociety.org/membership
Our full programme of events can be found at www.britishspanishsociety.org/whats-on. For tickets please contact [email protected] or purchase via our website. Payment can also be made by bank transfer (account details online) or via cheque, to the BritishSpanish Society, 102 Eaton Square, London SW1W 9AN.
Theatre Trip to INIGO
Wren Churches in the City Walking Tour and Tapas Lunch Date and Time: Monday 23rd February 10.30am - 12.30pm followed by lunch. Cut-off for bookings: Monday 16th February. Minimum group size 10. Venue: meet from 10.15am outside Tower Hill Tube Station; 12.30pm tapas lunch at Hispania, 72-74 Lombard Street, London EC3V 9AY Tickets: Members £29 including tapas lunch (drinks extra) or £12 for walk only. Non-members £34 including lunch or £15 for walk only What to expect: Our experienced and entertaining guide will be Malcolm Dick, a City of London Guide, whose wider approach to City walking tours will include visits to pre-Fire of London St Olaf’s, St Dunstan’s and more Wren churches in Gracechurch Street, ending with a Hawksmoor designed lunch at Hispania restaurant.
Date & Time: No group trip is planned as the theatre does not take group reservations without full payment in advance. However, we suggest Friday 27th February with 7.30pm start. Venue: White Bear Theatre, Kennington Tickets: £14 to be booked directly with the theatre (concessions £10) World premier of a new play written and directed by award-winning Jonathan Moore, based on the life of Ignatius of Loyola: ‘Radical. Saint. Loved and hated. Founder of the Jesuits.’ What to expect: With a Jesuit Pope, this new play looks at the founder of the Jesuits, Ignatius of Loyola. After a radical conversion, everything changes and we follow ‘Inigo’ from founding the Society of Jesus which was (and is still) either loved or hated.
Try a New Sport in 2015! Guided Exhibition: Kenwood House Come and play Padel Tennis Date: Saturday 21st March Gloria Ceballos ‘Nature, Tickets: Cost £12 for members, £17 for Date and Time: Saturday 14th March from a cultural artefact’ non members Venue: Instituto Cervantes Date and Time: Friday 20th February from 11.00 - 12.00 Tickets: Free
‘Nature: a cultural artefact’ represents Gloria Ceballos’ constant research about the human relationship with nature. As city inhabitants our experiences of nature are restricted to parks, gardens and other green areas within our cities: the “cultured nature”. We call green spaces a natural environment, when in reality they are human-controlled places. In our aim to control everything, nature theorised. The ‘three natures’ concept studied for many authors since Cicero and developed by Landscape theorist, John Dixon Hunt, is the focus of Ceballos’ latest series of work presented in this solo exhibition at the Instituto Cervantes.
10.00am to 12.00am followed by a pub lunch. Cut-off date for applications: Monday 23 February Venue: Padel Club London, PlayOn Sports Building, 100 Preston Road, London E14 9SB Tickets: £25 per person for 2 hours doubles court time (or just £15 per hour if you prefer) For more information on padel tennis visit: www.padelclubuk.com
Padel tennis is fast, fun and easy to learn. It is already played in Spain and Latin America and is expanding fast in Europe. A racquet sport played in doubles and indoors on an enclosed court half the size of a tennis court, it resembles tennis and is the best way to get Join us with society member Toni Salord, General Manager at Padel Club London, for a full introduction to the rules and the game - and to see why padel tennis is the fastest growing sport in the world!
Venue: Kenwood House, Hampstead Lane, London NW3 7JR Tea/drinks/food not included. Join us for a private guided tour of the day of spring, Saturday 21st March, meeting at 11.00am. Part of the English Heritage set on the edge of Hampstead Heath and surrounded by tranquil landscaped gardens, Kenwood is one of London’s hidden gems. The House, its breathtaking interiors and stunning art collection is a must. Discover the vast array of masterpieces hanging in this grand setting, including Rembrandt’s self portrait, and be awed by the breathtaking beauty of architect Robert Adam’s library. In the afternoon, weather permitting there will be a walk on Hampstead Heath. The survivors could have tea in Hampstead.
Winter/Spring 2015 • La Revista 7
SOCIETY NEWS
Presentation of Hispanomania
Journalist and author Tom Burns Marañon had a captivated audience as he spoke about his latest book last November.
J
Julio Crespo MacLennan and Tom Burns Marañón. Photo: Toño Figueira
ournalist and author Tom Burns Marañón delivered a fascinating talk at the Instituto Cervantes in November based on his book Hispanomanía, an account of the curiosos impertinentes, travellers from other European countries and the US who came to Spain with preconceived notions about the country. Burns took his audience through the journeys of 19th century romantics like the French poet Théophile Gautier, who found in the colour of the land and its people an inspiration for some of his best poetry in España, and prose in Un Voyage en Espagne. Tom’s book also focuses on two other French curiosos impertinentes, George Sand and Maurice Legendre, the latter an enthusiastic Hispanist who held the post of director of the Casa de Velázquez at the French cultural institute in Madrid. Burns recounted the fascinating tale of Legendre’s experiences in Las Hurdes which, at the time of his first visit in 1912, was arguably one of the most primitive and deprived regions of Europe. That visit led Legendre to launch a campaign to call public attention to the miserable living conditions of the hurdanos, in which he enlisted the aid of the novelist Miguel de Unamuno and Burns’ maternal grandfather, the celebrated physician Gregorio Marañón. The conceptions (and misconceptions), mishaps and adventures of British travellers Richard Ford and George Borrow provided a source of amusement, leading up to the more familiar voices of the volunteers of the International Brigades, and those who went to Spain to
8 La Revista • Winter/Spring 2015
report on or to participate in the fighting of the Civil War. George Orwell and Ernest Hemingway, for instance, viewed Spain through very different lenses, but what both had in common was a shared love and admiration for the country, which comes through in their classics Homage to Catalonia and For Whom the Bell Tolls. One wonders if Burns might be considering a worthy follow-up to his excellent book with another on Spanish travellers abroad, looking at the exploits of such notables as the playwright Leandro Fernández de Moratín and poet Federico García Lorca, and how these Spaniards and others of the 19th and 20th centuries interpreted life outside their homeland. By Jules Stewart
Conscience and Conflict: British Artists and the Spanish Civil War
Pallant House Gallery, Chichester
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wo images stayed with me, from among the wealth of those on display, at an exhibition on the response of British visual artists to the Spanish Civil War currently at Chichester’s Pallant House Gallery. One, a striking lithograph, shows a foot wearing a traditional, intricate alpargata about to stamp on a swastika. The other, a gentler photograph of Basque children playing cricket at a refugee camp in Hampshire. The first by Catalan artist, Pere Catala Pic, entitled Let’s squash fascism (1936), vividly conveys how what began as a Spanish social conflict took on much wider international resonance and became, in the words of Ernest Hemingway, a “dress rehearsal for the inevitable European war”. The second, by Edith Hart, an Austrianborn, Jewish, communist photographer, who herself sought refuge in England, carries particular poignancy because it was taken in 1937, soon after the bombing of Guernica, which marked a fundamental shift in 20th century warfare – a portent of what was to follow. The response of British literary figures to the civil war has been well documented – the impact on the artistic world less so. This exhibition seeks to redress that featuring a wide range of artists, who worked with a variety of materials, in different media, and who spanned the political divides generated by the conflict. Its subtle and nuanced approach provides a visually
ART and intellectually enriching contribution to commemorations of the 75th anniversary of its end. British political involvement in the war was the subject of heated debate in Parliament and the press – the official policy of non-intervention was seen by many as tacit support for the right-wing nationalist insurgents led by General Franco. Among the ensuing debates that involved British artists was the issue of direct action versus artistic creation as the most appropriate response. The show highlights the work of artists involved in the Artists International Association, set up in 1933 to present a “united front against fascism and war” which, by the outbreak of the war, had more than 600 members ranging from establishment figures to younger modernists, including Henry Moore, well represented among the exhibits. It also seeks to explore the work of less celebrated commercial artists and designers whose posters and leaflets were to pioneer latter day campaigns on behalf of humanitarian causes. The gallery traces the involvement of artists, some of whom had visited Spain in the 20s and 30s but many of whom knew little about the country. The drawings of militia men and women, by Felicia Browne, are taken from a sketchbook recovered after her death on the Saragossa Front in 1937 fighting with the communists – the first British volunteer to die in the war. Others, who stayed home, organised fundraising campaigns and auctions of their work. It reflects on the artistic battles between surrealists, such as Roland Penrose, whose Elephant Bird Collage (1938), is on loan from the Victoria and Albert Museum, and realists, among them Clive Branson whose 1939 canvases Demonstration in Battersea and Daily Worker depict the impact of the conflict on ordinary working people in Britain. Branson joined the International
Brigades and went to Spain in 1937. Turning to artists more broadly sympathetic to the nationalist side, a small but not uninfluential minority, the exhibition features works by Francis Rose and Edward Burra. Rose’s satirically titled The Reds are Really Not Bad Sorts (1936), shows the reds of the title holding the severed head of a cleric beneath chandeliers hanging from trees, in condemnation of attacks on the clergy and looting of wealth. The elongated figures in Burra’s watercolours The Watcher (1937), Medusa (1938), and The Torturers (1935), not on display but photographed together with many other relevant works in the superb catalogue, recall the Spanish old masters to convey a sense of social unease and latent violence strongly reminiscent of Goya. The section on poster design and the Spanish aid movement also explores how both artists who were familiar with Spain, and others, who had little or no knowledge of the country, were drawn in by the impact of the conflict. “HELP wounded human beings” is the message on a poster by the American designer E. McKnight Kauffer whose power lies in showing nothing discernably to do with medical aid save for a red cross symbol and rests instead on his gouache sketch of the gaunt face of a man, based on El Greco’s Self Portrait as Saint Luke. By contrast, a lithograph, by Sir Frank Brangwyn, Spain (1937), produced in support of the non-partisan General Relief Fund for Distressed Women and Children, contains some universal images of suffering women and children. The impact of Picasso’s iconic canvas Guernica is another highlight of the show. Picasso’s Weeping Woman (1937), a preparatory work, is on display. Paintings such as Walter Nessler’s 1937 Premonition of the London Blitz show how quick artists
were to grasp the wider repercussions of the Guernica bombing. The exhibition concludes with a tribute to those who sought to reflect, and alleviate, the plight of prisoners and refugees after the war. John Armstrong’s dry, dusty The Empty Street (1938), is a harbinger of the subsequent “years of hunger” - and shows a timeless, empty village scene, under a bright clear sky, familiar to anyone who has travelled through the hot Castilian plain. The artists’ depictions of fraught flight, misery and displacement resonate at a time when arguments over intervention and appropriate response to humanitarian crisis continue to provoke fierce debate. They are strongly in keeping with the gallery’s links to Chichester Cathedral, a centre for peace and reconciliation dating back to the work of Bishop George Bell during the Second World War. The gallery itself was founded with a core collection of modern British art donated by Walter Hussey, Dean of the cathedral from 1955 to 1977. Comments in the visitors’ book provide a modest rebuke to those who claim that we hear too much about this conflict and have little left to learn from the issues so ably raised and discussed in the exhibition. “Thank you for remembering,” said one. By Adela Gooch
Conscience and Conflict, curated by Simon Martin, Artistic Director of Pallant House Gallery is on at Chichester until 15th February and will then tour to the Laing Art Gallery in Newscaste-upon-Tyne from 7th March to 7th June. writer and broadcaster with specialised knowl and China in particular. Clive Branson
Winter/Spring 2015 • La Revista 9
Our Story Bilbao Berria began in La plaza de la catedral, Barcelona in 1999 and since then has delivered a unique Basque dining experience. Created by two Basques and one Catalan, these three friends – Iñaki Lasa, Rafa Viar and Pedro Antonio López – all share the same passion for serving the most creative and sociable cuisine. To add to our existing restaurants in Bilbao and Barcelona, we have opened the doors to Number 2, Regent Street, London, allowing the most cosmopolitan city in the world to experience our culinary excellence in Basque and Spanish Cuisine. pantone 130 when printed onto white
The food
pantone 131 when printed onto brown craft paper material
Pintxos is a combination of ingredients held together with a skewer that can be eaten in one or two mouthfuls without the need for cutlery. It shouldn’t be confused with tapas, which, although originally serves the same purpose, is a reduced portion of food served on a plate rather than a skewer. Along with pintxos we have an extensive menu of modern Spanish and Basque cuisine. Using carefully selected ingredients and small goods sourced from Spain our menu is modern yet respectful to traditional flavours and techniques. Meats and fish are roasted in our imported charcoal parrilla which adds unique flavours to our rustic yet sophisticated cuisine.
SOCIETY NEWS
Highlights from 2014’s Society Events House of Commons Gala Dinner
All Aboard: Fiesta on the Thames
Tension in the air for Spain vs Chile Networking at The Haciendas
Christmas Party
Summer Party Hispanomania
Visit to Sotheby’s
2014 was a busy year of events for BritishSpanish Society members. The voluntary events team aimed to provide something for everyone throughout the year. The Annual General Meeting in December drew a full and enthusiastic house to the Luis Vives room of the Chancery of the Spanish Embassy in London. Society Chairman, Jimmy Burns Marañón, together with the Board of Trustees reported on an excellent twelve months with increasing individual and corporate membership, a range of popular cultural and social events, publication of our much-loved magazine, La Revista, and the award of scholarships to Spanish and British postgraduate students thanks to the continuing generosity of our principal supporters. In addition to the annual Summer and Christmas parties (with grateful support from Hispania at the Christmas event), early in the year ‘Futból Alegría’, a celebration of Spanish football, was held at Hispania. This was followed by the Gala dinner at the House of Commons; City networking at The Haciendas; a visit to
the Chelsea Flower Show; an exclusive breakfast and tour of Spanish paintings before auction at Sotheby’s; a BBQ and party on the River Thames at Bar & Co; World Cup Football (painfully watching Spain lose to Chile!) at NH Hotel; the annual concert, ‘Music from Toledo in the Age of El Greco’, at St James’ Church sponsored by the Spanish Cultural Office; a family visit to the Roald Dahl Museum; and, finally, the entertaining launch by Tom Burns of his book Hispanomania at the Instituto Cervantes. We hope to continue to raise the standards and make 2015 another ‘eventful’ year but we need to know what kind of events our members, would like. We already have plans but would welcome your ideas for the kind of events you would like us to hold. Do you know anyone working at an interesting venue where we could take an exclusive group of members? Last year we visited Cambridge University and Eton College through members’ contacts. Do you have a personal interest which can be shared by a demonstration for other members, such as our padel tennis event
Futbol Alegria
Annual Concert at St. James’ Church
this spring? Think of events and locations linked to occasions such as Valentine’s Day, Mothers’ Day or even Halloween. Let us know of any Spanish themed events or activities, whether educational, cultural or entertaining, that you know will take place in the UK during 2015 that might be of interest to members. Finally, we are hugely looking forward to celebrating our centenary with a rolling events programme leading up to the summer of 2016. This is an exciting project marking a unique occasion to honour our past achievements and build on a solid future of British-Spanish understanding and co-operation. We would like to be able to count on your involvement and support. Given our small team, all events must be relatively easy to implement and must make a profit as we are a charity. Above all our events must be fun! If you have an idea for an event or would like tos sponsor, please email: [email protected] By David Hurst British Spanish Society’s voluntary event team
Winter/Spring 2015 • La Revista 11
DUCHESS OF ALBA
María del Rosario Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart y Silva 18th Duchess of Alba 1926-2014 Obituary by Jules Stewart
O
n the morning of 20th November 2014 the Mayor of Seville announced the death of Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart, the 88-year-old Duchess of Alba. Fourteen times grandee of Spain, holder of more titles than Queen Elizabeth II, the Duchess of Alba ironically did not possess the oldest Spanish title of nobility. That honour fell to Luisa Isabel Álvarez de Toledo, the 21st Duchess of Medina Sidonia, through her title of Condesa de Niebla, a noble rank created in 1368 by King Enrique II and bestowed on Juan Alonso Pérez de Guzmán for his loyalty in the war against the rival pretender to the throne, who happened to be Enrique’s brother. That said, no one in Spain could lay claim to more than 500 titles, including eight dukedoms. In 1968 I had the pleasure of interviewing the Duchess of Alba (and later the Duchess of Medina Sidonia) at the Palacio de Liria in Madrid. I was researching a feature for my employer Reuters on Spain’s oldest aristocratic title. It was difficult not to feel overwhelmed by Cayetana’s art collection, one of the world’s greatest, and other priceless treasures like letters signed by Christopher Columbus, a first edition of Don Quijote and Fernando el Católico’s last will and testament. Cayetana was born in 1926 in the Palacio de Liria, while her father the Duke of Alba was hosting a dinner party for Gregorio Marañón, José Ortega y Gasset and Ramón Pérez Ayala. Her godparents were King Alfonso XIII and Queen Victoria Eugenia, so it was a foregone conclusion from the start that Cayetana was to spend a lifetime immersed in the company of high nobility and distinguished society. Yet she was very much her own woman, learning to dance flamenco with Pastora Imperio, falling in love with bullfighter Pepe Luis Vázquez (any aspiration of a romantic liaison were cut short by her father), doing charitable work with Salesian missionaries and producing paintings which her family considered too ‘avant garde’. The Duchess of Alba’s life was marked by tragedy, having lost her first two husbands to cancer. In 2011 she married Alfonso Diez, a public servant she had met 30 years previous in her family antiques shop. Cayetana was by all accounts a happy woman in the last three years of her life. She is succeeded by her eldest son, Carlos Fitz-James Stuart, the 19th Duke of Alba.
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Recordatorio desde Londres por Jimmy Burns Marañón
E
n agosto de 1944, cuando la Segunda Guerra Mundial entraba en su última etapa, la Embajada Británica se preparaba para una victoria aliada con algunos cambios de personal. Uno de sus departamentos más influyentes – el de propaganda e inteligencia– fue reforzado con la llegada inesperada de Peter Laing*, un joven inglés que se había hecho amigo de Cayetana de Alba. Laing, enviado por el Ministerio de Información con la aprobación de los Servicios de Inteligencia, era un ex alumno de Eton y oficial del ejército de la Guardia de los Granaderos. Su nuevo jefe en la embajada, Tom Burns, ya para entonces recién casado con Mabel Marañón, hija de del reputado médico Gregorio Marañón, consideraba que el joven tenía experiencia más que suficiente para ser útil a los intereses británicos en Madrid. Aparte de su formación militar y de haber trabajado una temporada como intérprete en el cuartel general del gobierno francés en el exilio, fundado por el General De Gaulle y ubicado en Londres, la principal referencia profesional de Laín para su trabajo como agregado de prensa adjunto era que tenía un acceso sin precedentes a varias fuentes de gran utilidad dentro del Gobierno de Franco y redes monárquicas. Esto se debía a la relación sentimental que le había unido a Cayetana, la joven y única hija del duque
de Alba, embajador de España en el Reino Unido, mientras ambos vivían en Londres en plena guerra. Laing llego a convertirse en un gran amigo de mis padres, Tom y Mabel, y fue una de las muchas fuentes que entrevisté para mi libro Papa Espía, que cuenta la historia secreta de las relaciones angloespañolas durante la Guerra Civil y la Segunda Guerra Mundial. Laing, igual que mis padres y Cayetana ya murieron, pero la información que relato fue fruto de varias entrevistas que tuve con el cuándo, ya de muy mayor, me recibió en su casa de campo inglesa, a donde se había retirado con su mujer. Según me contó, Laing conoció a Cayetana en 1943 a través de su amiga Chiquita Carcaño cuando la joven aristócrata tenía dieciocho años. Esta última era una de las guapísimas hijas gemelas del embajador argentino en el Reino Unido y la duquesa había estudiado con ella en la Universidad de la Sorbona (París). Las embajadas de España y de La Republica Argentina se encontraban entonces, igual que hoy, en la misma plaza de Belgravia, unos de los barrios más exclusivos de Londres. Cuando la vio por primera vez en una fiesta de la Embajada Argentina, Laing quedó prendado. Como recordaría años después: “Era absolutamente divina; era un poco rechonchita, pero dulce y muy atractiva”.
DUCHESS OF ALBA Pocos días después, Laing fue invitado a Albury House, una mansión victoriana ubicada en Surrey que la duquesa de Northumberland había alquilado a sus amigos los Alba para sus escapadas de fin de semana durante los años de la guerra. Rodeado de más de seiscientos metros cuadrados de jardines diseñados por John Evelyn, el gran diarista y horticultor del siglo XVII, Albury Park debía de parecerles un lugar bastante común a los Alba, acostumbrados a sus palacios y fincas en España. No obstante, allí el duque organizaba almuerzos de fin de semana para algunos de los altos funcionarios y ministros del gabinete de Churchill, mientras que su hija recibía a sus amigos. El enamoramiento puramente platónico de Laing por ‘Tana’, como se la conocía a Cayetana familiarmente, surgió una cálida tarde de verano al verla languidecer junto a la piscina, ocultando sus apesadumbrados sentimientos tras unas gafas oscuras. El comportamiento de Cayetana dejaba traslucir a veces un carácter melancólico. En cierta ocasión confesó que nunca había superado la muerte de su madre por tuberculosis cuando ella, hija única, tenía tan solo ocho años. Dos años
Cuando la vio por primera vez en una fiesta de la Embajada Argentina, Laing quedó prendado. Como recordaría años después: “Era absolutamente divina; era un poco rechonchita, pero dulce y muy atractiva”.
después de morir su madre estalló la Guerra Civil en España y Tana huyó de Madrid con su padre, primero a París y luego a Londres, donde el duque fue nombrado representante de Franco y después embajador, en marzo de 1939. Las circunstancias hicieron que Tana madurase bastante más deprisa que la mayoría de las chicas de su edad, a pesar de llevar una vida relativamente protegida. Una niñera austriaca dirigía sus estudios, y cuando salía de la embajada lo hacía siempre acompañada, ya fuese con la esposa de algún diplomático o con una amiga confianza. En cuestiones de amor, la duquesa aún no había encontrado un hombre adecuado con quien casarse, aunque durante su estancia en Londres corrieron rumores de que mantenía una relación formal y platónica con un joven oficial de la fuerza áerea española que había ejercido de ayudante del príncipe Don Juan. Ahora bien, como a cualquier joven, también le gustaban las escapadas espontáneas y las locuras típicas de su edad. Su amigo inglés Laing alimentaba esa faceta de su carácter llevándola a bailar a algunos de los locales nocturnos de moda de Londres, a pesar de la guerra, y eso sí, siempre en compañía. Aunque parece que la joven duquesa no correspondió sus sentimientos más allá de un coqueteo amistoso, tanto ella como sus amigas admiraban el ‘charm’ y la buena educación del atractivo Laing. Gracias a sus modales impecables, este apuesto y joven inglés no tardó en ser presentado al duque de Alba y, a través de él, accedió a clubs exclusivos como el Círculo de la Gran Peña y un sinfín de personas influyentes de la aristocracia y del ejército franquista en Madrid.
De mi parte, puedo dar testimonio de que los Alba figuraban entre los amigos en común que tuvo Laing y mi familia materna, en la que destaca la figura de mi abuelo, el Dr Gregorio Marañón. Así recordó Cayetana los lazos personales e intelectuales que mantuvo su padre con él: “La noche en que nací, aquí, en Liria, mi padre estaba cenando con Marañón, Ortega y Gasset y Ramón Pérez de Ayala; un doctor, un filósofo y un escritor. Cuando Marañón le dijo que era una niña y que todo estaba en orden, se fumó un puro e invitó a todos a brandy. Era la 1.45 de la mañana y dijo que no le importaba que fuera una chica, lo importante es que estuviera bien…”. Y de Churchill, primo de su padre, Cayetana tuvo este recuerdo: “Tenía un vozarrón y un carisma tan impresionante que todo el mundo se callaba en cuanto abría la boca. Durante los bombardeos de Londres, en la II Guerra Mundial, me felicitaba por lo valiente que era y por no tener miedo”. Al que escribe este artículo también le une un lazo amistoso a la casa de Alba: el recuerdo que mantiene de su niñez en los años cincuenta, cuando el hijo de la duquesa, de nombre Cayetano –de una edad similar a la suya– iba a las fiestas de cumpleaños que su madre Mabel organizaba en su piso de la Castellana. Cayetana, que en paz descanses. *Peter Laing was a long-serving member of the Anglo-Spanish now BritishSpanish Society. He died in 2007.
Winter/Spring 2015 • La Revista 13
AWARD WINNING
SPANISH Language courses and cultural events for Spanish learners and native Spanish speakers
[email protected]
SCHOLARSHIPS
Scholarship Report: Dorset to Barcelona
Sylvia Townsend Warner and the Spanish Civil War, by Mercedes Aguirre Alastuey, who was awarded with one of the BritishSpanish Society bursaries in 2011.
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am a PhD researcher at University College London, where I am working on a doctoral dissertation that studies the British and North American writers who wrote literary works inspired by the Spanish Civil War, under the supervision of Professor Peter Swaab. My thesis is heavily based on archival material and I have carried out research in different libraries and archives in Britain and the United States, such as the Imperial War Museum and New York’s University Tamiment Library. I am very grateful to the BritishSpanish Society, who generously funded my visit to the Sylvia Townsend Warner Archive in Dorchester, Dorset. My work at the archive was very rewarding, as I managed to find biographical and literary materials that have greatly complemented my previous research on the writer.
“The literary history of Great Britain and Spain is rich with unexpected connections and meaningful collaborations.” Sylvia Townsend Warner (1893-1978) was an English novelist, short story writer, and poet. She was also one of the editors of the compilation Tudor Church Music, published by Oxford University Press. Her first novel, Lolly Willowes (1926), was a success with readers and reviewers alike both in Britain and the United States, and her regular contributions to the New Yorker — the magazine published her stories for more than forty years — also helped to expand her readership. My research investigates Sylvia Townsend Warner’s representations of Spain in her poetry and fiction. I also investigate the perceptions of Spain in Great Britain during the first half of the 20th century, as well as the cultural connections between the two countries. My fascination with
Townsend Warner began after reading her innovative and powerful novel After the Death of Don Juan, which the author described as a “political fable” of the Spanish Civil War. I presented my work on the novel in the ‘Revisiting Sylvia Townsend Warner’ symposium that took place in Dorchester in June 2012, and which brought together established scholars and postgraduate students researching the writer’s life and works. Townsend Warner’s involvement with Spain began with the start of the Spanish Civil War. She and her partner Valentine Ackland, who had become a member of the Communist Party of Great Britain in 1935, were strongly committed to the cause of the Spanish Republic, fundraising and campaigning to raise awareness. They first visited Barcelona for several weeks in September 1936, with the intention of doing administrative work for the British Medical Aid Committee. They returned to Spain in the summer of 1937 and attended the International Writers’ Congress for the Defence of Culture in Madrid and Valencia as part of the British delegation, which also included the poet Stephen Spender. Townsend Warner wrote several poems drawing on her experience in Spain, which describe the terror of war in the author’s characteristic subtle style devoid of any sentimentalism. She also penned several war reports and articles which appeared in diverse journals and magazines from Life and Letters Today to The Left Review or The Countryman, in which she often pointed at social inequality as the primary cause underlying the conflict in Spain. For the New Yorker she wrote Barcelona, a witty short story that portrays her everyday life while in Spain with other British volunteers, and the humorous situations arising from their lack of knowledge of Spanish. The Sylvia Townsend Warner archive, which is located within the Dorset County
Museum in Dorchester, holds an extensive collection of material about the writer and her works: from manuscripts, personal documents, and letters to press cuttings and photographs. With the help and advice of the collection’s archivist Dr Morine Krissdottir I was able to explore documents that helped me retrace Townsend Warner’s visit to Spain and her relationship with the country. I had the opportunity to read her correspondence with other artists and writers, including the British poet Nancy Cunard, whose works I also explore in my dissertation, and whose literary discussions with Townsend Warner throw light on the gestation of her Spanish Civil War novel. In addition, and while perhaps not so important in an academic sense, holding in your hands the handwritten letters and notes of an author that you have been studying for so long constitutes a very thrilling and touching experience. Sylvia Townsend Warner remembered her time in Spain very fondly for the rest of her life. In an interview conducted in 1975 and published in PN Review she stated: “I’ve never seen people who I admired more. I never again saw a country I loved as much as I loved Spain. A most ungainly country to love, but it’s extraordinarily beautiful”. The literary history of Great Britain and Spain is rich with unexpected connections and meaningful collaborations. I hope that my research contributes to the better understanding of the cultural relationship between these two countries. I would not want to finish this article without earnestly recommending Townsend Warner’s exceptionally varied novels, particularly her first work Lolly Willowes, and her Spanish-themed novel After the Death of Don Juan. Her wit, sharp intelligence, and fantastically rounded characters will grip you from the start. This is an excerpt from a poem by Sylvia Townsend Warner entitled ‘Port Bou’:
I am the smell; on all the winds of Spain. I am the stink in the nostrils of the men in Spain. I have taken the place of the incense at the burial, I have usurped the breath of the rose plucked from the bridal, I am the odour of the wreath that is held out for heroes to behold and breathe. I cordial the heart, I refresh the brain, I strengthen the resolved fury of those who fight for Spain. Winter/Spring 2015 • La Revista 15
LITERATURE
The Other Side of the Mountain A visit to the Gibraltar International Literary Festival by Jimmy Burns Marañón
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erald O’Mahony, a Jesuit priest whose writings I much admire recalls a visit he made to Gibraltar several years ago when a tour of the Rock took him near the southern end where a signpost pointed along a footbath to the Mediterranean steps. These steps, he was told, were the only way of climbing up the extremely steep eastern side of the Rock, starting from where he stood and ending on a ridge at the summit about a thousand feet up. Toying with the idea of making the climb, O’Mahony approached the first of the steps only to find to his surprise that they initially led down, not up. Only later would he discover that the path did rise, eventually. In O’Mahony’s book, The Other Side of the Mountain, the climb to the summit which the author eventually pursued in Gibraltar becomes analogous of his spiritual search, with its ups and not inconsiderable downs — he has no less than five nervous breakdowns — and his final discovery of God’s love for him and everyone. O’Mahony came to my rescue as I was trying to put together my own thoughts on Gibraltar, having just spent a few days there as an author, journalist and historian, courtesy of the organisers of the International Literary Festival. And I don’t mean strictly speaking in a spiritual sense but in terms of my experience as an Anglo-Spaniard on a visit to a territory that remains the subject of a disputed sovereignty claim between the country of my mother and birth (Spain), and the country of my father and nationality (UK). Over the next few days my travelling companions, both on their first ever trip to Gibraltar, would be struck by the friendliness of the people of Gibraltar and how a majority seemed to break into fluent Spanish as their preferred language. We
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had been offered a tour of Tangiers. My friends wanted to make their first visit to southern Spain, so I took them on the scenic route to Ronda, and then the Barrio de Santa Cruz and the cathedral in Sevilla, with good wine, tapas, and brandy thrown in. They loved it. The International Gibraltar Literary Festival itself was an example of how bridges can be made through language, culture, and education. It was an honour to be invited to give a well-attended talk in the magnificent King’s Chapel about how the UK and Spain and Gibraltarians secretly collaborated in World War Two to ensure the Nazis did not occupy the Iberian peninsula, and that the Allied troops could use Gibraltar in support of the North African landings. I also shared the fact that my late father had been closely involved as one of Churchill’s intelligence operatives in the British embassy in Madrid (subject of my book Papa Spy), and later chose to spend the first night of his honeymoon with his Spanish bride at the Rock Hotel before heading across to the then unspoilt Costa del Sol. The other two talks I gave were to large audiences drawn from Gibraltar’s three main schools on the separate subjects of Word War 1 and football. The kids — boys and girls — seemed genuinely moved by my readings of my late uncle David’s letters from the battle front before he was killed in 1918, just turned eighteen, with their glimpse of both the horror and nobility of war as experienced by someone not much older than them. In a lighter frame, my potted history of the early British influence on Spanish football in Andalucía, and Spain’s later triumphs as a national squad in the European Nations and World Cups, seemed to catch the attention of at least a majority of
my young audience who claimed to support either Real Madrid or FC Barcelona. I was interested to hear later from one of the teachers that the boy who had asked for advice about how best to progress as a professional football player was already playing in the youth team of Sevilla FC. Football barely featured in the main Literary Festival headlined by celebrities like the historian John Julius Norwich, the BBC veteran presenter Nicholas Parsons, the actress and celebrity cook Maddhur Jaffrey, and Booker prize-winning novelist Ben Okri. Other well-known speakers covered subjects ranging from Venetian cooking, the future of British Politics, and Death in Literature to the history of Tangiers, Charles De-Gaulle, and the silence of Christianity. The Literary Festival included a contingent of academics and authors from all over the Iberian Peninsula. Dr Charles Powell, director of the Madrid-based think-tank the Elcano Royal Institute, talked about the legacy of King Juan Carlos of Spain while my former FT colleague William Chislett moderated a debate on Catalonia. ‘Fifty Years of Spanish Theatre’ was a discussion focused on leading playright Jose Luis Alonso de Santos. A session called ‘Voices from Spain’ involved a teacher, a prison officer and a journalist, David Saez Ruiz, Dioni Arroyo Merino, and Enrique Reyes respectively discussing their published works with the broadcaster Robert Bosschart. Another session entitled ‘Valencia in the News’ had Spanish journalist Merche Carneiro talking about her life as one of the country’s leading journalists and the issues surrounding the media in Spain today. Of the other events I attended, my personal favourite was Beltran Domecq’s wonderfully entertaining talk and wine tasting in the usually sober setting of the Gibraltar Garrison Library’s main reading room. Domecq, the current president of the Consejo Regulador de Jerez is a former grantee-person responsible for ensuring the royal warrant is used correctly, for Queen Elizabeth 11’s Royal warrant for Domecq and Harvey’s sherries. His guided tour through the history of sherry and his advice on how best to drink different types from Fino to Pedro Jimenez was delivered in exquisite English, and a good dose of humour as well as insight. It made me feel so lucky to be Anglo-Spanish. And the sherry was delicious — all of it. On my last day in Gibraltar, I didn’t climb the mountain. I took the cable car.
ENTREPRENEURS
What turns an idea into a business?
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aunching a new enterprise takes courage. The rewards can be great but the risks are high, and self-belief and determination are crucial to bring an idea to fruition. Laura Gran speaks to the founders of two new businesses which were established in Spain and in the UK last year to discover what they have learned from the experience and how they came through the early stages to reach the success they have today. EN ES
The translations of each interview are available on our website: britishspanishsociety.org/la-revista-magazine/
El Arca de Nel Montar una empresa no es difícil, sólo hacen falta dos cosas. Tener una idea es básico, y es algo que todos tenemos. La segunda y más importante es transformar esa idea en algo material, porque es la única manera de saber si nos puede llevar algo. Aquí es dónde la mayoría de las personas se pierde en el camino”. Él, Nel Martins español de 31 años licenciado en Finanzas, asumió el riesgo y escogió materializarla. Por ello una vez al mes viaja en ferry desde Portsmouth a Santander acompañado de un máximo de diez mascotas. Ninguna es suya, pertenecen a personas que le han confiado el cuidado de sus animales para que los traslade del Reino Unido a España y viceversa. Su empresa, ubicada en Londres, nació hace menos
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ENTREPRENEURS de un año después de cuatro viviendo en la capital inglesa. PetsTravelWithUs le enseñó, en primer lugar, lo importante que es confiar en uno mismo desde la humildad. “Mi idea cambió muchísimo al convertirla en negocio. Cuando empiezas a afrontar dificulades tienes dos caminos. Uno es decir: ‘me he equivocado, la idea que pensaba que era buena no lo es’, o decirte: ‘ok, creí que sería de una manera y resulta ser de otra’, pero seguir creyendo en ella y de ese modo evolucionar y crecer con las dificultades”, explica. Su planteamiento inicial se fue reajustando a medida que comenzó a informarse de las exigencias que el Gobierno británico establece a la hora de introducir animales en el país o de implantar un negocio relacionado con ellos. Conocer en detalle los requisitos necesarios, las leyes y todas las pequeñas peculiaridades asociadas a ellas le supuso ocho meses de dedicación, pero tras ese tiempo consiguió el permiso del Gobierno inglés para instalar su firma. Llegado a este punto, Martins ya tenía claro la impronta que quería que destilase. “Pensé en lo que me gustaría recibir a mi como cliente”, afirma. Tenía una noción clara dado que años atrás, cuando decidió mudarse a Londres, trató de llevar a su perro con él y no pudo encontrar ninguna empresa con precios razonables, de la que leyera buenas opiniones en Internet y le generara confianza. Por eso, se propuso montar “algo que hiciera falta, aquello que quería encontrar y no pude, así que decidí hacerlo para ver si podría funcionar como yo creía que iba a hacerlo”. Los resultados le avalan. Su empresa le ha dado satisfacciones desde el primer día. A nivel económico lleva generando beneficios desde que la fundó en mayo de 2014 lo que, como él mismo aclara, es “algo curioso y difícil de conseguir”. La inversión inicial no fue muy elevada debido a que intentó abaratar costes intentando delegar lo mínimo posible. Por ejemplo, su sitio web lo desarrolló él mismo tras aprender cómo hacerlo en Internet. Estudió como darse a conocer usando el posicionamiento de Google, lo que más difusión le podía ofrecer, y su buen hacer como empresario. Sus clientes le recomiendan no sólo en el boca a boca, sino también escribiendo buenas críti-
“Cada ruta, cada mes, es especial, siempre hay que adaptarse a las necesidades de los clientes y planear cuál es la mejor ruta que podemos crear para los animales”
cas de su trabajo en la red, lo que respalda extraordinariamente su negocio. Tal es así que esto ha generado un aumento en el porcentaje de ingleses que contratan su servicio. El proyecto comenzó con un 95% de clientes españoles, porque era donde el mercado para el transporte de animales a nivel internacional se encontraba realmente desatendido. Sin embargo, las excelentes calificaciones con las que le valoran en su página web ha hecho que la balanza se comience a equilibrar y la proporción se haya situado actualmente en un 70% españoles – 30% ingleses; unos números que “seguirán equilibrándose en un futuro, en cuanto la empresa se sitúe mejor en Reino Unido, lo que en principio ocurrirá porque hay muchos ingleses que viajan a España y los precios que damos son competitivos”, argumenta Nel Martins. Aunque en Google España ya tienen un buen posicionamiento, esto les está resultando más difícil en el Reino Unido debido a que en este país ya existen varias firmas dedicándose a ello desde hace muchos años. Con todo, su web obtiene cada vez más visitas. En la actualidad ya aparecen en segundo o tercer lugar como resultado de búsqueda, “lo que provocará que la gente pueda llegar a conocernos y compararnos con las empresas de las que ya está al tanto. Ahí es cuando vamos a poder tener una oportunidad de competir con el mercado inglés”, afirma. El otro cimiento de PetsTravelWithUs es su carácter internacional, “es lo que hace funcionar bien este negocio”. Según explica, en España ya existían empresas que se dedicaban al envío nacional de mascotas. El inconveniente que encuentra Martins es que existen pocas que traspasen fronteras y son casi todas de mensajería. “No dan el trato que se merecen a las mascotas. Si la empresa no es competente puede haber riesgos para los animales”, revela. Por eso, su máxima preocupación radica siempre en trasladarlos en las mejores condiciones posibles. “Cada ruta, cada mes, es especial, siempre hay que adaptarse a las necesidades de los clientes y planear cuál es la mejor ruta que podemos crear para los animales”, añade. Las opciones son múltiples: pueden viajar en avión, en barco, y una vez en tierra trasladarlos en furgoneta o en tren, siempre asegurándose de que lo que prima es su bienestar. Al mismo tiempo, sus dueños conocen en todo momento a través de la vía que elijan –WhatsApp, correo electrónico, Facebook, teléfono, etc. – el estado de sus mascotas a través de imágenes, vídeos y la propia información que Martins les facilita. Su éxito ha hecho que tan sólo unos meses después de fundar su empresa haya abierto una nueva ruta de envío con Italia, esté planteando realizar ya dos viajes al mes a España y tenga en mente trayectos con Portugal y Francia. En la actualidad cuenta con tres empleados y espera que en 2015 esta cifra vaya en aumento. Pese a tanta noticia positiva, el empresario español es precavido: “La empresa es tan joven que no podemos asegurar su futuro. Lo que sí podemos es trabajar para ser cada vez mejores, aprender con cada viaje y cada cliente que atendemos nos ayudará a serlo. Esto es algo en continua evolución, lo que nos mantiene siempre despiertos”. Junto a esto, señala que implantar su negocio en el Reino Unido le ha favorecido en muchos aspectos. “Establecer un empresa en este país es una buena experiencia, las facilidades que se dan son muy alentadoras para futuros emprendedores”, concluye. www.petstravelwithus.com
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ENTREPRENEURS
The Talent Trusts A LeightHouse
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lexandra Leight is the kind of entrepreneur who keeps her feet on the ground and sets high goals for herself. She is a combination of care, self-confidence, ambition and passion. In May 2013 she set up her own business in Spain, an actors’ agency called A LeightHouse. “Everyday I’m receiving headshots and CVs from actors wanting to work with me”, she says with a hint of surprise in her voice. When she decided to leave the company she was working for, Kuranda – the agency credited for discovering Penélope Cruz– it was only natural that some of her clients followed her too. Young stars like Alex Maruny, Andrea Duró and Goya-nominated Aura Garrido, were later joined by other talented actors such as Silvia Alonso, Julián Villagrán and Canco Rodríguez. What is the secret behind her success? “I think I built a name in the industry”, she explains. This goal was preceded by determination and effort. As she affirms, “you seek your own luck, you follow it. I am a hardworking person and I love what I do”. So before founding her own firm, she was sure she had all the experience, contacts and grounding needed to make her project a success. For Leight, her background has been crucial. She was brought up in an international circle – her mother is Hungarian, her father is British, she has family in the United States – she studied Spanish at Bristol University, and during all her life she has heard that every person has “to go and pursue what they want to achieve and become successful”. This message has been really important for her to go ahead and achieve her aims”. Leight studied acting for four years, not with the purpose of becoming an actress but to understand the business from the inside. This has helped her to understand the people she represents and their needs. “There are some things that an actor needs which you can only see if you understand the mind of an actor, and they really appreciate that”, she explains. On the other hand, this English entrepreneur started working in the artistic industry when she was 20 years old. In the third year of her degree she spent six months in Argentina, where she learnt Spanish and taught English, and another six months in Madrid, where she worked as an intern at Kuranda. One year later, once her studies were completed, she came back to the company and looked after some actors. The learning she gained from all these experiences was not enough. She needed two more things. One of them was the language. Her degree was focused on Spanish history, politics… but not on the Spanish language itself. The other aspect was to understand the mentality of the people she was working with. All this took some time. “It was very hard for me in the beginning to adapt myself to the Spanish culture in terms of work, and until you have really adapted it is difficult to integrate into society.
You can read as much as you like, you can try to understand, but until you’ve lived in the country day to day it is not possible”, she states. The product of all the knowledge above is called A LeightHouse. The agency was created in just six weeks because she had good professional advisers. She found the entire process “more expensive and bureaucratic than it would have been in the United Kingdom, but fairly easy”. Leight didn’t have any economic support due to the recession, but she was able to make her project possible with her own savings. She did not require many resources. “I did not have any office space; I had a mobile phone and a laptop! It is all about hard work, perseverance and really being passionate about what you do”, she claims. In this regard, she is available for her clients 24/7 and provides a very personalised service, fully adapted to their needs. She or her assistant endeavour to accompany every actor to every press conference, every film set, every bit of promotion… They make sure the actors are in the right clothes and feel secure and comfortable. “We are creating their career step by step depending on what they want to achieve”, the 28-year-old explains. Most of the actors Leight represents speak both Spanish and English, and some may not even be based in Spain. This is the other characteristic of her business. She settled in Spain in 2008 because she thinks it is “a great place to work and live”, but her company is international. She recognises that the Spanish market is “much smaller than the one which exists in the UK, but it is a very interesting one”. Although the incentives from central government are not as good as some other countries, Spain, with it’s diverse landscape and moderate climate, is still very attractive to producers. Successful co-productions in recent years with the UK, Italy and the United States have helped to boost business, and former HBO executive James Costos, now US Ambassador to Spain, has been instrumental in bringing over big name productions like Game of Thrones or Ridley Scott’s Exodus. For all these reasons Alexandra Leight decided to found her business in Spain just a year and a half ago. Now she represents 26 actors, six international clients and some children. A LeightHouse is the talented agency behind some of the most promising young Spanish actors, and it has a great future ahead. Perhaps the best way to understand Leight’s success is in the message she tells her clients: “Anyone with a good idea and enough will can obtain what they want. We have no limits; if you want it, we can go and get it”. www.aleighthouse.com
Actors who are part of A Leighthouse
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EMPRENDEDORES
El Futuro de los Negocios y el Nuevo Emprendimiento Javier Collado es el director general de la Fundación INCYDE (Instituto Cameral para la Creación y Desarrollo de la Empresa), una organización dedicada a la formación de empresarios y a la creación y consolidación de empresas. Aquí explica como el desarollo tecnologico está provocando un gran cambio en el mundo laboral y como podemos adaptarnos. Entrevistado por Amy Bell.
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l mundo laboral está sufriendo una transformación debido en su mayor parte a los avances tecnológicos, que han provocado un gran impacto en la manera en que nos comunicamos, trabajamos y vivimos nuestras vidas. El número de dispositivos que están conectados a Internet ha crecido tanto en los últimos años que actualmente hay más ‘cosas u objetos’ que personas conectados a la web. Este fenómeno sigue creciendo de tal forma que ya es conocido como el Internet de las cosas. Su principal ventaja radica en que nos ofrece la oportunidad de ser más eficaces, productivos y sacar mayor partido a nuestro tiempo. Además, tiene el potencial de modificar nuestra sociedad y la economía global. Aún así, cuando el cambio es tan rápido, ¿cómo pueden adaptarse las empresas para ser competitivas y eficaces en el nuevo entorno que se les presenta? El objetivo de la fundación INCYDE y su director general, Javier Collado, es precisamente ayudar a los empresarios a enfrentar estos retos. La fundación fue creada en 1999 como una iniciativa de las Cámaras de Comercio y está inspirada en su espíritu empresarial. “Nació para apoyar la creación y consolidación de las pequeñas y medianas empresas (pymes) de España”, afirma Collado. “Lo que hacemos es fomentar, incentivar, consolidar las pymes y crear emprendedores, porque son los generadores de empleo en un país como el nuestro”. INCYDE es la única institución en Europa que facilita incubadoras de empresas. Una incubadora es un edificio susceptible de albergar a nuevos empresarios, ofreciéndoles una ubicación para su empresa durante sus dos primeros años de vida. Conjuntamente desarrollan grandes proyectos para fomentar la creación y consolidación de pymes cofinanciados por fondos la Unión Europea (FSE), y en asociación con la administración autonómica y local. Por otra parte, los edificios que se convierten en incubadoras pueden ser instituciones de la administración central, autonómica, instituciones públicas o semi-públicas. En principio, las empresas que se alojan en ellos están relacionadas con el sector servicios, ya hay viveros en marcha del sector industrial. En esta línea, INCYDE lanzó hace un año un proyecto de innovación, transferencia de tecnología y desarrollo con incubadoras de alta tecnología: ha instalado un vivero aeroespacial en Galicia, y ya ha comprado un edificio en Sevilla para poner otro aeronáutico. Asimismo, se ha adjudicado un proyecto de la UE para desarrollar en España: albergar las nueve incubadoras europeas de alta tecnología. El mundo de los negocios está indudablemente modificándose pero los seres humanos somos agente activos en este cambio. “Tenemos que hablar de cómo está transformando al ser humano”, reflexiona el director de INCYDE. “Todavía no sabemos cómo van a ser el 60% de los empleos dentro de quince o veinte años. No tiene nada que ver cómo se trabaja en este momento o los empleos que se están generando hace cinco años”. A veces es difícil recordar cómo era el mundo sin móviles, sin Internet. “Si quitas un móvil a una persona durante un día, le descentras ese día. Como ya estamos acostumbrados a las nuevas tecnologías nos creemos que siempre han existido”, explica.
“Los negocios en el futuro van a implicar un mayor uso de la tecnología”.
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NCYDE centra su actividad en investigar cómo va a evolucionar el empleo. Estudia cuáles son los vacíos en el mercado de los próximos años. “Nosotros apuntamos el término ‘el nuevo emprendimiento’”, aclara Collado. Aparte de esto, estamos viendo un cambio en la forma en que las personas trabajan. Es probable que en el futuro las empresas tengan estructuras y modelos muy diferentes de los que tienen ahora. “En vez de tener cien empleados una empresa podría tener cien autónomos. En lugar de contratar personas con empleos fijos les contratarán por su servicio, como a un pequeño empresario”, explica. La innovación es clave para las pymes y emprendedores que quieren ser más competitivos. “Yo creo que la innovación va a ser todo. No sólo va a mejorar el producto de la empresa sino que también va a mejorar la calidad de vida de las personas”, aclara Collado. Asimismo, si está evolucionando el empleo, los jóvenes tienen la oportunidad de aprovechar este avance y preparase para lo
“Lo que hacemos es fomentar, incentivar, consolidar las pymes y crear emprendedores, porque son los generadores de empleo en un país como el nuestro”
Javier Collado
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EMPRENDEDORES
“Todavía no sabemos cómo van a ser el 60% de los empleos dentro de quince o veinte años. No tiene nada que ver cómo se trabaja en este momento o los empleos que se están generando hace cinco años” que llega. “Tenemos que aconsejarles que no deben tener miedo a emprender, que hay muchas posibilidades, y que estén preparados con imaginación, con esfuerzo y con ganas”, propone. En este sentido, el Gobierno de España, como otros en Europa, enfrenta el reto de animar y apoyar a los jóvenes para crear más empleo e impulsar la economía. “Creo que poco a poco se están empezando a dar cuenta de que hay que apoyarlos.. Hay miles de millones de euros para aportar a la innovación, por lo que pediría que los Gobiernos sean más ágiles en dar ese dinero a los empresarios y a las pymes. Lo veo un poco negativo. No está llegando esta agilidad, hay demasiada burocracia a veces”. Según Collado, si va a bajar el desempleo juvenil, se debe actuar en dos direcciones. “En primer lugar, hay que hacer una análisis para saber qué es lo que van a demandar las empresas en la sociedad de aquí a diez años. Igualmente, se debe formar a la gente para que se conviertan en expertos. Pero es un tema cuantitativo”, señala. “Cuanta más gente haya intentando crear una empresa, más posibilidades hay de que se creen y crear empleo. Muchas veces las grandes empresas dicen que podemos generar un millón de empleos para jóvenes en los próximos dos o tres años, pero nadie dice cómo o qué tenemos que hacer. ¿Qué es lo que muchas veces falla? Que no se hacen reales las cosas que se dicen”. Quizá esa es una de las razones por las que muchos jóvenes están abandonando España para trabajar en el Reino Unido y otros países del mundo. En principio, para Collado, esto es algo bueno. “Nos hace más globales… te abre más la mente, te hace ser más competitivo. No es malo que la gente salga siempre y cuando sea una salida para informarse más. Siempre ha habido gente que se ha ido del país. El problema es si uno tiene que irse porque está desesperado, porque aquí no tiene trabajo y se marcha con falsas expectativas”. 22 La Revista • Winter/Spring 2015
Debido a la falta de empleos disponibles, seguramente muchas personas habrán tenido la idea de crear su propia empresa, pero antes de empezar suele ser difícil saber si una idea merece la pena ser perseguida. INCYDE tiene un proceso para probar si una idea es válida. Durante dos o tres meses trabajan con la persona y con su idea para ver si es factible en cada aspecto, y si se aprueba la ponen en marcha. Pero más que una idea en si, Collado es enfático en la importancia de encontrar a la persona adecuada: “Lo que buscamos, más que una idea, son personas. Una persona que tenga la valía para emprender. Alguien puede venir con una idea maravillosa y que nosotros pensemos que no la va a poder llevar a cabo. Tiene que tener ánimo y entender que hay que hacer un gran esfuerzo para tener éxito como emprendedor.” Una parte muy importante del proceso es el seguimiento, “que no se vean solos, ni el proyecto ni la empresa… lo que necesitan es un apoyo continuo”, asegura. Los negocios que han crecido más rápidamente con el apoyo de INCYDE en los últimos años han sido los que han aprovechado la tecnología. Por citar un ejemplo, en Santiago de Compostela dos emprendedores crearon una empresa de tecnología de clima llamada 4gotas. Es capaz de saber el clima que está haciendo en cualquier sitio del mundo y saber cómo afecta a los seres humanos en temas de salud. Es un buen ejemplo del modelo de la nueva empresa que más interesa a INCYDE: “En España somos muy imaginativos y estamos utilizando esa habilidad para hacer negocios”. ¿Qué pasa cuando una idea no sale bien? “Se dieron algunos casos donde nos equivocamos y no vimos que la persona no era la adecuada, o donde fallaron la financiación o los socios”, reconoce. En resumen, la sociedad todavía no se ha concienciado de los tiempos que vienen. Según Collado, “el emprendimiento del futuro no tiene nada que ver con el actual. Nos hemos de acostumbrar y adaptar la tecnología al ser humano para que se encuentre a su servicio. Si ocurre al revés vamos a tener un mundo todavía más desigual. Viene un nuevo empleo, un nuevo emprendimiento y hay que trabajar con ello, para que no volvamos a perder una generación como está sucediendo en nuestro país”, resume.
BUSINESS
Interview with Lisa Montague, CEO of Loewe new design edge to refuel Loewe again for the future.
Originally from Cheshire, Lisa Montague has been at the helm of Loewe, the Spanish luxury leather house based in Madrid, for seven years. Prior to this she was at Mulberry in London for nine years, the last six spent as Chief Operating Officer. Interviewed by Amy Bell.
T
hank you for agreeing to this interview. You spoke recently, at the Financial Times’ Spain Summit, about the importance of Chinese and Japanese consumers for Loewe. Is there a difference in how you market to Asian consumers compared with Spanish? Loewe has a global platform and brand messages of sharp design coupled with expert craftsmanship and the finest leather is consistent. The channel of delivery the message may vary slightly by market in the balance between social media and print, but we generally use both in a consistent tone of voice. Are Spanish consumers still a priority? Absolutely, our home customer is very engaged with the brand and Loewe is well-loved in Spain as one of the country's leading luxury brand. Spanish customers are proud of Loewe and this will grow as we develop internationally, opening this coming February in Miami, for example. Why do you think people are loyal to Loewe? Loewe consistently delivers on the promise of excellent quality and has continued to move with the times, always being relevant and now with the incredible creative vision of Jonathan Anderson bringing a
How has Loewe grown to reflect Spain as it is today? Is the business adapting to meet the needs of the millennial generation? The authenticity of the offer is what we believe defines luxury today in Spain, across various sectors, as you can see with the association of Circulo Fortuny that encompasses leather-goods, decorative arts, hospitality and of course gastronomy. The raw ingredients - in our case the leather such as our famous Loewe Napa that comes from the Spanish Entrefino lambs at the foothills of the Pyrenees, coupled with the passion of the artisans practising their skills that have been kept alive in Spain, provide a unique proposition that is rare and precious, therefore luxury. This image of Spain is the modern projection which, coupled with the impressive cultural offer, can attract a new international audience and recognition of high-level tourism to Spain. What is the appeal of ‘Brand Spain’ internationally? And in what way does Loewe celebrate Spanish artisanship and style? Spain has great potential to be recognised internationally as a Cultural Centre in Europe as well as a Purveyor of Excellence in Craft and in Gastronomy. At Loewe, we took the decision a couple of years ago to renew our Made in Spain promise and doubled the size of our workshops here in Madrid to accommodate future growth. At the same time, we implemented a training school there and started to work with the local government to recruit through the employment office, offering longterm contracts to more than half the graduates of each module. Before joining Loewe you were at Mulberry in the UK for nine years, most recently as Chief Operating Officer. How does running a Spanish business compare to running a British one? I have indeed been lucky enough to work for brands that are considered national treasures in their own countries. An an Anglo-Saxon, running an international Spanish company with business in Japan, China and South-East Asia, I believe it is symbolic of the global platform on which we operate with immediacy of communication platforms and the celebration of diversity that enriches our organisations, at least within LVMH.
Are you optimistic about prospects for the fashion manufacturing sector in Spain? Leathergoods manufacturing is growing strongly in Spain thanks to our competitive productivity and we observe many luxury brands assessing manufacturing opportunities, which can only serve to inspire more people to develop careers in craftsmanship and to further preserve the skills that make Made in Spain a selling point, synonymous with passion for excellent workmanship. Our key launch for
this season, the Puzzle bag, with its innovative cuboid shape, is a good example of how Loewe's artisans put all their passion and expertise into a new design. What is the biggest challenge for you in the Spanish market at the moment? In Spain, everyone has been affected by the crisis and lived with austerity in these past few years so it will probably take a while to lift the mood and see consumers return with an optimistic spirit again. At Loewe, we have worked tirelessly to maintain contact with our customers, who remain loyal to their favourite, even if they cannot shop with us as often as usual. Loewe arranges cultural events for instance through the Loewe Foundation that deeply connects us to dance and particularly to literature through the renowned Loewe Poetry Prize. We also host exhibitions in our Galeria Loewe spaces, collaborating with photographers during Fotoespaña for instance, or with Spanish artists through creative collaborations that inspire our customers to celebrate with Loewe without a commercial objective. Having worked in Germany, the US and the UK and before moving to Spain, what are the most noticeable differences
Winter/Spring 2015 • La Revista 23
BUSINESS
Quickfire questions
Can you describe a typical day in your life? There is no typical day and I thrive on the fast pace and constant change of the fashion industry. At home, we are always on the move and quite energetic as a family. We have recently discovered lake life at the Pantano San Juan where we enjoy a different pace and space at weekends. What had been the greatest achievement of your career so far? I have enjoyed all steps of my career and am proud of having developed international business with each of the brands. At Loewe, I believe we have serve as a launchpad for international growth.
you have experienced with each country and its business culture? International businesses have to operate efficiently to succeed and therefore the perceived differences between countries become more anecdotal or even mythical as we look to the future. I was told when moving here five years ago, for example, that I would never manage to hold a meeting at 9am im Spain; in fact Breakfasts are common nowadays in Loewe, and we have finished our first meetings by 9.30! What do you think are the top priorities for the future of business in Spain? As a business leader in Spain, the top priority for me is to bring more tourists, especially from Asia, and for that we need direct flights, which may require some investment through subsidies in the first instance that would surely reap return. I support the notion that Spain has to be recognised internationally for all the strengths we have discussed and to promote itself as an exporter of luxury goods that are recognised by the European Union under the umbrella of ECCIA as Cultural and Creative Industries, and perhaps further to invite opportunities for international companies to set up European hubs here. What are your views on the drive for independence in Catalonia and what impact do you see this having on businesses? In my view, it would be sad to see this great country split and potentially dilute the strong voice Spain can have internationally, given the ambitions we have discussed.
24 La Revista • Winter/Spring 2015
What do you like most about Spain/ Spanish culture? As a family, we love living in Spain! The country is vast, rich and diverse; fascinating to discover the variety of regional differences in culture, topology, gastronomy - we have travelled extensively and still have many places to visit. The light in Madrid is very special and every morning feels optimistic with its pure, clear outlook on the city. The Spanish people have really embraced us as foreign residents and we have felt welcomed and supported in every way, which has made us very happy here. How do you rate the Spanish sense of style? How does it compare with other European countries? Immediately when one arrives in Spain it is noticeable how smart people are generally. Design, style and aesthetics are important here, along with an appreciation for exceptional quality. Even in a crisis, the best in class has continued to thrive, be it the top restaurants, or the Amazona handbag! How well do you feel you and your family have integrated in Madrid life? We are obviously British with our fair complexions and I look particularly alien but we have really enjoyed integrating in the community and have good friends here that we value enormously. Our children, who were quite small when we moved, have spent most of their young lives in Spain and this is the place they call home.
What is your favourite food to eat in Spain? Is there a restaurant you particularly like to go to? I love the way people eat in Spain with many shared plates and the delight during a single meal. In Madrid, I enjoy the bustle of Ten con Ten as well as the tranquility of more traditional favourites like Alcalde but I am also a great fan of Japanese cuisine, being a offered in Madrid; Sushi 99 is close to What are you reading at the moment? I am attempting to read our bookshelves as we have many books as a family that we transport around the with a mix of Harvard Business Review, Parenting books and recently a copy of Bling Dynasty! Is there anything you miss from the UK? I miss the spontaneous interaction with longstanding friends, but we manage to stay in touch and share vacation time with our nearest and dearest. When I go to London, I head for a good curry and my daughter's requests are for Ribena, Scotch Eggs and Pork Pies! We ship our tea from Twinings and have found Marmite and crumpets are available at El Corte InglĂŠs Gourmet. British pub or Spanish bar? Two stops - G&T is now an international trend!
Office for Cultural and Scientific Affairs Embassy of Spain
PROGRAMME JANUARY APRIL 2015 15 Jan – 6 April 24 January 30 Jan – 1 Feb 1 Feb– end 2015
Exhibition ‘Adventures of the Black Square: Abstract Art & Society 1915 2015’ Concert by Orfeón Pamplones and London Philharmonic Orchestra Katharine of Aragon Festival 2015 Dramatized reading performances by Spanish Theatre Company
Seminar ‘Spain and England in 16th Century: Juan Luis Vives and Thomas 13 February More’ 15 16 February 20 – 24 February 26 Feb – 25 March February 2 March 27 – 28 March March March March 14 – 16 April April
Concerts by Manchester Camerata and Joan Enric Lluna International Fashion Showcase 2015 Exhibition ‘Goya: The Witches and Old Women Album’ The Valle Inclán Prize 2015 The Ramón Pérez de Ayala Lecture Conference ‘Teresa de Avila. Writer, Mystic and Saint’ Iberian Week ¡Viva! 21st Spanish and Latin American Film Festival The Juan Facundo Riaño Essay Prize 2015 Annual Conference of Association of Hispanists of Great Britain and Ireland IBERODOCS
TRABAJO
Elsa Moro Soria cuenta su experiencia trabajando como matrona en Londres.
L
os sistemas de salud y educación son notoriamente difíciles de cambiar, incluso cuando la evidencia demuestra que se necesitan evolucionar. Muchas veces la dificultad viene por una deficiencia económica y otras por una falta de cultura, educación u organización. Más de cinco años trabajando en Londres como midwife (matrona) me han servido para darme cuenta de que en España nos falta aprender de otros sistemas de salud y así poder ofrecer una mayor calidad a nuestros pacientes. En cuanto a maternidad se refiere, las diferencias entre el NHS y el sistema sanitario español son enormes. Trabajo en unas de las maternidades mas grandes del Reino Unido, que es también centro de referencia para embarazos de alto riesgo. En ella nacen más de 7.500 bebes al año y posee una de las tasas más altas (3%) de partos en casa (homebirths). La profesión de las matronas se remonta desde más atrás de la época greco-romana, donde ya las mujeres más expertas y sabias ayudaban a otras mujeres a dar a luz en las casas. La palabra midwife viene del inglés antiguo y significa “mujer que cuida durante el parto”. Con los años, esta profesión ha ido evolucionando, pero la base de dar a luz de la manera más natural posible sigue afortunadamente estando presente hoy en dia. Recuerdo como si fuera ayer el primer día que pise un paritorio en Londres. La unidad estaba dividida en dos zonas: alto riesgo (labour ward) y bajo riesgo (birth centre). En ambas partes el cuidado era individualizado, es decir, una matrona por cada mujer (one to one care). No había salas de dilatación sino que en la misma (en la misma qué?) se daba a luz. Las matronas no llevaban gorros, mascarillas ni guantes hasta los codos. No se empujaba en litotomia (con las piernas hacia arriba),
26 La Revista • Winter/Spring 2015
y mucho menos se cubría todo con paños estériles como si de una cirugía a corazón abierto se tratara. La zona de bajo riesgo estaba exclusivamente dirigida por matronas, y prácticamente dar a luz allí era casi un lujo, como estar en un hotel de cinco estrellas. Las habitaciones eran amplias, tenían una cama doble para que la pareja que había estado durante el parto se quedara a dormir y así ayudara a la mujer con el bebé durante la noche. Había una bañera grande para dar a luz en el agua (waterbirth), una pelota gigante y un puff. Tan solo una matrona monitorizaba intermitentemente al bebé, cuidaba y apoyaba a la mujer pacientemente durante horas y horas. ¡Aquello me pareció una locura pero absolutamente fascinante! La mujer era libre, capaz de caminar y adoptar la posición que le fuera más cómoda para dar a luz: de pie agarrándose a una cuerda o a una cortina, de cuclillas, a cuatro patas, en el agua, en la cama, en el sofá, en el baño, etc. Allí no había epidurales, tan sólo aromaterapia, Entonox (gas and air), un pequeño armario con toallas, un par de paquetes con cuatro intrumentos quirúrgicos y un monitor portátil del tamaño de una mano para escuchar el latido del bebé. La gran mayoría de mujeres españolas, por cultura y por que así lo marca nuestro sistema sanitario, tienen asumido que el seguimiento de su embarazo va a ser principalmente obstétrico (es decir, realizado por un médico especialista) y que recibirá una atención igualmente obstétrica e intervencionista durante el parto, cuando ingrese en el hospital. En el Reino Unido una mujer que haya tenido un embarazo y un parto sin complicaciones es muy posible que no haya visto ni una sola vez al obstetra. ¿Quiere decir eso que no se le ha prestado la atención necesaria durante el embarazo? La respuesta es un simple NO. Las midwives están preparadas para dar la atención necesaria en cualquier situación. Eso es un signo de que todo va bien. Por el contrario, las mujeres inglesas ven inconcebible no ser vistas por una midwife durante su embarazo, sabiendo que si son derivadas al médico especialista es debido a una complicación, en cuyo caso el cuidado será compartido. Dentro de mi propia experiencia, el reconocimiento y el prestigio social de las matronas en UK es muy elevado, lo que hace de la profesión algo aún más gratificante y valorado. Gracias a la serie de televisión “Call the midwife” (Llama a la comadrona) en España hemos podido
ver y conocer un poquito más cómo las matronas inglesas trabajaban en los años 50, cuando iban en bicicleta a atender los partos en las casas. La única diferencia actualmente es que estamos más preparadas en caso de tener una complicación y que el transporte afortunadamente ha evolucionado. Dar a luz en casa, en un centro de bajo riesgo liderado por matronas o en el hospital son opciones que se ofrecen en el Reino Unido para permitir a la mujer elegir donde tener a su bebé. El NMC, consejo regulador de las enfermeras y matronas del Reino unido, define a las midwives como: “personal sanitario capacitado profesionalmente para atender a las mujeres y sus bebés durante el periodo antenatal, parto y postparto”. Otras organizaciones y autores definen a las matronas y su profesión como las promotoras de la normalidad en maternidad. A día de hoy existen mas de 35.000 midwives registradas en UK y la demanda crece cada año, ya que se considera que anualmente hay 30.000 nacimientos más que el año anterior. El campo en midwifery es muy amplio, ser matrona significa mucho más que ayudar a dar a luz. Ofrecemos cuidado antenatal y postnatal a la mujer y a su recién nacido habitualmente en su propia casa, informamos, apoyamos, derivamos, aconsejamos y motivamos a las parejas durante el proceso de la maternidad y la paternidad. El Reino Unido ofrece varias especialidades, por lo que no resulta raro ver a matronas especialistas haciendo ecografías, controlando un embarazo o un parto de alto riesgo, trabajando en conjunto con los trabajadores sociales, dirigiendo una gran unidad, dando clases o haciendo estudios de investigación, etc. El NHS se encuentra, según las encuestas del 2014, puntuado como el mejor sistema sanitario del mundo en acceso, calidad y eficiencia. En concreto, a las matronas del Reino Unido se las reconoce como uno de los sectores más imprescindibles dentro del sistema. Hoy, varios años después de ese primer impacto y tras haber ayudado a muchas mujeres a dar a luz, puedo decir que ser midwife es un trabajo agotador pero a la vez de los más gratificantes que existen. Elegir el lugar y la manera de dar a luz no debería ser considerado un privilegio, toda mujer tiene el derecho de decidir cómo y dónde convertirse en madre.
WORK
Talking About My Generation
Moving to a new city can be daunting. Claudia Rubiño tells La Revista why she and her friends have struggled since moving to London, and wonders whether it will all be worth it?
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like to think that a really good book has the key to save me from any demon. There are a few books I would never recommend to sensitive people, even if they are masterpieces. One of them is The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath. I like to say that this book is not suitable for “oscillating” minds. The novel, published in 1967 under a pseudonym, relates the story of the protagonist who suffers from a mental disorder. She is young, her family is wealthy and she gains an internship in a New York-based magazine for the summer. Even though she has everything, she becomes depressed. Eventually she is put in a mental institution where she receives shock treatment because she feels like she doesn't belong to her society. That book amazed me and scared me at the same time. I had to get the suicidal thoughts out of my mind and I found the solution: Never Any End to Paris (París no se acaba nunca), by Enrique Vila-Matas. What can I say about this one? People either love it or hate it. I do not remember exactly what I expected from it, but in some way it saved me. It has nothing particularly impressive; the author tells how he became a writer and how he moved to Paris following his hero's footsteps. As simple as that. Moving to London was a hard decision and staying here has not been easy. I would love to find a cozy room in Bloomsbury and share it with some of the greatest ghosts from my favourite group. However, living in London is only an adventure if you have financial stability. For the rest of us it is just survival. On social networks you can see the amazing parties and wonderful events that people attend all the time, but you cannot do that if you have to choose between paying rent, oyster and food or having a fabulous social life every single night. Not all of us are like the main character of Vila-Matas' novel whose parents paid for his holidays. When I read it, I had already moved to London and I did not follow any literary figures’ steps but instead I followed in the steps of immigrants. I had no job expectations after finishing university so I thought it would be a good lesson for me; I could find a job while I was writing my own masterpiece. I was wrong, obviously. I have been wondering why I came here ever since I put my feet on English territory and I am not the only person in this position. All of us have stories to tell and many of us have interesting university
degrees that are worth nothing in our countries of origin. Take my friend Martín, for instance. He left Galicia two years ago because the only jobs he could find in Spain were unpaid internships: “I was trying to decide where to go”, he says, “London or somewhere in Australia. I picked London because it is closer than Australia, obviously. It is a big city, full of opportunities and I needed to learn the language. At the beginning, I was excited. The city is fantastic but it is sad as well. It is impersonal, people are cold and distant. You cannot see your friends as much as you like. Eventually, I will go back home, were my family and my roots are. My parents emigrated to Switzerland, you see, my parents and my grandmother, and they managed to go back to Spain”. All of us knew before taking the plane that it would be hard. If you decide to emigrate you need to recognise that everything is going to be difficult. We like to think that, if it is easy, it is not worth it. That is what Javi and Sonia say. This couple arrived in London a few months ago and they knew what they wanted before moving in. “These days we are asked to know English for everything so, instead of studying English in Spain, we decided to come to London and learn not only the language but something about the culture.” “I don't want to stay here unless I find a great job”, explains Javi. On the other hand, Sonia says that she is going back as soon as her English level allows her to teach in Spain. Her grand-
parents had to emigrate to France and they are still living there, so she is familar with the idea. Whatever the case may be, there is no doubt that we are the “Crisis Generation” even if some people still want us to think the opposite, even if we like to exaggerate a bit just to stay close to our beloved Lost Generation (in Britain this term is used for those who died in the First Wold War, but I am talking about those expatriate artists that left their countries and settled in Paris, the generation that came of age during WWI). We just changed the meeting point, they went to Paris and we chose London. I would like to believe that we are not as disoriented, wandering and directionless as Gertrude Stein described them. In a few years, perhaps, we will look back knowing that all we are doing and suffering now was not worthless. We will create new masterpieces to encourage future generations, telling them nothing can stop them if they know what is wrong and right; what is true and what is a lie.
Would you like to join the BritishSpanish Society? Membership is open to anyone with an interest in Spain and Spanish culture Fill in the form at the back of this issue or visit our website: www.britishspanishsociety.org
Winter/Spring 2015 • La Revista 27
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HISTORY
Memorias de la Transición
Jules Stewart reflexiona sobre su experiencia en España durante la transición. El articulo original fue publicado en el Diario de Navarra.
Imagenes de la prensa durante los días de transición en España
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l otoño de 1975 hacía su entrada en Madrid con exasperante lentitud cuando un día apareció en casa un extraño individuo, el nuevo inquilino del cuarto. Este personaje, un tipo enjuto con gafas y anorak, pasaba las horas en el balcón que daba al colegio del Pilar, el célebre criadero de ministros, barriendo el horizonte con un par de gemelos. A su lado llevaba un cassette que emitía a toda mecha música marcial. Poco después de las cinco de la madrugada del 20 de noviembre un amigo de la agencia de noticias UPI me llamó por teléfono: “Ha muerto. Te tengo que dejar”. Al poco rato de emitirse la noticia el excéntrico vecino del cuarto entró en acción. Por el patio se escuchaba el cassette pero en vez de himnos falangistas el aparato entonaba “La Internationale” acompañado de advertencias de un inminente golpe comunista. Casi simultáneamente los vecinos de mi casa del barrio de Salamanca reaccionaron al unísono ante la amenaza del Terror Rojo. Por el patio se escuchaban gritos: “¡Cállate, anormal”! “¡Deja a la gente dormir, que hay que trabajar!” La Transición estaba en marcha. Gracias a la sensatez de la clase obrera y de la mayor parte del alto mando militar España enseñó al mundo el arte de desmantelar el aparato dictatorial para convertir al país en una sociedad democrática. Eso sí, siempre con una alta dosis de improvisación. Por ejemplo, una noche de enero de 1977 tuve el honor de cenar con el Teniente General Manuel Gutiérrez Mellado, vicepresidente del Gobierno de Adolfo Suárez. Cuando le pregunté cómo pensaba actuar el Gobierno frente a la ola de protestas callejeras que pedían la legalización del Partido Comunista de España (PCE), me con-
testó: “Francamente veo muy difícil que se legalice el PCE en esta legislatura, y menos con Santiago Carrillo”. Tres meses después el PCE fue legalizado y con Santiago Carrillo como secretario general. Si tuviera que señalar el momento en que definitivamente se dio por terminado este largo periodo de incertidumbre creo que pondría el dedo en el 13 de marzo de 1986, el día en que se dieron a conocer los resultados del referéndum sobre la OTAN. Con el sí del 52,5% de los votantes (y con una tasa de abstención del 40%) el país rebatió la razón a los escépticos: España por fin había afirmado su voluntad de participar en el proyecto de la nueva Europa. En aquellos tiempos yo trabajaba en la agencia Reuters en Madrid. Unos días antes de celebrarse el referéndum decidimos elaborar nuestra propia encuesta sobre el asunto. Los redactores nos repartimos por la geografía española para tomar el pulso a la nación. A mí me tocó Chinchón. Hacía un día espléndido en la Plaza Mayor, cuya arquitectura hace tanta gracia a los turistas ingleses por su parecido al estilo tudoresco. Tomando el sol en un banco de la plaza había un vejete de chapela y zapatillas de fieltro marrón. Sin más, me acerqué a mi primer encuestado. “Buenos días. Soy un periodista extranjero y estoy haciendo un sondeo sobre la OTAN…”. “¿Eh?”. El anciano se llevó la mano a la oreja, doblándola en forma de cucurucho. Repetí la pregunta y esta vez me dirigió una mirada de asombro. “¿Qué dice Ud? ¿Que vuelve Urtáin?” Le pedí perdón por las molestias y crucé la plaza hasta la panadería. “Buenos días, señora. Si no es mucha molestia, soy un periodista extranjero y quería preguntarle su intención de voto
Carteles propagandisticos del PSOE
en el referéndum de la OTAN”. “Pues mire usted”, me dijo, despolvoreándose las manos en su mandil, “eso que usted me dice, pues la verdad es que no sé muy bien, pero si usted es periodista yo le digo una cosa, lo que le ha hecho este gobierno a Ruíz Mateos es una vergüenza, ni más ni menos. Digo, que estos políticos son unos canallas, con todas las letras…”. Me excusé, llevándome una barra de pan de artesanía, para continuar mi periplo alrededor de la plaza. Al poco rato topé con un joven de aspecto despabilado. “Perdona, chico, soy un periodista extranjero y me gustaría saber si tienes una opinión sobre la OTAN. Ya sabes, el referéndum…”. “Hombre, claro que tengo una opinión. Voy a votar que sí”. Por fin. “¿Ah sí? Oye, esto me parece fenomenal. ¿A lo mejor me permites una pregunta más?” “Descuida, tío, pregúntame lo que quieras”. “Bien. Vamos a ver, ¿acaso militas en algún partido político?” El joven se cuadró: “Sí, señor. El Partido Comunista de España”. “¿El PCE? Pero…”. “Ya, ya lo sé. Pero verás, yo tengo una mente independiente y como el PCE es un partido democrático me reservo el derecho de discrepar de la Dirección. En este caso, concretamente, creo que es importante que España se proteja de la amenaza soviética, que no es el comunismo que queremos, sino una tiranía, igual que la oligarquía capitalista pero disfrazada de socialismo…etcétera”. Ya no me cabía la menor duda de que la Transición había triunfado. Winter/Spring 2015 • La Revista 29
LITERATURE
De cuando Agatha Christie visitó “Las Islas Afortunadas”
El encanto de Las Canarias tuvó una influencia profunda sobre la escritora britanica y su obra, descubre Nuria Reina Bachot.
Agatha Christie
D
icen por ahí que a la Reina del Crimen se le ocurrían sus historias más intrigantes mientras fregaba los platos. No tenemos pruebas que demuestren esta curiosa anécdota, pero sí los hay de un hecho desconocido para la mayoría y que marcaría la relación de España con la autora: su visita a las Islas Canarias en 1927. Antes de llegar a este año clave, sigamos un fascinante recorrido cronológico. Agatha Mary Clarissa Miller vino al mundo un 15 de septiembre de 1891 en Torquay –Devonshire-, al sudoeste de Inglaterra. Creció en una familia de clase media-alta como la menor de tres hermanos. La educación de sus primeros años fue hogareña. Sus docentes fueron sus progenitores, que le enseñaron a leer, escribir, realizar las primeras cuentas, tocar el piano y la mandolina. De su madre se comenta que era una sensitiva dotada de capacidades extrasensoriales. Su padre, un amable agente de bolsa neoyorkino y de salud quebradiza, falleció de un ataque al corazón en 1901, a los cincuenta y cinco años, dejando a la familia casi a la deriva. Según la autora, ese hecho marcó su vida y puso fin a una infancia solitaria, aislada de otros niños, donde las mascotas eran sus principales amigos. En los años siguientes inició su educación formal en distintas escuelas de niñas, tres de ellas situadas en París. Llegado 1910 regresó a Inglaterra y, al ver a su madre enferma, tomó la decisión de marcharse con ella a El Cairo. Allí pasaron tres meses alojadas en el Gezirah Palace Hotel. En esa década, Ágatha ya comenzaba a florecer como escritora. Publicó obras de teatro, cuentos y también su primera novela, Snow Upon the Desert, donde narraba sus vivencias en la capital egipcia. El estallido de la Prim-
30 La Revista • Winter/Spring 2015
Agatha y Rosalind
era Guerra Mundial le pilló con el corazón latiendo a mil. Acababa de casarse con el aviador Archibal Christie, quien no solo le regalaría el célebre apellido, sino también un agudo mal de amores, cuyas consecuencias, son dignas de aparecer en cualquiera de sus novelas. Ya en la posguerra se empapó del género detectivesco leyendo a Doyle y Wilkie Collins. Así pues, no era de extrañar que su primer éxito fuese la novela policíaca The Mysterious affair at Styles (1920), donde aparecería por primera vez la figura de Hércules Poirot. Luego llegaría The Secret Adversary (1922), The Murder on the Links (1923), The Man in the Brown Suit (1924), y The Secret of Chimneys (1925); todas ellas incluidas en el género del suspense y misterio. Y así llegamos al annus horribilis de Agatha Christie, 1926, una fecha en la que confluyeron los acontecimientos más devastadores para ella, Su esposo le confiesa que está enamorado de otra mujer, Nancy Neele, y, le pide el divorcio, provocando así la célebre y novelesca desaparición de la autora durante once días, llevada al
Libro
cine con el título de Ágatha (1979). Por si este mazazo no fuera suficiente, fallece su madre y todo ello deja a la escritora hecha añicos. A principios de 1927, a finales de enero para ser más exactos, después de que Archibal y las musas ya hubieran abandonado el hogar, Agatha toma la decisión de marcharse a Las Canarias. No iba sola, le acompañarían su pequeña Rosalind, su secretaria Charlotte, las deudas y una amiga tan inseparable como ruidosa: su máquina de escribir. Por aquel entonces, tenía 36 años. Pero, ¿qué datos tenemos de este viaje a las islas afortunadas? Gracias a la obra Agatha Christie en Canarias, del experto Nicolás González Lemus (Nivaria Ediciones, 2007) sabemos que llegó el 4 de febrero al muelle de Santa Cruz de Tenerife en un barco de la Union Castle Mail. El mismo día realizó una excursión al Valle de La Orotava, célebre rincón que abraza parte del Teide. Se alojó en el Gran Hotel Taoro, un lugar trufado de encanto y comodidades en Puerto de la Cruz. Rodeado de amplios y hermosos jardines que albergaban campos de golf, críquet y tenis, el Taoro gozaba de vistas al mar y al Valle de la Orotava. También poseía un magnífico salón, protagonista de numerosas fiestas y un gran comedor no menos lujoso. Además, el hotel tenía un acuerdo con la agencia londinense Cook para atraer turistas británicos. La cosa funcionó, tanto que entre la comunidad británica el emplazamiento era conocido como The Grand English Hotel porque al aparecer los británicos se encontraban allí como pez en el agua. Por otro lado, el hotel estaba situado cerca de la iglesia anglicana y la biblioteca ynglesa, y claro, aquello también les ayudaría a sentirse como en casa, eso sí, con un clima más paradisíaco. Si con semejante Edén un escritor apolillado por la tristeza no logra restablecerse un poco y recuperar la inspiración, ya no hay nada que tire de él. Por fortuna, Agatha era una escritora de raza y solo necesitaba un empujoncito. Las islas se lo dieron. De hecho, se sabe que en el Puerto de la Cruz finalizó las novelas The Mystery of the Blue Train y The Mysterious Mr Quin. Sin embargo, hay testimonios de que Agatha no terminaba de sentirse cómoda en Tenerife. La culpa era de los vientos alisios, que tornaban brava la mar y hacían imposible el baño y eso, para una buena nadadora como ella, era un suplicio. Tampoco había arena, sino piedra volcánica, y todo aquello unido al
Hotel Metropole
frío y la humedad hicieron que saliera del Puerto de la Cruz bastante desencantada. El 27 de febrero recogió sus bártulos y se marchó a Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Una vez allí, se instaló en el Hotel Metropole, un primo hermano del Taoro en lo que al lujo se refiere y que poseía incluso habitaciones de revelado fotográfico. Además, estaba regentado por un compatriota suyo, Alfred Lewis Jones, que se había instalado en las islas en 1884 y era socio de la Elder, Dempster & Co. Alfred acabaría involucrándose en la industria turística. Cercano al British Club y al Tennis Court, el Metropole se convirtió en una pieza clave en la obra The Thirteen Problems, pues aparece de forma explícita en el capítulo ocho, The Companion. En esta colección de historias protagonizadas por la carismática Miss Marple, la autora homenajea a las islas situando la historia en Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, en concreto, en la playa de Las Nieves (Agaete). Según González Lemus, en este capítulo Agatha Christie rinde homenaje a los numerosos médicos británicos que se asentaron en las islas y recomendaban una estancia en el archipiélago como terapia, en especial para las afecciones pulmonares. En definitiva, la autora acabó prendada de Gran Canaria, donde pudo disfrutar de un clima mejor, nadar en la playa de Las Canteras e incluso surfear –convirtiéndose en la primera surfera de las islas-. Algunos dicen que volvió en repetidas ocasiones durante los años 60. Los más optimistas apoyan esta teoría en las siguientes palabras de su autobiografía:
“Las Palmas de Gran Canaria tenía dos playas perfectas; la temperatura también lo era… La mayor parte del año soplaba una brisa estupenda y las noches eran los suficientemente cálidas para sentarse a cenar al aire libre”. Otros dicen que tras su marcha en marzo de 1927 jamás regresó a las islas. Lo que es innegable es la huella de su visita. Así pues, el pueblo canario intentó rendir homenaje a la autora con un busto y una calle en la finca de La Paz, además de con el Festival Internacional Agatha Christie, donde se puede disfrutar de piezas teatrales, proyecciones, conferencias, rutas y actuaciones musicales. La última edición fue en 2013 en Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife. Tal vez lo más importante de este desconocido viaje de la autora al archipiélago no sea este homenaje, ni la creación de varios trabajos como Mr. Quin o The Companion, sino el innegable poder de las islas para restaurar un corazón tan quebrado como el que trajo Agatha el 4 de febrero de 1927. Agatha Christie falleció de causas naturales el 12 de enero de 1976 en Oxfordshire, dejando a sus espaldas más de ochenta novelas de suspense, ciento cincuenta cuentos, unas veinte obras teatrales, seis novelas de corte romántico, el título de Dama del Imperio Británico y su autobiografía.
ART
Photographer Idil Sukan Captures Comedy Ahead of Idil Sukan’s debut photography exhibition, This Comedian, Julia Sukan del Rio explains what makes her work unique.
I
dil Sukan’s portrait of Celia Imrie was formally acquired by the National Portrait Gallery last year. A leading photographer in the comedy world, she set up Draw HQ, her production company, in 2010. She has since been the official photographer for the Pleasance Theatre Edinburgh Fringe Festival shows, the British Independent Film Awards and the British Comedy Awards. Sukan is now opening up her photography archives for the first time for her debut exhibition This Comedian in February and March 2015.
about what it’s like to be a comedian. Sukan began photographing and designing for Fringe shows when she noticed that publicity was often unrepresentative of the themes and quality of the show. Her producer’s judgement sought to incorporate publicity as part of the entire show experience, not separate from it. Her production and publicity work for the Victorian sketch-comedy show Aeneas Faversham by sketchcomedy troupe The Penny Dreadfuls, for example, featured playing cards, which served flyers too. This encouraged the
You will rarely come across someone like Idil Sukan. She is a polymath, with sweeping interests and extreme talent. She takes a keen interest in the impact of photography and is critical of the harm that altered or reductive images have on gender roles in society. She therefore actively avoids taking brash generic comedy photos, such as ‘man in suit holding a microphone’ and ‘woman in dainty dress looking confused’ – did she just say something funny? Having been a student at Edinburgh University, Sukan had undiluted access to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in which she has taken part as a comedy producer, comedian and photographer for the last 10 years. Her forthcoming debut exhibition This Comedian is an exciting retrospective collection of her photography and design work of comedians over the last decade. This unprecedented collection of photographic work in the comedy industry includes comedic stars Eddie Izzard, Julian Clarey, Greg Proops and Bridget Christie. And staying true to form, Sukan is launching the exhibition with a stand-up comedy show with a great line-up of comedians talking
public to collect the whole deck – an ingenious ploy to get people to actively want a Fringe flyer. Her photography and poster design for Fringe shows are now so distinctive, that there is a game amongst Edinburgh Festival regulars called ‘Spot the Idil’. To play, you call out the ‘good posters’ amongst the layers of publicity plastered along the Royal Mile, the festival’s publicity street. Sukan, armed with her varied comedy background as a producer and comedian, presents photography that combines the sensitivity of a performer with the strategies of a producer. You will rarely come across an exhibition like this – don’t miss out!
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Exhibition: This Comedian Free Entry. www.thiscomedian.com Idil Sukan’s limited edition portraits and art prints are also on sale now: shop.drawhq.com
Pronounced ‘Thiria’ A Dialogue with Artist Jose Manuel Ciria Nacho Morais meets the conceptual artist in his London studio for a conversation on art and life, ahead of his Madrid exhibition Las Puertas de Uaset. A tireless researcher of the pictorial art form, he combines intellect, creativity and charm in equal measure.
J
osé Manuel Ciria welcomes me to his London studio. He was born in the UK (Manchester, 1960) but only recently set up this studio last year after seven years in New York. A man of many contrasts, he has combined a self-learning approach with the influence of more traditional figures such as his father or the old-style teachers he had as a child, who nurtured and stimulated his artistic sensibility. He is at the frontline of the artistic vanguard but has the utmost admiration for Velazquez and regards The Spinners as the best painting of all time. A nomadic character, his residences across the world have, layer after layer, furnished his kaleidoscopic approach to painting. As opposed to other more conventional painters, his work is investigation, a journey of research which has enabled him to generate three platforms which dissect the ingredients of the pictorial art form: Automatic Deconstructive Abstraction, Dynamic Alfa Alignments and the most recent one, in which he analyses the symbolic components present in painting through history. His talent and eagerness to push the boundaries of artistic manifestation have put him at the forefront of the international art scene. He sees his art form as an intellectual challenge, as he shows when he says that he “solves” paintings. With his ongoing works around us, and the promise of a tortilla de patata to cap our encounter, we slide into conversation. “My childhood memories are of either being naughty or drawing”, says Ciria. “I remember one day a teacher at school in Manchester told us to copy a print of a tiger and an elephant falling into a trap. I went to the board where the drawings were exhibited and mine was not there. Instead, she had made a little orange cardboard frame and hung it on a wall. That gave me a fantastic boost as a kid”.
ART
Despertar (2014)
When Ciria moved to Madrid he met a schoolteacher, Don Carlos, who spurred his intellectual curiosity. He became the one in the class who made the representations of biblical figures in the blackboard. At first, he felt very shy and made small drawings, quickly shaking off the stage fright and taking over the whole board. In school, he had two other favourite subjects, philosophy and physics. It is interesting what you say about physics, as often in arts, and in your work in particular, there is a certain geometric or formulaic element. The more curiosity, the more preparation you have, the more you have read, the more you can use in your work. Intuition is all right — you need the muses to accompany you to solve the painting when you are executing it — but if behind the surface there is conceptual baggage, a structure that sustains the work, I think it benefits the discourse enormously. Whoever wants to go deeper can find enough meat to bite, to be able to enjoy a deeper trip. My painting is about tensions, so I often look for the shock of placing two antithetic postures in the same level, like in the case of abstract art: geometrical and gestural. Forcing these two different things to co-lead the scene in the same frame has some tensions which I really like. In my work I work with all kinds of mathematical formulas and, obviously, with auric proportions. Ciria’s father – who eventually became his assistant — used to take him to visit artists’ studios, to the Circulo de Bellas Artes in Madrid, and got him working for a painter on Carrera de San Jeronimo, near the Spanish Congress. This painter, in turn, introduced him to his gallerist and his investigative journey into the pictorial art form took off. It was not only an intellectual journey, but also a geographical one.
José Manuel Ciria
What have you taken from the experience of those residences that you had: Paris, New York, Berlin, Tel Aviv and Rome? It depends on the intensity with which you can live in those places and those moments. I lived lots of experiences. New York, for instance, is a town where everything you are exposed to is absolutely powerful, the city accompanies you. During my tenure in Rome I thought, ‘I don’t want to wake up’. The project that I wanted to undertake there was called The Still Time, and my wish was to stop time, to stay there forever. You also harvest friendships, and exchanges and conversations can be deeply enriching. Of your range of works, I find the Rorschach Heads series really interesting. The Rorschach Heads are structured in three different phases. The first one I did while I was in Israel, and what I tried is, with a simple silhouette, without expression (no eyes, no mouth, no nose), to express emotions, just through composition, the colocation of those heads. The theme of feeling the fear, the satisfaction, the abandonment, the defeat, the worry… is a projective theme, like the Rorschach tests, hence the name. You interpret it the way you want to interpret it. I did a second phase, when I arrived in New York, where I tried to experiment with the first body of work. While I was there, my father was fatally ill and the pain took me away from my investigative painting and into the third series. I was also influenced by a trip to Easter Island during those same days. The heads in that series have expression, and I was so surprised that I made several pieces. Shortly afterwards it gained direction when Stefan Stux, the New York gallerist, came one night for dinner. I was doing the pieces, and I had a ceiling fan in the middle of the studio in New York, under which one piece was drying. It was supposed to be a
personal, intimate work, just for me. So he saw this work piece and was so interested that he asked me whether I had more. I showed him the rest and after dinner he tells me, “I am changing all dates, as I want to give you the best date in the year. Tomorrow, we sign the contract”. I am more of an abstract, rather than figurative, painter. The most important thing about the heads is that they are the same abstract shapes, anchored to a context that can be interpreted as a figurative one. The horror expressed by the heads is the horror that you see in the world. People tell me “those heads that you have painted anguish me. I could not live with that because it would scare me”. No. The ones who are actually scared are the represented ones. In that sense, and given the provocation present in many art forms these days, to what extent could the provocative dimension eclipse the art form? I am partly a painter and partly a conceptual artist who expresses himself with paint. I try to stretch the limits of what we consider painting. I am not interested in including religion or pornography; I do not aim to transgress any tradition and I am not a provocateur, but I understand that there are many people who want to brutally stretch the borders of art, and they manage to appear in press. Much of it is just plain provocation. There are exceptions, like the case of Paul McCarthy. This is a guy who has always moved around the conceptual field and with photography, and he brought a painting exhibition to the Hauser & Wirth gallery in London. The painting that he brought was eschatological and pornographic. If you are unable to look at the paintings you miss out on the aesthetic experience. Nevertheless, in the case of McCarthy, the surprising thing is that the exhibition from a pictorial standpoint was utterly extraordinary, even though he is a
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ART to art. I did not ever decide it. It fell onto me like a stone. Quite often I think that I would love to have been to be a normal person.
provocateur. This is the difference between the people who are there just to be provocative, and those who are there because they have to be. Venture capitalist Julie Meyer recently told me that what differentiates an entrepreneur is his disposition to live an abnormal life. If the artist is an intellectual entrepreneur, do you think this is true?
That is a feeling I have had since I was a child, and not because of my profession. In Manchester I was the Spanish kid and in Spain I was the English kid. I have always been an outsider. My interest in painting, my intellectual curiosity always set me apart of the others. I was kicked out of all schools and my parents were always at the headmaster’s office. Many people ask me when I decided to devote myself to this,
Finally, could you mention some artists that you can say that they clearly influenced you? I draw more from the attitude of the artist than in the formal aspect. There are some artists that have changed my way of looking at the pictorial art form: Joseph Beuys, Cy Twombly and, without a doubt, Dieter Roth. Do I especially like Joseph Beuys painting? I am not that interested, but I love what he is able to offer, and how he takes you on a journey. In the case of Roth, it is same. On the other hand, I like Twombly a lot, the fact that an American can understand the Mediterranean and make those compositions is absolutely marvellous. He maximises what is minimal, and that is a pleasure. And off we went for the tortilla…
Spaniard Leading the World of Squash
David Hurst meets Borja Golan, the world’s number 7 squash player.
A
part from a good few notable Brits, world squash has been dominated by the Pakistanis – led by the Khan dynasty with undisputed world class stars Jahengir and Jansher Khan - the Australians and, more recently, by the Egyptians. But now it is Spain’s turn as they have produced a world leader in this exciting sport. Borja Golan is an impressive 32 yearold from Santiago de Compostela who has fought through a serious knee injury in 2009 to emerge as Spain’s greatest ever squash player. The injury was sustained in the Columbian Open final which Golan went on to lose to Australian squash legend and former World Number 1, David Palmer. Despite this, the determined and elegant Spaniard climbed into the squash World Top Ten just the month after the tournament ended. Golan would have to wait until 2013 before he ranked as highly again. In Decem-
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ber 2014, in his first Professional Squash Association World Series final, he was runner up in the Hong Kong Open to the then world ranked number 1, Sheffieldborn Nick Matthew. That year Golan also reached the semi-final of the Qatar Classic beating the number 1 seed, Frenchman Gregory Gaultier, in a tense and controversial match. His current professional ranking of World Number 7 places him as the top string out of five in the team playing for St George’s Hill Tennis and Squash Club, Weybridge, where he plays regular matches in England’s Premier Squash League. The following interrview took place while the star player was on his way to play in another tournament in the USA. How and why did you take up squash in football-mad, non-squash playing Spain? I was lucky as my parents’ house was only 300 metres from Squash Club Santiago where I trained. As a kid I tried many sports such as swimming, soccer and even karate but the one I enjoyed the most was squash so I decided to quit the others. When did you become so good at squash? I don’t know yet if I am good at squash as I always think I can improve - but I am 32 and possibly running out of time! At 18 I moved to England to improve my squash and train with well-respected coach John
Milton in St Albans. Since then my only aim has been to get as good as I can be. Who inspired you in the beginning in squash and in sport generally? My parents inspired me the most; they showed me the values of hard work and humility. Also my wife has been a great support since I joined the professional circuit 12 years ago. Outside sport, what are your favourite films and authors? One of my favourite films is Ridley Scott’s Gladiator and I love sports biographies such as Andre Agassi’s and also the famous novel One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Tell us about your trade mark pressure socks! The brand of pressure socks I use is Compressport which are very helpful for keeping muscles warm and reducing the risk of injury. I also use them for recovering after a hard match or training session and then for long flights as well, keeping my legs relaxed and fresh.
on YouTube. They will take your breath away. The BritishSpanish Society wishes Borja well ings and congratulates him on his important contribution to Spanish sport.
LANGUAGE
IBERIAN WORDS – The Good, the Bad & the Ugly
After more than 40 years living in Madrid (single) and Barcelona (married), Dominic Begg lists some of the words and expressions that have stayed with him through the years, for better or worse… adeu* - minimalist Catalan streetresponse to ‘Bon dia’. Friendlier when echo. al fondo a la derecha - reassuring directions from bar staff. aprovechar - useful catch-all for ‘exploit’, ‘make use of’, etc. amusing when used ironically. a rajatabla - ‘rigorously’. Dotting the ‘i’s and crossing the ‘t’s. autoritats* - ‘local dignitaries’. A pack of individuals 3 rows of seats reserved for them,
Drawings by AB
often fail to turn up. azabache - ‘jet-black’. Often used in bala perdida - wastrel, loser. Literally ‘a spent bullet’. blandengue - softy, milksop, weakling. bochorno suffocating, humid heat. bodega ideally a cool, dark interior with dusty, musty barrels. bon nadal* - subdued festive greeting. Not especially merry. caballero - if addressed thus, my hackles rise. Barbers excepted. cancerbero - picturesque alternative to ‘goalkeeper’. cara de circunstancias ‘set facial expression’. cara de pocos amigos - a murderous facial expression. ¡circulen! ‘keep moving’. Warning from Franco’s police. compañero/a - sentimental prissy term for partner, boyfriend, girlfriend, lover, etc. crepuscular - often used to describe the declining western movie genre. currar - to knuckle down to your working routine. ¡chim-pún! - cheerful nonsense-word signalling the end of a song. chorizo - a crook or fraudster. sadly, plenty to be seen in Spain. one whose ‘cape has fallen’ and who’s down on his luck. deslucido - spoilt by poor weather or a bad performance.
desnivel - uneven paving that could trip you up. desperfectes*- damage to property after a storm. el escándalo/pulso está servido splendid image of a waiter removing the lid of a salver and ‘serving up a scandal’. entradas - a man’s receding hairline. literally ‘entrances’. fuertote machote - ‘big strong lad’. I was called this once by a colleague 30 years ago when I came to work jacketless. It’s stuck! gandul* - an idler who may well end up as a ‘bala perdida’. ¡go-o-o-ol, gol gol gol! - just acceptable on the radio. UnBritish. impresentable(*) - sounds wonderfully dismissive in Catalan. inodoro ‘al fondo a la derecha’. lamentable(*) - again, this sounds perfect in Catalan. morbo - hard to translate. ‘prurience’ (approximately). muy repartido - ‘widely shared’. the context is a lottery win. ni a Granada, la que suspira por el mar - memorable line from a Lorca poem. A barrage of ‘a’s, plus a nod to the last Moorish ruler of Al-Andalus. niño (El Niño, Niño de la Capea, El Niño de la Hipoteca) a singer. As with ‘little Stevie Wonder’, age may lead to a name-change. nosotras - in a Madrid street, aged 17, I was invited to a party by four shop-girls ‘Ven con nosotras’. Sexiest word in the dictionary! oito** - some elderlyGallegos, when speaking Spanish, seem to have dif¡ojalá! - ‘would that it were so!’ a single word that packs a punch. ojo de perdiz ‘partidge-eye’. A potato found in the Almería area. paciencia y barajar - ‘patience and advice that goes back to the Cervantes era. pichardos - unfamiliar foreign banknotes and coins. ‘ackers’. plasticidad - in an art review it sounds pretentious to British ears.
ming in a cold sea will alert him to the danger of catching this. ¡Que va! ‘like hell!’ or ‘whatever!’. popular with adolescents. quitar hierro - ‘to take the heat off’, ‘to release the pressure’. Refers to branding-irons used by ranch-hands. se obedece, pero no se cumple - ‘one obeys, but one doesn’t implement’. Imperial viceroys in the New World often treated instructions from Seville-based bishops in this way. suegra - ‘mother-in-law’. It has a sour and vinegary ring to it! tancat*- ‘closed/shut’. Has a metallic jail-cell clang. todo el tinglado - ‘the whole she-bang/ shooting-match’. ull de lliebre* - grape variety ‘hare’s eye’ (= tempranillo). un penalti como una catedral - ‘a clear penalty’. Massively visible to everybody but the referee!
vino peleón - a young wine that next morning. ¡voy a cocerme! - ‘I’m going out on heard this from rugby coach Carmelo ‘Margarito’ García over 40 years back. xafagor*- see ‘bochorno’ above. this is even steamier! zanjar - ‘to bring to an end or wrap up’. * = Catalan (*) = Works in both Castellano and Catalan ** = Galician/Gallego
‘pneumonia’. The mother of a ‘blandengue’ swim-
Winter/Spring 2015 • La Revista 35
Art & Culture Andalucia
Villa Los Buhos, Gaucin, Andalucia Sunshine, stunning scenery, exquisite food and wine, fascinating company, mental stimulation and luxury accommodation – this is the unique experience
Andrew Graham-Dixon, the well-known art critic, journalist and TV presenter says, “I can’t recommend Jacqueline Cockburn’s Andalusian cultural experience too highly.”
www.artandcultureandalucia.com www.facebook.com/artandcultureandalucia
CULTURE
Contemporary Spanish Cinema
Duncan Wheeler and Fernando Canet explain why they were moved to research varying perceptions of Spanish cinema, the subject of their new book.
I
n an increasingly globalised world, does it still make sense to talk about national cinemas as if they were self-contained clearly definable categories? Even if we can agree on the existence of such a thing as Spanish cinema, is it understood in the same way at home as it is abroad, or does it perhaps take on different meanings depending on personal and culturally determined preferences and prejudices? If, as seems to be the case, the world is becoming ever-more homogenous, should Spanish cinema take a lead from directors such as Alejandro Amenábar and Juan Bayona, who have arguably beaten Hollywood at its own game in films such as The Others and The Impossible; or, conversely, is entering into this game a form of ethical and aesthetic defeat: ought filmmakers to be looking to offer something different from mainstream fare, showcasing the diversity of both Spain and its cinematic talent? These are just some of the questions that inspired us to edit a book that puts leading academics from a broad range of disciplinary and geographical backgrounds into dialogue with critically and commercially successful practitioners to suggest the need to redefine the parameters of one of the world’s most creative national cinemas. The impetus for the project, and in fact our first meeting, was a conference organised by Fernando Canet in New York in December 2011, at which Duncan Wheeler presented a paper on Elegy, an English-language adaptation of Philip Roth’s novella The Dying Animal, directed by the Catalan filmmaker Isabel Coixet, and starring Academy Award winner Penélope Cruz. As well as offering a close analysis of the film, this paper was interested in interrogating how and why the film had been better received in the UK and the US than it had been in Spain; this disjuncture between domestic and international perceptions was also flagged by a number of other delegates who, for example, probed Pedro Almodóvar’s status as a global icon in light of his more chequered reputation at home, or analysed comedies such as Torrente, Fuga de cerebros and Tengo ganas de ti that are amongst the most popular films in Spain, but rarely travel abroad: how many UKbased cinema-goers know that Ocho apellidos vascos recently became the biggest grossing film of all time at the domestic box-office?
“How many UK-based cinemagoers know that Ocho apellidos vascos recently became the biggest grossing film of all time at the domestic box-office?” Also present at the conference were some of the most critically acclaimed Spanish practitioners of recent years: the directors Isaki Lacuesta and José Luis Guerin, alongside the producer and director Luis Miñarro. Although their prize-winning films do not always find the favour of either audiences or funders at home, their inclusion in the world’s most prestigious film festivals is instrumental to the international standing of Spanish cinema. The recording of their roundtable discussion inspired us to dedicate a section in the book to engaging with industry professionals working in a variety of roles. As a counterpart to a chapter titled ‘How to make arty films now’, in which Miñarro dissects the struggles to produce arthouse cinema in Spain with characteristic gallows’ humour, we interviewed Mercedes Gamero within the rubric of ‘How to make commercial films now’ – this television executive for Antena 3 has been one of the very few Spanish producers to weather the current economic crisis and develop financially viable projects through investment in international coproductions, and comedies aimed at the domestic marketplace featuring popular actors, generally best-known for their work on the small screen. The contributors to the book adopt various, often opposing, stances as to whether mainstream acceptance and commercial
success ought to be determining factors in the kind of films that are produced. While, in accordance with the ethos of the volume, we have adopted no editorial line in the regard, it is clear that there are two ways of denigrating a national cinema: first, by saying that it can never make money by direct or by indirect means; and, second, by suggesting that commercial viability is the sole criteria by which films ought to be judged. We have worked hard to ensure that the book counterbalances chapters that take popular films seriously, with others that painstakingly explore the creativity of more challenging cinematic fair providing, for example, a detailed interrogation of the recent upsurge in art films produced in Catalonia. The passage of the thoughts of over twenty-five authors living in different countries, and even continents, to nearly five-hundred pages of printed text has frequently seemed more of a quixotic than a Herculean task, but it has fully convinced us not only of the multitude of great Spanish films from the last two decades, but also of the plurality of perspectives from which they can be viewed. Despite the current obstacles it has to negotiate, the talent pool working both in and on Spanish cinema is healthier today than it has ever been; if nothing else, our book bears testament to that talent, and offers its services to the readers as a guide for discovering new films and re-viewing familiar ones under a new light. From the outset, we sought to bring together Spanish- and English-language specialists in a field that has, on occasions, operated along nationally-specific partisan lines. In the spirit of the BritishSpanish Society, we can only hope that this Apartheidlike division becomes a relic of the past and that, as with all good tour-guides, the book serves a diplomatic as well as an ambassadorial role: it would be disconcertingly boring if cinematic and academic communities began to agree on everything, but we hope to have initiated a conversation to which everyone is welcome to contribute. Duncan Wheeler is Associate Professor in Spanish Studies at the University of Leeds Fernando Canet is Associate Professor in Film Studies at the Polytechnic University of Valencia Winter/Spring 2015 • La Revista 37
CULTURE
¿Qué hay de nuevo en MADRID? La capital de España se encuentra en pleno apogeo de nuevos negocios. Aperturas de restaurantes, tiendas, cafeterías, hoteles o galerías de arte salpican la ciudad. ¿Te vienes de paseo por Madrid? Por Estefanía Ruilope.
E
mpezamos la ruta por el nuevo hotel Urso (Mejía Lequerica, 1), un edificio ideal para dormir ubicado en la zona de las salesas. ¿Qué destaca en él? Su buen gusto en la decoración, los exquisitos productos de belleza de la marca The Lab Room disponibles en las habitaciones y su restaurante efímero The Table by. Su concepto gastronómico se basa en acoger durante un mes y replicar en su totalidad los mejores restaurantes de España. No muy lejos de éste aparece otro hotel, el Siete Islas (Valverde, 14), que se caracteriza por tener un llamativo estilo nórdico y un ambiente muy trendy.
The Table by
Siete Islas
Para desayunar hay dos sugerencias. Por un lado, el
un gastro local con representación de todas las comidas del mundo, además de bar de copas y restaurante con una estrella Michelín. ¿Otro plus? Se encuentra amenizado con música jazz. Igualmente en la zona de Fuencarral está el Mercado de San Idelfonso (Fuencarral, 57), famoso por sus cañas, su sushi y sus tacos mexicanos. Il Tavolo Verde (Villalar, 6), un espacio con una filosofía cien por cien ecológica en pleno barrio de Salamanca, donde puedes tomar un rico té con un suculento trozo de bizcocho de calabaza handmade. Lo peculiar de este local es que al fondo se convierte en una tienda de decoración con una gran diversidad de muebles de estilo rústico. Si buscas un desayuno al más puro estilo francés, la mejor opción es Fonty (Castello, 12), que posee un original suelo hidráulico idóneo para tomar un rico croissant con café con leche. A la hora de comer la oferta culinaria es muy variada y amplia. Todo depende de qué estés buscando. Si hablamos de una comida de cinco tenedores una de las mejores opciones es degustar los platos con esencia gallega de Alabaster (Montalban, 9) o el savoir faire del grupo Paraguas con su Ultramarinos Quintín (Jorge Juan, 17). Si buscas un lugar donde se mantenga la buena comida pero sea algo más sencilloo no te pierdas Alcocer 42 (Alcocer, 42). En Beker 6 (Hermanos Bécquer, 6) prueba el horno josper o disfruta de una sabrosa hamburguesa en un ambiente de la Costa Azul de los años 40. Para degustar una de las mejores tortillas de patata de la ciudad acude a Taberna
38 La Revista • Winter/Spring 2015
Beker 6
Pedraza (Ibiza, 40): para unas deliciosas croquetas de boletus visita Taberna Arzabal (Avenida de Menéndez Pelayo, 13) y si prefieres pasearte por el sito de moda, el lugar perfecto es Fox (Fernández de la Hoz, 66).
Fox
También hay que destacar el boom de los mercados gastronómicos surgido en los últimos meses. Son varios los espacios dedicados a este universo. Uno de ellos es Platea (Goya, 5-7), un antiguo cine reconvertido en
A la hora de ir de compras la ruta de moda combina diseñadores españoles con grandes marcas internacionales. En la tienda de ropa gallega Masscob (Callejón de Puigcerda) puedes encontrar piezas sencillas con personalidad. Una de las últimas en aterrizar en el antiguo y archiconocido restaurante Teatriz es la hermana mediana de H&M, & Other Stories (Hermosilla, 15). Para muebles y objetos decorativos cosmopolitas tienes que ir a Indietro (Ortega y Gasset, 28) y para gafas de sol diferentes y con personalidad, a Óptica Toscana (Hortaleza, 70). Por último, siempre resulta agradable un paseo por el jardín de Federica & Co (Hermosilla, 26). Como colofón, turno para unos cuidados de belleza en el recién estrenado Spa de Lush (Carmen, 24) o en un centro cien por cien ecológico, Serendipia (Recoletos, 16).
Serendipia
Basque Country Chronicle
Hondarribia festival
Tom Blinkhorn tells La Revista about the culture-culinary tour he took part in last September, and reflects on why the rich cultural history or the region has such enduring appeal.
F
or as long as I can remember, the Basque Country has held a special mystique for me. It started when I was a kid growing up in Canada’s Cape Breton Island on the North Atlantic. In school, whenever the topic turned to the earliest explorers and inhabitants of our part of North America, fishing would invariably come up because for centuries that was the dominant livelihood, particularly fishing in the Atlantic’s Grand Banks, historically one of the world’s bountiful sources of cod, oysters and many others. Basque fishermen, we learned, had worked the Grand Banks since the early 1400s or sooner, long before Columbus set sail for what he hoped would be Asia but ended up instead in the Bahamas. Who were these adventurous Basques, I wondered? Where do they come from and what is the source of their courage? I got my answers, and then some, a year or so ago when my cultivated friend from Dublin, Paddy Woodworth, suggested a culture-culinary tour. In addition to being an engaging Celtic raconteur, he also happens to be a specialist on the Basque Country, the author of well-received books including The Basque Country: A
Cultural History (see www.paddywoodworth.com). I said yes immediately and proposed that we plan a small study tour involving members of the lifelong education institute at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, USA, where I live and teach. Fourteen people, including myself, signed up for the adventure, all retired academics or professional people. Fortunately Paddy had a friend, Jon Warren, who started a wonderful culinary institute in San Sebastian, the Spanish Basque city on the Bay of Biscay 20 km from the French border. Jon is a soft-spoken 34-year-old Englishman, who worked for four years as a stockbroker in the City of London before falling in love with the Basque Country in 2008 and establishing San Sebastian Food (see www.sansebastianfood.com). Before the trip, all participants prepared themselves with a three-session study course on the Basque country via real-time, audio-visual Skype hook-up between Hanover, Dublin and San Sebastian. Paddy’s book provided the context. We learned that the Basques are one of the oldest, if not the oldest, European people. They have probably lived in their home place longer than other ethnic groups on the continent. Their language, Euskera, is unique – not only non-IndoEuropean but it has no clear link with any other tongue. And Basques, on both sides of the Pyrenees in France and Spain, have kept alive a vibrant tradition of folk music, costumes, dances and sports, which few other European peoples can match. Also fascinating is the fact that the Basques have long been at the cutting edge of Iberian history, culture and commerce. For example, the so-called rein-
vention of the largest Basque city, Bilbao – a project led by Basque nationalists – has become a model for the 21st century city of cultural services and information technologies, inspired by the glorious Guggenheim museum, designed by the prize-winning architect, Frank Gehry.
“You might fancy a tiny feast of octopus with potatoes and pimento, or pork loin with caramelised onions, or wild mushrooms scrambled with parsley, garlic and gildas” Filled with this cornucopia of history and alluring information, the 14 of us couldn’t wait to experience the real thing. And, with guidance from Paddy and Jon, we embarked last September on a wondrous 10 day culture-culinary tour. We visited historic villages like Lesaka in the Navarre region, had a guided tour by the jolly local historian Rafael Eneterreaga, and met the mayor. In Hondarribia, the quintessential Basque fishing village, we watched the colourful annual festival in celebration of an obscure 14th century battle. I also purchased a red Basque beret to show off at home. In the French Basque Country we sensed in Biarritz what 19th century elite tourism must have been like, where Napoleon and Josephine as well as Edward, Prince of Wales frolicked. The birders in our group joined Paddy in a morning trek at Txingudi, a Ramsar wetland of international importance in the Plaiaundi Ecology Park, one of the great migration channels to and from the Bay of Biscay for waders, wildfowl and warblers.
Jamón carving
Winter/Spring 2015 • La Revista 39
CULTURE pork loin with caramelised onions, or wild mushrooms scrambled with parsley, garlic and gildas. The latter are classic Basque peppers, anchovies and olives all packed onto a cocktail stick. I became enamoured with txakoli, the local white wine which has recently become enormously fashionable.
Music Review
Granados’ Danzas Españolas Op.37, played by Maite Aguirre
• Joining the entire group in helping prepare a gourmet seafood meal under the guidance of master chef Alex Barcenilla and his team in the fishing village of Paisajes San Juan. My tasks were helping to clean and chop squid plus carve the best part of a 15 pound tuna, freshly caught from the Bay of Biscay.
Cooking class
For me the highlights of the trip were: • Exploring the Basque maritime museum in Bermeo on the coast, from whence fishermen set out for the Grand Banks near my part of Canada hundreds of years ago. Nearby town Getaria has a marvelous museum dedicated to the local boy who became an internationally famous fashion designer – Cristobal Balenciaga. • Savouring the endless variety of pintxos (pronounced “peen chos”) in the lively bars in the centre of San Sebastian. Pintxos are the Basque version of Spanish tapas. The word means thorn or spike, a reference to the cocktail skewers often used to hold small pieces of food together. You might fancy a tiny feast of octopus with potatoes and pimento, or
I could go on about the Guggenheim museum, the great Rioja Alavesa wines, bronze age village sites, the masterclass in the preparation and carving of the very best cured ham in the world – the jamón iberico de bellota. Suffice to say that the entire experience was, as the Basques say, “apartekoa” – sensational. And a small confession, paraphrasing a line from a famous, old American song: “I left my heart in….San Sebastian.” www.sansebastianfood.com http://www.sansebastianfood.com/uploads/packages/pdf/SSF-5867.pdf
in international development with the
reporter and editorial writer for newspapers in Canada and the US. He and his family Dartmouth college. Thatcher
L
overs of Granados' Danzas Españolas will appreciate this sensitive recording of the complete cycle by Maite Aguirre, who leads the listener with skill through the romantic steps and turns of this inventive and popular set. A faithfulness to the composer's characteristic sound is on display here, the mighty Bösendorfer lending colour in particular to the Andalucian cry punctuating the middle section of the final 'Bolero'. The recording quality is clear and consistent, allowing Aguirre to explore the personalities of the individual dances while remaining faithful to the soul of Granados' opus. The unsettling motifs driving the famous 'Andaluza' feel suitably quixotic, but standing out is the compelling 'Arabesca', which invites us to lose ourselves in its insistent, flamencoinspired twirls and rhythms, so evocative of the southern landscape. Granados' achievement (he was 22 when he wrote this cycle) is to combine the exotic with a sense of the instantly familiar, although it could be debated to what extent the composer echos and is influenced by sounds that we recognise as inherently Spanish, rather than the other way around. Here, he achieves a union of the modern and the thoroughly authentic, most strikingly evoked in the dreamlike, floating chords introducing the 'Sardana', whose theme, building and rolling, alternates between confidence and introspection before resolving optimistically back to C Major. Those more familiar with one of the many excellent guitar recordings of Danzas Españolas will find this CD, at £10, a rewarding introduction to the original piano arrangement. It can be explored piecemeal or enjoyed over the full 57 minutes, preferably on a long, hot summer evening with the smell of orange blossom in the air. Thomas Bell
Tour group
40 La Revista • Winter/Spring 2015
The best option for your future www.unav.edu
Recipe: Tarta de Manzana vs Apple Pie
I
t’s a classic known throughout the world, but ask people of various nationalities for their idea of an apple pie, and the words are likely to conjure up different images depending on whom you are talking to. Is it a full pastry pie or a French tart tatin? An Austrian strudel or Spanish tarta de manzana? A Dutch appelkruimeltaart or appeltaart? The full pastry Apple pie may be synonymous for many with American food culture, but to say something is “as American as apple pie” more often refers to something that was brought there by outsiders and has since become part of American cultural identity. Original pie recipes (and the apples to make them with) were introduced to the US by early European settlers, and were based on the apple pyes made in England in medieval times. Before apple came to be a popular filling the first pies in Britain were traditionally meat pies— beef, lamb, wild duck, pigeon — flavoured with spices and dried fruit, and full fruit pies didn’t become popular until the 1500s. The pastry case is believed to have been invented by the Greeks, who created it using flour and water. There is plenty of variation and interpretation in terms of the types of apple to use (cooking or eating apples; bramley or cox), base (puff or shortcrust pastry; sponge or bizcocho) and how to serve it (hot or cold; with cream, ice cream or custard, or even, as was traditionally the case in the UK, with cheese?). The English full pastry casing would make it more of an empanada in Spain, whereas the reipe given here for a Spanish tarta de manzana bears a closer resemblance to a cake with its sponge base and apples arranged on top. Do you have a favourite recipe? Write in and let us know! Amy Bell
Tarta de manzana
Ingredients 300ml whole milk 300g sugar 3 large eggs 3 large apples To decorate: 2 large apples Apricot jam to glaze the top For a cake tin of approx. 25cm diameter with removable base Preheat the oven to 180ºC. Peel, core and chop three large apples and blend it. Mix the pureed apple in a bowl with all the other ingredients using an electric whisk. The mixture should be smooth, without lumps. Grease the cake tin with butter in the cake mixture. Peel and core the remaining two apples and slice very thinly. Arrange these carefully on top of the cake mixture. Bake in the oven for 1 hour. Test by inserting a knife and checking to see if it comes out clean, letting it cook for longer if needed. Remove from the oven when ready and using a spoon or pastry brush glaze the top with apricot jam.
Apple pie
Ingredients For the pastry 100g butter, cut into small pieces a pinch of salt cold water 700g Bramley apples 200g Cox, or other eating apples 25g soft brown sugar 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/4 whole nutmeg, grated 2 tablespoons of water To glaze Milk and caster sugar For an enamel 24cm/9 1/2 inch pie dish Peel and thinly slice the cooking apples and mix with the sugar and spices in a saucepan. Add the water and cook gently until the apples are soft. Strain and allow to cool.
you have a crumbly mixture. Add 2 tablespoons of knife to mix it, cutting it and bringing it together. Make a ball of dough with your hands. Wrap it in Pre-heat the oven to 200ºC. Grease the pie dish with butter. Roll out two thirds of the pastry to 5mm thick and use it to line the dish. Put the apple mixture in. Cut and slice the eating apples and lay them on top. Brush the pastry edges with milk. Roll out the remaining pastry and cover the pie with it, pressing the edges down to create a seal. You can use the prongs of a fork to press it down. Cut a small hole in the middle of the pastry. Brush it all with milk, using extra pastry trimmings to decorate. Sprinkle with sugar and bake in the oven on a baking sheet for 30 minutes.
Membership Form Please select the type of membership Home Counties Single £30.00
Elsewhere Joint £45.00
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Spanish
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What Greek word gave us a common suffix referring to disease or illness, and a quality in something which prompts pity or sadness?
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La Revista Issue 239 by LaRevista - issuu
issuu
La Revista
The BritishSpanish Society Magazine | Issue 239 | Winter/Spring 2015
The Changing World of Work Business Issue: British and Spanish start-ups, Loewe CEO interview, and el nuevo emprendimiento
EDITORIAL
W
elcome back to La Revista. In this issue we look at how technological advances and increased global connectivity have transformed the ways in which we live and work, and what the further implications of this could be. If it is possible to be connected to the Internet at any time, from anywhere, how will business structures change? What jobs might exist in the future which we cannot yet conceive of? While all of this remains uncertain, there is a greater awareness of the need to self-educate, to gain the right skills in order to be equipped for the changing world of work. The rising number of entrepreneurs and start-ups in the last couple of years is perhaps indicative of this. We speak to the founders of two new companies – one in the UK and one in Spain – about their experiences, followed by an interview with the director of INCYDE – an organisation which supports small businesses and entrepreneurs in Spain and abroad. Lisa Montague, Chief Executive of Loewe and a firm believer in the global appeal of ‘Made in Spain’, gives her perspective, while also providing an insight into how one of Spain’s leading luxury firms is run. Elsewhere Nuria Reina Bachot, winner of the 2014 prize for the best article in La Revista (presented at the BritishSpanish Society Christmas party, see pg.4), looks into English crime writer Agatha Christie’s life and the significance of the time she spent in the Canary Islands. Tom Blinkhorn conjures up the delicious flavours of Basque cooking on pg.39 and Society Chairman Jimmy Burns Marañón reflects on his Anglo-Spanish roots at the Gilbraltar Literary Festival on pg. 16. Planning a visit to Madrid any time soon? Resident Madrileña Estefanía Ruilope’s shortlist of top places to go should give you some inspiration. In fact, while you’re there (or in another part of Spain) you might want to try out some of the classic words and expressions compiled by Sitges local Dominic Begg, for example, aquí zanjamos el editorial. Amy Bell I hope you enjoy the issue!
La Revista Executive Editor: Jimmy Burns Marañón Editor: Amy Bell Corporate Supporters/Advertising/Scholarships: Marian Jiménez-Riesco Development Secretary: María Soriano Casado Events: Carmen Young, Lucia Cawdron, David Hurst (Gala events), Beatriz Gago Vazquez (Secretary) Membership, Finance, and Website Secretary: Virginia Cosano Design: Amy Bell Published by the BritishSpanish Society Honorary President: His Excellency Federico Trillo-Figueroa, Spanish Ambassador Chairman: Jimmy Burns Marañón Vice-Chairman: Sir Stephen Wright Vice-Presidents (Organisation/Strategy): Christopher Nason, José Ivars (Corporates) Jaime Arranz Coque (Treasurer) Other members of the Executive Council: María Victoria Yuste Gas, Sir Stephen Wright, Javier Fernández Hidalgo, Lady Brennan, Miguel Fernández-Longoria (Scholarships), Sarah Galea, Harriet McKenzie 102 Eaton Square, London SW1W 9AN www.britishspanishsociety.org
2 La Revista • Winter/Spring 2015
facebook.com/ BritishSpanish
@BritishSpanish @LaRevistaUK
The opinions expressed throughout this issue represent those of the authors and contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the BritishSpanish Society or those of their supporters. The BritishSpanish Society is a registered charity: 1080250
CONTENTS
CONTENTS Issue 239 SOCIETY NEWS
Julia Sukan del Rio
The BritishSpanish Society Christmas Party Upcoming Society Events
17 21 23 26 27 29 30
Duchess of Alba: Obituary & Recordatorio desde Londres Scholarship Report: Dorset to Barcelona The Other Side of the Mountain: A Visit to the Gibraltar Literary Festival Inside a Start-up: What turns an idea into a business? El Futuro de los Negocios y el Nuevo Emprendimiento Interview with Lisa Montague, CEO of Loewe Perfil de Trabajo: Midwife Talking about my Generation Memorias de la Transicón De cuando Agatha Christie visitó ‘Las Islas Afortunadas’
32
Photographer Idil Sukan Captures Comedy
34
Spaniard Leading the World of Squash: Interview with Borja Golan
& Pronounced ‘Thiria’: A Dialogue with Artist Jose Manuel Ciria
35 Iberian Words: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly 37 Contemporary Spanish Cinema 38 ¿Qué hay de nuevo en Madrid? 39 Basque Country Chronicle 42 Recipe: Tarta de Manzana vs Apple Pie Contact us:
For all editorial contributions or to comment on an article you have read in La Revista, please write to us at: [email protected] To enquire about advertising opportunities (including classified adverts) please contact: [email protected] Winter/Spring 2015 • La Revista 3
SOCIETY NEWS
The BritishSpanish Chistmas Party Tapas, cava and carols for the final event of 2014
O
ver 150 members of the British Spanish Society celebrated Christmas at the Instituto Cervantes in a delightful event presided by the Spanish Ambassador Federico Trillo-Figueroa. The atmosphere was cordial and relaxed, full of laughs and lively conversation, with many open to meeting others for the first time. The food, served by Hispania, was delicious and a good example of the best of Spanish produce. The party was an excellent opportunity for members to meet again and celebrate Christmas together. In his welcome address the Ambassador explained that “we all share the same values and roots” and congratulated Chairman Jimmy Burns Marañon and his team for their achievements. Mr Burns Marañon described the Society as a “bridge of friendship, meeting and dialogue. We want to describe what we do as a large family meeting for British people who love all things about Spain and for those Spaniards living in London and in need to feel at home.”. Perhaps this explains why the organisation has grown so quickly in the last four years, to more than 650 members. For the coming year the goals of the Society are to keep growing and to organise more events to cater for all ages. Raising funds for the scholarship programme is also a top priority, said Burns, “because it gives the opportunity to Spanish and British students to investigate in different fields”. In terms of professionalism, the plan is “to keep doing what we are good at, in honesty and
transparency. We are all volunteers with a high working speed.” The objective of the Society is to be “solid, passionate and reliable in the way we do things and the service we offer to our members”. Approaching its centenary in 2016, the Society is fortunate to have excellent sponsors who believe in the value of the organisation. One of them is the University of Navarra, whose Admissions Director, Álvaro Balibrea, thinks that the British Spanish Society is “a good forum” to be in touch with people who live in London and have roots or a relevant connection with Spain. “The relationship is always profitable; there is an exchange of views, help and mutual collaboration”. Awards were presented to the best article written in this year’s editions of La Revista, the official magazine of the Society. The prize is awarded by the University of Navarra in partnership with the BritishSpanish Society, and on this occasion there were three finalists. Mr Balibrea presented the awards on behalf of the university. The overall winner was Spanish writer Nuria Reina Bachot
Turrón
4 La Revista • Winter/Spring 2015
for her article entitled ‘Roberta, Peter y Phyllis’ recounting her experience writing the first ever Spanish translation of the British children’s literary classic, The Railway Children. Two finalists were also awarded certificates: Tomás Hill López Menchero and Bess Twiston-Davies. After that, a group of members sang some Christmas carols, conducted by Maite Aguirre. This was followed by a raffle organised by Carmen Young, full of brilliant prizes generously donated for the occasion in order to raise funds for the Society. The 2015 Christmas party will be the precursor of the activities commemorating the 4th centenary of William Shakespeare and Miguel de Cervantes’ deaths, which were both in 1616. It will be also the last activity until the celebration of the Society’s own centenary in 2016. The British Spanish Society would like to thank all of those who kindly donated prizes to the raffle. By Laura Gran Photos: Toño Figueira
SOCIETY NEWS
Maite Aguirre leads the choir with Christmas carols in English and Spanish
The Hispania team with Jimmy Burns Marañón and Carmen Young
Kidge Burns
Winter/Spring 2015 • La Revista 5
SOCIETY NEWS
Thank you to everyone who sponsored the Christmas party or donated prizes to the raffle
WANTED! The BritishSpanish Society is looking for a part-time website and social media editor Skills required: Fluent in Spanish and English, with a high level of spelling and grammar. Experience in website management. Aptitude for social media channels. Responsibilities include: Maintaining the BritishSpanish Society website, keeping it up-to-date. Building the Society’s online presence by managing activity across social media channels including Twitter and Facebook. Working with La Revista editor to build online version of the magazine. Please send applications to [email protected]
6 La Revista • Winter/Spring 2015
SOCIETY NEWS
February - March2015
Why not become a member of the BritishSpanish Society? www.britishspanishsociety.org/membership
Our full programme of events can be found at www.britishspanishsociety.org/whats-on. For tickets please contact [email protected] or purchase via our website. Payment can also be made by bank transfer (account details online) or via cheque, to the BritishSpanish Society, 102 Eaton Square, London SW1W 9AN.
Theatre Trip to INIGO
Wren Churches in the City Walking Tour and Tapas Lunch Date and Time: Monday 23rd February 10.30am - 12.30pm followed by lunch. Cut-off for bookings: Monday 16th February. Minimum group size 10. Venue: meet from 10.15am outside Tower Hill Tube Station; 12.30pm tapas lunch at Hispania, 72-74 Lombard Street, London EC3V 9AY Tickets: Members £29 including tapas lunch (drinks extra) or £12 for walk only. Non-members £34 including lunch or £15 for walk only What to expect: Our experienced and entertaining guide will be Malcolm Dick, a City of London Guide, whose wider approach to City walking tours will include visits to pre-Fire of London St Olaf’s, St Dunstan’s and more Wren churches in Gracechurch Street, ending with a Hawksmoor designed lunch at Hispania restaurant.
Date & Time: No group trip is planned as the theatre does not take group reservations without full payment in advance. However, we suggest Friday 27th February with 7.30pm start. Venue: White Bear Theatre, Kennington Tickets: £14 to be booked directly with the theatre (concessions £10) World premier of a new play written and directed by award-winning Jonathan Moore, based on the life of Ignatius of Loyola: ‘Radical. Saint. Loved and hated. Founder of the Jesuits.’ What to expect: With a Jesuit Pope, this new play looks at the founder of the Jesuits, Ignatius of Loyola. After a radical conversion, everything changes and we follow ‘Inigo’ from founding the Society of Jesus which was (and is still) either loved or hated.
Try a New Sport in 2015! Guided Exhibition: Kenwood House Come and play Padel Tennis Date: Saturday 21st March Gloria Ceballos ‘Nature, Tickets: Cost £12 for members, £17 for Date and Time: Saturday 14th March from a cultural artefact’ non members Venue: Instituto Cervantes Date and Time: Friday 20th February from 11.00 - 12.00 Tickets: Free
‘Nature: a cultural artefact’ represents Gloria Ceballos’ constant research about the human relationship with nature. As city inhabitants our experiences of nature are restricted to parks, gardens and other green areas within our cities: the “cultured nature”. We call green spaces a natural environment, when in reality they are human-controlled places. In our aim to control everything, nature theorised. The ‘three natures’ concept studied for many authors since Cicero and developed by Landscape theorist, John Dixon Hunt, is the focus of Ceballos’ latest series of work presented in this solo exhibition at the Instituto Cervantes.
10.00am to 12.00am followed by a pub lunch. Cut-off date for applications: Monday 23 February Venue: Padel Club London, PlayOn Sports Building, 100 Preston Road, London E14 9SB Tickets: £25 per person for 2 hours doubles court time (or just £15 per hour if you prefer) For more information on padel tennis visit: www.padelclubuk.com
Padel tennis is fast, fun and easy to learn. It is already played in Spain and Latin America and is expanding fast in Europe. A racquet sport played in doubles and indoors on an enclosed court half the size of a tennis court, it resembles tennis and is the best way to get Join us with society member Toni Salord, General Manager at Padel Club London, for a full introduction to the rules and the game - and to see why padel tennis is the fastest growing sport in the world!
Venue: Kenwood House, Hampstead Lane, London NW3 7JR Tea/drinks/food not included. Join us for a private guided tour of the day of spring, Saturday 21st March, meeting at 11.00am. Part of the English Heritage set on the edge of Hampstead Heath and surrounded by tranquil landscaped gardens, Kenwood is one of London’s hidden gems. The House, its breathtaking interiors and stunning art collection is a must. Discover the vast array of masterpieces hanging in this grand setting, including Rembrandt’s self portrait, and be awed by the breathtaking beauty of architect Robert Adam’s library. In the afternoon, weather permitting there will be a walk on Hampstead Heath. The survivors could have tea in Hampstead.
Winter/Spring 2015 • La Revista 7
SOCIETY NEWS
Presentation of Hispanomania
Journalist and author Tom Burns Marañon had a captivated audience as he spoke about his latest book last November.
J
Julio Crespo MacLennan and Tom Burns Marañón. Photo: Toño Figueira
ournalist and author Tom Burns Marañón delivered a fascinating talk at the Instituto Cervantes in November based on his book Hispanomanía, an account of the curiosos impertinentes, travellers from other European countries and the US who came to Spain with preconceived notions about the country. Burns took his audience through the journeys of 19th century romantics like the French poet Théophile Gautier, who found in the colour of the land and its people an inspiration for some of his best poetry in España, and prose in Un Voyage en Espagne. Tom’s book also focuses on two other French curiosos impertinentes, George Sand and Maurice Legendre, the latter an enthusiastic Hispanist who held the post of director of the Casa de Velázquez at the French cultural institute in Madrid. Burns recounted the fascinating tale of Legendre’s experiences in Las Hurdes which, at the time of his first visit in 1912, was arguably one of the most primitive and deprived regions of Europe. That visit led Legendre to launch a campaign to call public attention to the miserable living conditions of the hurdanos, in which he enlisted the aid of the novelist Miguel de Unamuno and Burns’ maternal grandfather, the celebrated physician Gregorio Marañón. The conceptions (and misconceptions), mishaps and adventures of British travellers Richard Ford and George Borrow provided a source of amusement, leading up to the more familiar voices of the volunteers of the International Brigades, and those who went to Spain to
8 La Revista • Winter/Spring 2015
report on or to participate in the fighting of the Civil War. George Orwell and Ernest Hemingway, for instance, viewed Spain through very different lenses, but what both had in common was a shared love and admiration for the country, which comes through in their classics Homage to Catalonia and For Whom the Bell Tolls. One wonders if Burns might be considering a worthy follow-up to his excellent book with another on Spanish travellers abroad, looking at the exploits of such notables as the playwright Leandro Fernández de Moratín and poet Federico García Lorca, and how these Spaniards and others of the 19th and 20th centuries interpreted life outside their homeland. By Jules Stewart
Conscience and Conflict: British Artists and the Spanish Civil War
Pallant House Gallery, Chichester
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wo images stayed with me, from among the wealth of those on display, at an exhibition on the response of British visual artists to the Spanish Civil War currently at Chichester’s Pallant House Gallery. One, a striking lithograph, shows a foot wearing a traditional, intricate alpargata about to stamp on a swastika. The other, a gentler photograph of Basque children playing cricket at a refugee camp in Hampshire. The first by Catalan artist, Pere Catala Pic, entitled Let’s squash fascism (1936), vividly conveys how what began as a Spanish social conflict took on much wider international resonance and became, in the words of Ernest Hemingway, a “dress rehearsal for the inevitable European war”. The second, by Edith Hart, an Austrianborn, Jewish, communist photographer, who herself sought refuge in England, carries particular poignancy because it was taken in 1937, soon after the bombing of Guernica, which marked a fundamental shift in 20th century warfare – a portent of what was to follow. The response of British literary figures to the civil war has been well documented – the impact on the artistic world less so. This exhibition seeks to redress that featuring a wide range of artists, who worked with a variety of materials, in different media, and who spanned the political divides generated by the conflict. Its subtle and nuanced approach provides a visually
ART and intellectually enriching contribution to commemorations of the 75th anniversary of its end. British political involvement in the war was the subject of heated debate in Parliament and the press – the official policy of non-intervention was seen by many as tacit support for the right-wing nationalist insurgents led by General Franco. Among the ensuing debates that involved British artists was the issue of direct action versus artistic creation as the most appropriate response. The show highlights the work of artists involved in the Artists International Association, set up in 1933 to present a “united front against fascism and war” which, by the outbreak of the war, had more than 600 members ranging from establishment figures to younger modernists, including Henry Moore, well represented among the exhibits. It also seeks to explore the work of less celebrated commercial artists and designers whose posters and leaflets were to pioneer latter day campaigns on behalf of humanitarian causes. The gallery traces the involvement of artists, some of whom had visited Spain in the 20s and 30s but many of whom knew little about the country. The drawings of militia men and women, by Felicia Browne, are taken from a sketchbook recovered after her death on the Saragossa Front in 1937 fighting with the communists – the first British volunteer to die in the war. Others, who stayed home, organised fundraising campaigns and auctions of their work. It reflects on the artistic battles between surrealists, such as Roland Penrose, whose Elephant Bird Collage (1938), is on loan from the Victoria and Albert Museum, and realists, among them Clive Branson whose 1939 canvases Demonstration in Battersea and Daily Worker depict the impact of the conflict on ordinary working people in Britain. Branson joined the International
Brigades and went to Spain in 1937. Turning to artists more broadly sympathetic to the nationalist side, a small but not uninfluential minority, the exhibition features works by Francis Rose and Edward Burra. Rose’s satirically titled The Reds are Really Not Bad Sorts (1936), shows the reds of the title holding the severed head of a cleric beneath chandeliers hanging from trees, in condemnation of attacks on the clergy and looting of wealth. The elongated figures in Burra’s watercolours The Watcher (1937), Medusa (1938), and The Torturers (1935), not on display but photographed together with many other relevant works in the superb catalogue, recall the Spanish old masters to convey a sense of social unease and latent violence strongly reminiscent of Goya. The section on poster design and the Spanish aid movement also explores how both artists who were familiar with Spain, and others, who had little or no knowledge of the country, were drawn in by the impact of the conflict. “HELP wounded human beings” is the message on a poster by the American designer E. McKnight Kauffer whose power lies in showing nothing discernably to do with medical aid save for a red cross symbol and rests instead on his gouache sketch of the gaunt face of a man, based on El Greco’s Self Portrait as Saint Luke. By contrast, a lithograph, by Sir Frank Brangwyn, Spain (1937), produced in support of the non-partisan General Relief Fund for Distressed Women and Children, contains some universal images of suffering women and children. The impact of Picasso’s iconic canvas Guernica is another highlight of the show. Picasso’s Weeping Woman (1937), a preparatory work, is on display. Paintings such as Walter Nessler’s 1937 Premonition of the London Blitz show how quick artists
were to grasp the wider repercussions of the Guernica bombing. The exhibition concludes with a tribute to those who sought to reflect, and alleviate, the plight of prisoners and refugees after the war. John Armstrong’s dry, dusty The Empty Street (1938), is a harbinger of the subsequent “years of hunger” - and shows a timeless, empty village scene, under a bright clear sky, familiar to anyone who has travelled through the hot Castilian plain. The artists’ depictions of fraught flight, misery and displacement resonate at a time when arguments over intervention and appropriate response to humanitarian crisis continue to provoke fierce debate. They are strongly in keeping with the gallery’s links to Chichester Cathedral, a centre for peace and reconciliation dating back to the work of Bishop George Bell during the Second World War. The gallery itself was founded with a core collection of modern British art donated by Walter Hussey, Dean of the cathedral from 1955 to 1977. Comments in the visitors’ book provide a modest rebuke to those who claim that we hear too much about this conflict and have little left to learn from the issues so ably raised and discussed in the exhibition. “Thank you for remembering,” said one. By Adela Gooch
Conscience and Conflict, curated by Simon Martin, Artistic Director of Pallant House Gallery is on at Chichester until 15th February and will then tour to the Laing Art Gallery in Newscaste-upon-Tyne from 7th March to 7th June. writer and broadcaster with specialised knowl and China in particular. Clive Branson
Winter/Spring 2015 • La Revista 9
Our Story Bilbao Berria began in La plaza de la catedral, Barcelona in 1999 and since then has delivered a unique Basque dining experience. Created by two Basques and one Catalan, these three friends – Iñaki Lasa, Rafa Viar and Pedro Antonio López – all share the same passion for serving the most creative and sociable cuisine. To add to our existing restaurants in Bilbao and Barcelona, we have opened the doors to Number 2, Regent Street, London, allowing the most cosmopolitan city in the world to experience our culinary excellence in Basque and Spanish Cuisine. pantone 130 when printed onto white
The food
pantone 131 when printed onto brown craft paper material
Pintxos is a combination of ingredients held together with a skewer that can be eaten in one or two mouthfuls without the need for cutlery. It shouldn’t be confused with tapas, which, although originally serves the same purpose, is a reduced portion of food served on a plate rather than a skewer. Along with pintxos we have an extensive menu of modern Spanish and Basque cuisine. Using carefully selected ingredients and small goods sourced from Spain our menu is modern yet respectful to traditional flavours and techniques. Meats and fish are roasted in our imported charcoal parrilla which adds unique flavours to our rustic yet sophisticated cuisine.
SOCIETY NEWS
Highlights from 2014’s Society Events House of Commons Gala Dinner
All Aboard: Fiesta on the Thames
Tension in the air for Spain vs Chile Networking at The Haciendas
Christmas Party
Summer Party Hispanomania
Visit to Sotheby’s
2014 was a busy year of events for BritishSpanish Society members. The voluntary events team aimed to provide something for everyone throughout the year. The Annual General Meeting in December drew a full and enthusiastic house to the Luis Vives room of the Chancery of the Spanish Embassy in London. Society Chairman, Jimmy Burns Marañón, together with the Board of Trustees reported on an excellent twelve months with increasing individual and corporate membership, a range of popular cultural and social events, publication of our much-loved magazine, La Revista, and the award of scholarships to Spanish and British postgraduate students thanks to the continuing generosity of our principal supporters. In addition to the annual Summer and Christmas parties (with grateful support from Hispania at the Christmas event), early in the year ‘Futból Alegría’, a celebration of Spanish football, was held at Hispania. This was followed by the Gala dinner at the House of Commons; City networking at The Haciendas; a visit to
the Chelsea Flower Show; an exclusive breakfast and tour of Spanish paintings before auction at Sotheby’s; a BBQ and party on the River Thames at Bar & Co; World Cup Football (painfully watching Spain lose to Chile!) at NH Hotel; the annual concert, ‘Music from Toledo in the Age of El Greco’, at St James’ Church sponsored by the Spanish Cultural Office; a family visit to the Roald Dahl Museum; and, finally, the entertaining launch by Tom Burns of his book Hispanomania at the Instituto Cervantes. We hope to continue to raise the standards and make 2015 another ‘eventful’ year but we need to know what kind of events our members, would like. We already have plans but would welcome your ideas for the kind of events you would like us to hold. Do you know anyone working at an interesting venue where we could take an exclusive group of members? Last year we visited Cambridge University and Eton College through members’ contacts. Do you have a personal interest which can be shared by a demonstration for other members, such as our padel tennis event
Futbol Alegria
Annual Concert at St. James’ Church
this spring? Think of events and locations linked to occasions such as Valentine’s Day, Mothers’ Day or even Halloween. Let us know of any Spanish themed events or activities, whether educational, cultural or entertaining, that you know will take place in the UK during 2015 that might be of interest to members. Finally, we are hugely looking forward to celebrating our centenary with a rolling events programme leading up to the summer of 2016. This is an exciting project marking a unique occasion to honour our past achievements and build on a solid future of British-Spanish understanding and co-operation. We would like to be able to count on your involvement and support. Given our small team, all events must be relatively easy to implement and must make a profit as we are a charity. Above all our events must be fun! If you have an idea for an event or would like tos sponsor, please email: [email protected] By David Hurst British Spanish Society’s voluntary event team
Winter/Spring 2015 • La Revista 11
DUCHESS OF ALBA
María del Rosario Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart y Silva 18th Duchess of Alba 1926-2014 Obituary by Jules Stewart
O
n the morning of 20th November 2014 the Mayor of Seville announced the death of Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart, the 88-year-old Duchess of Alba. Fourteen times grandee of Spain, holder of more titles than Queen Elizabeth II, the Duchess of Alba ironically did not possess the oldest Spanish title of nobility. That honour fell to Luisa Isabel Álvarez de Toledo, the 21st Duchess of Medina Sidonia, through her title of Condesa de Niebla, a noble rank created in 1368 by King Enrique II and bestowed on Juan Alonso Pérez de Guzmán for his loyalty in the war against the rival pretender to the throne, who happened to be Enrique’s brother. That said, no one in Spain could lay claim to more than 500 titles, including eight dukedoms. In 1968 I had the pleasure of interviewing the Duchess of Alba (and later the Duchess of Medina Sidonia) at the Palacio de Liria in Madrid. I was researching a feature for my employer Reuters on Spain’s oldest aristocratic title. It was difficult not to feel overwhelmed by Cayetana’s art collection, one of the world’s greatest, and other priceless treasures like letters signed by Christopher Columbus, a first edition of Don Quijote and Fernando el Católico’s last will and testament. Cayetana was born in 1926 in the Palacio de Liria, while her father the Duke of Alba was hosting a dinner party for Gregorio Marañón, José Ortega y Gasset and Ramón Pérez Ayala. Her godparents were King Alfonso XIII and Queen Victoria Eugenia, so it was a foregone conclusion from the start that Cayetana was to spend a lifetime immersed in the company of high nobility and distinguished society. Yet she was very much her own woman, learning to dance flamenco with Pastora Imperio, falling in love with bullfighter Pepe Luis Vázquez (any aspiration of a romantic liaison were cut short by her father), doing charitable work with Salesian missionaries and producing paintings which her family considered too ‘avant garde’. The Duchess of Alba’s life was marked by tragedy, having lost her first two husbands to cancer. In 2011 she married Alfonso Diez, a public servant she had met 30 years previous in her family antiques shop. Cayetana was by all accounts a happy woman in the last three years of her life. She is succeeded by her eldest son, Carlos Fitz-James Stuart, the 19th Duke of Alba.
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Recordatorio desde Londres por Jimmy Burns Marañón
E
n agosto de 1944, cuando la Segunda Guerra Mundial entraba en su última etapa, la Embajada Británica se preparaba para una victoria aliada con algunos cambios de personal. Uno de sus departamentos más influyentes – el de propaganda e inteligencia– fue reforzado con la llegada inesperada de Peter Laing*, un joven inglés que se había hecho amigo de Cayetana de Alba. Laing, enviado por el Ministerio de Información con la aprobación de los Servicios de Inteligencia, era un ex alumno de Eton y oficial del ejército de la Guardia de los Granaderos. Su nuevo jefe en la embajada, Tom Burns, ya para entonces recién casado con Mabel Marañón, hija de del reputado médico Gregorio Marañón, consideraba que el joven tenía experiencia más que suficiente para ser útil a los intereses británicos en Madrid. Aparte de su formación militar y de haber trabajado una temporada como intérprete en el cuartel general del gobierno francés en el exilio, fundado por el General De Gaulle y ubicado en Londres, la principal referencia profesional de Laín para su trabajo como agregado de prensa adjunto era que tenía un acceso sin precedentes a varias fuentes de gran utilidad dentro del Gobierno de Franco y redes monárquicas. Esto se debía a la relación sentimental que le había unido a Cayetana, la joven y única hija del duque
de Alba, embajador de España en el Reino Unido, mientras ambos vivían en Londres en plena guerra. Laing llego a convertirse en un gran amigo de mis padres, Tom y Mabel, y fue una de las muchas fuentes que entrevisté para mi libro Papa Espía, que cuenta la historia secreta de las relaciones angloespañolas durante la Guerra Civil y la Segunda Guerra Mundial. Laing, igual que mis padres y Cayetana ya murieron, pero la información que relato fue fruto de varias entrevistas que tuve con el cuándo, ya de muy mayor, me recibió en su casa de campo inglesa, a donde se había retirado con su mujer. Según me contó, Laing conoció a Cayetana en 1943 a través de su amiga Chiquita Carcaño cuando la joven aristócrata tenía dieciocho años. Esta última era una de las guapísimas hijas gemelas del embajador argentino en el Reino Unido y la duquesa había estudiado con ella en la Universidad de la Sorbona (París). Las embajadas de España y de La Republica Argentina se encontraban entonces, igual que hoy, en la misma plaza de Belgravia, unos de los barrios más exclusivos de Londres. Cuando la vio por primera vez en una fiesta de la Embajada Argentina, Laing quedó prendado. Como recordaría años después: “Era absolutamente divina; era un poco rechonchita, pero dulce y muy atractiva”.
DUCHESS OF ALBA Pocos días después, Laing fue invitado a Albury House, una mansión victoriana ubicada en Surrey que la duquesa de Northumberland había alquilado a sus amigos los Alba para sus escapadas de fin de semana durante los años de la guerra. Rodeado de más de seiscientos metros cuadrados de jardines diseñados por John Evelyn, el gran diarista y horticultor del siglo XVII, Albury Park debía de parecerles un lugar bastante común a los Alba, acostumbrados a sus palacios y fincas en España. No obstante, allí el duque organizaba almuerzos de fin de semana para algunos de los altos funcionarios y ministros del gabinete de Churchill, mientras que su hija recibía a sus amigos. El enamoramiento puramente platónico de Laing por ‘Tana’, como se la conocía a Cayetana familiarmente, surgió una cálida tarde de verano al verla languidecer junto a la piscina, ocultando sus apesadumbrados sentimientos tras unas gafas oscuras. El comportamiento de Cayetana dejaba traslucir a veces un carácter melancólico. En cierta ocasión confesó que nunca había superado la muerte de su madre por tuberculosis cuando ella, hija única, tenía tan solo ocho años. Dos años
Cuando la vio por primera vez en una fiesta de la Embajada Argentina, Laing quedó prendado. Como recordaría años después: “Era absolutamente divina; era un poco rechonchita, pero dulce y muy atractiva”.
después de morir su madre estalló la Guerra Civil en España y Tana huyó de Madrid con su padre, primero a París y luego a Londres, donde el duque fue nombrado representante de Franco y después embajador, en marzo de 1939. Las circunstancias hicieron que Tana madurase bastante más deprisa que la mayoría de las chicas de su edad, a pesar de llevar una vida relativamente protegida. Una niñera austriaca dirigía sus estudios, y cuando salía de la embajada lo hacía siempre acompañada, ya fuese con la esposa de algún diplomático o con una amiga confianza. En cuestiones de amor, la duquesa aún no había encontrado un hombre adecuado con quien casarse, aunque durante su estancia en Londres corrieron rumores de que mantenía una relación formal y platónica con un joven oficial de la fuerza áerea española que había ejercido de ayudante del príncipe Don Juan. Ahora bien, como a cualquier joven, también le gustaban las escapadas espontáneas y las locuras típicas de su edad. Su amigo inglés Laing alimentaba esa faceta de su carácter llevándola a bailar a algunos de los locales nocturnos de moda de Londres, a pesar de la guerra, y eso sí, siempre en compañía. Aunque parece que la joven duquesa no correspondió sus sentimientos más allá de un coqueteo amistoso, tanto ella como sus amigas admiraban el ‘charm’ y la buena educación del atractivo Laing. Gracias a sus modales impecables, este apuesto y joven inglés no tardó en ser presentado al duque de Alba y, a través de él, accedió a clubs exclusivos como el Círculo de la Gran Peña y un sinfín de personas influyentes de la aristocracia y del ejército franquista en Madrid.
De mi parte, puedo dar testimonio de que los Alba figuraban entre los amigos en común que tuvo Laing y mi familia materna, en la que destaca la figura de mi abuelo, el Dr Gregorio Marañón. Así recordó Cayetana los lazos personales e intelectuales que mantuvo su padre con él: “La noche en que nací, aquí, en Liria, mi padre estaba cenando con Marañón, Ortega y Gasset y Ramón Pérez de Ayala; un doctor, un filósofo y un escritor. Cuando Marañón le dijo que era una niña y que todo estaba en orden, se fumó un puro e invitó a todos a brandy. Era la 1.45 de la mañana y dijo que no le importaba que fuera una chica, lo importante es que estuviera bien…”. Y de Churchill, primo de su padre, Cayetana tuvo este recuerdo: “Tenía un vozarrón y un carisma tan impresionante que todo el mundo se callaba en cuanto abría la boca. Durante los bombardeos de Londres, en la II Guerra Mundial, me felicitaba por lo valiente que era y por no tener miedo”. Al que escribe este artículo también le une un lazo amistoso a la casa de Alba: el recuerdo que mantiene de su niñez en los años cincuenta, cuando el hijo de la duquesa, de nombre Cayetano –de una edad similar a la suya– iba a las fiestas de cumpleaños que su madre Mabel organizaba en su piso de la Castellana. Cayetana, que en paz descanses. *Peter Laing was a long-serving member of the Anglo-Spanish now BritishSpanish Society. He died in 2007.
Winter/Spring 2015 • La Revista 13
AWARD WINNING
SPANISH Language courses and cultural events for Spanish learners and native Spanish speakers
[email protected]
SCHOLARSHIPS
Scholarship Report: Dorset to Barcelona
Sylvia Townsend Warner and the Spanish Civil War, by Mercedes Aguirre Alastuey, who was awarded with one of the BritishSpanish Society bursaries in 2011.
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am a PhD researcher at University College London, where I am working on a doctoral dissertation that studies the British and North American writers who wrote literary works inspired by the Spanish Civil War, under the supervision of Professor Peter Swaab. My thesis is heavily based on archival material and I have carried out research in different libraries and archives in Britain and the United States, such as the Imperial War Museum and New York’s University Tamiment Library. I am very grateful to the BritishSpanish Society, who generously funded my visit to the Sylvia Townsend Warner Archive in Dorchester, Dorset. My work at the archive was very rewarding, as I managed to find biographical and literary materials that have greatly complemented my previous research on the writer.
“The literary history of Great Britain and Spain is rich with unexpected connections and meaningful collaborations.” Sylvia Townsend Warner (1893-1978) was an English novelist, short story writer, and poet. She was also one of the editors of the compilation Tudor Church Music, published by Oxford University Press. Her first novel, Lolly Willowes (1926), was a success with readers and reviewers alike both in Britain and the United States, and her regular contributions to the New Yorker — the magazine published her stories for more than forty years — also helped to expand her readership. My research investigates Sylvia Townsend Warner’s representations of Spain in her poetry and fiction. I also investigate the perceptions of Spain in Great Britain during the first half of the 20th century, as well as the cultural connections between the two countries. My fascination with
Townsend Warner began after reading her innovative and powerful novel After the Death of Don Juan, which the author described as a “political fable” of the Spanish Civil War. I presented my work on the novel in the ‘Revisiting Sylvia Townsend Warner’ symposium that took place in Dorchester in June 2012, and which brought together established scholars and postgraduate students researching the writer’s life and works. Townsend Warner’s involvement with Spain began with the start of the Spanish Civil War. She and her partner Valentine Ackland, who had become a member of the Communist Party of Great Britain in 1935, were strongly committed to the cause of the Spanish Republic, fundraising and campaigning to raise awareness. They first visited Barcelona for several weeks in September 1936, with the intention of doing administrative work for the British Medical Aid Committee. They returned to Spain in the summer of 1937 and attended the International Writers’ Congress for the Defence of Culture in Madrid and Valencia as part of the British delegation, which also included the poet Stephen Spender. Townsend Warner wrote several poems drawing on her experience in Spain, which describe the terror of war in the author’s characteristic subtle style devoid of any sentimentalism. She also penned several war reports and articles which appeared in diverse journals and magazines from Life and Letters Today to The Left Review or The Countryman, in which she often pointed at social inequality as the primary cause underlying the conflict in Spain. For the New Yorker she wrote Barcelona, a witty short story that portrays her everyday life while in Spain with other British volunteers, and the humorous situations arising from their lack of knowledge of Spanish. The Sylvia Townsend Warner archive, which is located within the Dorset County
Museum in Dorchester, holds an extensive collection of material about the writer and her works: from manuscripts, personal documents, and letters to press cuttings and photographs. With the help and advice of the collection’s archivist Dr Morine Krissdottir I was able to explore documents that helped me retrace Townsend Warner’s visit to Spain and her relationship with the country. I had the opportunity to read her correspondence with other artists and writers, including the British poet Nancy Cunard, whose works I also explore in my dissertation, and whose literary discussions with Townsend Warner throw light on the gestation of her Spanish Civil War novel. In addition, and while perhaps not so important in an academic sense, holding in your hands the handwritten letters and notes of an author that you have been studying for so long constitutes a very thrilling and touching experience. Sylvia Townsend Warner remembered her time in Spain very fondly for the rest of her life. In an interview conducted in 1975 and published in PN Review she stated: “I’ve never seen people who I admired more. I never again saw a country I loved as much as I loved Spain. A most ungainly country to love, but it’s extraordinarily beautiful”. The literary history of Great Britain and Spain is rich with unexpected connections and meaningful collaborations. I hope that my research contributes to the better understanding of the cultural relationship between these two countries. I would not want to finish this article without earnestly recommending Townsend Warner’s exceptionally varied novels, particularly her first work Lolly Willowes, and her Spanish-themed novel After the Death of Don Juan. Her wit, sharp intelligence, and fantastically rounded characters will grip you from the start. This is an excerpt from a poem by Sylvia Townsend Warner entitled ‘Port Bou’:
I am the smell; on all the winds of Spain. I am the stink in the nostrils of the men in Spain. I have taken the place of the incense at the burial, I have usurped the breath of the rose plucked from the bridal, I am the odour of the wreath that is held out for heroes to behold and breathe. I cordial the heart, I refresh the brain, I strengthen the resolved fury of those who fight for Spain. Winter/Spring 2015 • La Revista 15
LITERATURE
The Other Side of the Mountain A visit to the Gibraltar International Literary Festival by Jimmy Burns Marañón
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erald O’Mahony, a Jesuit priest whose writings I much admire recalls a visit he made to Gibraltar several years ago when a tour of the Rock took him near the southern end where a signpost pointed along a footbath to the Mediterranean steps. These steps, he was told, were the only way of climbing up the extremely steep eastern side of the Rock, starting from where he stood and ending on a ridge at the summit about a thousand feet up. Toying with the idea of making the climb, O’Mahony approached the first of the steps only to find to his surprise that they initially led down, not up. Only later would he discover that the path did rise, eventually. In O’Mahony’s book, The Other Side of the Mountain, the climb to the summit which the author eventually pursued in Gibraltar becomes analogous of his spiritual search, with its ups and not inconsiderable downs — he has no less than five nervous breakdowns — and his final discovery of God’s love for him and everyone. O’Mahony came to my rescue as I was trying to put together my own thoughts on Gibraltar, having just spent a few days there as an author, journalist and historian, courtesy of the organisers of the International Literary Festival. And I don’t mean strictly speaking in a spiritual sense but in terms of my experience as an Anglo-Spaniard on a visit to a territory that remains the subject of a disputed sovereignty claim between the country of my mother and birth (Spain), and the country of my father and nationality (UK). Over the next few days my travelling companions, both on their first ever trip to Gibraltar, would be struck by the friendliness of the people of Gibraltar and how a majority seemed to break into fluent Spanish as their preferred language. We
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had been offered a tour of Tangiers. My friends wanted to make their first visit to southern Spain, so I took them on the scenic route to Ronda, and then the Barrio de Santa Cruz and the cathedral in Sevilla, with good wine, tapas, and brandy thrown in. They loved it. The International Gibraltar Literary Festival itself was an example of how bridges can be made through language, culture, and education. It was an honour to be invited to give a well-attended talk in the magnificent King’s Chapel about how the UK and Spain and Gibraltarians secretly collaborated in World War Two to ensure the Nazis did not occupy the Iberian peninsula, and that the Allied troops could use Gibraltar in support of the North African landings. I also shared the fact that my late father had been closely involved as one of Churchill’s intelligence operatives in the British embassy in Madrid (subject of my book Papa Spy), and later chose to spend the first night of his honeymoon with his Spanish bride at the Rock Hotel before heading across to the then unspoilt Costa del Sol. The other two talks I gave were to large audiences drawn from Gibraltar’s three main schools on the separate subjects of Word War 1 and football. The kids — boys and girls — seemed genuinely moved by my readings of my late uncle David’s letters from the battle front before he was killed in 1918, just turned eighteen, with their glimpse of both the horror and nobility of war as experienced by someone not much older than them. In a lighter frame, my potted history of the early British influence on Spanish football in Andalucía, and Spain’s later triumphs as a national squad in the European Nations and World Cups, seemed to catch the attention of at least a majority of
my young audience who claimed to support either Real Madrid or FC Barcelona. I was interested to hear later from one of the teachers that the boy who had asked for advice about how best to progress as a professional football player was already playing in the youth team of Sevilla FC. Football barely featured in the main Literary Festival headlined by celebrities like the historian John Julius Norwich, the BBC veteran presenter Nicholas Parsons, the actress and celebrity cook Maddhur Jaffrey, and Booker prize-winning novelist Ben Okri. Other well-known speakers covered subjects ranging from Venetian cooking, the future of British Politics, and Death in Literature to the history of Tangiers, Charles De-Gaulle, and the silence of Christianity. The Literary Festival included a contingent of academics and authors from all over the Iberian Peninsula. Dr Charles Powell, director of the Madrid-based think-tank the Elcano Royal Institute, talked about the legacy of King Juan Carlos of Spain while my former FT colleague William Chislett moderated a debate on Catalonia. ‘Fifty Years of Spanish Theatre’ was a discussion focused on leading playright Jose Luis Alonso de Santos. A session called ‘Voices from Spain’ involved a teacher, a prison officer and a journalist, David Saez Ruiz, Dioni Arroyo Merino, and Enrique Reyes respectively discussing their published works with the broadcaster Robert Bosschart. Another session entitled ‘Valencia in the News’ had Spanish journalist Merche Carneiro talking about her life as one of the country’s leading journalists and the issues surrounding the media in Spain today. Of the other events I attended, my personal favourite was Beltran Domecq’s wonderfully entertaining talk and wine tasting in the usually sober setting of the Gibraltar Garrison Library’s main reading room. Domecq, the current president of the Consejo Regulador de Jerez is a former grantee-person responsible for ensuring the royal warrant is used correctly, for Queen Elizabeth 11’s Royal warrant for Domecq and Harvey’s sherries. His guided tour through the history of sherry and his advice on how best to drink different types from Fino to Pedro Jimenez was delivered in exquisite English, and a good dose of humour as well as insight. It made me feel so lucky to be Anglo-Spanish. And the sherry was delicious — all of it. On my last day in Gibraltar, I didn’t climb the mountain. I took the cable car.
ENTREPRENEURS
What turns an idea into a business?
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aunching a new enterprise takes courage. The rewards can be great but the risks are high, and self-belief and determination are crucial to bring an idea to fruition. Laura Gran speaks to the founders of two new businesses which were established in Spain and in the UK last year to discover what they have learned from the experience and how they came through the early stages to reach the success they have today. EN ES
The translations of each interview are available on our website: britishspanishsociety.org/la-revista-magazine/
El Arca de Nel Montar una empresa no es difícil, sólo hacen falta dos cosas. Tener una idea es básico, y es algo que todos tenemos. La segunda y más importante es transformar esa idea en algo material, porque es la única manera de saber si nos puede llevar algo. Aquí es dónde la mayoría de las personas se pierde en el camino”. Él, Nel Martins español de 31 años licenciado en Finanzas, asumió el riesgo y escogió materializarla. Por ello una vez al mes viaja en ferry desde Portsmouth a Santander acompañado de un máximo de diez mascotas. Ninguna es suya, pertenecen a personas que le han confiado el cuidado de sus animales para que los traslade del Reino Unido a España y viceversa. Su empresa, ubicada en Londres, nació hace menos
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ENTREPRENEURS de un año después de cuatro viviendo en la capital inglesa. PetsTravelWithUs le enseñó, en primer lugar, lo importante que es confiar en uno mismo desde la humildad. “Mi idea cambió muchísimo al convertirla en negocio. Cuando empiezas a afrontar dificulades tienes dos caminos. Uno es decir: ‘me he equivocado, la idea que pensaba que era buena no lo es’, o decirte: ‘ok, creí que sería de una manera y resulta ser de otra’, pero seguir creyendo en ella y de ese modo evolucionar y crecer con las dificultades”, explica. Su planteamiento inicial se fue reajustando a medida que comenzó a informarse de las exigencias que el Gobierno británico establece a la hora de introducir animales en el país o de implantar un negocio relacionado con ellos. Conocer en detalle los requisitos necesarios, las leyes y todas las pequeñas peculiaridades asociadas a ellas le supuso ocho meses de dedicación, pero tras ese tiempo consiguió el permiso del Gobierno inglés para instalar su firma. Llegado a este punto, Martins ya tenía claro la impronta que quería que destilase. “Pensé en lo que me gustaría recibir a mi como cliente”, afirma. Tenía una noción clara dado que años atrás, cuando decidió mudarse a Londres, trató de llevar a su perro con él y no pudo encontrar ninguna empresa con precios razonables, de la que leyera buenas opiniones en Internet y le generara confianza. Por eso, se propuso montar “algo que hiciera falta, aquello que quería encontrar y no pude, así que decidí hacerlo para ver si podría funcionar como yo creía que iba a hacerlo”. Los resultados le avalan. Su empresa le ha dado satisfacciones desde el primer día. A nivel económico lleva generando beneficios desde que la fundó en mayo de 2014 lo que, como él mismo aclara, es “algo curioso y difícil de conseguir”. La inversión inicial no fue muy elevada debido a que intentó abaratar costes intentando delegar lo mínimo posible. Por ejemplo, su sitio web lo desarrolló él mismo tras aprender cómo hacerlo en Internet. Estudió como darse a conocer usando el posicionamiento de Google, lo que más difusión le podía ofrecer, y su buen hacer como empresario. Sus clientes le recomiendan no sólo en el boca a boca, sino también escribiendo buenas críti-
“Cada ruta, cada mes, es especial, siempre hay que adaptarse a las necesidades de los clientes y planear cuál es la mejor ruta que podemos crear para los animales”
cas de su trabajo en la red, lo que respalda extraordinariamente su negocio. Tal es así que esto ha generado un aumento en el porcentaje de ingleses que contratan su servicio. El proyecto comenzó con un 95% de clientes españoles, porque era donde el mercado para el transporte de animales a nivel internacional se encontraba realmente desatendido. Sin embargo, las excelentes calificaciones con las que le valoran en su página web ha hecho que la balanza se comience a equilibrar y la proporción se haya situado actualmente en un 70% españoles – 30% ingleses; unos números que “seguirán equilibrándose en un futuro, en cuanto la empresa se sitúe mejor en Reino Unido, lo que en principio ocurrirá porque hay muchos ingleses que viajan a España y los precios que damos son competitivos”, argumenta Nel Martins. Aunque en Google España ya tienen un buen posicionamiento, esto les está resultando más difícil en el Reino Unido debido a que en este país ya existen varias firmas dedicándose a ello desde hace muchos años. Con todo, su web obtiene cada vez más visitas. En la actualidad ya aparecen en segundo o tercer lugar como resultado de búsqueda, “lo que provocará que la gente pueda llegar a conocernos y compararnos con las empresas de las que ya está al tanto. Ahí es cuando vamos a poder tener una oportunidad de competir con el mercado inglés”, afirma. El otro cimiento de PetsTravelWithUs es su carácter internacional, “es lo que hace funcionar bien este negocio”. Según explica, en España ya existían empresas que se dedicaban al envío nacional de mascotas. El inconveniente que encuentra Martins es que existen pocas que traspasen fronteras y son casi todas de mensajería. “No dan el trato que se merecen a las mascotas. Si la empresa no es competente puede haber riesgos para los animales”, revela. Por eso, su máxima preocupación radica siempre en trasladarlos en las mejores condiciones posibles. “Cada ruta, cada mes, es especial, siempre hay que adaptarse a las necesidades de los clientes y planear cuál es la mejor ruta que podemos crear para los animales”, añade. Las opciones son múltiples: pueden viajar en avión, en barco, y una vez en tierra trasladarlos en furgoneta o en tren, siempre asegurándose de que lo que prima es su bienestar. Al mismo tiempo, sus dueños conocen en todo momento a través de la vía que elijan –WhatsApp, correo electrónico, Facebook, teléfono, etc. – el estado de sus mascotas a través de imágenes, vídeos y la propia información que Martins les facilita. Su éxito ha hecho que tan sólo unos meses después de fundar su empresa haya abierto una nueva ruta de envío con Italia, esté planteando realizar ya dos viajes al mes a España y tenga en mente trayectos con Portugal y Francia. En la actualidad cuenta con tres empleados y espera que en 2015 esta cifra vaya en aumento. Pese a tanta noticia positiva, el empresario español es precavido: “La empresa es tan joven que no podemos asegurar su futuro. Lo que sí podemos es trabajar para ser cada vez mejores, aprender con cada viaje y cada cliente que atendemos nos ayudará a serlo. Esto es algo en continua evolución, lo que nos mantiene siempre despiertos”. Junto a esto, señala que implantar su negocio en el Reino Unido le ha favorecido en muchos aspectos. “Establecer un empresa en este país es una buena experiencia, las facilidades que se dan son muy alentadoras para futuros emprendedores”, concluye. www.petstravelwithus.com
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ENTREPRENEURS
The Talent Trusts A LeightHouse
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lexandra Leight is the kind of entrepreneur who keeps her feet on the ground and sets high goals for herself. She is a combination of care, self-confidence, ambition and passion. In May 2013 she set up her own business in Spain, an actors’ agency called A LeightHouse. “Everyday I’m receiving headshots and CVs from actors wanting to work with me”, she says with a hint of surprise in her voice. When she decided to leave the company she was working for, Kuranda – the agency credited for discovering Penélope Cruz– it was only natural that some of her clients followed her too. Young stars like Alex Maruny, Andrea Duró and Goya-nominated Aura Garrido, were later joined by other talented actors such as Silvia Alonso, Julián Villagrán and Canco Rodríguez. What is the secret behind her success? “I think I built a name in the industry”, she explains. This goal was preceded by determination and effort. As she affirms, “you seek your own luck, you follow it. I am a hardworking person and I love what I do”. So before founding her own firm, she was sure she had all the experience, contacts and grounding needed to make her project a success. For Leight, her background has been crucial. She was brought up in an international circle – her mother is Hungarian, her father is British, she has family in the United States – she studied Spanish at Bristol University, and during all her life she has heard that every person has “to go and pursue what they want to achieve and become successful”. This message has been really important for her to go ahead and achieve her aims”. Leight studied acting for four years, not with the purpose of becoming an actress but to understand the business from the inside. This has helped her to understand the people she represents and their needs. “There are some things that an actor needs which you can only see if you understand the mind of an actor, and they really appreciate that”, she explains. On the other hand, this English entrepreneur started working in the artistic industry when she was 20 years old. In the third year of her degree she spent six months in Argentina, where she learnt Spanish and taught English, and another six months in Madrid, where she worked as an intern at Kuranda. One year later, once her studies were completed, she came back to the company and looked after some actors. The learning she gained from all these experiences was not enough. She needed two more things. One of them was the language. Her degree was focused on Spanish history, politics… but not on the Spanish language itself. The other aspect was to understand the mentality of the people she was working with. All this took some time. “It was very hard for me in the beginning to adapt myself to the Spanish culture in terms of work, and until you have really adapted it is difficult to integrate into society.
You can read as much as you like, you can try to understand, but until you’ve lived in the country day to day it is not possible”, she states. The product of all the knowledge above is called A LeightHouse. The agency was created in just six weeks because she had good professional advisers. She found the entire process “more expensive and bureaucratic than it would have been in the United Kingdom, but fairly easy”. Leight didn’t have any economic support due to the recession, but she was able to make her project possible with her own savings. She did not require many resources. “I did not have any office space; I had a mobile phone and a laptop! It is all about hard work, perseverance and really being passionate about what you do”, she claims. In this regard, she is available for her clients 24/7 and provides a very personalised service, fully adapted to their needs. She or her assistant endeavour to accompany every actor to every press conference, every film set, every bit of promotion… They make sure the actors are in the right clothes and feel secure and comfortable. “We are creating their career step by step depending on what they want to achieve”, the 28-year-old explains. Most of the actors Leight represents speak both Spanish and English, and some may not even be based in Spain. This is the other characteristic of her business. She settled in Spain in 2008 because she thinks it is “a great place to work and live”, but her company is international. She recognises that the Spanish market is “much smaller than the one which exists in the UK, but it is a very interesting one”. Although the incentives from central government are not as good as some other countries, Spain, with it’s diverse landscape and moderate climate, is still very attractive to producers. Successful co-productions in recent years with the UK, Italy and the United States have helped to boost business, and former HBO executive James Costos, now US Ambassador to Spain, has been instrumental in bringing over big name productions like Game of Thrones or Ridley Scott’s Exodus. For all these reasons Alexandra Leight decided to found her business in Spain just a year and a half ago. Now she represents 26 actors, six international clients and some children. A LeightHouse is the talented agency behind some of the most promising young Spanish actors, and it has a great future ahead. Perhaps the best way to understand Leight’s success is in the message she tells her clients: “Anyone with a good idea and enough will can obtain what they want. We have no limits; if you want it, we can go and get it”. www.aleighthouse.com
Actors who are part of A Leighthouse
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EMPRENDEDORES
El Futuro de los Negocios y el Nuevo Emprendimiento Javier Collado es el director general de la Fundación INCYDE (Instituto Cameral para la Creación y Desarrollo de la Empresa), una organización dedicada a la formación de empresarios y a la creación y consolidación de empresas. Aquí explica como el desarollo tecnologico está provocando un gran cambio en el mundo laboral y como podemos adaptarnos. Entrevistado por Amy Bell.
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l mundo laboral está sufriendo una transformación debido en su mayor parte a los avances tecnológicos, que han provocado un gran impacto en la manera en que nos comunicamos, trabajamos y vivimos nuestras vidas. El número de dispositivos que están conectados a Internet ha crecido tanto en los últimos años que actualmente hay más ‘cosas u objetos’ que personas conectados a la web. Este fenómeno sigue creciendo de tal forma que ya es conocido como el Internet de las cosas. Su principal ventaja radica en que nos ofrece la oportunidad de ser más eficaces, productivos y sacar mayor partido a nuestro tiempo. Además, tiene el potencial de modificar nuestra sociedad y la economía global. Aún así, cuando el cambio es tan rápido, ¿cómo pueden adaptarse las empresas para ser competitivas y eficaces en el nuevo entorno que se les presenta? El objetivo de la fundación INCYDE y su director general, Javier Collado, es precisamente ayudar a los empresarios a enfrentar estos retos. La fundación fue creada en 1999 como una iniciativa de las Cámaras de Comercio y está inspirada en su espíritu empresarial. “Nació para apoyar la creación y consolidación de las pequeñas y medianas empresas (pymes) de España”, afirma Collado. “Lo que hacemos es fomentar, incentivar, consolidar las pymes y crear emprendedores, porque son los generadores de empleo en un país como el nuestro”. INCYDE es la única institución en Europa que facilita incubadoras de empresas. Una incubadora es un edificio susceptible de albergar a nuevos empresarios, ofreciéndoles una ubicación para su empresa durante sus dos primeros años de vida. Conjuntamente desarrollan grandes proyectos para fomentar la creación y consolidación de pymes cofinanciados por fondos la Unión Europea (FSE), y en asociación con la administración autonómica y local. Por otra parte, los edificios que se convierten en incubadoras pueden ser instituciones de la administración central, autonómica, instituciones públicas o semi-públicas. En principio, las empresas que se alojan en ellos están relacionadas con el sector servicios, ya hay viveros en marcha del sector industrial. En esta línea, INCYDE lanzó hace un año un proyecto de innovación, transferencia de tecnología y desarrollo con incubadoras de alta tecnología: ha instalado un vivero aeroespacial en Galicia, y ya ha comprado un edificio en Sevilla para poner otro aeronáutico. Asimismo, se ha adjudicado un proyecto de la UE para desarrollar en España: albergar las nueve incubadoras europeas de alta tecnología. El mundo de los negocios está indudablemente modificándose pero los seres humanos somos agente activos en este cambio. “Tenemos que hablar de cómo está transformando al ser humano”, reflexiona el director de INCYDE. “Todavía no sabemos cómo van a ser el 60% de los empleos dentro de quince o veinte años. No tiene nada que ver cómo se trabaja en este momento o los empleos que se están generando hace cinco años”. A veces es difícil recordar cómo era el mundo sin móviles, sin Internet. “Si quitas un móvil a una persona durante un día, le descentras ese día. Como ya estamos acostumbrados a las nuevas tecnologías nos creemos que siempre han existido”, explica.
“Los negocios en el futuro van a implicar un mayor uso de la tecnología”.
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NCYDE centra su actividad en investigar cómo va a evolucionar el empleo. Estudia cuáles son los vacíos en el mercado de los próximos años. “Nosotros apuntamos el término ‘el nuevo emprendimiento’”, aclara Collado. Aparte de esto, estamos viendo un cambio en la forma en que las personas trabajan. Es probable que en el futuro las empresas tengan estructuras y modelos muy diferentes de los que tienen ahora. “En vez de tener cien empleados una empresa podría tener cien autónomos. En lugar de contratar personas con empleos fijos les contratarán por su servicio, como a un pequeño empresario”, explica. La innovación es clave para las pymes y emprendedores que quieren ser más competitivos. “Yo creo que la innovación va a ser todo. No sólo va a mejorar el producto de la empresa sino que también va a mejorar la calidad de vida de las personas”, aclara Collado. Asimismo, si está evolucionando el empleo, los jóvenes tienen la oportunidad de aprovechar este avance y preparase para lo
“Lo que hacemos es fomentar, incentivar, consolidar las pymes y crear emprendedores, porque son los generadores de empleo en un país como el nuestro”
Javier Collado
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EMPRENDEDORES
“Todavía no sabemos cómo van a ser el 60% de los empleos dentro de quince o veinte años. No tiene nada que ver cómo se trabaja en este momento o los empleos que se están generando hace cinco años” que llega. “Tenemos que aconsejarles que no deben tener miedo a emprender, que hay muchas posibilidades, y que estén preparados con imaginación, con esfuerzo y con ganas”, propone. En este sentido, el Gobierno de España, como otros en Europa, enfrenta el reto de animar y apoyar a los jóvenes para crear más empleo e impulsar la economía. “Creo que poco a poco se están empezando a dar cuenta de que hay que apoyarlos.. Hay miles de millones de euros para aportar a la innovación, por lo que pediría que los Gobiernos sean más ágiles en dar ese dinero a los empresarios y a las pymes. Lo veo un poco negativo. No está llegando esta agilidad, hay demasiada burocracia a veces”. Según Collado, si va a bajar el desempleo juvenil, se debe actuar en dos direcciones. “En primer lugar, hay que hacer una análisis para saber qué es lo que van a demandar las empresas en la sociedad de aquí a diez años. Igualmente, se debe formar a la gente para que se conviertan en expertos. Pero es un tema cuantitativo”, señala. “Cuanta más gente haya intentando crear una empresa, más posibilidades hay de que se creen y crear empleo. Muchas veces las grandes empresas dicen que podemos generar un millón de empleos para jóvenes en los próximos dos o tres años, pero nadie dice cómo o qué tenemos que hacer. ¿Qué es lo que muchas veces falla? Que no se hacen reales las cosas que se dicen”. Quizá esa es una de las razones por las que muchos jóvenes están abandonando España para trabajar en el Reino Unido y otros países del mundo. En principio, para Collado, esto es algo bueno. “Nos hace más globales… te abre más la mente, te hace ser más competitivo. No es malo que la gente salga siempre y cuando sea una salida para informarse más. Siempre ha habido gente que se ha ido del país. El problema es si uno tiene que irse porque está desesperado, porque aquí no tiene trabajo y se marcha con falsas expectativas”. 22 La Revista • Winter/Spring 2015
Debido a la falta de empleos disponibles, seguramente muchas personas habrán tenido la idea de crear su propia empresa, pero antes de empezar suele ser difícil saber si una idea merece la pena ser perseguida. INCYDE tiene un proceso para probar si una idea es válida. Durante dos o tres meses trabajan con la persona y con su idea para ver si es factible en cada aspecto, y si se aprueba la ponen en marcha. Pero más que una idea en si, Collado es enfático en la importancia de encontrar a la persona adecuada: “Lo que buscamos, más que una idea, son personas. Una persona que tenga la valía para emprender. Alguien puede venir con una idea maravillosa y que nosotros pensemos que no la va a poder llevar a cabo. Tiene que tener ánimo y entender que hay que hacer un gran esfuerzo para tener éxito como emprendedor.” Una parte muy importante del proceso es el seguimiento, “que no se vean solos, ni el proyecto ni la empresa… lo que necesitan es un apoyo continuo”, asegura. Los negocios que han crecido más rápidamente con el apoyo de INCYDE en los últimos años han sido los que han aprovechado la tecnología. Por citar un ejemplo, en Santiago de Compostela dos emprendedores crearon una empresa de tecnología de clima llamada 4gotas. Es capaz de saber el clima que está haciendo en cualquier sitio del mundo y saber cómo afecta a los seres humanos en temas de salud. Es un buen ejemplo del modelo de la nueva empresa que más interesa a INCYDE: “En España somos muy imaginativos y estamos utilizando esa habilidad para hacer negocios”. ¿Qué pasa cuando una idea no sale bien? “Se dieron algunos casos donde nos equivocamos y no vimos que la persona no era la adecuada, o donde fallaron la financiación o los socios”, reconoce. En resumen, la sociedad todavía no se ha concienciado de los tiempos que vienen. Según Collado, “el emprendimiento del futuro no tiene nada que ver con el actual. Nos hemos de acostumbrar y adaptar la tecnología al ser humano para que se encuentre a su servicio. Si ocurre al revés vamos a tener un mundo todavía más desigual. Viene un nuevo empleo, un nuevo emprendimiento y hay que trabajar con ello, para que no volvamos a perder una generación como está sucediendo en nuestro país”, resume.
BUSINESS
Interview with Lisa Montague, CEO of Loewe new design edge to refuel Loewe again for the future.
Originally from Cheshire, Lisa Montague has been at the helm of Loewe, the Spanish luxury leather house based in Madrid, for seven years. Prior to this she was at Mulberry in London for nine years, the last six spent as Chief Operating Officer. Interviewed by Amy Bell.
T
hank you for agreeing to this interview. You spoke recently, at the Financial Times’ Spain Summit, about the importance of Chinese and Japanese consumers for Loewe. Is there a difference in how you market to Asian consumers compared with Spanish? Loewe has a global platform and brand messages of sharp design coupled with expert craftsmanship and the finest leather is consistent. The channel of delivery the message may vary slightly by market in the balance between social media and print, but we generally use both in a consistent tone of voice. Are Spanish consumers still a priority? Absolutely, our home customer is very engaged with the brand and Loewe is well-loved in Spain as one of the country's leading luxury brand. Spanish customers are proud of Loewe and this will grow as we develop internationally, opening this coming February in Miami, for example. Why do you think people are loyal to Loewe? Loewe consistently delivers on the promise of excellent quality and has continued to move with the times, always being relevant and now with the incredible creative vision of Jonathan Anderson bringing a
How has Loewe grown to reflect Spain as it is today? Is the business adapting to meet the needs of the millennial generation? The authenticity of the offer is what we believe defines luxury today in Spain, across various sectors, as you can see with the association of Circulo Fortuny that encompasses leather-goods, decorative arts, hospitality and of course gastronomy. The raw ingredients - in our case the leather such as our famous Loewe Napa that comes from the Spanish Entrefino lambs at the foothills of the Pyrenees, coupled with the passion of the artisans practising their skills that have been kept alive in Spain, provide a unique proposition that is rare and precious, therefore luxury. This image of Spain is the modern projection which, coupled with the impressive cultural offer, can attract a new international audience and recognition of high-level tourism to Spain. What is the appeal of ‘Brand Spain’ internationally? And in what way does Loewe celebrate Spanish artisanship and style? Spain has great potential to be recognised internationally as a Cultural Centre in Europe as well as a Purveyor of Excellence in Craft and in Gastronomy. At Loewe, we took the decision a couple of years ago to renew our Made in Spain promise and doubled the size of our workshops here in Madrid to accommodate future growth. At the same time, we implemented a training school there and started to work with the local government to recruit through the employment office, offering longterm contracts to more than half the graduates of each module. Before joining Loewe you were at Mulberry in the UK for nine years, most recently as Chief Operating Officer. How does running a Spanish business compare to running a British one? I have indeed been lucky enough to work for brands that are considered national treasures in their own countries. An an Anglo-Saxon, running an international Spanish company with business in Japan, China and South-East Asia, I believe it is symbolic of the global platform on which we operate with immediacy of communication platforms and the celebration of diversity that enriches our organisations, at least within LVMH.
Are you optimistic about prospects for the fashion manufacturing sector in Spain? Leathergoods manufacturing is growing strongly in Spain thanks to our competitive productivity and we observe many luxury brands assessing manufacturing opportunities, which can only serve to inspire more people to develop careers in craftsmanship and to further preserve the skills that make Made in Spain a selling point, synonymous with passion for excellent workmanship. Our key launch for
this season, the Puzzle bag, with its innovative cuboid shape, is a good example of how Loewe's artisans put all their passion and expertise into a new design. What is the biggest challenge for you in the Spanish market at the moment? In Spain, everyone has been affected by the crisis and lived with austerity in these past few years so it will probably take a while to lift the mood and see consumers return with an optimistic spirit again. At Loewe, we have worked tirelessly to maintain contact with our customers, who remain loyal to their favourite, even if they cannot shop with us as often as usual. Loewe arranges cultural events for instance through the Loewe Foundation that deeply connects us to dance and particularly to literature through the renowned Loewe Poetry Prize. We also host exhibitions in our Galeria Loewe spaces, collaborating with photographers during Fotoespaña for instance, or with Spanish artists through creative collaborations that inspire our customers to celebrate with Loewe without a commercial objective. Having worked in Germany, the US and the UK and before moving to Spain, what are the most noticeable differences
Winter/Spring 2015 • La Revista 23
BUSINESS
Quickfire questions
Can you describe a typical day in your life? There is no typical day and I thrive on the fast pace and constant change of the fashion industry. At home, we are always on the move and quite energetic as a family. We have recently discovered lake life at the Pantano San Juan where we enjoy a different pace and space at weekends. What had been the greatest achievement of your career so far? I have enjoyed all steps of my career and am proud of having developed international business with each of the brands. At Loewe, I believe we have serve as a launchpad for international growth.
you have experienced with each country and its business culture? International businesses have to operate efficiently to succeed and therefore the perceived differences between countries become more anecdotal or even mythical as we look to the future. I was told when moving here five years ago, for example, that I would never manage to hold a meeting at 9am im Spain; in fact Breakfasts are common nowadays in Loewe, and we have finished our first meetings by 9.30! What do you think are the top priorities for the future of business in Spain? As a business leader in Spain, the top priority for me is to bring more tourists, especially from Asia, and for that we need direct flights, which may require some investment through subsidies in the first instance that would surely reap return. I support the notion that Spain has to be recognised internationally for all the strengths we have discussed and to promote itself as an exporter of luxury goods that are recognised by the European Union under the umbrella of ECCIA as Cultural and Creative Industries, and perhaps further to invite opportunities for international companies to set up European hubs here. What are your views on the drive for independence in Catalonia and what impact do you see this having on businesses? In my view, it would be sad to see this great country split and potentially dilute the strong voice Spain can have internationally, given the ambitions we have discussed.
24 La Revista • Winter/Spring 2015
What do you like most about Spain/ Spanish culture? As a family, we love living in Spain! The country is vast, rich and diverse; fascinating to discover the variety of regional differences in culture, topology, gastronomy - we have travelled extensively and still have many places to visit. The light in Madrid is very special and every morning feels optimistic with its pure, clear outlook on the city. The Spanish people have really embraced us as foreign residents and we have felt welcomed and supported in every way, which has made us very happy here. How do you rate the Spanish sense of style? How does it compare with other European countries? Immediately when one arrives in Spain it is noticeable how smart people are generally. Design, style and aesthetics are important here, along with an appreciation for exceptional quality. Even in a crisis, the best in class has continued to thrive, be it the top restaurants, or the Amazona handbag! How well do you feel you and your family have integrated in Madrid life? We are obviously British with our fair complexions and I look particularly alien but we have really enjoyed integrating in the community and have good friends here that we value enormously. Our children, who were quite small when we moved, have spent most of their young lives in Spain and this is the place they call home.
What is your favourite food to eat in Spain? Is there a restaurant you particularly like to go to? I love the way people eat in Spain with many shared plates and the delight during a single meal. In Madrid, I enjoy the bustle of Ten con Ten as well as the tranquility of more traditional favourites like Alcalde but I am also a great fan of Japanese cuisine, being a offered in Madrid; Sushi 99 is close to What are you reading at the moment? I am attempting to read our bookshelves as we have many books as a family that we transport around the with a mix of Harvard Business Review, Parenting books and recently a copy of Bling Dynasty! Is there anything you miss from the UK? I miss the spontaneous interaction with longstanding friends, but we manage to stay in touch and share vacation time with our nearest and dearest. When I go to London, I head for a good curry and my daughter's requests are for Ribena, Scotch Eggs and Pork Pies! We ship our tea from Twinings and have found Marmite and crumpets are available at El Corte InglĂŠs Gourmet. British pub or Spanish bar? Two stops - G&T is now an international trend!
Office for Cultural and Scientific Affairs Embassy of Spain
PROGRAMME JANUARY APRIL 2015 15 Jan – 6 April 24 January 30 Jan – 1 Feb 1 Feb– end 2015
Exhibition ‘Adventures of the Black Square: Abstract Art & Society 1915 2015’ Concert by Orfeón Pamplones and London Philharmonic Orchestra Katharine of Aragon Festival 2015 Dramatized reading performances by Spanish Theatre Company
Seminar ‘Spain and England in 16th Century: Juan Luis Vives and Thomas 13 February More’ 15 16 February 20 – 24 February 26 Feb – 25 March February 2 March 27 – 28 March March March March 14 – 16 April April
Concerts by Manchester Camerata and Joan Enric Lluna International Fashion Showcase 2015 Exhibition ‘Goya: The Witches and Old Women Album’ The Valle Inclán Prize 2015 The Ramón Pérez de Ayala Lecture Conference ‘Teresa de Avila. Writer, Mystic and Saint’ Iberian Week ¡Viva! 21st Spanish and Latin American Film Festival The Juan Facundo Riaño Essay Prize 2015 Annual Conference of Association of Hispanists of Great Britain and Ireland IBERODOCS
TRABAJO
Elsa Moro Soria cuenta su experiencia trabajando como matrona en Londres.
L
os sistemas de salud y educación son notoriamente difíciles de cambiar, incluso cuando la evidencia demuestra que se necesitan evolucionar. Muchas veces la dificultad viene por una deficiencia económica y otras por una falta de cultura, educación u organización. Más de cinco años trabajando en Londres como midwife (matrona) me han servido para darme cuenta de que en España nos falta aprender de otros sistemas de salud y así poder ofrecer una mayor calidad a nuestros pacientes. En cuanto a maternidad se refiere, las diferencias entre el NHS y el sistema sanitario español son enormes. Trabajo en unas de las maternidades mas grandes del Reino Unido, que es también centro de referencia para embarazos de alto riesgo. En ella nacen más de 7.500 bebes al año y posee una de las tasas más altas (3%) de partos en casa (homebirths). La profesión de las matronas se remonta desde más atrás de la época greco-romana, donde ya las mujeres más expertas y sabias ayudaban a otras mujeres a dar a luz en las casas. La palabra midwife viene del inglés antiguo y significa “mujer que cuida durante el parto”. Con los años, esta profesión ha ido evolucionando, pero la base de dar a luz de la manera más natural posible sigue afortunadamente estando presente hoy en dia. Recuerdo como si fuera ayer el primer día que pise un paritorio en Londres. La unidad estaba dividida en dos zonas: alto riesgo (labour ward) y bajo riesgo (birth centre). En ambas partes el cuidado era individualizado, es decir, una matrona por cada mujer (one to one care). No había salas de dilatación sino que en la misma (en la misma qué?) se daba a luz. Las matronas no llevaban gorros, mascarillas ni guantes hasta los codos. No se empujaba en litotomia (con las piernas hacia arriba),
26 La Revista • Winter/Spring 2015
y mucho menos se cubría todo con paños estériles como si de una cirugía a corazón abierto se tratara. La zona de bajo riesgo estaba exclusivamente dirigida por matronas, y prácticamente dar a luz allí era casi un lujo, como estar en un hotel de cinco estrellas. Las habitaciones eran amplias, tenían una cama doble para que la pareja que había estado durante el parto se quedara a dormir y así ayudara a la mujer con el bebé durante la noche. Había una bañera grande para dar a luz en el agua (waterbirth), una pelota gigante y un puff. Tan solo una matrona monitorizaba intermitentemente al bebé, cuidaba y apoyaba a la mujer pacientemente durante horas y horas. ¡Aquello me pareció una locura pero absolutamente fascinante! La mujer era libre, capaz de caminar y adoptar la posición que le fuera más cómoda para dar a luz: de pie agarrándose a una cuerda o a una cortina, de cuclillas, a cuatro patas, en el agua, en la cama, en el sofá, en el baño, etc. Allí no había epidurales, tan sólo aromaterapia, Entonox (gas and air), un pequeño armario con toallas, un par de paquetes con cuatro intrumentos quirúrgicos y un monitor portátil del tamaño de una mano para escuchar el latido del bebé. La gran mayoría de mujeres españolas, por cultura y por que así lo marca nuestro sistema sanitario, tienen asumido que el seguimiento de su embarazo va a ser principalmente obstétrico (es decir, realizado por un médico especialista) y que recibirá una atención igualmente obstétrica e intervencionista durante el parto, cuando ingrese en el hospital. En el Reino Unido una mujer que haya tenido un embarazo y un parto sin complicaciones es muy posible que no haya visto ni una sola vez al obstetra. ¿Quiere decir eso que no se le ha prestado la atención necesaria durante el embarazo? La respuesta es un simple NO. Las midwives están preparadas para dar la atención necesaria en cualquier situación. Eso es un signo de que todo va bien. Por el contrario, las mujeres inglesas ven inconcebible no ser vistas por una midwife durante su embarazo, sabiendo que si son derivadas al médico especialista es debido a una complicación, en cuyo caso el cuidado será compartido. Dentro de mi propia experiencia, el reconocimiento y el prestigio social de las matronas en UK es muy elevado, lo que hace de la profesión algo aún más gratificante y valorado. Gracias a la serie de televisión “Call the midwife” (Llama a la comadrona) en España hemos podido
ver y conocer un poquito más cómo las matronas inglesas trabajaban en los años 50, cuando iban en bicicleta a atender los partos en las casas. La única diferencia actualmente es que estamos más preparadas en caso de tener una complicación y que el transporte afortunadamente ha evolucionado. Dar a luz en casa, en un centro de bajo riesgo liderado por matronas o en el hospital son opciones que se ofrecen en el Reino Unido para permitir a la mujer elegir donde tener a su bebé. El NMC, consejo regulador de las enfermeras y matronas del Reino unido, define a las midwives como: “personal sanitario capacitado profesionalmente para atender a las mujeres y sus bebés durante el periodo antenatal, parto y postparto”. Otras organizaciones y autores definen a las matronas y su profesión como las promotoras de la normalidad en maternidad. A día de hoy existen mas de 35.000 midwives registradas en UK y la demanda crece cada año, ya que se considera que anualmente hay 30.000 nacimientos más que el año anterior. El campo en midwifery es muy amplio, ser matrona significa mucho más que ayudar a dar a luz. Ofrecemos cuidado antenatal y postnatal a la mujer y a su recién nacido habitualmente en su propia casa, informamos, apoyamos, derivamos, aconsejamos y motivamos a las parejas durante el proceso de la maternidad y la paternidad. El Reino Unido ofrece varias especialidades, por lo que no resulta raro ver a matronas especialistas haciendo ecografías, controlando un embarazo o un parto de alto riesgo, trabajando en conjunto con los trabajadores sociales, dirigiendo una gran unidad, dando clases o haciendo estudios de investigación, etc. El NHS se encuentra, según las encuestas del 2014, puntuado como el mejor sistema sanitario del mundo en acceso, calidad y eficiencia. En concreto, a las matronas del Reino Unido se las reconoce como uno de los sectores más imprescindibles dentro del sistema. Hoy, varios años después de ese primer impacto y tras haber ayudado a muchas mujeres a dar a luz, puedo decir que ser midwife es un trabajo agotador pero a la vez de los más gratificantes que existen. Elegir el lugar y la manera de dar a luz no debería ser considerado un privilegio, toda mujer tiene el derecho de decidir cómo y dónde convertirse en madre.
WORK
Talking About My Generation
Moving to a new city can be daunting. Claudia Rubiño tells La Revista why she and her friends have struggled since moving to London, and wonders whether it will all be worth it?
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like to think that a really good book has the key to save me from any demon. There are a few books I would never recommend to sensitive people, even if they are masterpieces. One of them is The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath. I like to say that this book is not suitable for “oscillating” minds. The novel, published in 1967 under a pseudonym, relates the story of the protagonist who suffers from a mental disorder. She is young, her family is wealthy and she gains an internship in a New York-based magazine for the summer. Even though she has everything, she becomes depressed. Eventually she is put in a mental institution where she receives shock treatment because she feels like she doesn't belong to her society. That book amazed me and scared me at the same time. I had to get the suicidal thoughts out of my mind and I found the solution: Never Any End to Paris (París no se acaba nunca), by Enrique Vila-Matas. What can I say about this one? People either love it or hate it. I do not remember exactly what I expected from it, but in some way it saved me. It has nothing particularly impressive; the author tells how he became a writer and how he moved to Paris following his hero's footsteps. As simple as that. Moving to London was a hard decision and staying here has not been easy. I would love to find a cozy room in Bloomsbury and share it with some of the greatest ghosts from my favourite group. However, living in London is only an adventure if you have financial stability. For the rest of us it is just survival. On social networks you can see the amazing parties and wonderful events that people attend all the time, but you cannot do that if you have to choose between paying rent, oyster and food or having a fabulous social life every single night. Not all of us are like the main character of Vila-Matas' novel whose parents paid for his holidays. When I read it, I had already moved to London and I did not follow any literary figures’ steps but instead I followed in the steps of immigrants. I had no job expectations after finishing university so I thought it would be a good lesson for me; I could find a job while I was writing my own masterpiece. I was wrong, obviously. I have been wondering why I came here ever since I put my feet on English territory and I am not the only person in this position. All of us have stories to tell and many of us have interesting university
degrees that are worth nothing in our countries of origin. Take my friend Martín, for instance. He left Galicia two years ago because the only jobs he could find in Spain were unpaid internships: “I was trying to decide where to go”, he says, “London or somewhere in Australia. I picked London because it is closer than Australia, obviously. It is a big city, full of opportunities and I needed to learn the language. At the beginning, I was excited. The city is fantastic but it is sad as well. It is impersonal, people are cold and distant. You cannot see your friends as much as you like. Eventually, I will go back home, were my family and my roots are. My parents emigrated to Switzerland, you see, my parents and my grandmother, and they managed to go back to Spain”. All of us knew before taking the plane that it would be hard. If you decide to emigrate you need to recognise that everything is going to be difficult. We like to think that, if it is easy, it is not worth it. That is what Javi and Sonia say. This couple arrived in London a few months ago and they knew what they wanted before moving in. “These days we are asked to know English for everything so, instead of studying English in Spain, we decided to come to London and learn not only the language but something about the culture.” “I don't want to stay here unless I find a great job”, explains Javi. On the other hand, Sonia says that she is going back as soon as her English level allows her to teach in Spain. Her grand-
parents had to emigrate to France and they are still living there, so she is familar with the idea. Whatever the case may be, there is no doubt that we are the “Crisis Generation” even if some people still want us to think the opposite, even if we like to exaggerate a bit just to stay close to our beloved Lost Generation (in Britain this term is used for those who died in the First Wold War, but I am talking about those expatriate artists that left their countries and settled in Paris, the generation that came of age during WWI). We just changed the meeting point, they went to Paris and we chose London. I would like to believe that we are not as disoriented, wandering and directionless as Gertrude Stein described them. In a few years, perhaps, we will look back knowing that all we are doing and suffering now was not worthless. We will create new masterpieces to encourage future generations, telling them nothing can stop them if they know what is wrong and right; what is true and what is a lie.
Would you like to join the BritishSpanish Society? Membership is open to anyone with an interest in Spain and Spanish culture Fill in the form at the back of this issue or visit our website: www.britishspanishsociety.org
Winter/Spring 2015 • La Revista 27
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HISTORY
Memorias de la Transición
Jules Stewart reflexiona sobre su experiencia en España durante la transición. El articulo original fue publicado en el Diario de Navarra.
Imagenes de la prensa durante los días de transición en España
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l otoño de 1975 hacía su entrada en Madrid con exasperante lentitud cuando un día apareció en casa un extraño individuo, el nuevo inquilino del cuarto. Este personaje, un tipo enjuto con gafas y anorak, pasaba las horas en el balcón que daba al colegio del Pilar, el célebre criadero de ministros, barriendo el horizonte con un par de gemelos. A su lado llevaba un cassette que emitía a toda mecha música marcial. Poco después de las cinco de la madrugada del 20 de noviembre un amigo de la agencia de noticias UPI me llamó por teléfono: “Ha muerto. Te tengo que dejar”. Al poco rato de emitirse la noticia el excéntrico vecino del cuarto entró en acción. Por el patio se escuchaba el cassette pero en vez de himnos falangistas el aparato entonaba “La Internationale” acompañado de advertencias de un inminente golpe comunista. Casi simultáneamente los vecinos de mi casa del barrio de Salamanca reaccionaron al unísono ante la amenaza del Terror Rojo. Por el patio se escuchaban gritos: “¡Cállate, anormal”! “¡Deja a la gente dormir, que hay que trabajar!” La Transición estaba en marcha. Gracias a la sensatez de la clase obrera y de la mayor parte del alto mando militar España enseñó al mundo el arte de desmantelar el aparato dictatorial para convertir al país en una sociedad democrática. Eso sí, siempre con una alta dosis de improvisación. Por ejemplo, una noche de enero de 1977 tuve el honor de cenar con el Teniente General Manuel Gutiérrez Mellado, vicepresidente del Gobierno de Adolfo Suárez. Cuando le pregunté cómo pensaba actuar el Gobierno frente a la ola de protestas callejeras que pedían la legalización del Partido Comunista de España (PCE), me con-
testó: “Francamente veo muy difícil que se legalice el PCE en esta legislatura, y menos con Santiago Carrillo”. Tres meses después el PCE fue legalizado y con Santiago Carrillo como secretario general. Si tuviera que señalar el momento en que definitivamente se dio por terminado este largo periodo de incertidumbre creo que pondría el dedo en el 13 de marzo de 1986, el día en que se dieron a conocer los resultados del referéndum sobre la OTAN. Con el sí del 52,5% de los votantes (y con una tasa de abstención del 40%) el país rebatió la razón a los escépticos: España por fin había afirmado su voluntad de participar en el proyecto de la nueva Europa. En aquellos tiempos yo trabajaba en la agencia Reuters en Madrid. Unos días antes de celebrarse el referéndum decidimos elaborar nuestra propia encuesta sobre el asunto. Los redactores nos repartimos por la geografía española para tomar el pulso a la nación. A mí me tocó Chinchón. Hacía un día espléndido en la Plaza Mayor, cuya arquitectura hace tanta gracia a los turistas ingleses por su parecido al estilo tudoresco. Tomando el sol en un banco de la plaza había un vejete de chapela y zapatillas de fieltro marrón. Sin más, me acerqué a mi primer encuestado. “Buenos días. Soy un periodista extranjero y estoy haciendo un sondeo sobre la OTAN…”. “¿Eh?”. El anciano se llevó la mano a la oreja, doblándola en forma de cucurucho. Repetí la pregunta y esta vez me dirigió una mirada de asombro. “¿Qué dice Ud? ¿Que vuelve Urtáin?” Le pedí perdón por las molestias y crucé la plaza hasta la panadería. “Buenos días, señora. Si no es mucha molestia, soy un periodista extranjero y quería preguntarle su intención de voto
Carteles propagandisticos del PSOE
en el referéndum de la OTAN”. “Pues mire usted”, me dijo, despolvoreándose las manos en su mandil, “eso que usted me dice, pues la verdad es que no sé muy bien, pero si usted es periodista yo le digo una cosa, lo que le ha hecho este gobierno a Ruíz Mateos es una vergüenza, ni más ni menos. Digo, que estos políticos son unos canallas, con todas las letras…”. Me excusé, llevándome una barra de pan de artesanía, para continuar mi periplo alrededor de la plaza. Al poco rato topé con un joven de aspecto despabilado. “Perdona, chico, soy un periodista extranjero y me gustaría saber si tienes una opinión sobre la OTAN. Ya sabes, el referéndum…”. “Hombre, claro que tengo una opinión. Voy a votar que sí”. Por fin. “¿Ah sí? Oye, esto me parece fenomenal. ¿A lo mejor me permites una pregunta más?” “Descuida, tío, pregúntame lo que quieras”. “Bien. Vamos a ver, ¿acaso militas en algún partido político?” El joven se cuadró: “Sí, señor. El Partido Comunista de España”. “¿El PCE? Pero…”. “Ya, ya lo sé. Pero verás, yo tengo una mente independiente y como el PCE es un partido democrático me reservo el derecho de discrepar de la Dirección. En este caso, concretamente, creo que es importante que España se proteja de la amenaza soviética, que no es el comunismo que queremos, sino una tiranía, igual que la oligarquía capitalista pero disfrazada de socialismo…etcétera”. Ya no me cabía la menor duda de que la Transición había triunfado. Winter/Spring 2015 • La Revista 29
LITERATURE
De cuando Agatha Christie visitó “Las Islas Afortunadas”
El encanto de Las Canarias tuvó una influencia profunda sobre la escritora britanica y su obra, descubre Nuria Reina Bachot.
Agatha Christie
D
icen por ahí que a la Reina del Crimen se le ocurrían sus historias más intrigantes mientras fregaba los platos. No tenemos pruebas que demuestren esta curiosa anécdota, pero sí los hay de un hecho desconocido para la mayoría y que marcaría la relación de España con la autora: su visita a las Islas Canarias en 1927. Antes de llegar a este año clave, sigamos un fascinante recorrido cronológico. Agatha Mary Clarissa Miller vino al mundo un 15 de septiembre de 1891 en Torquay –Devonshire-, al sudoeste de Inglaterra. Creció en una familia de clase media-alta como la menor de tres hermanos. La educación de sus primeros años fue hogareña. Sus docentes fueron sus progenitores, que le enseñaron a leer, escribir, realizar las primeras cuentas, tocar el piano y la mandolina. De su madre se comenta que era una sensitiva dotada de capacidades extrasensoriales. Su padre, un amable agente de bolsa neoyorkino y de salud quebradiza, falleció de un ataque al corazón en 1901, a los cincuenta y cinco años, dejando a la familia casi a la deriva. Según la autora, ese hecho marcó su vida y puso fin a una infancia solitaria, aislada de otros niños, donde las mascotas eran sus principales amigos. En los años siguientes inició su educación formal en distintas escuelas de niñas, tres de ellas situadas en París. Llegado 1910 regresó a Inglaterra y, al ver a su madre enferma, tomó la decisión de marcharse con ella a El Cairo. Allí pasaron tres meses alojadas en el Gezirah Palace Hotel. En esa década, Ágatha ya comenzaba a florecer como escritora. Publicó obras de teatro, cuentos y también su primera novela, Snow Upon the Desert, donde narraba sus vivencias en la capital egipcia. El estallido de la Prim-
30 La Revista • Winter/Spring 2015
Agatha y Rosalind
era Guerra Mundial le pilló con el corazón latiendo a mil. Acababa de casarse con el aviador Archibal Christie, quien no solo le regalaría el célebre apellido, sino también un agudo mal de amores, cuyas consecuencias, son dignas de aparecer en cualquiera de sus novelas. Ya en la posguerra se empapó del género detectivesco leyendo a Doyle y Wilkie Collins. Así pues, no era de extrañar que su primer éxito fuese la novela policíaca The Mysterious affair at Styles (1920), donde aparecería por primera vez la figura de Hércules Poirot. Luego llegaría The Secret Adversary (1922), The Murder on the Links (1923), The Man in the Brown Suit (1924), y The Secret of Chimneys (1925); todas ellas incluidas en el género del suspense y misterio. Y así llegamos al annus horribilis de Agatha Christie, 1926, una fecha en la que confluyeron los acontecimientos más devastadores para ella, Su esposo le confiesa que está enamorado de otra mujer, Nancy Neele, y, le pide el divorcio, provocando así la célebre y novelesca desaparición de la autora durante once días, llevada al
Libro
cine con el título de Ágatha (1979). Por si este mazazo no fuera suficiente, fallece su madre y todo ello deja a la escritora hecha añicos. A principios de 1927, a finales de enero para ser más exactos, después de que Archibal y las musas ya hubieran abandonado el hogar, Agatha toma la decisión de marcharse a Las Canarias. No iba sola, le acompañarían su pequeña Rosalind, su secretaria Charlotte, las deudas y una amiga tan inseparable como ruidosa: su máquina de escribir. Por aquel entonces, tenía 36 años. Pero, ¿qué datos tenemos de este viaje a las islas afortunadas? Gracias a la obra Agatha Christie en Canarias, del experto Nicolás González Lemus (Nivaria Ediciones, 2007) sabemos que llegó el 4 de febrero al muelle de Santa Cruz de Tenerife en un barco de la Union Castle Mail. El mismo día realizó una excursión al Valle de La Orotava, célebre rincón que abraza parte del Teide. Se alojó en el Gran Hotel Taoro, un lugar trufado de encanto y comodidades en Puerto de la Cruz. Rodeado de amplios y hermosos jardines que albergaban campos de golf, críquet y tenis, el Taoro gozaba de vistas al mar y al Valle de la Orotava. También poseía un magnífico salón, protagonista de numerosas fiestas y un gran comedor no menos lujoso. Además, el hotel tenía un acuerdo con la agencia londinense Cook para atraer turistas británicos. La cosa funcionó, tanto que entre la comunidad británica el emplazamiento era conocido como The Grand English Hotel porque al aparecer los británicos se encontraban allí como pez en el agua. Por otro lado, el hotel estaba situado cerca de la iglesia anglicana y la biblioteca ynglesa, y claro, aquello también les ayudaría a sentirse como en casa, eso sí, con un clima más paradisíaco. Si con semejante Edén un escritor apolillado por la tristeza no logra restablecerse un poco y recuperar la inspiración, ya no hay nada que tire de él. Por fortuna, Agatha era una escritora de raza y solo necesitaba un empujoncito. Las islas se lo dieron. De hecho, se sabe que en el Puerto de la Cruz finalizó las novelas The Mystery of the Blue Train y The Mysterious Mr Quin. Sin embargo, hay testimonios de que Agatha no terminaba de sentirse cómoda en Tenerife. La culpa era de los vientos alisios, que tornaban brava la mar y hacían imposible el baño y eso, para una buena nadadora como ella, era un suplicio. Tampoco había arena, sino piedra volcánica, y todo aquello unido al
Hotel Metropole
frío y la humedad hicieron que saliera del Puerto de la Cruz bastante desencantada. El 27 de febrero recogió sus bártulos y se marchó a Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Una vez allí, se instaló en el Hotel Metropole, un primo hermano del Taoro en lo que al lujo se refiere y que poseía incluso habitaciones de revelado fotográfico. Además, estaba regentado por un compatriota suyo, Alfred Lewis Jones, que se había instalado en las islas en 1884 y era socio de la Elder, Dempster & Co. Alfred acabaría involucrándose en la industria turística. Cercano al British Club y al Tennis Court, el Metropole se convirtió en una pieza clave en la obra The Thirteen Problems, pues aparece de forma explícita en el capítulo ocho, The Companion. En esta colección de historias protagonizadas por la carismática Miss Marple, la autora homenajea a las islas situando la historia en Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, en concreto, en la playa de Las Nieves (Agaete). Según González Lemus, en este capítulo Agatha Christie rinde homenaje a los numerosos médicos británicos que se asentaron en las islas y recomendaban una estancia en el archipiélago como terapia, en especial para las afecciones pulmonares. En definitiva, la autora acabó prendada de Gran Canaria, donde pudo disfrutar de un clima mejor, nadar en la playa de Las Canteras e incluso surfear –convirtiéndose en la primera surfera de las islas-. Algunos dicen que volvió en repetidas ocasiones durante los años 60. Los más optimistas apoyan esta teoría en las siguientes palabras de su autobiografía:
“Las Palmas de Gran Canaria tenía dos playas perfectas; la temperatura también lo era… La mayor parte del año soplaba una brisa estupenda y las noches eran los suficientemente cálidas para sentarse a cenar al aire libre”. Otros dicen que tras su marcha en marzo de 1927 jamás regresó a las islas. Lo que es innegable es la huella de su visita. Así pues, el pueblo canario intentó rendir homenaje a la autora con un busto y una calle en la finca de La Paz, además de con el Festival Internacional Agatha Christie, donde se puede disfrutar de piezas teatrales, proyecciones, conferencias, rutas y actuaciones musicales. La última edición fue en 2013 en Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife. Tal vez lo más importante de este desconocido viaje de la autora al archipiélago no sea este homenaje, ni la creación de varios trabajos como Mr. Quin o The Companion, sino el innegable poder de las islas para restaurar un corazón tan quebrado como el que trajo Agatha el 4 de febrero de 1927. Agatha Christie falleció de causas naturales el 12 de enero de 1976 en Oxfordshire, dejando a sus espaldas más de ochenta novelas de suspense, ciento cincuenta cuentos, unas veinte obras teatrales, seis novelas de corte romántico, el título de Dama del Imperio Británico y su autobiografía.
ART
Photographer Idil Sukan Captures Comedy Ahead of Idil Sukan’s debut photography exhibition, This Comedian, Julia Sukan del Rio explains what makes her work unique.
I
dil Sukan’s portrait of Celia Imrie was formally acquired by the National Portrait Gallery last year. A leading photographer in the comedy world, she set up Draw HQ, her production company, in 2010. She has since been the official photographer for the Pleasance Theatre Edinburgh Fringe Festival shows, the British Independent Film Awards and the British Comedy Awards. Sukan is now opening up her photography archives for the first time for her debut exhibition This Comedian in February and March 2015.
about what it’s like to be a comedian. Sukan began photographing and designing for Fringe shows when she noticed that publicity was often unrepresentative of the themes and quality of the show. Her producer’s judgement sought to incorporate publicity as part of the entire show experience, not separate from it. Her production and publicity work for the Victorian sketch-comedy show Aeneas Faversham by sketchcomedy troupe The Penny Dreadfuls, for example, featured playing cards, which served flyers too. This encouraged the
You will rarely come across someone like Idil Sukan. She is a polymath, with sweeping interests and extreme talent. She takes a keen interest in the impact of photography and is critical of the harm that altered or reductive images have on gender roles in society. She therefore actively avoids taking brash generic comedy photos, such as ‘man in suit holding a microphone’ and ‘woman in dainty dress looking confused’ – did she just say something funny? Having been a student at Edinburgh University, Sukan had undiluted access to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in which she has taken part as a comedy producer, comedian and photographer for the last 10 years. Her forthcoming debut exhibition This Comedian is an exciting retrospective collection of her photography and design work of comedians over the last decade. This unprecedented collection of photographic work in the comedy industry includes comedic stars Eddie Izzard, Julian Clarey, Greg Proops and Bridget Christie. And staying true to form, Sukan is launching the exhibition with a stand-up comedy show with a great line-up of comedians talking
public to collect the whole deck – an ingenious ploy to get people to actively want a Fringe flyer. Her photography and poster design for Fringe shows are now so distinctive, that there is a game amongst Edinburgh Festival regulars called ‘Spot the Idil’. To play, you call out the ‘good posters’ amongst the layers of publicity plastered along the Royal Mile, the festival’s publicity street. Sukan, armed with her varied comedy background as a producer and comedian, presents photography that combines the sensitivity of a performer with the strategies of a producer. You will rarely come across an exhibition like this – don’t miss out!
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Exhibition: This Comedian Free Entry. www.thiscomedian.com Idil Sukan’s limited edition portraits and art prints are also on sale now: shop.drawhq.com
Pronounced ‘Thiria’ A Dialogue with Artist Jose Manuel Ciria Nacho Morais meets the conceptual artist in his London studio for a conversation on art and life, ahead of his Madrid exhibition Las Puertas de Uaset. A tireless researcher of the pictorial art form, he combines intellect, creativity and charm in equal measure.
J
osé Manuel Ciria welcomes me to his London studio. He was born in the UK (Manchester, 1960) but only recently set up this studio last year after seven years in New York. A man of many contrasts, he has combined a self-learning approach with the influence of more traditional figures such as his father or the old-style teachers he had as a child, who nurtured and stimulated his artistic sensibility. He is at the frontline of the artistic vanguard but has the utmost admiration for Velazquez and regards The Spinners as the best painting of all time. A nomadic character, his residences across the world have, layer after layer, furnished his kaleidoscopic approach to painting. As opposed to other more conventional painters, his work is investigation, a journey of research which has enabled him to generate three platforms which dissect the ingredients of the pictorial art form: Automatic Deconstructive Abstraction, Dynamic Alfa Alignments and the most recent one, in which he analyses the symbolic components present in painting through history. His talent and eagerness to push the boundaries of artistic manifestation have put him at the forefront of the international art scene. He sees his art form as an intellectual challenge, as he shows when he says that he “solves” paintings. With his ongoing works around us, and the promise of a tortilla de patata to cap our encounter, we slide into conversation. “My childhood memories are of either being naughty or drawing”, says Ciria. “I remember one day a teacher at school in Manchester told us to copy a print of a tiger and an elephant falling into a trap. I went to the board where the drawings were exhibited and mine was not there. Instead, she had made a little orange cardboard frame and hung it on a wall. That gave me a fantastic boost as a kid”.
ART
Despertar (2014)
When Ciria moved to Madrid he met a schoolteacher, Don Carlos, who spurred his intellectual curiosity. He became the one in the class who made the representations of biblical figures in the blackboard. At first, he felt very shy and made small drawings, quickly shaking off the stage fright and taking over the whole board. In school, he had two other favourite subjects, philosophy and physics. It is interesting what you say about physics, as often in arts, and in your work in particular, there is a certain geometric or formulaic element. The more curiosity, the more preparation you have, the more you have read, the more you can use in your work. Intuition is all right — you need the muses to accompany you to solve the painting when you are executing it — but if behind the surface there is conceptual baggage, a structure that sustains the work, I think it benefits the discourse enormously. Whoever wants to go deeper can find enough meat to bite, to be able to enjoy a deeper trip. My painting is about tensions, so I often look for the shock of placing two antithetic postures in the same level, like in the case of abstract art: geometrical and gestural. Forcing these two different things to co-lead the scene in the same frame has some tensions which I really like. In my work I work with all kinds of mathematical formulas and, obviously, with auric proportions. Ciria’s father – who eventually became his assistant — used to take him to visit artists’ studios, to the Circulo de Bellas Artes in Madrid, and got him working for a painter on Carrera de San Jeronimo, near the Spanish Congress. This painter, in turn, introduced him to his gallerist and his investigative journey into the pictorial art form took off. It was not only an intellectual journey, but also a geographical one.
José Manuel Ciria
What have you taken from the experience of those residences that you had: Paris, New York, Berlin, Tel Aviv and Rome? It depends on the intensity with which you can live in those places and those moments. I lived lots of experiences. New York, for instance, is a town where everything you are exposed to is absolutely powerful, the city accompanies you. During my tenure in Rome I thought, ‘I don’t want to wake up’. The project that I wanted to undertake there was called The Still Time, and my wish was to stop time, to stay there forever. You also harvest friendships, and exchanges and conversations can be deeply enriching. Of your range of works, I find the Rorschach Heads series really interesting. The Rorschach Heads are structured in three different phases. The first one I did while I was in Israel, and what I tried is, with a simple silhouette, without expression (no eyes, no mouth, no nose), to express emotions, just through composition, the colocation of those heads. The theme of feeling the fear, the satisfaction, the abandonment, the defeat, the worry… is a projective theme, like the Rorschach tests, hence the name. You interpret it the way you want to interpret it. I did a second phase, when I arrived in New York, where I tried to experiment with the first body of work. While I was there, my father was fatally ill and the pain took me away from my investigative painting and into the third series. I was also influenced by a trip to Easter Island during those same days. The heads in that series have expression, and I was so surprised that I made several pieces. Shortly afterwards it gained direction when Stefan Stux, the New York gallerist, came one night for dinner. I was doing the pieces, and I had a ceiling fan in the middle of the studio in New York, under which one piece was drying. It was supposed to be a
personal, intimate work, just for me. So he saw this work piece and was so interested that he asked me whether I had more. I showed him the rest and after dinner he tells me, “I am changing all dates, as I want to give you the best date in the year. Tomorrow, we sign the contract”. I am more of an abstract, rather than figurative, painter. The most important thing about the heads is that they are the same abstract shapes, anchored to a context that can be interpreted as a figurative one. The horror expressed by the heads is the horror that you see in the world. People tell me “those heads that you have painted anguish me. I could not live with that because it would scare me”. No. The ones who are actually scared are the represented ones. In that sense, and given the provocation present in many art forms these days, to what extent could the provocative dimension eclipse the art form? I am partly a painter and partly a conceptual artist who expresses himself with paint. I try to stretch the limits of what we consider painting. I am not interested in including religion or pornography; I do not aim to transgress any tradition and I am not a provocateur, but I understand that there are many people who want to brutally stretch the borders of art, and they manage to appear in press. Much of it is just plain provocation. There are exceptions, like the case of Paul McCarthy. This is a guy who has always moved around the conceptual field and with photography, and he brought a painting exhibition to the Hauser & Wirth gallery in London. The painting that he brought was eschatological and pornographic. If you are unable to look at the paintings you miss out on the aesthetic experience. Nevertheless, in the case of McCarthy, the surprising thing is that the exhibition from a pictorial standpoint was utterly extraordinary, even though he is a
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ART to art. I did not ever decide it. It fell onto me like a stone. Quite often I think that I would love to have been to be a normal person.
provocateur. This is the difference between the people who are there just to be provocative, and those who are there because they have to be. Venture capitalist Julie Meyer recently told me that what differentiates an entrepreneur is his disposition to live an abnormal life. If the artist is an intellectual entrepreneur, do you think this is true?
That is a feeling I have had since I was a child, and not because of my profession. In Manchester I was the Spanish kid and in Spain I was the English kid. I have always been an outsider. My interest in painting, my intellectual curiosity always set me apart of the others. I was kicked out of all schools and my parents were always at the headmaster’s office. Many people ask me when I decided to devote myself to this,
Finally, could you mention some artists that you can say that they clearly influenced you? I draw more from the attitude of the artist than in the formal aspect. There are some artists that have changed my way of looking at the pictorial art form: Joseph Beuys, Cy Twombly and, without a doubt, Dieter Roth. Do I especially like Joseph Beuys painting? I am not that interested, but I love what he is able to offer, and how he takes you on a journey. In the case of Roth, it is same. On the other hand, I like Twombly a lot, the fact that an American can understand the Mediterranean and make those compositions is absolutely marvellous. He maximises what is minimal, and that is a pleasure. And off we went for the tortilla…
Spaniard Leading the World of Squash
David Hurst meets Borja Golan, the world’s number 7 squash player.
A
part from a good few notable Brits, world squash has been dominated by the Pakistanis – led by the Khan dynasty with undisputed world class stars Jahengir and Jansher Khan - the Australians and, more recently, by the Egyptians. But now it is Spain’s turn as they have produced a world leader in this exciting sport. Borja Golan is an impressive 32 yearold from Santiago de Compostela who has fought through a serious knee injury in 2009 to emerge as Spain’s greatest ever squash player. The injury was sustained in the Columbian Open final which Golan went on to lose to Australian squash legend and former World Number 1, David Palmer. Despite this, the determined and elegant Spaniard climbed into the squash World Top Ten just the month after the tournament ended. Golan would have to wait until 2013 before he ranked as highly again. In Decem-
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ber 2014, in his first Professional Squash Association World Series final, he was runner up in the Hong Kong Open to the then world ranked number 1, Sheffieldborn Nick Matthew. That year Golan also reached the semi-final of the Qatar Classic beating the number 1 seed, Frenchman Gregory Gaultier, in a tense and controversial match. His current professional ranking of World Number 7 places him as the top string out of five in the team playing for St George’s Hill Tennis and Squash Club, Weybridge, where he plays regular matches in England’s Premier Squash League. The following interrview took place while the star player was on his way to play in another tournament in the USA. How and why did you take up squash in football-mad, non-squash playing Spain? I was lucky as my parents’ house was only 300 metres from Squash Club Santiago where I trained. As a kid I tried many sports such as swimming, soccer and even karate but the one I enjoyed the most was squash so I decided to quit the others. When did you become so good at squash? I don’t know yet if I am good at squash as I always think I can improve - but I am 32 and possibly running out of time! At 18 I moved to England to improve my squash and train with well-respected coach John
Milton in St Albans. Since then my only aim has been to get as good as I can be. Who inspired you in the beginning in squash and in sport generally? My parents inspired me the most; they showed me the values of hard work and humility. Also my wife has been a great support since I joined the professional circuit 12 years ago. Outside sport, what are your favourite films and authors? One of my favourite films is Ridley Scott’s Gladiator and I love sports biographies such as Andre Agassi’s and also the famous novel One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Tell us about your trade mark pressure socks! The brand of pressure socks I use is Compressport which are very helpful for keeping muscles warm and reducing the risk of injury. I also use them for recovering after a hard match or training session and then for long flights as well, keeping my legs relaxed and fresh.
on YouTube. They will take your breath away. The BritishSpanish Society wishes Borja well ings and congratulates him on his important contribution to Spanish sport.
LANGUAGE
IBERIAN WORDS – The Good, the Bad & the Ugly
After more than 40 years living in Madrid (single) and Barcelona (married), Dominic Begg lists some of the words and expressions that have stayed with him through the years, for better or worse… adeu* - minimalist Catalan streetresponse to ‘Bon dia’. Friendlier when echo. al fondo a la derecha - reassuring directions from bar staff. aprovechar - useful catch-all for ‘exploit’, ‘make use of’, etc. amusing when used ironically. a rajatabla - ‘rigorously’. Dotting the ‘i’s and crossing the ‘t’s. autoritats* - ‘local dignitaries’. A pack of individuals 3 rows of seats reserved for them,
Drawings by AB
often fail to turn up. azabache - ‘jet-black’. Often used in bala perdida - wastrel, loser. Literally ‘a spent bullet’. blandengue - softy, milksop, weakling. bochorno suffocating, humid heat. bodega ideally a cool, dark interior with dusty, musty barrels. bon nadal* - subdued festive greeting. Not especially merry. caballero - if addressed thus, my hackles rise. Barbers excepted. cancerbero - picturesque alternative to ‘goalkeeper’. cara de circunstancias ‘set facial expression’. cara de pocos amigos - a murderous facial expression. ¡circulen! ‘keep moving’. Warning from Franco’s police. compañero/a - sentimental prissy term for partner, boyfriend, girlfriend, lover, etc. crepuscular - often used to describe the declining western movie genre. currar - to knuckle down to your working routine. ¡chim-pún! - cheerful nonsense-word signalling the end of a song. chorizo - a crook or fraudster. sadly, plenty to be seen in Spain. one whose ‘cape has fallen’ and who’s down on his luck. deslucido - spoilt by poor weather or a bad performance.
desnivel - uneven paving that could trip you up. desperfectes*- damage to property after a storm. el escándalo/pulso está servido splendid image of a waiter removing the lid of a salver and ‘serving up a scandal’. entradas - a man’s receding hairline. literally ‘entrances’. fuertote machote - ‘big strong lad’. I was called this once by a colleague 30 years ago when I came to work jacketless. It’s stuck! gandul* - an idler who may well end up as a ‘bala perdida’. ¡go-o-o-ol, gol gol gol! - just acceptable on the radio. UnBritish. impresentable(*) - sounds wonderfully dismissive in Catalan. inodoro ‘al fondo a la derecha’. lamentable(*) - again, this sounds perfect in Catalan. morbo - hard to translate. ‘prurience’ (approximately). muy repartido - ‘widely shared’. the context is a lottery win. ni a Granada, la que suspira por el mar - memorable line from a Lorca poem. A barrage of ‘a’s, plus a nod to the last Moorish ruler of Al-Andalus. niño (El Niño, Niño de la Capea, El Niño de la Hipoteca) a singer. As with ‘little Stevie Wonder’, age may lead to a name-change. nosotras - in a Madrid street, aged 17, I was invited to a party by four shop-girls ‘Ven con nosotras’. Sexiest word in the dictionary! oito** - some elderlyGallegos, when speaking Spanish, seem to have dif¡ojalá! - ‘would that it were so!’ a single word that packs a punch. ojo de perdiz ‘partidge-eye’. A potato found in the Almería area. paciencia y barajar - ‘patience and advice that goes back to the Cervantes era. pichardos - unfamiliar foreign banknotes and coins. ‘ackers’. plasticidad - in an art review it sounds pretentious to British ears.
ming in a cold sea will alert him to the danger of catching this. ¡Que va! ‘like hell!’ or ‘whatever!’. popular with adolescents. quitar hierro - ‘to take the heat off’, ‘to release the pressure’. Refers to branding-irons used by ranch-hands. se obedece, pero no se cumple - ‘one obeys, but one doesn’t implement’. Imperial viceroys in the New World often treated instructions from Seville-based bishops in this way. suegra - ‘mother-in-law’. It has a sour and vinegary ring to it! tancat*- ‘closed/shut’. Has a metallic jail-cell clang. todo el tinglado - ‘the whole she-bang/ shooting-match’. ull de lliebre* - grape variety ‘hare’s eye’ (= tempranillo). un penalti como una catedral - ‘a clear penalty’. Massively visible to everybody but the referee!
vino peleón - a young wine that next morning. ¡voy a cocerme! - ‘I’m going out on heard this from rugby coach Carmelo ‘Margarito’ García over 40 years back. xafagor*- see ‘bochorno’ above. this is even steamier! zanjar - ‘to bring to an end or wrap up’. * = Catalan (*) = Works in both Castellano and Catalan ** = Galician/Gallego
‘pneumonia’. The mother of a ‘blandengue’ swim-
Winter/Spring 2015 • La Revista 35
Art & Culture Andalucia
Villa Los Buhos, Gaucin, Andalucia Sunshine, stunning scenery, exquisite food and wine, fascinating company, mental stimulation and luxury accommodation – this is the unique experience
Andrew Graham-Dixon, the well-known art critic, journalist and TV presenter says, “I can’t recommend Jacqueline Cockburn’s Andalusian cultural experience too highly.”
www.artandcultureandalucia.com www.facebook.com/artandcultureandalucia
CULTURE
Contemporary Spanish Cinema
Duncan Wheeler and Fernando Canet explain why they were moved to research varying perceptions of Spanish cinema, the subject of their new book.
I
n an increasingly globalised world, does it still make sense to talk about national cinemas as if they were self-contained clearly definable categories? Even if we can agree on the existence of such a thing as Spanish cinema, is it understood in the same way at home as it is abroad, or does it perhaps take on different meanings depending on personal and culturally determined preferences and prejudices? If, as seems to be the case, the world is becoming ever-more homogenous, should Spanish cinema take a lead from directors such as Alejandro Amenábar and Juan Bayona, who have arguably beaten Hollywood at its own game in films such as The Others and The Impossible; or, conversely, is entering into this game a form of ethical and aesthetic defeat: ought filmmakers to be looking to offer something different from mainstream fare, showcasing the diversity of both Spain and its cinematic talent? These are just some of the questions that inspired us to edit a book that puts leading academics from a broad range of disciplinary and geographical backgrounds into dialogue with critically and commercially successful practitioners to suggest the need to redefine the parameters of one of the world’s most creative national cinemas. The impetus for the project, and in fact our first meeting, was a conference organised by Fernando Canet in New York in December 2011, at which Duncan Wheeler presented a paper on Elegy, an English-language adaptation of Philip Roth’s novella The Dying Animal, directed by the Catalan filmmaker Isabel Coixet, and starring Academy Award winner Penélope Cruz. As well as offering a close analysis of the film, this paper was interested in interrogating how and why the film had been better received in the UK and the US than it had been in Spain; this disjuncture between domestic and international perceptions was also flagged by a number of other delegates who, for example, probed Pedro Almodóvar’s status as a global icon in light of his more chequered reputation at home, or analysed comedies such as Torrente, Fuga de cerebros and Tengo ganas de ti that are amongst the most popular films in Spain, but rarely travel abroad: how many UKbased cinema-goers know that Ocho apellidos vascos recently became the biggest grossing film of all time at the domestic box-office?
“How many UK-based cinemagoers know that Ocho apellidos vascos recently became the biggest grossing film of all time at the domestic box-office?” Also present at the conference were some of the most critically acclaimed Spanish practitioners of recent years: the directors Isaki Lacuesta and José Luis Guerin, alongside the producer and director Luis Miñarro. Although their prize-winning films do not always find the favour of either audiences or funders at home, their inclusion in the world’s most prestigious film festivals is instrumental to the international standing of Spanish cinema. The recording of their roundtable discussion inspired us to dedicate a section in the book to engaging with industry professionals working in a variety of roles. As a counterpart to a chapter titled ‘How to make arty films now’, in which Miñarro dissects the struggles to produce arthouse cinema in Spain with characteristic gallows’ humour, we interviewed Mercedes Gamero within the rubric of ‘How to make commercial films now’ – this television executive for Antena 3 has been one of the very few Spanish producers to weather the current economic crisis and develop financially viable projects through investment in international coproductions, and comedies aimed at the domestic marketplace featuring popular actors, generally best-known for their work on the small screen. The contributors to the book adopt various, often opposing, stances as to whether mainstream acceptance and commercial
success ought to be determining factors in the kind of films that are produced. While, in accordance with the ethos of the volume, we have adopted no editorial line in the regard, it is clear that there are two ways of denigrating a national cinema: first, by saying that it can never make money by direct or by indirect means; and, second, by suggesting that commercial viability is the sole criteria by which films ought to be judged. We have worked hard to ensure that the book counterbalances chapters that take popular films seriously, with others that painstakingly explore the creativity of more challenging cinematic fair providing, for example, a detailed interrogation of the recent upsurge in art films produced in Catalonia. The passage of the thoughts of over twenty-five authors living in different countries, and even continents, to nearly five-hundred pages of printed text has frequently seemed more of a quixotic than a Herculean task, but it has fully convinced us not only of the multitude of great Spanish films from the last two decades, but also of the plurality of perspectives from which they can be viewed. Despite the current obstacles it has to negotiate, the talent pool working both in and on Spanish cinema is healthier today than it has ever been; if nothing else, our book bears testament to that talent, and offers its services to the readers as a guide for discovering new films and re-viewing familiar ones under a new light. From the outset, we sought to bring together Spanish- and English-language specialists in a field that has, on occasions, operated along nationally-specific partisan lines. In the spirit of the BritishSpanish Society, we can only hope that this Apartheidlike division becomes a relic of the past and that, as with all good tour-guides, the book serves a diplomatic as well as an ambassadorial role: it would be disconcertingly boring if cinematic and academic communities began to agree on everything, but we hope to have initiated a conversation to which everyone is welcome to contribute. Duncan Wheeler is Associate Professor in Spanish Studies at the University of Leeds Fernando Canet is Associate Professor in Film Studies at the Polytechnic University of Valencia Winter/Spring 2015 • La Revista 37
CULTURE
¿Qué hay de nuevo en MADRID? La capital de España se encuentra en pleno apogeo de nuevos negocios. Aperturas de restaurantes, tiendas, cafeterías, hoteles o galerías de arte salpican la ciudad. ¿Te vienes de paseo por Madrid? Por Estefanía Ruilope.
E
mpezamos la ruta por el nuevo hotel Urso (Mejía Lequerica, 1), un edificio ideal para dormir ubicado en la zona de las salesas. ¿Qué destaca en él? Su buen gusto en la decoración, los exquisitos productos de belleza de la marca The Lab Room disponibles en las habitaciones y su restaurante efímero The Table by. Su concepto gastronómico se basa en acoger durante un mes y replicar en su totalidad los mejores restaurantes de España. No muy lejos de éste aparece otro hotel, el Siete Islas (Valverde, 14), que se caracteriza por tener un llamativo estilo nórdico y un ambiente muy trendy.
The Table by
Siete Islas
Para desayunar hay dos sugerencias. Por un lado, el
un gastro local con representación de todas las comidas del mundo, además de bar de copas y restaurante con una estrella Michelín. ¿Otro plus? Se encuentra amenizado con música jazz. Igualmente en la zona de Fuencarral está el Mercado de San Idelfonso (Fuencarral, 57), famoso por sus cañas, su sushi y sus tacos mexicanos. Il Tavolo Verde (Villalar, 6), un espacio con una filosofía cien por cien ecológica en pleno barrio de Salamanca, donde puedes tomar un rico té con un suculento trozo de bizcocho de calabaza handmade. Lo peculiar de este local es que al fondo se convierte en una tienda de decoración con una gran diversidad de muebles de estilo rústico. Si buscas un desayuno al más puro estilo francés, la mejor opción es Fonty (Castello, 12), que posee un original suelo hidráulico idóneo para tomar un rico croissant con café con leche. A la hora de comer la oferta culinaria es muy variada y amplia. Todo depende de qué estés buscando. Si hablamos de una comida de cinco tenedores una de las mejores opciones es degustar los platos con esencia gallega de Alabaster (Montalban, 9) o el savoir faire del grupo Paraguas con su Ultramarinos Quintín (Jorge Juan, 17). Si buscas un lugar donde se mantenga la buena comida pero sea algo más sencilloo no te pierdas Alcocer 42 (Alcocer, 42). En Beker 6 (Hermanos Bécquer, 6) prueba el horno josper o disfruta de una sabrosa hamburguesa en un ambiente de la Costa Azul de los años 40. Para degustar una de las mejores tortillas de patata de la ciudad acude a Taberna
38 La Revista • Winter/Spring 2015
Beker 6
Pedraza (Ibiza, 40): para unas deliciosas croquetas de boletus visita Taberna Arzabal (Avenida de Menéndez Pelayo, 13) y si prefieres pasearte por el sito de moda, el lugar perfecto es Fox (Fernández de la Hoz, 66).
Fox
También hay que destacar el boom de los mercados gastronómicos surgido en los últimos meses. Son varios los espacios dedicados a este universo. Uno de ellos es Platea (Goya, 5-7), un antiguo cine reconvertido en
A la hora de ir de compras la ruta de moda combina diseñadores españoles con grandes marcas internacionales. En la tienda de ropa gallega Masscob (Callejón de Puigcerda) puedes encontrar piezas sencillas con personalidad. Una de las últimas en aterrizar en el antiguo y archiconocido restaurante Teatriz es la hermana mediana de H&M, & Other Stories (Hermosilla, 15). Para muebles y objetos decorativos cosmopolitas tienes que ir a Indietro (Ortega y Gasset, 28) y para gafas de sol diferentes y con personalidad, a Óptica Toscana (Hortaleza, 70). Por último, siempre resulta agradable un paseo por el jardín de Federica & Co (Hermosilla, 26). Como colofón, turno para unos cuidados de belleza en el recién estrenado Spa de Lush (Carmen, 24) o en un centro cien por cien ecológico, Serendipia (Recoletos, 16).
Serendipia
Basque Country Chronicle
Hondarribia festival
Tom Blinkhorn tells La Revista about the culture-culinary tour he took part in last September, and reflects on why the rich cultural history or the region has such enduring appeal.
F
or as long as I can remember, the Basque Country has held a special mystique for me. It started when I was a kid growing up in Canada’s Cape Breton Island on the North Atlantic. In school, whenever the topic turned to the earliest explorers and inhabitants of our part of North America, fishing would invariably come up because for centuries that was the dominant livelihood, particularly fishing in the Atlantic’s Grand Banks, historically one of the world’s bountiful sources of cod, oysters and many others. Basque fishermen, we learned, had worked the Grand Banks since the early 1400s or sooner, long before Columbus set sail for what he hoped would be Asia but ended up instead in the Bahamas. Who were these adventurous Basques, I wondered? Where do they come from and what is the source of their courage? I got my answers, and then some, a year or so ago when my cultivated friend from Dublin, Paddy Woodworth, suggested a culture-culinary tour. In addition to being an engaging Celtic raconteur, he also happens to be a specialist on the Basque Country, the author of well-received books including The Basque Country: A
Cultural History (see www.paddywoodworth.com). I said yes immediately and proposed that we plan a small study tour involving members of the lifelong education institute at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, USA, where I live and teach. Fourteen people, including myself, signed up for the adventure, all retired academics or professional people. Fortunately Paddy had a friend, Jon Warren, who started a wonderful culinary institute in San Sebastian, the Spanish Basque city on the Bay of Biscay 20 km from the French border. Jon is a soft-spoken 34-year-old Englishman, who worked for four years as a stockbroker in the City of London before falling in love with the Basque Country in 2008 and establishing San Sebastian Food (see www.sansebastianfood.com). Before the trip, all participants prepared themselves with a three-session study course on the Basque country via real-time, audio-visual Skype hook-up between Hanover, Dublin and San Sebastian. Paddy’s book provided the context. We learned that the Basques are one of the oldest, if not the oldest, European people. They have probably lived in their home place longer than other ethnic groups on the continent. Their language, Euskera, is unique – not only non-IndoEuropean but it has no clear link with any other tongue. And Basques, on both sides of the Pyrenees in France and Spain, have kept alive a vibrant tradition of folk music, costumes, dances and sports, which few other European peoples can match. Also fascinating is the fact that the Basques have long been at the cutting edge of Iberian history, culture and commerce. For example, the so-called rein-
vention of the largest Basque city, Bilbao – a project led by Basque nationalists – has become a model for the 21st century city of cultural services and information technologies, inspired by the glorious Guggenheim museum, designed by the prize-winning architect, Frank Gehry.
“You might fancy a tiny feast of octopus with potatoes and pimento, or pork loin with caramelised onions, or wild mushrooms scrambled with parsley, garlic and gildas” Filled with this cornucopia of history and alluring information, the 14 of us couldn’t wait to experience the real thing. And, with guidance from Paddy and Jon, we embarked last September on a wondrous 10 day culture-culinary tour. We visited historic villages like Lesaka in the Navarre region, had a guided tour by the jolly local historian Rafael Eneterreaga, and met the mayor. In Hondarribia, the quintessential Basque fishing village, we watched the colourful annual festival in celebration of an obscure 14th century battle. I also purchased a red Basque beret to show off at home. In the French Basque Country we sensed in Biarritz what 19th century elite tourism must have been like, where Napoleon and Josephine as well as Edward, Prince of Wales frolicked. The birders in our group joined Paddy in a morning trek at Txingudi, a Ramsar wetland of international importance in the Plaiaundi Ecology Park, one of the great migration channels to and from the Bay of Biscay for waders, wildfowl and warblers.
Jamón carving
Winter/Spring 2015 • La Revista 39
CULTURE pork loin with caramelised onions, or wild mushrooms scrambled with parsley, garlic and gildas. The latter are classic Basque peppers, anchovies and olives all packed onto a cocktail stick. I became enamoured with txakoli, the local white wine which has recently become enormously fashionable.
Music Review
Granados’ Danzas Españolas Op.37, played by Maite Aguirre
• Joining the entire group in helping prepare a gourmet seafood meal under the guidance of master chef Alex Barcenilla and his team in the fishing village of Paisajes San Juan. My tasks were helping to clean and chop squid plus carve the best part of a 15 pound tuna, freshly caught from the Bay of Biscay.
Cooking class
For me the highlights of the trip were: • Exploring the Basque maritime museum in Bermeo on the coast, from whence fishermen set out for the Grand Banks near my part of Canada hundreds of years ago. Nearby town Getaria has a marvelous museum dedicated to the local boy who became an internationally famous fashion designer – Cristobal Balenciaga. • Savouring the endless variety of pintxos (pronounced “peen chos”) in the lively bars in the centre of San Sebastian. Pintxos are the Basque version of Spanish tapas. The word means thorn or spike, a reference to the cocktail skewers often used to hold small pieces of food together. You might fancy a tiny feast of octopus with potatoes and pimento, or
I could go on about the Guggenheim museum, the great Rioja Alavesa wines, bronze age village sites, the masterclass in the preparation and carving of the very best cured ham in the world – the jamón iberico de bellota. Suffice to say that the entire experience was, as the Basques say, “apartekoa” – sensational. And a small confession, paraphrasing a line from a famous, old American song: “I left my heart in….San Sebastian.” www.sansebastianfood.com http://www.sansebastianfood.com/uploads/packages/pdf/SSF-5867.pdf
in international development with the
reporter and editorial writer for newspapers in Canada and the US. He and his family Dartmouth college. Thatcher
L
overs of Granados' Danzas Españolas will appreciate this sensitive recording of the complete cycle by Maite Aguirre, who leads the listener with skill through the romantic steps and turns of this inventive and popular set. A faithfulness to the composer's characteristic sound is on display here, the mighty Bösendorfer lending colour in particular to the Andalucian cry punctuating the middle section of the final 'Bolero'. The recording quality is clear and consistent, allowing Aguirre to explore the personalities of the individual dances while remaining faithful to the soul of Granados' opus. The unsettling motifs driving the famous 'Andaluza' feel suitably quixotic, but standing out is the compelling 'Arabesca', which invites us to lose ourselves in its insistent, flamencoinspired twirls and rhythms, so evocative of the southern landscape. Granados' achievement (he was 22 when he wrote this cycle) is to combine the exotic with a sense of the instantly familiar, although it could be debated to what extent the composer echos and is influenced by sounds that we recognise as inherently Spanish, rather than the other way around. Here, he achieves a union of the modern and the thoroughly authentic, most strikingly evoked in the dreamlike, floating chords introducing the 'Sardana', whose theme, building and rolling, alternates between confidence and introspection before resolving optimistically back to C Major. Those more familiar with one of the many excellent guitar recordings of Danzas Españolas will find this CD, at £10, a rewarding introduction to the original piano arrangement. It can be explored piecemeal or enjoyed over the full 57 minutes, preferably on a long, hot summer evening with the smell of orange blossom in the air. Thomas Bell
Tour group
40 La Revista • Winter/Spring 2015
The best option for your future www.unav.edu
Recipe: Tarta de Manzana vs Apple Pie
I
t’s a classic known throughout the world, but ask people of various nationalities for their idea of an apple pie, and the words are likely to conjure up different images depending on whom you are talking to. Is it a full pastry pie or a French tart tatin? An Austrian strudel or Spanish tarta de manzana? A Dutch appelkruimeltaart or appeltaart? The full pastry Apple pie may be synonymous for many with American food culture, but to say something is “as American as apple pie” more often refers to something that was brought there by outsiders and has since become part of American cultural identity. Original pie recipes (and the apples to make them with) were introduced to the US by early European settlers, and were based on the apple pyes made in England in medieval times. Before apple came to be a popular filling the first pies in Britain were traditionally meat pies— beef, lamb, wild duck, pigeon — flavoured with spices and dried fruit, and full fruit pies didn’t become popular until the 1500s. The pastry case is believed to have been invented by the Greeks, who created it using flour and water. There is plenty of variation and interpretation in terms of the types of apple to use (cooking or eating apples; bramley or cox), base (puff or shortcrust pastry; sponge or bizcocho) and how to serve it (hot or cold; with cream, ice cream or custard, or even, as was traditionally the case in the UK, with cheese?). The English full pastry casing would make it more of an empanada in Spain, whereas the reipe given here for a Spanish tarta de manzana bears a closer resemblance to a cake with its sponge base and apples arranged on top. Do you have a favourite recipe? Write in and let us know! Amy Bell
Tarta de manzana
Ingredients 300ml whole milk 300g sugar 3 large eggs 3 large apples To decorate: 2 large apples Apricot jam to glaze the top For a cake tin of approx. 25cm diameter with removable base Preheat the oven to 180ºC. Peel, core and chop three large apples and blend it. Mix the pureed apple in a bowl with all the other ingredients using an electric whisk. The mixture should be smooth, without lumps. Grease the cake tin with butter in the cake mixture. Peel and core the remaining two apples and slice very thinly. Arrange these carefully on top of the cake mixture. Bake in the oven for 1 hour. Test by inserting a knife and checking to see if it comes out clean, letting it cook for longer if needed. Remove from the oven when ready and using a spoon or pastry brush glaze the top with apricot jam.
Apple pie
Ingredients For the pastry 100g butter, cut into small pieces a pinch of salt cold water 700g Bramley apples 200g Cox, or other eating apples 25g soft brown sugar 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/4 whole nutmeg, grated 2 tablespoons of water To glaze Milk and caster sugar For an enamel 24cm/9 1/2 inch pie dish Peel and thinly slice the cooking apples and mix with the sugar and spices in a saucepan. Add the water and cook gently until the apples are soft. Strain and allow to cool.
you have a crumbly mixture. Add 2 tablespoons of knife to mix it, cutting it and bringing it together. Make a ball of dough with your hands. Wrap it in Pre-heat the oven to 200ºC. Grease the pie dish with butter. Roll out two thirds of the pastry to 5mm thick and use it to line the dish. Put the apple mixture in. Cut and slice the eating apples and lay them on top. Brush the pastry edges with milk. Roll out the remaining pastry and cover the pie with it, pressing the edges down to create a seal. You can use the prongs of a fork to press it down. Cut a small hole in the middle of the pastry. Brush it all with milk, using extra pastry trimmings to decorate. Sprinkle with sugar and bake in the oven on a baking sheet for 30 minutes.
Membership Form Please select the type of membership Home Counties Single £30.00
Elsewhere Joint £45.00
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i don't know
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Angel, Itatinga, Cuquenan, Ormeli, and Tysse are all what?
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Waterfall - definition of waterfall by The Free Dictionary
Waterfall - definition of waterfall by The Free Dictionary
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/waterfall
A steep descent of water from a height; a cascade.
waterfall
(ˈwɔːtəˌfɔːl)
n
(Physical Geography) a cascade of falling water where there is a vertical or almost vertical step in a river
wa•ter•fall
(ˈwɔ tərˌfɔl, ˈwɒt ər-)
n.
1. a steep fall or flow of water in a watercourse from a height, as over a precipice; cascade.
2. a simulation of this, as in a garden or hotel lobby.
[before 1000]
A stream falling over a cliff-like step in the bedrock.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
body of water , water - the part of the earth's surface covered with water (such as a river or lake or ocean); "they invaded our territorial waters"; "they were sitting by the water's edge"
cascade - a small waterfall or series of small waterfalls
cataract - a large waterfall; violent rush of water over a precipice
river - a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek); "the river was navigable for 50 miles"
waterfall
noun cascade , fall , cataract , chute , linn (Scot.), force (Northern English dialect) Angel Falls, the world's highest waterfall
Waterfalls
Angel Falls, Churchill Falls, Cleve-Garth, Cuquenan, Iguaçú Falls, Itatinga, Kaieteur Falls, Niagara Falls, Ormeli, Pilao, Ribbon, Roraima, Sutherland Falls, Tysse, Vestre Mardola, Victoria Falls, Yellowstone Falls, Yosemite Falls
Translations
[ˈwɔːtəfɔːl] N → cascada f, salto m de agua ; (larger) → catarata f
waterfall
[ˈwɔːtərfɔːl] n → chute f d'eau water feature n → pièce f d'eau
waterfall
water
(ˈwoːtə) noun
a colourless, transparent liquid compound of hydrogen and oxygen, having no taste or smell, which turns to steam when boiled and to ice when frozen. She drank two glasses of water; `Are you going swimming in the sea?' `No, the water's too cold'; Each bedroom in the hotel is supplied with hot and cold running water; (also adjective) The plumber had to turn off the water supply in order to repair the pipe; transport by land and water. water ماء вода água voda, vodní das Wasser, Wasser-... vand; vand- νερό agua vesi آب vesi eau מים पानी voda víz air vatn acqua 水 물 vanduo ūdens air water vann , vann- woda água apă вода voda; vodný voda voda vatten น้ำ; เกี่ยวกับน้ำ su 水 вода پانی nước 水
verb
1. to supply with water. He watered the plants. natlei يَرُش، يَسْقي водоснабдявам regar zalévat bewässern vande ποτίζω regar ; abrevar kastma آبياري كردن kastella arroser לְהַשקוֹת सींचना zalijevati, zaliti (meg)öntöz mengairi vökva innaffiare , annaffiare 水を与える 물을 공급하다 (pa)laistyti []laistīt menyiram, menjirus begieten vanne podlewać regar a uda поливать poliať zaliti zalivati vattna ให้น้ำ; รดน้ำ sulamak 澆水 поливати, зрошувати پانی دینا tưới cây; cho uống nước 浇水
2. (of the mouth) to produce saliva. His mouth watered at the sight of all the food. water يَسيلُ اللُعاب увлажнявам със слюнка encher-se de água slinit wässern løbe i vand τρέχουν τα σάλια μου hacerse la boca agua vett jooksma آب آفتادن vesi kielellä saliver לְהַזִיל मुंह में पानी आना curiti (sline) nyáladzik mengeluarkan liur fyllast af vatni avere l'acquolina in bocca よだれが出る 침을 흘리다 prisirinkti seilių (par siekalām) saskriet mutē terliur, kecur watertanden løpe i vann ślinić się encher-se de água a saliva выделять слюну sliniť sliniti se proizvoditi pljuvačku vattnas น้ำลายไหล sulanmak 流口水 виділяти слину منھ میں پانی بھر آنا chảy nước bọt 淌口水
3. (of the eyes) to fill with tears. The dense smoke made his eyes water. laat traan تَدْمَع العُيون сълзя encher-se de lágrimas slzet tränen løbe i vand νερά llorar vett jooksma آبريزش داشتن täyttyä kyynelistä pleurer לְהַזִיל आंसू आना ispuniti suzama könnyezik mengeluarkan air mata tárast, vökna lacrimare 涙が出る 눈물이 고이다 ašaroti asarot berair, mengeluarkan air mata tranen renne łzawić encher-se de lágrimas a plânge слезиться slziť solziti se napuniti suzama tåras น้ำตาไหล yaşarmak 流淚 сльозитися آنکھ میں آنسو آنا làm chảy nước mắt 流泪
ˈwaters noun plural
a body of water such as the sea, a river etc. the stormy waters of the bay. waters مياه води águas vody die Gewässer (pl.) vande νερά aguas veed آبهاي دريا يا رودخانه vesialue eaux מִקווֶה מַיִם नदी, समुद्र, तालाब vode víz perairan sjór, vatn acque 海・川など 많은 물(바다, 강) vandenys ūdeņi air sungai, lautan, tasik water vann , sjø wody águas ape воды vody vode vode vatten น่านน้ำ denizler, sular; kara suları 大片水域(如海、湖等) води; хвилі دریا یا سمندر khối nước 大片的水域（如海、河、湖等）
ˈwatery adjective
1. like water; diluted. a watery fluid. wateragtig مائي воден aguado vodový; rozředěný wässerig vandagtig; vandet νερουλός , αραιωμένος acuoso ; aguado vedel آبكي vetinen aqueux ; liquide נזיל पतला vodenkast vizes seperti air vatnskenndur; útþynntur acquoso 水っぽい 물과 같은 skystas, praskydęs, pavandenijęs ūdeņains cair waterachtig , waterig vassen, tynn; utvannet wodnisty aguado apos; lichid водянистый rozriedený voden vodenkast vattnig เหมือนน้ำ; เจือจาง sulu 水般的，稀的 водянистий سیال như nước 似水的，淡的
2. (of eyes) full of fluid eg because of illness, cold winds etc. loopoë, traanoë مُشْبَع بالماء، دامِع навлажнен cheio de lágrimas slzící feucht rendende υγρός lacrimoso , lloroso vesine اشك آلود kostunut larmoyant מימי नम vodenkast könnyes berair tárvotur bagnato , umido 涙の出た (기관·조직 따위가) 분비액을 내는 ašarotas asarains; aizmiglots mata berair tranend rennende , våte, vasne załzawiony cheio de lágrimas umed слезящийся slziaci solzen vodenkast tårfylld เต็มไปด้วยน้ำ sulanmış 水汪汪的 повний сліз مرطوب ướt 水汪汪的
3. (of a colour) pale. eyes of a watery blue. waterig مائي اللون блед pálido bledý blass lyse- ξεπλυμένος, χλομός pálido , tenue kahvatu مرده kalpea délavé מימי फीका blijede boje halvány pucat daufur, fölur sbiadito , pallido 薄い (색이) 엷은 blyškus bāls; izbalējis cair waterig lyse- , blek , vannaktig wodnisty pálido decolorat бледный, размытый bledý voden bled ljus-, blek- จาง soluk 淡色的 блідий بے رنگ xanh màu nước 淡色的
ˈwateriness noun
waterigheid مائِيَّه водност aquosidade vodnatost die Wäßrigkeit det som er udvandet/rendende υγρότητα acuosidad , cualidad de acuoso/aguado/pálido/tenue vesisus آبداري vetisyys caractère aqueux מֵימִיוּת पनीलापन vlaga, vodenost vizesség keadaan berair það að vera vatnskenndur acquosità 水っぽさ 물기가 많음 vandeningumas, blyškumas ūdeņainums; bālums cair waterigheid det som er utvannet/rennende wodnistość aquosidade caracter apos водянистость vodnatosť vodenost vodenkastost vattnighet อง��์ประกอบของน้ำ; สภาพที่เป็นน้ำ; คุณสมบัติที่เป็นน้ำ sululuk, ıslaklık 稀，水汪汪 водянистість نمی có tính chất nước 水汪汪，潮湿
water boatman
a water insect with oarlike back legs that propel it through the water. mosca d'água isomalluainen uir-uir 뱃사공 bootsmannetje สัตว์น้ำชนิดหนึ่งมีเท้าลักษณะคล้ายพาย (水蟲)水椿象 水虫
ˈwaterborne adjective
carried or transmitted by water. Typhoid is a waterborne disease. wateroordragend مَنْقول بالماء такъв който се разпространява по вода transportado / transmitido pela água šířený vodou durch Wasser übertragen vandbåren που μεταδίδεται από το νερό ή μεταφέρεται με αυτό transmisible por vía hídrica vee kaudu leviv از طريق آب vesitse leviävä d'origine hydrique מוּבָל בְּמַים जल जनित koji se prenosi vodom vízi úton szállított dibawa air sem berst með menguðu vatni (che si trasmette tramite l'acqua) 飲料水媒介の 수인성의 perduodamas/pervežamas vandeniu ar ūdeni pārnēsājama slimība pemindahan melalui air door water overgebracht overført gjennom vann przenoszony/przewożony wodą transmitido pela água transmis prin apă перевозимый по воде; передающийся через воду prepravovaný, al. šírený vodou ki se prenaša z vodo/po vodi koji se prenosi vodom som överförs genom (med) vatten คนโดยสาร เชื้อโรค หรือสินค้าที่มาโดยทางน้ำ sudan bulaşan 經水傳播(染)的 транспортований по воді; такий, що передається через воду پانی سے پیدا ہونے والی بیماری bằng đường thủy 由于饮水而传染的（疾病）
ˈwater-closet noun
(abbreviation WC (dabljuˈsiː) ) a lavatory. toilet مِرْحاض клозет privada / latrina splachovací záchod das Wasserklosett wc αποχωρητήριο , καμπινές wáter , inodoro WC دستشويي wc toilettes שירותים शौचघर nužnik vécé kamar kecil klósett, vatnssalerni bagno 洗面所 (수세식) 변소 išvietė tualete tandas pam watercloset vannklosett , WC ustęp retrete туалет splachovací záchod stranišče toalet vattenklosett, wc ห้องน้ำ; ห้องส้วม; ห้องสุขา tuvalet klozeti 廁所 туалет بیت الخلا nhà vệ sinh 厕所
ˈwater-colour noun
a type of paint which is thinned with water instead of with oil. waterverf لَوْن مائي акварел aguarela vodová barva die Wasserfarbe vandfarve νερομπογιά acuarela vesivärv آبرنگ vesiväri aquarelle צִבעֵי מַיִם जलरंग vodena boja vízfesték cat air vatnslitur acquarello 水彩絵具 수채화 akvarelė akvareļkrāsas; akvarelis cat air waterverf akvarell-/vannfarge akwarela آبی aguarela acuarelă акварель vodová farba akvarel vodene boje vattenfärg สีน้ำ sulu boya 水彩 акварельна фарба آب رنگ màu nước 水彩
ˈwatercress noun
a herb which grows in water and is often used in salads. waterkers جَرْجير الماء кресон agrião řeřicha die Brunnenkresse brøndkarse νεροκάρδαμο berro vesikress آ ب تره vesikrassi cresson גַרגִיר הַנחָלִים जलकुंभी potočarka vízitorma selada air karsi crescione クレソン 물냉이 paprastasis rėžiukas ūdenskrese selada air witte waterkers brønnkarse rzeżucha آبی agrião creson кресс водяной žerucha vodna kreša vrsta salate vattenkrasse พืชน้ำจำพวก Nasturtium officinale ใช้ทำผักสลัด su teresi 西洋水芹 водяний крес ایک طرح کی بیل cải xoong 水田芥，豆瓣菜
ˈwaterfall noun
a natural fall of water from a height such as a rock or a cliff. waterval شَلال، مَسْقِط ماء водопад cascata / catarata / cachoeira vodopád der Wasserfall vandfald καταρράκτης cascada , catarata , salto de agua kosk آبشار vesiputous chute מפל जलप्रपात vodopad, slap vízesés air terjun foss cascata 滝 폭포 krioklys ūdenskritums air terjun waterval foss wodospad جړوبى (اّبشار)، شرشره ځړوبى cascata cascadă водопад vodopád slap vodopad vattenfall น้ำตก çağlayan 瀑布 водоспад آبشار thác nước 瀑布
ˈwaterfowl noun or noun plural
a bird or birds which live on or beside water. watervoël طَيْر مائي водни птици ave aquática vodní ptáci der Wasservogel svømmefugl νεροπούλι(α) ave acuática veelind مرغابي vesilintu oiseau aquatique עוֹף מַיִם जलप्रवाह vodena ptica vízimadár unggas air sundfugl; sjó/-vatnafugl (uccello acquatico) 水鳥 물새 vandens paukštis/paukščiai ūdensputns; ūdensputni burung yang boleh berenang dan hidup berdekatan dengan kawasan air watervogels fugl i ferskvann ptak wodny, ptactwo wodne داوبو مرغان ave aquática păsări acvatice водоплавающая птица vodný vták; vodné vtáctvo vodna ptica vodene ptice vattenfågel, sjöfågel นกน้ำ su kuşu 水禽 водоплавні птахи پانی کے آس پاس رہنے والے پرندے chim nước 水禽
ˈwaterfront noun
that part of a town etc which faces the sea or a lake. He lives on the waterfront. waterfront, waterkant الجُزء المُطِل على شاطئ البَحْر، مُقَدِّمَة الشاطئ брегова линия beira-mar nábřeží städtisches Hafengebiet søpromenade; havnefront παραλία puerto ; terreno ribereño rannakvartal ساحل ranta front de mer שֶטַח הָחוֹף शहर का तटीय हिस्सा luka, dokovi városi tengerpart tepi pantai ár-/sjávarbakki lungomare , lungofiume , 水辺地区 해안 pakrantė (pilsētas) piekrastes rajons kawasan dermaga waterkant sjøside ; havnekvarter nadbrzeże , dzielnica portowa داوبو غاړه مځكه يا ښار: بندر: غاړه (ساحل): كڅ، كڅه beira-mar faleză прибрежная часть города nábrežie obrežno področje dokovi strand, sjösida, [hon bor] vattnet ริมฝั่ง; เขตริมน้ำ; เขตริมฝั่ง su kenarı, yalı boyu, kıyı , sahil 水邊，濱水區 район порту دریا کا دہانہ 水边，滨水区
ˈwaterhole noun
a spring or other place where water can be found in a desert or other dry country. The elephant drank from the waterhole. drinkgat, waterpunt حُفْرَة مائِيَّه، بِئْر ماء езерце poço louže, napajedlo das Wasserloch van νερόλακκος charco veesilm چالاب juomapaikka mare מִקווֶה מַיִם गड्ढा lokva víztócsa mata air vatnsból (pozza d'acqua) 水飲場 물 웅덩이, 샘 versmė, vandenvietė avots; (dzīvniekiem) dzeršanas vieta lopak air waterpoel vannhull kałuża , źródełko چل poço oază ключ jazierko, mláka mlaka pojilo vattenhål หลุมหรือแอ่งน้ำตามผิวพื้นดินโดยเฉพาะบริเวณที่สัตว์ต่างๆไปดื่มกิน kaynak 水坑 артезіанський колодязь پانی کا چشمہ 水坑
ˈwatering-can noun
a container used when watering plants. gieter مِرَشَّه، وعاء لِسِقايَة النَّباتات градинска лейка regador kropáč die Gießkanne vandkande ποτιστήρι regadera kastekann آبپاش kastelukannu arrosoir מזלף पौधों को सींचने के काम में आने वाला बरतन kanta za zalijevanje vizeskanna kaleng penyiram (garð)kanna innaffiatoio , annaffiatoio じょうろ 물뿌리개 laistytuvas lejkanna penyiram gieter vannkanne , hagesprøyte polewaczka اوبه پاشونكي regador stropitoare лейка polievacia krhla škropilnica kantica za zalivanje vattenkanna ถังรดน้ำ sulama kovası 澆水壺 лійка پودوں کو پانی دینے کے لیے استعمال کیا جانے والا برتن can đựng nước 洒水壶
water level
the level of the surface of a mass of water. The water level in the reservoir is sinking/rising. watervlak مُسْتَوى سَطْح الماء ниво на водата nível da água vodní hladina der Wasserspiegel vandstand στάθμη του νερού nivel del agua veetase سطح آب veden pinta niveau d'eau מִפלָס הַמַים जलस्तर razina vode vízszint permukaan air vatnsborð/-hæð livello dell'acqua 水位 수위 vandens lygis ūdenslīmenis aras air waterpeil vannstand poziom wody د اوبه سطح nível da água nivel al apei уровень воды vodná hladina nivo vode nivo vode vattenstånd, -nivå ระดับผิวน้ำ su düzeyi 水平面 рівень води سطح آب mực nước 水平面
ˈwaterlily – plural ˈwaterlilies – noun
a water plant with broad flat floating leaves. waterlelie زَنْبَقَة الماء водна лилия nenúfar leknín die Seerose åkande νούφαρο nenúfar vesiroos نيلوفر آبي lumme nénuphar נִימפֵיאָה कमल lokvanj, lopoč vízililiom teratai vatnalilja ninfea すいれん 수련 vandens lelija ūdensroze sejenis bunga yang daunnya melebar terapung-apung, bunga teratai waterlelie vannlilje , nøkkerose lilia wodna, nenufar نیلوفر nenúfar nufăr водяная лилия lekno lokvanj vodeni ljiljan näckros ดอกบัว nilüfer çiçeği 睡蓮 водяна лілія کنول cây hoa súng 睡莲
ˈwaterlogged adjective
(of ground) soaked in water. vol water غائِص، مُشْبَع بالماء напоен с вода alagado rozbahněný voll Wasser vandmættet πλημυρισμένος anegado, inundado; empapado vettinud خيس آب vettynyt détrempé רָווּי מַיִם जलमग्न natopljen vodom vízzel teleivódott penuh air vatnsósa acquitrinoso 水びたしの 물에 잠긴 vandens permerktas piemircis; piesmēlies tepu air, penuh dengan air vol water vannfylt , vasstrukken nasiąknięty wodą داوبو ډك، په اوبو كې لوند خيشت: په او بو دروند شوى چې په اوبو كې ښه نه شى لاهو كېدلاى alagado mocirlos заболоченный rozbahnený razmočen natopljen vodom vattensjuk ซึ่งแช่ในน้ำ su dolmuş, sırılsıklam (地面)淹水的 напівзатоплений; заболочений پانی سے بھرا ہوا ướt sũng 浸满水的，进了水的
water main
a large underground pipe carrying a public water supply. waterpyp أنبوب الماء الرَّئيسي водопровод cano de água hlavní přívod vody das Hauptwasserrohr hovedvandledning κεντρικός αγωγός ύδρευσης conducción del agua peaveejuhe شاه لوله آب päävesijohto conduite principale צִינוֹר רַאשִׁי जलप्रणाल vodovodna cijev vízvezetéki fő nyomócső pipa utama stór vatnsleiðsla, aðalæð (conduttura principale) 水道本管 급수(수도) 본관(本管) vandentiekio magistralė maģistrālais ūdensvads paip air utama hoofdleiding hovedvannledning magistrala wodna د اوبو پيپ cano de água conductă principală водопроводная магистраль hlavný prívod vody, vodovod glavna vodna cev glavna vodovodna cev huvudvattenledning ท่อประปา ana su borusu 總水管 водопровідна магістраль آب رسانی کا بڑا نل ống dẫn nước chính 总水管
ˈwater-melon
a type of melon with green skin and red flesh. waatlemoen بَطّيخ أحْمَر пъпеш melancia vodní meloun die Wassermelone vandmelon καρπούζι sandía arbuus هندوانه vesimeloni melon d'eau אבטיח तरबूज lubenica görögdinnye semangka vatnsmelóna cocomero , anguria すいか 수박 arbūzas arbūzs buah tembikai watermeloen vannmelon arbuz هندوانه melancia pepene verde арбуз dyňa lubenica lubenica vattenmelon แตงโม karpuz 西瓜 кавун تربوز quả dưa hấu 西瓜
ˈwaterproof adjective
not allowing water to soak through. waterproof material. waterdig صامِد للماء، مَسيك، مُقاوِم للماء водоустойчив à prova de água nepromokavý wasserdicht vandtæt αδιάβροχος impermeable veekindel, vettpidav ضد آب vedenpitävä imperméable מוּגָן מַיִם जलसह vodonepropusan vízhatlan kedap air vatnsheldur/-þéttur impermeabile 防水の 방수의 nepralaidus vandeniui ūdensnecaurlaidīgs kalis air, tahan air waterdicht vanntett , impregnert wodoodporny اوبه نه جذبوونكى، واټر پروف (لكه بارانۍ، برساتۍ او ساعت) نه جذبوونكى: بارنۍ، برساتۍ à prova de água impermeabil непромокаемый nepremokavý nepremočljiv vodootporan vattentät กันน้ำ su geçirmez 防水的 водонепроникний, непромокальний جس پر پانی اثر نہ کرے không thấm nước 防水的
noun
a coat made of waterproof material. She was wearing a waterproof. waterdigting مِعْطَف مُقاوِم لتَسَرُّب الماء дъждобран impermeável nepromokavý plášť der Regenmantel regntøj αδιάβροχο impermeable vihmamantel لباس باراني sadetakki imperméable מוּגַן מַיִם बरसाती nepropusan ogrtač esőkabát jas hujan regnfrakki/-kápa impermeabile 防水のレーンコート 방수재 impregnuotas lietpaltis (impregnēts) lietusmētelis pakaian yang disaluti dengan bahan kalis air, baju kalis air regenjas regnfrakk płaszcz nieprzemakalny باراني جامي impermeável haină impermeabilă непромокаемый плащ nepremokavý plášť dežni plašč nepromočiv mantil regnrock, -kappa เสื้อกันฝน su geçirmez giysi 防水外套 непромокальний плащ پانی سے اثر انداز نہ ہونے والا کوٹ áo mưa 防水衣物，雨衣
verb
to make (material) waterproof. waterdig maak يَجْعَل المادَّه مُقاوِمَه للماء импрегнирам impermeabilizar impregnovat imprägnieren imprægnere στεγανοποιώ, αδιαβροχοποιώ impermeabilizar veekindlaks tegema ضد آب كردن tehdä vedenpitäväksi imperméabiliser לְמַגֵן מִמַיִם जलसह impregnirati vízhatlanít menjadikan kedap air gera vatnsþétt impermeabilizzare 防水する 방수 처리하다 impregnuoti impregnēt menjadikan sesuatu itu kalis air waterdicht maken gjøre vanntett , impregnere impregnować زيم ژغورونى كول، اوبه نه منونى كول impermeabilizar a face impermeabil делать водонепроницаемым impregnovať napraviti nepremočljivo učiniti vodootpornim göra vattentät, impregnera ทำให้น้ำผ่านไปไม่ได้ su geçirmez hale getirmek 使防水 надавати водонепроникності پانی کے اثر سے محفوظ کرنا làm cho không thấm nước 使防水
ˈwatershed noun
an area of high land from which rivers flow in different directions into different basins. waterskeiding خَط تَقسيم المِياه вододел divisor de águas vodní předěl die Wasserscheide vandskel υδροκρίτης divisoria de las aguas, cuenca veelahe آبخيز vedenjakaja ligne de partage des eaux קַו פָּרָשַת הַמַים जलसंभर razvođe vízválasztó mata air vatnaskil spartiacque 分水界 (강의) 유역, 분수계 vandenskyra ūdensšķirtne garis batas air, lembangan, legeh waterscheiding vannskille dział wód اوبه يلوونكى لوړى bacia hidrográfica cumpăna apelor водораздел rozvodie, vodný predel razvodje razvođe vattendelare, avrinningsområde ลุ่มแม่น้ำ; เส้นปันน้ำ su bölümü çizgisi 分水嶺 вододіл پانی کا منبع đường phân nước 分水岭
ˈwater-skiing noun
the sport of skiing on water, towed by a motor-boat. waterski تَزَلُّج على الماء водни ски esqui aquático vodní lyžování das Wasserskifahren at stå på vandski θαλάσσιο σκι esquí acuático veesuusatamine اسكي روي آب vesihiihto ski nautique סְקִי מַים मोटर-बोट पर आधारित एक जल क्रीड़ा skijanje na vodi vízisí(zés) ski air sjóskíði sci acquatico/nautico 水上スキー 수상 스키 vandenslidžių sportas ūdensslēpošana sejenis sukan air ski menggunakan motor bot, luncur air het waterskiën det å stå på vannski narciarstwo wodne اسکی esqui aquático schi nautic воднолыжный спорт vodné lyžovanie smučanje na vodi skijanje na vodi vattenskidåkning สกีน้ำ su kayağı 滑水 воднолижний спорт پانی کے اندر کھیلا جانے والا ایک کھیل môn lướt ván 滑水运动
ˈwater-ski verb
waterski يَتَزَلَّج على الماء карам водни ски praticar esqui aquático jezdit na vodních lyžích Wasserski fahren stå på vandski κάνω θαλάσσιο σκι hacer/practicar esquí acuático veesuusatama اسكي كردن روي آب hiihtää vesisuksilla faire du ski nautique לַעֲשוֹת סְקִי מַיִם मोटर-बोट से जल क्रीड़ा करना skijati na vodi vízisízik main ski air vera á sjóskíðum fare lo sci acquatico/nautico 水上スキーする 수상 스키를 하다 slidinėti vandenslidėmis slēpot ar ūdensslēpēm meluncur air waterskiën stå på vannski jeździć na nartach wodnych fazer esqui aquático a face schi nautic кататься на водных лыжах jazdiť na vodných lyžiach smučati na vodi skijati na vodi åka vattenskidor เล่นสกีน้ำ su kayağı yapmak 滑水 займатися воднолижним спортом آبی اسکی کرنا lướt ván 滑水
ˈwatertight adjective
made in such a way that water cannot pass through. waterdig سَدود للماء، مُحْكَم الإغْلاق بِحَيْث لا يَدْخُلُه الماء непромокаем estanque vodotěsný wasserdicht vandtæt υδατοστεγής estanque veekindel ضد آب vesitiivis étanche אָטוּם לְמַים जलरोधी, जलरूद्ध vodonepropusan vízhatlan kedap air vatnsþéttur stagno 水を通さない 물이 스미지 않는 nepralaidus vandeniui ūdensdrošs; ūdensnecaurlaidīgs kedap air waterdicht vanntett wodoszczelny estanque etanş водонепроницаемый vodotesný neprepusten nepromočiv vattentät ซึ่งน้ำผ่านไม่ได้ su sızdırmaz 不漏水的 водонепроникний; герметичний پانی کو داخل ہونے سے روکنے والا kín nước 不漏水的
water vapour
water in the form of a gas, produced by evaporation. wasem, stoom بُخار الماء водна пара vapor de água vodní pára der Wasserdampf vanddamp υδρατμός vapor de agua veeaur بخار آب vesihöyry vapeur d'eau אדי מים जलवाष्प vodena para vízpára uap air loftraki, vatn í gasformi vapore acqueo 水蒸気 수증기 vandens garai ūdens garaiņi/tvaiki wap air waterdamp vanndamp para wodna vapor de água vapori de apă водяные пары vodná para vodna para vodena para vattenånga ไอน้ำ su buharı 水蒸氣 пара води بھاپ hơi nước 水蒸气
ˈwaterway noun
a channel, eg a canal or river, along which ships can sail. waterweg مَجْرى مائي воден път canal vodní cesta die Wasserstraße sejlløb υδάτινη οδός canal navegable laevatee آبراه vesiväylä voie navigable נְתִיב מַיִם जलमार्ग vodeni put, ruta vízi út terusan skipgengt fljót; skipaskurður (canale navigabile) 水路 수로 vandens kelias ūdensceļš jalan, laluan air waterweg kanal , vannvei droga wodna canal cale navigabilă, canal navigabil водный путь vodná cesta plovni kanal plovni put vattenväg, vattenled ทางน้ำ เช่น แม่น้ำ คลอง ลำน้ำที่สัญจรทางเรือได้ su yolu, kanal 水路 водний шлях; судноплавне русло آبی راستہ đường thuỷ 水路
ˈwaterwheel noun
a wheel moved by water to work machinery etc. waterwiel دولاب مائي، ناعورَه водно колело roda d'água vodní kolo das Wasserrad vandhjul υδροτροχός rueda hidráulica; noria vesiratas چرخ چاه vesiratas roue hydraulique גַלגל מַיִם पनचक्की kotač vodenice vízikerék kincir air vatnshjól ruota idraulica 水車 물레방아 vandens ratas ūdensrats kincir air waterrad vannhjul koło młyńskie nora roată hidraulică водяное колесо vodné koleso vodno kolo vodenički točak vattenhjul ระหัดวิดน้ำ su çarkı/türbini, bostan dolabı 水車 водяне колесо پن چرخی 水车
ˈwaterworks noun singular or plural
a place in which water is purified and stored before distribution to an area. waterwerke مَحَطَّة المياه، مَرْكِز تَخْزين المِياه وتوزيعها водна станция companhia de águas vodárna das Wasserwerk vandværk μηχανοστάσιο ύδρευσης depuradora , planta de tratamiento de aguas veepuhastusjaam تلمبه خانه آب vesilaitos ouvrages de purification de l'eau רֶשֶת אֲספָּקַת הַמַיִם जलकल vodovod vízművek saringan air vatnshreinsunarstöð acquedotto 水道設備 정수장 vandens ruošykla ūdens attīrīšanas ietaise[] kerja air waterleidingbedrijf vannverk wodociągi companhia de águas staţie de purificare a apei водопроводная станция vodáreň vodni zbiralnik vodovod vattenledningsverk การเก็บน้ำและทำให้น้ำบริสุทธิ์ su şebekesi 自來水廠 водопровідні споруди آب رسانی کے انتظام کا مرکز nhà máy nước 自来水厂
hold water
to be convincing. His explanation won't hold water. steek hou يَقْنِع убедителен съм ser convincente obstát stichhaltig sein holde vand είμαι πειστικός ser convincente, tener fundamento usutav olema با عقل خور در آمدن olla uskottava tenir debout לַעֲמוֹד בְּמִבחָן सटीक होना biti uvjerljiv megáll meyakinkan vera heldur, standast prófun (essere convincente) 筋道の通った (이론, 설명 따위가) 이치에 맞다 įtikinti būt pārliecinošam; izturēt kritiku alasan munasabah steek houden, overtuigen holde stikk , overbevise wytrzymać krytykę, trzymać się kupy ser convincente a fi convingător быть убедительным obstáť držati, biti prepričljiv biti ubedljiv hålla, vara hållbar เป็นจริง; สามารถพิสูจน์ได้ inandırıcı olmak 有說服力 бути переконливим قابل یقین ہونا có lý （论点等）站得住脚
in(to) deep water
in(to) trouble or danger. I got into deep water during that argument. warm water في مأزِق، في مُشْكِلَه в дълбоки води em apuros do těžké situace die Schwierigkeiten (pl.) ud på dybt vand σε βαθιά νερά (μτφ.) estar con el agua al cuello, en apuros raskustes(se) در خطر افتادن liemessä en mauvaise posture בִּמצוקָה मुसीबत या खतरे में पड़ना naći se u nevolji bajba(n) mendapat kesulitan illa staddur (in difficoltà) 苦窮におちいる 위험에 빠진 į sunkią padėtį nelaimē; ķezā dalam masalah atau bahaya in grote moeilijkheden (være) på gyngende grunn/dypt vann w kabałę em apuros într-o postură neplăcută; în pericol в беде do ťažkej situácie v težavah u dubokoj nevolji på djupt vatten ประสบปัญหายุ่งยาก başı derde (girmek) 陷入麻煩或危險 в скруті خطرے میں ہونا trầm trọng hơn 陷入困境
water down
to dilute. This milk has been watered down. verwater, verdun يُرَقِّق، يُخَفِّف разводнявам diluir ředit vodou verdünnen fortynde αραιώνω diluir lahjendama رقيق كردن laimentaa diluer לְדַלֵל हल्का या पतला करना razrijediti felvizez melarutkan þynna með vatni diluire 薄める 희석하다 praskiesti atšķaidīt (ar ūdeni) mencairkan, menjadi cair aanlengen utvanne , fortynne rozwodnić diluir a dilua разбавлять riediť vodou zvodeniti razvodniti späda ut [med vatten] ทำให้เจือจาง su katmak, sulandırmak 用水稀釋 розбавляти گھلنا giảm bớt 用水冲淡
waterfall
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Waterfall
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The FischerSaller scale, used in anthropology and medicine, determines the colour/color shades of what?
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All Aboard for the Waterfall!
All Aboard for the Waterfall!
Posted in Wikinut > Writing > Personal Experiences
"The waterfall by any other name would be as sweet!"
This is my story of the waterfall - in Acrostic Poetry - a whimsy on waterfall magic - an account of my waterfall experiences - waterfall queries to my readers
White and silver frothing foam cascades
Agile wood-nymphs wait nearby - floating, watching
Torrents of sparkling iridescence up above
Evocative of the witch’s wondrous magic wand
Relaying prismatic colours like a crystallised rainbow
Festooning the misty clouded air above the Ghyll
Animated pixies dance in flaming red and dazzling green
Lithe faeries hover lightly o’er the gushing, gurgling waterfall
Laughter like breaking glass, giggling at its gorgeous gush
Waterfalls and Fairies
...a Cascade: Dudhsagar Falls, Goa
Definitions:
Waterfall: Area where flowing river water drops abruptly and nearly vertically. A waterfall may also be termed a falls or ghyll, or, when large volumes of water are involved, a cataract. Waterfalls of small height and less steepness or a series of small falls are called cascades. Still gentler stretches of river that exhibit turbulent flow and white water are called rapids.
A deep descent of water from a height: a cascade
Fairy (faery)
Although not many can see them, here is how some describe or define a fairy or faery:
Fairy - n., pl. -ies. A tiny imaginary being in human form, depicted as clever, mischievous, and possessing magical powers.
Stardust from a Wizard::Hareshaw Linn
I’ve visited more than a few, but there surely are hundreds, nay, thousands more of ‘em! And one of my great wishes is to see many many more of them before I hang up my battered old boots to dry!
They fascinate, don’t they - waterfalls? All that spume: gushing, spouting, pouring. Sending up silver spurts of spray that glitter silver-white in magic mists, like stardust sent showering from the twitchy-stick in a wizard’s gnarled fist.
Many a legend and folk-lore tale is born amid great white falls of thunder – from babbling downward drifts where leprechauns lurk, to deep dark pools where elves engage and gnomes grumble.
My travels have taken me here and there in my quest so see some of the waterfall wonders around the world: to places near - rapid, raging falls in the North of England, around the Lake District and Northumberland National Park; over the English Channel to fabulous falls in France; all the way across oceans, to a tiny little temple fall and a strikingly spectacular fall in Goa, India; on and on, to the other side of the world– to a charming combo of falls in the weird and wonderful wilderness of Western Australia.
Each one of them creates blends of colours in clouds of droplets, that are beyond imagination, except, perhaps, in dreams. It’s as though a butterfly-winged fairy’s magic wand cast a spell from behind a huge-trunked oak. Or an elf pointed a star-filled finger from the red, dusty walls of a grand, old gorge. Or Aslan, the great majestic lion, created the roar of watery thunder from the mosses and ferns of ancient woodland.
Imaginations have been sparked with flares of - as yet - untold tales, to make the brain shiver and tingle to its fiery depths: and, ah! - then, when scorched to a cinder from the flames of the mind – betwixt and between those oh-so-many unsaid stories –charred embers of rationale can bathe and swim and shower in soothing lakes or babbling brooks, ease the burning to rise up refreshed and ready to unfold the allure of countless watery creations.
So, let us not tarry a moment longer! Onward, good people! Onward, to behold these blissful beauties! Onward to wallow in the quintessential qualities of these wondrous waterfalls!
My Own Waterfall Experiences
Little Stunner: Linhope Spout
Let me take you first to North-East England, where, hidden among the rolling hills around the Cheviots, are two little stunners: Hareshaw Linn and Linhope Spout.
Then to the Lake District where Aira Force thunders from great heights down to streams and pools at the foot of Hellvelyn: to Ambleside, where Stock Ghyll Force gushes and deafens.
To France, where gorges and mountains keep the secret of the beautiful Cascades du Herrison and Le Source du Lisson.
To Goa in India, where the ‘milky sea’ of Dudhsagar Falls forces white spray downward in creamy ribbons, to thunder into a salmon-filled pool and onward through undulating streams and gurgling rock pools.
And to the nameless tiny falls outside a sacred Hindu temple where you can collect the water in your hands and bring yourself good fortune.
Then on to Western Australia, to the gorgeous gorges of Karajini National Park and their waterfalls - large and small, tall and short – each one uniquely beautiful: each one better than a power shower when you stand underneath the surging cascade: each one to be seen while travelling through the wild bush of Karajini and the Dale Gorges: Fern Pool, Fortesque Falls, Weano Gorge and Handrail Pool.
Back to the Beginning: the Formation of a Waterfall
Coursing over Resistant Bedrock: Fern Pool, Oz
Wikipedia, the online encyclopaedia, explains the formation of a waterfall like this:
“Waterfalls are most commonly formed when a river is young. At these times the channel is often narrow and deep. When the river courses over resistant bedrock, erosion happens slowly, while downstream the erosion occurs more rapidly. As the watercourse increases its velocity at the edge of the waterfall, it plucks material from the riverbed. Whirlpools created in the turbulence as well as sand and stones carried by the watercourse increase the erosion capacity. This causes the waterfall to carve deeper into the bed and to recede upstream. Often over time, the waterfall will recede back to form a canyon or gorge downstream as it recedes upstream, and it will carve deeper into the ridge above it. The rate of retreat for a waterfall can be as high as one and half meters per year.”
Tell me about Your Waterfall Experiences?
Botanical Gardens: Malaga, Spain
If you’ve been to waterfalls I’ve never visited, like Angel Falls, Churchill Falls, Cleve-Garth, Cuquenan, Iguaçú Falls, Itatinga, Kaieteur Falls, Niagara Falls, Ormeli, Pilao, Ribbon, Roraima, Sutherland Falls, Tysse, Vestre Mardola, Victoria Falls, Yellowstone Falls, Yosemite Falls, or to a waterfall I’ve never even heard of – please let me know about them in the comments section at the end of this article.
Tell me what they look like. Tell me if you bathed in them. Tell me all about them. Write about your own waterfall experiences in your own article, or story, or poem.
Whet my imagination – just like I hope I’ve stimulated yours.
Raise your glasses, folks. Here’s a toast: to waterfalls – everywhere. Perhaps a toast to a little bit of pixie magic or a waft of fairy dust too?
Copyright© Sheila Newton 2012
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i don't know
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Under the ABO blood group system, what blood type can receive blood transfusions from all other groups?
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Blood Groups, Blood Typing and Blood Transfusions
Blood Groups, Blood Typing and Blood Transfusions
The discovery of blood groups
Experiments with blood transfusions, the transfer of blood or blood components into a person's blood stream, have been carried out for hundreds of years. Many patients have died and it was not until 1901, when the Austrian Karl Landsteiner discovered human blood groups, that blood transfusions became safer.
Mixing blood from two individuals can lead to blood clumping or agglutination. The clumped red cells can crack and cause toxic reactions. This can have fatal consequences. Karl Landsteiner discovered that blood clumping was an immunological reaction which occurs when the receiver of a blood transfusion has antibodies against the donor blood cells.
Karl Landsteiner's work made it possible to determine blood groups and thus paved the way for blood transfusions to be carried out safely. For this discovery he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1930.
What is blood made up of?
An adult human has about 4–6 liters of blood circulating in the body. Among other things, blood transports oxygen to various parts of the body.
Blood consists of several types of cells floating around in a fluid called plasma.
The red blood cells contain hemoglobin, a protein that binds oxygen. Red blood cells transport oxygen to, and remove carbon dioxide from, the body tissues.
The white blood cells fight infection.
The platelets help the blood to clot, if you get a wound for example.
The plasma contains salts and various kinds of proteins.
What are the different blood groups?
The differences in human blood are due to the presence or absence of certain protein molecules called antigens and antibodies. The antigens are located on the surface of the red blood cells and the antibodies are in the blood plasma. Individuals have different types and combinations of these molecules. The blood group you belong to depends on what you have inherited from your parents.
There are more than 20 genetically determined blood group systems known today, but the AB0 and Rh systems are the most important ones used for blood transfusions. Not all blood groups are compatible with each other. Mixing incompatible blood groups leads to blood clumping or agglutination, which is dangerous for individuals.
Nobel Laureate Karl Landsteiner was involved in the discovery of both the AB0 blood group (in 1901) and Rh blood group (in 1937).
AB0 blood grouping system
According to the AB0 blood group system there are four different kinds of blood groups: A, B, AB or 0 (null).
Blood group A
If you belong to the blood group A, you have A antigens on the surface of your red blood cells and B antibodies in your blood plasma.
Blood group B
If you belong to the blood group B, you have B antigens on the surface of your red blood cells and A antibodies in your blood plasma.
Blood group AB
If you belong to the blood group AB, you have both A and B antigens on the surface of your red blood cells and no A or B antibodies at all in your blood plasma.
Blood group 0
If you belong to the blood group 0 (null), you have neither A or B antigens on the surface of your red blood cells but you have both A and B antibodies in your blood plasma.
Rh factor blood grouping system
Many people also have a so called Rh factor on the red blood cell's surface. This is also an antigen and those who have it are called Rh+. Those who haven't are called Rh-. A person with Rh- blood does not have Rh antibodies naturally in the blood plasma (as one can have A or B antibodies, for instance). But a person with Rh- blood can develop Rh antibodies in the blood plasma if he or she receives blood from a person with Rh+ blood, whose Rh antigens can trigger the production of Rh antibodies. A person with Rh+ blood can receive blood from a person with Rh- blood without any problems.
Blood group notation
According to above blood grouping systems, you can belong to either of following 8 blood groups:
A Rh+
Do you know which blood group you belong to?
Blood typing – how do you find out to which blood group someone belongs?
1.
You mix the blood with three different reagents including either of the three different antibodies, A, B or Rh antibodies.
2.
Then you take a look at what has happened. In which mixtures has agglutination occurred? The agglutination indicates that the blood has reacted with a certain antibody and therefore is not compatible with blood containing that kind of antibody. If the blood does not agglutinate, it indicates that the blood does not have the antigens binding the special antibody in the reagent.
3.
If you know which antigens are in the person's blood, it's easy to figure out which blood group he or she belongs to!
A person with A+ blood receives B+ blood. The B antibodies (yellow) in the A+ blood attack the foreign red blood cells by binding to them. The B antibodies in the A+ blood bind the antigens in the B+ blood and agglutination occurs. This is dangerous because the agglutinated red blood cells break after a while and their contents leak out and become toxic.
What happens when blood clumps or agglutinates?
For a blood transfusion to be successful, AB0 and Rh blood groups must be compatible between the donor blood and the patient blood. If they are not, the red blood cells from the donated blood will clump or agglutinate. The agglutinated red cells can clog blood vessels and stop the circulation of the blood to various parts of the body. The agglutinated red blood cells also crack and its contents leak out in the body. The red blood cells contain hemoglobin which becomes toxic when outside the cell. This can have fatal consequences for the patient.
The A antigen and the A antibodies can bind to each other in the same way that the B antigens can bind to the B antibodies. This is what would happen if, for instance, a B blood person receives blood from an A blood person. The red blood cells will be linked together, like bunches of grapes, by the antibodies. As mentioned earlier, this clumping could lead to death.
Blood transfusions – who can receive blood from whom?
Of course you can always give A blood to persons with blood group A, B blood to a person with blood group B and so on. But in some cases you can receive blood with another type of blood group, or donate blood to a person with another kind of blood group.
The transfusion will work if a person who is going to receive blood has a blood group that doesn't have any antibodies against the donor blood's antigens. But if a person who is going to receive blood has antibodies matching the donor blood's antigens, the red blood cells in the donated blood will clump.
People with blood group 0 Rh - are called "universal donors" and people with blood group AB Rh+ are called "universal receivers."
Rh+ blood can never be given to someone with Rh - blood, but the other way around works. For example, 0 Rh+ blood can not be given to someone with the blood type AB Rh -.
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AB
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Unlike base metals and silver, gold does not dissolve in what acid, enabling testing of the metal's presence, incidentally originating the expression 'acid test'?
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Blood Groups
Blood Groups
Blood Groups (Human Biology, Human Anatomy & Physiology)
Reminder about antigens and antibodies:
Antigens are chemicals located on (that is, attached to) the surface of cells such as the red blood cells mentioned on this page.
Antibodies are proteins produced by the body's immune system. They attack antigens on certain cells such as those on harmful bacteria that invade the body.
Antibodies are specific to particular types of cells (more accurately, to particular antigens). For example, an antibody that attacks the antigens on a particular bacterium would not attack bacteria in general i.e. it would attack the specific bacteria, not any bacteria.
Blood groups are defined according to the antigens and antibodies present in blood .
There are many types of blood and several blood group systems used to classify blood types (the terms 'blood types' and blood groups' are widely used interchangeably).
The best known and most widely used blood group systems include the ABO blood group system and the Rh blood group system.
The ABO blood group system is easy to explain because it is based on just two antigens (A and B) being either present, i.e. attached to the red blood cells (RBCs), or absent.
The Rh (Rhesus) blood group system is more complicated because it involves consideration of the presence or absence of 50 defined blood-group antigens, of which the five antigens D, P, c, E, and e are the most important.
A simple combination of the ABO blood group system with the Rh blood group system is widely used. This provides more information than the ABO system alone, while retaining enough simplicity for ease of use and understanding by many people - see below.
ABO blood group system
According to the ABO blood group system, blood can be classified into one of the four major blood types, which are:
A, B, AB and O. The symbols A, B, AB and O used to represent the four major blood types indicate which antigens (just A, just B, both A and B or neither A nor B) are present on the red blood cells.
Blood that contains red blood cells of a particular type e.g. group A blood contains red blood cells with antigen A attached, also has (or does not have) particular antibodies present in the blood plasma .
ABO blood groups indicate the combinations of antigens and antibodies present in the blood as follows:
Blood Group
neither A nor B
both anti-A and anti-B
Table 1: Antigens in RBCs and Antibodies in plasma for each of the 4 main blood groups
Antibodies are specific. That is why the antibodies to antigen B (labelled 'anti-B' in the table above) in the blood plasma of group A blood do not attack the A antigens on the red blood cells of group A blood. However, the anti-A antibodies in group B blood plasma would attack the A antigens on the red blood cells of of group A blood if group B blood were given to a person whose blood type was group A.
Using the information in the table summarizing the antigens and antibodies in each of the four main blood types (above) it is possible to work out which types of blood can be safely donated to or received from people who have each of the four main types of blood.
Blood Group
any of these groups
Table 2: Blood Transfusion between each of the 4 main blood groups
Note that the above only takes into consideration the two antigens A and B and (antibodies to them), according to the ABO blood group system. In reality, various safety checks would normally take place prior to the donation or receipt of blood.
For example, other possible antigens and antibodies may be taken into consideration and donated blood screened for transfusion transmitted infections (TTIs), the most common diseases transmitted via blood being viral infections such as HIV (see HIV in the news ) and forms of hepatitis (see hepatitis in the news ).
Rh (Rhesus) blood group system (simple version)
Although there are many Rh system antigens, the simplest and most common use of the Rh blood group system is in combination with the ABO blood group system. In this case each of the four ABO blood groups A, B, AB and O are divided into two groups because each can be either Rhesus 'positive' (indicated by '+'), or Rhesus 'negative' (indicated by '-'). The Rhesus positive groups A+, B+, AB+ and O+ have the D antigen of the Rh blood group system, which is also known as 'the Rhesus factor', attached to red blood cells (RBCs). Conversely, the Rhesus negative groups do not have the Rhesus factor attached to RBCs.
Therefore, according to the (simple version of) the Rh blood group system, there are the following eight (8) blood groups:
A+ which also called "A, Rhesus positive"
and may be written "A RhD positive" or "A RhD+" (to emphasize that it is the Rhesus D antigen that is present)
A- which also called "A, Rhesus negative"
and may be written "A RhD negative" or "A RhD-" (to emphasize that it is the Rhesus D antigen that is absent)
B+ which also called "B, Rhesus positive"
and may be written "B RhD positive" or "B RhD+" (to emphasize that it is the Rhesus D antigen that is present)
B- which also called "B, Rhesus negative"
and may be written "B RhD negative" or "B RhD-" (to emphasize that it is the Rhesus D antigen that is absent)
AB+ which also called "AB, Rhesus positive"
and may be written "AB RhD positive" or "AB RhD+" (to emphasize that it is the Rhesus D antigen that is present)
AB- which also called "AB, Rhesus negative"
and may be written "AB RhD negative" or "AB RhD-" (to emphasize that it is the Rhesus D antigen that is absent)
O+ which also called "O, Rhesus positive"
and may be written "O RhD positive" or "O RhD+" (to emphasize that it is the Rhesus D antigen that is present)
O- which also called "O, Rhesus negative"
and may be written "O RhD negative" or "O RhD-" (to emphasize that it is the Rhesus D antigen that is absent)
In all cases the "positive" means that, in addition to any other antigens present in the case of the ABO group concerned, the Rhesus Factor, which is the most immunogenic D antigen of the Rh blood group system is also attached to the red blood cells.
The Rhesus Factor is sometimes referred to as Rhesus D, RhD antigen or (when the context of the Rh blood group system is obvious), simply the D antigen.
Examples of importance of blood groups
Blood groups matter when there is a possibility of a person (or other animal for which blood groups are important, e.g. equines, pigs, rodents) receiving antibodies to antigens attached to their red blood cells.
The main situations in which this might apply - hence blood tests are commonly used to determine blood type (blood group) are:
Re. Blood Transfusions:
Blood banks store blood according to blood type (blood group)
Patients should ideally be carefully checked for blood type, receive only their own blood or a type-specific match, and if possible have donated blood cross-matched before receipt to minimize the risk of a transfusion reaction. This is not always possible, especially e.g. in emergency situations in remote areas.
Note: Jehovah's Witnesses (JWs) do not accept blood transfusions for religious reasons. Their decision in this matter is increasingly respected and has lead to medical advancements - initially to accomodate JWs, but also of benefit to others:
"many of the techniques developed for use in Jehovah's Witness patients will become standard practice in years to come" from 'Continuing Education in Anaesthesia', Critical Care & Pain, 2004, Volume 4, No. 2, page 39 - reference from http://bit.ly/10rRFBE.
Re. Pregnancy:
There may be concern due to, and action(s) taken against, the risk of complications due to mis-match between a pregnant woman's blood type and that of a fetus she is carrying.
Note: The ABO blood group system is easy to explain and is included in many school biology courses e.g. GCSE Biology (UK). The Rh blood group system is also important and widely used but may not be included in some first-level courses in biology and/or human anatomy and physiology.
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i don't know
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What is the medical word, from Greek meaning 'nasal mucus', for inflammation of the mucous membranes lining the nasal cavity, typically a symptom of a head cold or hay fever?
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Green Mucus: Causes Symptoms and Relief
Green Mucus: Causes Symptoms and Relief
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Most mucus problems have a widely unrecognized common denominator. Should you tackle it you would probably not only get rid of the green mucus issue, but also other related sinus issues. But first it is important to know something about mucus production:
Green mucus
Unlike green mucus our body produces, normally, from one to two pints of clear, watery, healthy mucus every day, this is consideredl. We don't notice it until it gets thick or it becomes excessive. Normal mucus contains: antiseptic enzymes, muckiness, nonorganic salts, water. Why do we need it? To lubricate our respiratory organs and guard their membranes from obnoxious invaders such as: viruses, bacteria, foreign particles. On the other hand, green mucus is often an indication of a bacterial infection in the respiratory system, when accompanied by the following other symptoms:
nasal congestion
high fever, especially when lasting more than 3 days
sinus pain
blood is present in the nasal discharge
In those cases is best to go see a physician. But we do need the right kind of mucus--not the green type; except that the latter serves, as we have have seen, as a sign that something is wrong inside--besides helping to get rid of germs or other unwanted intruders. But too much of a good thing, here clear mucus , could send a person seeking for excessive mucus relief . Thus knowing the mucus color meaning can be very helpful in combating whatever is abnormal in our respiratory system--whether it is green mucus from the nose or the one draining back of the throat. Thus if you are really looking for a permanent solution that goes to the cause of green mucus you need the right information, whether in this web site or elswhere. Since I suffered from sinus issues for a long time I learned first hand how to care for green mucus, yellow mucus, etc. Thus I have put together in three easy steps what I did that permanently took care of all my sinus issues. Please, see below:
Green mucus can be a symptom of:
Cold or flu
Sinusitis
Nasal polyps
Green mucus can be a symptom that our body is being attacked by either a bacteria or a virus. Some authorities believe that green mucus appears towards the end of the infection sometimes after yellow mucus has shown its color. At any rate, if green mucus does not go away in a few days it should be dealt with.
Where is green mucus produced:
the nasal membranes
Sinus MRI
The purpose of mucus is to:
moisten the air going through the nose and airways--preventing tissues from drying out, trap foreign particles, bacteria, microbes, from the air entering the nose
protect the lungs and other respiratory system organs
Green mucus as a cause of sinus infection
To keep the sinus cavities healthy, mucus and air must be constantly moving from the nasal to the sinus cavities through tiny openings in the latter. If it doesn't, for whatever reason, mucus will accumulate, stagnate and become a breeding ground for bacteria. In days the sinuses can become infected. There will be at first clear mucus coming through the nose--sometimes called drainage-- later changing color to yellow. Then, in some cases, green mucus will follow. The latter indicates that a bacterial or viral infection has set in. This is especially true when the green mucus is accompanied by bad odor or bad breath. Phlegm in the chest area can also appear. Most sinus infections are viral. Green mucus is usually thicker than yellow mucus , thus it tends to create sinus congestion, and sinus pressure . When that happens sinus pain , also called "sinus headache," may also appear. Phlegm accompanies a sinus infection to help the immune system cope with the infection overload. Phlegm, however, does not form in the nasal cavity. Coughing up yellow mucus may precede some of the above symptoms. Getting to know sinus pressure symptoms can help prevent sinus cavity disease when acted upon. According to some authorities coughing up green phlegm is a "sure sign" of a bacterial infection in the bronchi or lungs, but it could also indicate post nasal drip caused by a sinus infection.
Nasal Cavity and Upper Respiratory Tract
a - vertebrae, b - esophagus, c - trachea
d - cricoid cartilage, e - laryngopharynx, f -
pharynx, g - nasopharynx, k - tongue,
l - hard palate, o - superior turbinate,
p - middle turbinate, q - inferior turbinate
How green phlegm and mucus is produced
A sinus infection producing green mucus often begins with an allergic reaction to the environment: pollens, smog, house dust , smoke, chemical fumes, etc. The sinus membranes, nasal cavity and upper respiratory tract become irritated and sometimes inflamed. Sometimes a virus irritates those membranes and a sinus infection, drainage , follows. First clear mucus, followed by light and dark yellow. Then, when the infection has set in, yellow mucus. Should this condition persists for many days, it could develop into rhinitis and those membranes will become very susceptible to other viruses and bacteria entering the respiratory system. It is, therefore, a must to address an allergic attack right away, before sinus pressure , sinus infection or rhinitis set in. Phlegm, on the other hand, is produced only by the lungs, and is a sign of a problem. It is not produced nor present in the nose cavity . Phlegm is a specialized mucus which helps the immune system cope when it is overloaded.
Sometimes when significant amounts of mucus is produced by the nasal cavities, instead of draining out the nostril openings, it goes directly to the posterior section of the nasal cavity and into the back of the throat, to become post-nasal drip . This latter terminology also applies to excessive sinus mucus which also goes down the back of the throat. Henceforth we will use sometimes the terms green snot or green mucus or green phlegm indistinctly.
How I get rid of green mucus -- for temporary relief of symptoms
I have found that a combination of naturally remedies and OTC medications can bring quick relief of symptoms. This is what I consider doing:
Relieve sinus pressure soon whenever it takes place
I use sinus acupressure--for details click to allow air and mucus to circulate freely
to prevent possible infection
Maintain the nasal cavity clear from mucus as much as possible Green snot (nasal mucus) can start with a hay fever--also called rhinitis --attack
keep mucus flowing rather than stagnating
drink lots of water
taking extra amounts of vitamin C can help
Use herbal remedy EB in liquid form and W--for details click ; they are, perhaps, the best natural antiviral remedies available
to guard against a full blown sinus infection to fight viruses
these herbals must be taken, to be effective, at the very outset of the symptoms
Consider the use of some OTC antihistamine
I understand that they deal with symptoms only know and be aware of:
possible drowsiness
other side effects on vital organs
I would read the label carefully and follow the instructions
I would be sure they harmonize with other medications I may be taking
I do not want to create dependency
Unless specifically prescribed by a physician and explained to me why, I would not use any of the following nasal sprays :
naphazoline
phenilephrine
oxymetazoline
Get as much information as you can on sinus in order to know how to deal effectively with it
As with all sinus problems , I would drink as many glasses of plain water as possible
room temperature water is better than ice cold ionized water is also, generally, better if the ionization level is high, I wait 24 hours before drinking
ionization has antioxidant properties
Relax as much as possible
to give the immune system a good fighting chance
it will help prevent complications
Do sinus pressure points ( acupressure points ) C7 to build up natural immunity to allergens
I do this for 3-4 minutes twice a day indefinitely
the precise acupressure spot must be found
the exact location is usually more sensitive than adjacent area
I keep my mind relaxed and concentrate on the benefits I seek while doing acupressure; I do not do it immediately after eating a meal it does not cost anything, except a few minutes and no side effects
it is natural and a proven help
I follow the instructions in Three Steps to Sinus and Mucus Relief
after my bout with green mucus I continue my acupressure procedure
this helps prevent a next bout with green mucus
I would add other acupressure points to help my general health
it is free and no side effects
Avoid constant stressful exertions--they can weaken the immune system
green mucus, colds and flu are often stress related
I would learn how to really relax
I would exclude stimulant drinks such as:
coffee and colas
learn to have faith and confidence based on religious values
curb my ambitions if I have set for myself very demanding goals
House dust can often be very allergenic and the root cause of sinus pressure , green mucus or drainage
thus I would make a simple home dust allergy test
I would see an allergy specialist if necessary
If green mucus begins to accumulate and create sinus pressure. I would:
do steam inhalations to open nasal and sinus passages
I would use eucalyptus oil drops in the water or
thyme leaves; they can help to decongest
keep my face about 18 inches from the steam source
watch for steam temperature--should be below 102F
to protect the cilia
to avoid burning myself
Check for misalignments that can exert pressure on spinal cord and impede full nerve energy flow. They can be caused:
at birth--during delivery by accidents--blows to the head, etcbad posture
for explanations and how to obtain relief, see Three Steps to Sinus Relief at end of page
Learning a quick way to relieve sinus pressure can go a long way to prevent infection and potentially green mucus. If I had a bad case of rhinitis I would control the histamine flow in order avoid irritating badly the mucous membranes Nasal irrigation can keep the nasal cavity clear and supplement the above therapeutic steps keep the nasal cavity clear and avoid excessive mucus, congestion and sinus pressure and potentially yellow and green mucus is one of my goals. Know the foods which are mucus producing and avoid them
Surgery
Until a few years ago, although rare, surgical procedures were used to take out a portion of the nasal membrane in the belief that it was the cause of infection and of green mucus, in some cases. The latest research as of this writing has demonstrated that the nasal membrane is not the problem, but the mucus itself which gets infected. Thus surgery is not the answer in the vast majority of cases to green mucus. There is, however, a procedure called: opening of the osteomeatal complex which is used to open the ostia--the small openings at the end of the sinus cavities connecting them to the nasal's--when it is permanently obstructed. All other avenues should be explored before considering this surgical procedure. Often an MRI is used to determine with certainty whether the ostium is, indeed, permanently obstructed. In some cases of cancer in the nasal or sinus cavity membranes a surgical procedure can be, in some instances, an option. But those cancer cases are extremely rare.
What to do for snot
Snot come in different hues, thus depending on the color so should be the relief procedure. There are however some things one can do to alleviate snot problems in general. This is what I do for snot:
Drink a minimum of 5 glasses of plain water a day
Avoid sugar in all its forms
soft drinksdessertscandies
Keep sinuses clear as much as possible
by doing acupressure
sinus rinse--no more than twice a day
neti pot
any other reliable rinse devise
If it is due to a temporary allergic reaction
I take an antihistamime, such as:
AllegraClaritin
if not sure I would talk to my pharmacist
try to find out the allergen causing the problem
If it is due to a cold or viral infection
I rest all I can
I continue drinking water as explained in number 1, above
I would eat fresh garlic--assuming I can handle it
I would take a hot bath and perspire good for 15-20 minutes
to rid the body of toxins
get the immune system a beeter chance to work
I take a table spoon of elderberry syrup every 4 hours for several days
Chronic green mucus
Giving the immune system a beneficial early boost can stem a sinus infection by "nipping it in the bud." Knowing, therefore, the symptoms of a begriming sinus infection can be very beneficial. For example, sinus drainage, watery light yellow or clear mucus --can allow for early relief procedure and truly nip the infection in the bud. Natural remedies, at that early stage, often yield very rewarding results. There are two herbs in particular, let's call them "herbs A and B." These have proven to be formidable immune system boosters, if used early on. Sinus pressure can be a precursor to sinus infection, which often leads to yellow mucus, viruses, "colds,'' and even the "flu." Everyone I know who has tried them have become believers. Herbs "A" and "B" are explained in detail in "Three Steps to Sinus and Mucus Relief." There are four other considerations one should consider to defeat chronic green mucus:
Food choices - this is much overlooked and more important than most of us realize Allergies - to pollens, household or work place chemicals, house dust, animal dander Dislocation of a bone in the neck area - this imp ides full nerve energy flow to the rest of the body Chronic infection - can be caused by irritation of the nasal or sinus membranes
Permanent elimination of sinus pressure - this is sometimes the genesis of many sinus infection
Green phlegm
What does it mean?
Unlike plain mucus green phlegm is a specialized type of mucus which often appears toward the end of an infection of the sinus, or any other part of the upper respiratory tract, except the nasal cavity. Phlegm is produced in the lungs and hangs on to a specific area until its job is done. Thus it will trap as many offensive germs and viruses--like those producing colds or the flu--as it can and then dispose of them. After carrying out its mission and laden with unwanted bacteria and viruses, green phlegm travels, with the aid of the cilia, toward the throat to be coughed out. This is why phlegm should never be swallowed, but spit out. Green phlegm is nearly always and indication of a sinus infection and since most of them result from viruses they are not, therefore, addressed with antibiotics. Sometimes a bacterial secondary infection sets in, especially when the former is not properly addressed, then an antibiotic can be used. As stated already, phlegm should not be swallowed, but coughed out either naturally, by a chest percussion procedure and or by use of an OTC remedy.
How I would get rid of green phlegm
Do not swallow it
Mucinex
any other your pharmacist may recommend
A chest percussion procedure can be the fastest, natural way to get rid of phlegm done by:
getting into a sauna bath or inhaling steam for about 10 minutes
steam reaching the nose should be kept below 102 degrees F if felt light headed it should then be ended
eucalyptus oil can be added to the water
next I would lay face down on a padded table with the arms hanging out and down from the end of the tableplace a bucket on the floor below the face--to catch the phlegm someone can then tap my back with cupped hands for about 15 minutescough up the phlegm as it loosens and spit out into bucket--do not swallow it
sleep or rest for at least an hour after the relief procedure
Green snot
Nasal green mucus or green snot, as it is sometimes called, together with other signs or symptoms could be an indication of several disorders including acute or chronic bronchitis . Especially if it is accompanied by:
coughfatigueslight fever and chillswheezingproduction of clear or white or yellowish or green mucus (snot) chest discomfort
shortness of breath
I know you want to stop the green snot , but often we need to go to the cause of the problem, thus if this condition persists for more than a few days you would probably be wise to see your doctor.
Rhinitis and green mucus
Often sinus infection and resulting green mucus is linked to a common and annoying kind of irritation and inflammation of the nasal cavities, called rhinitis or hay fever --a swelling of the nasal membranes caused by an allergic reaction and accompanied by nasal drainage . Some call it "runny nose". And can be caused by viruses or other irritants. It has been shown that it can produce ear and sleep disorders and affect brain activity. What is the underlying cause of rhinitis ? The answer is allergens, as one of the most common causes: pollens, house dust, smoke, etc. So to go to the root cause of green mucus the allergy problem would have to be addressed. Seeing an allergy specialist is an option, unless I have severe allergies in which case I would see a doctor soon. He will determine which specific allergen(s) is (are) causing the rhinitis symptoms . Desensitizing therapy can then be administered.
Antibiotics and their use
While antibiotics have their place in relieving a bacterial sinus infection, the medical profession has become concerned about their over use--antibiotics become ineffective when they are used over and over again. Side effects--like decimation of the stomach and intestinal floras --are also of significant concern. For these reasons, natural relief procedures of sinus infections is gaining acceptance.
Botanical remedies
As already seen green mucus signifies that a sinus infection has fully developed. At that point a physician should be consulted, if the infection lasts over a week. The usual remedy is an antibiotic taken by mouth. For example, Bactrim DS. Natural remedies are not usually recommended at this stage. If not addressed promptly, right after the first symptoms of the sinus infection appear, the latter could move to other parts of the respiratory system. On the other hand, if the infection is caught and addressed early, natural remedies can be used effectively. For example, herb "EB" and "G,"--explained in detail in Three Steps to Sinus and Mucus Relief ; they can be excellent to combat almost any sinus infection, sinus pressure and related sinus problems, again, if addressed at the onset it would go to the cause of the green yucky stuff and nip it in the bud. Isn't that what you want? Inhalation therapy
While inhalation therapy can be very beneficial I would guard against harming the nasal and sinus cavities' cilia. They are very small one cell organs with hairlike projections which line the breathing organs and are responsible for moving mucus to the right place. Steam contacting the cilia should be of the right temperature so it won't paralyze them. OTC remedies
There are a number of OTC remedies which can alleviate the symptoms accompanying the underlying causes of green mucus. My pharmacist will be glad to show me what is available. These remedies will not cure the underlying cause of the mucus, but will lessen the discomfort. They should be used judiciously.
Permanent green mucus relief
While the above therapeutic elements have their proper place in relieving symptoms, to effect a cure we need to address the root causes of the green mucus. In many instances they are:
Allergies - as explained above. But now, rather than relieving symptoms we need to have the body desensitized to the allergen. This is accomplished by allergy tests. Then for those items showing a high level of allergic reaction desensitizing therapy can be administered Immune system deficiency - by regular use of acupressure and right botanicals the immune system can be boosted regularly and safely. This will prevent infections from easily setting inClearance factor - keep your sinuses clear at all times using naturally thus avoiding congestion which can lead to infection and green mucus Environmental change - sometimes the only way to avoid respiratory organ infections and recurring green mucus--when all relief procedures seem useless--is to change the environment. For example, high concentration of smog, certain regional plant pollens, extreme cold regions, etc., could be the primary cause of the infections which translate into excessive mucus production, drainage and potential sinus pressure , etc. Moving to a different environment should then be considered Wrong foods - most people underestimate the exacerbating effect of certain foods on green mucus production, sinus drainage and other sinus problems. This is discussed in the next segment Sinus pressure - quick sinus pressure relief can make a difference between healthy sinuses and green mucus
Nerve flow deficiency- its restoration through chiropractic can make a huge difference
All these items are covered in detail in the publication offered at the end of the page: Three Steps to Sinus and Mucus Relief
Food and green mucus
You should understand that certain foods are mucus producing, especially three of them which even contribute to post-nasal drip. It would be counter productive, therefore, to use them while fighting a sinus infection. In fact, if one is prone to this kind of ailment it would be advisable to significantly reduce the intake of those foods. On the other hand, there are foods that optimize the immune system by giving it a boost.
Acupressure
Whenever congestion, sinus headache and sinus pressure are involved, acupressure--sinus pressure points--can, in many cases, decongest the sinuses and reduce pressure in a few minutes, if the right technique is used. In other words, our immune system is able to fight successfully a sinus infection provided: (1) it is caught at an early stage (2) the immune system is boosted with the right natural supplements (3) the right foods are eaten (4) on the other hand fasting, on a regular basis, can also boost your immune system (5) the sinuses are kept clear by using natural procedures such as acupressure and/or inhalation. This is explained and illustrated in detail in, Three Steps to Sinus Cure, below.
Prevention of green mucus
The best relief for an ailment is its prevention. The adage: "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" still has its merits. Sometimes allergies to the environment , especially to house dust, can play a major roll in avoiding sinus issues, because they can irritate the sinus membranes and produce sinus pressure and green mucus, should it accumulate and infect. Keeping the sinuses clear at all times goes a long way also in prevention. Finally, the food we eat has more to do with sinus health than most realize. Some foods are very mucus producing and should be avoided since excessive mucus can lead to sinus pressure if not properly drained. Were these items followed regularly it would probably be the best prevention for the next sinus infection, and for the green mucus and bad breath sometimes accompanying it.
Deciphering the colors of mucus
The hues may vary somewhat, but essentially there are seven different mucus colors. Here are the meaning some authorities attach to the various colors:Clear--this is the normal, healthy type. We produce one pint to a quart of a gallon a day to keep our breathing system working properly.White--especially produced when one is having sinus problems and cow's milk is used. It can be also an indication of bronchitis. Pink or bloody--it can be an indication of a serious condition; a physician should be consulted.Brown--particularly produced by smokers, but also by those who are secondary recipients of the tobacco smoke.Green--can be an indicate an infection in the respiratory system like bronchitis. If it is accompanied by pain and/or fever for several days it can be an indication of a bacterial infection, which usually requires a visit to the doctor. Green snot, as nasal green mucus is sometimes called, can be a sign of: a common cold, sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, upper respiratory infection. Sometimes green mucus can come at the tail end of an infection and following yellow mucus. It should be recognized that green mucus can often have pretty much the same basic meaning as yellow.Yellow--a dark yellow mucus can indicate a sinus infection, while a light yellow can be produced by dry air; while a thick yellow snot can indicate the presence of a "cold" and that one needs to drink more water.When accompanied by one or more of these symptoms:
coughing wheezing fatiguechest discomfort
shortness of breath after small exertions,
then the yellow mucus can be a symptom of bronchitis. A recurring condition with the presence of yellow mucus can also signify that there may be some other underlying problem in the respiratory system that needs to be looked at. A light yellow, thick and sticky mucus can be produced, as already mentioned, just because the air is very dry; and the nasal membrane. Providing additional moisture in the air by a cool or hot steam humidifier can be an excellent idea; since it can keep nasal and sinus membranes moist to help avoid infection.
Green Mucus Solution
This is what I found out was the three key elements in my cure:
1. Eliminated some foods - I cut back significantly or eliminated completely mucus, phlegm, histamine producing foods 2. Kept sinuses clear always- I kept sinuses and passages clear --used acupressure techniques, natural remedies. Checked for allergies 3. Allowed full nerve energy flow - I removed pressure on spinal cord for full nerve energy flow and aid self healing I don't smoke, but if I did I would quit. This three-pronged approach led to my healing a few years ago and are fully explained in Three Steps to Sinus and Mucus Relief. See below.
Appendix
Below are wishes from thousands of people who, besides having to deal with green mucus have, at times, other mucus issues for which they would like to have some guidance. Here are some of them and some tips:
What to do for snot
In most cases snot or mucus can be controlled. Here are some tips that have helped many solve the question, what to do for snot:
Watch what you eat
do not use mucus producing or sinus adverse foods, such as:
starchy foods
eggnog--perhaps the worst of thenm all
drink all the water you can--minimum 4-5 glasses a day
to thin mucus
boost your virus and bacteria fighting capability
to detoxify your body
If you feel the snot you may have is due to an allergic reaction to the environment
make a simple test to see if indeed you do
if you do, depending on its intensity, decide whether
to handle it yourself
go see an allergy physician
house dust allergy is common and can be a source of serious sinus and snot problems
Determine whether the snot is caused by a chronic sinus or nasal infection
if you determine that it is indeed a chronic infection decide whether you should go see a physician
do not postpone tackling it to prevent infecting a larger area of your respiratory--breathing--system
Reduce clear mucus
Clear mucus is considered to be "the good kind of mucus." It is the one secreted by the body all the time to maintain our breathing mechanism going smoothly. The problem is, no doubt, that at times we produce too much of it So, here are some tips on how to reduce it:
Find our if you are allergic to some things in your
home environment
chemicalsspecial dust being generated there
some plants in the immediate area
If you are allergic to any of the above, then avoid it as much as possible. If this is not possible and the mucus is very annoying then consider allergy injections, but you need to know especifically what is the allergen involved. The allergy doctor will make some skin tests of the suspected allergen.
If you do not want to bother with allergy injections then consider using an antihistamine for a while and see how it goes. To reduce clear mucus permanently may require a strategy that is a combination of avoidance of the source of the problem and some antihistamine as needed.
Clear mucus relief
Sometimes clear bothersome mucus precedes yellow and/or green mucus. This may be caused by irritation of the nasal membranes produced by a virus or allergens. This is what I do to bring rellief for excessive clear mucus:
Ascertain what may be causing it
If it is caused by a "cold" or virus
drink 5-6 glasses of water while tis condition lasts
take an antihistamine such as:
"Allegra" or "Claritin"
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Rhinitis
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What German pharmaceuticals corporation developed the first Aspirin medication in 1897, and retains the trademark in much of the world today?
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Simple Tips to Avoid Nasal Congestion
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By Dr. Mercola
Nasal congestion is usually caused by infection or allergy, and is one of the most frequent medical complaints in the United States.
A common belief is that nasal congestion or "stuffy nose" is due to a buildup of mucus.
However, congestion is more often due to swelling of the nasal tissues, caused by inflamed blood vessels.
All in all, nasal congestion can be related to a number of ailments, including:
Common cold/flu (bacteria or virus)
Sinus infection (bacteria, virus, mold or fungus)
Hay fever or other allergies
Nasal polyps
Vasomotor rhinitis (non-allergic condition)
Overuse of nasal sprays/drops
In the case of cold or flu and sinus infections, the congestion typically goes away in about a week.
Chronic sinusitis (sinus infection), on the other hand, can last for months or even years if not addressed properly.
I'll review my treatment recommendations for acute sinusitis below, and special considerations for chronic sinusitis, which is frequently misdiagnosed.
That said, according to a recent study in the journal PLoS One i , the sensations of nasal congestion may in some cases be related to the temperature and humidity of inhaled air -- perhaps more than any other variable.
How Temperature and Humidity Can Make You Feel "Stuffed Up"
Rhinitis is the medical term for "stuffy nose." Vasomotor rhinitis is a non-allergic condition, characterized by chronic runny nose, sneezing, and nasal congestion. Changes in temperature and humidity have already been identified as a potential triggers. (Other triggers include strong odors, perfumes, smoke, fumes, and bright sunlight.)
The results of the featured study indicate that the sensory feedback from nasal airflow can contribute to the feeling of congestion, and that by altering temperature and humidity levels of inhaled air, you may experience some relief.
The authors of the study suggest that the interaction between temperature and humidity influence "nasal cooling" as the air moves through your nasal cavity. This nasal cooling is detected by "sensors" inside your nose, which stimulate the sensation of air flow being either easy or obstructed, with cooler air resulting in feelings of less obstruction. Essentially, nasal congestion can be sensory related.
According to lead author Kai Zhao, Ph.Dd, a bioengineer, an effective treatment for nasal congestion may need to include restoring optimal humidity and temperature to the patient's nasal airflow.
What's the Ideal Level of Humidity?
According to Dr. Robert Ivker, D.O., former President of the American Holistic Medical Association, the ideal level of relative humidity for sinus health is between 35-45 percent. This level is also generally recommended to avoid mold damage in your home. (To accurately determine the relative humidity in your home you would use a hygrometer, available in most home improvement stores.) In the featured study, the two types of air conditions associated with the most effective decrease in feelings of congestion were:
Cold air, and
Dry air at room temperature
If your home or office is too humid (above 45 percent), you may want to consider reducing the amount of moisture in the air, as excessive levels may also cause mold and fungi growth that could wreak havoc on your health—it may even be the root cause if you're suffering from chronic sinus infections. To decrease humidity, you can:
Use a dehumidifier
Run the air conditioner
Take colder and shorter showers
Install a fan in your kitchen and bathrooms, and leave them on for awhile after you're done cooking or showering
You must be VERY careful about making sure your humidity levels are not too high. This does not need to be due to high outdoor humidity but more commonly is due to some type of water intrusion in the home from a leaky roof, foundation or plumbing. The high humidity will cause mold to grow and could devastate your health as I have written about previously. So the key is to find the cause of the increased humidity and repair it. It would be wise to use a large commercial dehumidifer in your home to lower the humidity until the problem is fixed.
However, very dry air is also known to increase feelings of congestion because drying out your sinus membranes can irritate them further. So depending on your individual circumstances, if the air in your home is excessively dry, then increasing the humidity may help. To increase humidity, you can:
Use a vaporizer or humidifier
Create a steam bath by taking a hot shower, or filling your sink with hot water, then placing a towel over your head as you lean over the sink
Breathe in the steam from a hot cup of tea
Do You Have a Sinus Infection?
Sinus infections (sinusitis) affect over 39 million Americans every year. ii It typically occurs when the mucous membranes in your nose and sinuses become irritated by a cold, allergy, or pollution, for example, which then cause them to become inflamed. Once inflamed, the motion of your cilia (the tiny hairs that coat the mucous membranes and are responsible for moving mucus over their surfaces) slows down. At the same time, the irritation stimulates your mucous glands to secrete more mucus than usual to dilute the bacteria.
As a result, mucus gets trapped in your sinuses, where it can easily become infected.
It's important to understand that antibiotics can spell disaster for this problem. If used long-term, they can lead to very serious complications that may be very difficult to remediate against, including chronic yeast infections and impaired immune function. Furthermore, as I will discuss below, the vast majority of chronic sinusitis cases may be due to exposure to mold or fungi rather than bacteria, which antibiotics will have no effect on at all. Symptoms of sinus infection include:
Congestion and pressure around your eyes, cheeks and forehead
Thick, green or yellow mucus
Toothache
Cold symptoms lasting more than 10 days
Postnasal drip (excess mucus dripping down the back of your throat)
Fatigue
Beware: Sinusitis is Often Misdiagnosed
The problem with sinus issues is that that they're very easily misdiagnosed. Sinus problems and post-nasal drip can actually be a tip-off that you're being affected by mold or fungi.
In fact, research done by the Mayo Clinic in the 1990s that strongly suggests NEARLY ALL chronic sinusitis is caused by fungi , but blamed on bacteria—then mistreated using antibiotics. The findings were published in 1999 in two peer-reviewed journals, Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology and Mayo Clinic Proceedings. iii Yet, most physicians are still unaware of this study, or at least of its significance. A 1999 Mayo Clinic press release iv stated:
"Mayo Clinic researchers say they have found the cause of most chronic sinus infections—an immune system response to fungus.
The Mayo Clinic study suggests that 96 percent of the people who suffer from chronic sinusitis are "fungal sensitized," meaning they have immune responses triggered by inhaled fungal organisms! This explains why antibiotics are so ineffective for chronic sinusitis as they target bacteria, NOT fungi. Antibiotics and steroids can actually worsen fungal-related infections by destroying your body's natural biological terrain, creating an internal incubation ground for further fungal growth.
The bottom line is, if you have chronic sinusitis, you MUST approach it from the perspective of a fungal infection FIRST, not a bacterial infection, even if it means having to educate your healthcare provider. A good place to start is by sharing the Mayo Clinic study referenced above. The book, Mold: The War Within v is also a useful resource.
How to Treat Sinusitis Without Drugs
For chronic sinusitis, please refer to this previous article about how to address sinusitis caused by mold and fungi exposure . The following natural treatments can help you get over an acute sinus infection without the use of antibiotics and unnecessary OTC drugs, by keeping your cilia healthy and functioning, thereby preventing excess mucus build-up in your sinuses.
Drink hot liquids, such as tea or hot chicken soup. It will help moisturize your mucous membranes, speeding up the movement of your cilia and thus washing mucus out of your sinuses more quickly.
Apply warm compresses to your face, three times a day for five minutes. A small towel soaked in warm water, placed over your face below and between the eyes, will help increase the circulation in your sinuses, which will also help speed up the movement of your cilia.
Irrigate your sinuses. In a 2007 study from University of Michigan Health System researchers vi , saline irrigation was found to decrease nasal congestion more effectively than saline sprays. It appears to work by thinning mucus, decreasing swelling in your nasal passages and removing debris, bacteria, allergens and inflammatory substances from your nose, hence decreasing swelling that makes it hard to breathe. (If you've never done this before, see these Nasal Irrigation Guidelines vii by the University of Michigan.)
To make your own preservative-free saline solution, just add one teaspoon of himalayan or sea salt to one pint of distilled water. Make sure you use a saline solution that does not contain benzalkonium, a preservative that can impair your nasal function and might sting and burn.
Clear your sinuses with an aromatherapy steam bath. To help open up congested nasal passages and sinuses, put a couple of drops of eucalyptus or menthol aromatherapy oil into a bowl of hot water, then breathe the vapors. In lieu of aromatherapy oil, dabbing some Vick's VapoRub on your skin underneath your nose can also be effective.
Unclog your sinuses with the right foods. Horseradish, grated on top of a sandwich, or some Japanese wasabi mustard can also help open up congested sinuses.
Elevate your head when sleeping.
Dust your bedroom. Dust and dust mites can wreak havoc on your mucous membranes, especially when you're asleep and your cilia are at rest. Using a HEPA filter air purifier is also beneficial in keeping your air as free from allergens as possible.
How to Prevent Sinus Infections Before They Start
Poor food quality, excessive exposure to toxic chemicals and a high-stress lifestyle puts you at greater risk for not only sinus infection but all disease. Therefore, maintaining a robust immune system and creating an environment inhospitable to bacterial and fungal proliferation can help prevent sinus problems and infections from occurring in the first place. Here are some of the basic strategies to keep your immune system in top form:
Avoid eating sugar or grains, as detailed in my nutrition plan
Take a high-quality animal-based omega-3 supplement such as krill oil, which acts as a potent anti-inflammatory
Optimize your vitamin D levels by getting appropriate amounts of sun exposure year-round. Alternatively, use a safe tanning bed (one with electronic ballasts rather than magnetic ballasts, to avoid unnecessary exposure to EMF fields. Safe tanning beds also have less of the dangerous UVA than sunlight.) If neither of these are feasible options, then you should take an oral vitamin D3 supplement.
Consume organic coconut oil. Coconut oil is rich in lauric acid, which is known for being antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal
Avoid eating these top 10 mycotoxic foods
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i don't know
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The MartinSchultz scale is commonly used in physical anthropology to determine the colour/color of what in humans?
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Eye color : Map (The Full Wiki)
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Eye color is a polygenic phenotypic character and is determined by the amount and type of pigments in the eye 's iris .
Humans and animals have many phenotypic variations in eye color, as blue, brown, green and others. These variations constitute phenotypic traits .
The genetics of eye color are complicated and eye color is determined by multiple genes. Some of the eye color genes include EYCL1 (a green/blue eye color gene located on chromosome 19), EYCL2 (a brown eye color gene) and EYCL3 (a brown/blue eye color gene located on chromosome 15). The once-held view that blue eye color is a simple recessive trait has been shown to be wrong. The genetics of eye color are so complex that almost any parent-child combination of eye colors can occur.
In human eyes , these variations in color are attributed to varying ratios of eumelanin produced by melanocytes in the iris. The brightly colored eyes of many bird species are largely determined by other pigments, such as pteridines , purines , and carotenoids .
Three main elements within the iris contribute to its color: the melanin content of the iris pigment epithelium , the melanin content within the iris stroma , and the cellular density of the iris stroma. In eyes of all colors, the iris pigment epithelium contains the black pigment, eumelanin. Color variations among different irises are typically attributed to the melanin content within the iris stroma. The density of cells within the stroma affects how much light is absorbed by the underlying pigment epithelium. OCA2 gene polymorphism, close to proximal 5′ regulatory region, explains most human eye-color variation.
Genetic determination of eye color
Eye colours can range from the most common colour, brown, to the least common, green. Rare genetic mutations can even lead to unusual eye colours: black, red, or the appearance of violet. Eye colour is an inherited trait influenced by more than one gene . These genes are being sought using associations to small changes in the genes themselves and in neighboring genes. These changes are known as single nucleotide polymorphisms or SNPs. The actual number of genes that contribute to eye color is currently unknown, but there are a few likely candidates. A study in Rotterdam
(2009) found that it was possible to predict the color of eyes with more than 90% accuracy for brown and blue, using just six SNPs (from six genes).
The gene OCA2 ( ), when in a variant form the gene causes the pink eye color and hypopigmentation common in human albinism . (The name of the gene is derived from the disorder it causes, oculocutaneous albinism type II.) Different SNPs within OCA2 are strongly associated with blue and green eyes as well as variations in freckling , mole counts, hair and skin tone . The polymorphisms may be in an OCA2 regulatory sequence , where they may influence the expression of the gene product, which in turn affects pigmentation. A specific mutation within the HERC2 gene, a gene that regulates OCA2 expression, is partly responsible for blue eyes. Other genes implicated in eye color variation are: SLC24A4 and TYR.
Blue eyes with a brown spot, green eyes and gray eyes are caused by an entirely different part of the genome. As Eiberg said: "The SNP rs12913832 [of the Herc2 gene] is found to be associated with the brown and blue eye color, but this single DNA variation cannot explain all the brown eye color variation from dark brown over hazel to blue eyes with brown spots."
Classification of colors
The perception of color depends upon various factors.
These are the same eyes; however, depending on the light and surrounding hues, the eye color can appear quite different.
Iris color can provide a large amount of information about an individual and a classification of various colors may be useful in documenting pathological changes or determining how a person may respond to various ocular pharmaceuticals. Various classification systems have ranged from a basic light or dark description to detailed gradings employing photographic standards for comparison. Others have attempted to set objective standards of color comparison.
As the perception of color depends on viewing conditions (e.g., the amount and kind of illumination, as well as the hue of the surrounding environment), so is the perception of eye color.
Eye colors range from the darkest shades of brown to the lightest shades of blue. To meet the need for standardized classification, at once simple yet detailed enough for research purposes, Seddon et al. developed a graded system based on the predominant iris color and the amount of brown or yellow pigment present. There are three pigment colors that determine, depending on their proportion, the outward appearance of the iris: brown, yellow, and blue. Green irises, for example, have blue and some yellow. Brown irises contain mostly brown. Eye color in animals other than Homo sapiens are differently regulated. For example, instead of blue as in humans, autosomal recessive eye color in the skunk Corucia zebrata is black, and the autosomal dominant color is yellow-green.
Changes in eye color throughout life
In European populations, children are most commonly born with unpigmented (blue) eyes. As the child develops, melanocytes, cells found within the iris of human eyes (as well as skin and hair follicles) slowly begin to produce melanin. Because melanocyte cells continually produce pigment, eye color, in theory, can be changed.
Changes (lightening or darkening) of eye colors during puberty, early childhood, pregnancy, and sometimes after serious trauma (like heterochromia ), do represent cause for plausible argument to state that some eyes can or do change, based on chemical reactions and hormonal changes within the body. Most eye changes happen when the infant is around one year old, although it can happen up to 3 years of age.
Studies on Caucasian twins, both fraternal and identical, have shown that eye color over time can be subject to change, and major demelanization of the iris may also be genetically determined. Most eye color changes have been observed or reported in the Caucasian population with hazel eyes.
Eye color chart (Martin-Schultz scale)
Carleton Coon created this chart by the Martin-Schultz scale often used in physical anthropology .
Light eyesEyes light and light mixed are 16-12 in Martin scale.
Light: Grey, blue, green.
Very light-mixed (blue with grey or green or green with grey)
Light-mixed (light or very light-mixed with small admixture of brown pigment)
Mixed eyes
Mixed: 12-6 in Martin scale. Mixture of light eyes (blue, grey or green) with brown pigment when light and brown pigment are the same level.
Dark eyes
Dark-mixed: 6-4 in Martin scale. Brown with small admixture of light pigment.
Dark: 4-1 in Martin scale. Brown (light brown and dark brown) and very dark brown (almost black).
Amber
Human amber eyes displaying the yellow pigments.
Amber iris
Amber eyes are of a solid color and have a strong yellowish/golden and russet/coppery tint. This might be due to the deposition of the yellow pigment called lipochrome in the iris (which is also found in green and violet eyes). Amber eyes should not be confused with hazel eyes; although hazel eyes may contain specks of amber or gold, they usually tend to comprise many other colors, including green, brown and orange. Also, hazel eyes may appear to shift in color and consist of flecks and ripples; while amber eyes are of a solid gold hue.
The eyes of some pigeons contain yellow fluorescing pigments known as pteridines . The bright yellow eyes of the Great Horned Owl are thought to be due to the presence of the pteridine pigment xanthopterin within certain chromatophores (called xanthophores) located in the iris stroma. In humans, yellowish specks or patches are thought to be due to the pigment lipofuscin , also known as lipochrome.
Blue
A blue iris
In 2008, new research revealed that people with blue eyes have a single common ancestor. Scientists tracked down a genetic mutation that leads to blue eyes. The mutation occurred between 6,000 and 10,000 years ago; researchers state that before then, blue eyes did not exist. "Originally, we all had brown eyes", said Hans Eiberg from the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine at the University of Copenhagen
. The mutation affected the OCA2 gene, which is involved in the production of melanin, the pigment that gives color to our hair, eyes and skin. Eiberg stated, "A genetic mutation affecting the OCA2 gene in our chromosomes resulted in the creation of a 'switch,' which literally 'turned off' the ability to produce brown eyes:
The genetic switch is located in the gene adjacent to OCA2 and rather than completely turning off the gene, the switch limits its action, which reduces the production of melanin in the iris.
In effect, the turned-down switch diluted brown eyes to blue.
If the OCA2 gene had been completely shut down, our hair, eyes and skin would be melanin-less, a condition known as albinism .
Blue eyes contain low amounts of melanin within the iris stroma; longer wavelengths of light tend to be absorbed by the underlying iris pigment epithelium, and shorter wavelengths are reflected and undergo Rayleigh scattering . The type of melanin present is eumelanin. The inheritance pattern followed by blue eyes is considered similar to that of a recessive trait (in general, eye color inheritance is considered a polygenic trait , meaning that it is controlled by the interactions of several genes, not just one). Eiberg and colleagues showed in a study published in Human Genetics that a mutation in the 86th intron of the HERC2 gene, which is hypothesized to interact with the OCA2 gene promoter , reduced expression of OCA2 with subsequent reduction in melanin production. The authors concluded that the mutation may have arisen in a single individual in the Near East or around the Black Sea
region 6,000-10,000 years ago during the Neolithic revolution .
Blue eyes are most common in Northern Europe and Central Europe and to a lesser degree in Southern Europe , North America and southern Central Asia ; Afghanistan
is a notable example. They're also found in parts of North Africa , West Asia , and South Asia , in particular the northern areas of India
and Pakistan
.It can rarely occur as far south as Sri Lanka
. Moreover, blue/green/gray eyes can be found within the population of East Asia , especially among Chinese, even Han Chinese, [73673] , allegedly due to the constant wars and raids between Chinese Empire and Indo-European Turk nomads from Eurasia Steppe . Those conflicts could result in tens of thousands of people, mainly women and children, being captured and brought back to the victor's society. There are few scientific studies of light-color eyed Han Chinese.
A 2002 study found the prevalence of blue eye color among Caucasians in the United States to be 33.8 percent for those born from 1936 through 1951 compared with 57.4 percent for those born from 1899 through 1905. Blue eyes have become increasingly rare among American children with only 1 out of every 6 – 16.6 percent which is 49.8 million out of 300 million (22.4% of white Americans) of the total United States population having blue eyes. The plunge in the past few decades has taken place at a remarkable rate. A century ago, 80 percent of people married within their ethnic group. Blue eyes were routinely passed down, especially among people of Western and Northern European ancestry. In the 1930s, eugenicists used the disappearance of blue eyes as a rallying cry to support immigration restrictions. They went so far as to map the parts of the country with the highest and lowest percentage of blue-eyed people.
The outer surface of the iris of a blue eyed person is actually clear, lacking the outer layer of pigmentation that is found in brown eyes. Their color is caused by the inner layer of pigmentation and the semi-opaque fibrous tissues which lay between the two layers.
Brown
Brown iris
Light brown iris
Brown eyes are dominant in humans and, in many parts of the world it is nearly the only iris color present. It is less common in countries around the Baltic Sea
and in Scandinavia . Dark pigment of brown eyes are most common in East Asia , Africa and the Americas. In humans brown eyes contain large amounts of melanin within the iris stroma, which serves to absorb light at both shorter and longer wavelengths. Brown eyes are the most common eye color, with over half of the world's population having them.
Gray
A steel blue-gray iris
Gray iris under magnification, exhibiting small amounts of yellow.
Gray eyes have less melanin than blue eyes, even though they are considered a darker shade of blue (like blue-green). Gray eyes are most common in European Russia
, Finland
and the Baltic States . It can also be found to a lesser extent in parts of India
. Under magnification, gray eyes exhibit small amounts of yellow and brown color in the iris. Ultimately there are at least two things that could determine gray eye color. The first is the amount of melanin made and the second is the density of the proteins in the stroma.
A gray iris may indicate the presence of a uveitis . However, other visual signs make a uveitis obvious. Gray iris color, as well as blue, are at increased risk of uveal melanoma.
Visually, gray eyes often tend to appear to change between the shades of blue, green and gray; this is because gray eyes are extremely light, as mentioned before. The color change for gray eyes is usually influenced by the lighting and the colors in the surroundings (such as clothes, makeup, etc.).
Green
A green iris
Olive green eyes
Green eyes are the product of low to moderate amounts of melanin and probably represent the interaction of multiple variants within the OCA2 and in other genes. Green eyes are most common in Northern and Central Europe. They can also be found in parts of South Asia , West Asia , and North Africa . In Iceland
, 89% of women and 87% of men have either blue or green eye color. A study of Icelander and Dutch adults found green eyes to be much more prevalent in women than in men. Among European Americans , green eyes are most common among those of Celtic and Germanic ancestry, about 16%.
Hazel
This iris shows a mixture of brown, green and amber colors.
Hazel eyes are due to a combination of Rayleigh scattering and a moderate amount of melanin in the iris' anterior border layer. Hazel eyes often appear to shift in color from a light brown to a dark golden-green. A number of studies using three-point scales have assigned hazel to be the medium-color between the lightest shade of blue and darkest shade of brown. Hazel mostly consists of Brown and Green. The dominant color in the eye can either be green or light brown/gold. This can sometimes produce a multicolored iris, i.e., an eye that is light brown/amber near the pupil and charcoal or dark green on the outer part of the iris (and vice versa) when observed in sunlight. Hazel is commonly found in Europe , the Middle East , Americas , Central Asia , and parts of South Asia .
Definitions of the eye color hazel vary: it is sometimes considered to be synonymous with light-brown or gold, as in the color of a hazelnut shell. In North America, hazel is often used to describe eyes that appear to change color.
Red
"Red" albino eyes.
The eyes of people with albinism may appear red under certain lighting conditions owing to the extremely low quantities of melanin , allowing the blood vessels to show through.
Medical implications
Those with lighter iris color have been found to have a higher prevalence of age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) than those with darker iris color; lighter eye color is also associated with an increased risk of ARMD progression. An increased risk of uveal melanoma has been found in those with blue, green or gray iris color. Additionally, an August 2000 study suggests that people with dark brown eyes are at increased risk of developing cataracts, and therefore should protect their eyes from direct exposure to sunlight.
Eye color may also be symptomatic of disease. Aside from the iris, yellowing of the whites of the eyes is associated with jaundice and symptomatic of liver disease, including cirrhosis , hepatitis and malaria .
Aside from the above factors, yellowing of the whites of the eyes in people with darker pigmented skin is often due to melonin being present in the whites of the eyes. However, any sudden changes in the color of the whites of the eyes should be addressed by a medical professional.
Anomalous conditions
Aniridia
Aniridia is a congenital condition characterized by an extremely underdeveloped iris which appears absent on superficial examination.
Ocular albinism and eye color
Normally, there is a thick layer of melanin on the back of the iris. Even people with the lightest blue eyes, with no melanin on the front of the iris at all, have dark brown coloration on the back of it, to prevent light from scattering around inside the eye. In those with milder forms of albinism , the color of the irises is typically blue, but can vary from blue to brown. In severe forms of albinism, there is no pigment on the back of the iris, and light from inside the eye can pass through the iris to the front. In these cases, the only color seen is the red from the hemoglobin of the blood in the capillaries of the iris. Such albinos have pink eyes, as do albino rabbits, mice, or any other animal with total lack of melanin. Transillumination defects can almost always be observed during an eye examination due to lack of iridial pigmentation. The ocular albino also lacks normal amounts of melanin in the retina as well, which allows more light than normal to reflect off the retina and out of the eye. Because of this, the pupillary reflex is much brighter in the albino, and this can increase the red eye effect in photographs.
Heterochromia
Heterochromia (also known as a heterochromia iridis or heterochromia iridium) is an ocular condition in which one iris is a different color from the other iris (complete heterochromia), or where the part of one iris is a different color from the remainder (partial heterochromia or sectoral heterochromia). It is a result of the relative excess or lack of pigment within an iris or part of an iris, which may be inherited or acquired by disease or injury . This uncommon condition usually results due to uneven melanin content. A number of causes are responsible, including genetics such as chimerism , Horners Syndrome and Waardenburg syndrome . A common cause in females with heterochromia is X-inactivation , which can result in a number of heterochromatic traits, such as calico cats . Trauma and certain medications, such as some prostaglandin analogues can also cause increased or decreased pigmentation in one eye. On occasion, the condition of having two different colored eyes is caused by blood staining the iris after sustaining injury.
See also
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Eye color | Psychology Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia
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Bassett, J. F., & Dabbs, J. M., Jr. (2001). Eye color predicts alcohol use in two archival samples: Personality and Individual Differences Vol 31(4) Sep 2001, 535-539.
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Patee, T., Frewen, M., & Beer, J. (1991). Association of eye color and sex with basketball free throws by elementary school children: Perceptual and Motor Skills Vol 73(3, Pt 2), Spec Issue Dec 1991, 1181-1182.
Posthuma, D., Visscher, P. M., Willemsen, G., Zhu, G., Martin, N. G., Slagboom, P. E., et al. (2006). Replicated Linkage for Eye Color on 15q Using Comparative Ratings of Sibling Pairs: Behavior Genetics Vol 36(1) Jan 2006, 12-28.
Rohmer, S. C., & Meadows, M. E. (1992). Relation of eye color and gender to Type A scores and vocational preference: Perceptual and Motor Skills Vol 75(3, Pt 2) Dec 1992, 1283-1288.
Rohmer, S. S. (1992). The relationship of eye color and gender to Type A behavioral characteristics and vocational preference: Dissertation Abstracts International.
Rowe, P. J., & Evans, P. (1994). Ball color, eye color, and a reactive motor skill: Perceptual and Motor Skills Vol 79(1, Pt 2), Spec Issue Aug 1994, 671-674.
Rowe, P. J., & Miller, L. K. (1990). Correlation of eye color with performance on two motor skill tasks: Perceptual and Motor Skills Vol 71(2) Oct 1990, 611-614.
Samuels, C. A., & Block, J. (1995). Eye color and behavioral inhibition: A further study: Journal of Research in Personality Vol 29(1) Mar 1995, 139-144.
Sandem, A. I., Janczak, A. M., Salte, R., & Braastad, B. O. (2006). The use of diazepam as a pharmacological validation of eye white as an indicator of emotional state in dairy cows: Applied Animal Behaviour Science Vol 96(3-4) Feb 2006, 177-183.
Sandem, A.-I., Braastad, B. O., & Bakken, M. (2006). Behaviour and percentage eye-white in cows waiting to be fed concentrate--A brief report: Applied Animal Behaviour Science Vol 97(2-4) May 2006, 145-151.
Suedfeld, P., Paterson, H., Soriano, E., & Zuvic, S. (2002). Lethal stereotypes: Hair and eye color as survival characteristics during the Holocaust: Journal of Applied Social Psychology Vol 32(11) Nov 2002, 2368-2376.
Takagi, A., Ishihara, S. y., Kondo, T., Sakakibara, H., Toyoshima, H., Kono, K., et al. (1999). Age effects on pupil dilation among Alzheimer's patients: Journal of the American Geriatrics Society Vol 47(2) Feb 1999, 257-258.
Volpato, G. L., Luchiari, A. C., Duarte, C. R. A., Barreto, R. E., & Ramanzini, G. C. (2003). Eye color as an indicator of social rank in the fish Nile tilapia: Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research Vol 36(12) Dec 2003, 1659-1663.
Worthy, M. (1991). Eye color and feeding behavior of animals: Perceptual and Motor Skills Vol 73(3, Pt 1) Dec 1991, 1033-1034.
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i don't know
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The UK concise 'daily briefing' newspaper produced by the Independent is called by what single lower-case letter?
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The Independent Magazine / Newspaper product reviews and price comparison
Disadvantages
"Guardian reader" can mean something as an insult. "Independent reader" doesn't.
I'm a sucker for the under dog... I always avoid the popular bars in favour of tired old pubs; I vote for the hopeless third choice party in most elections and I love the reliable old Indy.
Sitting at the left of the British political spectrum, the Independent is definitely the underdog of Europe's liveliest newspaper industries. It's closest competitor is the far more successful but far arguably more middle class and more "middle England" Guardian. The more substantial circulation figures and financial backing of the Guardian don't help the Indy, but it's for precisely those reasons I stick to the Independent. While the Guardian represents a largely predictable political agenda, the Independent carries genuinely provocative and intelligent liberal writing, and the hefty comment pages include some must-read writers (such as Johann Hari, Andreas Whittam-Smith, Bruce Anderson etc). Since we can access news reporting 24/7 through dozens of different media outlets, buying a newspaper in this day and age should be more about the opinion content than the actual news reporting, and the Indy gets the balance just how I like it. I also like the format, design and general language of the paper.
There have been some difficult changes - the brave switch from broadsheet to tabloid format was the first of its kind in the UK, and was subsequently aped less successfully by other papers (such as the Times) that didn't make such a bold change in print design at the same time. Most recently (in 2008) the paper switched to full colour throughout and simultaneously hiked the weekday price up to £1. Whether or not readers will ditch the Indy in the long term has yet to be seen, but with virtually every national newspaper in the UK currently experiencing year-on-year declines in sales, pushing the price up is a brave way to establish the value of the paper.
You buy the newspaper that tells you what you want to read - but I must admit I buy the Indy because it also tells me what I want to read in a way I want to read it.
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I Love...
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Name the former News of the World royal correspondent whose 2007 letter, published in 2011, (allegedly) seriously implicated NOTW leadership in the phone hacking scandal and cover-up?
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Big Government Articles - Breitbart
Some Democrats are fighting against Clinton ally David Brock’s plan to launch his own donor network to fund his efforts to rebuild the left.
by Katherine Rodriguez 19 Jan 2017, 10:43 AM PST 0
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by Breitbart Jerusalem 19 Jan 2017, 10:24 AM PST 0
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Fake news outlet CNN’s top executive, Jeff Zucker, is threatening the incoming president of the United States Donald J. Trump.
by Matthew Boyle 19 Jan 2017, 8:33 AM PST 0
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Triggered L.A. Schools to Mark Trump Inauguration with ‘Restorative Justice Circles’
How the nation’s second largest school district will mark the inauguration of the 45th U.S. President, Donald Trump, is a far cry from how they celebrated in 2009 when Barack Obama was sworn in for his first term as commander-in-chief.
by Merrill Hope 19 Jan 2017, 8:05 AM PST 0
‘Global Warming is Good’ Says President Trump’s Science Guru
If you want to know why President-elect Donald Trump is going to be so great not just for America but also for the causes of honest science, common sense, and weapons-grade trolling, look no further than his gloriously provocative recent meeting with William Happer, the Princeton physicist who argues (rightly, by the way) that ‘global warming’ is good for mankind.
by James Delingpole 19 Jan 2017, 7:57 AM PST 0
Donald Trump Inauguration 2016: Live Updates, Day One
Welcome to Breitbart News’s live coverage of the 2016 inauguration of Donald Trump, the 45th President of the United States. All times Eastern. 1:50 PM: Via AP: Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer says the Senate will vote on two of Donald
by Breitbart News 19 Jan 2017, 7:56 AM PST 0
Part of the plan being advanced by House Republicans is something called a Border Adjustment Tax (BAT), and it could kill our company.
by Rick Woldenberg 19 Jan 2017, 7:39 AM PST 0
Oscar López Rivera, the mastermind of Puerto Rican nationalist group FALN, placed more than 130 bombs throughout the United States, most concentrated in New York and Chicago.
by Edwin Mora 19 Jan 2017, 7:17 AM PST 0
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by Edwin Mora 19 Jan 2017, 6:25 AM PST 0
In an interview with Politico published on Wednesday, President Obama’s Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes admitted that the White House did not have the ability to back up the president’s infamous “red line” threat against Syria.
by Aaron Klein 19 Jan 2017, 6:17 AM PST 0
Hundreds of Canadians are planning to cross the border in chartered busses and attend the Women’s March on Washington to protest President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday.
by Chris Tomlinson 19 Jan 2017, 6:17 AM PST 0
The incoming Trump administration will be “infested” with pro-Israel figures, Palestinian-American academic Rashid Khalidi said this week.
by Jack Tonhaben 19 Jan 2017, 6:04 AM PST 0
President-elect Donald J. Trump’s pick for UN envoy Nikki Haley this week slammed what she called the UN’s bias against Israel and the international body’s failure to address other, more pressing world problems.
by Jack Tonhaben 19 Jan 2017, 5:54 AM PST 0
Saudi Arabia’s government should end the kingdom’s ban on women driving and reform the male guardianship system, a United Nations independent expert said on Thursday.
by Breitbart Jerusalem 19 Jan 2017, 4:58 AM PST 0
House Speaker Paul Ryan is warming up to President-elect Donald J. Trump’s ideology, a source close to the negotiations between the two camps tells Breitbart News.
by Matthew Boyle 19 Jan 2017, 3:11 AM PST 0
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i don't know
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The staging of what enormous annual Afro-Caribbean cultural gathering was put in doubt following the London riots of August 2011?
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Panache e magazine issue 18 by Panache Occasions Limited - issuu
issuu
year olds, apply for a loan of up to
10K
win FREE tickets to 0liver Samuels, Giants of Lovers Rock and Leroy & Beazo’s party
Get ready for the
the largest street festival in Europe!
PANACHE E-Magazine
04-05
A Farewell tribute to a loyal friend; Mr Asquith Gibbes, MBE
Credits for the Photo Costume: Bajan Revellers UK Photographer: Fiona Compton Model: Shaniqua Lewis Make-up: Louise Jackman
06-23
Notting Hill Carnival, steeped with History and Culture
Get ready for the
Notting Hill Carnival the largest street festival in Europe!
62-66
Trayvon Martin, a young African American boy who was shot and killed for looking: Young, Hooded and Suspicious??
28-33 The House of Adjeiwaah Welcome to our Eighteenth edition of:
PANACHE E-MAGAZINE
A contemporary women’s clothing brand by Abena Adjeiwaah.
PANACHE E-Magazine CONTRIBUTORS
Rodney Hinds
PANACHE OCCASIONS LIMITED Publishers of Panache E-Magazine T: 0800 010 6085 E: [email protected] W: www.panacheoccasions.com
A big thank you for the help and support provided by the contributors of this edition. “Our philosophy as an ethical magazine, is never to print anything in regards to the
BME population that can be seen as demeaning or negative, but to promote the positive contributions and achievements that members of the BME population have made and are making to positively impact and shape the society in which we live.” We aim to develop our marketing strategy so that it focuses on giving back to our readers’. This we feel can be achieved by asking the companies who advertise with us to offer discounts on their products/services. Simply put, we market Panache E-Magazine as the only online magazine where all our commercial advertisers offer discounts on their services which will add value to our magazine as well as increase traffic to your business.
"THE MEASURE OF A MAN" Not - How did he die? But - How did he live? Not - What did he gain? But - What did he give? These are the things that measure the worth Of a man as a man, regardless of birth. Not - What was his station? But - had he a heart? And - How did he play his God-given part? Was he ever ready with a word of good cheer? To bring back a smile, to banish a tear? Not - What was his church? Not - What was his creed? But - Had he befriended those really in need? Not - What did the sketch in the newspaper say? But - How many were sorry when he passed away? These are the things that measure the worth Of a man as a man, regardless of birth. Author: Anonymous
FAREWELL MR ASQUITH GIBBES MBE By: Paulina Richards - Ex-colleague and Friend
O
n Tuesday 16th July 2013 the world lost one of its angels, God called one of his children home. Mr Asquith Gibbes, MBE, passed away peacefully following a long and debilitating illness. His suffering has finally ended. On Monday 29th July 2013 at 11.30am at a funeral service conducted by the Rev Ana Gobledale at St Andrew’s Church in Brockley, family, friends, former colleagues and hundreds of people from many walks of life who were fortunate to have known Asquith, gathered together in his name. They came together to reflect, acknowledge, remember and celebrate his life and legacy. He was a man who touched many lives and made a difference to so many people through his work in the community. Asquith planned his own funeral and one of the hymns he chose, “If I Can Help Somebody”, (lyrics below) epitomises his life and the man he was. Asquith’s committal at Honor Oak Crematorium was followed by a reception at the Civic Suite, Catford. One man I spoke with at the funeral reception stated that Asquith has left behind some really huge boots to fill and we concluded that it is unlikely they could ever be filled. You were one of a kind, Mr Asquith Gibbes and your memory will live on through your loved ones, and through your legacy. Thank you for being you – a true and loyal friend. May your soul Rest in Peace.
If I Can Help Somebody If I can help somebody as I pass along, If I can cheer somebody with a word or song, If I can show somebody he is trav’ling wrong, Then my living shall not be in vain. Then my living shall not be in vain, Then my living shall not be in vain; If I can help somebody as I pass along, Then my living shall not be in vain. If I can do my duty as a Christian ought, If I can bring back beauty to a world up-wrought, If I can spread love’s message that the Master taught, Then my living shall not be in vain. Then my living shall not be in vain, Then my living shall not be in vain; If I can help somebody as I pass along, Then my living shall not be in vain.
A. Bazel Androzzo, © 1945, Alma B. Androzzo
They come to experience vibrancy and energy of myriad colourful floats blasting out 1000’s of watts of body moving carnival music to satisfy your soul. Soca, calypso, reggae and dance music reaches out enticing young and old revellers to dance.
This first Carnival was considered a huge success, despite being held indoors. A few years later in 1966 the first outdoors event was organised, inspired by the London Free School and the hippie movement. The aim of this event was to promote cultural unity, and was spearheaded by Rhaune Laslett, a community activist. What started as a street party for local children turned into a carnival procession with a steel band.
However, the Notting Hill Carnival isn’t only about the music, each year there are hundreds of street stalls treating everyone to an array of culinary delights from the Countries of the Caribbean. Originally led by members of the West Indian migrant community in London, in particular those from Trinidad and Tobago (Trinis), the first festival was organised by Claudia Jones (who is widely recognised as being the ‘Mother of Carnival’), a Trinidadian journalist and political activist. It took place in St. Pancras Town Hall as a response to the Notting Hill Race Riots of 1958.
Rhaune Laslett-OBrien.
This was the first time that steel pan band music was played on the streets of London and it united the minority population, who had felt alienated from community celebrations thus farand laid the foundations for the Notting Hill Carnival procession that we see today.
Download a map of the Notting Hill Carnival route here:
Founder - Claudia Jones.
Freelance Photographer- http://www.peterbphotos.smugmug.com/ Phone: +447580211126 - email: [email protected]
T
he Notting Hill Carnival has been established since 1965. Held on the Sunday and Monday of the August bank holiday in one of the London’s most fashionable boroughs, the Notting Hill Carnival is the largest street festival in Europe with over 1 million people attending the event from all over the world.
Photography: - Peter Branch -
Notting Hill Carnival, steeped with History and Culture
For more information please contact: 07979811042 07809679507 07403008566 E - [email protected] W - www.bajanrevellers.co.uk F - facebook.com/bajanrevellersuk T - twitter.com/bajanrevellers
B
ajan Revellers was established in London to enable participation in Notting Hill Carnival in 2006 as part of Barbados’ 40th year of Independence. Our most very successful appearance was in 2010 with over 100 participants taking part under the patronage of the Barbados High Commission (BHC) and the Barbados Tourism Authority (BTA) where the Band took third place in the Modern Dance Category. Our aim is to build on this achievement and to strengthen the Bajan Revellers brand at Europe’s largest street festival. Our aspiration is to engage with the 2nd and 3rd generations of the Caribbean Diaspora and others communities to continuously develop the cultural and artistic elements of the Bajan Revellers carnival experience. We are a culturally diverse all inclusive band who welcome all interested parties to participate in our year long activities. We believe in retaining a Caribbean feel to our events and are eager to share the flamboyant experience of the taste and culture of the Caribbean Diaspora with you. We strive to develop synergistic partnerships with other cultural organisations to create a unique, innovative and culturally rich experience. The Band is overseen by an Executive Committee, under the current Chairmanship of Philip Freeman, a founding member. The Committee comprises of a number of dedicated volunteers working tirelessly to ensure a successful venture. Our presentation for Notting Hill Carnival 2013 is called Tribal Fantasy which will be showcased by three colourful sections: Royale Narcisse; Bodaicious Warriors; and The Tribe of Poseidon which has a male section. The Costumes of Tribal Fantasy were exclusively conceptualised by successful designer Rohan Husbands – Enigma Vibes with 12 years of experience in fashion design creating fabulously distinctive pieces.
Just FUNATIK Mas Band A totally Caribbean experience.
A 2012.
fter over 20 years of working with other Mas Bands husband and wife team Martin Jay and Pauline got together with 5 other friends and launched Funatik Mas Band on the 4th November
Their aim is to provide a “Totally Caribbean Experience� to masqueraders old and new by providing them with a first class carnival service. Sponsorship is a very important part of Carnival as it helps the bands provide that quality service to the Masqueraders and Funatik Mas in their first year are extremely proud to be working with major brands such as Tescos World Foods and Caribbean Airlines. Tescos Metro Store in Notting Hill Gate is undergoing a facelift and on Friday 30th August Funatik Mas will be at the store to celebrate the new look. If you want to find out more about Funatik Mas Band via: W: www.funatikmas.com T: https://twitter.com/funatikmas F: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Funatik-MAS-BAND/128508683966606 You can also find us on instagram.
Just FUNATIK Mas Band A totally Caribbean experience.
Just FUNA A totally Cari
ATIK Mas Band
Just FUNATIK Mas Band A totally Caribbean experience.
SAVE THE DATE !
Thursday 19th June 2014
The Panache Occasions Ch to Ladies day at Royal Asc more ways
Not only did most of o betting ring, we also sh filled with style, eleganc champagne and
We were sold out early reserve your place for AS Jacqui Brown on 079513 2nd Decem
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y for Ascot 2013, so to SCOT 2014 please contact 308379 before Monday mber 2013!
Uncle George
The House of Adjeiwaah
Culture
“Fashion to me is ultimately about self-expression and taking risks. The main objective for The House of Adjeiwaah is to promote and preserve the empowerment of today’s modern women and forever allow the wearer to feel like a Queen” - Adjeiwaah
T
he House of Adjeiwaah is a contemporary women’s clothing brand founded in April 2011 by Abena Adjeiwaah, a UK based graduate Ghanaian designer. Abena’s constant exposure to African print fabrics sold by her mother and inspiration from movies, heightened her love for design and years later, led to the formation of The House of Adjeiwaah. The House of Adjeiwaah is known for its use of traditional African print in a way often described as ‘a fusion of excitement, bursting with fresh colours and flirty, edgy shapes.’ This unique and exquisite brand has gained a lot of attention to date. Collections from the brand have appeared in reality fashion programmes such as: Uber Africa and Project Walkway Ghana. Kencar Magazine based in Ghana also requested pieces to be showcased at an exclusive and private fashion show for the launch of Actor Prince David Osei’s clothing line.
George Ameyaw is a proactive and idealistic individual. His passion for creating a better world drew him to the Ghana UK Based Achievement (GUBA) Awards. George began working with GUBA due to their outstanding contribution to the Ghanaian and UK community, as he hopes to ensure that the efforts of unsung heroes do not go unnoticed. He is the Head of PR/Marketing/Sponsorship for GUBA Awards. The designer herself has taken part in a variety of major shows such as: African Fashion Week London, Fashion’s Finest Renaissance Show and FashionMist. She also had the opportunity to showcase her collection at the M-Plaza Hotel in Accra for the first ever Ghana Fashion Awards 2011. The designer has dressed a host of personalities including Pauline Long (founder of the BEFFTA Awards), Nana Afua (Top model of colour 2010 & TV Presenter), Vanessa Agyeman (Top Model of Color 2012) Charlene White (ITV News Presenter) May7ven (Nigerian Afrobeats Singer), Multi-award winning Actress Ama K. Abebrese, Philomena Kwao 1st black British plus size model, Ghanaian singing sensation Efya and also two of Ghana’s hottest female rappers Tiffany and Lousika. Adjeiwaah also recently signed a contract to be the Fashion Editor for Fashion Scope, a new fashion publication.
2012. She came up against other fashion powerhouses such as Ashanti Lou, Bubushiiky and Anita Quansah London. Although she lost out to Anita Quansah London, she has gone to do even greater things. This year Adjeiwaah was honoured by Ghanaian Blogger nanayaw18 with a DIVAS award which recognizes successful Ghanaian mothers in various industries.
Her success ranges from being selected as the head judge and in-house designer for Miss African Queen Switzerland 2012 to being on the judging panel for Top Model of Colour 2012 and Miss Black Africa UK 2012. The House of Adjeiwaah has also had the opportunity to sell exclusive one off pieces for the luxurious afro clothing website StylesAfrik. These great accomplishments led to The House of Adjeiwaah’s nomination for the GUBA “Best Fashion Fusion Designer” Send us your comments to: - [email protected]
The House of Adjeiwaah Warrior 53 Collection
The House of Adjeiwaah Warrior 53 Collection
The House of Adjeiwaah Warrior 53 Collection
Warrior 53 is the current Autumn/ Winter collection for The House of Adjeiwaah. This collection represents the golden age of glamour and romance. The rippling silks and delicate chiffon amidst the soft and dusty pallets of grey, depicts the winter shade whilst the powerful tones of metallic represents bolts of lightning. The intricate detail and substance of each sweeping floor length gown is the personification of sheer grace, opulence and unadulterated sophistication. Purposely titled warrior, it is paying homage to Adjeiwaah‘s late Auntie Evelyn who was an embodiment of pure classic glamour and strength. Women descend upon each day taking on a variety of formidable roles and act as indestructible ‘Warriors’ who can amazingly withstand all obstacles and accept the gift of life. The House of Adjeiwaah believes that “every woman should be empowered and have the opportunity to step into their own world and transform into a goddess.” GUBA’s former nominee Abena Adjeiwaah is in no doubt destined for greatness. Her dedication and persistence has brought her far and is sure to take her further. Fashion is a growing industry and The House of Adjeiwaah is slowly securing its place. www.houseofadjeiwaah.com Twitter:@houseofadjeiwah
The House of Adjeiwaah Warrior 53 Collection
The Klub Talks Theatre These are the last two performers to be interviewed and they now makeup the three Africans to ever be in this international classic theatre production The Phenomenon known as “The Diary of Black Men - How Do You Love Black Woman?” This is an exciting and tantalizing theatrical production that has played to sold-out audiences in America & England for nearly a quarter of a century. Written by Houstonian Thomas Meloncon, this choreopoem has stood the test of time and is the longest touring and most successful stage play in Black theatre history.
Ayo Fawole S
o I can formally introduce you all to: Ayo Fawole replacing actor Lawrence Gilliard Jr, who will start filming for the new series of The Walking Dead in America. Ayo Fawole playing The Lover is an acomplished actor and spoken word artist Ayo has credits that include BBC Television’s The Quarter Mass Experiment, Eastenders & ITV’s The Bill etc. Ayo did your Nigerian parents support you going into the entertainment business? Yes, I had both moral and emotional support from my parents.
Ayo Fawole
“The Diary of Black Men”
will be on tour in August 2013 at the Fairfield Halls in Croydon.
For all sponsorship options for this international production contact: -Lekan Olujinmi CEO The Klub
International Management Company
Look out for EXCLUSIVE information on the cast and the director; Russell Andrews of The Stagewalker Group via Panache E-Magazine. The Klub International Management Company has been working with this production since 1989 and acted as the executive producers when the play previously toured England in 1994 and 2000.
What does theatre & the Arts mean to you? A platform to enjoy life and share experiences with other people. Satisfaction, adrenalin, fulfilment all that and more... it means everything to me. Name one thing your life experiences have taught you, which you would like to teach others? The truth will set you free it makes life easier. No one can have you up if you tell the truth. Who is your current favourite music icon and why? Sting. I like his music- feel good music that allows you to let go. Very expressive music, I like his voice, the sound. What are your plans for the rest of the year? I plan to move to LA and get into the American film and theatre industry, establishing my name in the global market. Do you think that Black Brits find themselves in the same positions socially and economically as their American counterparts? No way! There is a glass ceiling here...what more can I say? What advice would you give to young actors & theatre producers trying to get in the business? Always remember why you started and what drew you to the Art. Enjoy your work
[email protected] +44 (0) 7831 128 707 +234 (0) 803 284 1467 www.diaryofblackmen.com
and have fun doing it. Respect yourself and respect others. The play or choreopoem is obviously written from an African American male perspective how can the issues be relevant to other cultures too? Men experience the same issues throughout different cultures and as we move through this millennium the lines of cultures have become more blurred. How do you love a woman? The Diary Of Black Men - How Do You Love A Black Woman? why do you think it has stood the test of time? The issue is always going to be relevant, you will always find an audience that want to watch it and have an insight into the Black male mind. What impact do you think The Diary Of Black Men will have on its new young audience? Educational, they will have a deeper understanding of relationships and the impact on their decisions. What kind of reactions have you got from friends & how are they showing their support? Well, they’re all coming to watch it. It is an amazing experience and they want to be part of it.
Ayo Fawole
From Award-Winning Producers StageWalkers Group & The Klub International Managenent Company
THOMAS MELONCON’S
THe“How DiaRy OF Black MeN Do You Love A Black Women?”
STAR STUDIED CAST…
S
Samar Khoury
amar Khoury is a British international Model, Actress, Dancer, who was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to a Lebanese father and a Congolese mother. She speaks Arabic, English and French fluently. Samar Khoury started modelling in 2010. She has worked with many photographers in England & abroad. She made the cover of Zen Magazine January 2012 and gave her first exclusive interview to them. Samar Khoury has also featured extensively in international magazines. These include Amina Magazine (Paris), Black Hair, Black Beauty and Hair Magazine, FAB Magazine, Faqtor Fashion Book ( NYC-Japan-ParisLondon), Folk Magazine (Norway), Femina Magazine (India), Miss Ebene ( Paris), Pride Magazine, The Independent magazine, The Globe Newspaper (Ghana), The Promota Africa magazine. "I believe that in the modelling and acting industries, the ideas inherent in 2face Gemini are put into action by models and actors because we fit ourselves into the identity of someone else's skin. We have a makeover from a creative team and once all the lights are ready and set, the photographer is waiting to shoot you live, here and now. Models express emotions through the lenses of the camera. There is nowhere to hide and to escape! Convince the viewers, convince the crowd: sell the product, sell it. Our business is to make others believe the images we project!" In your own words describe your experiences with the theatre production The Diary Of Black Men - How Do You Love A Black Woman?
I would like to thank The StageWalker Group and The Klub International Management Company for giving me this opportunity and exposure. The experience has been overwhelming! I am looking forward to meeting the rest of the cast members. This is my first theatre production so I don't know what to expect and there's a mixture of feelings, anxiety & excitement and bit of uncertainty. In relation to theatre I haven't had the privilege to watch the play so it is my first time. I will be in a better position to give my answer after the production. Did your parents support you going into the entertainment business? No. They only supported me through my education. I had to support myself in the beginning because introducing modelling into my family was not seen as a respectful job. However I had to prove myself to them. In the end they are so proud of my achievements. It was important for me to get an education first and once I got it as a foundation it was easier for me to pursue my creative side. What does theatre & the Arts mean to you? Freedom. I'm free to express myself by being creative and meaningful. I give a presence of creative piece that can be acknowledged and admired by an audience. It enables me to reconnect with my inner child. When I was a child I used to read French Literature and write poem in French. I carry it through my modelling now by becoming different characters based on the clothes I'm wearing. Name one thing your life experiences have taught you, which you would like to teach others? Appreciate people and objects around you
every day because you will never know when one of those things will be taken away from you or be deprived from you. I took my flight in late 90's knowing that I will see my mother soon. Soon became a decade now since I have not heard from my mother. However I live everyday hoping to hear from her and the closest things I have from my mother are my beautiful sisters. Who is your current favourite music icon and why? I listen often to Afrobeat and Arabic music. My favourite music at the moment is Bollywood music:" Kabhi Kushi Kabhie Gham- It's All About Loving Your Parents. My taste of music is quite universal and my mood dictates my musical preference at any given time! What are your plans for the rest of the year? Hopefully to visit Congo by September then travel to America or South Africa. Anyway I will know by the time I finish with the production team. Do you think that Black Brits find themselves in the same positions socially and economically as their American counterparts? Well I've never been to America yet so I will give my opinion based on my knowledge. I don't think they are in the same positions yet until the Black Brits have a Black Prime Minister one day... If you look through history, Black Brits and Black Americans have come from two different past struggles to reach their current destiny for example Black American went through slavery and majority of Black Brits went through Windrush. It is embedded in them to fight for what they want for instance Hip Hop became a MultiBillion Fashion Industry. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X fought for their civil rights.
African Caribbean’s were invited to work in Britain by late 1940's. Black Brits did not have the same struggle. We did not have to fight as our Black Americans brothers had in the fields/farms. What advice would you give to young actors & theatre producers trying to get in the business? Well I am new to this business. I don't think it's wise for me at this early stage to advise young actors or theatre producers because my background is more modelling than acting. However I'm looking forward to receiving advice from the more seasoned cast members. The play or choreopoem is obviously written from a African American male perspective how can the issues be relevant to other cultures too? It is relevant when you look at relationships between a man and a woman. It is depicted from a Black American perspective however, the characters can be found in Hispanic, Asian or White communities. The principal difference would be cultural elements. For example every culture depicts how we interact with our women. There's romance, fight, argument, divorce. Interaction between men and women are different between White and Asian. Lesson can be learned how to love your women how to appreciate your own. At the end of the day we all come from a mother “A Woman" and does every woman deserve affection, respect, love and security? The Diary Of Black Men - How Do You Love A Black Woman? why do you think it has stood the test of time? It's an issue that can be addressed every day and forever... In any relationship by any culture... It's an education taken from
theatre production reflecting and arousing questions in our real domestic world: lack of deeper understanding of one another between a man and a woman. What impact do you think The Diary Of Black Men will have on its "new young audience"? It will help by awakening younger audience to view adult problems. They could be the leader to break that unhealthy cycle and learn from this real theatre experience. We are living in a multicultural society and the lines are gradually blurred out. We no longer address how do you love a black woman? The question is how you love a woman by going forward. The media and internet are exposing different controversial images of women which is having psychological effects. It is challenging the way young girls see themselves (size 0, anorexia, fake boobs, cosmetics) and this is having a lasting impact on young boys on how they perceive a women should look and what she should do for them. What kind of reactions have you got from friends & how are they showing their support? They are very happy for me and they knew that's what I wanted after my modelling. It is a stepping stone for me that I could embrace and use it to start my acting career.
http://diaryofblackmen.com/
T
he very best regional, local entertainers and musicians & international reggae artistes were brought together on stage this April for the exciting annual “Digicel Barbados Reggae Festival”.
Reggae on the Hill production at the Farley Hill National Park in 2004, which featured the largest cast of local, regional and international reggae stars ever assembled on one stage in Barbados.
This production fused together a starstudded line-up of local and international recording artistes and the audience who are lovers of vintage reggae were treated with a show of the highest calibre.
The result was success beyond the directors of FAS’ wildest dreams. It attracted a crowd of over 12,000 of totally satisfied reggae lovers of all ages and from every social level in attendance.
A mixture of the rhythmic reggae beats complimented by the Caribbean Sea breeze and traditional atmosphere, created a festival of the most prevalent attractions on the reggae scene around the Caribbean for 9 Years.
The following year, 2005, FAS expanded the reggae venture by adding a second event, the Vintage Reggae Show and Dance and officially launched the Barbados Reggae Festival. In keeping with the standard set the previous year, both productions were equally as successful.
Three independent promoters – “AG Productions”, “Premier Promotions” and “Hardcore Promotions”, formed together in 2004 to create a superlative force behind this festival. “FAS Entertainment Services (FAS)”. By pooling their resources they were able to undertake entertainment projects on a scale that was not previously possible as individual operators. The first such project was the inaugural
The rest is now history with Digicel coming on board in 2006 as title sponsors and the expansion of the Festival to three events with the introduction of the also very popular Reggae Beach Party, which caters to the younger generation of fans. This year FAS has added a fourth attraction to the Festival in the form of a “ Reggae Party Cruise at the Dock Edition!“ to celebrate
Tarrus Riley’s Birthday and designed to give fans the opportunity to meet, mingle and party with the performers. Our resident photographer, Peter Branch, attended and took photographs that showcased the performances by: Bounty Killer, Aidonia, Elephant Man,Tifa, Mad dog, Yellow Man, John Holt, Pinchers, Cocoa Tea, FAB 5, Shaggy, Tarrus Riley, Busy Signal, Admiral Tibet, Junior Reid and Bush Man and were joined by many supporting artists. Hosted by: Jamar ‘The Star’, Peter Coppin and Admiral Nelson. 2014 will celebrate the festival’s 10th Anniversary. After the show, revellers commented that they thoroughly enjoyed this festival and speculated on how the organisers would top the line-up of artists for the special show in 2014. For more information on Digicel 2013 Barbados Reggae Festival go to http://thebarbadosreggaefestival.com/ http://www.funbarbados.com/Activities/ reggae_festival.cfm
SPECIAL THANKS TO: Kathy-Ann Gilkes Al-Hart P.R. Inc. http://www.alhartpr.com/ The Barbados Tourism Authority Linda Christian-Clarke Visit Barbados Petra Roach Cedric Lynch http://www.visitbarbados.org
&
Mobile Phone Number (246) 826-2728 Fax (246) 426-8941 http://www.thebarbadosreggaefestival.com/
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pril 27 2013 e Jolly Roger at Carlisle use
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PANACHE PANACHE E-Magazine E-Magazine
Fashion Beauty & Fashion Style & Style
The dates have chang still on for the MISS C “Beauty with a P
The Ultimate Crown fo the Caribbea
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community); the organisers have been approached by various outlets who want to be included in the body of the Pageant. In order to enable this, and for the Pageant to be a collective initiative, the postponement was deemed a positive stance which only serves for the betterment of all parties. The official schedule of events is as follows: Saturday 30th November 2013 The Pre-Launch of the Miss Caribbean UK Pageant The first chance to meet the contestants Saturday 29th November 2014 The Miss Caribbean UK Pageant Venue The World renowned CIRCUS TAVERN, Meads Corner, A1306 Purfleet, Essex RM19 1TS ALL Caribbean ladies who satisfy the criteria are still welcome to apply NOW! http://misscaribbeanuk.com Due to the overwhelming response, we strongly encourage potential contestants to complete the application process as soon as possible, in order to secure their opportunity to be a part of this phenomenal competition. In addition to the fabulous prizes on offer, the organisers will be offering various public relations and modelling platforms for the contestants, which will generate high levels of exposure and opportunities. The Miss Caribbean UK Pageant 2014 is poised to act as a vehicle for the people of the Caribbean and the Diaspora to unite around a common purpose; which will be to choose their Queen to represent them to the World through a joyous occasion. However, through this unity, a message will be enveloped which will help to raise awareness of issues that are affecting the Caribbean community and try to affect positive change to those issues; hence, BEAUTY WITH A PURPOSE!
Claudia Speaks
Young & Fresh
O
ver the last couple of years the humble sportswear the ‘hoodie’ has been linked to a lot of controversy. It has been cited in a number of criminal acts and as a result, been banned in several places. In 2005, the Bluewater shopping mall in Kent banned the wearing of hoodies as they found it to be linked to anti-social behaviour. Earlier this year, an independent councillor in Castlebar called for the banning of hoodies within his town. The decline in the image and function of the hoodie has been quite interesting to date. The style of the hoodie can be traced back to Medieval Europe where monks had it attached to their tunics. It became popular in the 1930s by a company known as Champion Products and was first added to sweatshirts in order to protect athletes and labourers from the elements. It soon grew to become an element of sportswear as many took a shine to it because of its comfortable nature. It is currently worn for non-sporting and labouring purposes. The adoption of hoodies by the youth however, has led to a drastic change in the image of the hoodie. Across the years, imagery of hoodies from Hip-Hop and the ‘gangster-like’ persona of
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Claudia Andrews is a young lady with a keen interest in writing and equality. Usually viewing the world from a different angle; she prides herself on being able to communicate to the world through writing. some of its wearers, has contributed to the change in the nature of hoodies.
amongst other factors, led to many questions as to the message a hoodie really sends.
Currently, gang members in particular, tend to wear these hoodies as a form of uniform to affirm their status and also as a means of making themselves unrecognisable by others. The 2011 London riots also saw the presence of a number of hoodies; a means which was used as a way of covering their identities. This amongst many criminal acts by people in hoodies is partly to blame for the call for a ban on this item of clothing.
It seems that as a young person, mainly young men, wearing hoodies automatically makes you somewhat suspicious. With the number of cases arising from criminals wearing hoodies and hooded jumpers alongside the Trayvon Martin case, we have to ask ourselves: should hoodies indeed be banned?
HOODIES
One of the most recent murder cases sighting the hoodie is that of the Trayvon Martin case. Trayvon Martin a young African American boy was shot and killed on suspicion by a neighbourhood watch man: George Zimmerman. One of the main reasons why Trayvon appeared suspicious to Zimmerman was because he was wearing a hoodie. During that case, the defendant’s claim that the hoodie made Trayvon seem suspicious
s to: - [email protected]
It seems that the image of the hoodie has gone far beyond the point of redemption. It is linked with far too much negativity and makes the wearer susceptible to prejudice. Should hoodies be banned amongst individuals and in areas where it is linked to antisocial behaviour? As controversial as this might seem, it is obvious that some wear hoodies as a form of rebellion and in such cases, necessary measures need to be implemented. The general banning of hoodies however, will actually victimise many and would not get any closer to tackling issues related to it. Thus, issues relating to hoodies need to be dealt with on a subjective basis. It is however clear that as a young person, wearing a hoodie makes you ‘Young, hooded and suspicious’
T.D. Jakes: ‘Trayvon’s death was in God’s plan’
B
ISHOP T.D. Jakes has broken his silence over the fatal shooting of 17-yearold Trayvon Martin, calling the teen’s untimely death ‘God’s plan’. “God is on the side of truth, and that’s very, very simple,” Jakes told The Grio. “And only the two people who were out there know what that is.” On July 13, self-styled neighbourhood watchman George Zimmerman, who fatally shot a hooded Trayvon as he walked to his father’s fiancéé’s house in Sanford, Florida, was found not guilty of the teen’s murder.
His acquittal sparked major protests across the US and led to legendary singer Stevie Wonder boycotting Florida and all States practising the ‘stand your ground’ law, which gives individuals the right to use reasonable force to defend themselves without any requirement to evade or retreat from a dangerous situation. Jakes praised Sybrina Fulton, the mother of Trayvon Martin, for holding onto her faith through the murder trial. “Faith is the catalyst that has caused her to survive, and she is such a good representative of the African-American community,” he said.
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He went on to say that Fulton exhibited “dignity, reminiscing of Coretta [Scott] King. This woman has remained poised and articulate in the face of circumstances that would crush any mother, and I’m sure it has to be faith that under-girds her and [Trayvon’s] father.” He added: “Only faith of god could have brought her through.”
“He understands how to speak it in a language without hostility that conveys across the land that I think is very important for leaders today,” Jakes said. Obama came under fire after his initial speech following the verdict, was criticised and labelled “textbook”. He subsequently released another statement seeking to explain how the tragic killing of Trayvon could have happened to anyone. “I once said that Trayvon Martin could have been my son,” he said. “Actually, he could have been me, 35 years ago,” he said. “I understand the tightrope he has to walk being the president of the United States and being the President of black people,” Jakes added.
FATALLY SHOT: Trayvon Martin Despite early criticisms, the Atlanta-based megachurch leader also praised President Obama in his ability to be “not only bi-racial, but bi-lingual in his ability to articulate the African American experience to those that are not African American”.
Jakes said that while he understands Zimmerman, who claims Trayvon attacked him first, being relieved at being vindicated by the court, “there should have been some sense of remorse regardless of the circumstances because you’ve taken a human life, a life that had every right to live, a right that would have lived, had you mided your business. … and to not recognize the atrocity of it all, I’m shocked by that.”
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C
Chaka Khan: ‘I’m boycotting Florida for Trayvon’
HAKA KHAN has announced she will no longer perform in Florida following the acquittal of George Zimmerman for the murder of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. The 10-time Grammy award-winning singer revealed that she had already cancelled a booking in Florida just days after a jury ruled that the self-styled neighbourhood watchman was not guilty of the teen's murder. She told BlackVoices that the trial was a “travesty” and an indication that racism is “very much alive and well” in America. Khan is not the first high-profile entertainer to express opposition to performing in Florida and its controversial 'Stand Your Ground' law, which gives individuals the right to use reasonable force to defend themselves without any requirement to evade or retreat from a dangerous situation.
Earlier this month, Stevie Wonder told an audience in Canada that he too would boycott the state until it 'abolished' the controversial law. He said: “I decided today that until the ‘Stand Your Ground’ law is abolished in Florida, I will never perform there again. As a matter of fact, wherever I find that law exists, I will not perform in that state or in that part of the world.” A hooded Trayvon was fatally shot by Zimmerman as he walked to his father's fiancéé's house in Sanford, Florida on February 26 last year. Zimmerman claims he acted in self-defence. Last March, Khan joined other celebrities and entertainers in a musical tribute to Trayvon Martin. The song, entitled, Super Life, included vocals from other R&B singers such as Eric Benet, Kelly Price and Luke James.
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granddaughter, Bobbi Kristina Continue reading »
Rihanna wins court case against Topshop Continue reading » Send us your comments to: - [email protected]
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Heaven Sent Consultancy is an Events Management and Public Relations company. With years of experience in various Media and Corporate events, HSC staff work on a consultancy basis for a wide range of client's. We strive at all times, to deliver our services to the highest standard and we will work tirelessly to ensure that our customers are getting a service of excellence. The thrust of our work is in Events Management, we provide our client's with a fully trained events manager and additionally, we are able to provide our client's with a fully trained staff team; where required. Our high end staff team, enables us to manage a smaller event, right through to a large scale shows, with both ease and efficiency.
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We are a unique company because we will work with you! From creation through to conception, we listen to your ideas and concepts and through our expertise help you to realise your dream. Once we identify your needs, we then create a tailor made package that meets your requirements. We provide various cost effective payments options; why not try our 'pay as-you-go' solution? We only charge you for the services that you require, rather than burdening you, with large fees at the end of the event. We provide you with the level of service, to suit your needs and your budget and no hidden extra’s! We offer Events Training, which is very unique and provides real work opportunities‌ If you are interested in finding out more then please e-mail us at [email protected].
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Bye Bye Nine to Five – Hello Dot Com How to swap your boss for your own boss – dot com style! By Julian
I
Scenario
t’s Monday morning about 7am. Face in pillow, eyes closed you’re thinking about what excuse you can use not to go into work today. Your responsible side tells you ‘just get up’ and you roll out of bed and you start your daily 9-5 cycle...<yawn>. You hop onto your chosen mode of transport after picking up the morning newspaper. You read yet another story about an entrepreneur who came from less favourable circumstances than you and is now doing it big working for themselves. You immediately think, “it’s ok for them”, “they’re just lucky”, or “I could never do that”. Your journey continues until you sit at your desk and really start to consider what you might need to do to get yourself working for yourself. Your immediate choice, given the overwhelming success of so many others is the internet. That immediate global market and the ease of entry gets you thinking. Then your boss dumps a load of work on your desk, not for long you think...
Hall
The Plan
So let’s do it, what do you need to do to go from 9-5-ing to thriving online: 1. Find a killer opportunity – Sounds obvious but business and entrepreneurism is all about looking for opportunities and taking advantage of them. Now there are opportunities and there are opportunities. If you just want to supplement your income then a mediocre opportunity may suffice. However, if you want to replace your main income stream you need to thinking bigger. This is the mistake I see most people make when trying to start a business they want to provide a stable month in month out income. 2. Check out the market – So you’ve found a great opportunity, now you need to perform some acid tests to see if it’s realistic. See what other companies in that market are making by checking out their accounts on Companies House. Then consider how long they’ve been operating for, how much staff they might have, start up costs involved and if you can do as good
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a job as them. If those answers come up favourably then you’re onto a winner. 3. Are you any good? – Another huge contributor to being a success in business given that there’s very little new under the sun is how good you are at proposed business idea.
4. Do the numbers – In the main you’ll work out how much you need to draw from the business to match your current income. But what about taxes, reinvesting in the business to grow, ‘just in case’ money, stock, suppliers or business development. Remember the business has more to pay than you so you’ve got to make enough.
There’s a general misconception that money is a big enough motivating factor for most entrepreneurs. Yes there are exceptions to that rule where some business deals can net you hundreds of thousands, even millions but unless you’re in that space you need to be able to add a tonne of value to be seen over and above your competition.
5. 5. Get help – There’s no point pretending that you can do it on your own. Any savvy business person nowadays has a mentor, coach or advisor. Sometimes you’ve got to pay them, but if they really believe in you or the idea, they’ll give their time for free. These guys or gals could be the difference between you making it or not and making irrecoverable mistakes or not.
The magic formula here is passion + expertise= success. That is if you can find something that you’re both passionate about and are or can become an expert in then success is inevitable.
6. 6. Make it happen – Probably the biggest hurdle for any budding entrepreneur is procrastination. This may come from insecurity, instability, lack of understanding about what you’re doing, lack of passion or plain laziness. Whatever it is, no matter how great the idea, not matter how great you are if you don’t ‘make it happen’ then inevitably someone else will.
Bear in mind however that just because you’re passionate about something it doesn’t mean you’re good about it. Similarly just because you’re an expert in a particular field it doesn’t mean you’re passionate about it. Remember, if you can find that balance you’re up up and away.
Last but not least... Transitioning from a day job to running your own business isn’t easy, and don’t let anyone tell you any different. I’ve done it myself many moons ago and it
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took sacrifice and lots of energy. Your evenings and weekends are typically taken over by your new venture. It’s also very important to get your family or loved ones behind you as a little bit of encouragement at the hardest time can do wonders. Stick to your vision and why you’re doing this, not just to be your own boss but maybe to give yourself or your family a better quality of life. Perhaps the business you’re starting has recognisable social impact and could affect lots of people’s lives. Whatever it is, stay focussed, stick to your plan and it will only be a matter of time before you fire your boss!
WHO IS WINNING?
The point is that throughout this process the customer, me, wins each time. An entrepreneur or business owner in today’s market your customer has to feel like they’re winning. So when Monday morning rolls around, listen a little more keenly to your customers; because if you don’t, they might just start listening to your competition.
Julian Hall "The Online Genius" +44 (0) 7956 902 361 +44 (0) 845 053 9238 www.JulianHall.co.uk [email protected]
Julian Hall
"The Online Genius" +44 (0) 7956 902 361 +44 (0) 845 053 9238 www.JulianHall.co.uk [email protected]
H P A R G & B E W
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LUNG CANCER
ung cancer is a common cancer. In the UK, over 41 000 people will develop this disease every year. More men than women, but the rate in women with lung cancer has been increasing over the past 10 years, whereas the rate in men is decreasing.
Well-being Lung cancer is very much associated with cigarette smoking. Only a minority of lung cancer develops in non-smokers. Pipe and cigar smokers are also at increased risk of lung cancer.
Risk factors
Smoking The more cigarettes you smoke and the longer you have been smoking, the greater the likelihood of developing lung cancer (not to mention chronic bronchitis). Stopping smoking reduces the risk; it is always worth giving up. Starting smoking at a young age is bad news. It is also known that passive smoking increases the risk of cancer. This is why smoking has been banned in public places.
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Cancer Black Care is a registered charity since 1996, supporting predominantly black and ethnic minority cancer sufferers and their families. We are looking for motivated individuals to join our board of trustees or to volunteer experience and skills in fundraising, grant writing, welfare rights, cancer awareness raising, newsletter production, administration. If you have some time to commit to four board meetings a year and would like to be part of a well respected, London based, forward thinking organisation, why not give us a ring. Speak to Natalie on: 020 8961 4151 or contact by email: [email protected]
Exposure to radon gas Radon gas is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that can seep out of the soil into buildings. This is more likely in certain parts of the UK where there is a lot of granite, for example in the West Country and the Peak District. Radon is the second biggest cause of lung cancer after smoking. The risk from radon increases the risk from smoking. Smokers with high indoor levels of radon have a particularly high risk of getting lung cancer. If you are worried about this, the Health Protection Agency - Radiation Protection Division has information on how to check radon levels in your house. Exposure to certain chemicals Certain industrial chemicals can cause lung cancer Air pollution Air pollution may cause lung cancer. We know this from studies on people exposed to large amounts of diesel exhaust fumes at work for many years. This type of long term occupational exposure may increase lung cancer risk by up to 47%. One study has shown that people living in areas with high levels of nitrogen oxides (mainly from cars and other vehicles) have their lung cancer risk increased by about a third. Based on a large European study, researchers think that 5 to 7% of lung cancers in non
ts to: - [email protected]
smokers are due to outdoor air pollution Previous lung disease Having had a disease that caused scarring in the lungs may be a risk factor for a type of lung cancer called adenocarcinoma of the lung. Tuberculosis (TB) can make scar tissue form in the lungs. A recent study in China showed that people who have had TB have a higher risk of lung cancer. Family history It is likely that there is at least one faulty lung cancer gene that can be passed down in families (inherited). If you have a first degree relative with lung cancer, your risk of lung cancer is doubled. It is difficult to sort out the facts here, because of the major role of smoking. Families of smokers will all be exposed to cigarette smoke and so have an increased risk of lung cancer whether they have inherited a faulty gene or not. Lowered immunity HIV and AIDs lower immunity and so do drugs that people take after organ transplants. An overview of research studies shows that people with HIV or AIDS have a risk of lung cancer that is 3 times higher than people who do not have HIV or AIDS. People who take drugs to suppress their immunity after an organ transplant have double the usual risk of lung cancer.
Diet There is conflicting evidence as to the role of diet in lung cancer. Having said that it would be sensible to • Eat more fresh fruit and vegetables • Cut down on fat (particularly animal fats) • Eat less salt and sugar • Cut down on alcohol Symptoms These are the symptoms that may indicate lung cancer • a continuing cough, or change in a long-standing cough • a chest infection that does not get better • increasing breathlessness • coughing up blood-stained phlegm (sputum) • a hoarse voice • a dull ache, or a sharp pain, when you cough or take a deep breath • loss of appetite and loss of weight • difficulty swallowing • Excessive tiredness (fatigue) and lethargy. These symptoms do not necessarily imply lung cancer but do mean that you should seek advice from your GP. Your GP will refer you to a lung specialist for tests. Especially if you are over 40 years old and are a smoker. A chest x-ray is the first investigation.
is called squamous cell carcinoma. It is usually found near the centre of the lung in one of the main airways, called bronchi. If caught early, these cancers are amenable to surgery.
Tests
The GP or the specialist will arrange a chest xray. Where this indicates a problem, this may be followed by CT scan to further define the area of concern in the lung. This is followed by a bronchoscopy to visualise and take a specimen of lung. This is where a thin tube is passed down the airway, under local anaesthesia and sedation, and a biopsy of the abnormal looking area is taken for the pathologist to later analyse. A short time later you will be recalled for the results. Every cancer is discussed by a group of experts at what is termed a multidisciplinary meeting or MDT. The specialists will discuss the results and recommend a treatment plan to be discussed with the patient in clinic.
Types of primary lung cancer
The two main types are called small cell lung cancer (20%) and non-small cell lung cancer [NSCLC] (80%). They behave differently and thus are treated differently. Small cell cancers grow and spread quickly. Chemotherapy is usually required. Of the subdivisions of NSCLC, the commonest Send us your comments to: - [email protected]
Staging
The stage of a cancer tells you how big it is and how far it has spread. It is important because it helps determine the treatment. The previously mentioned tests may give sufficient information or further scans may be required. TNM staging is a common way of expressing the extent of disease. It takes the following factors into account • The size and position of the tumour (T) • Whether cancer cells have spread into the lymph nodes (N) • Whether the tumour has spread anywhere else in the body secondary cancer or metastases (M) The doctor gives each factor a number. So, a very small cancer which hasn’t spread is T1 N0 M0. A cancer that is larger and has spread into the lymph nodes and to another part of the body is T3 N1 M1. The treatment is determined by amongst other things the TNM staging and the type of lung cancer (small cell or non small cell). The outlook after treatment depends on the initial staging. Thus a T1N0M0 cancer will do much better than a T3 N1 M1.
effective treatments. Patients should be given the opportunity to take part.
Follow up
After surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy aiming to get rid of the cancer, you are likely to have an appointment between 2 and 6 weeks after the treatment has finished and then, for example • Every 3 months for the first year • Every 4 months for the second year • Every 6 months for the 3rd and 4th year • Then yearly
Outcome
This depends on the type of lung cancer and the stage of the disease. To give some idea, 58-73% of early, small, non small cell lung cancers would live for at least 5 years after treatment. As with most cancers, if caught early cure is possible. Having said that, unfortunately, many with lung cancer present late when the disease has spread, making cure unlikely. Advice, information and support for cancer can be obtained from Cancer Black Care. Donations gratefully received. Dr F Chinegwundoh MBE
Treatment
This is individualised to the patient. It may encompass surgery (to remove all or part of a lung), radiotherapy to the lung or chemotherapy (powerful anti-cancer drugs) or a combination of treatments. Other less commonly employed treatments include cryotherapy, diathermy and photodynamic therapy. There are several trials to develop more Send us your comments to: - [email protected]
Are Tampons Safe?
With thousands of teenagers and women of all ages using hundreds of tampons a year as their menstrual sanitation method of choice (which could include you!), I ask, are they even safe? Or which ones are safest and what’s the safest way to use them? The 2 main concerns with tampons are that they are typically bleached with chemicals that are harmful to the delicate lining of our vaginas and the life threatening condition of Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) that they cause. TSS is an illness caused by specific rare bacteria which enter the bloodstream, overwhelm the immune system and cause severe symptoms of high fever vomiting, diarrhoea, a sunburn like rash, blood shot eyes, confusion and peeling of the skin on the palms and soles of the feet, along with major organs in the body shutting down, normally 3 including the liver and kidneys. The common bacteria staphylococcus aureus is thought to enter the woman’s body by tiny cuts and ulcerations on the vaginal wall, that the tampons cause as they get pulled out, put in and left in the vagina, The high or super absorbent ones are most dangerous as in some cases, they expand so much that they literally stick to the vaginal wall, so when they are removed, a layer of
the vaginal wall is pulled off with it Due to how severely the immune system and internal organs are affected by it is life threatening and 3% of women who get TSS die from it. It also doesn’t matter if you’ve been using tampons for years with no reactions, you can still be at risk from the infection. If you are menstruating, using tampons and develop these symptoms, there is no natural treatment to my knowledge that you can help yourself with, this is an emergency situation and you need to medical attention straight away. Take the tampon out and get yourself to the nearest hospital. If you get proper treatment, you can get well normally in 2-3 weeks depending on the extent of the infection. Now if none of that has put you off using them, here’s how to make using them safer Avoid super absorbent tampons Alternate between tampons and pads during your period Never leave them in overnight Change them every 3-4 hours Avoid the use of plastic applicators whose sharp edges can scratch the vagina. If your vagina is dry, don’t use them Make sure your hands a very clean when you take them out and insert a
Send us your comments to: - [email protected]
new one Don’t use them between periods as they will dry out your vagina Use 100% cotton tampons instead of those made with synthetics materials containing chemical dyes
The last point is very important, please make sure to ALWAYS use unbleached 100% organic cotton tampons. The bleached one contain the chemicals that many people have heard about called “dioxins” which are carcinogenic, as well as the chemicals found in the plastic wrappings, plastic applicators are glossy cardboard applicators that come in contact with the vaginal wall and the herbicides, pesticides and fertilisers that will still be in the cotton if it’s not organic, which will all come in contact with your vaginal wall frequently. The vaginal wall is a very absorbent area of the body to you have to be very careful what makes prolonged or regular contact with it. Take care and stay healthy Leah The Naturally You Coach www.thenaturallyyoucoach.com
Send us your comments to: - [email protected]
Body Fitness Tips by Patrick Lewis Your Fitness Guru
Don’t quit and stay organised:
HEALTH:
Too many people quit their fitness programmes because they don’t feel they can see any effect. However, results take time, and because they are gradual are often hard to see for yourself. Taking photos or simple body measurements is a good idea, so that you can actively monitor your progress every 6 - 8 weeks. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the daily demands of life, leaving little time to concentrate on your health. However, by arranging your time more effectively you’ll find it easier to make healthy food choices and achieve regular exercise. You’ll soon find that once you’re organised, the battle is halfwon.
EXERCISE:
The key to getting fitter is consistency. By executing proper technique and aiming to progress gradually, you will see slow and steady progress. If you’re still worried you’re not seeing the right results, speak to a personal trainer to find out where you might be going wrong. At the start of each week, sit down and decide how often you’ll exercise, how long you’ll exercise for and when you’ll
exercise. Be as specific as possible. Next, schedule these sessions into your diary, Google calendar, iPhone or Outlook. These workout sessions are now appointments that need to be honored every week.
NUTRITION:
Studies suggest that taking photographs of what you eat can be more effective at encouraging healthier eating than the more traditional approach of keeping a food diary. It’s believed that if you take pictures of your food, you’re more likely to think carefully about what you’re putting on your plate. By keeping your fridge stocked full of convenient, healthy ingredients you’ll never be caught off guard and will be less inclined to reach for unhealthy options out of hunger and desperation. A few times per week set aside an hour or so to wash salad leaves, chop fruits and vegetables and hard boil eggs. Supplement these with ready-to-go essentials such as live yogurts, pre-cooked prawns and low fat dips and dressings and you’re ready to go.
Send us your comments to: - [email protected]
We hope last month’s health tips were helpful, so here are more health tips to help you with your exercise routine. We all want to be fit, lose weight and look good so lets put these tips to action and look forward to being much healthier. So Go forward and be healthy.
PANACHE E-Magazine
Food & Drink
Blacktie Caterers is run by Clive Eaton Brown – an expert in Caribbean catering services with experience in providing authentic Caribbean food to the likes of HRH Prince Charles, The Mayor of London, The Mayor of Croydon, The Mayor of Kingston Jamaica , Maya Angelou as well as dignitaries and celebrities. also many years experience in the Caribbean restaurants and hospitality management. BLACK TIE CATERERS will prepare the finest menu possible. So if you are looking for a caterer with a difference, look no further. Whether business or pleasure, we can provide anything from a finger buffet to a three course meal and much more. • You will love the menus we have created for your special day • We have a passion for making your Banquet Catering arrangements extra special. • Our friendly and highly trained staff will cater for your needs. • Our Banquet Catering Planner is at hand to create a tailor made menu to suit you. • Our expertise will help make your Banquet a wonderful event
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PANACHE E-Magazine
E vents EEvents vents coming comingup up
Welcome. Every month we will feature what we consider to be the must-go-to events. Contact us at - [email protected] if you would like your promotion to be featured in this section.
PANACHE E-Magazine
Kieran Kicks Off VICTOR WANYAMA
Sports
CELTIC TO SOUTHAMPTON
A
t 22, Kenya captain Victor Wanyama has already started to make quite a name for himself. The defensive midfielder joined Southampton from Scottish champions Celtic, where he had grown into a powerhouse of a player. He was the star man when Celtic defeated Barcelona 2-1 in the UEFA Champions League group stage, bossing the midfield and scoring the first goal of the game. He is the first ever Kenyan player to score in the competition. When Southampton paid £12.5m for his services this summer, he set another record by becoming the most expensive Scottish transfer of all time, surpassing the £10m Celtic received from Spartak Moscow for Irish international Aiden McGeady in 2010. He is also Southampton’s record signing, and his brother McDonald Mariga plays for Italian giants Inter Milan. Wanyama started his career in the Kenyan Premier League with Nairobi City All Stars after a successful high school career, and made his international debut at just 15 against Nigeria.
Send us your c
At last, at last, thank the Lord, the football is back at last! After being blessed with July temperatures to rival any holiday destination, England will see the return of the Premier League at 12:45pm on August 17th, when Stoke City face Liverpool at Anfield. Several teams have been frantically throwing money at each other in attempts to strengthen their sides for the upcoming season, so in preparation for the big kick-off, I have decided to help you get to know some of the new black stars who have joined the division this summer and will be hoping to make themselves house-hold names. After a short period with his brother at Swedish side Helsingborg, he joined Beerschot AC of Belgium. 50 appearances later, he was signed by Celtic for ÂŁ900,000 in 2011. He is an excellent box-to-box midfielder and ball player, and has become a fan favourite in Scotland due to his consistent, hard working manner. When he makes his debut for Southampton, he will become the first East African player to play in the English Premier League.
Victor Wanyama Goal Vs Barcelona (2-1) 07 11 12
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Notting Hill Carnival
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The nautical expression referring to capsizing is 'turning (what creature)'?
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Panache e magazine issue 18 by Panache Occasions Limited - issuu
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year olds, apply for a loan of up to
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win FREE tickets to 0liver Samuels, Giants of Lovers Rock and Leroy & Beazo’s party
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PANACHE E-Magazine
04-05
A Farewell tribute to a loyal friend; Mr Asquith Gibbes, MBE
Credits for the Photo Costume: Bajan Revellers UK Photographer: Fiona Compton Model: Shaniqua Lewis Make-up: Louise Jackman
06-23
Notting Hill Carnival, steeped with History and Culture
Get ready for the
Notting Hill Carnival the largest street festival in Europe!
62-66
Trayvon Martin, a young African American boy who was shot and killed for looking: Young, Hooded and Suspicious??
28-33 The House of Adjeiwaah Welcome to our Eighteenth edition of:
PANACHE E-MAGAZINE
A contemporary women’s clothing brand by Abena Adjeiwaah.
PANACHE E-Magazine CONTRIBUTORS
Rodney Hinds
PANACHE OCCASIONS LIMITED Publishers of Panache E-Magazine T: 0800 010 6085 E: [email protected] W: www.panacheoccasions.com
A big thank you for the help and support provided by the contributors of this edition. “Our philosophy as an ethical magazine, is never to print anything in regards to the
BME population that can be seen as demeaning or negative, but to promote the positive contributions and achievements that members of the BME population have made and are making to positively impact and shape the society in which we live.” We aim to develop our marketing strategy so that it focuses on giving back to our readers’. This we feel can be achieved by asking the companies who advertise with us to offer discounts on their products/services. Simply put, we market Panache E-Magazine as the only online magazine where all our commercial advertisers offer discounts on their services which will add value to our magazine as well as increase traffic to your business.
"THE MEASURE OF A MAN" Not - How did he die? But - How did he live? Not - What did he gain? But - What did he give? These are the things that measure the worth Of a man as a man, regardless of birth. Not - What was his station? But - had he a heart? And - How did he play his God-given part? Was he ever ready with a word of good cheer? To bring back a smile, to banish a tear? Not - What was his church? Not - What was his creed? But - Had he befriended those really in need? Not - What did the sketch in the newspaper say? But - How many were sorry when he passed away? These are the things that measure the worth Of a man as a man, regardless of birth. Author: Anonymous
FAREWELL MR ASQUITH GIBBES MBE By: Paulina Richards - Ex-colleague and Friend
O
n Tuesday 16th July 2013 the world lost one of its angels, God called one of his children home. Mr Asquith Gibbes, MBE, passed away peacefully following a long and debilitating illness. His suffering has finally ended. On Monday 29th July 2013 at 11.30am at a funeral service conducted by the Rev Ana Gobledale at St Andrew’s Church in Brockley, family, friends, former colleagues and hundreds of people from many walks of life who were fortunate to have known Asquith, gathered together in his name. They came together to reflect, acknowledge, remember and celebrate his life and legacy. He was a man who touched many lives and made a difference to so many people through his work in the community. Asquith planned his own funeral and one of the hymns he chose, “If I Can Help Somebody”, (lyrics below) epitomises his life and the man he was. Asquith’s committal at Honor Oak Crematorium was followed by a reception at the Civic Suite, Catford. One man I spoke with at the funeral reception stated that Asquith has left behind some really huge boots to fill and we concluded that it is unlikely they could ever be filled. You were one of a kind, Mr Asquith Gibbes and your memory will live on through your loved ones, and through your legacy. Thank you for being you – a true and loyal friend. May your soul Rest in Peace.
If I Can Help Somebody If I can help somebody as I pass along, If I can cheer somebody with a word or song, If I can show somebody he is trav’ling wrong, Then my living shall not be in vain. Then my living shall not be in vain, Then my living shall not be in vain; If I can help somebody as I pass along, Then my living shall not be in vain. If I can do my duty as a Christian ought, If I can bring back beauty to a world up-wrought, If I can spread love’s message that the Master taught, Then my living shall not be in vain. Then my living shall not be in vain, Then my living shall not be in vain; If I can help somebody as I pass along, Then my living shall not be in vain.
A. Bazel Androzzo, © 1945, Alma B. Androzzo
They come to experience vibrancy and energy of myriad colourful floats blasting out 1000’s of watts of body moving carnival music to satisfy your soul. Soca, calypso, reggae and dance music reaches out enticing young and old revellers to dance.
This first Carnival was considered a huge success, despite being held indoors. A few years later in 1966 the first outdoors event was organised, inspired by the London Free School and the hippie movement. The aim of this event was to promote cultural unity, and was spearheaded by Rhaune Laslett, a community activist. What started as a street party for local children turned into a carnival procession with a steel band.
However, the Notting Hill Carnival isn’t only about the music, each year there are hundreds of street stalls treating everyone to an array of culinary delights from the Countries of the Caribbean. Originally led by members of the West Indian migrant community in London, in particular those from Trinidad and Tobago (Trinis), the first festival was organised by Claudia Jones (who is widely recognised as being the ‘Mother of Carnival’), a Trinidadian journalist and political activist. It took place in St. Pancras Town Hall as a response to the Notting Hill Race Riots of 1958.
Rhaune Laslett-OBrien.
This was the first time that steel pan band music was played on the streets of London and it united the minority population, who had felt alienated from community celebrations thus farand laid the foundations for the Notting Hill Carnival procession that we see today.
Download a map of the Notting Hill Carnival route here:
Founder - Claudia Jones.
Freelance Photographer- http://www.peterbphotos.smugmug.com/ Phone: +447580211126 - email: [email protected]
T
he Notting Hill Carnival has been established since 1965. Held on the Sunday and Monday of the August bank holiday in one of the London’s most fashionable boroughs, the Notting Hill Carnival is the largest street festival in Europe with over 1 million people attending the event from all over the world.
Photography: - Peter Branch -
Notting Hill Carnival, steeped with History and Culture
For more information please contact: 07979811042 07809679507 07403008566 E - [email protected] W - www.bajanrevellers.co.uk F - facebook.com/bajanrevellersuk T - twitter.com/bajanrevellers
B
ajan Revellers was established in London to enable participation in Notting Hill Carnival in 2006 as part of Barbados’ 40th year of Independence. Our most very successful appearance was in 2010 with over 100 participants taking part under the patronage of the Barbados High Commission (BHC) and the Barbados Tourism Authority (BTA) where the Band took third place in the Modern Dance Category. Our aim is to build on this achievement and to strengthen the Bajan Revellers brand at Europe’s largest street festival. Our aspiration is to engage with the 2nd and 3rd generations of the Caribbean Diaspora and others communities to continuously develop the cultural and artistic elements of the Bajan Revellers carnival experience. We are a culturally diverse all inclusive band who welcome all interested parties to participate in our year long activities. We believe in retaining a Caribbean feel to our events and are eager to share the flamboyant experience of the taste and culture of the Caribbean Diaspora with you. We strive to develop synergistic partnerships with other cultural organisations to create a unique, innovative and culturally rich experience. The Band is overseen by an Executive Committee, under the current Chairmanship of Philip Freeman, a founding member. The Committee comprises of a number of dedicated volunteers working tirelessly to ensure a successful venture. Our presentation for Notting Hill Carnival 2013 is called Tribal Fantasy which will be showcased by three colourful sections: Royale Narcisse; Bodaicious Warriors; and The Tribe of Poseidon which has a male section. The Costumes of Tribal Fantasy were exclusively conceptualised by successful designer Rohan Husbands – Enigma Vibes with 12 years of experience in fashion design creating fabulously distinctive pieces.
Just FUNATIK Mas Band A totally Caribbean experience.
A 2012.
fter over 20 years of working with other Mas Bands husband and wife team Martin Jay and Pauline got together with 5 other friends and launched Funatik Mas Band on the 4th November
Their aim is to provide a “Totally Caribbean Experience� to masqueraders old and new by providing them with a first class carnival service. Sponsorship is a very important part of Carnival as it helps the bands provide that quality service to the Masqueraders and Funatik Mas in their first year are extremely proud to be working with major brands such as Tescos World Foods and Caribbean Airlines. Tescos Metro Store in Notting Hill Gate is undergoing a facelift and on Friday 30th August Funatik Mas will be at the store to celebrate the new look. If you want to find out more about Funatik Mas Band via: W: www.funatikmas.com T: https://twitter.com/funatikmas F: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Funatik-MAS-BAND/128508683966606 You can also find us on instagram.
Just FUNATIK Mas Band A totally Caribbean experience.
Just FUNA A totally Cari
ATIK Mas Band
Just FUNATIK Mas Band A totally Caribbean experience.
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The House of Adjeiwaah
Culture
“Fashion to me is ultimately about self-expression and taking risks. The main objective for The House of Adjeiwaah is to promote and preserve the empowerment of today’s modern women and forever allow the wearer to feel like a Queen” - Adjeiwaah
T
he House of Adjeiwaah is a contemporary women’s clothing brand founded in April 2011 by Abena Adjeiwaah, a UK based graduate Ghanaian designer. Abena’s constant exposure to African print fabrics sold by her mother and inspiration from movies, heightened her love for design and years later, led to the formation of The House of Adjeiwaah. The House of Adjeiwaah is known for its use of traditional African print in a way often described as ‘a fusion of excitement, bursting with fresh colours and flirty, edgy shapes.’ This unique and exquisite brand has gained a lot of attention to date. Collections from the brand have appeared in reality fashion programmes such as: Uber Africa and Project Walkway Ghana. Kencar Magazine based in Ghana also requested pieces to be showcased at an exclusive and private fashion show for the launch of Actor Prince David Osei’s clothing line.
George Ameyaw is a proactive and idealistic individual. His passion for creating a better world drew him to the Ghana UK Based Achievement (GUBA) Awards. George began working with GUBA due to their outstanding contribution to the Ghanaian and UK community, as he hopes to ensure that the efforts of unsung heroes do not go unnoticed. He is the Head of PR/Marketing/Sponsorship for GUBA Awards. The designer herself has taken part in a variety of major shows such as: African Fashion Week London, Fashion’s Finest Renaissance Show and FashionMist. She also had the opportunity to showcase her collection at the M-Plaza Hotel in Accra for the first ever Ghana Fashion Awards 2011. The designer has dressed a host of personalities including Pauline Long (founder of the BEFFTA Awards), Nana Afua (Top model of colour 2010 & TV Presenter), Vanessa Agyeman (Top Model of Color 2012) Charlene White (ITV News Presenter) May7ven (Nigerian Afrobeats Singer), Multi-award winning Actress Ama K. Abebrese, Philomena Kwao 1st black British plus size model, Ghanaian singing sensation Efya and also two of Ghana’s hottest female rappers Tiffany and Lousika. Adjeiwaah also recently signed a contract to be the Fashion Editor for Fashion Scope, a new fashion publication.
2012. She came up against other fashion powerhouses such as Ashanti Lou, Bubushiiky and Anita Quansah London. Although she lost out to Anita Quansah London, she has gone to do even greater things. This year Adjeiwaah was honoured by Ghanaian Blogger nanayaw18 with a DIVAS award which recognizes successful Ghanaian mothers in various industries.
Her success ranges from being selected as the head judge and in-house designer for Miss African Queen Switzerland 2012 to being on the judging panel for Top Model of Colour 2012 and Miss Black Africa UK 2012. The House of Adjeiwaah has also had the opportunity to sell exclusive one off pieces for the luxurious afro clothing website StylesAfrik. These great accomplishments led to The House of Adjeiwaah’s nomination for the GUBA “Best Fashion Fusion Designer” Send us your comments to: - [email protected]
The House of Adjeiwaah Warrior 53 Collection
The House of Adjeiwaah Warrior 53 Collection
The House of Adjeiwaah Warrior 53 Collection
Warrior 53 is the current Autumn/ Winter collection for The House of Adjeiwaah. This collection represents the golden age of glamour and romance. The rippling silks and delicate chiffon amidst the soft and dusty pallets of grey, depicts the winter shade whilst the powerful tones of metallic represents bolts of lightning. The intricate detail and substance of each sweeping floor length gown is the personification of sheer grace, opulence and unadulterated sophistication. Purposely titled warrior, it is paying homage to Adjeiwaah‘s late Auntie Evelyn who was an embodiment of pure classic glamour and strength. Women descend upon each day taking on a variety of formidable roles and act as indestructible ‘Warriors’ who can amazingly withstand all obstacles and accept the gift of life. The House of Adjeiwaah believes that “every woman should be empowered and have the opportunity to step into their own world and transform into a goddess.” GUBA’s former nominee Abena Adjeiwaah is in no doubt destined for greatness. Her dedication and persistence has brought her far and is sure to take her further. Fashion is a growing industry and The House of Adjeiwaah is slowly securing its place. www.houseofadjeiwaah.com Twitter:@houseofadjeiwah
The House of Adjeiwaah Warrior 53 Collection
The Klub Talks Theatre These are the last two performers to be interviewed and they now makeup the three Africans to ever be in this international classic theatre production The Phenomenon known as “The Diary of Black Men - How Do You Love Black Woman?” This is an exciting and tantalizing theatrical production that has played to sold-out audiences in America & England for nearly a quarter of a century. Written by Houstonian Thomas Meloncon, this choreopoem has stood the test of time and is the longest touring and most successful stage play in Black theatre history.
Ayo Fawole S
o I can formally introduce you all to: Ayo Fawole replacing actor Lawrence Gilliard Jr, who will start filming for the new series of The Walking Dead in America. Ayo Fawole playing The Lover is an acomplished actor and spoken word artist Ayo has credits that include BBC Television’s The Quarter Mass Experiment, Eastenders & ITV’s The Bill etc. Ayo did your Nigerian parents support you going into the entertainment business? Yes, I had both moral and emotional support from my parents.
Ayo Fawole
“The Diary of Black Men”
will be on tour in August 2013 at the Fairfield Halls in Croydon.
For all sponsorship options for this international production contact: -Lekan Olujinmi CEO The Klub
International Management Company
Look out for EXCLUSIVE information on the cast and the director; Russell Andrews of The Stagewalker Group via Panache E-Magazine. The Klub International Management Company has been working with this production since 1989 and acted as the executive producers when the play previously toured England in 1994 and 2000.
What does theatre & the Arts mean to you? A platform to enjoy life and share experiences with other people. Satisfaction, adrenalin, fulfilment all that and more... it means everything to me. Name one thing your life experiences have taught you, which you would like to teach others? The truth will set you free it makes life easier. No one can have you up if you tell the truth. Who is your current favourite music icon and why? Sting. I like his music- feel good music that allows you to let go. Very expressive music, I like his voice, the sound. What are your plans for the rest of the year? I plan to move to LA and get into the American film and theatre industry, establishing my name in the global market. Do you think that Black Brits find themselves in the same positions socially and economically as their American counterparts? No way! There is a glass ceiling here...what more can I say? What advice would you give to young actors & theatre producers trying to get in the business? Always remember why you started and what drew you to the Art. Enjoy your work
[email protected] +44 (0) 7831 128 707 +234 (0) 803 284 1467 www.diaryofblackmen.com
and have fun doing it. Respect yourself and respect others. The play or choreopoem is obviously written from an African American male perspective how can the issues be relevant to other cultures too? Men experience the same issues throughout different cultures and as we move through this millennium the lines of cultures have become more blurred. How do you love a woman? The Diary Of Black Men - How Do You Love A Black Woman? why do you think it has stood the test of time? The issue is always going to be relevant, you will always find an audience that want to watch it and have an insight into the Black male mind. What impact do you think The Diary Of Black Men will have on its new young audience? Educational, they will have a deeper understanding of relationships and the impact on their decisions. What kind of reactions have you got from friends & how are they showing their support? Well, they’re all coming to watch it. It is an amazing experience and they want to be part of it.
Ayo Fawole
From Award-Winning Producers StageWalkers Group & The Klub International Managenent Company
THOMAS MELONCON’S
THe“How DiaRy OF Black MeN Do You Love A Black Women?”
STAR STUDIED CAST…
S
Samar Khoury
amar Khoury is a British international Model, Actress, Dancer, who was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to a Lebanese father and a Congolese mother. She speaks Arabic, English and French fluently. Samar Khoury started modelling in 2010. She has worked with many photographers in England & abroad. She made the cover of Zen Magazine January 2012 and gave her first exclusive interview to them. Samar Khoury has also featured extensively in international magazines. These include Amina Magazine (Paris), Black Hair, Black Beauty and Hair Magazine, FAB Magazine, Faqtor Fashion Book ( NYC-Japan-ParisLondon), Folk Magazine (Norway), Femina Magazine (India), Miss Ebene ( Paris), Pride Magazine, The Independent magazine, The Globe Newspaper (Ghana), The Promota Africa magazine. "I believe that in the modelling and acting industries, the ideas inherent in 2face Gemini are put into action by models and actors because we fit ourselves into the identity of someone else's skin. We have a makeover from a creative team and once all the lights are ready and set, the photographer is waiting to shoot you live, here and now. Models express emotions through the lenses of the camera. There is nowhere to hide and to escape! Convince the viewers, convince the crowd: sell the product, sell it. Our business is to make others believe the images we project!" In your own words describe your experiences with the theatre production The Diary Of Black Men - How Do You Love A Black Woman?
I would like to thank The StageWalker Group and The Klub International Management Company for giving me this opportunity and exposure. The experience has been overwhelming! I am looking forward to meeting the rest of the cast members. This is my first theatre production so I don't know what to expect and there's a mixture of feelings, anxiety & excitement and bit of uncertainty. In relation to theatre I haven't had the privilege to watch the play so it is my first time. I will be in a better position to give my answer after the production. Did your parents support you going into the entertainment business? No. They only supported me through my education. I had to support myself in the beginning because introducing modelling into my family was not seen as a respectful job. However I had to prove myself to them. In the end they are so proud of my achievements. It was important for me to get an education first and once I got it as a foundation it was easier for me to pursue my creative side. What does theatre & the Arts mean to you? Freedom. I'm free to express myself by being creative and meaningful. I give a presence of creative piece that can be acknowledged and admired by an audience. It enables me to reconnect with my inner child. When I was a child I used to read French Literature and write poem in French. I carry it through my modelling now by becoming different characters based on the clothes I'm wearing. Name one thing your life experiences have taught you, which you would like to teach others? Appreciate people and objects around you
every day because you will never know when one of those things will be taken away from you or be deprived from you. I took my flight in late 90's knowing that I will see my mother soon. Soon became a decade now since I have not heard from my mother. However I live everyday hoping to hear from her and the closest things I have from my mother are my beautiful sisters. Who is your current favourite music icon and why? I listen often to Afrobeat and Arabic music. My favourite music at the moment is Bollywood music:" Kabhi Kushi Kabhie Gham- It's All About Loving Your Parents. My taste of music is quite universal and my mood dictates my musical preference at any given time! What are your plans for the rest of the year? Hopefully to visit Congo by September then travel to America or South Africa. Anyway I will know by the time I finish with the production team. Do you think that Black Brits find themselves in the same positions socially and economically as their American counterparts? Well I've never been to America yet so I will give my opinion based on my knowledge. I don't think they are in the same positions yet until the Black Brits have a Black Prime Minister one day... If you look through history, Black Brits and Black Americans have come from two different past struggles to reach their current destiny for example Black American went through slavery and majority of Black Brits went through Windrush. It is embedded in them to fight for what they want for instance Hip Hop became a MultiBillion Fashion Industry. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X fought for their civil rights.
African Caribbean’s were invited to work in Britain by late 1940's. Black Brits did not have the same struggle. We did not have to fight as our Black Americans brothers had in the fields/farms. What advice would you give to young actors & theatre producers trying to get in the business? Well I am new to this business. I don't think it's wise for me at this early stage to advise young actors or theatre producers because my background is more modelling than acting. However I'm looking forward to receiving advice from the more seasoned cast members. The play or choreopoem is obviously written from a African American male perspective how can the issues be relevant to other cultures too? It is relevant when you look at relationships between a man and a woman. It is depicted from a Black American perspective however, the characters can be found in Hispanic, Asian or White communities. The principal difference would be cultural elements. For example every culture depicts how we interact with our women. There's romance, fight, argument, divorce. Interaction between men and women are different between White and Asian. Lesson can be learned how to love your women how to appreciate your own. At the end of the day we all come from a mother “A Woman" and does every woman deserve affection, respect, love and security? The Diary Of Black Men - How Do You Love A Black Woman? why do you think it has stood the test of time? It's an issue that can be addressed every day and forever... In any relationship by any culture... It's an education taken from
theatre production reflecting and arousing questions in our real domestic world: lack of deeper understanding of one another between a man and a woman. What impact do you think The Diary Of Black Men will have on its "new young audience"? It will help by awakening younger audience to view adult problems. They could be the leader to break that unhealthy cycle and learn from this real theatre experience. We are living in a multicultural society and the lines are gradually blurred out. We no longer address how do you love a black woman? The question is how you love a woman by going forward. The media and internet are exposing different controversial images of women which is having psychological effects. It is challenging the way young girls see themselves (size 0, anorexia, fake boobs, cosmetics) and this is having a lasting impact on young boys on how they perceive a women should look and what she should do for them. What kind of reactions have you got from friends & how are they showing their support? They are very happy for me and they knew that's what I wanted after my modelling. It is a stepping stone for me that I could embrace and use it to start my acting career.
http://diaryofblackmen.com/
T
he very best regional, local entertainers and musicians & international reggae artistes were brought together on stage this April for the exciting annual “Digicel Barbados Reggae Festival”.
Reggae on the Hill production at the Farley Hill National Park in 2004, which featured the largest cast of local, regional and international reggae stars ever assembled on one stage in Barbados.
This production fused together a starstudded line-up of local and international recording artistes and the audience who are lovers of vintage reggae were treated with a show of the highest calibre.
The result was success beyond the directors of FAS’ wildest dreams. It attracted a crowd of over 12,000 of totally satisfied reggae lovers of all ages and from every social level in attendance.
A mixture of the rhythmic reggae beats complimented by the Caribbean Sea breeze and traditional atmosphere, created a festival of the most prevalent attractions on the reggae scene around the Caribbean for 9 Years.
The following year, 2005, FAS expanded the reggae venture by adding a second event, the Vintage Reggae Show and Dance and officially launched the Barbados Reggae Festival. In keeping with the standard set the previous year, both productions were equally as successful.
Three independent promoters – “AG Productions”, “Premier Promotions” and “Hardcore Promotions”, formed together in 2004 to create a superlative force behind this festival. “FAS Entertainment Services (FAS)”. By pooling their resources they were able to undertake entertainment projects on a scale that was not previously possible as individual operators. The first such project was the inaugural
The rest is now history with Digicel coming on board in 2006 as title sponsors and the expansion of the Festival to three events with the introduction of the also very popular Reggae Beach Party, which caters to the younger generation of fans. This year FAS has added a fourth attraction to the Festival in the form of a “ Reggae Party Cruise at the Dock Edition!“ to celebrate
Tarrus Riley’s Birthday and designed to give fans the opportunity to meet, mingle and party with the performers. Our resident photographer, Peter Branch, attended and took photographs that showcased the performances by: Bounty Killer, Aidonia, Elephant Man,Tifa, Mad dog, Yellow Man, John Holt, Pinchers, Cocoa Tea, FAB 5, Shaggy, Tarrus Riley, Busy Signal, Admiral Tibet, Junior Reid and Bush Man and were joined by many supporting artists. Hosted by: Jamar ‘The Star’, Peter Coppin and Admiral Nelson. 2014 will celebrate the festival’s 10th Anniversary. After the show, revellers commented that they thoroughly enjoyed this festival and speculated on how the organisers would top the line-up of artists for the special show in 2014. For more information on Digicel 2013 Barbados Reggae Festival go to http://thebarbadosreggaefestival.com/ http://www.funbarbados.com/Activities/ reggae_festival.cfm
SPECIAL THANKS TO: Kathy-Ann Gilkes Al-Hart P.R. Inc. http://www.alhartpr.com/ The Barbados Tourism Authority Linda Christian-Clarke Visit Barbados Petra Roach Cedric Lynch http://www.visitbarbados.org
&
Mobile Phone Number (246) 826-2728 Fax (246) 426-8941 http://www.thebarbadosreggaefestival.com/
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PANACHE PANACHE E-Magazine E-Magazine
Fashion Beauty & Fashion Style & Style
The dates have chang still on for the MISS C “Beauty with a P
The Ultimate Crown fo the Caribbea
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community); the organisers have been approached by various outlets who want to be included in the body of the Pageant. In order to enable this, and for the Pageant to be a collective initiative, the postponement was deemed a positive stance which only serves for the betterment of all parties. The official schedule of events is as follows: Saturday 30th November 2013 The Pre-Launch of the Miss Caribbean UK Pageant The first chance to meet the contestants Saturday 29th November 2014 The Miss Caribbean UK Pageant Venue The World renowned CIRCUS TAVERN, Meads Corner, A1306 Purfleet, Essex RM19 1TS ALL Caribbean ladies who satisfy the criteria are still welcome to apply NOW! http://misscaribbeanuk.com Due to the overwhelming response, we strongly encourage potential contestants to complete the application process as soon as possible, in order to secure their opportunity to be a part of this phenomenal competition. In addition to the fabulous prizes on offer, the organisers will be offering various public relations and modelling platforms for the contestants, which will generate high levels of exposure and opportunities. The Miss Caribbean UK Pageant 2014 is poised to act as a vehicle for the people of the Caribbean and the Diaspora to unite around a common purpose; which will be to choose their Queen to represent them to the World through a joyous occasion. However, through this unity, a message will be enveloped which will help to raise awareness of issues that are affecting the Caribbean community and try to affect positive change to those issues; hence, BEAUTY WITH A PURPOSE!
Claudia Speaks
Young & Fresh
O
ver the last couple of years the humble sportswear the ‘hoodie’ has been linked to a lot of controversy. It has been cited in a number of criminal acts and as a result, been banned in several places. In 2005, the Bluewater shopping mall in Kent banned the wearing of hoodies as they found it to be linked to anti-social behaviour. Earlier this year, an independent councillor in Castlebar called for the banning of hoodies within his town. The decline in the image and function of the hoodie has been quite interesting to date. The style of the hoodie can be traced back to Medieval Europe where monks had it attached to their tunics. It became popular in the 1930s by a company known as Champion Products and was first added to sweatshirts in order to protect athletes and labourers from the elements. It soon grew to become an element of sportswear as many took a shine to it because of its comfortable nature. It is currently worn for non-sporting and labouring purposes. The adoption of hoodies by the youth however, has led to a drastic change in the image of the hoodie. Across the years, imagery of hoodies from Hip-Hop and the ‘gangster-like’ persona of
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Claudia Andrews is a young lady with a keen interest in writing and equality. Usually viewing the world from a different angle; she prides herself on being able to communicate to the world through writing. some of its wearers, has contributed to the change in the nature of hoodies.
amongst other factors, led to many questions as to the message a hoodie really sends.
Currently, gang members in particular, tend to wear these hoodies as a form of uniform to affirm their status and also as a means of making themselves unrecognisable by others. The 2011 London riots also saw the presence of a number of hoodies; a means which was used as a way of covering their identities. This amongst many criminal acts by people in hoodies is partly to blame for the call for a ban on this item of clothing.
It seems that as a young person, mainly young men, wearing hoodies automatically makes you somewhat suspicious. With the number of cases arising from criminals wearing hoodies and hooded jumpers alongside the Trayvon Martin case, we have to ask ourselves: should hoodies indeed be banned?
HOODIES
One of the most recent murder cases sighting the hoodie is that of the Trayvon Martin case. Trayvon Martin a young African American boy was shot and killed on suspicion by a neighbourhood watch man: George Zimmerman. One of the main reasons why Trayvon appeared suspicious to Zimmerman was because he was wearing a hoodie. During that case, the defendant’s claim that the hoodie made Trayvon seem suspicious
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It seems that the image of the hoodie has gone far beyond the point of redemption. It is linked with far too much negativity and makes the wearer susceptible to prejudice. Should hoodies be banned amongst individuals and in areas where it is linked to antisocial behaviour? As controversial as this might seem, it is obvious that some wear hoodies as a form of rebellion and in such cases, necessary measures need to be implemented. The general banning of hoodies however, will actually victimise many and would not get any closer to tackling issues related to it. Thus, issues relating to hoodies need to be dealt with on a subjective basis. It is however clear that as a young person, wearing a hoodie makes you ‘Young, hooded and suspicious’
T.D. Jakes: ‘Trayvon’s death was in God’s plan’
B
ISHOP T.D. Jakes has broken his silence over the fatal shooting of 17-yearold Trayvon Martin, calling the teen’s untimely death ‘God’s plan’. “God is on the side of truth, and that’s very, very simple,” Jakes told The Grio. “And only the two people who were out there know what that is.” On July 13, self-styled neighbourhood watchman George Zimmerman, who fatally shot a hooded Trayvon as he walked to his father’s fiancéé’s house in Sanford, Florida, was found not guilty of the teen’s murder.
His acquittal sparked major protests across the US and led to legendary singer Stevie Wonder boycotting Florida and all States practising the ‘stand your ground’ law, which gives individuals the right to use reasonable force to defend themselves without any requirement to evade or retreat from a dangerous situation. Jakes praised Sybrina Fulton, the mother of Trayvon Martin, for holding onto her faith through the murder trial. “Faith is the catalyst that has caused her to survive, and she is such a good representative of the African-American community,” he said.
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He went on to say that Fulton exhibited “dignity, reminiscing of Coretta [Scott] King. This woman has remained poised and articulate in the face of circumstances that would crush any mother, and I’m sure it has to be faith that under-girds her and [Trayvon’s] father.” He added: “Only faith of god could have brought her through.”
“He understands how to speak it in a language without hostility that conveys across the land that I think is very important for leaders today,” Jakes said. Obama came under fire after his initial speech following the verdict, was criticised and labelled “textbook”. He subsequently released another statement seeking to explain how the tragic killing of Trayvon could have happened to anyone. “I once said that Trayvon Martin could have been my son,” he said. “Actually, he could have been me, 35 years ago,” he said. “I understand the tightrope he has to walk being the president of the United States and being the President of black people,” Jakes added.
FATALLY SHOT: Trayvon Martin Despite early criticisms, the Atlanta-based megachurch leader also praised President Obama in his ability to be “not only bi-racial, but bi-lingual in his ability to articulate the African American experience to those that are not African American”.
Jakes said that while he understands Zimmerman, who claims Trayvon attacked him first, being relieved at being vindicated by the court, “there should have been some sense of remorse regardless of the circumstances because you’ve taken a human life, a life that had every right to live, a right that would have lived, had you mided your business. … and to not recognize the atrocity of it all, I’m shocked by that.”
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C
Chaka Khan: ‘I’m boycotting Florida for Trayvon’
HAKA KHAN has announced she will no longer perform in Florida following the acquittal of George Zimmerman for the murder of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. The 10-time Grammy award-winning singer revealed that she had already cancelled a booking in Florida just days after a jury ruled that the self-styled neighbourhood watchman was not guilty of the teen's murder. She told BlackVoices that the trial was a “travesty” and an indication that racism is “very much alive and well” in America. Khan is not the first high-profile entertainer to express opposition to performing in Florida and its controversial 'Stand Your Ground' law, which gives individuals the right to use reasonable force to defend themselves without any requirement to evade or retreat from a dangerous situation.
Earlier this month, Stevie Wonder told an audience in Canada that he too would boycott the state until it 'abolished' the controversial law. He said: “I decided today that until the ‘Stand Your Ground’ law is abolished in Florida, I will never perform there again. As a matter of fact, wherever I find that law exists, I will not perform in that state or in that part of the world.” A hooded Trayvon was fatally shot by Zimmerman as he walked to his father's fiancéé's house in Sanford, Florida on February 26 last year. Zimmerman claims he acted in self-defence. Last March, Khan joined other celebrities and entertainers in a musical tribute to Trayvon Martin. The song, entitled, Super Life, included vocals from other R&B singers such as Eric Benet, Kelly Price and Luke James.
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granddaughter, Bobbi Kristina Continue reading »
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Heaven Sent Consultancy is an Events Management and Public Relations company. With years of experience in various Media and Corporate events, HSC staff work on a consultancy basis for a wide range of client's. We strive at all times, to deliver our services to the highest standard and we will work tirelessly to ensure that our customers are getting a service of excellence. The thrust of our work is in Events Management, we provide our client's with a fully trained events manager and additionally, we are able to provide our client's with a fully trained staff team; where required. Our high end staff team, enables us to manage a smaller event, right through to a large scale shows, with both ease and efficiency.
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We are a unique company because we will work with you! From creation through to conception, we listen to your ideas and concepts and through our expertise help you to realise your dream. Once we identify your needs, we then create a tailor made package that meets your requirements. We provide various cost effective payments options; why not try our 'pay as-you-go' solution? We only charge you for the services that you require, rather than burdening you, with large fees at the end of the event. We provide you with the level of service, to suit your needs and your budget and no hidden extra’s! We offer Events Training, which is very unique and provides real work opportunities‌ If you are interested in finding out more then please e-mail us at [email protected].
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Bye Bye Nine to Five – Hello Dot Com How to swap your boss for your own boss – dot com style! By Julian
I
Scenario
t’s Monday morning about 7am. Face in pillow, eyes closed you’re thinking about what excuse you can use not to go into work today. Your responsible side tells you ‘just get up’ and you roll out of bed and you start your daily 9-5 cycle...<yawn>. You hop onto your chosen mode of transport after picking up the morning newspaper. You read yet another story about an entrepreneur who came from less favourable circumstances than you and is now doing it big working for themselves. You immediately think, “it’s ok for them”, “they’re just lucky”, or “I could never do that”. Your journey continues until you sit at your desk and really start to consider what you might need to do to get yourself working for yourself. Your immediate choice, given the overwhelming success of so many others is the internet. That immediate global market and the ease of entry gets you thinking. Then your boss dumps a load of work on your desk, not for long you think...
Hall
The Plan
So let’s do it, what do you need to do to go from 9-5-ing to thriving online: 1. Find a killer opportunity – Sounds obvious but business and entrepreneurism is all about looking for opportunities and taking advantage of them. Now there are opportunities and there are opportunities. If you just want to supplement your income then a mediocre opportunity may suffice. However, if you want to replace your main income stream you need to thinking bigger. This is the mistake I see most people make when trying to start a business they want to provide a stable month in month out income. 2. Check out the market – So you’ve found a great opportunity, now you need to perform some acid tests to see if it’s realistic. See what other companies in that market are making by checking out their accounts on Companies House. Then consider how long they’ve been operating for, how much staff they might have, start up costs involved and if you can do as good
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a job as them. If those answers come up favourably then you’re onto a winner. 3. Are you any good? – Another huge contributor to being a success in business given that there’s very little new under the sun is how good you are at proposed business idea.
4. Do the numbers – In the main you’ll work out how much you need to draw from the business to match your current income. But what about taxes, reinvesting in the business to grow, ‘just in case’ money, stock, suppliers or business development. Remember the business has more to pay than you so you’ve got to make enough.
There’s a general misconception that money is a big enough motivating factor for most entrepreneurs. Yes there are exceptions to that rule where some business deals can net you hundreds of thousands, even millions but unless you’re in that space you need to be able to add a tonne of value to be seen over and above your competition.
5. 5. Get help – There’s no point pretending that you can do it on your own. Any savvy business person nowadays has a mentor, coach or advisor. Sometimes you’ve got to pay them, but if they really believe in you or the idea, they’ll give their time for free. These guys or gals could be the difference between you making it or not and making irrecoverable mistakes or not.
The magic formula here is passion + expertise= success. That is if you can find something that you’re both passionate about and are or can become an expert in then success is inevitable.
6. 6. Make it happen – Probably the biggest hurdle for any budding entrepreneur is procrastination. This may come from insecurity, instability, lack of understanding about what you’re doing, lack of passion or plain laziness. Whatever it is, no matter how great the idea, not matter how great you are if you don’t ‘make it happen’ then inevitably someone else will.
Bear in mind however that just because you’re passionate about something it doesn’t mean you’re good about it. Similarly just because you’re an expert in a particular field it doesn’t mean you’re passionate about it. Remember, if you can find that balance you’re up up and away.
Last but not least... Transitioning from a day job to running your own business isn’t easy, and don’t let anyone tell you any different. I’ve done it myself many moons ago and it
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took sacrifice and lots of energy. Your evenings and weekends are typically taken over by your new venture. It’s also very important to get your family or loved ones behind you as a little bit of encouragement at the hardest time can do wonders. Stick to your vision and why you’re doing this, not just to be your own boss but maybe to give yourself or your family a better quality of life. Perhaps the business you’re starting has recognisable social impact and could affect lots of people’s lives. Whatever it is, stay focussed, stick to your plan and it will only be a matter of time before you fire your boss!
WHO IS WINNING?
The point is that throughout this process the customer, me, wins each time. An entrepreneur or business owner in today’s market your customer has to feel like they’re winning. So when Monday morning rolls around, listen a little more keenly to your customers; because if you don’t, they might just start listening to your competition.
Julian Hall "The Online Genius" +44 (0) 7956 902 361 +44 (0) 845 053 9238 www.JulianHall.co.uk [email protected]
Julian Hall
"The Online Genius" +44 (0) 7956 902 361 +44 (0) 845 053 9238 www.JulianHall.co.uk [email protected]
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LUNG CANCER
ung cancer is a common cancer. In the UK, over 41 000 people will develop this disease every year. More men than women, but the rate in women with lung cancer has been increasing over the past 10 years, whereas the rate in men is decreasing.
Well-being Lung cancer is very much associated with cigarette smoking. Only a minority of lung cancer develops in non-smokers. Pipe and cigar smokers are also at increased risk of lung cancer.
Risk factors
Smoking The more cigarettes you smoke and the longer you have been smoking, the greater the likelihood of developing lung cancer (not to mention chronic bronchitis). Stopping smoking reduces the risk; it is always worth giving up. Starting smoking at a young age is bad news. It is also known that passive smoking increases the risk of cancer. This is why smoking has been banned in public places.
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Cancer Black Care is a registered charity since 1996, supporting predominantly black and ethnic minority cancer sufferers and their families. We are looking for motivated individuals to join our board of trustees or to volunteer experience and skills in fundraising, grant writing, welfare rights, cancer awareness raising, newsletter production, administration. If you have some time to commit to four board meetings a year and would like to be part of a well respected, London based, forward thinking organisation, why not give us a ring. Speak to Natalie on: 020 8961 4151 or contact by email: [email protected]
Exposure to radon gas Radon gas is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that can seep out of the soil into buildings. This is more likely in certain parts of the UK where there is a lot of granite, for example in the West Country and the Peak District. Radon is the second biggest cause of lung cancer after smoking. The risk from radon increases the risk from smoking. Smokers with high indoor levels of radon have a particularly high risk of getting lung cancer. If you are worried about this, the Health Protection Agency - Radiation Protection Division has information on how to check radon levels in your house. Exposure to certain chemicals Certain industrial chemicals can cause lung cancer Air pollution Air pollution may cause lung cancer. We know this from studies on people exposed to large amounts of diesel exhaust fumes at work for many years. This type of long term occupational exposure may increase lung cancer risk by up to 47%. One study has shown that people living in areas with high levels of nitrogen oxides (mainly from cars and other vehicles) have their lung cancer risk increased by about a third. Based on a large European study, researchers think that 5 to 7% of lung cancers in non
ts to: - [email protected]
smokers are due to outdoor air pollution Previous lung disease Having had a disease that caused scarring in the lungs may be a risk factor for a type of lung cancer called adenocarcinoma of the lung. Tuberculosis (TB) can make scar tissue form in the lungs. A recent study in China showed that people who have had TB have a higher risk of lung cancer. Family history It is likely that there is at least one faulty lung cancer gene that can be passed down in families (inherited). If you have a first degree relative with lung cancer, your risk of lung cancer is doubled. It is difficult to sort out the facts here, because of the major role of smoking. Families of smokers will all be exposed to cigarette smoke and so have an increased risk of lung cancer whether they have inherited a faulty gene or not. Lowered immunity HIV and AIDs lower immunity and so do drugs that people take after organ transplants. An overview of research studies shows that people with HIV or AIDS have a risk of lung cancer that is 3 times higher than people who do not have HIV or AIDS. People who take drugs to suppress their immunity after an organ transplant have double the usual risk of lung cancer.
Diet There is conflicting evidence as to the role of diet in lung cancer. Having said that it would be sensible to • Eat more fresh fruit and vegetables • Cut down on fat (particularly animal fats) • Eat less salt and sugar • Cut down on alcohol Symptoms These are the symptoms that may indicate lung cancer • a continuing cough, or change in a long-standing cough • a chest infection that does not get better • increasing breathlessness • coughing up blood-stained phlegm (sputum) • a hoarse voice • a dull ache, or a sharp pain, when you cough or take a deep breath • loss of appetite and loss of weight • difficulty swallowing • Excessive tiredness (fatigue) and lethargy. These symptoms do not necessarily imply lung cancer but do mean that you should seek advice from your GP. Your GP will refer you to a lung specialist for tests. Especially if you are over 40 years old and are a smoker. A chest x-ray is the first investigation.
is called squamous cell carcinoma. It is usually found near the centre of the lung in one of the main airways, called bronchi. If caught early, these cancers are amenable to surgery.
Tests
The GP or the specialist will arrange a chest xray. Where this indicates a problem, this may be followed by CT scan to further define the area of concern in the lung. This is followed by a bronchoscopy to visualise and take a specimen of lung. This is where a thin tube is passed down the airway, under local anaesthesia and sedation, and a biopsy of the abnormal looking area is taken for the pathologist to later analyse. A short time later you will be recalled for the results. Every cancer is discussed by a group of experts at what is termed a multidisciplinary meeting or MDT. The specialists will discuss the results and recommend a treatment plan to be discussed with the patient in clinic.
Types of primary lung cancer
The two main types are called small cell lung cancer (20%) and non-small cell lung cancer [NSCLC] (80%). They behave differently and thus are treated differently. Small cell cancers grow and spread quickly. Chemotherapy is usually required. Of the subdivisions of NSCLC, the commonest Send us your comments to: - [email protected]
Staging
The stage of a cancer tells you how big it is and how far it has spread. It is important because it helps determine the treatment. The previously mentioned tests may give sufficient information or further scans may be required. TNM staging is a common way of expressing the extent of disease. It takes the following factors into account • The size and position of the tumour (T) • Whether cancer cells have spread into the lymph nodes (N) • Whether the tumour has spread anywhere else in the body secondary cancer or metastases (M) The doctor gives each factor a number. So, a very small cancer which hasn’t spread is T1 N0 M0. A cancer that is larger and has spread into the lymph nodes and to another part of the body is T3 N1 M1. The treatment is determined by amongst other things the TNM staging and the type of lung cancer (small cell or non small cell). The outlook after treatment depends on the initial staging. Thus a T1N0M0 cancer will do much better than a T3 N1 M1.
effective treatments. Patients should be given the opportunity to take part.
Follow up
After surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy aiming to get rid of the cancer, you are likely to have an appointment between 2 and 6 weeks after the treatment has finished and then, for example • Every 3 months for the first year • Every 4 months for the second year • Every 6 months for the 3rd and 4th year • Then yearly
Outcome
This depends on the type of lung cancer and the stage of the disease. To give some idea, 58-73% of early, small, non small cell lung cancers would live for at least 5 years after treatment. As with most cancers, if caught early cure is possible. Having said that, unfortunately, many with lung cancer present late when the disease has spread, making cure unlikely. Advice, information and support for cancer can be obtained from Cancer Black Care. Donations gratefully received. Dr F Chinegwundoh MBE
Treatment
This is individualised to the patient. It may encompass surgery (to remove all or part of a lung), radiotherapy to the lung or chemotherapy (powerful anti-cancer drugs) or a combination of treatments. Other less commonly employed treatments include cryotherapy, diathermy and photodynamic therapy. There are several trials to develop more Send us your comments to: - [email protected]
Are Tampons Safe?
With thousands of teenagers and women of all ages using hundreds of tampons a year as their menstrual sanitation method of choice (which could include you!), I ask, are they even safe? Or which ones are safest and what’s the safest way to use them? The 2 main concerns with tampons are that they are typically bleached with chemicals that are harmful to the delicate lining of our vaginas and the life threatening condition of Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) that they cause. TSS is an illness caused by specific rare bacteria which enter the bloodstream, overwhelm the immune system and cause severe symptoms of high fever vomiting, diarrhoea, a sunburn like rash, blood shot eyes, confusion and peeling of the skin on the palms and soles of the feet, along with major organs in the body shutting down, normally 3 including the liver and kidneys. The common bacteria staphylococcus aureus is thought to enter the woman’s body by tiny cuts and ulcerations on the vaginal wall, that the tampons cause as they get pulled out, put in and left in the vagina, The high or super absorbent ones are most dangerous as in some cases, they expand so much that they literally stick to the vaginal wall, so when they are removed, a layer of
the vaginal wall is pulled off with it Due to how severely the immune system and internal organs are affected by it is life threatening and 3% of women who get TSS die from it. It also doesn’t matter if you’ve been using tampons for years with no reactions, you can still be at risk from the infection. If you are menstruating, using tampons and develop these symptoms, there is no natural treatment to my knowledge that you can help yourself with, this is an emergency situation and you need to medical attention straight away. Take the tampon out and get yourself to the nearest hospital. If you get proper treatment, you can get well normally in 2-3 weeks depending on the extent of the infection. Now if none of that has put you off using them, here’s how to make using them safer Avoid super absorbent tampons Alternate between tampons and pads during your period Never leave them in overnight Change them every 3-4 hours Avoid the use of plastic applicators whose sharp edges can scratch the vagina. If your vagina is dry, don’t use them Make sure your hands a very clean when you take them out and insert a
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new one Don’t use them between periods as they will dry out your vagina Use 100% cotton tampons instead of those made with synthetics materials containing chemical dyes
The last point is very important, please make sure to ALWAYS use unbleached 100% organic cotton tampons. The bleached one contain the chemicals that many people have heard about called “dioxins” which are carcinogenic, as well as the chemicals found in the plastic wrappings, plastic applicators are glossy cardboard applicators that come in contact with the vaginal wall and the herbicides, pesticides and fertilisers that will still be in the cotton if it’s not organic, which will all come in contact with your vaginal wall frequently. The vaginal wall is a very absorbent area of the body to you have to be very careful what makes prolonged or regular contact with it. Take care and stay healthy Leah The Naturally You Coach www.thenaturallyyoucoach.com
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Body Fitness Tips by Patrick Lewis Your Fitness Guru
Don’t quit and stay organised:
HEALTH:
Too many people quit their fitness programmes because they don’t feel they can see any effect. However, results take time, and because they are gradual are often hard to see for yourself. Taking photos or simple body measurements is a good idea, so that you can actively monitor your progress every 6 - 8 weeks. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the daily demands of life, leaving little time to concentrate on your health. However, by arranging your time more effectively you’ll find it easier to make healthy food choices and achieve regular exercise. You’ll soon find that once you’re organised, the battle is halfwon.
EXERCISE:
The key to getting fitter is consistency. By executing proper technique and aiming to progress gradually, you will see slow and steady progress. If you’re still worried you’re not seeing the right results, speak to a personal trainer to find out where you might be going wrong. At the start of each week, sit down and decide how often you’ll exercise, how long you’ll exercise for and when you’ll
exercise. Be as specific as possible. Next, schedule these sessions into your diary, Google calendar, iPhone or Outlook. These workout sessions are now appointments that need to be honored every week.
NUTRITION:
Studies suggest that taking photographs of what you eat can be more effective at encouraging healthier eating than the more traditional approach of keeping a food diary. It’s believed that if you take pictures of your food, you’re more likely to think carefully about what you’re putting on your plate. By keeping your fridge stocked full of convenient, healthy ingredients you’ll never be caught off guard and will be less inclined to reach for unhealthy options out of hunger and desperation. A few times per week set aside an hour or so to wash salad leaves, chop fruits and vegetables and hard boil eggs. Supplement these with ready-to-go essentials such as live yogurts, pre-cooked prawns and low fat dips and dressings and you’re ready to go.
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We hope last month’s health tips were helpful, so here are more health tips to help you with your exercise routine. We all want to be fit, lose weight and look good so lets put these tips to action and look forward to being much healthier. So Go forward and be healthy.
PANACHE E-Magazine
Food & Drink
Blacktie Caterers is run by Clive Eaton Brown – an expert in Caribbean catering services with experience in providing authentic Caribbean food to the likes of HRH Prince Charles, The Mayor of London, The Mayor of Croydon, The Mayor of Kingston Jamaica , Maya Angelou as well as dignitaries and celebrities. also many years experience in the Caribbean restaurants and hospitality management. BLACK TIE CATERERS will prepare the finest menu possible. So if you are looking for a caterer with a difference, look no further. Whether business or pleasure, we can provide anything from a finger buffet to a three course meal and much more. • You will love the menus we have created for your special day • We have a passion for making your Banquet Catering arrangements extra special. • Our friendly and highly trained staff will cater for your needs. • Our Banquet Catering Planner is at hand to create a tailor made menu to suit you. • Our expertise will help make your Banquet a wonderful event
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E vents EEvents vents coming comingup up
Welcome. Every month we will feature what we consider to be the must-go-to events. Contact us at - [email protected] if you would like your promotion to be featured in this section.
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Kieran Kicks Off VICTOR WANYAMA
Sports
CELTIC TO SOUTHAMPTON
A
t 22, Kenya captain Victor Wanyama has already started to make quite a name for himself. The defensive midfielder joined Southampton from Scottish champions Celtic, where he had grown into a powerhouse of a player. He was the star man when Celtic defeated Barcelona 2-1 in the UEFA Champions League group stage, bossing the midfield and scoring the first goal of the game. He is the first ever Kenyan player to score in the competition. When Southampton paid £12.5m for his services this summer, he set another record by becoming the most expensive Scottish transfer of all time, surpassing the £10m Celtic received from Spartak Moscow for Irish international Aiden McGeady in 2010. He is also Southampton’s record signing, and his brother McDonald Mariga plays for Italian giants Inter Milan. Wanyama started his career in the Kenyan Premier League with Nairobi City All Stars after a successful high school career, and made his international debut at just 15 against Nigeria.
Send us your c
At last, at last, thank the Lord, the football is back at last! After being blessed with July temperatures to rival any holiday destination, England will see the return of the Premier League at 12:45pm on August 17th, when Stoke City face Liverpool at Anfield. Several teams have been frantically throwing money at each other in attempts to strengthen their sides for the upcoming season, so in preparation for the big kick-off, I have decided to help you get to know some of the new black stars who have joined the division this summer and will be hoping to make themselves house-hold names. After a short period with his brother at Swedish side Helsingborg, he joined Beerschot AC of Belgium. 50 appearances later, he was signed by Celtic for ÂŁ900,000 in 2011. He is an excellent box-to-box midfielder and ball player, and has become a fan favourite in Scotland due to his consistent, hard working manner. When he makes his debut for Southampton, he will become the first East African player to play in the English Premier League.
Victor Wanyama Goal Vs Barcelona (2-1) 07 11 12
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i don't know
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The port city of Latakia was besieged during 2011 by its own government forces, of what nation?
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Syria: Death toll reaches 34 in assault on Latakia - Middle East - Jerusalem Post
Syria: Death toll reaches 34 in assault on Latakia
ByREUTERS
16 August 2011 11:21
Syrian government forces attack port city for 4th day; Palestinian refugees flee camps in area; villages near Homs reportedly under attack.
Syrian Tank 311. (photo credit:REUTERS)
AMMAN - Syrian tanks opened fire on poor Sunni districts in Latakia on Tuesday, residents said, the fourth day of a military assault on the northern port city aimed at crushing protests against Syrian President Bashar Assad.
"Heavy machinegun fire and explosions were hitting al-Raml al-Filistini (home to Palestinian refugees) and al-Shaab this morning. This subsided and now there is the sound of intermittent tank fire," one of the residents, who lives near the two districts, told Reuters by phone.
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Turkey issues ‘final word’ to Syria over civilian assault
The Syrian Revolution Coordinating Union, a grassroots activists' group, said six people, including Ahmad Soufi, 22, were killed in Latakia on Monday, bringing the civilian death toll there to 34, including a two-year-old girl.
Assad, from Syria's minority Alawite sect, has broadened a military assault against towns and cities where demonstrators have been demanding his removal since the middle of March.
The crackdown coincided with the Aug. 1 start of the Muslim Ramadan fast, when nightly prayers became the occasion for more protests against 41 years of Baathist party rule.
Syrian forces have already stormed Hama, scene of a 1982 massacre by the military, the eastern city of Deir al-Zor, and several northwestern towns in a province bordering Turkey.
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told Assad to halt such military operations now or face unspecified consequences.
"This is our final word to the Syrian authorities, our first expectation is that these operations stop immediately and unconditionally," Davutoglu said in Turkey's strongest warning yet to its once close ally and neighbor.
"If these operations do not stop, there will be nothing left to say about the steps that would be taken," he told a news conference in Ankara, without elaborating.
Turkish leaders, who have repeatedly urged Assad to end violence and pursue reforms, have grown frustrated. Davutoglu held talks with the Syrian leader in Damascus only last week.
The Syrian Revolution Coordinating Union said troops also assaulted villages in the Houla Plain north of the city of Homs on Monday, killing eight people as they raided houses and made arrests. The organization said four people were killed in Homs during similar attacks.
'People are trying to flee but they can't leave'
In a now-familiar pattern, tanks and armored vehicles deployed around dissident neighborhoods of Latakia and essential services were cut before security forces began raids, arrests and bombardment, residents said.
"People are trying to flee but they cannot leave Latakia because it is besieged. The best they can do is to move from one area to another within the city," another witness said on Monday.
Thousands of people fled a Palestinian refugee camp in Latakia, some fleeing gunfire and others leaving on orders from the Syrian authorities, a UN official said.
"Between 5,000 and 10,000 have fled, we don't know where these people are so it's very worrying," said Christopher Gunness, spokesman for the UNRWA agency which cares for Palestinian refugees. "We have a handful of confirmed deaths and nearly 20 injured."
The Palestinian presidency in the West Bank city of Ramallah urged Damascus to safeguard the lives of Palestinian refugees in al-Raml camp in Latakia.
Another grassroots activist group, the Local Coordination Committees, said it had the names of at least 260 civilians, including 14 women and two infants, killed this month.
It said the actual toll was likely to be far higher with scant information so far from the hard-hit city of Hama, still besieged by troops and secret police.
Syria has expelled most independent media since the unrest began, making it hard to verify reports from the country.
Navy ships shelled southern parts of Latakia on Sunday, residents and rights groups said.
Nightly anti-Assad rallies after Ramadan prayers have drawn around 20,000 people in different areas of the city, said one witness, a university student.
The official state news agency SANA denied Latakia had been shelled from the sea and said two police and four unidentified armed men were killed when security forces pursued "armed men who were terrorizing residents ... and using machineguns and explosives from rooftops and from behind barricades".
The US State Department said on Monday it was unable to confirm that the Syrian navy had shelled Latakia.
"However, we are able to confirm that there is armor in the city and that there is firing on innocents again in the pattern of carnage that you have seen in other places," State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland.
Unlike most Syrian cities, which are mainly Sunni, Latakia has a large Alawite population, partly because Assad and his father before him encouraged Alawites to move from their nearby mountain region by offering them cheap land and jobs in the public sector and security apparatus.
Latakia port has played a key role in the Assad family's domination of the economy, with Bashar Assad's late uncle Jamil having been in virtual control of the facility, and a new generation of family members and their friends taking over.
Assad replaced the governor of the northern province of Aleppo, SANA reported, after pro-democracy protests spread to the provincial capital, Syria's main commercial hub.
"The minority regime is playing with fire. We are coming to a point where the people in the street would rather take any weapon they can put their hand on and fight than be shot at or arrested and humiliated," said one activist.
"We are seeing civil war in Syria, but it is one-sided. The hope is for street protests and international pressure to bring down the regime before it kills more Syrians and drives them to take up arms," he added, asking not to be named.
Rights groups say at least 12,000 have been detained during the uprising. Thousands of political prisoners were already in jail. Amnesty International says it has listed 1,700 civilians killed since mid-March. Washington has put the toll at 2,000. Damascus says 500 police and soldiers have been killed.
The assaults by Syrian security forces have drawn increasing condemnation from the West, Turkey and more recently from Arab countries such as Saudi Arabia and Jordan.
Washington wants Europe and China to consider sanctions on Syria's vital oil and gas industry. Germany called for more European Union sanctions against Syria on Monday and urged the UN Security Council to discuss the crackdown again this week.
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Under the ABO blood group system, what blood type can donate for blood transfusions safely to all other groups?
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Events in Syria - A Chronology - NYTimes.com
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Aug. 26 Infused with new energy after watching the downfall of Libya's Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi, thousands of Syrians poured into the streets throughout the country after noon prayers, demanding the same fate for President Assad. On the same day, security forces continued their attacks on protestors, with crackdowns in four towns in the province of Dara’a in southern Syria, and in Rastan and Talbiseh, two villages near Homs. In addition, Syria's best-known political cartoonist was severely beaten by masked gunmen and left to bleed on the side of a road in Damascus. The attack came days after the artist published a cartoon showing President Assad hitching a ride out of town with Colonel Qaddafi.
Aug. 24 Even as a United Nations team was investigating the violence , activists said that security forces killed at least five more civilians in an assault on the suburbs of Hama, one of the country’s most restive cities. The team was sent by the United Nations Human Rights Council to investigate what it has called “systematic human rights violations” in the government’s attempt to crush the ongoing protests.
Aug. 22 President Assad dismissed American and European calls for his resignation as “meaningless” and declared that Syria’s ailing economy could withstand escalating international sanctions. Referring only obliquely to the protests, he suggested that the solution was “political.” But despite insistent calls for him to refrain from using violence against demonstrators, he suggested that the security forces would continue the crackdown.
Aug. 19 Thousands of Syrians took to the streets across the country calling for the downfall of President Assad, keeping up the pressure on him one day after an alliance of nations led by the United States publicly called on him for the first time to step down and toughened the sanctions against his government. At least 16 people were reported killed, including some soldiers who disobeyed orders to shoot at protesters. Activists and residents reported shooting in several areas across the country, despite Mr. Assad’s assertion that all military operations against the opposition had ended.
Aug. 18 In a campaign coordinated with European leaders, President Obama made the United States government’s first explicit call for President Assad to leave office . Mr. Obama also announced powerful new sanctions: freezing all Syrian assets within American jurisdiction and barring American citizens from any business dealings with the government in Damascus. A joint statement from Germany, France, and Britain said Mr. Assad has lost legitimacy as a leader and must step down, as did a statement by the European Union’s foreign policy chief.
Aug. 16 As the Syrian government continued its military assault on the port city of Latakia, as many as 10,000 residents of a Palestinian refugee neighborhood fled to the countryside and neighboring cities. In the wake of the attacks, Turkey's foreign minister demanded that the Syrian government end its crackdown "immediately and unconditionally." The comments by the minister were the latest addition to a semantic exercise in diplomatic ambiguity, as the United States, European countries, Turkey and Syria's Arab neighbors have sought to condemn the violence while leaving President Bashar al-Assad the chance to begin reform.
Aug. 15 In yet another escalation of its crackdown on dissent , the Syrian government unleashed navy vessels, tanks and a mix of soldiers, security forces and paramilitary fighters against the port city of Latakia, killing at least 25 people, including three children. The attacks in Latakia marked the third weekend in a row that the government has defied international condemnations in its campaign to stanch a remarkably resilient uprising. The attacks have stoked fresh outrage, in part because they have come during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
Aug. 12 At least 13 protesters were killed by security forces when tens of thousands of Syrians in cities around their country took to the streets after noon prayers shouting “We will not kneel” in a strong show of defiance against the government of President Bashar Al-Assad. Although the demonstrations were smaller in numbers than those held in past weeks, in light of the government's recent brutal attacks on restive cities like Hama, they were a clear sign that the armed forces could not intimidate protesters into staying home.
Aug. 11 As Syria continued its most relentless assault yet on a five-month uprising, cracks have emerged in a tight-knit leadership that has until now rallied its base of support and maintained a unified front. American and European officials acknowledged that they have limited tools to influence events in Syria, and a deeply divided opposition has so far failed to provide an alternative to the leadership of Mr. Assad. An American official said that the United States has begun making plans for a post-Assad era out of concern for the chaos that many expect to follow, should he fall.
Aug. 10 Despite international calls for restraint, Syria's government pressed ahead with military assaults on restive locales in northern and eastern Syria, killing at least 35 people on an especially bloody day. The attacks underlined what appeared to be a decisive move by the government to try to crush an uprising during the holy month of Ramadan, when observant Muslims fast from dawn to dusk.
Aug. 8 Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Kuwait recalled their ambassadors from Damascus , joining a chorus of global criticism as Syrian forces pressed ahead with President Assad's crackdown on the most restive areas. Saudi monarch King Abdullah called on Mr. Assad to stop the “killing machine and end the bloodshed,” a remarkably sharp rebuke from one of the region’s most repressive countries. Mr. Assad replaced his defense minister with the army’s chief of staff; the departure of Lt. Gen. Ali Habib, a longtime figure in the leadership who had served since 2009, marked one of the highest-level shakeups since the revolt began.
Aug. 7 The Syrian military defied growing international condemnation and initiated an attack on another city, Deir al-Zour, in eastern Syria, deploying dozens of tanks and armored vehicles. Dozens of people were killed and thousands had fled, according to activists and residents. Deir al-Zour, like the besieged city of Hama, has been the scene of mass protests, with hundreds of thousands demonstrating in the streets. The two cities have been the most defiant during the five-month uprising against the Assad government.
Aug. 6 Military forces tightened their siege on the city of Hama, where human rights activists said at least 24 people had been killed on Aug. 5 during demonstrations against the government of President Assad.
Aug. 5 State media broadcast stark images of the destruction in the besieged city of Hama for the first time, showing burned buildings, rubble-strewn streets and makeshift barricades while asserting that government forces had put down an armed rebellion in the city. Syrians elsewhere took to the streets after the first Friday noon prayers of the holy month of Ramadan in another bold challenge to the government’s crackdown.
Aug. 4 The Syrian military forces that rolled into the rebellious city of Hama and occupied its central square killed more than 100 people over the past 24 hours , according to rights activists in satellite telephone contact with a witness in the city. The ominous new toll raised the rough count of civilian dead there to more than 200 since the military’s tanks began shelling Hama over the weekend.
Aug. 3 Ignoring global condemnation, Syria ordered its military to storm Hama after three days of shelling . Activists and residents there said that tanks, armored vehicles and snipers had seized the central square, in what appeared to be a decisive step by the embattled president, Bashar al-Assad , to crush opposition to his rule. In New York, the Security Council broke its protracted impasse over responding to the bloody repression, issuing its first denunciation of the violence since the uprising began and putting the onus on President Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
Aug. 2 Syria ’s diplomatic isolation deepened in the aftermath of the intense military assault on the city of Hama and other hotbeds of the antigovernment uprising. Russia, an important ally of Syria, signaled new support for possible Security Council action, Syrian democracy activists received a warm welcome in Washington, Italy withdrew its ambassador to Damascus, and the top United Nations rights official warned Syria that “the world is watching.” By some estimates, more than 100 people were killed in the two day assault.
Aug. 1 Syrian security forces bombed Hama for a second day as the government pressed its campaign to crush the popular uprising. The shelling resumed in the early hours of the morning as people were returning home from mosques where they had performed dawn prayers.
July 31 Syrian military and security forces stormed Hama and other restive cities before dawn , killing at least 75 people in what appeared to mark the fiercest crackdown yet by the government of President Bashar al-Assad on the four-month old uprising against his rule, activists and residents there said.
July 24 Syria ’s cabinet passed a draft law allowing the formation of political parties to work alongside the ruling Baath Party of President Bashar al-Assad , a step in a series of promised changes that antigovernment protesters have dismissed as superficial and useless.
July 22 Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets across Syria , residents and antigovernment activists said, with enormous protests in two of the country’s five largest cities suggesting a growing momentum that the government of President Bashar al-Assad seemed at a loss to stanch.
July 15 Tens of thousands of protesters turned out in Hama in central Syria and Deir al-Zour in the poor, drought-stricken northeast. Protesters also gathered in Dara’a, the southern town where the uprising began, suggesting that a fierce military crackdown in April has not broken the opposition movement there. Security forces fired on large crowds of Syrian protesters in the suburbs of Damascus, killing seven people, activists said.
July 12 The Obama administration, after weeks of urging Syria to carry out democratic reforms and end a brutal crackdown, turned decisively against President Assad , saying that he has lost legitimacy and that it has no interest in Mr. Assad keeping his grip on power.
July 11 Pro-government demonstrators attacked the American and French embassy compounds in Damascus, angered over visits by the ambassadors to a central Syrian city that has emerged as a flashpoint of the popular uprising against the government.
July 10 Syrian officials formally opened what they described as a national dialogue aimed at a transition to multiparty democracy, but the country’s opposition leaders boycotted the event, calling it a sham to mask the government’s brutal crackdown on the pro-democracy protests that have shaken the ruling Assad family
July 8 Tens of thousands of Syrians poured into a square that has emerged as a focus of defiance in Hama, Syria ’s fourth-largest city, as the French and American ambassadors stayed there for a second day in what their countries called a gesture of support and Syrian officials lambasted as interference.
July 6 The city of Hama has emerged as a potent challenge to President Bashar al-Assad . In just days, the protests and the government’s uncertain response have underlined the potential scale of dissent in Syria , the government’s lack of a strategy in ending it and the difficulty Mr. Assad faces in dismissing the demonstrations as religiously inspired unrest with foreign support.
July 4 Syrian security forces arrested dozens in their largest foray into Hama , a central Syrian city, since withdrawing there last month, in a new offensive that prompted residents to build barricades to block a more ambitious assault.
July 1 In what appears to be the biggest demonstration since the Syrian uprising began, tens of thousands of protesters gathered in Hama , a city in central Syria from which the military and security forces withdrew in late June. The scenes of protesters pouring into a central square in Hama seemed to mark a new stage in an uprising that has so far failed to rival the mass protests in Egypt and Tunisia that forced authoritarian leaders out.
June 29 The Syrian military and the government’s security forces have largely withdrawn from one of the country’s largest cities as well as other areas across the country, leaving territory to protesters whose demonstrations have grown larger. Activist and diplomats wondered whether the departure is a government attempt to avoid casualties that could fuel more protest, or to rest an exhausted repressive apparatus that had been stretched too thin.
June 27 Scores of opposition figures met publicly for the first time in Damascus in a government-sanctioned gathering that underlined both the changes a three-month uprising has wrought in Syria and the challenges ahead in breaking a brutal cycle of protests and crackdowns.
June 24 Thousands of Syrians turned out for weekly protests in the country’s most restive towns and cities, denouncing as insincere an overture by President Bashar al-Assad for dialogue and testing the ability of the military and the government’s already-stretched security forces to contain the unrest. An economy viewed as crucial to Mr. Assad’s vision for a modernized Syria has ground to a halt, and international isolation built, as the European Union added yet more sanctions in pressure that has unsettled the Syrian leadership.
June 23 Syrian forces backed by snipers and tanks stormed into the border town of Khirbet al-Jouz, sending hundreds of refugees fleeing to Turkey from the informal camp where they had sought shelter from a violent crackdown on protests in the country’s rural northwest.
June 21 The government of President Bashar al-Assad of Syria offered a broad amnesty and rallied tens of thousands of supporters in Damascus and other cities. Though orchestrated, the rallies underlined the reservoirs of support Mr. Assad himself still draws on. But even as his government sought to suggest at least the intention of reform, violence erupted again as security forces fired on counterprotests, killing nine people, activists said.
June 20 In his first address in two months, President Bashar al-Assad promised not to bow to pressure from what he called saboteurs, but offered a national dialogue that he said could bring change . In rhetoric at least, Mr. Assad offered a path for change, even if the speech lacked specifics and delivered somewhat vague deadlines.
June 17 Tens of thousands of protesters poured into the streets of Damascus’s suburbs and three of Syria ’s five largest cities, in a weekly show of defiance against President Bashar al-Assad . Activists said at least 19 people were killed. Security forces fired on protesters in Homs, one of Syria most restive locales, and the police and protesters fought in Deir al-Zour, a large city in the east. But thousands were permitted to demonstrate in Kiswa, a town south of Damascus and carry banners that read, “Leave!” and “The people want the fall of the regime.”
June 14 Hundreds of Syrians displaced by a ferocious crackdown on the uprising here fled to the Turkish border by tractor, truck and foot on Tuesday, some huddling in muddy olive groves without shelter and food, residents said. The military expanded its deployment to restive regions in the north and east, with security forces making more arrests.
June 13 The Syrian government’s retaking of a town that had teetered beyond its control is sharpening sectarian tensions along one of the country’s most explosive fault lines: relations between the Sunni Muslim majority and the minority Alawite sect to which the family of President Bashar al-Assad belongs.
June 12 Syria ’s most trusted forces retook control of a rebellious northern Syrian town, responding with tanks and helicopter gunships and crushing an alliance of mutinous soldiers and armed civilians, while prompting thousands of frightened residents to flee into Turkey or camp out in open fields on the border.
June 10 Security forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad of Syria moved to crush opposition in the volatile town of Jisr al-Shoughour in the country’s restive northwest, Syrian state television reported, after days of unrest that sent more than 1,000 civilians fleeing north to Turkey . Activists were reported to be massing in the Damascus area, Latakia, Talkalakh, Homs and Dara’a, the town in southern Syria where the uprising began. Syrian state television reported violent attacks on security forces in a neighborhood of Damascus, as well as in Dara’a.
June 7 As reports mount of defections in the Syrian military and the government staggers from the killing of soldiers and police officers in a northern city, President Bashar al-Assad may turn increasingly to his brother, Maher , whose elite units in a demoralized army could prove decisive to his government’s survival, activists and analysts say.
June 6 Syria ’s state news agency reported that “armed gangs” had killed 120 police and security personnel in multiple attacks on security forces in a northwestern town. The state broadcaster showed no images from the town, despite scrolling text on Syrian television that spoke of a “massacre” of security forces. Protesters could not be immediately reached in the area, but opposition activists repudiated any suggestion that antigovernment protesters had mounted such an attack.
June 5 Syrian military forces were reported to have killed 38 people in the northern province of Idlib over the weekend, demonstrators and rights activists said, as security forces appeared to redeploy from other towns to join the latest front in the harsh crackdown on a three-month-old popular uprising against the government of President Bashar al-Assad .
June 3 Syrians poured into the streets in some of the largest antigovernment protests yet despite the shutdown of much of the country’s Internet network. At least 40 protesters were killed in Hama, according to local activists. That report could not be immediately confirmed. The demonstrations were fueled in part by escalating anger over the torture and killing of a 13-year-old boy from the southern region of Dara’a.
June 1 Syrian military forces killed 42 people, including a 10-year-old boy and 4-year-old girl , in raids on a string of towns around the central city of Homs.
May 31 President Bashar al-Assad issued a general amnesty. Syrian state media reported that the amnesty would be broad and would include members of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood, but details issued late in the day by the government indicated that it amounted to little more than sentence reductions for certain crimes.
May 30 A video of the mutilated body of a 13-year-old boy seized, tortured and killed by government forces has injected new life into the uprising.
May 26 Activists have begun organizing demonstrations at night, deeming security forces more reluctant to shoot at them in the dark and hoping that they will find it more difficult to identify their faces for arrests. But on May 26, Syrian security forces killed four anti-government protesters during a late night demonstration in a southern village.
May 23 Five days after the United States imposed sanctions on Syria ’s president, Bashar al-Assad , the European Union followed suit, overcoming internal divisions on whether to single out the Syrian leader over the bloody crackdown against protesters in his country.
May 22 The Syrian government is cracking down on protesters’ use of social media and the Internet to promote their rebellion just three months after allowing citizens to have open access to Facebook and YouTube , according to Syrian activists and digital privacy experts.
May 21 Security forces shot and killed at least five people and wounded several others in a funeral procession for eight protesters who died the day before.
May 20 Thousands of Syrians defied a ferocious crackdown and took to the streets across the country in what appeared to be an invigorated moment in the nine-week uprising against the rule of President Bashar al-Assad . Human rights activists said at least 17 people were killed when security forces opened fire. In an unsettling sign for the government, protesters gathered in greater numbers in the capital, Damascus, which has remained relatively quiet until now.
May 19 In a major speech on the Middle East and the Arab Spring movement, President Obama says that President Bashar al-Assad of Syria “now has a choice. He can lead that transition, or get out of the way.”
May 18 President Obama imposed sanctions on Syria’s leader , President Bashar al-Assad , and six other senior Syrian officials, ratcheting up American pressure in the wake of a bloody crackdown on political protests in the country.
May 15 In the Golan Heights, about 100 Palestinians living in Syria breached a border fence and crowded into the village of Majdal Shams, waving Palestinian flags, as part of a coordinated movement on several of Israel's borders . Israeli troops fired on the crowd, killing four people. Many saw the incursion as an effort by President Bashar al-Assad to demonstrate that he could provoke war to stay in power.
May 13 Thousands of protesters defied a ferocious crackdown and returned to the streets , even in towns that the military had besieged only days before, in a relentless contest of wills that a leading dissident described as an emerging stalemate.
May 12 The military ended what it called military operations in Homs , the country’s third-largest city, and residents reported that 10 tanks had withdrawn from the hardest-hit neighborhood, Bab Amr. In a nearby town, Bayda, residents were asked to sign pledges promising not to take part in protests, which have gathered across the country on successive Fridays.
May 10 The Syrian government widened its crackdown to include more cities and towns, sending in tanks to a number of restive villages. Activists said at least 10,000 Syrian protesters have been detained in the past several days in a mass arrest campaign. A confidant a cousin of President Bashar al-Assad warned that Syria's ruling elite, a tight-knit circle at the nexus of absolute power, loyalty to family and a visceral instinct for survival, will fight to the end in a struggle that could cast the Middle East into turmoil and even war.
May 9 The Syrian government has gained the upper hand over a seven-week uprising against the rule of President Bashar al-Assad , a senior official declared, in the clearest sign yet that the leadership believes its crackdown will crush protests that have begun to falter in the face of hundreds of deaths and mass arrests.
May 8 A military crackdown on Syria ’s seven-week uprising escalated, with reinforcements sent to two cities, more forces deployed in a southern town and nearly all communications severed to besieged locales, activists and human rights groups said. Fourteen people were killed in the city of Homs, they said, and hundreds were arrested.
May 6 In what activists declared a “Friday of Defiance,” thousands of protesters gathered after noon prayers in dozens of towns and cities across Syria , despite the government’s deployment of security and military forces in the most restive areas in a bid to stanch a seven-week uprising, activists and human rights groups said. At least 26 people were said to have been killed.
May 5 Backed by tanks, Syrian security forces raided a restive Damascus suburb, arresting scores of people i n a broad campaign that targeted men between the ages of 18 and 50, human rights groups and activists said. The government said that the army was withdrawing from Dara'a, the southern town that was the center of protests, but activists denied it.
May 2 Syrian security forces have escalated an arrest campaign in the country’s most rebellious regions , detaining hundreds over the past few days in the besieged city of Dara’a and towns on the outskirts of the capital, Damascus, activists said. They described a broader campaign of intimidation, with arbitrary detentions aimed at instilling a sense of fear that the uprising had seemed to break.
April 30 Backed by tanks, helicopters and snipers, the Syrian military seized a landmark mosque that had become a center of protests in the besieged southern town of Dara’a, killing at least six people in an escalation of a weeklong crackdown.
April 29 Soldiers fired on protesters carrying olive branches and seeking to break the military’s siege of a rebellious town in Syria , killing at least 16 people, as thousands took to the streets in what organizers proclaimed a “Friday of Rage” against the government’s crackdown. At least 40 died across the country. In contrast to its aggressive military action on Libya, the White House took a step that most experts agree will have a modest impact: announcing focused sanctions against three senior officials, including a brother and a cousin of Mr. Assad.
April 27 Syria ’s nascent opposition movement, organized by an amorphous group of young activists operating mainly online, now faces its biggest test : whether it can sustain protests in the face of a brutal government crackdown. The group, called the National Initiative for Change, said that its 150 members in Syria represented a broad spectrum of groups opposing the leadership of Syria’s authoritarian president, Bashar al-Assad , as well as most of Syria’s diverse ethnic and religious communities.
April 26 Gunfire continued in Dara’a a day after the Syrian Army stormed the restive city with tanks and soldiers, reportedly killing 25 people in an escalation of the counteroffensive against Syria ’s five-week-old uprising. Such was the alarm in the West that the United States State Department urged American citizens not to visit the country and said Americans already there should leave immediately.
April 25 The Syrian Army sent tanks rolling into the restive southern city of Dara’a and carried out arrests in poor towns on the capital’s outskirts in a sharp escalation of a crackdown on the five-week-old uprising, according to human rights activists and accounts posted on social networking sites. There were reports of artillery and mortars being used. The widening crackdown comes amid reports that scores of residents have gone missing in Syria, many of them from the restive city of Homs and those towns near Damascus, activists say.
April 22 Security forces fired tear gas and live ammunition to disperse crowds of demonstrators who took to the streets in Damascus and other cities after noon prayers. At least 43 people were killed, they said, in the bloodiest day of the five-week-old Syrian uprising. The breadth of the protests — and people’s willingness to defy security forces who deployed en mass — painted a tableau of turmoil in one of the Arab world’s most repressive countries. But the momentum of the protests seemed to fall short of the popular upheaval that revolutions in Egypt and Tunisia represented.
April 21 Syria deployed the police, soldiers and military vehicles in two of the country’s three largest cities ahead of a call for nationwide protests that will test the popular reception of reforms decreed by President Bashar al-Assad and signal the momentum that organizers have sought to bring to a five-week uprising.
April 19 The beleaguered government bluntly warned its people to end more than a month of demonstrations , just hours after it marshaled police, army and other forces to crush one of the biggest gatherings yet by protesters bent on staging an Egyptian-style sit-in in the country’s third-largest city. The warning by the Interior Ministry — forbidding protests “under any banner whatsoever” — suggested that the government was prepared to escalate a crackdown on dissent. The statement followed another crackdown by government forces on protests, this time in Homs, an industrial city near the Lebanese border, as security forces fired on a crowd of thousands of demonstrators in the city’s central square. At the same time, the government announced it would lift a decades-old state of emergency among other reforms that ostensibly granted civil liberties, curbed the power of the police and abolished draconian courts.
April 18 More than 10,000 people occupied a central square in the Syrian city of Homs after funeral processions for some of the 14 people reported killed a day earlier ignited renewed protests.
April 17 Rejecting the Syrian president’s latest effort to mollify them, thousands of protesters took to the streets in cities and towns , using a national holiday commemorating the end of French colonialism to widen their challenge to his family’s iron-fisted autocracy. Security officers responded with deadly force, witnesses reported, including live ammunition fired at a funeral and the seizure of critically wounded demonstrators from a hospital.
April 16 President Bashar al-Assad of Syria addressed his nation on in a televised speech aimed at appeasing a two-month-old protest movement that has posed an unprecedented challenge to his family’s four decades of rule, according to human rights groups. As he swore in a new cabinet, Mr. Assad announced a raft of new legal proposals , including a pledge to end the country’s 48-year-old emergency law within days, and he expressed sorrow for deaths that have taken place since antigovernment unrest began.
April 15 Protesters turned out again in large numbers in cities across Syria to demand reforms, defying a nationwide crackdown in which dozens of demonstrators have been killed by security forces. The marches on Friday were met with tear gas, beatings and reports of gunfire. Seeking to tamp down the unrest, the government of President Bashar al-Assad had announced several measures that were meant to mollify demonstrators.
April 13 Syria’s growing protest movement broadened as Aleppo, one of Syria’s largest cities, had its first demonstrations against the government of President Bashar al-Assad , and a group of women from the coastal village of Bayda, where hundreds were detained this week, marched to demand the release of their husbands and sons.
April 11 Syrian security forces and pro-government gunmen killed four protesters in the Syrian port city of Banias. The army had sealed off the city as hundreds of protesters gathered, undaunted by the government’s use of force to quell more than three weeks of unrest, witnesses said. Pro-democracy protests in Syria spread for the first time to a university campus and were violently suppressed, as the government made clea r there would be "no more room for leniency or tolerance."
April 9 Syrian security forces fired live ammunition at protesters in two cities , a day after the single bloodiest day of Syria ’s three-week antigovernment uprising. In Dara, the security forces fired to disperse a funeral march for some of the 37 people killed in protests across the country a day earlier, a human rights group said.
April 8 Gunfire erupted after prayers in the southern city of Dara’a as security forces across Syria moved to counter a third week of protests against the government of President Bashar al-Assad . There were conflicting reports of the number of dead. More than 10,000 protesters took to the streets of several cities, including the capital, Damascus, and a suburb where at least 15 protesters were killed last Friday in clashes with security forces.
April 6 President Bashar al-Assad 's government offered several unusual gestures intended to earn it good will among Sunnis and Kurds. It announced that Syria’s first and only casino, which had enraged Islamists when it opened on New Year’s Eve , would be closed. It also said that schoolteachers who had been dismissed in 2010 for wearing the niqab , a type of face veil, would be allowed back to work.
April 4 The government announced that President Bashar al-Assad had appointed Adel Safar, the minister of agriculture for the past eight years, as the new prime minister . Meanwhile, thousands of Syrians marched through the shuttered streets of Douma, just outside Damascus, chanting antigovernment slogans as they buried at least eight victims of the crackdown on protests held April 1. Human rights groups put the death toll from the protests at over 100 and scores of arrests continue.
April 1 Thousands of protesters took to the streets in cities around Syria to chants of “We want freedom” and security forces responded with tear gas, electrified batons, clubs and bullets, activists and residents said in telephone interviews. The protests, organized via social networking sites and using Friday prayers as a meeting point, appeared to pose a critical test of the strength of the movement, which in a little more than two weeks has presented an unprecedented challenge to the four-decade iron rule of President Bashar al-Assad and his family.
March 31 The government announced that it was creating committees to address the protesters’ concerns but failed to promise immediate action and the move appeared unlikely to quell the rising tide of unrest.
March 30 In his first address to the nation after bloody protests and calls for reform, President Basher al-Assad blamed a broad conspiracy from beyond his borders for Syria ’s turmoil and offered no concessions to ease his authoritarian regime’s grip on public life. He acknowledged that “Syrian people have demands that have not been met,” but said that those grievances were “used as a cover to dupe the people to go to the streets.” He added that “some of them had good intentions.”
March 29 President Bashar al-Assad accepted the resignation of his cabinet as tens of thousands of government supporters took to the streets of the capital in an effort to counter a rising tide of pro-democracy protests in several cities. The cabinet resignation marked a rare moment of responsiveness to public pressure by the Syrian government, which has taken a carrot-and-stick approach to a deepening political crisis.
March 28 Syrian forces fired into the air to disperse hundreds of protesters in Dara'a calling for an end to emergency laws, but demonstrators regrouped despite a heavy troop deployment, a witness said.
March 26 President Bashar al-Assad of the ruling Baath Party began the day in what appeared to be a gesture intended to ease the crisis, when he announced the release of as many as 200 political prisoners. But by sunset, Baath Party offices were burning in at least two cities, the military was deployed in Latakia and once again government forces opened fire with live rounds, witnesses said. Human rights groups put the confirmed death toll in protests so far at 61.
March 25 Military troops opened fire during protest s in the southern part of Syria and killed peaceful demonstrators, according to witnesses and news reports, hurtling the strategically important nation into turmoil. Tens of thousands took to the streets in protest around the nation, defying a state that has once again demonstrated its willingness to use lethal force.
March 23 Security forces began a crackdown in Dara'a, after the Syrian Army reinforced the police presence and confronted a group of protesters who had gathered in and around the Omari mosque in the city center. Mr. Assad promised increased freedoms for discontented citizens and increased pay and benefits for state workers. High-ranking aides said that the army would not shoot peaceful demonstrators and spoke of lifting the 50-year-old state of emergency.
March 21 Demonstrators in Dara'a set fire to the ruling Baath Party ’s headquarters and other government buildings. Police officers fired live ammunition into the crowds , killing at least one and wounding scores of others, witnesses said. Mr. Assad made some conciliatory gestures, but crowds continued to gather in and around the Omari mosque in Dara’a, chanting their demands: the release of all political prisoners; trials for those who shot and killed protesters; the abolition of Syria’s 48-year emergency law; more freedoms; and an end to pervasive corruption.
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i don't know
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What is two-thirds divided by one-third?
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What is 2 thirds divided by one half? ... - Brainly.com
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Certified answers contain reliable, trustworthy information vouched for by a hand-picked team of experts. Brainly has millions of high quality answers, all of them carefully moderated by our most trusted community members, but certified answers are the finest of the finest.
Its 2/3 divided in half.
It's 1/3 Im pretty sure
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What Warner Brothers Mexican mouse cartoon character became a term for someone working or moving unusually quickly?
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Question 1, why is it important to know how to build a model for division of fractions? Question 2, what does a division sentence mean? Question 3, what are the steps for dividing a fraction by a fraction? The SOLVE problem for this lesson is, Ms. Sherrill has three fourths of a yard of red material. She needs to cut the material into pieces that are one eighth of a yard in length. How many pieces of material will she have? We�re going to S the problem and we�re going to start by underlining the question. How many pieces of material will she have? The second part of S is to complete the sentence this problem is asking me to find, the number of pieces of material. The first problem we are going to look at is 2 divided by one half. The meaning of this problem is, how many groups of one half are in 2 whole units? We�re going to model this problem using our fraction strips a manipulative model and I�m going to start by representing the first fraction. I have two whole units. In a division problem the first number is called a dividend. The second number is called the divisor. The divisor tells us what section we�re going to divide the dividend into. So this time our divisor is one half. So we�re going to divide our whole units into groups of one-half. There�s my first whole unit divided into one half and my second whole unit divided into groups of one half. When I add those 1, 2, 3, 4, I have 4 groups of one half in 2 whole units. I�m going to go up here and now I�m going to model it pictorially. I have 1 group, 2 whole groups and I�m going to divide it into groups of One half unit. I have 1, 2, 3, 4, 2 divided by one half is equal to 4. The second problem we�re going to model is 2 divided by one third. The meaning of this problem is, how many groups of one third are in 2 whole units? We�re going to model this problem by following our fraction strip by starting with our dividend which is two whole units. We have one unit and then we have a second unit. We�re going to divide our whole units into groups of one third. By one third, I take my green fraction strip, I have 3 units in 1 whole unit and I have 3 one third units in the second unit. So for 2 whole units, I have 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, one third units. I can also model this pictorially by representing my first fraction, my dividend, and dividing it into groups of one third. I have 1 group, 2 groups, 3 groups, 4 groups, 5, groups and a total of 6 groups, 2 divided by one third is 6. We�re now going to model dividing fractions by another fraction. Our problem is one third divided by one sixth. The meaning of this is, how many groups of one sixth are in one third? In division we represent our first number our dividend with our fraction strip one third unit. We then need to find out how many groups of our one sixth we can fit into that one third unit. We take our fraction strips and we see that there are 2 groups of one sixth in one third. This problem can be modeled pictorially by drawing the one third fraction bar, and the 2 groups of one sixth underneath. I have a total of 2 groups, 2 groups of one sixth. The next problem we�re going to model is two thirds divided by one twelfth. The meaning of the problem is, how many groups of one twelfth are in two thirds? When we are modeling division multiplication we represent our first fraction. I have my two thirds or 2, one third units. I need to divide that into groups of one twelfth. So I�m going to place my pink fraction strips from my manipulative kit underneath my one third units to see how many groups of one twelfth are in two thirds. I have 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. I can model this pictorially by drawing my 2 one third fraction strips and then drawing the one twelfth units underneath to show that there are 8. I�m then going to add those up for a total of 8. How many groups of one twelfth are in two thirds unit, 8 groups of one twelfth. We are now gong to model the problem three fourths divided by one half. In division we always start with our first fraction or our dividend. The meaning of or problem is, how many groups of one half are in three fourths? I�m going to take my one half units and place them underneath my one fourth units. You can see that we have a second brown strip that goes beyond our 3, one fourth units. What we�re going to do is we�re going to take the one half unit and underneath that I�m going to place the legal trade of two fourths. Now I have completely covered my three fourths unit, 1 full one half unit covers my two fourths and one half of my brown unit covers my third fourth in this picture. Because we�ve divided the one half into 2 sections, 1 out of the 2 makes up the third fourth. When we go up to the pictorial model we have our 3 fourths and we are dividing into groups of one half. Our one half extends over the last fourth so we divide the one half into 2 pieces, one out of those two pieces or one half of the one half completes our model. So we have 1 whole group of one half, and then one half of a group which is our one fourth. How many groups of one half are in three fourths? 1 and one half groups of one half. We are going to talk about a method of dividing fractions without using models. We are going to be learning about reciprocals. One fourth and 4 are reciprocals because they have a product of 1. Any whole number can b e written as a fraction by placing it over one, so the 4 whole number can be written as an improper faction of 4 over 1. A number is considered to be a reciprocal if the product of 2 fractions is equal to 1. We found the reciprocal of one fourth by inverting the fraction, that is flipping the fraction so that the denominator is now the numerator and the numerator is now the denominator. In example 2, we�re going to look at one fifth and 5. These 2 values are reciprocals. Remember we are going to first change our whole number to an improper fraction by writing it over 1. Any whole number can be written as a fraction by placing it over 1 as the denominator because 5 divided by 1 is still 5. When we multiply one fifth times 5 over 1 we see that our product is 1. These 2 numbers are reciprocals. The last example we�re going to look at is example 3. The question is what is the reciprocal of two thirds. The reciprocal of two thirds is 3 halves. We have inverted or flipped our fraction so that the denominator is now the numerator and the numerator is now the denominator. We know that these two values are reciprocals because when we multiply them because our product is 1. We�re going to model a division of fraction problems using reciprocals. Remember a reciprocal is any two pairs of fractions that are multiplied with a product of 1. We find the reciprocal of the fractions by inverting it. We are going to start our problem three fourths divided by five sixth by rewriting it vertically. Remember we have two fractions here but that the fraction line is also an indicator of the operation of division, 3 / 4 is actually 3 divided by 4, five sixths is actually 5 divided by 6, and we can change this division sign to the vertical model. When we are dividing two values we need to get a denominator of 1 here. We can do that by multiplying five sixths by it�s reciprocal which is six fifths. Remember you find the reciprocal by inverting the fraction. If we�re going to multiply by six fifths we also to have to multiply our numerator by six fifths, and we can do that because if we look at these two values six fifths divided by six fifths is the value of 1. If we divide something by 1 we do not change the final value. We�re going to go ahead and multiply our numerator�s, 3 times 6 is 18, 4 times 5 is 20, 5 times 6 is 30, 6 times 5 is 30, 30 over 30 is equivalent to 1. Our value of 18 over 20 divided by 1 is that same value 18 over 20. We�re going to simplify our fraction by dividing 2 over 2 and again this is the value of 1 so we�re not changing the value of the fraction we�re simply simplifying it, 18 divided by 2 is 9, 20 divided by 2 is 10. And our simplified answer is nine tenths. This is the information that you should include on the division section of your fraction book. You want to start by writing what the division means, �how many groups of blank are in blank?� In division we represent the first fraction and divide it by the value of the second fraction, � how many groups of one fourth are in one half?� Then what we�re going to do is we�re going to show one half and we place one fourth units underneath it and we count the number of groups of one-fourth in one half. There are 2 groups of one fourth in one half. We are going back to our SOLVE problem from the beginning of the lesson. Ms. Sherrill has three fourths of a yard of red material. She needs to cut the material into pieces that are one eighth of a yard in length. How many pieces of material will she have? We S the problem, we study the problem, we underline the question and we completed the sentence this problem is asking me to find the number of pieces of material. We�re now moving to O, we are going to organize our facts. First we are going to identify the facts. Ms. Sherrill has three fourths of a yard of red material. She needs to cut the material into pieces that are one eighth of a yard in length. The second step is to eliminate the unnecessary facts. Ms. Sherrill has three fourths of a yard of material. We need to know how much material she has, so that fact will be necessary. She needs to cut them into pieces that are one eighth of a yard. We also need to know that so we have no unnecessary facts in this problem. Then we�re going to list the necessary facts. We have three fourths of a yard of material, and we need one eighth yard pieces. We�re going to line up our plan by choosing an operation or operations. Since we�re cutting material, we�re actually dividing it into pieces we�re going to choose division. Our plan of action will be to divide the total quantity of material by the length of each piece. We are now moving to our V step and we are going to begin to verify our plan with action by estimating our answer. We know we have three fourths of a yard, and we know each piece needs to be one eighth in length, so our estimate is going to be about 5. We�re now going to carry out our plan. We take our three fourths yard and divide it into pieces that are one eighth in length. We�re going to use the concept of reciprocals, remember we divided by one eighth we were multiplying both the fractions by 8 over 1, 3 times 8 is 24, 4 times 1 is 4, when we divide and simplify we have 6 pieces of material. To complete our word problem we are going to go back to the E step and examine our results. Does our answer make sense? We had 6 pieces of material and we were looking for the number of pieces of material. So, yes our answer makes sense. Is your answer reasonable? Our estimate was 5 and our answer is 6. So, yes our answer is reasonable because our answer is close to our answer of about 5. Is your answer accurate? We�re going to go back and recheck our work and the answer is yes. Then we are going to complete the E step by writing our answer in a complete sentence. Ms. Sherrill will have 6 pieces of material. Now we are going to go back and answer the essential questions from the beginning of our lesson. Why is it important to know how to build a model for division of fractions? So we will know what the problems mean. What does a division sentence mean? How many groups of blank are in blank? What are the steps for dividing a fraction by a fraction? We create a reciprocal of the second fraction and then multiply. ! 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Ashkenazi, Sephardi and Mizrahi are sub-groups of what ethnoreligious people?
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Judaism 101: Ashkenazic and Sephardic Jews
Ashkenazic and Sephardic Jews
There are several subgroups of Jews with different culture and traditions:
Ashkenazic: Descendants of Jews from France, Germany and Eastern Europe
Sephardic: Descendants of Jews from Spain, Portugal, North Africa and the Middle East
Mizrachi: Descendants of Jews from North Africa and the Middle East
Other subgroups are Yemenite, Ethiopian and Oriental
Ashkenazic and Sephardic Jews represent two distinct subcultures of Judaism. We are all Jews and share the same basic beliefs, but there are some variations in culture and practice. It's not clear when the split began, but it has existed for more than a thousand years, because around the year 1000 C.E. , Rabbi Gershom ben Judah issued an edict against polygamy that was accepted by Ashkenazim but not by Sephardim.
Who are Ashkenazic Jews?
Ashkenazic Jews are the Jews of France, Germany, and Eastern Europe and their descendants. The adjective "Ashkenazic" and corresponding nouns, Ashkenazi (singular) and Ashkenazim (plural) are derived from the Hebrew word "Ashkenaz," which is used to refer to Germany. Most American Jews today are Ashkenazim, descended from Jews who emigrated from Germany and Eastern Europe from the mid 1800s to the early 1900s. The pages in this site are written from the Ashkenazic Jewish perspective.
Who are Sephardic Jews?
Sephardic Jews are the Jews of Spain, Portugal, North Africa and the Middle East and their descendants. The adjective "Sephardic" and corresponding nouns Sephardi (singular) and Sephardim (plural) are derived from the Hebrew word "Sepharad," which refers to Spain.
Sephardic Jews are often subdivided into Sephardim, from Spain and Portugal, and Mizrachim, from the Northern Africa and the Middle East. The word "Mizrachi" comes from the Hebrew word for Eastern. There is much overlap between the Sephardim and Mizrachim. Until the 1400s, the Iberian Peninsula, North Africa and the Middle East were all controlled by Muslims, who generally allowed Jews to move freely throughout the region. It was under this relatively benevolent rule that Sephardic Judaism developed. When the Jews were expelled from Spain in 1492, many of them were absorbed into existing Mizrachi communities in Northern Africa and the Middle East.
Most of the early Jewish settlers of North America were Sephardic. The first Jewish congregation in North America, Shearith Israel , founded in what is now New York in 1684, was Sephardic and is still active. Philadelphia's first Jewish congregation, Congregation Mikveh Israel , founded in 1740, was also a Sephardic one, and is also still active.
In Israel, a little more than half of all Jews are Mizrachim, descended from Jews who have been in the land since ancient times or who were forced out of Arab countries after Israel was founded. Most of the rest are Ashkenazic, descended from Jews who came to the Holy Land (then controlled by the Ottoman Turks) instead of the United States in the late 1800s, or from Holocaust survivors, or from other immigrants who came at various times. About 1% of the Israeli population are the black Ethiopian Jews who fled during the brutal Ethiopian famine in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
What is the difference between Sephardic and Ashkenazic?
The beliefs of Sephardic Judaism are basically in accord with those of Orthodox Judaism , though Sephardic interpretations of halakhah (Jewish Law) are somewhat different than Ashkenazic ones. The best-known of these differences relates to the holiday of Pesach (Passover) : Sephardic Jews may eat rice, corn, peanuts and beans during this holiday, while Ashkenazic Jews avoid them. Although some individual Sephardic Jews are less observant than others, and some individuals do not agree with all of the beliefs of traditional Judaism, there is no formal, organized differentiation into movements as there is in Ashkenazic Judaism.
Historically, Sephardic Jews have been more integrated into the local non-Jewish culture than Ashkenazic Jews. In the Christian lands where Ashkenazic Judaism flourished, the tension between Christians and Jews was great, and Jews tended to be isolated from their non-Jewish neighbors, either voluntarily or involuntarily. In the Islamic lands where Sephardic Judaism developed, there was less segregation and oppression. Sephardic Jewish thought and culture was strongly influenced by Arabic and Greek philosophy and science.
Sephardic Jews have a different pronunciation of a few Hebrew vowels and one Hebrew consonant, though most Ashkenazim are adopting Sephardic pronunciation now because it is the pronunciation used in Israel . See Hebrew Alphabet . Sephardic prayer services are somewhat different from Ashkenazic ones, and Sephardim use different melodies in their services. Sephardic Jews also have different holiday customs and different traditional foods. For example, Ashkenazic Jews eat latkes (potato pancakes) to celebrate Chanukkah ; Sephardic Jews eat sufganiot (jelly doughnuts).
The Yiddish language, which many people think of as the international language of Judaism, is really the language of Ashkenazic Jews. Sephardic Jews have their own international language: Ladino, which was based on Spanish and Hebrew in the same way that Yiddish was based on German and Hebrew.
Other Jewish Subcultures
There are some Jews who do not fit into this Ashkenazic/Sephardic distinction. Yemenite Jews, Ethiopian Jews (also known as Beta Israel and sometimes called Falashas), and Asian Jews also have some distinct customs and traditions. These groups, however, are relatively small and virtually unknown in America. For more information on Ethiopian Jewry, see the North American Conference on Ethiopian Jewry or Friends of Ethiopian Jews . For more information on Asian Jewry, see Jewish Asia .
© Copyright 5756-5771 (1995-2011), Tracey R Rich
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Jews
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What 6-hours-per-day activity did researchers in Australia's Queensland University announce (in 2011) reduces life expectancy by five years?
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Semitic peoples: Israelites, Arab people, Semitic, Samaritan, Moab, Sephardi Jews, Ashkenazi Jews, Ammon, Hebrews, Hyksos, Assyrian people: Amazon.es: Source: Wikipedia: Libros en idiomas extranjeros
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Semitic peoples: Israelites, Arab people, Semitic, Samaritan, Moab, Sephardi Jews, Ashkenazi Jews, Ammon, Hebrews, Hyksos, Assyrian people (Ingl̩s) Tapa blanda Р31 ago 2011
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Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. Pages: 92. Chapters: Israelites, Arab people, Semitic, Samaritan, Moab, Sephardi Jews, Ashkenazi Jews, Ammon, Hebrews, Hyksos, Assyrian people, Genetic studies on Jews, Mizrahi Jews, Bahrani people, Aramaeans, Knanaya, Edom, Himyarite Kingdom, Amorite, `Anizzah, Qahtanite, Banu Hothail, Shasu, Banu Kinanah, People of Ya-Sin, Sabaeans, Mudhar, Adnan, Mutayr, Mhallami, Ibn Sbyel, Companions of the Rass, Banu Jadhimah, Harari people, Eastern Arabs, AL-Dhafeer, People of Tubba. Excerpt: The Jews (Hebrew: ISO 259-3 Yhudim Israeli pronunciation ), also known as the Jewish people, are a nation and ethnoreligious group originating in the Israelites or Hebrews of the Ancient Near East. The Jewish ethnicity, nationality, and religion are strongly interrelated, as Judaism is the traditional faith of the Jewish nation. Converts to Judaism, whose status as Jews within the Jewish ethnos is equal to those born into it, have been absorbed into the Jewish people throughout the millennia. In Jewish tradition, Jewish ancestry is traced to the Biblical patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the second millennium BCE. The modern State of Israel defines itself as a Jewish state in its Basic Laws, and is the only country where Jews are a majority of the population. Jews also experienced political autonomy twice during ancient history. The first of the two ancient eras spanned from 1350 to 586 BCE, and encompassed the periods of the Judges, the United Monarchy, and the Divided Monarchy of the Kingdoms of Israel and Judah, ending with the destruction of the First Temple. The second era was the period of the Hasmonean Kingdom spanning from 140 to 37 BCE. Since the destruction of the First Temple, the diaspora has been the home of most of the world's Jews. Except in Israel, Jews are a minority in every country in which they live, and they have frequently exper...
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Apple
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What airline postponed adverts claiming to '...go the extra mile to make you feel special...' after a photo of (allegedly) a pilot and crew member having sex in an aircraft cockpit became public in Aug 2011?
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WAV Travel News - Thursday Edition - Google Groups
WAV Travel News - Thursday Edition
Showing 1-7 of 7 messages
In case you missed these news stories.
Bill Vervaeke, CDME
West Palm Beach, FL 33411
(561) 795-5912 (Office & Facsimile)
Report: Cuba visits from U.S. up 36% this year
U.S. visitors to Cuba between Jan. 1 and May 9 totaled 51,458, a jump of 36% over the same period a year ago, according to figures provided to the Associated Press from Jose Luis Perello Cabrera, an economist in the University of Havana's tourism studies department.
The figure includes thousands who are flying into Cuba from countries such as Mexico, Jamaica, the Bahamas and the Cayman Islands in order to sidestep U.S. restrictions on tourism, according to AP. The number does not include Cuban-Americans with family ties to Cuba.
The statistics show that 38,476 visitors flew directly from the U.S. to Cuba, up from 29,213 in the same five-month period in 2014. Most of these visitors were traveling in one of the 12 allowed categories of authorized travel, including humanitarian, educational, academic and people-to-people programs.
Of the remaining visitors, 12,982 Americans arrived via third countries, a 57% increase over the 8,246 Americans who traveled in that manner during the same period in 2014.
According to the latest figures supplied by Cuba to the Caribbean Tourism Organization for the January-March period, tourists who arrived by air rose 14.1%, to 1.13 million.
March recorded the highest number of visitors, 404,421, up 12.5% over March 2014.
CTO did not have a specific breakdown for the number of U.S. visitors to Cuba, but indicated that U.S. visitors were included in the category labeled “other,” which totaled 328,337 visitors, a 16% increase. The main markets for Cuba from January through March were Canada with 551,360 visitors, up 12.4%; Europe, 255,913 visitors, up 15.2%; followed by “other.”
What NOAA’s 2015 hurricane forecast numbers, percentages really mean
Despite more predictions Wednesday from experts that it will likely be a quieter than normal hurricane season, the information comes with two caveats — they don’t know where the storms will go and below average doesn’t mean zero.
NOAA predicts 6-11 named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher), of which 3-6 could become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), including 0-2 major hurricanes (winds of 111 mph or higher) for the 2015 hurricane season. They also project a 70 percent likelihood that it will be below average.
In a similar report released last month, Colorado State forecasters William Gray and Phil Klotzbach also projected a season that won’t make the average of 12 named storms, six hurricanes and two major hurricanes.
Still, anyone in areas that could be affected by hurricanes should make their plans before a storm is bearing down, said Joseph Nimmich, FEMA deputy administrator. Families should assemble kits that include three days worth of food and water, secure their homes and make evacuation plans before the June 1 start to hurricane season.
“You need to think about that now,” he said. “You need to think about it for yourselves and you need to think about it for your neighbors.”
NOAA’s forecasters attributed the prediction to the formation of El Niño in the Pacific Ocean and about average ocean temperatures in the Atlantic. El Niño is a phenomenon of warmer water in the Pacific Ocean that creates more wind-shear in the atmosphere, causing a suppressing effect for hurricanes in the Atlantic.
Though El Niño and the below-normal outlook are good signs, it only takes one storm to cause catastrophic damage to an area, said Kathryn Sullivan, NOAA administrator.
The 1992 season produced only seven named storms, but the first was Andrew — a devastating Category 5 hurricane that leveled Homestead. It also occurred during an El Niño year.
“It doesn’t matter how many pitches we face, just how many hit the strike zone,” she said.
Sullivan also praised new technology that will help NOAA and the National Hurricane Center in its forecasting, enabling local emergency management teams to make more informed decisions.
Using 2014 Hurricane Arthur as an example, Sullivan said only a portion of the Outer Banks was evacuated when 10 to 20 years ago it would have been all of the North Carolina coast.
Last May, NOAA predicted 8-13 named storms, 3-6 hurricanes and 1-2 major hurricanes. The final totals were eight named storms, six hurricanes and two major hurricanes.
No major hurricanes have made landfall in the country in nine years, which causes some concern that people might not take the season seriously or remember proper procedures. White House press secretary Josh Earnest emphasized that in a conference call ahead of President Barack Obama’s visit to Miami’s National Hurricane Center.
Since Wilma in 2005, no storm of at least Category 3 on the Saffir-Simpson Scale has struck the U.S. mainland and no hurricane of any kind has struck Florida; in that time, Florida’s population has increased by some 3 million.
Earnest stressed that state and local leaders have the responsibility to lead response to hurricanes. And he said that, while this White House hasn’t itself steered management of a major hurricane, it has an ace in the bullpen: Federal Emergency Management Agency Director Craig Fugate, who as Florida’s emergency manager, handled the manic 2004 and 2005 seasons.
And he said that, as head of FEMA under Obama, Fugate also has “a lot of experience in dealing with natural disasters that have put a lot of Americans in harm’s way.”
Aviation Officials Investigating Air France Flight's Near Miss with Volcano
French aviation authorities are looking into what led to an Air France flight's near miss with an active volcano in Africa earlier this month.
According to CNN, the Boeing 777 was carrying 37 passengers from Equatorial Guinea to Cameroon on May 2 when it had a close encounter with the region's highest mountain, Mount Cameroon, which is currently an active volcano.
The plane "was flying at cruising altitude between Malabo and Douala in stormy conditions," said Air France in a statement. "The route they took to avoid the storm took their trajectory close to Mount Cameroon."
France's air accident investigation agency, BEA, said that the plane's "pull-up" alarm came on as a result and the pilots responded by ascending the aircraft from 9,000 feet to 13,000 feet.
"This proximity was detected by the EGPWS system (enhanced ground proximity warning system, that gives more detailed information than the GPWS)," added the airline. "This system generated an alarm in the cockpit to which the pilots responded immediately by applying the appropriate procedure."
"Pilots receive regular training in this type of maneuver," said Air France.
The flight landed safely in Douala, Cameroon and an airline official told CNN affiliate BFMTV that passengers aboard the flight were unaware of the close encounter at the time.
Nonetheless, the BEA described the situation as "a serious incident" involving "controlled flight into or toward terrain."
Air France stated that it will investigate the incident internally.
Christie backs vote for north Jersey casino question
Christie supports putting northern New Jersey casino question on ballot
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) -- Gov. Chris Christie supports asking voters if they want to change the state constitution to allow casino gambling in northern New Jersey.
Appearing on his monthly "Ask The Governor" program on radio station New Jersey 101.5 FM Wednesday night, Christie said he has no problem with the question going on the ballot "right away." The governor said competition is only going to grow, particularly in New York.
Christie said he would support the amendment as long as there are provisions that would help Atlantic City and workers adjust to the shrinking casino market.
Christie's comments came a day after Hard Rock International and the Meadowlands Racetrack proposed a casino just outside New York City.
The companies will unveil the project next week.
Airbus Superjumbo May See Second Life in Asian Low-Cost Markets
Airbus A380 superjumbos being retired from premium carriers such as Singapore Airlines Ltd. may find a second life plying six- to eight-hour routes for low-cost Asian airlines, the European planemaker predicted.
Singapore Airlines and Emirates, the double-decker’s biggest customers, may return older planes back to leasing companies in the next two to three years, putting them back into the market for second-hand use, said Kiran Rao, director of strategy at Airbus.
Airbus is seeking new sales avenues for its largest model, which has run out of order momentum in recent years as potential customers balk at the size of the aircraft that makes it less flexible on most routes. The A380 could become attractive for those Asian carriers already packing above-average passenger numbers into their jets, Rao said.
Low-cost airlines such as AirAsia Bhd and Cebu Pacific Air of the Philippines have seen rapid traffic expansion from fast-growing middle classes and the easing of visa restrictions, with growing incomes expanding the range of flights taken. Cebu Pacific is already packing 436 seats into six A330s that typically fly 300 to 350 people.
While existing customers for the A380 tend to fly the plane with 500 to 550 passengers, Rao predicted that Asian low-cost carriers buying used A380s would likely reconfigure them for a far denser seating arrangement.
“We could go to about 800,” Rao said on Thursday in Toulouse, where Airbus is based. Still, carriers who purchased the planes from Airbus would more likely fly them in two classes -- business and economy -- with about 600 seats.
Emirates, which has ordered 140 A380s, has said it generally likes to retire planes after 12 years to keep its fleet fresh. The carrier hasn’t said when it will give the first of its A380s back to lessors who have purchased the planes from Emirates. Singapore Air was the first customer to fly the aircraft commercially.
More Texas towns brace for high water; death toll climbs
PARKER COUNTY, Texas — At Horseshoe Bend in Parker County, residents hope luck isn't running out. The community of several hundred trailers and RVs sits on the banks of the swollen Brazos River.
County Judge Mark Riley ordered Horseshoe Bend be evacuated by 8 p.m. CT Wednesday, along with other low-lying neighborhoods. Officials cannot force residents to leave, but Riley said the river could rise another nine feet by the time it crests.
"Water could be up to the top of the carport," said David Cantu, as he hitched up his RV to haul it to higher ground. "All these structures could be gone."
The storms that produced the flooding were part of a system that stretched from Mexico into the central USA. The death toll from the system climbed to 35 — 14 in Mexico, 17 in Texas and four in Oklahoma. The Houston area alone had seven storm-related deaths.
This has been the wettest month on record for Texas, and there are still several days left. The state climatologist's office said Wednesday that Texas has gotten an average of 7.54 inches of rain in May, breaking the old record of 6.66 inches, set in June 2004.
Texas has been hit with almost continuous storms for the past week to 10 days. The wettest area has been from Dallas-Fort Worth to the Red River, where some places have gotten more than 20 inches of rain.
Down in south Texas, Wharton Mayor Domingo Montalvo issued a call at 5 p.m. Wednesday for a voluntary evacuation of the west side of the city of 8,800 because of the predicted rise of the Colorado River, which has seen flash flooding in the Austin and Texas Hill Country sections of its watershed upstream.
The National Weather Service reported the river level at Wharton was almost 36 feet at 2 p.m. Wednesday. Flood stage is 39 feet. The river was expected to top that level Wednesday night and not crest until it reaches almost 46 feet Friday evening. That would flood many homes in the area with up to 2-3 feet of water and isolate and flood a school.
More rain fell on the hard-hit Houston area, temporarily complicating the cleanup a day after a downpour of nearly a foot triggered the worst flooding the nation's fourth-largest city has seen in years. Hundreds of homes were damaged.
Houston Mayor Annise Parker said two people whose boat capsized during a rescue were missing. Another person was missing in suburban Houston.
The body of Alice Tovar, 73, of Rosenberg, who was swept away by floodwaters Tuesday, was found by her brother-in-law along a creekside fence late Wednesday afternoon.
"I'm just in shock to see her like that," said Ricky Aguilar. "We went all through the woods all day looking for her when she was right there all along."
Tovar was reported missing Tuesday when her family learned she didn't show up for work at a nearby gas station. Her car was later found by her daughter, but Tovar had been swept away.
And in Central Texas, crews resumed the search for eight people feared dead after the swollen Blanco River smashed through Wimberley, a small tourist town between San Antonio and Austin, over the Memorial Day weekend.
Authorities recovered the body of a boy from the Blanco late Wednesday evening. A Hays County statement says it's unclear whether the child is on the county's list of those missing from the storm.
Earlier Wednesday, county authorities identified Jose Alvardo Arteaga-Pichardo and Michelle Carey-Charba as two of the area's flood victims. Arteaga-Pichardo's body was found near Loop 165 in Wimberley Tuesday afternoon, and Carey-Charba's body was found Tuesday morning in Caldwell County.
A third person was found dead in San Marcos Saturday. Hays County officials identified the body Wednesday evening as Dayton Larry Thomas, 74.
Wimberley saw some of the heaviest damage, including the loss of a two-story vacation home that was swept downstream and slammed into a bridge. Eight people in the home went missing, including three children.
Aerial crews are searching for the missing using drones, geographic information system mapping and thermal imaging. Many areas are still not accessible by search crews due to damage.
More than 50 people from Texas Task Force One are forming search teams on the ground. Public works teams are also being deployed by the state. According to police, those teams will be in Hays County for at least the next two weeks.
As volunteers and help poured in, the state Bar of Texas set up a free legal hotline to assist low-income residents with issues like replacing lost documents, insurance questions, landlord issues, or any kind of scams during the recovery process.
Airbnb is offering all of its room-booking services free of charge for flood victims until June 9 at multiple places in Austin, San Antonio and parts of south Texas.
And KVUE-TV set up a gofundme page to collect money for Hays County flood victims.
President Obama pledged federal funding for affected areas Tuesday while Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has declared more than 45 counties disaster areas.
"It's important that we remember this flood for years to come so that we don't take things lightly. One of our greatest problems has been getting people to understand how devastating a flood is. It costs lives and property. People are ... it will change them forever," said Hays County Judge Bert Cobb.
Joe McComb said he is just thankful his son Jonathan survived Saturday night's flooding in Wimberley.
It's looking like his daughter-in-law Laura and his two grandchildren, 6-year-old Andrew and 4-year-old Leighton, may not have.
The McComb family, as well as five others, were swept downstream and the floodwaters knocked a home they were all in, off its foundation and into the swift water. Jonathan McComb told his father he survived by swimming, not knowing at times if he was right-side up or not.
Once he finally managed to reach shore, McComb had been swept roughly 12 miles downstream.
"He did get up enough and saw a light at somebody's house," Joe McComb said. "(He) crawled over there, knocked on the door and told them, 'Our house just got washed away. I need help.' and pretty much then his energy level just collapsed."
Jonathan McComb, who received a broken rib and collapsed lung, may be released from the hospital as early as the weekend, his father said.
"The only way a person can go through this, in my opinion is that if they've got a deep faith in God," Joe McComb said.
The family is holding onto that faith and praying for good news about Laura and the kids.
"If the Lord feels like that we're to continue to have them, then that miracle will be provided," McComb said. "If not, heaven's going to be benefited by their presence because they're wonderful children."
Delta pilot orders pizza for delayed flight (is this becoming a thing?)
Is there any problem pizza can’t make better? Even the disgruntled huffing and puffing of passengers stuck on Delta Flight 1364 in Knoxville, Tennessee were no match for the cheesy goodness, after torrential rains diverted a Philadelphia-Atlanta flight there on May 26.
After hours waiting on the tarmac, the pilot called in an order to Pizza Hut and had the pizza trucked out in a baggage cart to the airplane. They weren’t the only Delta passengers wiping red sauce from their shirt lapels, as other delayed flights from Ohio, Illinois, and Mississippi reported similar feasts. “It’s part of an effort company-wide,” Delta spokesman Morgan Durrant told CNN, “when weather disrupts our operation to get food and beverages to delayed customers.”
Considering that’s more good press than Delta’s received in a while, we hope the airline will add pizza to more flights (but not Pizza Hut, please), or even to the company logo. Meanwhile, flight 1346 eventually landed in Atlanta at 7 pm, three hours late, but happy.
US DOT to Levy Harsher Penalties Against Airlines for Mishandled Baggage
The U.S. Department of Transportation announced on Tuesday that it will increase the penalty on airlines that mishandle passengers' luggage.
According to Tim Devaney of The Hill, the DOT will penalize airlines that lose or damage baggage by making them liable for reimbursement up to $3,500, a $100 increase over the previous limit of $3,400.
In addition to the mishandled baggage penalty, the agency will increase penalties handed down to airlines that deny passengers boarding because of an overbooked flight.
Devaney reports that a majority of those travelers who are denied boarding involuntarily would be eligible to receive between $675 and $1,350 in compensation.
The increased penalties are scheduled to take effect in 90 days' time.
According to the DOT, 1.8 million passengers filed mishandled baggage claims in 2013, while 57,000 were involuntarily denied boarding over the course of the year.
Although the $100 increase seems significant, it's likely to only impact a small percentage of unfortunate passengers. That's because of the nearly two million travelers who filed claims regarding mishandled baggage two years ago, fewer than 0.6 percent filed claims of more than $3,400.
The DOT anticipates that the increase will cost the airlines an additional $1 million each year collectively.
Plane Forced to Make Two Emergency Landings in Kansas City
Passengers on United Airlines Flight 594 from Washington, D.C. to Denver, Colo., got more than they bargained for when the plane they were on was forced to make two separate emergency landings at Kansas City International Airport Tuesday night.
According to Brenda Washington of KMBC.com, United Airlines Flight 594 was first forced to land in Kansas City due to weather radar issues onboard the plane. All 142 passengers and crew members were unharmed and the plane managed to land safely at the airport.
Three hours later, the repaired aircraft was cleared to depart from Kansas City, but was once again forced to turn around and make another emergency landing at the airport after just 10 minutes in the air.
The pilot reported hydraulic issues on the Airbus A-320, and the plane landed safely just before 11 p.m. local time.
Unfortunately, the plane was not cleared to fly again until proper repairs were made, and passengers were forced to rebook on other flights set to depart on Wednesday.
The report from KMBC.com indicates the passengers were frustrated that only two agents at the airport were available to help them, but officials from United Airlines did give customers hotel and food vouchers.
All customers were booked on flights to their destination by Wednesday morning.
Tampa International Airport brings car rental companies under one roof
TAMPA — One selling point of Tampa International Airport CEO Joe Lopano's $943 million plan to remake the airport is that it would make renting cars there a whole lot easier.
Instead of looking for deals on or off airport property, customers in the ninth largest rental market in the nation would be able to choose from a range of prices, choices and companies all under one roof.
That perk will be a reality in two years: The airport said that nine rental companies — representing 16 different brands — have signed agreements to use its new 2.6 million-square-foot rental facility months before its even set to break ground this fall.
"I personally did not expect to sign them up so quickly," Lopano said this week. "But I will tell you that I am very, very happy that we have them on-site now."
Most of the companies that serve the airport, including several that are now off-site, have signed agreements, officials said. Those contracts must still be approved by the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority, the airport's governing board, on June 4.
When it's finished, the new car rental facility will be a four-minute ride from the renovated main terminal using a new 1.3-mile automated people mover.
Once the shuttle doors slide open in the new rental car facility, Lopano said, customers will have access to most of the rental brands, big and small, serving the airport. That means no more bus rides off airport property looking for a better deal.
"Even if you don't have a reservation, you'll be able to see everything from the $29 car to the $200 car," Lopano said. "You can shop the room. From a customer service standpoint, it is the optimal situation."
Many other airports have built consolidated rental car facilities. But Lopano pledged that: "This will be finest rental car experience in the country."
The new facility is projected to generate an additional $8 million annually for the airport, officials said.
Under the airport's current agreements with rental car agencies, it's guaranteed a minimum of $23.1 million a year. But under the new contracts, that will rise 34 percent to $31 million.
"That's the minimum," said airport spokeswoman Emily Nipps, "but obviously we expect this market to grow."
In fact, the four-story rental car facility will be 300,000 square feet bigger than airport officials originally intended. They added space to fit the entire Tampa car rental market and give it enough space to handle 10 years of projected growth.
The airport currently has four major players operating in the main terminal: Avis Budget Group Inc., Enterprise Rent-A-Car, the Hertz Corp. and Thrifty Car Rental.
Airport officials said that when those companies move to the new facility, Thrifty will be absorbed by its parent company, Hertz. The three big players will then share counter space on the fourth floor with their subsidiaries, smaller companies and independent operators. The other three floors will be used to store rental vehicles.
"We sized it to be able to handle all the on-airport and off-airport guys," Lopano said. "We knew there was a lot of interest for the off-airport guys to come onto the airport and compete."
The advantage for the rental companies, airport officials said, is that the new facility allows them to consolidate their operations in one corner of the airport. They won't have to rent cars on one end of the airport and service them on the other end anymore.
"The rental car companies are very, very excited about the efficiencies this new building will give them," Lopano said.
Here are the brands that will be available:
Ace Rent A Car; Advantage Car Rental; Alamo Car Rental; Avis Car Rental; Budget Rent A Car; Dollar Rent A Car; Economy Car Rentals; Enterprise Rent-A-Car; E-Z Rent-A-Car; Fox Rent A Car; Hertz Rent-A-Car; National Car Rental; Payless Car Rental; Sixt; Thrifty Car Rental; Zipcar
Theme parks introduce food apps for restaurant orders
Theme parks are using technology to reduce waits, but not just for rides.
They have started to allow customers to skip the cashier and order food ahead of time.
Disney World recently started online preordering for its Be Our Guest restaurant, and this month it tested smartphone ordering at the Backlot Express restaurant and during its "Fantasmic!" nighttime show.
SeaWorld Orlando in November said guests could use an app to purchase select menu items ahead of time at Seaport Pizza. SeaWorld plans to expand the system into more of its restaurants and theme parks over the summer.
"It's very convenient, and that's what we're hearing from our guests," said Cathy Valeriano, SeaWorld's vice president of culinary operations. "It's definitely kind of the wave of the future."
Restaurants and theme parks say they are responding to consumers who are increasingly tech-savvy and hungry for convenience.
Another benefit is that "this is a labor-saving device, because they don't need as many cashiers," Boston University hospitality professor Chris Muller said.
In February, the Be Our Guest restaurant in Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom began accepting lunch reservations and allowing guests who have them to order meals up to 30 days in advance. Diners pay upon arrival. Credit card guarantees of the reservations are required.
Be Our Guest also has touchscreen kiosks in place for lunch guests. Disney has considered all kinds of electronic conveniences, from personalized digital menus to having employees with tablets take orders from people standing in line at attractions.
Introducing new technology to visitors in the theme parks can be tricky, though, said Robert Niles, editor of the Theme Park Insider blog.
"It's very difficult to change guests' behaviors in the theme park environment because people are on vacation and don't want to be trying to analyze anything," he said.
During a recent lunch hour at SeaWorld, no one was picking up meals at the Seaport Pizza window that is used for customers using the app. SeaWorld would not disclose how many customers have used the order-ahead service but said it gets used more during peak vacation periods.
Experts: Volusia hotel boom puts upward pressure on wages
Hard Rock, Westin would put upward pressure on hotel wages
DAYTONA BEACH — Help wanted: a rock and roll buff to keep the guests at one Daytona Beach hotel grooving.
The “vibe manager”at the proposed Hard Rock Hotel & Café will get paid $50,000 a year to do just that — control the hotel’s feel through culture and carefully selected music playlists. The gig is just one of many hotel jobs coming soon to the area thanks to a string of upscale resorts opening here.
And with a high-caliber product comes higher pay, which could ripple through the employee ranks at other local hotels, said Bob Davis, president and CEO for the Hotel & Lodging Association of Volusia County.
“As new hotels come in, surrounding hotels will up their pay scale,” he said. “And we are entitled to that. We have always been the blue-collar tourism destination. Now that’s changing.”
More than 25 jobs at the Hard Rock — which is set to open by December 2018 — will earn over $50,000 a year with five more making over $100,000, Henry Wolfond, CEO of Canada-based Bayshore Capital Inc., the developer of the Hard Rock complex, wrote in an email to county officials.
These top positions include a general manager, directors of finance, sales and human resources, an executive chef, front office and housekeeping managers, along with the vibe manager.
Other middle-income positions include assistant managers, more chefs and engineers. Hourly positions will be up to $17 an hour, with workers in many front-of-house positions eligible for tips, Wolfond said.
“Total annual wages at the resort will be over $5 (million) before benefits,” Wolfond said. “That is a lot of coin going into people’s pockets.”
Those wages skew higher than the average in Volusia County, where hotel and motel workers earned an annual average of $23,295 in 2014, according to CareerSource Flagler Volusia. That’s under the national average of $31,503 a year.
But that number could climb as more hotels are on the hunt for new employees. Several local properties say they generally adjust their salaries depending on the market.
One of those is the Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort, which has hired nearly 60 people in the last three months because of booming business, said Jane Peterson, regional director of human resources for Pyramid Hotel Group, the Boston-based company that manages the hotel.
“We do a competitive wage survey,” she said. “We go out to all of the local hotels, the bigger hotels. I also pick a couple of hotels in Orlando because I like to be competitive within Florida.”
Keeping up with competitors is also important to Domien Takx, corporate director of operations for Premier Resorts & Management, Inc., which is hiring at least 45 people for its newest beachfront hotel. The 141-room Hilton Garden Inn, located at the site of the former Bermuda House, is set to open by summer.
“If you’re not competitive, you don’t get (the workers),” Takx said. “If we would be materially higher or lower than anyone else, it wouldn’t work.”
“And (that’s) without any new hotels,” she said. “So if we’re getting new ones, that number is definitely going to jump.”
More opportunities here could also prevent hospitality students from graduating and fleeing to other cities with slightly higher-paying positions, such as Orlando or Miami, said Taryn Brown, an assistant professor at the Mori Hosseini College of Hospitality and Culinary Management at Daytona State College.
“What we’re finding from our students is that while some of them desire to go outside of the community, a lot of them want to stay here,” she said. “We want to keep these educated students here in our community and help build management and develop the tourism industry here.”
While Tina Stuff hasn’t considered moving away, the Daytona State College culinary student admits it hasn’t always been easy to find a good hospitality job in the area. However, she feels that’s all about to change.
“With all of these projects coming up, there will be a lot more jobs,” Stuff said. “It will just take a little bit of time.”
Apple executive adds to chatter that company is looking to cars
Apple Inc. just poured more fuel on speculation that it's working on a car.
Confronted by a shareholder Wednesday at a rare public forum over where Apple is looking to invest its cash, Jeff Williams, Apple's senior vice president of operations, seemed to suggest the automotive industry.
"The car is the ultimate mobile device, isn't it?" Williams said during the Re/code conference in Rancho Palos Verdes, California. Pressed further by Re/code co-founder Walt Mossberg, Williams appeared to pull back a little, addressing the importance of Apple's in-car information and entertainment system, CarPlay.
"We're exploring a lot of different markets," Williams said.
Apple CEO Tim Cook has been facing increased pressure to return cash to shareholders. He meanwhile is moving the company into new areas, including smartwatches and mobile payments, as part of a strategy to further mesh users' lives with Apple's products and services.
The Cupertino, California-based company has been exploring the development of a car and pushing its team to begin production of an electric vehicle as early as 2020, though it might ultimately halt the program, people familiar with the effort have said.
Apple's cash pile grew to $193.5 billion at the end of March. Facing heat from investors such as Carl Icahn, Apple increased its capital-return program through March 2017 by $70 billion. The company said it returned more than $112 billion to investors from August 2012 to March of this year.
Wednesday's event wasn't the first time an investor questioned Apple's future with cars. At Apple's annual shareholder meeting in March, Cook faced questions about a possible marriage with electric-car maker Tesla Motors Inc. He sidestepped the issue.
"We don't really have a relationship with Tesla," he said, pivoting to Apple's in-car information and entertainment system. "I'd love Tesla to pick up CarPlay. We now have every major auto brand committing to use CarPlay."
Mary Barra, the chief executive officer of General Motors, said at Wednesday's conference that Chevrolet models will integrate with CarPlay and Google Inc.'s Android Auto.
In case you missed these news stories.
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Travel agents react to Lufthansa's move against GDS channel
While some travel agents are still evaluating the potential impact of Lufthansa Group’s decision to add a fee of 16 euros (about $17.78) to every GDS booking starting Sept. 1, others are speaking out against it.
Travel Leaders Group CEO Barry Liben called Lufthansa’s new strategy "at best disappointing and at worst counterintuitive.”
“Their move effectively places them at a competitive disadvantage on airfare pricing,” Liben said in a statement. "Simply put, consumers who comparatively shop on price will pay more to fly on Lufthansa. For the vast majority of our clients, the economics will dictate that we book them either on other carriers that serve those routes or through codeshare partners. As we pursue the best interests of our clients, Travel Leaders Group will continue our ongoing discussions with our airline and GDS partners."
ASTA stated that while it is still studying the potential impact of the move on travel agents, it considers it to be "discrimination against the channel travel agents choose to use to book tickets for their customers.”
In a message to its members, ASTA said, "The Lufthansa Group also announced it is in the process of developing a new booking method to enable its 'sales partners' to connect to their IT systems directly based on IATA’s NDC (New Distribution Capability) standard. The exact meaning of 'sales partners' in this context is unknown. IATA’s NDC is still in the development stage, though some limited commercial implementations do exist, so the timing of the Group’s new booking method is unclear.”
Mike Estil, COO of the Western Association of Travel Agencies, said, "When finally the bias toward American flagged carriers by American agents is at its weakest point since the beginning of deregulation, one would think this would be a time of relationship building ... not bridge burning."
Pipeline that spilled oil on California coast badly corroded
Preliminary report: Pipeline that spilled oil on Central California coast was badly corroded
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- A pipeline rupture that spilled an estimated 101,000 gallons of crude oil near Santa Barbara last month occurred along a badly corroded section that had worn away to a fraction of an inch in thickness, according to federal regulators.
The preliminary findings released Wednesday by the federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration point to a possible cause of the May 19 spill that blackened popular beaches and created a 9-mile slick in the Pacific Ocean.
The agency said investigators found corrosion at the break site had degraded the pipe wall thickness to 1/16 of an inch, and that there was a 6-inch opening near the bottom of the pipe. Additionally, the report noted that the area that failed was close to three repairs made because of corrosion found in 2012 inspections.
The findings indicate 82 percent of the metal pipe wall had worn away.
"There is pipe that can survive 80 percent wall loss," said Richard Kuprewicz, president of Accufacts Inc., which investigates pipeline incidents. "When you're over 80 percent, there isn't room for error at that level."
The morning of the spill, operators in the company's Houston control center detected mechanical issues and shut down pumps on the line. The pumps were restarted about 20 minutes later and then failed, prompting another shutdown of the line.
Restarting the pumps could have led to a rupture, or a break in the line could have caused the pumps to fail, but Kuprewicz cautioned it's still too soon to determine what caused the failure.
In either case, a hole that size would have leaked at a high rate — even with the pumps off — and may not have been quickly detected by remote operators.
The agency documents said findings by metallurgists who examined the pipe wall thickness at the break site conflicted with the results of inspections conducted May 5 for operator Plains All American Pipeline. Those inspections pinpointed a 45 percent loss of wall thickness in the area of the pipe break, meaning they concluded the pipe was in far better condition.
Government inspectors "noted general external corrosion of the pipe body during field examination of the failed pipe segment," the report said.
Investigators found "this thinning of the pipe wall is greater than the 45 percent metal loss which was indicated" by the recent Plains All American inspections.
The agency ordered the company to conduct additional research and possible repairs on the line, which has been shut down indefinitely.
Plains All American said in a regulatory filing that there is no timeline to restart the line, which runs along the coast north of Santa Barbara. A company spokeswoman said there's no estimate yet of the cost of cleanup, which involves nearly 1,200 people.
The agency also ordered restrictions on a second stretch of pipeline, which the company had shut down May 19, restarted, then shut down again on Saturday.
That second line had similar insulation and welds to the line that spilled oil last month. It cannot be started until the company completes a series of steps, including testing.
The company said in a statement that it is committed to working with federal investigators "to understand the differences between these preliminary findings, to determine why the corrosion developed and to determine the cause of the incident."
Plains said it won't know the cause until the investigation, including the metallurgical analysis, is concluded.
The company has come under fire from California's U.S. senators, who issued a statement last week calling the response to the spill insufficient and demanding the pipeline company explain what it did, and when, after firefighters discovered the leak from the company's underground 24-inch pipe.
A commercial fisherman sued Plains in federal court Monday, alleging the environmental disaster would cause decades of harm to the shore. He is seeking class-action status and damages for business owners who have lost money because of the spill.
As of Tuesday, 36 sea lions, 9 dolphins and 87 birds in the area have died, officials said. Another 32 sea lions, 6 elephant seals and 58 birds were rescued and were being treated.
Popular state beaches and campgrounds polluted by the spill are closed until at least June 18.
Plains All American and its subsidiaries operate 17,800 miles of crude oil and natural gas pipelines across the country, according to federal regulators
The spill is also being investigated by federal, state and local prosecutors for possible violations of law.
Bus carrying Italian tourists collides with truck, killing 3
Bus carrying Italian tourists to Niagara Falls collides with truck on highway, killing 3
TOBYHANNA, Pa. (AP) -- A charter bus taking Italian tourists to Niagara Falls collided with a tractor-trailer that had crossed into oncoming traffic on a highway on Wednesday, killing the bus driver and two other people on the bus, police said. Four people were critically injured.
The crash occurred on Interstate 380 in the Pocono Mountains region in eastern Pennsylvania as the bus, which departed from New York, was about a quarter of the way to its first destination.
The mangled front end of the bus was upright on the highway but wedged into the side of the tractor-trailer, which was sheared in half. The cab of the truck came to rest on its side in the woods next to the road, one of its axles torn off.
The southbound tractor-trailer entered the northbound lanes of the divided highway, struck another truck and then was hit by the charter bus, said state police, who were investigating what caused the deadly chain of events Wednesday morning. A wide swath of grass was scraped away in the median.
Italian tour operator Viaggidea said there were 16 people on the bus: 14 passengers, a tour guide and the driver. Police said the driver, Alfredo Telemaco, of New York City, died at the scene along with two passengers.
The bus owner, Academy Bus, said the driver had more than a decade of experience with the company.
More than a dozen people were injured and taken to hospitals, where most were being treated for mild to moderate injuries. Monroe County coroner Robert Allen said the tractor-trailer driver, a Macomb, Oklahoma, man, didn't appear to have been severely injured.
Viaggidea spokeswoman Simona Nocifora said she did not have any information on the passengers, including where they were from in Italy.
After sightseeing in New York, the group was headed to Niagara Falls, then Toronto, Washington and Philadelphia, before returning to New York, according to an itinerary for the eight-day trip.
The tractor-trailer was owned by the Xtra Lease company. The company's attorney said officials did not know who was leasing the vehicle.
Johnny Walsh, who lives near the highway, told WCAU-TV that he heard a loud crash and "all of a sudden people were screaming."
Pop singer Gloria Estefan suffered a broken vertebra when a tractor-trailer crashed into her tour bus on the same stretch of highway in 1990 while heading to a concert in Syracuse, New York.
Wednesday's crash came less than a month after an Italian businessman died with seven other people when a speeding Amtrak train ran off the tracks in Philadelphia.
Southwest fares drop below $100 round trip in 72-hour sale
Southwest rolled out a 72-hour, nationwide fare sale Tuesday (June 2) in which the price of its flights are roughly based to distance. Dozens of the carrier's shortest routes are available for fares of less than $100 round trip.
The sale covers travel from Aug. 25 through Dec. 16, though some holiday periods are blacked out. And bargain hunters must act quick; the sale concludes at the end of the day Thursday (June 4).
Southwest has previously rolled out similar fare sales in which fares were pegged to mileage thresholds. In past years, for example, Southwest 's sales priced flights of 500 miles or less at $49 each way and increased from there. Flights of 501 to 1,000 miles cost $99 each way and flights of 1,001 to 1,500 miles cost $129 each way. Flights of more than 1,500 miles went for $149 each way.
While Southwest may have officially ended the precise mileage component of its big sales, this latest promotion appears to closely mimic those previous distance-based promotions. The carrier's four advertised sale-fare tiers — $49, $99, $129 and $149 each way — match the fares it offered on its distance-based sales of years past.
Whatever the details, travelers can snag advertised round-trip fares as low as $98 on short routes. Many routes, such as Chicago-Minneapolis, Los Angeles-San Francisco and Atlanta-Richmond, Va., showed fares as low as $98 (including taxes). Fares on longer flights appear to increase incrementally roughly in correlation to the distance flown.
But the scope of this Southwest sale appears to be more limited than its previous similar promotions. Some of the carrier's sub-500-mile routes – such as Atlanta-New Orleans, Baltimore-Charleston, S.C., and Denver-Albuquerque – were not being sold for the lowest $49 fares. Instead fares on those routes – and a number of Southwest's other short routes – were going for higher sale fares of $63 to $73 each way.
On the flip side, a small number of Southwest's other short routes – such as Chicago-Memphis and Denver-Omaha – were available for even less. Those routes were selling for just $44 each way. Five routes from California's Ontario airport were selling for $46 each way, including Las Vegas, Oakland and Phoenix.
Regardless of the fare and distance, deal-seekers will have to move fast to lock in those prices. Southwest's sale runs only through the end of the day Thursday (June 4), and the cheapest fares will disappear as they sell out.
For the short routes that are priced at $49 each way, that makes for round-trip fares of less than $100 on many city-pairs.
Among the sub-$100 options: Boston-Baltimore; Burbank, Calif.-Sacramento; Charlotte-Baltimore; Cleveland-Chicago Midway; Columbus, Ohio-Washington National; Dallas Love-New Orleans; Denver-Omaha; Detroit-Chicago Midway; Houston Hobby-Corpus Christi, Texas; El Paso-Austin; Grand Rapids, Mich.-St. Louis; Indianapolis-Kansas City; Las Vegas-San Diego; Los Angeles-Oakland; Memphis-Houston Hobby; Nashville-Pensacola, Fla.; New York LaGuardia-Akron/Canton, Ohio; Pittsburgh-Chicago Midway; San Jose, Calif.-Orange County, Calif.; San Francisco-Los Angeles and Spokane, Wash.-Boise.
Southwest's fares are blacked out around Labor Day (Sept. 3-5 and Sept. 7 are excluded) and around Thanksgiving (Nov. 2- through Dec. 1 are excluded). The lowest fares are not offered on Fridays and Sundays. Additionally, the days that the sale fares are offered are further restricted to Southwest's destinations in Florida, Nevada and Puerto Rico. The cheapest sale fares will disappear from flights on all routes as those fares begin to sell out.
Tickets must be purchased Thursday by 11:59 p.m. in the time zone of the originating city.
TSA Under Fire for Missing Airport SIDA Badges
The Transportation Security Administration has come under fire from U.S. senators in the wake of an investigation conducted by NBC 5 in Dallas/Fort Worth that revealed a shocking number of missing airport security badges in San Diego, Atlanta and presumably other airports across the country.
The NBC 5 investigation found that more than 270 Secure Identification Display Area (SIDA) badges went missing at San Diego International Airport over the past two years, while another 1,400 were either lost or stolen at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport over the same period of time.
"Clearly there are an awful lot of things falling through the cracks and there’s just no room for error when it comes to this issue. We need answers. They’re not providing them," said South Dakota senator and Transportation Committee chairman John Thune.
Despite a policy that requires employees who have lost a SIDA badge to notify airport authorities within 24 hours so that they can deactivate it, the NBC 5 investigation revealed that in some cases, several weeks or months had passed before a badge was reported missing.
The TSA points out that in addition to a SIDA badge, codes and/or handprints are required to gain access to secure areas at many airports across the U.S.
But in an effort to gain access to nationwide figures and to learn more about what the TSA is doing to combat the issue, Thune and two other senators serving on the Transportation Committee recently reached out to the agency in a letter demanding more transparency.
The senators issued their letter last month to former acting TSA administrator Melvin Carraway, who was reassigned by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson on Monday following a shocking security lapse.
According to NBC 5, they also planned to question Coast Guard Vice Admiral Peter Neffenger, who was nominated to lead the TSA by President Barack Obama.
Tampa airport set to add restaurant, retail options today
The “Captain Morgan” cocktail bar, built in the shape of a large pirate ship, are among the restaurant options being considered.
The Hillsborough Aviation Authority today could decide whether travelers to Tampa International Airport will be able to have a drink at a Gasparilla-style pirate ship, hoist a local craft brew, or enjoy dinner among various other options.
After accepting bids, officials today are expected to take a final vote on several airport concessions that will be installed as part of the airport’s $1 billion renovation of the terminals.
The “Captain Morgan” cocktail bar, built in the shape of a large pirate ship, are among the restaurant options being considered, including Columbia Cafe, Cigar City Brewing, Pei Wei and P.F. Changs.
Retailers also submitted bids. Among those that could be considered include Tampa-based fashion brand Black & Denim, Spanx, Ron Jon Surf Shop and Victoria’s Secret.
The meeting is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m.
Canadian 'sex tourist' who flew to Broward for teen sex being sentenced
A Canadian "sex tourist" who admitted he traveled to Fort Lauderdale to have sex with two teenage boys is facing 10 years to life in federal prison when he is sentenced this afternoon.
Rene Roberge, 48, wrote in one email that, after a near-death experience, he decided to live all his fantasies and indulge what he called his "perve dreams."
Roberge was arrested in November shortly after his flight landed at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
He had been communicating online for several weeks with a man Roberge thought was going to let him have sex with the man's 14-year-old son in Pompano Beach.
That arrangement was an undercover sting involving a fictional teen, arranged by Florida Department of Law Enforcement agents who posed as a 55-year-old dad.
But after Roberge was detained at the airport, he told federal agents from Homeland Security Investigations that he was also planning to travel on to Texas to have sex with a real 15-year-old boy he had also been communicating with online.
Investigators also found more than 150 child pornography images on Roberge's iPad, which he brought with him. Authorities said he also shared some of the child pornography images with the 15-year-old.
Roberge, a former TV soundman who lived in Sherbrooke in Quebec, pleaded guilty earlier this year to two counts of enticing a minor into sexual activity, one count of entering the U.S. to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor and one count of transporting child pornography.
Roberge's mother, his two brothers and sister-in-law wrote a letter, translated from French, to Chief U.S. District Judge K. Michael Moore acknowledging that Roberge knew he had made "a big mistake" but seeking mercy for him.
The family suggested that he had been deeply affected by a severe heart condition and spent three weeks hovering between life and death in intensive care. Though he can now walk with a cane, they said Roberge was paralyzed from the waist down for some time after surgery.
"Is it a great emotion like this one that caused this unsettlement?" they wrote. "We do not know. Rene has lots of regrets; he is not a criminal. An error was made on his path."
Roberge's online profile described his interests as "looking for Dad how shares for a young boy." He joined groups online called "How sick and twisted are you?" and "Pervert Fantasies."
Federal prosecutors have asked the judge to impose a more severe sentence because the child pornography included images of a prepubescent minor; the material portrayed sadistic or masochistic conduct; and Roberge shared the material with the 15-year-old.
Prosecutors also asked the judge to consider a letter written by the adoptive mother of three of the underage brothers who appeared in some of the child pornography that Roberge downloaded from the Internet.
The boys were sexually assaulted and exploited by a foster parent in 2003 after they were taken from their biological parents because of abuse and neglect. The foster parent repeatedly raped the boys, forced them into sexual activity with other children and shared photographs of that abuse online with other perverts, the mother wrote in her letter.
"Every time a deranged pervert posts and re-posts these graphic images of our sons, our nightmare occurs again and again. For I know that someone is deriving sick sexual pleasure from viewing pictures of my sons being raped."
The woman, who is not identified in court records, said she wrote the letter to dispel the myth that sharing old child pornography online is a victimless crime. Her children feel like they are being exploited when they learn that another person is sharing the images of them being abused online, she wrote.
Roberge's sentencing is scheduled for Thursday afternoon in federal court in Miami. He has been jailed since his November arrest.
Spirit recruits hundreds of flight attendants
It's not often that a job interview starts with a happy dance, but hundreds of prospective Spirit Airlines flight attendants were doing just that Wednesday as the low-cost carrier kicked off its recruitment fair in Fort Lauderdale.
The pep rally of sorts — led by Greg McIntyre, Spirit's senior manager for Inflight — had the packed room of more than 500 recruits on their feet dancing to "Happy" by Pharrell Williams.
The energy was high as recruits of varying ethnicities and ages danced and hooted in excitement over the opportunities that lie ahead.
"We're hiring everywhere, so it's a great time to be here," Laurie Villa, Spirit's chief human resources officer told attendees. "We will hire over 600 flight attendants this year. We're well on our way, but we still have a good ways to go."
The flight attendant job fair is part of the Miramar-based carrier's overall plan to hire about 1,500 employees in 2015 as it prepares to take delivery of more aircraft and launch new destinations or expand key routes.
"You can be part of this growth. It's a very exciting time here [at Spirit]," she said.
Spirit recently took delivery of its 71st aircraft and will have 143 aircraft by 2021, Villa said. That's increased from a fleet of 65 Airbus aircraft as of December.
The airline is seeking to fill flight attendant positions at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and at other bases and also has jobs available in its customer support center, Villa said.
In addition to Fort Lauderdale, Spirit has flight attendant bases in Atlantic City, Detroit, Dallas-Fort Worth, Las Vegas and Chicago.
There are 50 immediate flight attendant openings at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood, said Maggie Espin-Christina, Spirit's senior manager of internal communications and recruiter.
Spirit is the third-busiest airline at the Fort Lauderdale airport with 17.4 percent of passenger traffic in March, according to the latest airport data.
In recent years, the carrier has experienced about 30 percent growth annually, and that pace is expected to continue, company officials have said.
In the first quarter, Spirit launched nine new nonstop routes and added Cleveland as its 57th destination.
Last year, Spirit began service to 23 new markets and added Kansas City to its route map.
"We are the fastest growing airline in the U.S. right now," Villa told recruits Wednesday.
In a call for flight attendants this year, the low-cost carrier said it's "on the lookout for fun and friendly, relaxed and confident, professional men and women to become the face of Spirit."
Besides those qualities, flight attendants must be able to work flexible hours, communicate effectively, be at least 21 years old, possess a valid passport, have a high school diploma or GED certificate and be able to lift 40 pounds from floor to shoulder level.
Flight attendants also need to have a customer-focus mindset and have a tolerance for stress, said McIntyre, Spirit's inflight manager.
At Wednesday's job fair, recruits who successfully completed the three-phase interview process would be offered a job. If they accepted, they would begin a four-week training session in Fort Lauderdale on June 23, Spirit recruiter Espin-Christina said.
Among the hopefuls was Cornelius Edwards, 30, of West Palm Beach.
"I love the airline industry, and I'm looking for longevity and Spirit seems like a company that could offer that," he said of his reasons for applying. "Customer service is my life, and Spirit seems like a very fun airline."
The hiring fairs are taking place at a time when Spirit and its unionized flight attendants are in negotiations to iron out a new contract agreement. The flights attendants have so far voted twice to reject tentative agreements reached by the airline and union leaders.
Spirit plans to host more job fairs in other U.S. cities and will return to Fort Lauderdale in the fall, Villa said. Invitations are required to attend.
To get an invitation, applicants must complete an online application and pass an initial assessment.
Amex Centurion Lounge opens Thursday at Miami International Airport
American Express card members will soon have an exclusive lounge where they can relax and rejuvenate between flights when traveling through Miami International Airport.
The new American Express Centurion Lounge is set to open Thursday in the North Terminal of the Miami airport near Gate D-12.
Domestic and international travelers with a valid Amex credit card can gain access to the lounge and all its offerings, including food and drinks, by purchasing a $50 day pass upon arrival. Amex Platinum and Centurion card members receive complimentary entrance and services as part of their card membership benefits.
The lounge will offer locally-inspired cuisine with menu selections curated and designed by South Florida chef Michelle Bernstein, a spokeswoman said Wednesday during a tour of the MIA location. The bar features signature cocktails, premium spirits and specialty wines.
Members can also enjoy 15-minute spa services such as chair massages and mini-manicures, and will have access to high-speed Wi-Fi, personal computers and noise-buffering work spaces.
The 8,000-square-foot lounge also offers a family room with entertainment for children, shower suites and luggage lockers. Amex member services representatives will also be on hand to assist with travel changes or future trip planning.
All of the lounge's offerings are available on a first-come, first-served basis and may not be reserved in advance, according to Amex.
The décor of MIA's Amex Centurion lounge offers travelers a look into Miami's culture and history. Walls are adorned with photo prints of celebrities such as PitBull, Jackie Gleason, Jimmy Buffett and Ernest Hemmingway.
MIA is the fifth U.S. airport, following LaGuardia in New York, McCarran International in Las Vegas, Dallas/Fort Worth International and San Francisco International, to feature a Centurion Lounge.
Lawsuit: Man racks up $48,500 in gift cards via glitch in hotel rewards program
ST. PETERSBURG — It was the glitch that kept on giving.
That's how Choice Hotels International, one of the world's largest hotel chains, portrays a flaw in its online reservations system in a lawsuit accusing a St. Petersburg man of fraudulently redeeming gift cards worth $48,500 in a rewards program for loyal customers.
Robert Chat, 38, discovered the Choice Hotels booking system didn't erase his rewards points when he canceled a reservation, the suit said. So Chat began making, and quickly canceling, hundreds of reservations from October to January, then redeeming gift cards earned as a "reward," Choice Hotel alleges. Chat denies wrongdoing.
The gift cards could be used at a variety of stores and restaurants, including Dunkin' Donuts, Home Depot, Target and Applebee's.
Choice Hotels filed suit against Chat on May 21 in Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Court seeking to recover its losses and additional damages, and said Chat knew or should have known that people don't get rewarded by hotel franchises for declining to spend their money on a room.
The points "are offered as a reward in exchange for actually staying at Choice Hotels, not simply for making a reservation," the lawsuit said.
Officials at Choice Hotels, a chain that franchises 6,300 hotels that include Econo Lodge, Comfort Inn and Clarion, among others, declined to comment Tuesday.
Chat, 38, who said he had not been aware of the lawsuit until a reporter asked him about it, wrote in an email to the Tampa Bay Times that he received less than 10 percent of the $48,500 in gift cards alleged in the lawsuit.
"I'll be hiring a lawyer tomorrow to fight the suit as there was nothing done illegal nor was anything done in malice," Chat said late Tuesday. "I stayed at over 1,100 Choice hotels in the last five years. … I worked with their bonus structure to obtain points."
He added, "I'm not even computer literate. If I obtained more rewards than allowed, it's on their end, not mine. As I've stayed in their hotels exclusively for over six years, points do accumulate."
It is unclear what Chat does for a living. Chat is listed by the state as president of Dragonsong Weapons Inc., a company that makes and sells swords. It is unclear if the company is still in operation. Articles of incorporation were filed in 2010, but there have been no corporate filings since, state records show.
Choice Hotels said Chat had been a customer of its hotels and had "actually stayed at" several before he discovered the flaw in the reservation system.
Like most other hotel chains, Choice Hotels operates a rewards program to keep customers coming back. It calls the program Choice Privileges.
"Our points will really add up, fast and freely," Choice Hotels boasts online. Earn "points for that little something to make today extra special — like a coffee to perk you up or a song for your morning drive."
The lawsuit said the rules of the program make it clear that customers earn the points for "actually staying in a Choice Hotel room and paying for the room in full."
"Frequent-stay programs are common throughout the industry and neither Choice nor its competitors offer rewards for frequent reservations," the lawsuit said.
An attorney for Choice Hotels sent a March 12 letter to Chat demanding he pay triple damages to the company within 30 days, which the lawyer said is allowed under Florida law for cases involving civil theft. Choice Hotels said that meant Chat owes it $145,500.
The suit, which does not indicate if any other customers took advantage of the glitch, said Chat did not respond to the demand letter.
Promotions and loyalty programs have become a staple of American commerce. So too are tales of consumers who jump at the chance to take a promotion to the extreme.
One of the best-known cases involved a California civil engineer who in 1999 became something of a cult hero when he noticed at the local supermarket a promotion by Healthy Choice allowing consumers to earn 500 to 1,000 frequent-flier miles if they sent in the bar codes from 10 of the company's products.
David Phillips, according to published reports, purchased $3,150 worth of pudding to successfully earn $150,000 worth of free airline mileage — more than 1.2 million miles worth.
Puerto Rico developer plans first Marriott AC Hotel in Orlando
A Puerto Rican developer is planning to build the first Marriott AC Hotel in the Orlando area, near Mall at Millenia.
The AC brand features “sophisticated European-inspired aesthetics,” according to the brand’s website. They were built mostly overseas until recently. The new plan in Orlando calls for 254 units on just over four acres at 5450 Millenia Lakes Blvd.
The plan was filed with the city by a Puerto Rico-based company named Island Hospitality LLC. The contact listed for the company is Jaime Morgan Stubbe. That’s also the name of the former executive director of the Puerto Rico Maritime Authority, who is now a real estate developer. But attempts to contact him or the company were not immediately successful.
Another new AC Hotel was set to open this summer in Miami Beach. The hotel chain was originally named for its founder Spanish hotelier Antonio Catalan, before Marriott acquired it.
The architect on the project is identified as Kobi Karp of Miami Beach. Kimley-Horn and Associates Inc. is the engineering firm, while Altamonte Springs-based Shannon Surveying is the surveyor.
The world's most popular amusement park is ...
(CNN)The home of Mickey Mouse, Cinderella and "Frozen's" Elsa and Anna, it's touted as the happiest place on Earth.
And it's the most popular -- at least among amusement parks.
The Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World in Florida welcomed more than 19 million visitors in 2014, an increase of 4% over 2013, according to a report released Wednesday (PDF).
Amusement park attendance is on the rise around the world.
There were 223 million visits to the top 25 theme and amusement parks worldwide, up 4.1% from 2013, according to the Themed Entertainment Association and AECOM global attractions attendance report. The index ranks the 25 most-visited amusement and theme parks around the world, based on attendance figures compiled by AECOM.
Disney dominated the list.
Disney parks in the United States, Europe and Asia made up nine of the top 10 parks and held 11 of the top 25 spots. Universal Studios' theme parks came in second place, with one park in the top 10 list and four in the top 25 list. SeaWorld held one spot in the top 25.
Visits to parks around the world keep increasing, and not just at the top 25 parks: There were 122.5 million visits to the top 20 Asian theme/amusement parks last year, up 4.9% from 2013. There were 138 million visits to the top 20 North American theme/amusement parks last year, up 2.2% from 2013. There were 59.5 million visits to parks in Europe, the Middle East and Africa last year, up 3% from the year before.
In case you missed these news stories.
Bill Vervaeke, CDME
West Palm Beach, FL 33411
(561) 795-5912 (Office & Facsimile)
http://groups.google.com/group/wav-daily-travel-newsletter
(WAV: Oh, sure “Carnival emphasized that this bottled beverage ban is not a ploy to increase onboard revenues” really?)
Carnival to Ban Carry-On Bottled Beverages
In an effort to stop liquor smuggling, Carnival Cruise Line is prohibiting its passengers from bringing bottled beverages onboard effective July 9.
Carnival says it’s implementing the bottled beverage ban for two main reasons. First, it slows down the boarding process due to security checks for contraband booze. Second, it can lead to behavioral problems caused by overconsumption.
“Bottled beverages are the most common means by which guests attempt to smuggle alcohol on board, which necessitates that bottles be individually examined by security personnel,” Carnival said. “This bogs down the embarkation process and requires security resources dedicated to checking bottled beverages. Most importantly, when behavioral issues occur on board and are ultimately investigated, smuggled alcohol often appears to be a factor.”
Cruise passengers who want to drink booze without paying shipboard prices get very creative in their smuggling efforts, sometimes going so far as to fill mouthwash bottles with liquor and tinting it with food coloring so it looks like the original product. Or, they’ll carefully remove some bottles of water from a package, fill them with booze, and replace them so the bottles and packaging look unopened.
Such smuggling has spawned a cottage industry of flasks, plastic bladders and even fake beer bellies that store booze and are said to be undetectable by security devices. Google the topic and you’ll find a plethora of advice columns and YouTube videos.
However, cruise lines — and it affects virtually all of them — have caught on and now inspect bottles to confiscate the booze. Carnival will continue to check mouthwash and other personal/grooming products in bottles as well as other apparatus designed to smuggle alcohol.
Yet Carnival said it realizes many guests carry aboard bottled water or cans of soda, and will allow small quantities. The line also is greatly reducing the cost of buying bottled water onboard.
“We will continue to allow up to 12 unopened cans or cartons of water, sodas and non-alcoholic beverages per person to be brought on board during embarkation,” the line said. “Guests can now purchase a 12-pack of bottled water from Carnival at a price of $2.99 plus tax online prior to their cruise or $4.99 plus gratuities once on board. We sincerely apologize for any disappointment these changes may cause. However, we firmly believe these changes will ultimately benefit all guests.”
Passengers age 21 and older can, however, bring aboard one 750-milliliter bottle of unopened wine or champagne in carry-on baggage on embarkation day. If they choose to consume it in a restaurant or bar, they will be charged a $15 corkage fee.
All liquor, beer, other forms of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages outside of these exceptions are prohibited in both carry-on and checked luggage and will be confiscated and discarded with no compensation provided. All alcohol purchased in ports of call or onboard shops will be returned on the morning of debarkation.
Guests also are prohibited from bringing large coolers onboard since it’s an impediment to the boarding and security process, Carnival said. They can bring onboard personal-sized coolers, no larger than 12-by-12-by-12 inches to store small quantities of non-alcoholic beverages and/or medications.
Carnival emphasized that this bottled beverage ban is not a ploy to increase onboard revenues, as some will undoubtedly accuse. “In fact, we do not anticipate any increase in revenue as a result of this policy change, particularly given the significant reduction in price we have instituted for 12-packs of bottled water,” the line said.
Carnival is notifying booked guests and travel agents today.
“Bottled beverages are the most common source of attempted transport of alcohol on board,” Carnival said. “Often times, we find guests transporting alcohol onboard through unauthorized means, resulting in unmonitored consumption of alcohol. Unfortunately, this has led to behavioral and safety related concerns.”
TSA Fails to Identify 73 Employees with Terrorism Ties
The embattled Transportation Security Administration – already under heavy scrutiny after an undercover investigation revealed that agents were able to sneak fake explosives and other banned items and weapons past TSA screeners on 67 of 70 attempts – is under fire again.
However, the agency might not be completely at fault this time.
NBC News is reporting that a Department of Homeland Security Inspector General report found that the TSA failed to identify 73 aviation employees with links to terrorism who have active clearance badges.
The employees – not named by the TSA – worked for major airlines, airport vendors and other aviation-related employers.
“In addition to initially vetting every application for new credentials, TSA recurrently vetted aviation workers with access to secured areas of commercial airports every time the Consolidated Terrorist Watchlist was updated," the report found.
However, the Inspector General noted one key issue.
“…TSA did not identify 73 individuals with terrorism-related category codes because TSA is not authorized to receive all terrorism-related information under current interagency watchlisting policy,” the report said.
According to NBC, the report recommended that TSA "request additional watchlist data, require that airports improve verification of applicants' right to work, revoke credentials when the right to work expires, and improve the quality of vetting data."
This comes a week after the head of the Transportation Security Administration was replaced by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson.
Johnson made the move to reassign TSA acting administrator Melvin Carraway after an undercover investigation revealed a shocking lapse in security among TSA screeners.
In 67 of 70 attempts – more than 95 percent – undercover agents were able to sneak fake explosives and other banned items and weapons past TSA screeners.
ABC News first reported the findings.
The 67 successful attempts included one instance in which an undercover agent set off the security alarm, according to the Washington D.C.-based publication The Hill, yet was allowed to continue on after a pat-down – even though he had a fake bomb taped to his back.
Florida leaders debate hold on local rules for ride-share businesses
TALLAHASSEE — The Senate wants to temporarily freeze local governments from making new rules regarding ride-sharing services such as Uber, but the House Justice Appropriations Subcommittee on Tuesday did not match a $10,000 budget proposal for a study of such app-based businesses that the Senate Criminal and Civil Justice Appropriations Subcommittee offered Monday.
That means the Uber proposal could end up being resolved by Senate Appropriations Chairman Sen. Tom Lee, R-Brandon, and House Appropriations Chairman Rep. Richard Corcoran, R-Land O’ Lakes. The $10,000 would fund a study by the Legislature’s Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability to look into the “positive” impact app-based ride-sharing services have on reducing drunken driving in Florida. The study would need to be completed by April 1, 2016.
As the study is underway, local governments would be prohibited from imposing new rules against Uber and other app-based transportation network services, which have been heavily lobbying lawmakers this year.
During this spring’s regular legislative session, lawmakers failed to advance a House proposal for statewide regulations that would have overridden local rules for the fast-growing transportation networks. Also, lawmakers did not take action on proposed insurance requirements for the ride-sharing companies.
(WAV: Yes, indeed, this is a travel news story.)
US Ousts Russia as World's Top Oil, Gas Producer in BP Report
The U.S. has taken Russia’s crown as the world’s biggest oil and natural-gas producer, illustrating the seismic shifts in the global energy landscape caused by America’s shale fields.
U.S. oil production rose to an all-time high last year, gaining 1.6 million barrels a day, according to BP Plc’s Statistical Review of World Energy released on Wednesday. Gas output also rose, putting America ahead of Russia as a producer of the hydrocarbons combined.
The data showing the U.S.’s emergence as the world’s top driller confirms a trend that’s helped the world’s largest economy slash imports, caused a slump in global energy prices and shifted the country’s foreign policy priorities.
“We are truly witnessing a changing of the guard of global energy suppliers,” BP’s Chief Economist Spencer Dale said in a presentation. “The implications of the shale revolution for the U.S. are profound.”
The other major shift in at the BP report is China’s energy consumption growing at the slowest pace since the Asian financial crisis of the late 1990s as the economy slows and the country tries to lessen its reliance on heavy industry.
“Growth in some of China’s most energy-intensive sectors, such as steel, iron and cement — which had thrived during China’s rapid industrialization — virtually collapsed in 2014,” said Dale, a former Bank of England policy maker who joined BP last year.
Economic Change
In the U.S., the boom in oil and gas production has started to change the economy profoundly. Cheap fuel has seen manufacturing return to the U.S. as the country produced about 90 percent of the energy it consumed last year.
Last year, imports equaled 1 percent of GDP, according to BP’s data. In 2007, just before the financial crisis, U.S. energy imports accounted for about half of the current account deficit of 5 percent of GDP.
Shale drillers from Exxon Mobil Corp. to Chesapeake Energy Corp. spent about $120 billion last year in the U.S., more than double the amount five years earlier.
The U.S. increase in oil production last year, helping it to overtake Saudi Arabia as a crude producer, was the first time a country has raised production by at least 1 million barrels a day for three consecutive years, BP said.
Among other producers outside the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, Canada and Brazil also posted record production last year, prompting OPEC’s policy shift of ditching price support for defending market share.
On the demand side, countries outside the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development accounted for all of the net growth in global consumption of 0.8 million barrels a day, or 0.8 percent, last year, BP said. Chinese consumption growth, though slower, still increased 390,000 barrels a day, the biggest increase in the world.
Oil consumption in developed nations dropped 1.2 percent, the eighth decrease in the past nine years. World natural gas consumption grew 0.4 percent last year, compared with the 10- year average of 2.4 percent.
The world’s coal use also increased 0.4 percent, slower than the 10-year average annual growth of 2.9 percent, with consumption in China almost slowing as the nation seeks to cut pollution and use more gas for power generation. Coal’s share of primary energy consumption fell to 30 percent.
EU commits $133 million for Latin America, Caribbean
EU commits $133 million in investment aid for Latin American, Caribbean nations at summit
BRUSSELS (AP) -- The European Union has committed 118 million euros ($133 million) in investment support for Latin America and Caribbean nations at the start of their two-day summit.
The EU Commission said Wednesday that the combination of loans, grants and other financial operations would seek to enhance trans-Atlantic cooperation.
The executive of the 28-nation EU said the support will center on the transport, energy and environment sectors in the nations.
Spanish air controllers stage 2nd day of partial strikes
Spanish air controllers stage second day of partial strikes, no report yet of cancelations
MADRID (AP) -- Spain's air traffic controllers have staged the second set of partial strikes but there are no immediate reports of major flight delays or cancelations.
A spokesman for Spain's air navigation company, Enaire, said 1,217 flights were to take place during the strike periods between 10 a.m. and noon and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday but there were no flight disruptions so far.
He said flight punctuality was 98 percent on Monday, the first strike day. He spoke on condition of anonymity in keeping with company policy.
Government-imposed minimum staffing services of 70 percent have minimized the strike effect.
The stoppages are also to take place June 12 and 14.
The USCA controllers' union called the strikes to protest penalties imposed on members after a 24-hour strike in 2010.
High-speed rail brings fears of gutted communities, noise
Residents along proposed California high-speed rail line fear noise, falling property values
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- California Gov. Jerry Brown has compared the state's high-speed rail line to construction of the Golden Gate Bridge and the great cathedrals of Europe. Isobel Cook doesn't see it that way.
The 13-year-old who raises chickens, turkeys and ducks in the unincorporated community of Acton told members of the California High-Speed Rail Authority Tuesday that she feared the $68 billion project traveling at speeds up to 220 mph would divide her hometown.
"I love my home," the teenager said, dressed in 4-H attire with medals for prize-winning animals she raised arrayed on her cap. "I don't want it to change."
Acton, on the edge of the Angeles National Forest, sits on a proposed segment that would run from the Los Angeles suburb of Burbank to the high-desert city of Palmdale. Cook was one of about two dozen area residents who told the panel the train would be a threat to rural lifestyles that prize serenity and unbroken vistas.
The panel is considering possible routes through that area.
There were complaints about potential harm to groundwater and home values, hints of lawsuits to come and indignation that the government wasn't listening to the people it serves.
Many who testified urged the authority to tunnel through the area north of Los Angeles, leaving the community unscathed. The state is considering some options that include tunneling through the Angeles National Forest.
"We'd like to see you crawl into a hole in Palmdale and crawl out of it in Burbank, said developer Christopher A. Croisdale, an Acton resident.
The train, Brown's signature project, has been beset by delays and questions about funding.
Demolition and engineering work has been underway for months around Fresno, one of the hubs on the first stretch. But the agency is behind schedule in acquiring the land needed to begin construction, and the state has only found a fraction of the money needed before tracks will be installed.
The board's moves on Tuesday included the approval of a seven-year, $700 million contract with consulting firm Parsons Brinckerhoff, Inc. The firm, which has already had a key consulting role in the project for years, was chosen over competitor Bechtel Infrastructure Corporation.
Tuesday's gathering comes in the wake of a heated meeting last month in the Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley, which is home to some of the train's most vocal opponents. In the city of San Fernando, elected officials joined residents in confronting state officials, going so far as to set up their own public address system in the auditorium to express their grievances.
San Fernando Mayor Joel Fajardo told the panel the line would cleave the community in two, potentially leaving it bankrupt. He argued that the panel was exploiting working-class areas like San Fernando, while bypassing Beverly Hills and other wealthier enclaves.
"You would divide the city in half with a 20-foot wall," he said.
The panel also heard endorsements. Union members talked of the need for jobs in a state still recovering from the recession. Palmdale Mayor James Ledford Jr. said the line would connect his city "to where the jobs are in Southern California."
Wealthy communities in the San Francisco Bay Area and farmers in the Central Valley have also raised concerns about the project.
Residents in the Silicon Valley forced the planned train to use existing commuter rail tracks into San Francisco at lower speeds. Farmers have sued and refused to sell their fields at prices they considered too low.
Before the meeting in downtown Los Angeles, opponents of the line crowded under a portico, below a banner that said Brown's legacy would be "displacement, destruction and devastation."
Airlines could soon shrink the size of luggage you’re allowed to carry on
It’s a happy day for luggage manufacturers. The world’s major airlines could soon be changing their requirements for carry-on luggage, potentially forcing people to buy new bags.
Working with airlines and aircraft manufacturers including Boeing and Airbus, the International Air Transport Association (IATA), a trade association, unveiled a new best-size guideline on Tuesday for carry-on bags at 21.5 inches tall by 13.5 inches wide and 7.5 inches deep. That's 21 percent smaller than the size currently permitted by American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines.
Eight major international airlines have already decided to adopt the new rules: Air China, Avianca, Azul, Cathay Pacific, China Southern, Emirates, Lufthansa and Qatar. "We’ll certainly be announcing more big carriers," said Chris Goater, a spokesman for the transport association.
Still, the guideline is non-binding, and carriers are free to ignore the suggestion or adjust it. Goater stressed that nobody should feel compelled to run out and buy new luggage today.
American Airlines has no immediate plans to change its baggage program, a spokesman said. Delta and United have yet to respond to requests for comment.
"Many airlines have existing baggage size suggestions for carry ons, and those are not affected by what we've announced today," Goater said.
The airlines have begun working with luggage manufacturers to produce new bags meeting the dimensions that will be labeled “Cabin OK.”
The guideline is designed to allow every passenger to have room for their carry-on bags in a plane of at least 120 seats. Currently, 20 passengers have to check their bags because overhead compartments are full.
The idea is to set a standard size that consumers can be confident will be allowed on most major airlines. "If you've got a Cabin OK bag ... you can fit it in. And it'll be someone else's bag that has to go in the hold, not yours," Goater said.
“What we’re trying to do is take away that uncertainty from the 120th passenger in line – will I be able to bring my bag into the cabin?” said Perry Flint, another spokesman for IATA.
The new guideline is about half an inch shorter and narrower than many airlines allow. But the biggest change is that it is significantly shallower, by an inch and a half — meaning no more overstuffing your suitcase.
(WAV: Okay, so maybe it isn’t pure travel news. But, I found it interesting news.)
SpaceX founder files with government to provide Internet service from space
Elon Musk’s space company has asked the federal government for permission to begin testing on an ambitious project to beam Internet service from space, a significant step forward for an initiative that could create another major competitor to Comcast, AT&T and other telecom companies.
The plan calls for launching a constellation of 4,000 small and cheap satellites that would beam high-speed Internet signals to all parts of the globe, including its most remote regions. Musk has said the effort “would be like rebuilding the Internet in space.”
If successful, the attempt could transform SpaceX, based in Hawthorne, Calif., from a pure rocket company into a massive high-speed-Internet provider that would take on major companies in the developed world but also make first-time customers out of the billions of people who are currently not online.
The idea of saturating Earth with Internet signals from space has long been the dream of prominent business tycoons, including Bill Gates in the 1990s. But many of these ventures have run into obstacles that Musk is working to avoid. Musk has his own rocket, and he has said his swarm of satellites will be more efficient and inexpensive than relying on a handful of big devices that are difficult to replace.
Dish Network and DirecTV, for instance, have for years relied on a few older satellites that are cast much farther into space and can serve only specific regions such as the United States. SpaceX’s web of satellites would wrap around Earth in low orbit, handing off Internet signals to one another to make connections more reliable and to reach more areas.
The filing, made with the Federal Communications Commission late last month, is the first public glimpse into how Musk will move ahead with the project.
Musk isn’t the only billionaire entrepreneur who is pursuing such an idea. Virgin’s Richard Branson has partnered with a company with similar ambitions. Both ventures would have to succeed where many have failed.
Facebook recently abandoned its plan to build a $500 million satellite that would provide Internet service across the globe, according to the Information, a tech site.
And a previous effort by a firm called LightSquared to use satellites to provide wireless service fell apart three years ago, despite initial backing from the FCC. Military officials complained at the time that the technology interfered with the radar used by planes — a problem that shouldn’t hinder Musk’s effort, industry officials said.
Musk’s FCC filing proposes tests starting next year. If all goes well, the service could be up and running in about five years.
The satellites would be deployed from one of SpaceX’s rockets, the Falcon 9. Once in orbit, the satellites would connect to ground stations at three West Coast facilities. The purpose of the tests is to see whether the antenna technology used on the satellites will be able to deliver high-speed Internet to the ground without hiccups.
Despite a history of failed satellite ventures, wealthy individuals and companies are pouring fresh funds into exploring satellite-based communications. Google and Fidelity recently invested $1 billion into SpaceX, in part to support the satellite broadband Internet project.
A company called OneWeb, backed by Virgin’s Branson and founded by Greg Wyler, has similar ambitions: “OneWeb’s mission is to bring the entire world online to improve quality of life and spur economic and national development where it’s needed most,” Wyler has said.
Wyler was also involved in launching O3b Networks, which already has 12 satellites in space, providing Internet to 40 customers, including Royal Caribbean International, the Republic of Congo and the Papua New Guinea University of Technology, an O3b spokeswoman said.
Some analysts say that while the technology appears promising, the basic logistics are difficult to overcome. In the mid-1990s, Teledesic, a company funded by Gates, legendary wireless executive Craig McCaw and a Saudi prince, tried to employ a similar plan to use low-Earth-orbiting satellites to provide Internet access. But costs ballooned to more than $9 billion, and the venture ultimately collapsed.
Voices: In Atlantic City, the gold's turning to sand
ATLANTIC CITY — When casino gambling came to this fading beach resort four decades ago, it looked like salvation. "The sand's turning to gold,'' observed a character in the Bruce Springsteen song named after the city.
Now the process is reversing itself.
The city's prospects this summer are the grimmest since 1978, when the first major legalization of casino gambling outside Las Vegas rescued what was becoming a slum by the sea.
Atlantic City is famous for innovations like the Boardwalk (1870), the amusement pier (1882) and salt water taffy (circa 1883). It hosted the first Miss America pageant in 1921 and the Democratic National Convention in 1964. The names of its very streets are immortalized on the Monopoly board.
By the end of last summer, however, it didn't seem things could get any worse. Two of the 12 casinos had closed, and gaming revenues continued to shrink in the face of competition from an ever-growing number of casinos in nearby states.
But Atlantic City always manages to surprise, for better or worse. This past off season offered plenty of the latter.
Revel, a $2 billion hotel casino that was supposed to revive Atlantic City when it opened just two years earlier, closed. It was then bought at a fire sale price by a Florida investor whose dispute over an electrical bill plunged the state's second-tallest building into darkness for three weeks before power was provisionally restored.
Revel, which New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie once called "a game-changer for Atlantic City,'' will be closed all summer, maybe longer.
Another casino, Trump Plaza, closed last September. A third, Trump Taj Mahal, filed for bankruptcy and stayed open only after an 11th-hour deal with its unions. The Caesar's unit that owns two other casinos also filed for bankruptcy.
The biggest off-season shocker was Stockton State University's purchase of the shuttered Showboat Casino Hotel for $18 million. But the school's plan to turn the place into its "Island Campus" was blocked by the Taj, which is next to the Showboat and says it doesn't want students sneaking into its casino — something that apparently didn't worry the school
In the midst of this, the Stockton president who did the deal (without running it past the State Controller's office or securing the Taj's agreement) announced plans to retire, and then went on emergency medical leave.
This has frustrated attempts by legislators to ask him: What the hell were you thinking?
In what passes here for good news, the same guy who bought the Revel has agreed to buy the Showboat (and for a while talked about running a power cable from it to neighboring Revel).
The city, facing a $400 million budget deficit and the loss of a large part of its tax base, has been placed under a state fiscal monitor and forced to lay off employees, including 80% of its parks and recreation department.
About 8,000 casino or hotel employees have lost their jobs, spreading the misery across South Jersey.
This all is bad news for Christie, the could be Republican presidential candidate who tied himself to A.C.'s revival. Now even he seems to accept the inevitability of at least one casino in North Jersey, ending this city's in-state monopoly.
Fourth of July, traditionally the biggest weekend of the season, promises to be less than celebratory this year, at least if you remember the glory days.
People will fill A.C.'s Steel Pier at dusk to watch fireworks explode over the water. But it's hard to see how America's first great beach resort, which survived the advent of air conditioning, jet travel and the backyard swimming pool, can come back this time.
Airport con man who made $22,000 a month by ripping off travelers finally caught after 15 years
For fifteen years, Andrew Gradon ran the same scam in airports around Europe, collecting an estimated $22,000 every month from well-meaning travelers. Even more remarkably, he managed to stay ahead of the police even though he always used his real name, and his passport picture has been widely circulated for the past five years. But that finally came to an end earlier this year, when he was arrested mid-con in the Munich airport.
Gradon never changed his method – and why would he, when it kept working? He approached well-dressed women (and the occasional man) in more than a half-dozen European airports, telling them that he’d missed his flight and he needed €40 ($45) to rebook so (and here’s where the violins would begin to swell) he could get home to Newcastle, England in time to tuck his children into bed. His credit card wasn’t working, he’d say, but he’d give them his real name and a very fake Yahoo email address, promising to repay them. He never did, which shouldn’t have been surprising considering two key clues that should’ve tipped everyone off: 1) No airline would let you change your flight for $45 and 2) who even has a Yahoo email address?).
Five years ago, quick-thinking Swedish businessman Tommy Forsell snapped a picture of Gradon’s passport after wondering whether he’d just been swindled. Forsell told the media:
He wasn’t wearing a tie but he had on some kind of jacket and he looked a bit stressed. He did a really good role, he was very convincing […] I handed over €40 and he was going to send me contact details, and I took a photo of his passport. When he left I felt sorry for him and hoped he got home.
Gradon’s picture and identity were widely reported in the press (including a first-hand report from a writer from The Economist who was ripped off) and in forums where his victims shared their stories and sightings. That didn’t stop him. Instead, he started taunting everyone else back. In 2009, he responded to a forum post about himself, writing:
You got ripped off and can’t handle it. At least I give you the choice to say yes or no. Not like some people out there.
American Airlines restarting flights down under
After a gap of nearly 24 years, American Airlines is to resume flights to Australia.
American will launch a daily flight from Los Angeles to Sydney from December 17 in direct competition with rivals United Airlines and Delta.
"With both the US and Australian economies growing, we see strong demand for travel between the two regions, and we're introducing more choices to meet the demand of our customers," said American chief executive Doug Parker.
The new service will mean some changes to American's transpacific alliance with partner Qantas.
Qantas will reduce its Los Angeles schedule slightly and resume San Francisco-Sydney flights from December 20 after a four year gap.
In a joint media briefing Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce said the two airlines will add about 9% to seat capacity on US-Australia routes.
Hollywood mad over Margaritaville ad's reference to Fort Lauderdale
Margaritaville, fans say, might be just the ticket to put Hollywood on the map.
But a recent promotional email describing the Jimmy Buffett-themed resort as being in Greater Fort Lauderdale has left Hollywood in a huff.
"Fort Lauderdale did not ante up the money to make this project a reality. Hollywood did," Jim Stoodley, one of Hollywood's miffed residents, wrote in an email to City Hall.
Margaritaville developer Lon Tabatchnick says the wording was chosen to differentiate Hollywood from its more famous counterpart in California.
"We want people to find us," Tabatchnick said. "If someone is in Sioux City, Iowa, when they hear Hollywood, they think California."
The ad, to which so many took offense, says: "Now Taking Reservations! The all-new Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort will open Summer 2015 on the legendary Hollywood Beach Broadwalk in Greater Fort Lauderdale, but you can book your stay now!"
The ad has since been changed, trading the words "Greater Fort Lauderdale" for "South Florida."
"He better change it," Stoodley said. "If he wants to use Fort Lauderdale, I think Fort Lauderdale should pay Hollywood half of the money we spent."
Margaritaville's $147 million resort is being built on beachfront land owned by Hollywood. The deal has the developer leasing the land for 99 years and Hollywood's redevelopment agency kicking in $23 million.
Broward County tourism czar Nicki Grossman defended the ad.
"The folks at Margaritaville know what sells and that's Greater Fort Lauderdale," said Grossman, whose title is president of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau. "The smart hotel and the smart restaurant and the smart attraction is going to follow the brand."
Still, angry emails from residents were flying through cyberspace, prompting four city commissioners to complain about the original wording.
In an email to the city manager, Commissioner Traci Callari said the ad "hit a nerve."
Commissioner Patty Asseff griped as well.
"We've made an investment in Margaritaville," Asseff said during a recent meeting. "We did all this to brand the city of Hollywood. We didn't do this so we could brand Fort Lauderdale."
Commissioner Peter Hernandez chimed in, saying he considered the Greater Fort Lauderdale reference "insulting."
Commissioner Kevin Biederman said he was not at all surprised by the wording.
"Any way we can get people here, we should get people here," he said Tuesday. "Part of me says that is what Margaritaville is trying to do. In another sense, Hollywood can't make a name for itself when a $150 million hotel is advertising itself as being in Fort Lauderdale. Now we are cast in the shadow of Fort Lauderdale."
Tabatchnick seemed taken aback by the brouhaha.
"I want the same thing the residents do," Tabatchnick told the Sun Sentinel. "I want to put Hollywood on the map. We're on the same team here."
Asseff has since chilled out, after a chat with Tabatchnick.
"He wants people to know it's near Fort Lauderdale," she said. "His goal is to fill the beds. I think after it's up and running, he will put Hollywood, Florida, on the map."
Wheelchair attendants strike at FLL airport
They prayed, chanted motivational slogans and shared their stories as they gathered in solidarity on the picket line Tuesday.
About 50 wheelchair attendants at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport rallied in the heat, some dogding raindrops during a one-day strike to protest what they called the "poverty wages" paid by their employer and other labor related concerns.
The strikers are employed by G2 Secure Staff, which services Southwest and Virgin America airlines, according to the Service Employees International Union.
The SEIU 32BJ, which already represents cleaners at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood, is helping the G2 workers in their efforts to become unionized, a representative said.
G2 officials could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
Representatives of Southwest and Virgin said the strike did not affect customers in need of wheelchair service.
"Our flights and services are not impacted by labor disputes, and those with special needs will continue to receive" service, Southwest spokeswoman Michelle Agnew in an email.
G2's wheelchair attendants earn $8.05 plus tips with limited benefits, and many work multiple jobs, according to the SEIU. In contrast, other workers at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood earn up to $13.20, and their G2 counterparts at Miami International Airport earn as much as $14.27 per hour.
The G2 wheelchair agents in Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood want similar pay.
"We want the $14.27 per hour with benefits," said Gueldere Guerilus, 50, a G2 employee from Miami and strike participant. "For two years we've been voicing our issues and still nothing has been done."
For Fort Lauderdale wheelchair agent Sandra Smith, 47, it's been a struggle to make ends meet on her current pay. "It's sad to see how we have to fight to get a living wage. We're doing the same [work] and we're getting way less money here."
Ronald Fulton of the Disability Caucus of Miami said he supported the workers' cause.
"The workers at [the] Fort Lauderdale airport do a community service in their handling and care" of people in wheelchairs, Fulton said in a statement. "Respect for their work directly translates to respect for the disabled, which is why I stand with them."
Nadege Cantave, a mother of four who works for G2 as a wheelchair attendant, said her electricity has been shut off twice because she can't afford to pay her bills.
"We are on strike because we can't survive on what G2 is giving us," said Cantave, whose husband works for G2 as a skycap, earning $5.03 an hour plus tips. "It's hard to feed the kids, and we don't have enough to pay for rent."
In May, Broward County Commissioners introduced a bill to extend the county's Living Wage ordinance to include more than 1,200 passenger service workers at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood who earn an average of $8.14 per hour, the union said. The commission has not acted, the SEIU said.
Two more motions are needed to advance the living wage initiative, and the G2 employees hope at least one will be put on the Broward County Commission's agenda by June 23 before it goes on summer break, a SEIU representative said.
The G2 workers also made an appeal to Broward commissioners Tuesday and marched outside the county's Government Building in downtown Fort Lauderdale to voice their issues. Additional marches were held at G2's airport office and in Terminal 1.
Can Uber-style apps make affordable private jets a reality?
(CNN)Here's the scenario:
The business meeting wraps up in Boston, now an urgent situation is developing in Los Angeles.
A quick check of flight schedules reveals there's a premium-rate business-class seat available.
However, the flight doesn't depart until first thing tomorrow.
But hang on, there's another option.
A private jet, leaving when you want it to leave.
Seriously.
In the wake of Uber's shake-up of the taxi market and AirBnB's impact on accommodations, that most exclusive industry of all, executive aviation, could soon be disrupted in the same way.
So does that mean that ordinary business travelers could soon be switching to low-cost private aircraft in the same way they've been switching to cheaper, convenient cabs across town?
Some aviation entrepreneurs think so.
They're creating simple, sleek mobile apps to optimize spare capacity in the private jet market and create a smooth booking experience.
Obviously private aviation isn't going to be for the masses, but what if this exclusive preserve of the super-rich is about to become accessible to the merely affluent -- those that today fill the front cabin section of commercial aircraft?
Instead of calling a broker or buying into shared exec jet ownership, these new apps allow travelers to secure a private aircraft with just a few clicks and no membership fees.
Online marketplaces like Jetsmarter, Victor or Ubair rely on complex predictive algorithms to aggregate aircraft availability data from hundreds of private jet operators and provide quotes within seconds.
Cheaper than driving?
"We are a high tech big data company at core," says Sergey Petrossov, Jetsmarter's founder, adding that most of his company's clients are newcomers to executive avia
...
In case you missed these news stories.
Bill Vervaeke, CDME
West Palm Beach, FL 33411
(561) 795-5912 (Office & Facsimile)
Suicide Bomber Strikes Near Ancient Temple in Luxor, Egypt
Militants tried to attack the ancient temple of Karnak in southern Egypt on Wednesday, with a suicide bomber blowing himself up and two gunmen battling police. No sightseers were hurt in the thwarted assault, but it suggested that Islamic extremists are shifting targets from security forces to the country's vital tourism industry.
The violence left the bomber and one gunman dead, the other wounded and arrested, and four other people wounded. The temple was not damaged.
The attackers carried guns in backpacks, and one wore a belt of explosives. They rode in a taxi through a police checkpoint to a parking lot and sat at a cafe and ordered lemonades, witnesses told The Associated Press. The taxi driver, suspicious after they refused his offer to help with the packs, alerted police.
When a policeman approached, the bomber tried to hug him, but the policeman wrestled away. Seconds later, he detonated the explosives, and the others pulled automatic weapons from their bags and opened fire wildly, sending a small group of European tourists running for cover, the witnesses said.
The attack followed one this month outside the famed Giza Pyramids in which gunmen killed two policemen. The violence points to a change in tactics by Islamic militants against the government of President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi. For two years, attacks have been centered in the Sinai Peninsula, mostly by a group that has sworn allegiance to the Islamic State group and largely focused on retaliation against police and soldiers.
A campaign against tourism, one of the main sources of foreign revenue, could deal a blow to el-Sissi's promises to repair Egypt's economy.
Tourism has just started to show signs of recovery after plunging in the turmoil since the 2011 uprising that ousted autocrat Hosni Mubarak. The first five months of this year saw tourism revenues up 9 percent from the same period last year, Tourism Minister Khaled Ramy said.
Ramy said he expects the slow recovery to continue despite the attack, and he underscored how police had thwarted it.
"Security forces were there. It's a very important message to everyone," he told the AP on a flight from Cairo to Luxor.
Mohammed Sayed Badr, the governor of Luxor province, said the attack was "an attempt to break into the temple of Karnak."
"They didn't make it in," he said.
But witnesses noted it was civilian bystanders who alerted police to the threat.
Karnak, one of Egypt's biggest attractions, is a giant complex of temples, statues, obelisks and columns built by pharaonic dynasties alongside the Nile. The oldest sections date back nearly 4,000 years.
Access to the site is through a gate and a roadblock, leading to a parking lot and visitors' center hundreds of yards from the ancient structure, which is reachable only on foot.
The waiter who served the men said only one spoke to him and had an accent from northern Egypt, while the others stopped talking when he approached. When they paid their bill, he said he refused to take their tip.
"They looked scary. ... One of them had really bad eyes," said the waiter, who asked to be identified only by his first name, Ikrami, for fear of problems with police for talking to the media.
Another cafe employee, Abdel-Nasser Mohammed, said the taxi driver reported his suspicions about the men to police. As the three walked away, a policeman approached them, leading to the tussle between the officer and the bomber, Mohammed said.
The bomber triggered the blast near a public restroom, and the other two opened fire. One ran toward the visitors' center, and a policeman shot him in the head, Mohammed said.
Tourist shop owner Sheik Ahmed Abdel-Mawgoud said he been standing near the restroom only seconds before the blast.
"When the explosion happened, I ran for cover and told my friend, a tour guide, to run with the tourists with him. I screamed at him, 'Terrorism!'" he told the AP.
The exchange of fire with police lasted several minutes, witnesses said, and two policemen were among the wounded.
Only a handful of tourists and Egyptians were in the temple at the time, security officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media.
AP video of the scene showed what was believed to be the remains of the bomber covered with a black sheet with pools of blood nearby.
The monument "is safe and unaffected and visitors continue to arrive," temple director Mohammed Abdel-Aziz told the AP. Four groups of foreigners visited after the attack.
There was no claim of responsibility, but the attack bore the hallmarks of Islamic militants who have operating in the Sinai Peninsula.
Last year, the main Sinai-based insurgent group, Ansar Beit al-Maqdis, pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group, which has destroyed archaeological landmarks in Syria and Iraq, viewing them as idolatrous.
The violence in Sinai accelerated and spread to other parts of Egypt following the 2013 military overthrow of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi. The militants say the attacks are in retaliation for a massive crackdown on Islamists in Egypt.
A senior security official said investigators are looking to see whether the Luxor attackers are Egyptians and whether it marks an expansion of the violence to southern Egypt, which was a breeding ground for the militants of the 1990s and 2000.
In the 1990s, Islamic militants targeted tourism to try to undermine the economy. The deadliest attack was in Luxor in November 1997, 58 people were killed at the 3,400-year-old Hatshepsut Temple.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to reporters, said the new breed of militants were unknown to the authorities. But he said the latest attack was a qualitative shift in the militants' target.
The attack coincided with a major regional economic summit, hosted by el-Sissi at the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.
Luxor is home to some of Egypt's most famous ancient temples and pharaonic tombs, including that of King Tutankhamun. The city has been one the sites hit hardest by the sharp downturn in foreign visitors since the 2011 uprising.
Before the turmoil, tourism accounted for as much as 20 percent of Egypt's foreign currency revenues, with as a high of 14.7 million visitors in 2010.
After the uprising, those numbers plunged to 9.6 million, and then fell lower in 2013 after Morsi's ouster. Tourists have been coming back slowly, with revenues jumping to $4 billion so far this year, compared with $1.9 billion in the same period in 2014.
Beach resorts in southern Sinai and along the Red Sea coast have drawn most of the visitors, with cultural sites like Luxor seeing only a trickle. Most tourists in the searing heat of the summer months come to Luxor only for a one-day trip from the Red Sea resort of Hurghada.
Wednesday's attack is likely to result in cancellations in bookings for Luxor, although the blow is cushioned by the fact that it is low season and most tourists stay away until October.
Three major German operators, TUI Deutschland, the Germany branch of Thomas Cook and L'TUR, said they are temporarily canceling excursions to Luxor, but stressed that most of their customers are at Red Sea resorts or on Nile cruises.
"We have no reason to advise against traveling to Egypt at the present time, since the German Foreign Ministry hasn't changed its security guidance," said L'TUR spokesman Thomas Pluennecke. "But, as a precaution, we have stopped all excursions to Luxor. Of course we take the situation seriously."
EPA calls for regulating emissions from US airliners
The Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday called for regulating U.S. aircraft emissions, expanding the government's effort to crack down on industries officials say are contributing to global warming.
The EPA issued what's known as a preliminary finding of endangerment. The agency declared the emissions are harmful to human health and contribute to climate change -- a declaration that lays the groundwork for the government to eventually regulate the airline industry.
Critics, though, have warned that the looming rules could eventually lead to increased ticket prices -- and more crowded flights -- as airlines try to comply with new efficiency standards.
“The sky is the limit when it comes to how much of the U.S. economy the EPA wants to control,” Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas, said in a written statement following the EPA announcement.
Wednesday’s finding coincides with a multi-year push by the International Civil Aviation Organization, a branch of the United Nations, to develop global aircraft emissions standards. Final agreement on the ICAO standards, a U.N. agency, is expected in February 2016. The standards themselves aren’t expected to go into effect until 2020 or even as late as 2025, according to some environmentalists following the matter.
A final U.S. decision on adopting the international standards is likely to be left to the next presidential administration.
Smith, chairman of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee, said the regulations “would increase the price of airfare for Americans and harm our domestic carriers.” He added that the EPA finding is the “next leg of a nonstop journey by the EPA to control how Americans live, work and travel.”
The industry, though, praised the EPA for planning to go through the international process. Nancy Young, with Airlines for America, said it is "critical" that the emissions standards be agreed upon globally.
"U.S. airlines are green and we are getting even greener," she said in a statement.
The U.S. regulations would apply only to large planes like airliners and cargo jets and turboprop aircraft, and not to smaller jet aircraft, piston-engine planes, helicopters or military aircraft.
The ICAO standards are not expected to apply to airliners in service today or those that might be purchased before the effective date, said Vera Pardee, an attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity. The center is one of several environmental groups that sued the EPA to force the agency to issue its finding that emissions endanger public health.
Airlines typically fly planes for 20 years or more before replacing them. That means it's likely to be decades before planes that meet the anticipated global standards are in widespread use.
Airline emissions account for about 2 percent of total annual global greenhouse gas emissions. That sounds small, but it's nearly as much as the emissions produced by Germany, the sixth-greatest greenhouse gas producing country, according to a study released last year by The International Council on Clean Transportation, an environmental group with offices in the U.S. and Germany.
Aircraft manufacturers have already made significant strides in increasing fuel efficiency. Since the early years of the jet age in the 1960s, the fuel efficiency of airliners has increased 70 percent, according to Boeing. There's plenty of incentive to be as efficient as possible: Fuel typically vies with labor as airlines' greatest expense.
The U.S. airline industry has set a target of an average annual improvement in fuel efficiency of 1.5 percent, and so far has been successful in meeting that goal, said Young.
Alaska, Frontier and Spirit airlines were tied for most fuel-efficient U.S. airlines, the study found. The least fuel efficient was American, which operates a fleet of MD-80 airliners, an older design that is being phased out.
Changes in the operating strategies of airlines in recent years have also contributed to greater efficiency. Airlines are packing more people into fewer flights.
However, global aviation emissions are rising because there is more air travel overall. U.S. airlines, which include several of the world's largest carriers, account for about 29 percent of global airline carbon emissions if both domestic and international flights are included.
The world's two largest aircraft makers have recently introduced into service more fuel-efficient planes designed for long-distance international routes — the Boeing 787 and the Airbus A350.
Airlines, aircraft makers and the Federal Aviation Administration have also been working with biofuels companies to develop alternatives to jet fuel that could potentially reduce the aviation's industry's vulnerability to the ups and downs of oil supplies and prices, as well as reduce carbon emissions.
"We're not dragging our feet," said Tim Neale, a spokesman for Boeing. "We're hard at work on lighter airplanes, and GE is hard at work on more efficient engines. And we're working a lot of these operational issues with the carriers so they operate the planes more efficiently."
Boeing and airline industry officials say they support ICAO's effort to develop a single global standard, since airlines fly globally. But Pardee said environmentalists hope that if the ICAO standard turns out to be weak, the EPA will move forward with stronger standards for U.S. airlines.
Republican-Controlled House Passes Bill To Cut $242 Million From Amtrak's Budget
ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON (AP) — The GOP-controlled House passed legislation Tuesday to cut Amtrak's budget by $242 million, though lawmakers added new funding for video cameras inside locomotive cabs to record engineers and help investigators get to the bottom of crashes such as last month's deadly derailment in Philadelphia.
Amtrak announced last month it is going to install the cameras after years of delays. The transportation and housing measure approved by a narrow 216-210 vote contains $9 million approved last week to fund the inward-facing camera initiative in the budget year starting in October.
Amtrak is among many domestic programs whose budgets are cut or frozen by the GOP measures, as automatic spending curbs known as sequestration are again hitting federal agencies after two years of relief. Previous House GOP attempts to cut Amtrak over the years have been reversed, and Tuesday's transportation measure is but an opening move in a longer chess match with the White House over spending levels for agency operating budgets passed annually by Congress.
House Republicans also unveiled crunching cuts of $718 million to the Environmental Protection Agency even as a Senate panel gave initial approval to a huge measure awarding the Pentagon with a 7 percent increase. The 9 percent cut comes as Republicans press to rein in the EPA, which they say is too aggressive in pursuing a pro-environment agenda at the expense of business and industries such as utilities with coal-fired power plants.
The Amtrak funding measure is part of a huge, $55 billion spending measure funding transportation, housing for the poor and community development programs. It's the fifth of 12 spending measures to come to the House floor and, like its predecessors, faces a veto threat from President Barack Obama.
Obama is demanding that domestic programs get the same level of relief from sequestration that Republicans have awarded the Pentagon. Senate Democrats vowed Tuesday to block the GOP appropriations bills until Republicans come to the table and negotiate higher spending levels for domestic programs such as transportation grants, health research, rent vouchers for the poor and clean water grants.
"We're ready to start right now. Where are they?" said Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., dismissed the idea of a budget summit, at least for now, and questioned whether Democrats would go ahead and filibuster the Pentagon funding measure next week as they have threatened. The confrontation appears headed for a showdown this fall.
The $576 billion Senate Pentagon funding measure generally matches Obama's request but relies on accounting gimmicks to do so. Republicans are padding war accounts to get around sequestration, which would freeze core defense spending at current levels, even as troop pay goes up and cost overruns plague new weapons systems like the next-generation F-35 fighter plane.
Amtrak currently receives $1.3 billion from the government, most of which goes toward capital improvements and debt service. The railroad has long come under attack for expensive subsidies of its money-losing long-distance routes and losses from its food and beverage services, but its operating subsidies are forecast to dip below $300 million this year.
New data provided to Congress shows that Amtrak's long-distances routes are losing more money, however, while the busy, profit-making Northeast corridor route is making growing profits. Money-losing routes such as the Sunset Limited, which runs from New Orleans to Los Angeles at a subsidy of more than $400 a ticket, account for losses of more than $600 million, while the Northeast corridor is expected to contribute a $357 million profit this year.
Amendments by Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Texas, to eliminate the Sunset Limited and 11 routes whose operating costs amount to more than double the money from fares and dining car receipts failed as pro-Amtrak Republicans teamed with Democrats to defeat them.
The GOP-drafted measure cuts $242 million from capital accounts but fully funds the $289 million request for operating losses.
Elsewhere, the transportation and housing bill falls short of Obama's request for housing subsidies for the poor, which the administration says is lengthening waiting lists for rent vouchers. It would also cut funding to rehabilitate housing projects by almost $200 million to $1.7 billion, and would offer just $20 million to Choice Neighborhoods grants to help cities rebuild poor neighborhoods, a 75 percent cut from current spending.
While community development grants to states and local governments would be maintained at current levels of $3 billion and funding for a key program for the homeless would receive a nominal $50 million increase, money to help cities deal with poisonous lead paint in antiquated housing would absorb a $35 million cut, or almost one-third.
The measure also seeks to reverse Obama administration steps to greatly ease travel restrictions to Cuba.
Martin, Indian River lose challenge to All Aboard
Judge rules counties failed to show project hinges on bonds sale.
All Aboard Florida will be allowed to sell $1.75 billion in tax-exempt bonds to help pay for its express-passenger rail project between Miami and Orlando, a federal judge ruled Wednesday.
U.S. District Court Judge Christopher Cooper denied requests by Martin and Indian River counties for an injunction to block the bond sale, saying, in part, that the money was not a linchpin to finishing the passenger rail line.
In a 21-page opinion, Cooper said the counties did not show that the rail project is dependent on the private activities bonds, or that their sale would influence the outcome of a federal environmental study examining the impact of the trains.
Martin and Indian River counties filed federal lawsuits this year against the U.S. Department of Transportation, challenging whether All Aboard Florida is eligible for the private activity bonds. All Aboard Florida is an intervenor in the suit.
Indian River County officials said they were “reviewing the order and analyzing our options.”
An attorney representing Martin County also said he was studying the ruling.
“We are studying the judge’s decision. The bottom line of tonight’s order is the judge never reaches the merits of our claims,” said Steve Ryan, a Washington, D.C.-based attorney hired to represent Martin County. “The decision not to grant the injunction we sought does not end this case. It resolves only the first legal skirmish.”
In a statement, the passenger rail company said, “We look forward to continuing to advance our investment into Florida’s infrastructure and expedite the delivery of an important new transportation option that will generate significant benefits for all residents and visitors to our state.”
All Aboard Florida plans to run 32 trains a day — 16 round trips — on the Florida East Coast Railway between Miami and Orlando. Service is expected to start in 2017. All Aboard Florida’s parent company, Florida East Coast Industries, owns most of the right of way and track that the trains will run on.
All Aboard Florida won preliminary approval from the Department of Transportation in December to issue the private activity bonds, which are purchased by individual investors at no risk to taxpayers. The Coral Gables-based company also faces a final approval to issue the bonds by the Florida Development Finance Corporation.
In All Aboard Florida’s case, the bonds would be issued by the Florida Development Finance Corporation and then sold to investors by the private rail company.
The corporation was set to vote on the bond sale this week but postponed the meeting because travel logistics “created uncertainty for convening a quorum,” a spokesman said.
All Aboard Florida is seeking the private activity bonds because they are cheaper for the project than if it used taxable bonds. Replacing the bonds with taxable debt would increase All Aboard Florida’s interest costs by as much as $630 million over the first 10 years of the project, court documents say.
“At the end of the day, one cannot but conclude that the additional interest costs that would result from the absence of tax-exempt (bonds) would cause AAF, as a reasonable investor, to think twice about proceeding with the project,” Cooper wrote in the order. “In the court’s view, however, the counties have not demonstrated, as they must, that these costs would significantly increase the likelihood that AAF would abandon the project after years of planning and over a billion dollars in investment.”
The company has said it would move forward with the rail project regardless of whether it receives the tax-exempt bonds. In a brief filed in the suit, All Aboard Florida said that denying the bonds will only push back its start date and increase its costs.
In their federal suits, the counties argued that the U.S. Department of Transportation’s December approval of the bonds was unlawful because it was made before the completion of an environmental review by the Federal Railroad Administration
British airline flight crews plan lawsuit over toxic air
Most people stepping on commercial airlines worry far more about the danger from the air outside the fuselage than inside. However, concerns are growing ever louder from airline employees about toxic fumes inside the cabin, which may seriously damage the health of the flight crew and even frequent fliers. In fact, at least one British Airways pilot, Richard Westgate, is believed to have died from it, according to the senior coroner for Dorset.
Aerotoxic Syndrome, as it’s now known, is believed to come from regular exposure to air compression systems in commercial planes. As some of a plane’s circulated air is drawn from the jet engines, it sometimes comes with oil and other toxic molecules, which over long periods can cause significant health damage. However, Britain’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) begs to differ, claiming “fume events” to be rare and with no evidence of long-term effect on health.
Now, 17 airline employees, both former and current, are planning to take legal action against several British airlines, charging in a civil claim that contaminated cabin air poisoned them. Unite, a union representing 20,000 flight crew is funding the case and paying close attention to the verdict, which if in the employees’ favor, could open the floodgates for dozens more cases.
An uncensored safety report submitted to the CAA, and obtained by the BBC, appears to give the plaintiffs significant ammunition. Between April 2014 and May 2015, 251 separate incidents of fumes or smoke were recorded inside a large passenger jet operated by a British airline, with illness resulting in 104 cases, and even immediate oxygen administered in 28.
Hopefully the legal battle will be short, and both awareness and changes in plane design (as with the Boeing Dreamliner, which uses a different system) resolve the problem quickly, so all sides can breathe freely.
Frontier removes departure time from boarding passes
Passengers flying Frontier Airlines will notice something familiar missing from their boarding passes: the departure time.
Instead, Frontier will now list the time that "boarding begins" and the time that the boarding "door closes," which is 10 minutes prior to a flight's scheduled departure time.
Frontier began rolling out the new boarding pass format late last week, and the move appears to be a first among big U.S. carriers. The nation's nine other large carriers – Alaska Airlines, American, Delta, JetBlue, Hawaiian, Spirit, Southwest, United and Virgin America – all confirmed to USA TODAY that they still list departure times on their boarding passes.
None indicated an imminent change to that practice.
"We have no plans to remove departure time from our boarding passes," Spirit Airlines spokesman Paul Berry says.
As for Frontier, spokesman Jim Faulkner says the goal for the change is to keep flights on schedule.
"It's part of our emphasis to ensure an on-time departure for our customers," Faulkner tells Today in the Sky. "If the door closes 10 minutes before scheduled departure, customers still have time to stow their bags, get their seatbelts fastened and get settled in so that the plane can push back from the gate on time or before."
"If we're closing the door at the same time as the scheduled departure time, we're already running behind," he adds.
One industry expert describes Frontier's boarding-pass change as a relatively minor one. But he says it could be helpful to passengers nonetheless.
"I like the idea," says Brett Snyder, author of The Cranky Flier blog and operator of the Cranky Concierge travel service.
He notes most airlines already close their boarding doors before a flight's scheduled departure time. So Frontier's decision to list that time on its boarding passes instead "just makes it more clear to customers" about when they should be at the gate.
"They're going to close the door anyway, but hopefully this means there are less people still on the other side of it," Snyder says. "I don't see a downside."
No failsafe way to stop cockpit sabotage
The US Federal Aviation Authority says there is no effective failsafe way to prevent pilot sabotage.
In a response to a question from the National Transportation Safety Board following the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, the agency said there was no legal or technologically feasible solution to ensure electronics in the cockpit are completely tamper-proof.
The NTSB had asked that black box recorders and other mission critical electronics be designed to prevent them being switched off.
Pilots needed the option to cut the power in the event of overheating or fire, the FAA said.
"There appears to be no safe way to ensure recorders cannot be intentionally disabled while keeping the airplane safe from electrical failure that could become hazardous," FAA Administrator Michael Huerta wrote in a letter to NTSB officials, according to a Bloomberg News report.
The FAA also rejected a call to install video cameras in cockpits, saying there is 'no compelling evidence' it would assist any investigation.
The final position of flight MH370 carrying 239 people still remains a mystery, while evidence points to the theory that the plane was deliberately flown off course and its radios and tracking equipment were manually switched off.
The issue of cockpit safety has intensified following the Germanwings crash in the French Alps earlier this year.
Casino ship nearly ready to sail from Port of Palm Beach
The failed Island Breeze day-casino cruise boat is getting closer to re-launching under a new name and operator.
By early July, the 600-passenger casino boat could be sailing again from the Port of Palm Beach as the Blue Horizon, said Robert Weisberg, managing partner of its new operator, PB Gaming Inc.
The 160-foot casino boat — initially expected to be renamed Princess Royale —- has undergone millions of dollars in upgrades including new slot machines, Weisberg said in a phone interview.
It's now in the final stages of reconnecting operational and gaming systems onboard to be ready for its soft launch, he said.
Blue Horizon is expected to sail twice daily, but more details on its schedule, pricing and onboard offerings are expected to be announced in coming weeks, Weisberg said.
"We're proud of this boat," he said. "We're delighted by what we'll have onboard."
Electronic bingo, slot and blackjack tournaments are expected to be among its entertainment options, he said.
PB Gaming — a subsidiary of SourcePoint LLC of Puerto Rico — took possession of the casino boat and its charter agreement earlier this year after the assets of its former operator Island Breeze International Palm Beach were liquidated in bankruptcy.
SourcePoint had been the major creditor when IBI Palm Beach filed for bankruptcy last November.
Counting the brief four months the same casino ship ran trips between November 2012 and February 2013 as the Black Diamond, this will be the third latest attempt to resurrect day-casino trips from the Riviera Beach seaport.
The Palm Beach Princess day-casino cruise vessel, which stopped operating in 2010, was the last to run casino trips long term from the port. It operated there for more than 10 years before going out of business.
For PB Gaming, the third time could be the charm, but it's not just betting on luck.
Weisberg, a former SunCruz Casino executive, said the two previous operators of the ship weren't properly equipped to run day-casino cruises.
He cited a lack of marine experience in running these kinds of vessels, limited-to-no casino experience and insufficient funding among reasons for their failure.
That's not the case with PB Gaming, Weisberg said, noting it has vast experience in these areas and financing to make it work.
Port commissioners recently approved a five-year agreement with Weisberg's outfit.
The Riviera seaport is projecting to receive on average $730,000 in passenger fees, an estimated $80,000 in parking revenue and $36,000 in office rent annually from PB Gaming, said Jarra Kazcwara, senior director of business development.
For cheap fares, consider Tuesday, Saturday flights
Flying midweek and on Saturday should net you the cheapest fares this summer, according to an online booking service.
CheapAir.com, which tracks airline fares, also recommends waiting a bit to head out during the summer-vacation season. September and late August offer the best fares, CheapAir contends.
Tuesday is the cheapest day to fly, but Wednesday, during July at least, is only an average of $5 more expensive.
And Sept. 2 is the cheapest day to depart for Labor Day weekend, CheapAir said.
Orlando's first flight to Cuba departed today
Orlando International Airport's first flight to Cuba has finally left the airport.
A charter flight, operated by Miami-based World Atlantic Airlines, was scheduled to depart from the airport at 1 p.m. on a nonstop route to Havana.
Carolyn Fennell, an airport spokeswoman, said the charter flight is one of three scheduled by Gulfstream Air Charters, a tour operating group based in Miami.
The flight, however, was delayed because of bad weather and other issues, said Fennell. The flight finally left at 3:31 p.m., she said.
Today's charter flight is one of three by Gulfstream that have been approved at Orlando International, said Fennell. The other flights will leave June 17 and 24, she said.
Gulfstream Air Charters offers nonstop flights between Florida and Cuba, according to the company's website. A service schedule posted on Gulfstream's site only lists flights departing in September from Miami; ticket prices, according to the site, range from $309 to $349 per person.
Flights from Miami to Cuba are listed as operated by Envoy Air and Falcon Air Express. However, Falcon Air relinquished its FAA air carrier certificate June 5.
Fennell said there have not been discussions to extend Gulfstream's charter service beyond the three June flights.
Twice-weekly flights to the island nation were originally scheduled to depart Orlando starting July 8, via Island Travel & Tours.
Those flights will take place Wednesday and Sundays, said Island Travel & Tours officials when they announced their flights in April
British tourists may face imprisonment for stripping on Malaysian mountain
A British tourist, Eleanor Hawkins, was arrested for posing naked on top of a sacred mountain in Malaysia. The 24-year-old Southampton University graduate from Derby was detained at Tawau airport today, as she was flying out from the island of Borneo to Kuala Lumpur. She is one of five tourists arrested for the same stunt.
Three of the tourists turned themselves in to the Malaysia authorities: 23-year-old Canadian Lindsey Peterson, his 22-year-old sister Danielle Peterson, and 23-year-old Dutchman Dylan Snel. 33-year-old Canadian Emil Kaminski was arrested on Wednesday, and the Malaysia police are still looking for five other individuals involved in the incident.
On May 30, she set out to climb Mount Kinabalu as part of a tour that was organized by Jungle Jack Backpackers Lodge, a popular budget hostel less than a mile from the entrance to Kinabalu national park. On the way back, members of the tour group began to strip off their clothes, despite their tour guide warning them not to do so. Their response to the guide was, “Stupid man, go to hell.”
The group took a nude selfie and dressed so they could return to their lodge. A park ranger filed a complaint and Eleanor was the first to be arrested.
The deputy first minister of the state of Sarawak, Tan Sri Alfred Jabu, explained to the media that tourists need to understand and respect the culture and traditions of the places they visit. For Malaysians, this mountain is sacred.
Tribal elders have called for the case to also go before a native court.
These tourists could be imprisoned for up to three months.
The five are expected to appear before the court again on Monday, where they will find out if they are to face charges.
One of the five arrested, Emil Kaminski, is a blogger and adventure tourism organizer from Winnipeg, and appears to have no remorse for the incident. In addition to possible charges for indecent exposure, he may be also charged for insulting the culture via his posts on social media.
Kaminiski called the minister "a deranged prick, and a regressive" and was quoted as having said, “it's just a f------ mountain."
Delta to acquire 60 new aircraft upon pilot ratification of tentative agreement
ATLANTA, GA - Delta Air Lines will enter into an aircraft acquisition deal with The Boeing Co. for 20 Embraer E190 aircraft and 40 additional new 737-900ERs upon ratification of a tentative agreement covering more than 12,000 Delta pilots. The tentative agreement was approved for membership ratification today by the Delta Master Executive Council (MEC) of the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA).
The tentative agreement provides enhancements to overall pilot compensation—including base pay increases—along with a revision of the airline's profit sharing formula beginning in 2016. Additionally, this accord would secure additional career advancement opportunities for Delta pilots while providing the airline with productivity enhancements and further fleet flexibility across the airline's U.S. domestic system.
"Our airline's culture of working and winning together has long set Delta apart from others in our industry," said Richard Anderson, Delta's Chief Executive Officer. "This tentative agreement with ALPA reflects the key role and contributions of our pilots in our excellent financial and operational performance."
The MEC will put the tentative agreement out to pilots for a ratification vote. If approved, the agreement would have an amendable date of Dec. 31, 2018.
"We fully support the Delta MEC's endorsement of this agreement and are optimistic of its approval by our pilots," Anderson said. "This continues the investments we've made in our people and in our products and services for our customers. These moves will continue to drive the industry-leading performance that has allowed us to return more than $3 billion to shareholders and still reward our employees with industry-leading profit sharing."
Upon ratification of the agreement, Delta will acquire 20 Boeing-held Embraer E190 aircraft previously operated by another carrier. The E190s will enter mainline Delta service in the fourth quarter of 2016.
"These 98-seat mainline aircraft will be flown by Delta pilots," Anderson said. "The capability and aptitude of all Delta people has already shown that they are the best in the business at managing a diverse fleet while keeping costs in check and never compromising safety. These cost-efficient aircraft will play a key role as we strive to achieve higher returns for our shareholders, and we thank Boeing for their important partnership."
The E190 will be deployed on U.S. domestic routes to improve the flying experience for Delta customers and continue the shift of flying away from inefficient 50-seat regional jets as part of the company's successful upgauging strategy.
Delta will also order an additional 40 new Boeing 737-900ERs, augmenting an existing order of the efficient and reliable aircraft to 140 in total. Delta plans to deploy these aircraft as replacements for other narrowbody aircraft scheduled to retire through 2019.
Negotiating committees for Delta and ALPA reached a tentative agreement on June 4. In the ensuing days, the tentative agreement was reviewed and subsequently approved by the Delta MEC on June 10.
Big questions over Carnival's venture into voluntourism
Should we applaud or be appalled by Carnival's entry into the voluntourism sector? Responsible Travel MD Justin Francis shares his views...
"Carnival Corporation is the world's largest cruise ship operator with revenues of over $15 billion. Last week Carnival Corporation boss announced a new 'social impact' brand, Fathom.
Passengers on seven-day journeys from Port Miami to the Dominican Republic, starting in April of 2016, will also be able to help cultivate cacao plants; make chocolate with a women's cooperative; work with educators to teach English skills and help build water filters, all while using the docked ship as their home away from home.
In an interview with the Miami Herald, Arnold Donald, CEO of Carnival Corp., said the main goal of Fathom is to do good by 'driving, over time, real meaningful change for the better in a community'. In a statement, Carnival added: "What sets fathom apart is the long-term, systematic partnership approach with its partner countries paired with the unique business model that allows for sustained impact and lasting development. Fathom's scale and global vision reach beyond what the world has ever seen."
At first glance Fathom might appear a wonderful initiative. Many have argued that the mainstream travel sector must adopt responsible tourism practices and they don't come much bigger than Carnival.
However, some difficult questions are already being asked by those skeptical of Carnival's motivations and ability to deliver responsible volunteering.
Corporate social responsibility is a holistic approach to doing business in a responsible way, rather than cherry picking a few high profile initiatives. Last year Carnival was reported by GlobalExchange.org as the world's 3rd 'most criminal company' for 'dumping sewage pollution into oceans; use of cheap air-polluting fuels; tax evasion; and unfair labor wages'.
The organization goes on to claim: "Over the past five years, the corporation has only paid corporate taxes for a total of 1.1% of their $11.3 billion in profits, according to the New York Times. Additionally, Carnival's workers are paid substandard wages; staff members on United Kingdom-based ships are paid $1.20 per hour, or $400 per month in basic wages, and claim to be denied their tips. Their pay is below international standards. Workers are also allegedly given minimal accommodations and often insufficient food. The cruise system makes it very easy for labor to be abused, and Carnival Cruises has been called a 'sweatshop at sea'."
In my opinion, one thing that would be guaranteed to hole the Fathom concept below the water line would be any sense among well meaning volunteers that the staff cleaning their rooms or serving their food on board were, as global exchange claim, working in a 'sweatshop at sea'
Carnival does have a Code of Business Conduct and ethics. I would expect a public company of the size of Carnival to publish an externally verified social and environmental audit, but I cannot find this and so cannot examine any of its claims in regard to ethics.
The concept of 700 volunteers with minimal training descending to 'do good' has also been questioned in this post on the Better Volunteering facebook page.
The reputation of the voluntourism sector has suffered greatly in recent years, with acres of bad press having been generated. One of the principle criticisms has been that volunteering opportunities have been created as a business opportunity rather than based on a real local need; that volunteers arrive to find there is little worthwhile work to do and they lack the relevant skills to make a difference; or worse still skilled local staff are fired so short term volunteers can take their place.
In the Better Volunteering post questions are asked (and not answered) about whether volunteers with be checked for criminal records; how skills will be assessed and matched against needs, and whether volunteers will be thinly spread through communities to avoid too much disruption.
Carnival is working with local partners (including an NGO with somewhat confusingly the same name as the new cruise brand Fathom.org) and they have acknowledged but not yet answered these questions.
For me there is a sense that this could be a pivotal moment in the development of the voluntourism sector. Done right it could help bring it into the mainstream, but if not it could be a death knell to a sector already reeling from bad PR. At the very least Carnival needs to get its messaging straight. In one breath it talks of 'a unique business model that allows for sustained impact and lasting development' and in another the CEO says 'this is a market-driven solution and in the highly unlikely event that we don't get bookings, we will kill it'.
Wet 'n Wild Orlando Waterpark to Close Permanently in 2016
After nearly four decades in operation, Universal Orlando announced on Wednesday that Wet 'n Wild Orlando waterpark will close at the conclusion of 2016.
In a statement on its official blog, the resort said the park will officially close on Dec. 31, 2016.
But given the timing of the announcement, the disappointment over the end of Wet 'n Wild Orlando is arguably equal to the excitement surrounding the 2017 arrival of Universal's next-generation waterpark Volcano Bay, which Universal unveiled plans for last month.
"...the groundbreaking spirit that has defined Wet 'n Wild will continue in the development of Universal's Volcano Bay, a next-generation water theme park that reimagines what it means to be a water park," said Universal Orlando spokesman Tom Schroder in a statement. "We’re grateful to our countless fans and team members for making Wet 'n Wild such a special place for so very long."
Opened in March 1977, the 30-acre Wet 'n Wild Orlando is open year-round, boasting more than a dozen different attractions.
Universal Parks & Resorts purchased the waterpark back in 1998 and just recently purchased 50 acres of land under and around the park for $30.9 million. "We are pleased with Wet 'n Wild as a component of our business, and this purchase was a natural step for us," said Schroder following the purchase in June 2013 via the Orlando Sentinel. "Beyond that, we don't discuss our business transactions."
Prior to the emergence of nearby Walt Disney World's Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach, Wet 'n Wild was the U.S.'s premier waterpark, posting the nation's highest attendance figures for a majority of the 1990s.
But Wet 'n Wild drew just over 1.2 million visitors in 2012, putting it behind it well behind Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach, which combined to host four million visitors that year, according to consulting firm AECOM via the Sentinel.
TA rethinks proposed change to size of carry-ons
In the face of criticism, IATA said that it has put on hold its recently announced international guidelines for carry-on luggage that would have slightly reduced recommended dimensions.
IATA had recommended dimensions that were slightly smaller than those allowed by most U.S. airlines. The proposal was rejected by U.S. carriers and panned by politicians.
Nicholas Calio, CEO of U.S. airline trade group Airlines for America, said that its members “reject the recent carry-on size initiative put forth by IATA because it is unnecessary and flies in the face of the actions the U.S. carriers are taking to invest in the customer experience — roughly $1.2 billion a month — including larger overhead bins.
“Our members already have guidelines in place on what size bags they can accommodate, making this action unnecessary. We agree with IATA’s action to reassess this initiative and take into account stakeholders’ views and recognize work already underway to improve baggage facilitation.”
Tom Windmuller, IATA’s senior vice president, airport, passenger, cargo and security, said, “While many welcomed the Cabin OK initiative, significant concerns were expressed in North America. We need to get it right. Today we are pausing the rollout and launching a comprehensive reassessment of the Cabin OK program with plans to further engage program participants, the rest of our members, and other key stakeholders.”
Two U.S. senators who spoke out against IATA’s plan were Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.).
The Global Business Travel Association said IATA was wise to “hit the pause button.”
“This proposal, if adopted by air carriers, would increase costs and pose headaches for business travelers who want to avoid the delays and time lost associated with checking baggage,” said Michael McCormick, GBTA's executive director.
U.S. Travel Association CEO Roger Dow said that cracking down on the size of carry-on bags “would have been unnecessary and yet another slap in the face to travelers.”
JetBlue rolls out corporate booking tool
JetBlue Airways has launched Blue Inc. a free booking tool for small to midsized companies.
In addition to the booking capabilities found on its consumer website, Blue Inc. allows companies to earn TrueBlue points. Companies will earn three loyalty points per dollar spent on JetBlue flights for employee travel booked through the portal. Businesses can then grant access to registered travelers within the company to redeem points.
Travelers earn six TrueBlue points per dollar spent for their individual TrueBlue accounts.
Blue Inc. has travel management capabilities. Travel managers can set travel budgets, track spending and manage bookings. Companies can book multiple travelers for group travel, while still offering personal payment options for each traveler if necessary.
Users can also book hotels and rental cars on Blue Inc.
“JetBlue is becoming increasingly serious about courting the business travel market, not just corporate accounts but the small to mid-sized businesses that the airline has long served,” said industry analyst Henry Harteveldt.
Airbus edges Boeing in orders race at Paris air show
Airbus collects orders worth $57 billion at Paris air show, edging out Boeing's $50 billion
LE BOURGET, France (AP) -- Airbus glided past U.S. rival Boeing to take top honors in their annual competition to sell commercial jets at the Paris Air Show, according to final tallies that together amounted to over $107 billion in business.
The announcements Thursday capped four days of deal-making at the biennial air show, when top executives from the world's largest airlines clink champagne glasses and write whopping checks as test pilots fly demonstrations of high-tech aircraft at Paris' normally sleepy Le Bourget airfield.
Airbus racked up $57 billion worth of business for 421 aircraft. The announcement of a provisional deal by European low-cost carrier Wizz Air for 110 A321neos — worth more than $12.5 billion at list prices — put the Toulouse, France-based plane maker over the top Thursday against Boeing in financial terms. It was the show's single biggest order.
Chicago-based Boeing tallied orders and commitments for 331 planes worth $50.2 billion. Its biggest deal was with Dutch leasing company AerCap for 100 737MAX-8 planes, worth up to $10.7 billion at list prices. Customers routinely negotiate discounts off those list prices.
Overall, business was not as good as in previous years. Last year, at Britain's Farnborough Air Show, which trades the spotlight with Paris from year to year as the site of Europe's premier aviation event, Airbus clinched orders and commitments for 486 aircraft valued at $75 billion. But Boeing won more this year than last, when it landed business worth $40.2 billion for 201 planes.
Industry watchers had been expecting a modest haul of orders as airlines pull back from a record-breaking spate of plane buying in recent years.
High fuel prices up until a year ago had prompted airlines to invest massively in a new generation of more fuel-economical aircraft like the Airbus A320neo and the Boeing 737MAX.
Thursday's announcements wrapped up the press-and-industry-only part of the air show, which now opens to the public from Friday to Sunday.
Airbus' orders count appeared to surpass its own expectations. On Tuesday, Airbus CEO Fabrice Bregier had told The Associated Press that he predicted about 200 orders or commitments by the end of the show.
While Airbus executives have forecast high demand for the company's A380 superjumbo to serve growing megacities, the company booked no new orders for the massive 500-seater. The last order for the jet dates back to last year.
Boeing forecasts demand for 38,050 airplanes over the next 20 years, and says 26,730 of those will be single-aisle jets. Airbus projects that 32,600 new planes worth a total of $4.9 trillion will be needed by 2034.
Indonesian flag-carrier Garuda was one of the show's most active buyers, signing a letter of intent for up to 60 Boeing jets — 30 of the popular single-aisle 737MAX and 30 787-9 planes.
Garuda also put in a provisional order for 30 wide-body Airbus A350 planes, worth about $9 billion, which could serve routes from Jakarta or Bali to Europe.
Passenger busted in Miami trying to smuggle cocaine in fried fish bellies
Saturday morning, as you were either waking up, still sleeping, or just generally not being involved in drug smuggling of any kind, the defenses of Miami International Airport were being put to the test – the lightly fried test.
Over two pounds of cocaine – 2.3 pounds, at official count – arrived at the airport inside the bellies of fried fish, further inside the checked luggage of a passenger disembarking a flight from Jamaica. Aware that the drug in any quantity is neither cool nor legal, the passenger apparently decided that prepared local catch from the country of origin was the perfect vessel for evading trouble. Well, it was not.
After a standard X-ray examination, the jig was up, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operations had another arrest – and more drugs to throw on the million-pound pile it seizes from troublemakers annually (3.8 million last year).
As lightly detailed in the report, inconsistencies in the shape and size of the fish drew the attention of the Customs agents, who proceeded to strike white gold upon tearing into the fish’s sewn bellies. The plan, it seems, was not to be – but then again, it is not the first fish-related drug smuggling plot to fail. In 2013, two Polish men were foiled attempting to smuggle millions worth of liquid cocaine concealed inside the bodies of four giant South American fish (the fish lived and had a happy ending waiting). Last year, a shipment of frozen fish fillets packed with $68 million in heroin and methamphetamine was thwarted in Sydney.
Holland America Ship Scores Third Straight 100 on Health Inspection
Holland America Line’s Statendam scored a 100 on its most recent U.S. Public Health inspection, making it the third consecutive perfect score for the ship.
The Statendam’s surprise inspection was conducted June 5 while the ship was at Juneau, Alaska, during a 14-day round-trip from Seattle. Before that, Statendam received a 100 in February 2015 during a call at Hilo, Hawaii, and in June 2014 in Ketchikan, Alaska.
So far this year, there have been 18 perfect scores.
Others doing so in recent weeks are Royal Caribbean International’s Radiance of the Seas on June 7, Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ Seven Seas Navigator on May 7, Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Equinox on April 27 and Celebrity Infinity on March 29, and Carnival Cruise Lines’ Carnival Sunshine on April 18 and Carnival Ecstasy on April 13.
“Achieving a perfect score on a USPH inspection is not easy, and we congratulate everyone on the team who worked diligently toward this success,” Holland America President Orlando Ashford said. “We always aim for a score of 100, and for Statendam to continue its perfect streak for the third consecutive time is something we celebrate with great pride.”
Holland America is on a roll. One of its other ships, Eurodam, earned a 100 for the eighth consecutive time in February, and in the past year Nieuw Amsterdam, Noordam, Ryndam, Zuiderdam and Westerdam also achieved perfect scores.
The VSP inspections were introduced in the early 1970s and are required for all passenger ships that call at a U.S. port. The unannounced inspections are carried out by U.S. Public Health officials twice a year for every cruise ship.
The score, on a scale from one to 100, is assigned on the basis of a checklist involving dozens of areas of assessment, encompassing hygiene and sanitation of food (from storage to preparation), overall galley cleanliness, water, shipboard personnel and the ship as a whole.
British Line Cancels Cruise Due to Norovirus Outbreak
Fred Olsen Cruise Lines has cancelled the Balmoral’s June 20 cruise from Southampton, England, so it can clean and sanitize the ship after a norovirus outbreak.
Olsen said canceling the three-night “Belgium & France Mini-Cruise” will “give the ship a clear ‘fire break,’ when the virus cannot pass from human-to-human contact, thereby providing the greatest opportunity for the virus to be removed from any surfaces.”
Guests booked on the canceled cruise can get a full refund or transfer to a selection of alternative sailings this year, which a number of guests have done.
In a statement, Olsen noted the “high incidence” of the gastrointestinal illness, norovirus, in the U.K. over the past few weeks. “Sadly this has meant some guests have brought this virus onto the ship,” the company said. “Norovirus is a very common virus, second only to the common cold, and affects over 265 million people annually, as well as many hospitals. The virus has been very prevalent in the U.K. this year, and is spread very easily by contact with surfaces and from person-to-person, especially within ‘closed’ communities. According to Public Health England, a total of 69 wards/bays were closed in English hospitals due to norovirus from April 27 to 31st May 31.”
Fred Olsen operates four ships and primarily markets to British travelers.
European Commercial Jets Urged to Carry Defibrillators, Life-Saving Equipment
In the wake of 47-year-old Davina Tavener's tragic death aboard a Ryanair flight late last year, coroner Alan Walsh is urging airlines to carry defibrillators and other emergency equipment on short- and long-haul flights, according to The Guardian.
Tavener was traveling to Spain with her husband for vacation when she became ill several hours into the flight, collapsed, and ultimately died of an undiagnosed heart condition.
Consultant surgeon Clare Garnsey, who was on the flight and tried to help revive Tavener, indicated that she was surprised a defibrillator wasn't available. "I did ask for a defibrillator, because if it’s a cardiac issue that’s the best chance of survival, and it was quite a surprise this wasn’t there," said Garnsey via The Guardian.
Currently, airlines aren't required to possess a defibrillator onboard.
While Walsh acknowledged that there's no way to know for certain that a defibrillator would have been enough to keep Tavener alive, he plans to reach out to multiple agencies in an effort to make the device accessible on commercial aircraft.
In addition to defibrillators, Walsh wants airlines to consider adding devices like bag valve masks, airway adjuncts and suction equipment to improve the chances of resuscitation in future medical emergencies.
Walsh said he plans to write letters to the European Aviation Safety Agency, the Civil Aviation Authority, and the Irish Aviation Authority.
The push is for the devices to be made available on every flight as Walsh believes the risk of another tragedy is uniform.
"I don’t believe there is any difference between short-haul flights and long-haul flights, said Walsh via The Guardian. "It takes a second to have a cardiac event and sadly cardiac events don’t choose whether they are 10 minutes into a flight or 10 hours into a flight. If you are, by the nature of air travel, trapped in aircraft without access to any other facility, the authorities need to consider the equipment to be carried on those airlines, whether it’s short haul or long haul."
European Airlines Lobbying for US-Style Aviation Rules
With recent strikes stranding passengers and hurting business, Europe's leading airlines are eyeing new rules and regulations designed to reduce the impact of future strikes as well as cut down on taxes.
According to the Associated Press, CEOs of Air France, KLM, Lufthansa, Easyjet, Ryanair and the International Airlines Group (British Airways parent) met with European regulators in Brussels on Wednesday to express their concerns over the region's lack of progress in simplifying its air traffic control system.
The airlines are hoping to establish aviation rules comparable to those in the U.S.
Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary expressed support for early measures designed to reduce the likelihood of a strike by allowing workers to air their grievances prior to striking. O'Leary also recommended technology that could effectively replace air traffic control workers by allowing air space to remain open even if those workers are on strike.
Air traffic controllers argue the proposed rules would have a negative impact on passenger safety as well as their job security, according to the AP.
With strikes occurring much more frequently in Europe compared to the U.S., it's understandable as to why the continent's top carriers would push for rules similar to those overseas. However it's uncertain whether European regulators will implement the proposed changes.
Noordam Comes to Aid of Sightseeing Vessel
Taking a cruise can be the vacation of a lifetime for many travelers, but one ship traveling around Alaska came to the aid of a disabled boat last week, helping its passengers and crew on board.
According to Holland America, the company’s ms Noordam was in the middle of a seven-day Alaska cruise when it came to the aid of a disabled sightseeing boat on Wednesday, June 10, near Jaw Point at Glacier Bay, Alaska.
The Noordam received a call for help at 12:35 p.m. local time and arrived on the scene to find the 79-foot sightseeing vessel Baranof Wind having mechanical issues. The Holland America Line ship lowered a tender into the water and brought Baranof Wind’s 40 passengers and one park ranger on board.
Holland America Line president Orlando Ashford released a statement about the incident:
“We are proud of the proficient response Captain van Donselaar and his team executed in assisting the passengers of Baranof Wind. Our crewmembers are highly trained to respond when needed and we were fortunate to have been nearby to provide support.”
The passengers from the sightseeing vessel were brought onboard the ms Noordam where they were served lunch. The ship made a detour to Bartlett Cove at around 5:30 p.m. local time to drop off the passengers and the park ranger before sailing to its next port of call, Ketchikan, Alaska.
While this was a great gesture by the crew and a testament to the dedication of Holland America, this is not the first time something like this has happened. As Travel Pulse’s Theresa Norton Masek reported earlier this year when two of the company’s other ships helped assist vessels in distress, the Holland America’s fleet has the ability and the compassion to help those in need.
Surf's Up Once Again at Marvelous Munich Airport
Munich Airport remains a bodacious oasis for surfing.
I know, it’s odd to hear but wonderful to enjoy, and it’s back again to quell that need to carve some serious waves on your next layover.
Via a press release, the doldrums of airport spelunking are about to come to an end: “For the fifth anniversary edition of ‘Surf & Style,’ surfing enthusiasts will try out their best moves in the Forum of the Munich Airport Center starting July 31. Surfers of all skill levels are welcome to ride the world's largest standing wave through August 23.”
We previously reported on the airport’s predilection to hanging 10 and generally welcoming your own gnarly peculiarities, so we are tickled at the reminder that the surf is most definitely up in Germany once again.
While about a month long, the event garners myriad smiles from kids of all ages as evidenced by the following videos:
https://youtu.be/zpr_R4IVh88
In a rare twist, we are actually geeked to visit and stay for a longer duration than normal at a city’s airport.
For those interested, the waves at the MAC Forum will treat visitors from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time.
Or, if you are more into people watching and lack water-riding coordination, the release informs that there is the European Stationary Wave Riding Championship to look forward to, which takes place Aug. 14-16.
And you can always head to the airport’s website, which features all the details you need to enjoy a day at the airport.
For a few short weeks this summer all other airports will again be rendered extremely boring by comparison.
Three tourists killed in Algarve coach crash
Tourist officials in the Algarve have reassured holidaymakers following a fatal coach crash on Wednesday night.
Three Dutch tourists were killed in the crash and 31 other tourists injured when a bus veered off the A22 motorway and into a ravine close to the Albufeira exit.
Latest report say three of the injured tourists are in a serious condition.
The Algarve Tourism Bureau issued a statement today, which said: "Following the terrible news of last night's coach crash in Portugal, we would like to extend our condolences to the friends and families of those killed or injured in the incident.
"The Algarve takes its commitment to tourist safety and security very seriously and this incident will be fully investigated, with regulations being altered if and where necessary.
The bus was heading from Faro to the Western Algarve.
UK Tour Operator Thomas Cook moves customers after child-snatching scare at Cyprus hotel
Thomas Cook has moved around 60 British and Irish holidaymakers from a Cyprus hotel over fears for the safety of children.
The clients were moved from the Anastasia Beach Hotel in Protaras after an incident on Tuesday night in which a gang allegedly tried to snatch children from the hotel.
According to a report in the Daily Record, a couple were trying to lure three children under the age of 10 into a waiting car but were stopped when a suspicious holidaymaker intervened.
The alleged abductors were grabbed and taken to the hotel office where they were handed over to local police.
Concerned holidaymakers mounted safety patrols of the hotel grounds to protect their children.
Some guests claimed they had seen members of the gang hanging around the hotel on previous occasions during their holidays.
Holidaymakers praised Thomas Cook reps for the speedy and professional way they handled the situation and tried to calm fears.
The operator arranged for the families directly affected by the incident to fly back to the UK and agreed to move others who didn't feel safe.
A Thomas Cook spokesperson said the company was taking the incident extremely seriously and had requested an increased and immediate security presence at the hotel.
"The safety and welfare of our customers is always our first priority and upon hearing about the incident, we immediately deployed our experienced resort team to the property to provide those customers in residence with individual support.
"Customers who did not wish to stay at the property were immediately moved to alternative hotels of a similar or higher standard.
"While incidents of this nature are extremely rare, we would like to reassure all customers that this is being taken incredibly seriously and we are continuing to work closely with the local authorities and the hotel as the investigation continues.
"Any customers with concerns about future holidays at this hotel are asked to contact us directly so that we can deal with them personally and directly."
The incident was played down by the local police and in the local press.
According to the Cyprus Mail, police said they arrested a 19-year-old man from Bulgaria who holidaymakers claim had been filming their children and was trying to abduct them.
But they said after going through his phone and searching his home, nothing suggested he was part of a child-abducting gang or that he was stalking children.
English tourist speared through eye by hotel parasol to win millions in compensation
A holidaymaker speared through the eye by a flying parasol at a Tenerife hotel is set to receive millions of pounds in compensation.
Godfrey Keefe, 52, from Gateshead, was staying at the Bahia Principe Costa Hotel with his family in October 2006.
He was sitting beside the hotel pool when a gust of wind blew an unsecured parasol into his face, spearing his right eye socket and penetrating into his brain, causing him very serious injuries.
According to a report in the Telegraph, a judge in the case has valued his damages claim at more than £5 million, although the amount has yet to be assessed.
The case has dragged on for eight years because Hoteles Pinero Canarias SL, the owners of the resort, argued that Keefe was not entitled to sue them in England.
Instead the Spanish firm said he would have to take legal action in Spain, where damages awarded would have been below £600,000.
But at an Appeal Court this week, judges ruled that under European law he is entitled to sue both the hotel owners and their Spanish insurers in an English court.
Keefe, a keen sportsman, underwent emergency surgery to remove the parasol spike and has had more operations since.
According to his lawyers, he is now unfit to work and has to undergo an intensive care regime.
He was a director of a civil engineering firm at the time of the incident.
Marriott joins TripAdvisor's Instant Booking platform
Travel planning site TripAdvisor has announced a partnership with Marriott International Inc. enabling its users to search and book rooms at Marriott's 4,000-plus hotels in 80 countries.
Marriott inventory is being added to TripAdvisor's Instant Booking platform, a tool it launched last year for US customers which displays a 'Book on TripAdvisor' button for direct reservations without leaving the TripAdvisor site.
All Marriott's 19 brands can be accessed through Instant Booking.
Shafiq Khan, senior vice president for channel strategy and distribution at Marriott, said: "It maintains our ability to control where the rates and inventory for Marriott's hotels are displayed. The result is mutually beneficial to both partners from a strategic and economic standpoint."
"TripAdvisor is a perfect partner for Marriott, both strategically and culturally," added Marriott CEO Arne Sorenson.
"Our new agreement demonstrates how the growth strategies for our two companies are aligned in the travel space."
Initially, hotel chains were slow to partner with TripAdvisor for the Instant Booking service, but it has signed up some major hotel groups including Best Western, Accor and Choice Hotels.
American Airlines seeking approval for Ecuador flights
American Airlines plans to launch flights to Quito, Ecuador from its Dallas/Fort Worth hub this winter.
American filed an application to the US Department of Transportation for five weekly flights beginning December 18 and plans to deploy 128-seat Airbus A319s on the route.
"We're the largest carrier to Central and South America, and this demonstrates our commitment to that region," American spokesman Casey Norton said.
"It provides yet another destination out of our largest hub at Dallas/Fort Worth."
American also serves Lima, Sao Paulo, Buenos Aires, and Santiago, Chile from DFW and also flies to Quito from its Miami hub.
Meanwhile the Ecuador Ministry of Tourism is continuing its 'All You Need is Ecuador' campaign targeting the US and other key markets including Canada, UK, Germany, Brazil, Japan and Australia.
It will roll out a new series of press, TV and digital ads.
Ecuador welcomed a record 1.5 million international visitors in 2014, a 12.3% year over year increase and has seen 10.9% growth in the first four months of 2015.
Rising hotel occupancy slows in May
The spurt in hotel occupancy may be tapering off across South Florida, but tourism officials say the industry is still showing signs of improvement.
In May, Broward County hotels were 74.7 percent full — the same occupancy they had in May 2014, according to data released Tuesday by industry tracker STR Inc.
However, Broward's average daily room rate increased in May, rising to $118.35 from $114.13 a year ago. (Rising room rates are considered an indicator of the industry's health.)
"While we hit yet another record-breaking month in May, our occupancy reflects the absence of a couple of major conferences and sports activities," said Nicki Grossman, president of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau. "Our leisure business held up well and we had one of the highest occupancies in the state for May. Bring on summer!"
In Palm Beach County, hotel occupancy fell slightly in May to 69 percent, from 69.3 percent in the same month last year. Here, the shortfall in occupancy was attributed to largely to the increase in hotel room inventory in the destination.
"With the [accommodations] pie bigger overall, occupancy becomes a bigger challenge. There's more room in the inn, so to speak," said a spokesperson for Discover The Palm Beaches, the county's official tourism marketer.
The county's average daily rate climbed to $139.32 from $131.19, STR data showed.
That 6.2 percent increase in room rates from a year ago and a 9.6 percent uptick in total room revenue are indicators of continued strength in county tourism, he said. "All in all it's not a bad story."
In Miami-Dade County, hotel occupancy in May dropped to 76.5 percent from 78.4 percent last year. The average daily hotel rate rose to $177.08 from $169.28.
Orlando's hotels are outperforming 2014 in year-over-year metrics
Despite the Orlando hotel industry's year-over-year statistics increasing in three key performance metrics, May has been its worst month of 2015.
The region's hotels reported a 74.9 percent occupancy rate last month, according to STR Inc., a company that tracks supply and demand for the hotel industry domestically and internationally.
That's up 3.4 percent from last May but down nearly six percentage points from April's report, according to STR.
Historically, Orlando's May reports have been neither the best nor the worst for the area.
Villas of Grand Cypress in Orlando was ranked No. 8 of 25 best hotels in the U.S. also ranked No. 4 of 25 best luxury hotels.
The region's year-end average last year was 73.7 percent, according to STR.
Additionally, Orlando hotels reported the lowest RevPAR, a metric that determines the revenue made per available room, and average daily rates of the year.
Orlando's room prices averaged $105.93 a night a May, marginally up from $102.14 in May 2014. Revenue per room was up to $79.32 compared with $72.98 last year.
May's occupancy rate is still not as low as in November, when its 68 percent rate made it the worst month for Orlando hotels last year.
Despite nearly flat year-over-year performance, some of Orlando's changes were better than the overall industry.
The U.S. hotel industry's average occupancy increased by less than a percentage point in year-over-year reports. Orlando's rate is also well about the country's average rate of 67.5 percent, according to STR.
The hotel industry saw a strong May, as national averages also increased in RevPAR and average daily room rates.
"May 2015 broke the occupancy record for the month, and demand broke an unprecedented 104 million room nights," said Jan Freitag, senior vice president of strategic development for STR.
Six markets, including Nashville, Tenn., and Denver, reported double-digit increases in RevPAR.
Houston and New York were the only two markets to report decreases in all three categories, according to STR.
The nation's hotel industry has slowly been rebounding for the last six years, when the recession hit the industry hard.
Delta CEO: Gulf carriers a threat to Detroit jobs
The war of words over open skies agreements with airlines from Qatar and United Arab Emirates continued this week, with Delta Air Lines' CEO Richard Anderson warning that thousands of Detroit area jobs were being threatened by "the massive subsidization of the Gulf carriers."
Speaking at the Detroit Economic Club, Anderson said that the Gulf-based airlines receive more than $42 billion in subsidies from their governments, undermining fair competition, according to a statement from The Partnership for Open and Fair Skies.
"What we've discovered at Delta Air Lines is we compete against a lot of state-owned and state-subsidized enterprises," he said. "When the playing field is relatively level, we win because we have these great people that are committed to their company and committed to their customers. But when the playing field is so far tilted, it is difficult in any industry to be able to compete against governments."
Anderson characterized this issue as particularly important to Detroit, which he called the "gateway into Asia" and where he said there would be about 130,000 Delta departures this year. He added that "every one of the nonstop, widebody flights we put to Asia supports about 900 to 1,000 jobs."
In the statement, The Partnership for Open and Fair Skies said that the Gulf airlines have grown "four times faster than U.S. carriers without stimulating new market demand and they're growing at the expense of U.S. airlines."
"We are supporters of fair trade... but like many trade relationships there are outliers," Anderson said. "We support open skies, we support open and free trade but in this instance we have bilateral agreements that are being violated by those countries."
Anderson's comments came shortly after the U.S. Travel Association released research indicating that these Open Skies agreements added billions of dollars in economic activity and tax revenue, as well as tens of thousands of jobs, to the US economy.
Tourico prebuys more than 90K rooms in Paris, New York
Tourico Holidays this week said it agreed to prepurchase more than 90,000 hotel room nights at two Hyatt-branded properties in Paris and New York, as the online travel wholesaler looks to lock in room rates for its travel agent clients during the next 20 months.
Closely held Tourico prebought 47,000 room nights at the Hyatt Regency Paris Etoile through February 2017, indicating that the wholesaler planned to sell about 80 rooms a night on average at the 950-room hotel. Tourico sells 2,100 rooms a day through its 425 supplier hotels in Paris and said Paris room-night bookings are up 36% this year.
Tourico also prepurchased 44,000 room nights at the Grand Hyatt New York through March 2016, indicating an average booking of about 160 rooms a night at the 1,306-room hotel. Tourico sold more than a half-million room nights in New York last year.
Lauren Volcheff, vice president of North American sales and marketing at Tourico, said the room-night figures represented "very large blocks" and said the company typically prebuys between 2,000 and 20,000 room-nights per year from its hotel partners.
"Both hotels meet a short list of criteria that makes them perfect for a prebuy agreement: amazing location in areas tourists love, a lot of rooms for sale and a true partner at the hotel and corporate level," Volcheff said.
Tourico, which generates more than $1 billion in annual revenue, continues to try to bring down its costs by buying inventory from travel suppliers in bulk. The company, which has 4,900 travel-professional clients in 100 countries, said in March that it would start prepurchasing tickets for activities and attractions such as Las Vegas' High Roller observation wheel, adding that the discounted rates would allow it to pass on savings to its travel-agent customers.
Hyatt Regency Paris Etoile was formerly the Concorde Lafayette before Hyatt reached an agreement to rebrand the property in 2013. The Grand Hyatt New York completed a $130 million renovation in late 2011.
Airline industry, government at odds over emissions standards
As the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) moves to catch up with overseas regulators by enacting emissions standards for the aviation industry, the largest U.S. airline trade group is pushing back.
The trade group, Airlines for America (A4A), argues that the industry has already done its part to reduce emissions and that it now is up to the government to address improvements to the air traffic control system that could further reduce airline fuel consumption.
Just weeks after the EPA reported that its early findings confirmed that aircraft carbon dioxide emissions contribute to global warming, A4A was gearing up for a lobbying effort that will highlight both the industry's fuel-efficiency gains and the need for the federal government to update aircraft-control systems. A4A is pointing to data suggesting that U.S. carriers have more than doubled fuel efficiency since 1978 and that airlines account for 5% of the U.S. economy, but just 2% of the country's emissions.
"The U.S. airlines carried 20% more passengers and cargo in 2014 than they did in 2000, while emitting 8% less carbon dioxide," A4A spokesman Vaughn Jennings said. "Coupled with the long-term fuel efficiency improvements the U.S. airlines have accomplished [dating] back to the late 1970s, there is a real question as to whether any [greenhouse-gas] emissions regulation is needed."
As it is, the EPA appears to be following up efforts by the United Nations' International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which has been trying to address the issue of aircraft emissions for at least five years and is pushing for the global aircraft industry to boost fuel-efficiency by 1.5% a year through 2020. ICAO is working with the industry to develop aircraft emissions standards, which could be disclosed as soon as early next year.
One burning question for airlines is whether the EPA's move toward emissions standards would end up creating a system in which different emissions mandates would apply to aircraft flying in Europe and those flying in North America. Similar conflicting standards already exist in the global automobile industry. And it's not clear which standard would then apply for aircraft used for transatlantic flights.
In a June 10 statement, the EPA said it was pursuing policies "that are equitable across national boundaries," but it did not explain what that meant or offer further detail. Meanwhile, Jennings said it was "critical" that international emissions standards be common.
Bob Offutt, senior technology analyst at Phocuswright, said that while it was unclear which standards would apply on transatlantic flights, he expected them to be similar, with the greatest potential for differences arising with when the emissions standards would be phased in.
Regardless, Offutt said the EPA's timing is no accident. The concept of aircraft pollution and its potential impact on global weather patterns have been discussed in scientific journals since at least 9/11, when, in the days following those terrorist attacks, flights were grounded, offering a chance to test theories on the impact of aircraft emissions.
Even so, in the ensuing years as the aviation industry was riddled by lackluster customer demand and higher fuel costs, the EPA appears to have taken a hands-off approach to the issue of aircraft emissions and their potential impact on global warming.
What has changed in recent years is that fuel prices will have fallen 20% between 2013 and 2015, while worldwide passenger departures will increase 6.8% this year, to 3.53 billion, and air transport will boost passenger revenue by 4.3% this year, to $823 billion, according to IATA.
As a result, many U.S. airlines are reporting record profits. United reported net income of $1.13 billion last year, compared with a $723 million net loss in 2012, while American Airlines earned net income of $2.88 billion in 2014, compared with a $1.88 billion loss two years prior.
"The airlines had complained that they were struggling. This is old news, of course," Offutt said. "The EPA may have been holding off for a while so that [the airlines] could be profitable. Now, the EPA is saying, 'your turn.'"
Indeed, the EPA noted in its June 10 statement about addressing aircraft greenhouse-gas emissions that U.S. aircraft account for 29% of global aircraft emissions as well as about 11% of emissions from the domestic transportation sector.
"In 2009, EPA determined that GHG [grenhouse-gas] pollution from cars and light trucks threatens Americans' health and welfare by leading to long-lasting changes in our climate that can have a range of negative effects. The body of science on human-induced climate change has strengthened, supporting today's proposed finding … that GHGs emitted from aircraft engines contribute to pollution that causes climate change endangering public health and welfare."
While the airlines have not denied those assertions, A4A has already made it clear that the industry feels that a large part of solution to the emissions problem lies with the country's outdated air traffic control system, which damages the industry's efficiency. A replacement Gen-3 system has long been a political football in Congress. The airlines and A4A will likely use the EPA data in their push for the government to transition from an outdated radar-based infrastructure to a satellite-based GPS.
"While the A4A airlines are doing all that they can to promote efficiencies within the current air traffic management system, the limitations of that system account for over 10% of unnecessary fuel burn and resulting emissions," Jennings said.
Lufthansa offers first class passengers Porsche 911 experience
Lufthansa First Class passengers and Lufthansa Private Jet guests can now enliven the waiting time before their next take-off with a unique experience - taking a Porsche 911 or Panamera for a spin through Munich, the sub-Alpine landscape or Lower Bavaria.
The Porsche First Class Excitement offer is available for all Lufthansa, SWISS or Austrian Airlines passengers, Lufthansa HON Circle members and Lufthansa Private Jet guests who possess a valid First Class boarding ticket for that day.
“With Lufthansa First Class, we offer our customers the highest travel quality.
“This is suitably complemented by the exclusive offer from Porsche, which turns the waiting period before take-off into a memorable experience,” said Thomas Klühr, Lufthansa executive board member for finance.
For guests, the Lufthansa First Class Personal Assistant accepts reservations in the First Class Lounge and arranges the car rental.
Passengers can book their sports car online before the flight, or make a spontaneous on-the-spot decision, as long as the chosen offer is available.
Back at the airport, a First Class flight starts as usual - a limousine takes passengers straight to the apron position beside the aircraft.
Once on board, passengers enjoy First Class menus by famous star chefs and a selection of premier wines.
Anaheim Rebrands as a City That Goes Beyond Disneyland
For visitors to Disneyland Resort in California, Anaheim has sometimes been an after thought—a place you travel to in order to experience the theme park. But Anaheim is actually much more than that and it has developed a new brand and logo to prove it.
The Anaheim/Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau (AOCVCB), which was a bit of a mouthful to say, on June 24 unveiled its new name, Visit Anaheim, and a new URL, www.VisitAnaheim.org . After more than 20 years as AOCVCB, the destination marketing organization decided to introduce a fresh new brand that reflects the past, present and future of the city, while encouraging travelers to visit.
According to Jay Burress, president and CEO of Visit Anaheim, the new brand came after a year of consumer, meetings and travel trade research showed the city needed a new name and new brand. “Visit Anaheim is a name that travel enthusiasts and conventioneers can easily find and understand,” he said.
“It evokes a sense of discovery and clearly communicates that we have an incredible, awe-inspiring destination that people should come see for themselves.”
As the second largest city in Orange County, Anaheim has undergone a massive revitalization and beautification program over the past decade and is home to some of California’s top attractions, entertainment and sports venues, theme parks, and a growing restaurant and craft brewing scene.
New attractions include the Packing District, located at the intersection of Anaheim Boulevard and Santa Ana Street, which includes the restored Packard Building and former Car Showroom, Farmers Park and the restored citrus Packing House, including Cooks Chapel, a community kitchen private event venue, as well as The Backyard, an outdoor event area with a fireplace and orange grove. The Packing House features more than 20 artisan eateries. In addition, the Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center (ARTIC) is transforming how residents travel. This transportation hub offers a wide variety of transit, dining, retail and entertainment options in one location.
Anaheim also is set to see a dramatic expansion of its hotel inventory as it adds 4,000 hotel rooms in the next few years, including two planned four-diamond properties. Last year it welcomed 1.2 million meetings and convention visitors, many of whom took advantage of the city’s convention center, a facility that is already the largest in California but will be expanding further after a $200 million project is completed in 2017.
Burress said Anaheim’s new logo pays tribute to the unique qualities of Anaheim. “It also perfectly encapsulates the next stage we are entering into as an organization,” he said. “We are here to help inspire the imagination of every visitor that comes to our destination—whether they’re a sports fan, adrenaline junkie, beach lover, theme park enthusiast or foodie—and change the way they see the world.”
Visit Anaheim conducted multiple focus groups and interviews in and around Anaheim, Orange County, Los Angeles, Phoenix and San Jose to better understand how travelers viewed the destination, which includes Anaheim, Garden Grove and the greater Orange County. It found that Anaheim’s broad consumer and business travel audiences were not aware of what the destination offers and what it represents.
Designed by Kansas City-based travel marketing agency MMGY Global, the Visit Anaheim logo has multiple design elements that speak directly to Anaheim and Orange County’s past, present and future.
The big “A” recalls the number of big A logos around the destination; the looped “h” is similar to an Anaheim logo created by a former Disney creative; the dot over the “i” is Disney’s dot; and the palm tree icon speaks to the City of Anaheim’s robust revitalization. The logo’s colors, blue and marigold, are a tribute to Southern California’s ocean views, clear blue skies and warm sunny days.
To celebrate its new branding, Visit Anaheim took to the streets of New York City’s Flatiron district on June 24 with a special event where New Yorkers were invited to experience what Visit Anaheim is all about. Partnering with famed 3D pavement artist Joe Hill, three large, interactive 3D illustrations were installed in front of the Flatiron Building at 175 5th Ave.
Allianz Survey: More Travel, Less Spending By Americans In 2015
Although more Americans are confident they will vacation this summer, those who do plan to spend significantly less while on holiday, mainly due to wider utilization of “sharing economy” travel options.
Those are among the findings of an Insurance Vacation Confidence Index survey released this week by travel insurance provider Allianz Global Assistance USA.
Americans will spend $85.5 billion on summer vacations in 2015, according to the survey, down 13.5 percent from $98.8 billion in 2014. The decrease comes despite a 0.5 percent increase in the number of Americans they poll identifies as “confident they will take a vacation this summer.”
The average American taking a vacation this summer will spend $1,621, down from $1,895 in 2014. More travelers (19 percent) say they will spend less than $400 on their vacation this year than in 2014, when 13 percent of travelers said they spend under $400.
Allianz officials say the results largely point to one factor: the willingness of travelers ages 18 to 34 to utilize non-traditional travel, transportation and hospitality services including Airbnb, Uber, Lyft, GetAround, and Feastly.
The six percent increase in travelers intending to spend less than $400 on their vacation since 2014 is “a big, big number,” said Dan Durazo, Allianz’ director of communications. “It’s pretty big jump. This is being driven, we feel, by millennials who have told us that they‘re very comfortable with the sharing economy,” he said. “They think the sharing economy is a good way to save money while on vacation.
“Millennials are quite familiar with these services,” said Durazo. “Sixty percent said they trust these services, which is a pretty big percentage compared to 37 percent of all other travelers. Forty-seven percent of Americans are aware of at least one these services but 58 percent of millennials are,” he said.
Nearly 40 percent of millennials said they plan to spend less than $400 on summer travel, twice the number of all other age groups combined. “You’ve got higher awareness and higher trust of sharing economy travel services by millennials,” Durazo added.
Also, while 17 percent of Americans said they’re likely to use a sharing economy service during their summer vacation, 28 percent of young adults under the age of 35 said they plan to book travel and related services with sharing economy providers.
Millennials were also found to be the most confident of any age group in taking a summer vacation, with 50.5 percent saying they expect to vacation this summer, said Durazo.
The survey did include a slim glimmer of light for traditional travel providers: all age groups agreed that established travel providers, including travel agents, OTAs, hotels and resorts, offer “better experiences and services” compared with sharing economy providers.
These Allianz survey findings are based on an Ipsos telephone poll of a nationally representative sample of 1,000 randomly selected adults conducted June 5 to 9, 2015. The results are considered accurate within plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.
New York Impounded 496 Vehicles in Uber Crackdown
One of the fastest growing ways of getting around is ride-sharing service Uber, but officials in New York City are cracking down on drivers who are picking up illegal street hails by seizing their cars when caught.
According to Rebecca Harshbarger of the New York Post, the Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) seized 496 vehicles associated with Uber drivers who were making illegal passenger pickups between April 29 and June 15.
Drivers using the Uber app are only allowed to pick up passengers who arraigned for the ride through the service or those who base dispatch approved for pick up. One of the places where officials found the most violators was at John F. Kennedy International Airport.
The fear is that with an estimated 19,000 drivers affiliated with Uber and no cap on the number of drivers in New York City, the streets of the city will eventually become overwhelmed by the number of ride-sharing cars, including both Uber and standard taxis.
New York Taxiworkers Alliance representative Bhairavi Desai told the New York Post, “I think it’s honestly a reflection of the oversaturation of the vehicles, and the desperation everyone is feeling on the streets to earn a living. At least they’re beginning to take action.”
Before the recent decision to impound the cars of those drivers found to be operating illegally, offenders would have been given a summons, but the implementation of more severe punishments should help deter many current or potential future offenders.
New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers head, Fernando Mateo, told Harshbarger, “If you’re willing to risk breaking the law, you have to be willing to lose your car. I would recommend, go back to the basics. Everyone has an app. You can’t make a living with just the Uber application.”
Tourists Arrested For Crashing Drone Into Cathedral
Here we go. We all knew this would start to happen. Dopey tourists flying their drones too close to something and eventually crashing it. Yesterday in Milan, three Korean men who were in town for the Expo 2015 were flying their drone around the Cathedral of Milan.
They caught the attention of the company that is working on the cathedral who alerted authorities.
When the tourists were approached, they lost control of their vehicle and crashed it into the scaffolding of the workers and caused some minor damage. There is no word if or when they will be charged, but they were taken in by the authorities for questioning.
This is not the first time that people have gotten in trouble with their drones overseas. In October of last year, an Israeli tourist was jailed for flying over one of Paris’ main attractions. And the February before a French Foreign Legion member was held by police after making a video of the Eiffel tower.
England also has strict laws when it comes to operating drones. The law states drones must not be flown within 150 meters of any congested area, or within 50 meters of buildings not owned by their operator.
Here at home, the FAA is about to clear commercial drones within the next year. Amazon has already come out and announced that they will be beginning drone delivery as soon as federal law allows. The personal drone war is starting to come about as well. In July of last year a man was arrested for filming with his drone outside of a hospital into an examination room. He was eventually acquitted. But you never know where this is going to go.
So make sure you check with local authorities before you take your fancy drone out and start filming for that new perspective. You want to make sure that you don’t end up with a new perscpetive of the back of a polica car.
Virgin commits to second summer of Belfast-Orlando flights
Virgin Atlantic has confirmed that its summer Belfast to Orlando flights, which launch this week, will return in 2016.
The airline said the weekly service, which will run for four weeks this summer, will return at the end of June next year.
The service is part of Virgin Atlantic's joint venture partnership with Delta Air Lines.
Virgin said 50% of the bookings were made as part of a holiday package with its tour operator Virgin Holidays.
A Boeing 747-400 aircraft will operate next summer's Belfast to Orlando service on Thursdays from June 23.
Ryanair bomb scare: man arrested for hoax call
Warsaw Modlin Airport was closed to incoming flights this morning after a security scare on a Ryanair flight.
The airline confirmed that an anonymous hoax call was made to the airport saying there was an explosive device on a flight due to leave Warsaw for Oslo at 8.40am.
"The airport security authorities ordered an immediate inspection of the aircraft, which hadn't yet boarded, and closed the airport to inbound arrivals as a security precaution," said a Ryanair spokeswoman.
"The security sweep confirmed this was a hoax and the aircraft has returned to service, while the airport has since reopened."
Ryanair apologised to the customers of the outbound Oslo flight for any inconvenience caused by the hoax call.
It said the aircraft has now been cleared to return to service and the airport has reopened.
A 48-year-old man has been arrested after the call was traced to his home.
Modlin is a small, auxiliary airport in Warsaw used only by Ryanair.
Initial reports said the plane involved had made an emergency landing but Ryanair said this was not the case as the search was made before passengers had even boarded.
UK Airline calls on industry to get tough with unruly passengers
Jet2.com is calling for industry-wide action to tackle a 'shocking' rise in disruptive passenger behaviour.
The move comes week after the airline banned a passenger for life for his behaviour on a flight from Leeds Bradford to Alicante which caused the pilot to divert the plane to Toulouse.
Following the incident, the airline conducted some research among other airlines and travel companies and noted a sharp rise in bad behaviour.
It is now working with the British Air Transport Association and Airport Operators Association to try to get the message out to consumers that unruly behaviour onboard aircraft won't be tolerated by the airlines.
Managing director Phil Ward said that, on average, Jet2 prevents six passengers a day boarding aircraft due to their unruly conduct.
"Only yesterday in Alicante we had the police meet two people from Manchester who were unruly and rude and we have refused them travel to return home at the weekend," said Ward.
Due to a rise in disorderly - mostly drink-related - behaviour on aircraft, airlines are more likely than ever to take a zero-tolerance approach, denying them boarding, banning them for life and, in some cases, taking legal action against them.
Jet2 is taking legal action against two passengers at the moment.
"We have told our ground staff, cabin crew and flight crew that if they deny boarding or they need to divert due to a disruptive passenger, we are totally behind them. We won't tolerate this, for the sake of our other passengers," said Ward.
"We need to get the message across to the rest of our customers that we are tackling bad behaviour on board and we will look after them.
Ward said the problem had become worse over the past two years, with Jet2 alone seeing a 20% rise in incidents in the past 12 months, but he said it wasn't only short-haul budget airlines that were suffering. "It's Virgin Atlantic to the US, United to Chicago, this is a growing problem for all airlines," he said.
"Cabin crew increasingly have to deal with people displaying abusive, racist and often noisy and aggressive conduct, causing misery and disruption for other passengers nearby."
Ward called on travel agents to help by advising customers not to drink excessively before or during a flight and warning them that any bad behaviour on board could land them in trouble.
"We are doing our bit to get the message out there at the start of the holiday season but we need the trade and the public to help."
Taxi Drivers Protest Uber in Clashes Across France
Taxi drivers took to the streets across France on Thursday in protests against the expansion of Uber, the ride-booking service.
French taxi drivers blocked the entrances to Paris’s major airports and train stations, while disruptions were also reported in other cities, including Marseille and Aix-en-Provence in the South.
In Grenoble, near the border with Italy, taxi associations burned tires on the highway, while in Paris, police officers in riot gear used tear gas to disrupt the protests.
The anger from French taxi drivers is the latest in a series of challenges confronting Uber, which has been accused by taxi associations and some policy makers of breaking national transportation laws and of creating unfair competition to traditional taxis. The ride-booking service faces regulatory scrutiny in many of the countries in which it operates.
The growing anger against the American technology company, however, has not stopped its meteoric rise from a small start-up founded in San Francisco in 2009 to a transportation giant that is now valued at more than $50 billion. Uber, which connects drivers with potential passengers through a smartphone app, operates in more than 300 cities and 57 countries, including the United States and China.
The latest problems in France relate to Uber’s low-cost UberPop service, which allows drivers without professional chauffeur licenses to pick up passengers through the use of their smartphones. While these drivers must pass security checks, French taxi associations claim that the Uber drivers do not comply with the country’s transportation rules and should not be allowed to operate.
In contrast to Uber drivers, French taxi drivers must pay up to $270,000 for an operating license. The French drivers say Uber undercuts existing services.
In recent weeks, Uber’s low-cost service has expanded beyond Paris. That growth comes despite a ruling last year by a French court that banned unregistered drivers from picking up passengers. Uber has appealed the ruling, though police officers have begun stopping UberPop drivers in the French capital, who may then be fined.
This is not the first time that European taxi drivers have voiced their anger by taking to city streets. Last year, more than 10,000 drivers in cities like London, Madrid and Milan staged a one-day protest against Uber.
Several European cities, including Berlin and Amsterdam, have banned some of the company’s services, saying that they do not comply with local transportation rules. And in Spain, Uber closed its operations after a judge ruled in December that the company’s low-cost service did not conform to Spanish laws and could amount to unfair competition for taxi drivers.
In response, Uber has asked the European Commission, the executive arm of the European Union, to intervene, saying the bans violate the bloc’s rules against discriminating between rival services.
Disney serves up poo at Animal Kingdom sweets shop
A new shop at Disney’s Animal Kingdom is serving up desserts that look like varieties of animal droppings. Four kinds of poo are now in the case amid the caramel apples and marshmallow treats at Zuri’s Sweets Shop.
Disney World's Animal Kingdom Wants You to Eat Poop for Dessert
Disney World doesn't exactly have a reputation for serving haute cuisine, but the park's newest offering quite literally looks like crap: The Orlando Sentinel notes that a new store at Disney's Animal Kingdom "is serving up desserts that look like varieties of animal droppings." The manure-themed confections are sold at Zuri's Sweets Shop, which opened last week in the park's Africa section.
According to brave reporter Dewayne Bevil, the chocolate poop — which looks vaguely like truffles or cake balls — comes in several different varieties including elephant ("dominated by oats and peanut butter") and giraffe ("fudgy, like a brownie). While the display case doesn't actually identify the treats as poop, the itemized receipt reportedly prints out terms such as "Poo, Giraffe."
If pseudo-poop for dessert doesn't satiate the appetite you've worked up after a long day at Disney World, there's also a new Star Wars restaurant serving "Light Saber Bites" (er, mini corn dogs) and cake in the shape of Yoda's face.
This airline is offering a new perk for first-class: better air
One airline is offering better air — yes, air — to its first-class passengers.
When you pay extra to fly fancy with German airline Lufthansa, you’ll now get the benefit of recently installed humidifiers, the Times of India reports.
“It gives a totally different experience,” Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr told the Times of India. “Passengers arrive in a much better shape after a long-haul flight.”
One Lufthansa official told the Times that the humidifiers, which have been installed on the airline’s Airbus A-380s, will improve passengers’ sleep and well-being — and even the way their food tastes.
The new additions should increase the humidity levels in first class from 5 percent to 15 or 25 percent, the official told the Times, which could help prevent itchy eyes and dry throats.
DOJ investigating airlines for possible collusion
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. government is investigating possible collusion between major airlines to limit available seats, which keeps airfares high, according to a document obtained by The Associated Press.
The civil antitrust investigation by the Justice Department appears to focus on whether airlines illegally signaled to each other how quickly they would add new flights, routes and extra seats.
A letter received Tuesday by major U.S. carriers demands copies of all communications the airlines had with each other, Wall Street analysts and major shareholders about their plans for passenger-carrying capacity.
Justice Department spokeswoman Emily Pierce confirmed Wednesday that the department was investigating potential "unlawful coordination" among some airlines. She declined to comment further, including about which airlines are being investigated.
Thanks to a series of mergers starting in 2008, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines and United now control more than 80 percent of the seats in the domestic travel market. During that period, they have eliminated unprofitable flights, filled a higher percentage of seats on planes and made a very public effort to slow growth in order to command higher airfares.
It worked. The average domestic airfare rose 13% from 2009 to 2014, when adjusted for inflation, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. And that doesn't include the billions of dollars airlines collect from fees. During the past 12 months, the airlines took in $3.6 billion in bag fees and another $3 billion in reservation change fees.
All of that has led to record profits for the industry. In the past two years, U.S. airlines earned a combined $19.7 billion.
This year could lead to even higher profits thanks to a massive drop in the price airlines pay for jet fuel, their single highest expense. In April, U.S. airlines paid $1.94 a gallon, down 34% from the year before.
Debt-laden Puerto Rico says travel business is good
As Puerto Rico staggers under a crushing $73 billion debt load that Gov. Alejandro Garcia Padilla concedes is unpayable, tourism appears to be an economic bright spot.
The sector is performing well across the board in stayover arrivals, hotel occupancy and cruise passenger arrivals, according to Ingrid Rivera Rocafort, executive director of the Puerto Rico Tourism Co.
While the economic fallout from the financial crisis could be severe, it is not expected to have much impact on tourism, she said. “We have successfully worked to improve attractions, enhance our cruise piers, open new hotels, attract investors and increase airlift over the past three years and we will continue to do so,” Rivera Rocafort said.
Meet Puerto Rico, the nonprofit organization that markets meetings and conventions, “continues to operate in a fiscally sound environment. Airports, hotels, taxis, communication services and other elements of Puerto Rico’s tourism infrastructure are not affected by the government’s financial crisis,” according to Milton Segarra, president and CEO.
The organization is closely monitoring dozens of clients and groups with events planned in Puerto Rico.
“No group has canceled and we will continue to provide information to them and to those considering Puerto Rico as a venue, so that they feel secure in having made the right decision to come to Puerto Rico,” Segarra said.
Blue Horizon gambling cruise ship to launch within 10 days
Casino day cruise ship Blue Horizon is expected to begin sailing from the Port of Palm Beach within the next 10 days, a company official said Tuesday.
Robert Weisberg, a partner in PB Gaming, which plans to operate the 600-passenger gambling, entertainment and buffet dining ship out of the Riviera Beach port, said he’s waiting for the state to issue a liquor license.
“We are going to be ready to go sometime this week or early next week,” Weisberg said.
Tickets are $25 per person, but each passenger will receive a discount of at least $5.
The ship will sail in the morning (11 a.m. to 4 p.m.) and evening Tuesday through Saturday (7 p.m. to midnight, but until 12:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.) There will be no sailings on Monday, and Sunday will have only one sailing, a champagne brunch with an 11 a.m. departure.
Manuel “Manny” Almira, the port’s executive director, said, “The Port anxiously awaits the first sailing and we’re looking forward to a very anticipated successful operation.”
PB Gaming bills the Blue Horizon as “the only place in South Florida to play craps, roulette and bet on sports book.” It also features blackjack and over 250 popular slots and bingo.
Port spokeswoman Tara Monks said the vessel was awarded its Certificate of Inspection from the U.S. Coast Guard the week of June 22.
In May, the port commission approved a five-year, three-month agreement with PB Gaming, which is using the same ship as the previous gambling day cruise out of the port.
As the Island Breeze, the ship carried about 11,000 passengers on 100 day cruises from March to June last year. The company that operated it, IBI Palm Beach, filed for bankruptcy in November.
The Island Breeze’s largest creditor, SourcePoint LLC, took over the ship’s charter earlier this year. Weisberg is also a partner in SourcePoint, a private equity firm based in Puerto Rico.
Under its contract with the port, PB Gaming must pay $730,000 a year in passenger fees, an estimated $80,000 in parking fees and $36,470 a year to lease 2,605 square feet of offices on the port administration building’s fourth floor.
After IBI Palm Beach’s failure, the port required PB Gaming to pay a $250,000 nonrefundable cash deposit in March and another $150,000 in pre-passenger payments.
The Island Breeze was one of five casino cruises to nowhere that have sailed form the port in recent years, but stopped operating. Prior to being named the Island Breeze, the ship was called the Black Diamond.
Tri-Rail pledge boosts massive All Aboard MiamiCentral station project
If there were any doubts about whether All Aboard Florida would be able to pull off it’s planned rail line linking southeast Florida to Orlando, the sheer size of the company’s station planned in the heart of downtown Miami might be enough to dispel them.
Construction fencing spanning six-city blocks now hides much of the work going on at the site, located within walking distance of the American Airlines Arena and a short shuttle ride from PortMiami, which processed more multi-day cruise passengers than any other port in the world last year.
Soon there will be another link — this week the Miami-Dade Commission pledged $13.9 million to connect Tri-Rail to the planned MiamiCentral project.
Once complete, the project will include five train tracks, which will be elevated 50 feet above a mix of businesses and restaurants.
Above the tracks, All Aboard is building three towers. Those buildings will include two residential towers with 800 apartments and a third tower with 190,000 square feet of office space.
All Aboard will soon begin construction on a fourth building, located just west of the tracks. The building will include 125,000 square feet of retail and office space and 1,100 parking spaces to serve the station.
As part of a second construction phase, All Aboard plans to build a “super tower” with 600,000 square feet of office space, 280 residences, and 250 hotel rooms.
If you lost count, that’s nearly 1 million square feet of office and retail space and more than 1,300 apartments, condos and hotel rooms. And All Aboard Florida’s trains, coupled with three other South Florida rail lines, will carry a steady stream of passengers to the downtown hub.
Michael Reininger, All Aboard Florida’s president, said the station in itself will be a shopping and entertainment destination — similar to CityPlace in West Palm Beach, but on a much larger scale. The company is already recruiting retailers and restaurants to fill the ground floor.
“You will want to come here,” Reininger said. “And you may never leave the station.”
On Wednesday, construction crews were busy drilling the holes that will serve as the foundation for MiamiCentral.
Crews have already completed about 1,100 of the 1,650 foundation pilings needed for the project, All Aboard officials said. Vertical construction is expected to begin in September.
The Miami-Dade County Commission’s pledge was expected, but it’s just the first of three similar pledges needed to make this part of the All Aboard project a reality. The goal is to link All Aboard’s Miami station to Tri-Rail, a commuter rail line that runs between Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami Dade counties.
The link will allow Palm Beach County residents to ride Tri-Rail trains to downtown Miami. Of the 50 daily Tri-Rail trains, 26 are expected to travel to All Aboard’s Miami station.
The Miami station will also connect to two other Miami-Dade rail projects — Metromover, a 4.4-mile electrically powered transit system, and Metrorail, a 25-mile rail line with nearly two dozen stations.
The two elevated rail lines run just west of the site of All Aboard Florida’s Miami station, giving passengers a bird’s-eye view of the construction below.
Together county-run lines carry passengers between downtown Miami and more than three dozen other destinations, including the Miami International Airport, the Adrienne Arsht Center, the financial district, the Brickell Avenue area, and mall and shopping districts.
“There are very few integrated stations like this in major cities in the country,” Reininger said. “This connects all of the neighborhoods of South Florida together in a really interesting way.”
All Aboard Florida plans to run 32 trains a day — 16 round trips — on the Florida East Coast Railway tracks with stops in Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and Orlando. Service is expected to start in 2017.
Treasure Coast officials have been battling to block the $2.9 billion project, saying it will bring increase noise, traffic and safety hazards as trains travel up to 110 mph through their communities and historic downtowns. Martin and Indian River counties have pledged a combine $4.1 million to fight All Aboard Florida. Both have filed federal lawsuits challenging $1.75 billion in tax-exempt private activity bonds that the company plans to use to help pay for the project.
Last month, a federal judge denied a request by the two counties for an injunction blocking the bond sale. Despite the ruling, Treasure Coast officials have vowed to continue their fight.
The legal skirmish has not dissuaded All Aboard Florida. Construction is underway at all three of the company’s South Florida stations.
Survey: One-Third of Americans Open to Idea of Leaving Country
On Saturday we celebrate our independence day, and judging by a poll from TransferWise, a U.K. peer-to-peer money transfer service, many of us would be happy to declare independence from our own country.
A total of 35 percent of respondents would consider leaving the United States to live elsewhere and 14 percent said they would consider a move within the next five years.
A total of 65 percent of Americans said that given the right reasons, they would consider a move. And what are the right reasons? A 36 percent total cited a better quality of life, 33 percent cited a lower cost of living and 31 percent cited the appeal of new experiences.
A whopping 84 percent of respondents say the United States should make itself more appealing. But how? A 58 percent majority mentioned more affordable healthcare, 51 percent pointed to lower taxes and 48 percent mentioned education improvements.
One danger confronting investors of every country now is the volatility of global financial markets. Star bond fund manager Bill Gross of Janus Group, like many others, is concerned.
With banks hobbled in their market activity by more stringent regulation since the 2008 financial crisis, a liquidity crunch represents a real danger, he writes in a commentary.
And what could spark such a crisis?
"A central bank mistake leading to lower bond prices and a stronger dollar," Gross writes. The Federal Reserve may begin raising interest rates in September.
Greece. A default/restructuring will lead to more worries for weaker eurozone economies, he says.
China. "It's the mystery meat of economic sandwiches: you never know what’s in there," Gross explains.
"Credit has expanded more rapidly in recent years than any major economy in history, a sure warning sign."
Geopolitical risks.
"A butterfly’s wing. Chaos theory suggests that a small change in non-linear systems could result in large changes elsewhere," Gross writes. "Call this kooky, but in a levered financial system, small changes can upset the status quo."
TSA Worker Tweets Photo of Passenger's $75,000
See the video here: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2015-07-02/tsa-worker-tweets-photo-of-passenger-s-75-000?cmpid=yhoo
At least 36 dead after ferry capsizes in Philippines
At least 36 people died Thursday after a ferry with 189 passengers and crew aboard capsized in the Philippines, officials said.
The Philippine Star said the M/B Kim Nirvana overturned soon after midday local time, shortly after leaving the central port of Ormoc City on the island of Leyte. It was headed for Camotes Island on the island province of Cebu, about 27 miles to the south.
Coast guard spokesman Armand Balilo said the wooden outrigger ferry was lashed by strong waves, the Associated Press reported. It wasn't immediately clear what caused the vessel to overturn.
"There wasn't any storm or any gale. We're trying to find out (why it happened)," Balilo told AFP.
At least 127 passengers were rescued by nearby fishing boats and coast guard personnel or swam to safety off Ormoc, and at least 26 people were missing, the AP said. Balilo said the captain and some of the crew were rescued and are in custody pending an investigation.
Balilo told AFP that the ferry's outriggers appeared to have broken in the accident, and said that it was possible the crew had committed a navigational error.
Ciriaco Tolibao from Ormoc's disaster risk reduction and management office told the agency that divers were searching for survivors. "We're scouring the ship for more survivors who may be trapped inside the hull," he said. "We hope to finish the rescue before dark and before it starts to rain."
He said many of the passengers were traders taking farm produce and other items to the Camotes, AFP said.
Mary Jane Drake, who was traveling with her mother and American husband, told the AP that the ferry was pulling slowly out of the port when it suddenly flipped to the left in strong waves and overturned. She said that she, her mother and husband swam to safety from underneath the vessel.
"No one was able to jump out because it overturned very swiftly," she said. "There was no time to jump."
Her husband, Lawrence Drake, 48, a retired firefighter from Rochester, N.Y., added that he ran to one side of the boat to try to balance it.
"I jumped out of my seat and ran to the front as far as I could, and tried to lean over," he said. "I am a big guy, and tried to push the boat back over but it was way too late."
TSA pays millions for bag claims
See the video: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2015-07-02/tsa-worker-tweets-photo-of-passenger-s-75-000?cmpid=yhoo
It's easier than ever to just text the hotel front desk for your embarrassing requests
Whenever I have to call a hotel front desk from a foreign country, there’s always that moment when I choke and wonder what language to lead with. Sure, most people in the hospitality industry speak English these days, but sometimes in a Spanish- or French-speaking country, I feel compelled to attempt requests in the local tongue, which makes me think twice about how much I really need that body pillow. Soon, I won’t have to worry about it all, as hotels are increasingly allowing guests to simply text the front desk — an anonymous-feeling exchange I’d have no hesitation about doing in English (actually, make that a body pillow and bath salts, please!).
As the New York Times points out, two popular texting platforms, Zingle and Kipsu, are now working with a growing number of hotels. Zingle launched last year and is currently being used in 300 properties, including Hyatt Regency locations. A similar service, Kipsu, has been adding hotels like gangbusters and is now used in 150 of them, including Starwood properties.
Both services allow guests to text the front desk with requests before or after they arrive at the hotel. They can be programmed to send messages to check in on things (“How do you like your room?” etc.), and Zingle can be automated to answer simple questions, like “What time is check-out?” or “Where is the gym?” without need for a live human to type the same responses over and over.
Some hotels are incorporating request features right into their apps. IHG’s new app includes a “Guest Request” service, and both Hilton and Marriott offer something similar. It’s great that technology is enabling hotels to allow guests be in touch easily, and vice versa. Of course, the challenge, as always, is for hotels to avoid checking in too often and sounding like my needy ex-boyfriend.
Bankruptcy Court Approves Baha Mar Interim Financing
The U.S. Bankruptcy Court on Wednesday approved continued payments to employees, suppliers and vendors, and the operation of “certain customer loyalty and other programs,” on behalf of Baha Mar, the $3.5 billion mega-resort whose developers filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Monday.
Late Wednesday, the bankruptcy court approved interim debtor-in-possession financing arranged by Sarkis Izmirlian, Baha Mar Ltd.’s chairman. Up to $30 million of the funding will be utilized by Baha Mar over the next 30 days; the total facility totals up to $80 million.
The $3.5 billion mega-resort’s developers filed for Chapter 11 on Monday, charging that general contractor China Construction America missed deadlines leading to delay costs and repeated postponements of the mega-resort’s originally scheduled December 2014 opening.
Baha Mar officials also canceled all existing guest reservations at the mega-resort’s anchor property, the Baha Mar Hotel & Casino, and have stopped taking new bookings.
The developers are advising travelers with reservations at the three other resort properties under construction – the Grand Hyatt and the Rosewood and SLS hotels - to contact their respective hotels directly. The mega-resort’s sole open property, the Meliá Nassau Beach, is operating normally.
U.S. tour operators are adjusting their strategies in the wake of the Chapter 11 filing. “With the Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, Pleasant Holidays has suspended sales of the Baha Mar hotels until we get clarity on the opening date of the resort,” said Jack E. Richards, the firm’s president and CEO.
“The preliminary information in the bankruptcy papers indicates the resort is about 97 percent complete so we are hopeful the resort will be open sometime in 2015,” Richards added.
Baha Mar officials have also launched a website designed to update stakeholders on the progress and reasons behind the project’s Chapter 11 filing. In addition to news related to the Chapter 11 and court filings, the site includes sections for guests, Baha Mar staff and Bahamas citizens, vendors and suppliers and “community.”
The site directs project vendors and suppliers to file “proof of claims for any amounts owed prior to the commencement of the Chapter 11.” Baha Mar has engaged a claims agent to assist the vendors and suppliers in the claims process.
Said Izmirlian, “Our goal is to complete construction and successfully open Baha Mar as a world-class destination resort that will attract guests from across the globe and serve as a key economic sparkplug in the Bahamas.”
American Tourist Missing for 5 Years Discovered in Australia
Despite having been missing for five years, a vanished American tourist was found alive by police in Australia.
According to the Cairns Post, police found the man amid a burglary investigation after he was chased down by a police K-9 and arrested.
The man, identified as 60-year-old Kenneth Rodman, went missing shortly after heading to the beach in northern Australia back in 2010. Officials were only able to recover a submerged kayak, which was discovered a month after Rodman's disappearance.
"Friends, family, and police were unable to make contact with him since 2010," said Queensland state police in a statement earlier this week. "On Saturday night, officers investigating a matter stumbled across the now 60-year-old man where he allegedly confessed to police that he had been listed as a missing person."
Police have since turned Rodman over to immigration officials, and It’s expected that he'll be deported back to the U.S.
"The matter was never closed as a missing person case but inquiries led police to believe he was avoiding contact with authorities to stay in Australia, despite his visa expiring," said Inspector Glenn Horan via the Post.
A Department of Immigration and Border Protection spokesman called Rodman a "person of interest," and said that "he will be put on a flight as soon his travel documents are in order."
"If he has his American passport that could be within days."
The reason for Rodman's disappearance remains unknown and authorities weren't able to say whether he was assisted. However, police believe he spent a majority of the past five years hiding out in the tropical areas of Far North Queensland.
Prior to his disappearance, Rodman, who was 55 at the time, was last seen near Port Douglas, which is located nearly 40 miles north of the popular Australian tourist town of Cairns.
Qantas Glitch Results in Super Cheap Australia-Los Angeles Flights
If you thought you could get your hands on a roundtrip ticket from Australia to Los Angeles for a little more than $400, you'd be wise to keep dreaming.
Unfortunately for Australia's flag carrier Qantas, that dream briefly became a reality this week when a computer glitch caused some eye-popping deals to appear on websites like Hopper.com and Skyscanner.com.au , according to Mashable's Jenni Ryall.
Roundtrip tickets for scheduled flights from July to September were shown on Hopper for as low as A$577 ($444). Meanwhile, Skyscanner featured one-way fares for just A$286 ($220) for flights scheduled as far ahead as March 2016.
Skyscanner told Mashable that the low fares were the "result of a promotion or sale running from one of our partners, an online travel agency and the fare is available only on certain dates."
But Qantas confirmed that the ridiculously low fares were in fact the result of a glitch.
"There was a glitch that impacted third party USA-based online booking systems this morning, as we made some fare changes effective 1 July for travel originating in Australia. These mistake fares were incorrectly offered and have been removed from sale. The glitch was fixed at 11.30am AEST and we’re currently following up affected bookings," said a Qantas spokesperson in a statement via Mashable.
The airline did not say whether it would honor tickets that were booked for the low prices and it remains to be seen how many travelers could potentially be affected.
This isn't the first time and certainly won't be the last time that travelers are impacted by a computer glitch. Last month a glitch led the U.S. State Department to cease issuance of passports and visas. And in February 2015, a computer glitch resulted in nationwide delays for United Airlines.
Data breach discovered at Trump Hotels
A bad week just got even worse for Republican Presidential hopeful Donald Trump.
The Trump Hotel Collection has reportedly suffered a credit card data breach according to data from several US banks.
The breach can be dated back to February 2015, according to the Krebs on Security website, and has affected several US locations including Chicago, Honolulu, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, and New York.
After declining several requests for comment Trump Hotels finally acknowledged the breach.
"Like virtually every other company these days, we have been alerted to potential suspicious credit card activity and are in the midst of a thorough investigation to determine whether it involves any of our properties," said Eric Trump, executive vice president of development and acquisitions in a statement.
"We are committed to safeguarding all guests' personal information and will continue to do so vigilantly."
It is unclear yet how many customers may have had their personal data compromised in the breach.
The type of attack has also not been disclosed but is likely to follow a similar pattern to recent breaches at other hotel groups such as Mandarin oriental and White Lodging.
In these breaches point of sale systems at F&B outlets were infected with malware allowing cyber crooks to access sensitive card data.
Donald Trump has endured a torrid few days following inflammatory comments made about Mexican immigrants.
This has sparked several companies to cut ties with the real estate developer, including NBC and Macy's.
Ferry operator Balearia gets US nod to serve Cuba
The Spanish company that operates ferries from Fort Lauderdale to the Bahamas is one step closer to adding service to Cuba.
Spain's Balearia said it received approval from the U.S. Commerce Department to operate ships between Florida and Cuba. It also expects authorization from the U.S. Treasury Department "in the coming weeks" to carry passengers between the two neighboring nations, a news release said.
Pending approval from Cuba, ferry service between the U.S. and Cuba could start as soon as fall, attorneys familiar with U.S.-Cuba business have said.
Balearia has been offering fast ferry service between Port Everglades and Freeport on Grand Bahama Island since 2011 under the brand name Bahamas Express.
For Cuba service, it plans to operate two routes to Havana: a high-speed vessel from Key West and a ferry from Port Everglades, the news release said. No further details were specified.
U.S. authorities in May licensed at least six companies to offer ferry service to Cuba, the first such approvals in five decades. Ferry service had been cut amid tensions between the two governments. It is being restored in line with restoration of diplomatic ties between the two neighbors.
The ferry companies plan to offer trips that cost less than charter flights and allow more baggage free. Many Cuban-Americans haul down hefty supplies for family homes and new private businesses.
Also licensed are Havana Ferry Partners of Fort Lauderdale, Baja Ferries of Miami, United Caribbean Lines of Greater Orlando, Airline Brokers Co. of Miami, America Cruise Ferries of Puerto Rico and International Port Corp. of Miami, among others.
The U.S. embargo on Cuba still bans Americans from leisure tourism in Cuba. But Americans can visit the island for 12 categories of "purposeful" travel including family visits, government business, professional research, performances, plus educational, religious and humanitarian activities.
Balearia is looking to serve Cuba as part of a broader international expansion.
This year, the company expects to transport more than 130,000 passengers between the U.S. and the Bahamas, up 25 percent from last year. It estimates that revenues from international operations in the Caribbean and Mediterranean regions will account for about 15 percent of its total business.
In five years, Balearia aims to derive about 50 percent of its revenue from international business, perhaps including Puerto Rico-Dominican Republic service as well, the company said.
Balearia now has 23 ships and employs more than 1,000 people worldwide.
Rental car customers and rates up during the July Fourth weekend
Robust travel expected for July 4th weekend
Road trips will be popular this week as many Americans travel from home to celebrate Independence Day.
Nearly 36 million Americans, including 1.8 million Floridians, will travel 50 miles or more from home in personal or rented vehicles during the Fourth of July holiday period running Wednesday through Sunday, according to travel group AAA.
And that's expected to keep major highways and thoroughfares jammed.
Some car rental companies across South Florida are seeing brisk business.
"We're already registering a clear increase in demand for the July Fourth holiday weekend," Evan Wexler, executive vice president operations of Sixt USA, said of business at its rental sites in the Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and Miami area.
Car rental demand in Fort Lauderdale has been fueled in part by new flight connections to South America and other international destinations that operate at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, Wexler said. And Miami is popular with European and South American travelers during the summer.
For reservations beginning Friday, rates at Sixt's 700 E. Sunrise Blvd. location for an economy car such as a Hyundai Accent starts at $45.24 a day for a three-day rental through Monday, according to an online search Wednesday on sixt.com . That's up from about $33.68 per day a week ago.
On Wednesday, Oakland Park resident Steven Winkler, 47, stopped at Sixt on Sunrise Boulevard to pick up a car for trips this weekend to South Beach and Key Largo with a friend visiting from Canada.
"I don't want to put the mileage on my own car, and I like the luxury cars that Sixt offers," he said, while waiting for a Mercedes Benz to be readied. "This location is more convenient for me than going to the airport."
At Enterprise Holdings — parent company of Enterprise, Alamo and National car rental brands — reservations in South Florida are up 7 percent this year for the July Fourth holiday weekend from last year, spokeswoman Laura Bryant said.
Overall, it's shaping up to be the busiest Fourth of July holiday travel period since 2007, with 41.9 million Americans (2.09 million Floridians) traveling during the five-day holiday period, AAA said.
Americans traveling also are expected to spend more money this year — $378 each, or $15.8 billion total, according to economists at the U.S. Travel Association. That's an increase of 1.7 percent from 2014.
The number of people hopping on buses, trains and cruise ships for the July Fourth holiday – roughly 3.2 million travelers — is also slightly higher than in 2014, AAA said.
City-to-city express bus company Megabus.com said it's expecting a 20 percent increase in ridership this July 4 weekend compared with a normal weekend. Fort Lauderdale, Miami and Orlando are among more than 130 cities that Megabus serves across North America.
On Wednesday, fares on megabus.com for travel from Fort Lauderdale to Orlando Friday ranged from $27 to $32 one way, while fares returning Monday ranged from $18 to $30 one way, depending on time of day.
If traveling this Fourth of July, consider these tips:
Airports/Airfares: If traveling by air for July Fourth festivities, expect increased activity at South Florida airports. Nationwide, AAA forecasts air travel to climb 1.5 percent this year to 3.2 million fliers between Wednesday and Sunday. Average airfares for the top 40 domestic flight routes are 6 percent higher this holiday period, climbing to $227, AAA said.
Gasoline: Most drivers are likely to pay the lowest gas prices for Independence Day in five years, AAA said. Across South Florida on Wednesday, the average price of regular unleaded gas ranged between $2.76 and $2.84 a gallon, according to AAA's Daily Fuel Gauge Report. That compares with $3.65 to $3.72 a year ago.
Hotels: Room rates are about 6 percent to 9 percent higher this year, according to AAA's Leisure Travel Index.
Tolls: Drivers will pay 1.6 percent more for tolls on Florida's Turnpike and other state-operated toll roads starting Wednesday. That will affect travel along Alligator Alley, the Sawgrass Expressway and the BeachLine Expressway between Orlando and the Space Coast, and the turnpike.
Orlando skyscraper roller-coaster plan clears FAA
The Federal Aviation Authority determined the proposed 700-foot Skyscraper roller-coaster structure, which includes a restaurant and observation deck, poses no hazard to air traffic.
The decision will become final next Monday because no one filed a petition against the federal agency's aeronautical study, said Kathleen Bergen, FAA spokeswoman.
"The study disclosed that the described structure would have no substantial adverse effect on air navigation," reads the May 27 letter, adding it would only be 8.52 nautical miles west of Orlando International Airport.
The structure will be put on aeronautical charts, said the FAA. Petitioners had until Friday to file against the project.
The letter was sent to developers of the proposed roller coaster, which itself tops out at 570 feet and would be in the proposed Skyplex Orlando entertainment complex at the intersection of International Drive and Sand Lake Road.
The 570-foot height includes the proposed restaurant, said Joshua Wallack, managing principal of the Skyplex complex. Wallack said FAA approval is one step of many for the development's progression.
The plans still require review from Orange County's Planning and Zoning Commission for a rezoning request of the parcels it would be built upon. Wallack wants Orange County to rezone the land from C-2 to planned development.
Development plans have not been without contention. In May, several I-Drive stakeholders expressed concern allowing Wallack's team to build something so tall, saying it could lead the way for bigger, taller construction in the tourism district.
Skyplex plans also call for more than 333,000 square feet of entertainment retail, more than 95,000 square feet of general retail, nearly 40,000 square feet of restaurant space and the construction of a zip line, a drop ride and a surf park.
The plans advanced last week when the county's Development Review Committee recommended the complex go forward, said an Orange County spokeswoman.
Skyplex will be reviewed by Planning and Zoning officials Aug. 20. If approved there, the complex will go before county commissioners for final approval.
After that approval, Wallack and his development team will still need to get final permitting before they can begin building.
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Cathay Pacific
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What is the English translation of the ironically-named Ratón, a fearsome bull who killed three men in Spanish festivals?
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WAV Travel News - Thursday Edition - Google Groups
WAV Travel News - Thursday Edition
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In case you missed these news stories.
Bill Vervaeke, CDME
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(561) 795-5912 (Office & Facsimile)
Report: Cuba visits from U.S. up 36% this year
U.S. visitors to Cuba between Jan. 1 and May 9 totaled 51,458, a jump of 36% over the same period a year ago, according to figures provided to the Associated Press from Jose Luis Perello Cabrera, an economist in the University of Havana's tourism studies department.
The figure includes thousands who are flying into Cuba from countries such as Mexico, Jamaica, the Bahamas and the Cayman Islands in order to sidestep U.S. restrictions on tourism, according to AP. The number does not include Cuban-Americans with family ties to Cuba.
The statistics show that 38,476 visitors flew directly from the U.S. to Cuba, up from 29,213 in the same five-month period in 2014. Most of these visitors were traveling in one of the 12 allowed categories of authorized travel, including humanitarian, educational, academic and people-to-people programs.
Of the remaining visitors, 12,982 Americans arrived via third countries, a 57% increase over the 8,246 Americans who traveled in that manner during the same period in 2014.
According to the latest figures supplied by Cuba to the Caribbean Tourism Organization for the January-March period, tourists who arrived by air rose 14.1%, to 1.13 million.
March recorded the highest number of visitors, 404,421, up 12.5% over March 2014.
CTO did not have a specific breakdown for the number of U.S. visitors to Cuba, but indicated that U.S. visitors were included in the category labeled “other,” which totaled 328,337 visitors, a 16% increase. The main markets for Cuba from January through March were Canada with 551,360 visitors, up 12.4%; Europe, 255,913 visitors, up 15.2%; followed by “other.”
What NOAA’s 2015 hurricane forecast numbers, percentages really mean
Despite more predictions Wednesday from experts that it will likely be a quieter than normal hurricane season, the information comes with two caveats — they don’t know where the storms will go and below average doesn’t mean zero.
NOAA predicts 6-11 named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher), of which 3-6 could become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), including 0-2 major hurricanes (winds of 111 mph or higher) for the 2015 hurricane season. They also project a 70 percent likelihood that it will be below average.
In a similar report released last month, Colorado State forecasters William Gray and Phil Klotzbach also projected a season that won’t make the average of 12 named storms, six hurricanes and two major hurricanes.
Still, anyone in areas that could be affected by hurricanes should make their plans before a storm is bearing down, said Joseph Nimmich, FEMA deputy administrator. Families should assemble kits that include three days worth of food and water, secure their homes and make evacuation plans before the June 1 start to hurricane season.
“You need to think about that now,” he said. “You need to think about it for yourselves and you need to think about it for your neighbors.”
NOAA’s forecasters attributed the prediction to the formation of El Niño in the Pacific Ocean and about average ocean temperatures in the Atlantic. El Niño is a phenomenon of warmer water in the Pacific Ocean that creates more wind-shear in the atmosphere, causing a suppressing effect for hurricanes in the Atlantic.
Though El Niño and the below-normal outlook are good signs, it only takes one storm to cause catastrophic damage to an area, said Kathryn Sullivan, NOAA administrator.
The 1992 season produced only seven named storms, but the first was Andrew — a devastating Category 5 hurricane that leveled Homestead. It also occurred during an El Niño year.
“It doesn’t matter how many pitches we face, just how many hit the strike zone,” she said.
Sullivan also praised new technology that will help NOAA and the National Hurricane Center in its forecasting, enabling local emergency management teams to make more informed decisions.
Using 2014 Hurricane Arthur as an example, Sullivan said only a portion of the Outer Banks was evacuated when 10 to 20 years ago it would have been all of the North Carolina coast.
Last May, NOAA predicted 8-13 named storms, 3-6 hurricanes and 1-2 major hurricanes. The final totals were eight named storms, six hurricanes and two major hurricanes.
No major hurricanes have made landfall in the country in nine years, which causes some concern that people might not take the season seriously or remember proper procedures. White House press secretary Josh Earnest emphasized that in a conference call ahead of President Barack Obama’s visit to Miami’s National Hurricane Center.
Since Wilma in 2005, no storm of at least Category 3 on the Saffir-Simpson Scale has struck the U.S. mainland and no hurricane of any kind has struck Florida; in that time, Florida’s population has increased by some 3 million.
Earnest stressed that state and local leaders have the responsibility to lead response to hurricanes. And he said that, while this White House hasn’t itself steered management of a major hurricane, it has an ace in the bullpen: Federal Emergency Management Agency Director Craig Fugate, who as Florida’s emergency manager, handled the manic 2004 and 2005 seasons.
And he said that, as head of FEMA under Obama, Fugate also has “a lot of experience in dealing with natural disasters that have put a lot of Americans in harm’s way.”
Aviation Officials Investigating Air France Flight's Near Miss with Volcano
French aviation authorities are looking into what led to an Air France flight's near miss with an active volcano in Africa earlier this month.
According to CNN, the Boeing 777 was carrying 37 passengers from Equatorial Guinea to Cameroon on May 2 when it had a close encounter with the region's highest mountain, Mount Cameroon, which is currently an active volcano.
The plane "was flying at cruising altitude between Malabo and Douala in stormy conditions," said Air France in a statement. "The route they took to avoid the storm took their trajectory close to Mount Cameroon."
France's air accident investigation agency, BEA, said that the plane's "pull-up" alarm came on as a result and the pilots responded by ascending the aircraft from 9,000 feet to 13,000 feet.
"This proximity was detected by the EGPWS system (enhanced ground proximity warning system, that gives more detailed information than the GPWS)," added the airline. "This system generated an alarm in the cockpit to which the pilots responded immediately by applying the appropriate procedure."
"Pilots receive regular training in this type of maneuver," said Air France.
The flight landed safely in Douala, Cameroon and an airline official told CNN affiliate BFMTV that passengers aboard the flight were unaware of the close encounter at the time.
Nonetheless, the BEA described the situation as "a serious incident" involving "controlled flight into or toward terrain."
Air France stated that it will investigate the incident internally.
Christie backs vote for north Jersey casino question
Christie supports putting northern New Jersey casino question on ballot
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) -- Gov. Chris Christie supports asking voters if they want to change the state constitution to allow casino gambling in northern New Jersey.
Appearing on his monthly "Ask The Governor" program on radio station New Jersey 101.5 FM Wednesday night, Christie said he has no problem with the question going on the ballot "right away." The governor said competition is only going to grow, particularly in New York.
Christie said he would support the amendment as long as there are provisions that would help Atlantic City and workers adjust to the shrinking casino market.
Christie's comments came a day after Hard Rock International and the Meadowlands Racetrack proposed a casino just outside New York City.
The companies will unveil the project next week.
Airbus Superjumbo May See Second Life in Asian Low-Cost Markets
Airbus A380 superjumbos being retired from premium carriers such as Singapore Airlines Ltd. may find a second life plying six- to eight-hour routes for low-cost Asian airlines, the European planemaker predicted.
Singapore Airlines and Emirates, the double-decker’s biggest customers, may return older planes back to leasing companies in the next two to three years, putting them back into the market for second-hand use, said Kiran Rao, director of strategy at Airbus.
Airbus is seeking new sales avenues for its largest model, which has run out of order momentum in recent years as potential customers balk at the size of the aircraft that makes it less flexible on most routes. The A380 could become attractive for those Asian carriers already packing above-average passenger numbers into their jets, Rao said.
Low-cost airlines such as AirAsia Bhd and Cebu Pacific Air of the Philippines have seen rapid traffic expansion from fast-growing middle classes and the easing of visa restrictions, with growing incomes expanding the range of flights taken. Cebu Pacific is already packing 436 seats into six A330s that typically fly 300 to 350 people.
While existing customers for the A380 tend to fly the plane with 500 to 550 passengers, Rao predicted that Asian low-cost carriers buying used A380s would likely reconfigure them for a far denser seating arrangement.
“We could go to about 800,” Rao said on Thursday in Toulouse, where Airbus is based. Still, carriers who purchased the planes from Airbus would more likely fly them in two classes -- business and economy -- with about 600 seats.
Emirates, which has ordered 140 A380s, has said it generally likes to retire planes after 12 years to keep its fleet fresh. The carrier hasn’t said when it will give the first of its A380s back to lessors who have purchased the planes from Emirates. Singapore Air was the first customer to fly the aircraft commercially.
More Texas towns brace for high water; death toll climbs
PARKER COUNTY, Texas — At Horseshoe Bend in Parker County, residents hope luck isn't running out. The community of several hundred trailers and RVs sits on the banks of the swollen Brazos River.
County Judge Mark Riley ordered Horseshoe Bend be evacuated by 8 p.m. CT Wednesday, along with other low-lying neighborhoods. Officials cannot force residents to leave, but Riley said the river could rise another nine feet by the time it crests.
"Water could be up to the top of the carport," said David Cantu, as he hitched up his RV to haul it to higher ground. "All these structures could be gone."
The storms that produced the flooding were part of a system that stretched from Mexico into the central USA. The death toll from the system climbed to 35 — 14 in Mexico, 17 in Texas and four in Oklahoma. The Houston area alone had seven storm-related deaths.
This has been the wettest month on record for Texas, and there are still several days left. The state climatologist's office said Wednesday that Texas has gotten an average of 7.54 inches of rain in May, breaking the old record of 6.66 inches, set in June 2004.
Texas has been hit with almost continuous storms for the past week to 10 days. The wettest area has been from Dallas-Fort Worth to the Red River, where some places have gotten more than 20 inches of rain.
Down in south Texas, Wharton Mayor Domingo Montalvo issued a call at 5 p.m. Wednesday for a voluntary evacuation of the west side of the city of 8,800 because of the predicted rise of the Colorado River, which has seen flash flooding in the Austin and Texas Hill Country sections of its watershed upstream.
The National Weather Service reported the river level at Wharton was almost 36 feet at 2 p.m. Wednesday. Flood stage is 39 feet. The river was expected to top that level Wednesday night and not crest until it reaches almost 46 feet Friday evening. That would flood many homes in the area with up to 2-3 feet of water and isolate and flood a school.
More rain fell on the hard-hit Houston area, temporarily complicating the cleanup a day after a downpour of nearly a foot triggered the worst flooding the nation's fourth-largest city has seen in years. Hundreds of homes were damaged.
Houston Mayor Annise Parker said two people whose boat capsized during a rescue were missing. Another person was missing in suburban Houston.
The body of Alice Tovar, 73, of Rosenberg, who was swept away by floodwaters Tuesday, was found by her brother-in-law along a creekside fence late Wednesday afternoon.
"I'm just in shock to see her like that," said Ricky Aguilar. "We went all through the woods all day looking for her when she was right there all along."
Tovar was reported missing Tuesday when her family learned she didn't show up for work at a nearby gas station. Her car was later found by her daughter, but Tovar had been swept away.
And in Central Texas, crews resumed the search for eight people feared dead after the swollen Blanco River smashed through Wimberley, a small tourist town between San Antonio and Austin, over the Memorial Day weekend.
Authorities recovered the body of a boy from the Blanco late Wednesday evening. A Hays County statement says it's unclear whether the child is on the county's list of those missing from the storm.
Earlier Wednesday, county authorities identified Jose Alvardo Arteaga-Pichardo and Michelle Carey-Charba as two of the area's flood victims. Arteaga-Pichardo's body was found near Loop 165 in Wimberley Tuesday afternoon, and Carey-Charba's body was found Tuesday morning in Caldwell County.
A third person was found dead in San Marcos Saturday. Hays County officials identified the body Wednesday evening as Dayton Larry Thomas, 74.
Wimberley saw some of the heaviest damage, including the loss of a two-story vacation home that was swept downstream and slammed into a bridge. Eight people in the home went missing, including three children.
Aerial crews are searching for the missing using drones, geographic information system mapping and thermal imaging. Many areas are still not accessible by search crews due to damage.
More than 50 people from Texas Task Force One are forming search teams on the ground. Public works teams are also being deployed by the state. According to police, those teams will be in Hays County for at least the next two weeks.
As volunteers and help poured in, the state Bar of Texas set up a free legal hotline to assist low-income residents with issues like replacing lost documents, insurance questions, landlord issues, or any kind of scams during the recovery process.
Airbnb is offering all of its room-booking services free of charge for flood victims until June 9 at multiple places in Austin, San Antonio and parts of south Texas.
And KVUE-TV set up a gofundme page to collect money for Hays County flood victims.
President Obama pledged federal funding for affected areas Tuesday while Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has declared more than 45 counties disaster areas.
"It's important that we remember this flood for years to come so that we don't take things lightly. One of our greatest problems has been getting people to understand how devastating a flood is. It costs lives and property. People are ... it will change them forever," said Hays County Judge Bert Cobb.
Joe McComb said he is just thankful his son Jonathan survived Saturday night's flooding in Wimberley.
It's looking like his daughter-in-law Laura and his two grandchildren, 6-year-old Andrew and 4-year-old Leighton, may not have.
The McComb family, as well as five others, were swept downstream and the floodwaters knocked a home they were all in, off its foundation and into the swift water. Jonathan McComb told his father he survived by swimming, not knowing at times if he was right-side up or not.
Once he finally managed to reach shore, McComb had been swept roughly 12 miles downstream.
"He did get up enough and saw a light at somebody's house," Joe McComb said. "(He) crawled over there, knocked on the door and told them, 'Our house just got washed away. I need help.' and pretty much then his energy level just collapsed."
Jonathan McComb, who received a broken rib and collapsed lung, may be released from the hospital as early as the weekend, his father said.
"The only way a person can go through this, in my opinion is that if they've got a deep faith in God," Joe McComb said.
The family is holding onto that faith and praying for good news about Laura and the kids.
"If the Lord feels like that we're to continue to have them, then that miracle will be provided," McComb said. "If not, heaven's going to be benefited by their presence because they're wonderful children."
Delta pilot orders pizza for delayed flight (is this becoming a thing?)
Is there any problem pizza can’t make better? Even the disgruntled huffing and puffing of passengers stuck on Delta Flight 1364 in Knoxville, Tennessee were no match for the cheesy goodness, after torrential rains diverted a Philadelphia-Atlanta flight there on May 26.
After hours waiting on the tarmac, the pilot called in an order to Pizza Hut and had the pizza trucked out in a baggage cart to the airplane. They weren’t the only Delta passengers wiping red sauce from their shirt lapels, as other delayed flights from Ohio, Illinois, and Mississippi reported similar feasts. “It’s part of an effort company-wide,” Delta spokesman Morgan Durrant told CNN, “when weather disrupts our operation to get food and beverages to delayed customers.”
Considering that’s more good press than Delta’s received in a while, we hope the airline will add pizza to more flights (but not Pizza Hut, please), or even to the company logo. Meanwhile, flight 1346 eventually landed in Atlanta at 7 pm, three hours late, but happy.
US DOT to Levy Harsher Penalties Against Airlines for Mishandled Baggage
The U.S. Department of Transportation announced on Tuesday that it will increase the penalty on airlines that mishandle passengers' luggage.
According to Tim Devaney of The Hill, the DOT will penalize airlines that lose or damage baggage by making them liable for reimbursement up to $3,500, a $100 increase over the previous limit of $3,400.
In addition to the mishandled baggage penalty, the agency will increase penalties handed down to airlines that deny passengers boarding because of an overbooked flight.
Devaney reports that a majority of those travelers who are denied boarding involuntarily would be eligible to receive between $675 and $1,350 in compensation.
The increased penalties are scheduled to take effect in 90 days' time.
According to the DOT, 1.8 million passengers filed mishandled baggage claims in 2013, while 57,000 were involuntarily denied boarding over the course of the year.
Although the $100 increase seems significant, it's likely to only impact a small percentage of unfortunate passengers. That's because of the nearly two million travelers who filed claims regarding mishandled baggage two years ago, fewer than 0.6 percent filed claims of more than $3,400.
The DOT anticipates that the increase will cost the airlines an additional $1 million each year collectively.
Plane Forced to Make Two Emergency Landings in Kansas City
Passengers on United Airlines Flight 594 from Washington, D.C. to Denver, Colo., got more than they bargained for when the plane they were on was forced to make two separate emergency landings at Kansas City International Airport Tuesday night.
According to Brenda Washington of KMBC.com, United Airlines Flight 594 was first forced to land in Kansas City due to weather radar issues onboard the plane. All 142 passengers and crew members were unharmed and the plane managed to land safely at the airport.
Three hours later, the repaired aircraft was cleared to depart from Kansas City, but was once again forced to turn around and make another emergency landing at the airport after just 10 minutes in the air.
The pilot reported hydraulic issues on the Airbus A-320, and the plane landed safely just before 11 p.m. local time.
Unfortunately, the plane was not cleared to fly again until proper repairs were made, and passengers were forced to rebook on other flights set to depart on Wednesday.
The report from KMBC.com indicates the passengers were frustrated that only two agents at the airport were available to help them, but officials from United Airlines did give customers hotel and food vouchers.
All customers were booked on flights to their destination by Wednesday morning.
Tampa International Airport brings car rental companies under one roof
TAMPA — One selling point of Tampa International Airport CEO Joe Lopano's $943 million plan to remake the airport is that it would make renting cars there a whole lot easier.
Instead of looking for deals on or off airport property, customers in the ninth largest rental market in the nation would be able to choose from a range of prices, choices and companies all under one roof.
That perk will be a reality in two years: The airport said that nine rental companies — representing 16 different brands — have signed agreements to use its new 2.6 million-square-foot rental facility months before its even set to break ground this fall.
"I personally did not expect to sign them up so quickly," Lopano said this week. "But I will tell you that I am very, very happy that we have them on-site now."
Most of the companies that serve the airport, including several that are now off-site, have signed agreements, officials said. Those contracts must still be approved by the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority, the airport's governing board, on June 4.
When it's finished, the new car rental facility will be a four-minute ride from the renovated main terminal using a new 1.3-mile automated people mover.
Once the shuttle doors slide open in the new rental car facility, Lopano said, customers will have access to most of the rental brands, big and small, serving the airport. That means no more bus rides off airport property looking for a better deal.
"Even if you don't have a reservation, you'll be able to see everything from the $29 car to the $200 car," Lopano said. "You can shop the room. From a customer service standpoint, it is the optimal situation."
Many other airports have built consolidated rental car facilities. But Lopano pledged that: "This will be finest rental car experience in the country."
The new facility is projected to generate an additional $8 million annually for the airport, officials said.
Under the airport's current agreements with rental car agencies, it's guaranteed a minimum of $23.1 million a year. But under the new contracts, that will rise 34 percent to $31 million.
"That's the minimum," said airport spokeswoman Emily Nipps, "but obviously we expect this market to grow."
In fact, the four-story rental car facility will be 300,000 square feet bigger than airport officials originally intended. They added space to fit the entire Tampa car rental market and give it enough space to handle 10 years of projected growth.
The airport currently has four major players operating in the main terminal: Avis Budget Group Inc., Enterprise Rent-A-Car, the Hertz Corp. and Thrifty Car Rental.
Airport officials said that when those companies move to the new facility, Thrifty will be absorbed by its parent company, Hertz. The three big players will then share counter space on the fourth floor with their subsidiaries, smaller companies and independent operators. The other three floors will be used to store rental vehicles.
"We sized it to be able to handle all the on-airport and off-airport guys," Lopano said. "We knew there was a lot of interest for the off-airport guys to come onto the airport and compete."
The advantage for the rental companies, airport officials said, is that the new facility allows them to consolidate their operations in one corner of the airport. They won't have to rent cars on one end of the airport and service them on the other end anymore.
"The rental car companies are very, very excited about the efficiencies this new building will give them," Lopano said.
Here are the brands that will be available:
Ace Rent A Car; Advantage Car Rental; Alamo Car Rental; Avis Car Rental; Budget Rent A Car; Dollar Rent A Car; Economy Car Rentals; Enterprise Rent-A-Car; E-Z Rent-A-Car; Fox Rent A Car; Hertz Rent-A-Car; National Car Rental; Payless Car Rental; Sixt; Thrifty Car Rental; Zipcar
Theme parks introduce food apps for restaurant orders
Theme parks are using technology to reduce waits, but not just for rides.
They have started to allow customers to skip the cashier and order food ahead of time.
Disney World recently started online preordering for its Be Our Guest restaurant, and this month it tested smartphone ordering at the Backlot Express restaurant and during its "Fantasmic!" nighttime show.
SeaWorld Orlando in November said guests could use an app to purchase select menu items ahead of time at Seaport Pizza. SeaWorld plans to expand the system into more of its restaurants and theme parks over the summer.
"It's very convenient, and that's what we're hearing from our guests," said Cathy Valeriano, SeaWorld's vice president of culinary operations. "It's definitely kind of the wave of the future."
Restaurants and theme parks say they are responding to consumers who are increasingly tech-savvy and hungry for convenience.
Another benefit is that "this is a labor-saving device, because they don't need as many cashiers," Boston University hospitality professor Chris Muller said.
In February, the Be Our Guest restaurant in Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom began accepting lunch reservations and allowing guests who have them to order meals up to 30 days in advance. Diners pay upon arrival. Credit card guarantees of the reservations are required.
Be Our Guest also has touchscreen kiosks in place for lunch guests. Disney has considered all kinds of electronic conveniences, from personalized digital menus to having employees with tablets take orders from people standing in line at attractions.
Introducing new technology to visitors in the theme parks can be tricky, though, said Robert Niles, editor of the Theme Park Insider blog.
"It's very difficult to change guests' behaviors in the theme park environment because people are on vacation and don't want to be trying to analyze anything," he said.
During a recent lunch hour at SeaWorld, no one was picking up meals at the Seaport Pizza window that is used for customers using the app. SeaWorld would not disclose how many customers have used the order-ahead service but said it gets used more during peak vacation periods.
Experts: Volusia hotel boom puts upward pressure on wages
Hard Rock, Westin would put upward pressure on hotel wages
DAYTONA BEACH — Help wanted: a rock and roll buff to keep the guests at one Daytona Beach hotel grooving.
The “vibe manager”at the proposed Hard Rock Hotel & Café will get paid $50,000 a year to do just that — control the hotel’s feel through culture and carefully selected music playlists. The gig is just one of many hotel jobs coming soon to the area thanks to a string of upscale resorts opening here.
And with a high-caliber product comes higher pay, which could ripple through the employee ranks at other local hotels, said Bob Davis, president and CEO for the Hotel & Lodging Association of Volusia County.
“As new hotels come in, surrounding hotels will up their pay scale,” he said. “And we are entitled to that. We have always been the blue-collar tourism destination. Now that’s changing.”
More than 25 jobs at the Hard Rock — which is set to open by December 2018 — will earn over $50,000 a year with five more making over $100,000, Henry Wolfond, CEO of Canada-based Bayshore Capital Inc., the developer of the Hard Rock complex, wrote in an email to county officials.
These top positions include a general manager, directors of finance, sales and human resources, an executive chef, front office and housekeeping managers, along with the vibe manager.
Other middle-income positions include assistant managers, more chefs and engineers. Hourly positions will be up to $17 an hour, with workers in many front-of-house positions eligible for tips, Wolfond said.
“Total annual wages at the resort will be over $5 (million) before benefits,” Wolfond said. “That is a lot of coin going into people’s pockets.”
Those wages skew higher than the average in Volusia County, where hotel and motel workers earned an annual average of $23,295 in 2014, according to CareerSource Flagler Volusia. That’s under the national average of $31,503 a year.
But that number could climb as more hotels are on the hunt for new employees. Several local properties say they generally adjust their salaries depending on the market.
One of those is the Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort, which has hired nearly 60 people in the last three months because of booming business, said Jane Peterson, regional director of human resources for Pyramid Hotel Group, the Boston-based company that manages the hotel.
“We do a competitive wage survey,” she said. “We go out to all of the local hotels, the bigger hotels. I also pick a couple of hotels in Orlando because I like to be competitive within Florida.”
Keeping up with competitors is also important to Domien Takx, corporate director of operations for Premier Resorts & Management, Inc., which is hiring at least 45 people for its newest beachfront hotel. The 141-room Hilton Garden Inn, located at the site of the former Bermuda House, is set to open by summer.
“If you’re not competitive, you don’t get (the workers),” Takx said. “If we would be materially higher or lower than anyone else, it wouldn’t work.”
“And (that’s) without any new hotels,” she said. “So if we’re getting new ones, that number is definitely going to jump.”
More opportunities here could also prevent hospitality students from graduating and fleeing to other cities with slightly higher-paying positions, such as Orlando or Miami, said Taryn Brown, an assistant professor at the Mori Hosseini College of Hospitality and Culinary Management at Daytona State College.
“What we’re finding from our students is that while some of them desire to go outside of the community, a lot of them want to stay here,” she said. “We want to keep these educated students here in our community and help build management and develop the tourism industry here.”
While Tina Stuff hasn’t considered moving away, the Daytona State College culinary student admits it hasn’t always been easy to find a good hospitality job in the area. However, she feels that’s all about to change.
“With all of these projects coming up, there will be a lot more jobs,” Stuff said. “It will just take a little bit of time.”
Apple executive adds to chatter that company is looking to cars
Apple Inc. just poured more fuel on speculation that it's working on a car.
Confronted by a shareholder Wednesday at a rare public forum over where Apple is looking to invest its cash, Jeff Williams, Apple's senior vice president of operations, seemed to suggest the automotive industry.
"The car is the ultimate mobile device, isn't it?" Williams said during the Re/code conference in Rancho Palos Verdes, California. Pressed further by Re/code co-founder Walt Mossberg, Williams appeared to pull back a little, addressing the importance of Apple's in-car information and entertainment system, CarPlay.
"We're exploring a lot of different markets," Williams said.
Apple CEO Tim Cook has been facing increased pressure to return cash to shareholders. He meanwhile is moving the company into new areas, including smartwatches and mobile payments, as part of a strategy to further mesh users' lives with Apple's products and services.
The Cupertino, California-based company has been exploring the development of a car and pushing its team to begin production of an electric vehicle as early as 2020, though it might ultimately halt the program, people familiar with the effort have said.
Apple's cash pile grew to $193.5 billion at the end of March. Facing heat from investors such as Carl Icahn, Apple increased its capital-return program through March 2017 by $70 billion. The company said it returned more than $112 billion to investors from August 2012 to March of this year.
Wednesday's event wasn't the first time an investor questioned Apple's future with cars. At Apple's annual shareholder meeting in March, Cook faced questions about a possible marriage with electric-car maker Tesla Motors Inc. He sidestepped the issue.
"We don't really have a relationship with Tesla," he said, pivoting to Apple's in-car information and entertainment system. "I'd love Tesla to pick up CarPlay. We now have every major auto brand committing to use CarPlay."
Mary Barra, the chief executive officer of General Motors, said at Wednesday's conference that Chevrolet models will integrate with CarPlay and Google Inc.'s Android Auto.
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Travel agents react to Lufthansa's move against GDS channel
While some travel agents are still evaluating the potential impact of Lufthansa Group’s decision to add a fee of 16 euros (about $17.78) to every GDS booking starting Sept. 1, others are speaking out against it.
Travel Leaders Group CEO Barry Liben called Lufthansa’s new strategy "at best disappointing and at worst counterintuitive.”
“Their move effectively places them at a competitive disadvantage on airfare pricing,” Liben said in a statement. "Simply put, consumers who comparatively shop on price will pay more to fly on Lufthansa. For the vast majority of our clients, the economics will dictate that we book them either on other carriers that serve those routes or through codeshare partners. As we pursue the best interests of our clients, Travel Leaders Group will continue our ongoing discussions with our airline and GDS partners."
ASTA stated that while it is still studying the potential impact of the move on travel agents, it considers it to be "discrimination against the channel travel agents choose to use to book tickets for their customers.”
In a message to its members, ASTA said, "The Lufthansa Group also announced it is in the process of developing a new booking method to enable its 'sales partners' to connect to their IT systems directly based on IATA’s NDC (New Distribution Capability) standard. The exact meaning of 'sales partners' in this context is unknown. IATA’s NDC is still in the development stage, though some limited commercial implementations do exist, so the timing of the Group’s new booking method is unclear.”
Mike Estil, COO of the Western Association of Travel Agencies, said, "When finally the bias toward American flagged carriers by American agents is at its weakest point since the beginning of deregulation, one would think this would be a time of relationship building ... not bridge burning."
Pipeline that spilled oil on California coast badly corroded
Preliminary report: Pipeline that spilled oil on Central California coast was badly corroded
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- A pipeline rupture that spilled an estimated 101,000 gallons of crude oil near Santa Barbara last month occurred along a badly corroded section that had worn away to a fraction of an inch in thickness, according to federal regulators.
The preliminary findings released Wednesday by the federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration point to a possible cause of the May 19 spill that blackened popular beaches and created a 9-mile slick in the Pacific Ocean.
The agency said investigators found corrosion at the break site had degraded the pipe wall thickness to 1/16 of an inch, and that there was a 6-inch opening near the bottom of the pipe. Additionally, the report noted that the area that failed was close to three repairs made because of corrosion found in 2012 inspections.
The findings indicate 82 percent of the metal pipe wall had worn away.
"There is pipe that can survive 80 percent wall loss," said Richard Kuprewicz, president of Accufacts Inc., which investigates pipeline incidents. "When you're over 80 percent, there isn't room for error at that level."
The morning of the spill, operators in the company's Houston control center detected mechanical issues and shut down pumps on the line. The pumps were restarted about 20 minutes later and then failed, prompting another shutdown of the line.
Restarting the pumps could have led to a rupture, or a break in the line could have caused the pumps to fail, but Kuprewicz cautioned it's still too soon to determine what caused the failure.
In either case, a hole that size would have leaked at a high rate — even with the pumps off — and may not have been quickly detected by remote operators.
The agency documents said findings by metallurgists who examined the pipe wall thickness at the break site conflicted with the results of inspections conducted May 5 for operator Plains All American Pipeline. Those inspections pinpointed a 45 percent loss of wall thickness in the area of the pipe break, meaning they concluded the pipe was in far better condition.
Government inspectors "noted general external corrosion of the pipe body during field examination of the failed pipe segment," the report said.
Investigators found "this thinning of the pipe wall is greater than the 45 percent metal loss which was indicated" by the recent Plains All American inspections.
The agency ordered the company to conduct additional research and possible repairs on the line, which has been shut down indefinitely.
Plains All American said in a regulatory filing that there is no timeline to restart the line, which runs along the coast north of Santa Barbara. A company spokeswoman said there's no estimate yet of the cost of cleanup, which involves nearly 1,200 people.
The agency also ordered restrictions on a second stretch of pipeline, which the company had shut down May 19, restarted, then shut down again on Saturday.
That second line had similar insulation and welds to the line that spilled oil last month. It cannot be started until the company completes a series of steps, including testing.
The company said in a statement that it is committed to working with federal investigators "to understand the differences between these preliminary findings, to determine why the corrosion developed and to determine the cause of the incident."
Plains said it won't know the cause until the investigation, including the metallurgical analysis, is concluded.
The company has come under fire from California's U.S. senators, who issued a statement last week calling the response to the spill insufficient and demanding the pipeline company explain what it did, and when, after firefighters discovered the leak from the company's underground 24-inch pipe.
A commercial fisherman sued Plains in federal court Monday, alleging the environmental disaster would cause decades of harm to the shore. He is seeking class-action status and damages for business owners who have lost money because of the spill.
As of Tuesday, 36 sea lions, 9 dolphins and 87 birds in the area have died, officials said. Another 32 sea lions, 6 elephant seals and 58 birds were rescued and were being treated.
Popular state beaches and campgrounds polluted by the spill are closed until at least June 18.
Plains All American and its subsidiaries operate 17,800 miles of crude oil and natural gas pipelines across the country, according to federal regulators
The spill is also being investigated by federal, state and local prosecutors for possible violations of law.
Bus carrying Italian tourists collides with truck, killing 3
Bus carrying Italian tourists to Niagara Falls collides with truck on highway, killing 3
TOBYHANNA, Pa. (AP) -- A charter bus taking Italian tourists to Niagara Falls collided with a tractor-trailer that had crossed into oncoming traffic on a highway on Wednesday, killing the bus driver and two other people on the bus, police said. Four people were critically injured.
The crash occurred on Interstate 380 in the Pocono Mountains region in eastern Pennsylvania as the bus, which departed from New York, was about a quarter of the way to its first destination.
The mangled front end of the bus was upright on the highway but wedged into the side of the tractor-trailer, which was sheared in half. The cab of the truck came to rest on its side in the woods next to the road, one of its axles torn off.
The southbound tractor-trailer entered the northbound lanes of the divided highway, struck another truck and then was hit by the charter bus, said state police, who were investigating what caused the deadly chain of events Wednesday morning. A wide swath of grass was scraped away in the median.
Italian tour operator Viaggidea said there were 16 people on the bus: 14 passengers, a tour guide and the driver. Police said the driver, Alfredo Telemaco, of New York City, died at the scene along with two passengers.
The bus owner, Academy Bus, said the driver had more than a decade of experience with the company.
More than a dozen people were injured and taken to hospitals, where most were being treated for mild to moderate injuries. Monroe County coroner Robert Allen said the tractor-trailer driver, a Macomb, Oklahoma, man, didn't appear to have been severely injured.
Viaggidea spokeswoman Simona Nocifora said she did not have any information on the passengers, including where they were from in Italy.
After sightseeing in New York, the group was headed to Niagara Falls, then Toronto, Washington and Philadelphia, before returning to New York, according to an itinerary for the eight-day trip.
The tractor-trailer was owned by the Xtra Lease company. The company's attorney said officials did not know who was leasing the vehicle.
Johnny Walsh, who lives near the highway, told WCAU-TV that he heard a loud crash and "all of a sudden people were screaming."
Pop singer Gloria Estefan suffered a broken vertebra when a tractor-trailer crashed into her tour bus on the same stretch of highway in 1990 while heading to a concert in Syracuse, New York.
Wednesday's crash came less than a month after an Italian businessman died with seven other people when a speeding Amtrak train ran off the tracks in Philadelphia.
Southwest fares drop below $100 round trip in 72-hour sale
Southwest rolled out a 72-hour, nationwide fare sale Tuesday (June 2) in which the price of its flights are roughly based to distance. Dozens of the carrier's shortest routes are available for fares of less than $100 round trip.
The sale covers travel from Aug. 25 through Dec. 16, though some holiday periods are blacked out. And bargain hunters must act quick; the sale concludes at the end of the day Thursday (June 4).
Southwest has previously rolled out similar fare sales in which fares were pegged to mileage thresholds. In past years, for example, Southwest 's sales priced flights of 500 miles or less at $49 each way and increased from there. Flights of 501 to 1,000 miles cost $99 each way and flights of 1,001 to 1,500 miles cost $129 each way. Flights of more than 1,500 miles went for $149 each way.
While Southwest may have officially ended the precise mileage component of its big sales, this latest promotion appears to closely mimic those previous distance-based promotions. The carrier's four advertised sale-fare tiers — $49, $99, $129 and $149 each way — match the fares it offered on its distance-based sales of years past.
Whatever the details, travelers can snag advertised round-trip fares as low as $98 on short routes. Many routes, such as Chicago-Minneapolis, Los Angeles-San Francisco and Atlanta-Richmond, Va., showed fares as low as $98 (including taxes). Fares on longer flights appear to increase incrementally roughly in correlation to the distance flown.
But the scope of this Southwest sale appears to be more limited than its previous similar promotions. Some of the carrier's sub-500-mile routes – such as Atlanta-New Orleans, Baltimore-Charleston, S.C., and Denver-Albuquerque – were not being sold for the lowest $49 fares. Instead fares on those routes – and a number of Southwest's other short routes – were going for higher sale fares of $63 to $73 each way.
On the flip side, a small number of Southwest's other short routes – such as Chicago-Memphis and Denver-Omaha – were available for even less. Those routes were selling for just $44 each way. Five routes from California's Ontario airport were selling for $46 each way, including Las Vegas, Oakland and Phoenix.
Regardless of the fare and distance, deal-seekers will have to move fast to lock in those prices. Southwest's sale runs only through the end of the day Thursday (June 4), and the cheapest fares will disappear as they sell out.
For the short routes that are priced at $49 each way, that makes for round-trip fares of less than $100 on many city-pairs.
Among the sub-$100 options: Boston-Baltimore; Burbank, Calif.-Sacramento; Charlotte-Baltimore; Cleveland-Chicago Midway; Columbus, Ohio-Washington National; Dallas Love-New Orleans; Denver-Omaha; Detroit-Chicago Midway; Houston Hobby-Corpus Christi, Texas; El Paso-Austin; Grand Rapids, Mich.-St. Louis; Indianapolis-Kansas City; Las Vegas-San Diego; Los Angeles-Oakland; Memphis-Houston Hobby; Nashville-Pensacola, Fla.; New York LaGuardia-Akron/Canton, Ohio; Pittsburgh-Chicago Midway; San Jose, Calif.-Orange County, Calif.; San Francisco-Los Angeles and Spokane, Wash.-Boise.
Southwest's fares are blacked out around Labor Day (Sept. 3-5 and Sept. 7 are excluded) and around Thanksgiving (Nov. 2- through Dec. 1 are excluded). The lowest fares are not offered on Fridays and Sundays. Additionally, the days that the sale fares are offered are further restricted to Southwest's destinations in Florida, Nevada and Puerto Rico. The cheapest sale fares will disappear from flights on all routes as those fares begin to sell out.
Tickets must be purchased Thursday by 11:59 p.m. in the time zone of the originating city.
TSA Under Fire for Missing Airport SIDA Badges
The Transportation Security Administration has come under fire from U.S. senators in the wake of an investigation conducted by NBC 5 in Dallas/Fort Worth that revealed a shocking number of missing airport security badges in San Diego, Atlanta and presumably other airports across the country.
The NBC 5 investigation found that more than 270 Secure Identification Display Area (SIDA) badges went missing at San Diego International Airport over the past two years, while another 1,400 were either lost or stolen at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport over the same period of time.
"Clearly there are an awful lot of things falling through the cracks and there’s just no room for error when it comes to this issue. We need answers. They’re not providing them," said South Dakota senator and Transportation Committee chairman John Thune.
Despite a policy that requires employees who have lost a SIDA badge to notify airport authorities within 24 hours so that they can deactivate it, the NBC 5 investigation revealed that in some cases, several weeks or months had passed before a badge was reported missing.
The TSA points out that in addition to a SIDA badge, codes and/or handprints are required to gain access to secure areas at many airports across the U.S.
But in an effort to gain access to nationwide figures and to learn more about what the TSA is doing to combat the issue, Thune and two other senators serving on the Transportation Committee recently reached out to the agency in a letter demanding more transparency.
The senators issued their letter last month to former acting TSA administrator Melvin Carraway, who was reassigned by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson on Monday following a shocking security lapse.
According to NBC 5, they also planned to question Coast Guard Vice Admiral Peter Neffenger, who was nominated to lead the TSA by President Barack Obama.
Tampa airport set to add restaurant, retail options today
The “Captain Morgan” cocktail bar, built in the shape of a large pirate ship, are among the restaurant options being considered.
The Hillsborough Aviation Authority today could decide whether travelers to Tampa International Airport will be able to have a drink at a Gasparilla-style pirate ship, hoist a local craft brew, or enjoy dinner among various other options.
After accepting bids, officials today are expected to take a final vote on several airport concessions that will be installed as part of the airport’s $1 billion renovation of the terminals.
The “Captain Morgan” cocktail bar, built in the shape of a large pirate ship, are among the restaurant options being considered, including Columbia Cafe, Cigar City Brewing, Pei Wei and P.F. Changs.
Retailers also submitted bids. Among those that could be considered include Tampa-based fashion brand Black & Denim, Spanx, Ron Jon Surf Shop and Victoria’s Secret.
The meeting is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m.
Canadian 'sex tourist' who flew to Broward for teen sex being sentenced
A Canadian "sex tourist" who admitted he traveled to Fort Lauderdale to have sex with two teenage boys is facing 10 years to life in federal prison when he is sentenced this afternoon.
Rene Roberge, 48, wrote in one email that, after a near-death experience, he decided to live all his fantasies and indulge what he called his "perve dreams."
Roberge was arrested in November shortly after his flight landed at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
He had been communicating online for several weeks with a man Roberge thought was going to let him have sex with the man's 14-year-old son in Pompano Beach.
That arrangement was an undercover sting involving a fictional teen, arranged by Florida Department of Law Enforcement agents who posed as a 55-year-old dad.
But after Roberge was detained at the airport, he told federal agents from Homeland Security Investigations that he was also planning to travel on to Texas to have sex with a real 15-year-old boy he had also been communicating with online.
Investigators also found more than 150 child pornography images on Roberge's iPad, which he brought with him. Authorities said he also shared some of the child pornography images with the 15-year-old.
Roberge, a former TV soundman who lived in Sherbrooke in Quebec, pleaded guilty earlier this year to two counts of enticing a minor into sexual activity, one count of entering the U.S. to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor and one count of transporting child pornography.
Roberge's mother, his two brothers and sister-in-law wrote a letter, translated from French, to Chief U.S. District Judge K. Michael Moore acknowledging that Roberge knew he had made "a big mistake" but seeking mercy for him.
The family suggested that he had been deeply affected by a severe heart condition and spent three weeks hovering between life and death in intensive care. Though he can now walk with a cane, they said Roberge was paralyzed from the waist down for some time after surgery.
"Is it a great emotion like this one that caused this unsettlement?" they wrote. "We do not know. Rene has lots of regrets; he is not a criminal. An error was made on his path."
Roberge's online profile described his interests as "looking for Dad how shares for a young boy." He joined groups online called "How sick and twisted are you?" and "Pervert Fantasies."
Federal prosecutors have asked the judge to impose a more severe sentence because the child pornography included images of a prepubescent minor; the material portrayed sadistic or masochistic conduct; and Roberge shared the material with the 15-year-old.
Prosecutors also asked the judge to consider a letter written by the adoptive mother of three of the underage brothers who appeared in some of the child pornography that Roberge downloaded from the Internet.
The boys were sexually assaulted and exploited by a foster parent in 2003 after they were taken from their biological parents because of abuse and neglect. The foster parent repeatedly raped the boys, forced them into sexual activity with other children and shared photographs of that abuse online with other perverts, the mother wrote in her letter.
"Every time a deranged pervert posts and re-posts these graphic images of our sons, our nightmare occurs again and again. For I know that someone is deriving sick sexual pleasure from viewing pictures of my sons being raped."
The woman, who is not identified in court records, said she wrote the letter to dispel the myth that sharing old child pornography online is a victimless crime. Her children feel like they are being exploited when they learn that another person is sharing the images of them being abused online, she wrote.
Roberge's sentencing is scheduled for Thursday afternoon in federal court in Miami. He has been jailed since his November arrest.
Spirit recruits hundreds of flight attendants
It's not often that a job interview starts with a happy dance, but hundreds of prospective Spirit Airlines flight attendants were doing just that Wednesday as the low-cost carrier kicked off its recruitment fair in Fort Lauderdale.
The pep rally of sorts — led by Greg McIntyre, Spirit's senior manager for Inflight — had the packed room of more than 500 recruits on their feet dancing to "Happy" by Pharrell Williams.
The energy was high as recruits of varying ethnicities and ages danced and hooted in excitement over the opportunities that lie ahead.
"We're hiring everywhere, so it's a great time to be here," Laurie Villa, Spirit's chief human resources officer told attendees. "We will hire over 600 flight attendants this year. We're well on our way, but we still have a good ways to go."
The flight attendant job fair is part of the Miramar-based carrier's overall plan to hire about 1,500 employees in 2015 as it prepares to take delivery of more aircraft and launch new destinations or expand key routes.
"You can be part of this growth. It's a very exciting time here [at Spirit]," she said.
Spirit recently took delivery of its 71st aircraft and will have 143 aircraft by 2021, Villa said. That's increased from a fleet of 65 Airbus aircraft as of December.
The airline is seeking to fill flight attendant positions at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and at other bases and also has jobs available in its customer support center, Villa said.
In addition to Fort Lauderdale, Spirit has flight attendant bases in Atlantic City, Detroit, Dallas-Fort Worth, Las Vegas and Chicago.
There are 50 immediate flight attendant openings at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood, said Maggie Espin-Christina, Spirit's senior manager of internal communications and recruiter.
Spirit is the third-busiest airline at the Fort Lauderdale airport with 17.4 percent of passenger traffic in March, according to the latest airport data.
In recent years, the carrier has experienced about 30 percent growth annually, and that pace is expected to continue, company officials have said.
In the first quarter, Spirit launched nine new nonstop routes and added Cleveland as its 57th destination.
Last year, Spirit began service to 23 new markets and added Kansas City to its route map.
"We are the fastest growing airline in the U.S. right now," Villa told recruits Wednesday.
In a call for flight attendants this year, the low-cost carrier said it's "on the lookout for fun and friendly, relaxed and confident, professional men and women to become the face of Spirit."
Besides those qualities, flight attendants must be able to work flexible hours, communicate effectively, be at least 21 years old, possess a valid passport, have a high school diploma or GED certificate and be able to lift 40 pounds from floor to shoulder level.
Flight attendants also need to have a customer-focus mindset and have a tolerance for stress, said McIntyre, Spirit's inflight manager.
At Wednesday's job fair, recruits who successfully completed the three-phase interview process would be offered a job. If they accepted, they would begin a four-week training session in Fort Lauderdale on June 23, Spirit recruiter Espin-Christina said.
Among the hopefuls was Cornelius Edwards, 30, of West Palm Beach.
"I love the airline industry, and I'm looking for longevity and Spirit seems like a company that could offer that," he said of his reasons for applying. "Customer service is my life, and Spirit seems like a very fun airline."
The hiring fairs are taking place at a time when Spirit and its unionized flight attendants are in negotiations to iron out a new contract agreement. The flights attendants have so far voted twice to reject tentative agreements reached by the airline and union leaders.
Spirit plans to host more job fairs in other U.S. cities and will return to Fort Lauderdale in the fall, Villa said. Invitations are required to attend.
To get an invitation, applicants must complete an online application and pass an initial assessment.
Amex Centurion Lounge opens Thursday at Miami International Airport
American Express card members will soon have an exclusive lounge where they can relax and rejuvenate between flights when traveling through Miami International Airport.
The new American Express Centurion Lounge is set to open Thursday in the North Terminal of the Miami airport near Gate D-12.
Domestic and international travelers with a valid Amex credit card can gain access to the lounge and all its offerings, including food and drinks, by purchasing a $50 day pass upon arrival. Amex Platinum and Centurion card members receive complimentary entrance and services as part of their card membership benefits.
The lounge will offer locally-inspired cuisine with menu selections curated and designed by South Florida chef Michelle Bernstein, a spokeswoman said Wednesday during a tour of the MIA location. The bar features signature cocktails, premium spirits and specialty wines.
Members can also enjoy 15-minute spa services such as chair massages and mini-manicures, and will have access to high-speed Wi-Fi, personal computers and noise-buffering work spaces.
The 8,000-square-foot lounge also offers a family room with entertainment for children, shower suites and luggage lockers. Amex member services representatives will also be on hand to assist with travel changes or future trip planning.
All of the lounge's offerings are available on a first-come, first-served basis and may not be reserved in advance, according to Amex.
The décor of MIA's Amex Centurion lounge offers travelers a look into Miami's culture and history. Walls are adorned with photo prints of celebrities such as PitBull, Jackie Gleason, Jimmy Buffett and Ernest Hemmingway.
MIA is the fifth U.S. airport, following LaGuardia in New York, McCarran International in Las Vegas, Dallas/Fort Worth International and San Francisco International, to feature a Centurion Lounge.
Lawsuit: Man racks up $48,500 in gift cards via glitch in hotel rewards program
ST. PETERSBURG — It was the glitch that kept on giving.
That's how Choice Hotels International, one of the world's largest hotel chains, portrays a flaw in its online reservations system in a lawsuit accusing a St. Petersburg man of fraudulently redeeming gift cards worth $48,500 in a rewards program for loyal customers.
Robert Chat, 38, discovered the Choice Hotels booking system didn't erase his rewards points when he canceled a reservation, the suit said. So Chat began making, and quickly canceling, hundreds of reservations from October to January, then redeeming gift cards earned as a "reward," Choice Hotel alleges. Chat denies wrongdoing.
The gift cards could be used at a variety of stores and restaurants, including Dunkin' Donuts, Home Depot, Target and Applebee's.
Choice Hotels filed suit against Chat on May 21 in Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Court seeking to recover its losses and additional damages, and said Chat knew or should have known that people don't get rewarded by hotel franchises for declining to spend their money on a room.
The points "are offered as a reward in exchange for actually staying at Choice Hotels, not simply for making a reservation," the lawsuit said.
Officials at Choice Hotels, a chain that franchises 6,300 hotels that include Econo Lodge, Comfort Inn and Clarion, among others, declined to comment Tuesday.
Chat, 38, who said he had not been aware of the lawsuit until a reporter asked him about it, wrote in an email to the Tampa Bay Times that he received less than 10 percent of the $48,500 in gift cards alleged in the lawsuit.
"I'll be hiring a lawyer tomorrow to fight the suit as there was nothing done illegal nor was anything done in malice," Chat said late Tuesday. "I stayed at over 1,100 Choice hotels in the last five years. … I worked with their bonus structure to obtain points."
He added, "I'm not even computer literate. If I obtained more rewards than allowed, it's on their end, not mine. As I've stayed in their hotels exclusively for over six years, points do accumulate."
It is unclear what Chat does for a living. Chat is listed by the state as president of Dragonsong Weapons Inc., a company that makes and sells swords. It is unclear if the company is still in operation. Articles of incorporation were filed in 2010, but there have been no corporate filings since, state records show.
Choice Hotels said Chat had been a customer of its hotels and had "actually stayed at" several before he discovered the flaw in the reservation system.
Like most other hotel chains, Choice Hotels operates a rewards program to keep customers coming back. It calls the program Choice Privileges.
"Our points will really add up, fast and freely," Choice Hotels boasts online. Earn "points for that little something to make today extra special — like a coffee to perk you up or a song for your morning drive."
The lawsuit said the rules of the program make it clear that customers earn the points for "actually staying in a Choice Hotel room and paying for the room in full."
"Frequent-stay programs are common throughout the industry and neither Choice nor its competitors offer rewards for frequent reservations," the lawsuit said.
An attorney for Choice Hotels sent a March 12 letter to Chat demanding he pay triple damages to the company within 30 days, which the lawyer said is allowed under Florida law for cases involving civil theft. Choice Hotels said that meant Chat owes it $145,500.
The suit, which does not indicate if any other customers took advantage of the glitch, said Chat did not respond to the demand letter.
Promotions and loyalty programs have become a staple of American commerce. So too are tales of consumers who jump at the chance to take a promotion to the extreme.
One of the best-known cases involved a California civil engineer who in 1999 became something of a cult hero when he noticed at the local supermarket a promotion by Healthy Choice allowing consumers to earn 500 to 1,000 frequent-flier miles if they sent in the bar codes from 10 of the company's products.
David Phillips, according to published reports, purchased $3,150 worth of pudding to successfully earn $150,000 worth of free airline mileage — more than 1.2 million miles worth.
Puerto Rico developer plans first Marriott AC Hotel in Orlando
A Puerto Rican developer is planning to build the first Marriott AC Hotel in the Orlando area, near Mall at Millenia.
The AC brand features “sophisticated European-inspired aesthetics,” according to the brand’s website. They were built mostly overseas until recently. The new plan in Orlando calls for 254 units on just over four acres at 5450 Millenia Lakes Blvd.
The plan was filed with the city by a Puerto Rico-based company named Island Hospitality LLC. The contact listed for the company is Jaime Morgan Stubbe. That’s also the name of the former executive director of the Puerto Rico Maritime Authority, who is now a real estate developer. But attempts to contact him or the company were not immediately successful.
Another new AC Hotel was set to open this summer in Miami Beach. The hotel chain was originally named for its founder Spanish hotelier Antonio Catalan, before Marriott acquired it.
The architect on the project is identified as Kobi Karp of Miami Beach. Kimley-Horn and Associates Inc. is the engineering firm, while Altamonte Springs-based Shannon Surveying is the surveyor.
The world's most popular amusement park is ...
(CNN)The home of Mickey Mouse, Cinderella and "Frozen's" Elsa and Anna, it's touted as the happiest place on Earth.
And it's the most popular -- at least among amusement parks.
The Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World in Florida welcomed more than 19 million visitors in 2014, an increase of 4% over 2013, according to a report released Wednesday (PDF).
Amusement park attendance is on the rise around the world.
There were 223 million visits to the top 25 theme and amusement parks worldwide, up 4.1% from 2013, according to the Themed Entertainment Association and AECOM global attractions attendance report. The index ranks the 25 most-visited amusement and theme parks around the world, based on attendance figures compiled by AECOM.
Disney dominated the list.
Disney parks in the United States, Europe and Asia made up nine of the top 10 parks and held 11 of the top 25 spots. Universal Studios' theme parks came in second place, with one park in the top 10 list and four in the top 25 list. SeaWorld held one spot in the top 25.
Visits to parks around the world keep increasing, and not just at the top 25 parks: There were 122.5 million visits to the top 20 Asian theme/amusement parks last year, up 4.9% from 2013. There were 138 million visits to the top 20 North American theme/amusement parks last year, up 2.2% from 2013. There were 59.5 million visits to parks in Europe, the Middle East and Africa last year, up 3% from the year before.
In case you missed these news stories.
Bill Vervaeke, CDME
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(WAV: Oh, sure “Carnival emphasized that this bottled beverage ban is not a ploy to increase onboard revenues” really?)
Carnival to Ban Carry-On Bottled Beverages
In an effort to stop liquor smuggling, Carnival Cruise Line is prohibiting its passengers from bringing bottled beverages onboard effective July 9.
Carnival says it’s implementing the bottled beverage ban for two main reasons. First, it slows down the boarding process due to security checks for contraband booze. Second, it can lead to behavioral problems caused by overconsumption.
“Bottled beverages are the most common means by which guests attempt to smuggle alcohol on board, which necessitates that bottles be individually examined by security personnel,” Carnival said. “This bogs down the embarkation process and requires security resources dedicated to checking bottled beverages. Most importantly, when behavioral issues occur on board and are ultimately investigated, smuggled alcohol often appears to be a factor.”
Cruise passengers who want to drink booze without paying shipboard prices get very creative in their smuggling efforts, sometimes going so far as to fill mouthwash bottles with liquor and tinting it with food coloring so it looks like the original product. Or, they’ll carefully remove some bottles of water from a package, fill them with booze, and replace them so the bottles and packaging look unopened.
Such smuggling has spawned a cottage industry of flasks, plastic bladders and even fake beer bellies that store booze and are said to be undetectable by security devices. Google the topic and you’ll find a plethora of advice columns and YouTube videos.
However, cruise lines — and it affects virtually all of them — have caught on and now inspect bottles to confiscate the booze. Carnival will continue to check mouthwash and other personal/grooming products in bottles as well as other apparatus designed to smuggle alcohol.
Yet Carnival said it realizes many guests carry aboard bottled water or cans of soda, and will allow small quantities. The line also is greatly reducing the cost of buying bottled water onboard.
“We will continue to allow up to 12 unopened cans or cartons of water, sodas and non-alcoholic beverages per person to be brought on board during embarkation,” the line said. “Guests can now purchase a 12-pack of bottled water from Carnival at a price of $2.99 plus tax online prior to their cruise or $4.99 plus gratuities once on board. We sincerely apologize for any disappointment these changes may cause. However, we firmly believe these changes will ultimately benefit all guests.”
Passengers age 21 and older can, however, bring aboard one 750-milliliter bottle of unopened wine or champagne in carry-on baggage on embarkation day. If they choose to consume it in a restaurant or bar, they will be charged a $15 corkage fee.
All liquor, beer, other forms of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages outside of these exceptions are prohibited in both carry-on and checked luggage and will be confiscated and discarded with no compensation provided. All alcohol purchased in ports of call or onboard shops will be returned on the morning of debarkation.
Guests also are prohibited from bringing large coolers onboard since it’s an impediment to the boarding and security process, Carnival said. They can bring onboard personal-sized coolers, no larger than 12-by-12-by-12 inches to store small quantities of non-alcoholic beverages and/or medications.
Carnival emphasized that this bottled beverage ban is not a ploy to increase onboard revenues, as some will undoubtedly accuse. “In fact, we do not anticipate any increase in revenue as a result of this policy change, particularly given the significant reduction in price we have instituted for 12-packs of bottled water,” the line said.
Carnival is notifying booked guests and travel agents today.
“Bottled beverages are the most common source of attempted transport of alcohol on board,” Carnival said. “Often times, we find guests transporting alcohol onboard through unauthorized means, resulting in unmonitored consumption of alcohol. Unfortunately, this has led to behavioral and safety related concerns.”
TSA Fails to Identify 73 Employees with Terrorism Ties
The embattled Transportation Security Administration – already under heavy scrutiny after an undercover investigation revealed that agents were able to sneak fake explosives and other banned items and weapons past TSA screeners on 67 of 70 attempts – is under fire again.
However, the agency might not be completely at fault this time.
NBC News is reporting that a Department of Homeland Security Inspector General report found that the TSA failed to identify 73 aviation employees with links to terrorism who have active clearance badges.
The employees – not named by the TSA – worked for major airlines, airport vendors and other aviation-related employers.
“In addition to initially vetting every application for new credentials, TSA recurrently vetted aviation workers with access to secured areas of commercial airports every time the Consolidated Terrorist Watchlist was updated," the report found.
However, the Inspector General noted one key issue.
“…TSA did not identify 73 individuals with terrorism-related category codes because TSA is not authorized to receive all terrorism-related information under current interagency watchlisting policy,” the report said.
According to NBC, the report recommended that TSA "request additional watchlist data, require that airports improve verification of applicants' right to work, revoke credentials when the right to work expires, and improve the quality of vetting data."
This comes a week after the head of the Transportation Security Administration was replaced by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson.
Johnson made the move to reassign TSA acting administrator Melvin Carraway after an undercover investigation revealed a shocking lapse in security among TSA screeners.
In 67 of 70 attempts – more than 95 percent – undercover agents were able to sneak fake explosives and other banned items and weapons past TSA screeners.
ABC News first reported the findings.
The 67 successful attempts included one instance in which an undercover agent set off the security alarm, according to the Washington D.C.-based publication The Hill, yet was allowed to continue on after a pat-down – even though he had a fake bomb taped to his back.
Florida leaders debate hold on local rules for ride-share businesses
TALLAHASSEE — The Senate wants to temporarily freeze local governments from making new rules regarding ride-sharing services such as Uber, but the House Justice Appropriations Subcommittee on Tuesday did not match a $10,000 budget proposal for a study of such app-based businesses that the Senate Criminal and Civil Justice Appropriations Subcommittee offered Monday.
That means the Uber proposal could end up being resolved by Senate Appropriations Chairman Sen. Tom Lee, R-Brandon, and House Appropriations Chairman Rep. Richard Corcoran, R-Land O’ Lakes. The $10,000 would fund a study by the Legislature’s Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability to look into the “positive” impact app-based ride-sharing services have on reducing drunken driving in Florida. The study would need to be completed by April 1, 2016.
As the study is underway, local governments would be prohibited from imposing new rules against Uber and other app-based transportation network services, which have been heavily lobbying lawmakers this year.
During this spring’s regular legislative session, lawmakers failed to advance a House proposal for statewide regulations that would have overridden local rules for the fast-growing transportation networks. Also, lawmakers did not take action on proposed insurance requirements for the ride-sharing companies.
(WAV: Yes, indeed, this is a travel news story.)
US Ousts Russia as World's Top Oil, Gas Producer in BP Report
The U.S. has taken Russia’s crown as the world’s biggest oil and natural-gas producer, illustrating the seismic shifts in the global energy landscape caused by America’s shale fields.
U.S. oil production rose to an all-time high last year, gaining 1.6 million barrels a day, according to BP Plc’s Statistical Review of World Energy released on Wednesday. Gas output also rose, putting America ahead of Russia as a producer of the hydrocarbons combined.
The data showing the U.S.’s emergence as the world’s top driller confirms a trend that’s helped the world’s largest economy slash imports, caused a slump in global energy prices and shifted the country’s foreign policy priorities.
“We are truly witnessing a changing of the guard of global energy suppliers,” BP’s Chief Economist Spencer Dale said in a presentation. “The implications of the shale revolution for the U.S. are profound.”
The other major shift in at the BP report is China’s energy consumption growing at the slowest pace since the Asian financial crisis of the late 1990s as the economy slows and the country tries to lessen its reliance on heavy industry.
“Growth in some of China’s most energy-intensive sectors, such as steel, iron and cement — which had thrived during China’s rapid industrialization — virtually collapsed in 2014,” said Dale, a former Bank of England policy maker who joined BP last year.
Economic Change
In the U.S., the boom in oil and gas production has started to change the economy profoundly. Cheap fuel has seen manufacturing return to the U.S. as the country produced about 90 percent of the energy it consumed last year.
Last year, imports equaled 1 percent of GDP, according to BP’s data. In 2007, just before the financial crisis, U.S. energy imports accounted for about half of the current account deficit of 5 percent of GDP.
Shale drillers from Exxon Mobil Corp. to Chesapeake Energy Corp. spent about $120 billion last year in the U.S., more than double the amount five years earlier.
The U.S. increase in oil production last year, helping it to overtake Saudi Arabia as a crude producer, was the first time a country has raised production by at least 1 million barrels a day for three consecutive years, BP said.
Among other producers outside the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, Canada and Brazil also posted record production last year, prompting OPEC’s policy shift of ditching price support for defending market share.
On the demand side, countries outside the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development accounted for all of the net growth in global consumption of 0.8 million barrels a day, or 0.8 percent, last year, BP said. Chinese consumption growth, though slower, still increased 390,000 barrels a day, the biggest increase in the world.
Oil consumption in developed nations dropped 1.2 percent, the eighth decrease in the past nine years. World natural gas consumption grew 0.4 percent last year, compared with the 10- year average of 2.4 percent.
The world’s coal use also increased 0.4 percent, slower than the 10-year average annual growth of 2.9 percent, with consumption in China almost slowing as the nation seeks to cut pollution and use more gas for power generation. Coal’s share of primary energy consumption fell to 30 percent.
EU commits $133 million for Latin America, Caribbean
EU commits $133 million in investment aid for Latin American, Caribbean nations at summit
BRUSSELS (AP) -- The European Union has committed 118 million euros ($133 million) in investment support for Latin America and Caribbean nations at the start of their two-day summit.
The EU Commission said Wednesday that the combination of loans, grants and other financial operations would seek to enhance trans-Atlantic cooperation.
The executive of the 28-nation EU said the support will center on the transport, energy and environment sectors in the nations.
Spanish air controllers stage 2nd day of partial strikes
Spanish air controllers stage second day of partial strikes, no report yet of cancelations
MADRID (AP) -- Spain's air traffic controllers have staged the second set of partial strikes but there are no immediate reports of major flight delays or cancelations.
A spokesman for Spain's air navigation company, Enaire, said 1,217 flights were to take place during the strike periods between 10 a.m. and noon and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday but there were no flight disruptions so far.
He said flight punctuality was 98 percent on Monday, the first strike day. He spoke on condition of anonymity in keeping with company policy.
Government-imposed minimum staffing services of 70 percent have minimized the strike effect.
The stoppages are also to take place June 12 and 14.
The USCA controllers' union called the strikes to protest penalties imposed on members after a 24-hour strike in 2010.
High-speed rail brings fears of gutted communities, noise
Residents along proposed California high-speed rail line fear noise, falling property values
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- California Gov. Jerry Brown has compared the state's high-speed rail line to construction of the Golden Gate Bridge and the great cathedrals of Europe. Isobel Cook doesn't see it that way.
The 13-year-old who raises chickens, turkeys and ducks in the unincorporated community of Acton told members of the California High-Speed Rail Authority Tuesday that she feared the $68 billion project traveling at speeds up to 220 mph would divide her hometown.
"I love my home," the teenager said, dressed in 4-H attire with medals for prize-winning animals she raised arrayed on her cap. "I don't want it to change."
Acton, on the edge of the Angeles National Forest, sits on a proposed segment that would run from the Los Angeles suburb of Burbank to the high-desert city of Palmdale. Cook was one of about two dozen area residents who told the panel the train would be a threat to rural lifestyles that prize serenity and unbroken vistas.
The panel is considering possible routes through that area.
There were complaints about potential harm to groundwater and home values, hints of lawsuits to come and indignation that the government wasn't listening to the people it serves.
Many who testified urged the authority to tunnel through the area north of Los Angeles, leaving the community unscathed. The state is considering some options that include tunneling through the Angeles National Forest.
"We'd like to see you crawl into a hole in Palmdale and crawl out of it in Burbank, said developer Christopher A. Croisdale, an Acton resident.
The train, Brown's signature project, has been beset by delays and questions about funding.
Demolition and engineering work has been underway for months around Fresno, one of the hubs on the first stretch. But the agency is behind schedule in acquiring the land needed to begin construction, and the state has only found a fraction of the money needed before tracks will be installed.
The board's moves on Tuesday included the approval of a seven-year, $700 million contract with consulting firm Parsons Brinckerhoff, Inc. The firm, which has already had a key consulting role in the project for years, was chosen over competitor Bechtel Infrastructure Corporation.
Tuesday's gathering comes in the wake of a heated meeting last month in the Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley, which is home to some of the train's most vocal opponents. In the city of San Fernando, elected officials joined residents in confronting state officials, going so far as to set up their own public address system in the auditorium to express their grievances.
San Fernando Mayor Joel Fajardo told the panel the line would cleave the community in two, potentially leaving it bankrupt. He argued that the panel was exploiting working-class areas like San Fernando, while bypassing Beverly Hills and other wealthier enclaves.
"You would divide the city in half with a 20-foot wall," he said.
The panel also heard endorsements. Union members talked of the need for jobs in a state still recovering from the recession. Palmdale Mayor James Ledford Jr. said the line would connect his city "to where the jobs are in Southern California."
Wealthy communities in the San Francisco Bay Area and farmers in the Central Valley have also raised concerns about the project.
Residents in the Silicon Valley forced the planned train to use existing commuter rail tracks into San Francisco at lower speeds. Farmers have sued and refused to sell their fields at prices they considered too low.
Before the meeting in downtown Los Angeles, opponents of the line crowded under a portico, below a banner that said Brown's legacy would be "displacement, destruction and devastation."
Airlines could soon shrink the size of luggage you’re allowed to carry on
It’s a happy day for luggage manufacturers. The world’s major airlines could soon be changing their requirements for carry-on luggage, potentially forcing people to buy new bags.
Working with airlines and aircraft manufacturers including Boeing and Airbus, the International Air Transport Association (IATA), a trade association, unveiled a new best-size guideline on Tuesday for carry-on bags at 21.5 inches tall by 13.5 inches wide and 7.5 inches deep. That's 21 percent smaller than the size currently permitted by American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines.
Eight major international airlines have already decided to adopt the new rules: Air China, Avianca, Azul, Cathay Pacific, China Southern, Emirates, Lufthansa and Qatar. "We’ll certainly be announcing more big carriers," said Chris Goater, a spokesman for the transport association.
Still, the guideline is non-binding, and carriers are free to ignore the suggestion or adjust it. Goater stressed that nobody should feel compelled to run out and buy new luggage today.
American Airlines has no immediate plans to change its baggage program, a spokesman said. Delta and United have yet to respond to requests for comment.
"Many airlines have existing baggage size suggestions for carry ons, and those are not affected by what we've announced today," Goater said.
The airlines have begun working with luggage manufacturers to produce new bags meeting the dimensions that will be labeled “Cabin OK.”
The guideline is designed to allow every passenger to have room for their carry-on bags in a plane of at least 120 seats. Currently, 20 passengers have to check their bags because overhead compartments are full.
The idea is to set a standard size that consumers can be confident will be allowed on most major airlines. "If you've got a Cabin OK bag ... you can fit it in. And it'll be someone else's bag that has to go in the hold, not yours," Goater said.
“What we’re trying to do is take away that uncertainty from the 120th passenger in line – will I be able to bring my bag into the cabin?” said Perry Flint, another spokesman for IATA.
The new guideline is about half an inch shorter and narrower than many airlines allow. But the biggest change is that it is significantly shallower, by an inch and a half — meaning no more overstuffing your suitcase.
(WAV: Okay, so maybe it isn’t pure travel news. But, I found it interesting news.)
SpaceX founder files with government to provide Internet service from space
Elon Musk’s space company has asked the federal government for permission to begin testing on an ambitious project to beam Internet service from space, a significant step forward for an initiative that could create another major competitor to Comcast, AT&T and other telecom companies.
The plan calls for launching a constellation of 4,000 small and cheap satellites that would beam high-speed Internet signals to all parts of the globe, including its most remote regions. Musk has said the effort “would be like rebuilding the Internet in space.”
If successful, the attempt could transform SpaceX, based in Hawthorne, Calif., from a pure rocket company into a massive high-speed-Internet provider that would take on major companies in the developed world but also make first-time customers out of the billions of people who are currently not online.
The idea of saturating Earth with Internet signals from space has long been the dream of prominent business tycoons, including Bill Gates in the 1990s. But many of these ventures have run into obstacles that Musk is working to avoid. Musk has his own rocket, and he has said his swarm of satellites will be more efficient and inexpensive than relying on a handful of big devices that are difficult to replace.
Dish Network and DirecTV, for instance, have for years relied on a few older satellites that are cast much farther into space and can serve only specific regions such as the United States. SpaceX’s web of satellites would wrap around Earth in low orbit, handing off Internet signals to one another to make connections more reliable and to reach more areas.
The filing, made with the Federal Communications Commission late last month, is the first public glimpse into how Musk will move ahead with the project.
Musk isn’t the only billionaire entrepreneur who is pursuing such an idea. Virgin’s Richard Branson has partnered with a company with similar ambitions. Both ventures would have to succeed where many have failed.
Facebook recently abandoned its plan to build a $500 million satellite that would provide Internet service across the globe, according to the Information, a tech site.
And a previous effort by a firm called LightSquared to use satellites to provide wireless service fell apart three years ago, despite initial backing from the FCC. Military officials complained at the time that the technology interfered with the radar used by planes — a problem that shouldn’t hinder Musk’s effort, industry officials said.
Musk’s FCC filing proposes tests starting next year. If all goes well, the service could be up and running in about five years.
The satellites would be deployed from one of SpaceX’s rockets, the Falcon 9. Once in orbit, the satellites would connect to ground stations at three West Coast facilities. The purpose of the tests is to see whether the antenna technology used on the satellites will be able to deliver high-speed Internet to the ground without hiccups.
Despite a history of failed satellite ventures, wealthy individuals and companies are pouring fresh funds into exploring satellite-based communications. Google and Fidelity recently invested $1 billion into SpaceX, in part to support the satellite broadband Internet project.
A company called OneWeb, backed by Virgin’s Branson and founded by Greg Wyler, has similar ambitions: “OneWeb’s mission is to bring the entire world online to improve quality of life and spur economic and national development where it’s needed most,” Wyler has said.
Wyler was also involved in launching O3b Networks, which already has 12 satellites in space, providing Internet to 40 customers, including Royal Caribbean International, the Republic of Congo and the Papua New Guinea University of Technology, an O3b spokeswoman said.
Some analysts say that while the technology appears promising, the basic logistics are difficult to overcome. In the mid-1990s, Teledesic, a company funded by Gates, legendary wireless executive Craig McCaw and a Saudi prince, tried to employ a similar plan to use low-Earth-orbiting satellites to provide Internet access. But costs ballooned to more than $9 billion, and the venture ultimately collapsed.
Voices: In Atlantic City, the gold's turning to sand
ATLANTIC CITY — When casino gambling came to this fading beach resort four decades ago, it looked like salvation. "The sand's turning to gold,'' observed a character in the Bruce Springsteen song named after the city.
Now the process is reversing itself.
The city's prospects this summer are the grimmest since 1978, when the first major legalization of casino gambling outside Las Vegas rescued what was becoming a slum by the sea.
Atlantic City is famous for innovations like the Boardwalk (1870), the amusement pier (1882) and salt water taffy (circa 1883). It hosted the first Miss America pageant in 1921 and the Democratic National Convention in 1964. The names of its very streets are immortalized on the Monopoly board.
By the end of last summer, however, it didn't seem things could get any worse. Two of the 12 casinos had closed, and gaming revenues continued to shrink in the face of competition from an ever-growing number of casinos in nearby states.
But Atlantic City always manages to surprise, for better or worse. This past off season offered plenty of the latter.
Revel, a $2 billion hotel casino that was supposed to revive Atlantic City when it opened just two years earlier, closed. It was then bought at a fire sale price by a Florida investor whose dispute over an electrical bill plunged the state's second-tallest building into darkness for three weeks before power was provisionally restored.
Revel, which New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie once called "a game-changer for Atlantic City,'' will be closed all summer, maybe longer.
Another casino, Trump Plaza, closed last September. A third, Trump Taj Mahal, filed for bankruptcy and stayed open only after an 11th-hour deal with its unions. The Caesar's unit that owns two other casinos also filed for bankruptcy.
The biggest off-season shocker was Stockton State University's purchase of the shuttered Showboat Casino Hotel for $18 million. But the school's plan to turn the place into its "Island Campus" was blocked by the Taj, which is next to the Showboat and says it doesn't want students sneaking into its casino — something that apparently didn't worry the school
In the midst of this, the Stockton president who did the deal (without running it past the State Controller's office or securing the Taj's agreement) announced plans to retire, and then went on emergency medical leave.
This has frustrated attempts by legislators to ask him: What the hell were you thinking?
In what passes here for good news, the same guy who bought the Revel has agreed to buy the Showboat (and for a while talked about running a power cable from it to neighboring Revel).
The city, facing a $400 million budget deficit and the loss of a large part of its tax base, has been placed under a state fiscal monitor and forced to lay off employees, including 80% of its parks and recreation department.
About 8,000 casino or hotel employees have lost their jobs, spreading the misery across South Jersey.
This all is bad news for Christie, the could be Republican presidential candidate who tied himself to A.C.'s revival. Now even he seems to accept the inevitability of at least one casino in North Jersey, ending this city's in-state monopoly.
Fourth of July, traditionally the biggest weekend of the season, promises to be less than celebratory this year, at least if you remember the glory days.
People will fill A.C.'s Steel Pier at dusk to watch fireworks explode over the water. But it's hard to see how America's first great beach resort, which survived the advent of air conditioning, jet travel and the backyard swimming pool, can come back this time.
Airport con man who made $22,000 a month by ripping off travelers finally caught after 15 years
For fifteen years, Andrew Gradon ran the same scam in airports around Europe, collecting an estimated $22,000 every month from well-meaning travelers. Even more remarkably, he managed to stay ahead of the police even though he always used his real name, and his passport picture has been widely circulated for the past five years. But that finally came to an end earlier this year, when he was arrested mid-con in the Munich airport.
Gradon never changed his method – and why would he, when it kept working? He approached well-dressed women (and the occasional man) in more than a half-dozen European airports, telling them that he’d missed his flight and he needed €40 ($45) to rebook so (and here’s where the violins would begin to swell) he could get home to Newcastle, England in time to tuck his children into bed. His credit card wasn’t working, he’d say, but he’d give them his real name and a very fake Yahoo email address, promising to repay them. He never did, which shouldn’t have been surprising considering two key clues that should’ve tipped everyone off: 1) No airline would let you change your flight for $45 and 2) who even has a Yahoo email address?).
Five years ago, quick-thinking Swedish businessman Tommy Forsell snapped a picture of Gradon’s passport after wondering whether he’d just been swindled. Forsell told the media:
He wasn’t wearing a tie but he had on some kind of jacket and he looked a bit stressed. He did a really good role, he was very convincing […] I handed over €40 and he was going to send me contact details, and I took a photo of his passport. When he left I felt sorry for him and hoped he got home.
Gradon’s picture and identity were widely reported in the press (including a first-hand report from a writer from The Economist who was ripped off) and in forums where his victims shared their stories and sightings. That didn’t stop him. Instead, he started taunting everyone else back. In 2009, he responded to a forum post about himself, writing:
You got ripped off and can’t handle it. At least I give you the choice to say yes or no. Not like some people out there.
American Airlines restarting flights down under
After a gap of nearly 24 years, American Airlines is to resume flights to Australia.
American will launch a daily flight from Los Angeles to Sydney from December 17 in direct competition with rivals United Airlines and Delta.
"With both the US and Australian economies growing, we see strong demand for travel between the two regions, and we're introducing more choices to meet the demand of our customers," said American chief executive Doug Parker.
The new service will mean some changes to American's transpacific alliance with partner Qantas.
Qantas will reduce its Los Angeles schedule slightly and resume San Francisco-Sydney flights from December 20 after a four year gap.
In a joint media briefing Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce said the two airlines will add about 9% to seat capacity on US-Australia routes.
Hollywood mad over Margaritaville ad's reference to Fort Lauderdale
Margaritaville, fans say, might be just the ticket to put Hollywood on the map.
But a recent promotional email describing the Jimmy Buffett-themed resort as being in Greater Fort Lauderdale has left Hollywood in a huff.
"Fort Lauderdale did not ante up the money to make this project a reality. Hollywood did," Jim Stoodley, one of Hollywood's miffed residents, wrote in an email to City Hall.
Margaritaville developer Lon Tabatchnick says the wording was chosen to differentiate Hollywood from its more famous counterpart in California.
"We want people to find us," Tabatchnick said. "If someone is in Sioux City, Iowa, when they hear Hollywood, they think California."
The ad, to which so many took offense, says: "Now Taking Reservations! The all-new Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort will open Summer 2015 on the legendary Hollywood Beach Broadwalk in Greater Fort Lauderdale, but you can book your stay now!"
The ad has since been changed, trading the words "Greater Fort Lauderdale" for "South Florida."
"He better change it," Stoodley said. "If he wants to use Fort Lauderdale, I think Fort Lauderdale should pay Hollywood half of the money we spent."
Margaritaville's $147 million resort is being built on beachfront land owned by Hollywood. The deal has the developer leasing the land for 99 years and Hollywood's redevelopment agency kicking in $23 million.
Broward County tourism czar Nicki Grossman defended the ad.
"The folks at Margaritaville know what sells and that's Greater Fort Lauderdale," said Grossman, whose title is president of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau. "The smart hotel and the smart restaurant and the smart attraction is going to follow the brand."
Still, angry emails from residents were flying through cyberspace, prompting four city commissioners to complain about the original wording.
In an email to the city manager, Commissioner Traci Callari said the ad "hit a nerve."
Commissioner Patty Asseff griped as well.
"We've made an investment in Margaritaville," Asseff said during a recent meeting. "We did all this to brand the city of Hollywood. We didn't do this so we could brand Fort Lauderdale."
Commissioner Peter Hernandez chimed in, saying he considered the Greater Fort Lauderdale reference "insulting."
Commissioner Kevin Biederman said he was not at all surprised by the wording.
"Any way we can get people here, we should get people here," he said Tuesday. "Part of me says that is what Margaritaville is trying to do. In another sense, Hollywood can't make a name for itself when a $150 million hotel is advertising itself as being in Fort Lauderdale. Now we are cast in the shadow of Fort Lauderdale."
Tabatchnick seemed taken aback by the brouhaha.
"I want the same thing the residents do," Tabatchnick told the Sun Sentinel. "I want to put Hollywood on the map. We're on the same team here."
Asseff has since chilled out, after a chat with Tabatchnick.
"He wants people to know it's near Fort Lauderdale," she said. "His goal is to fill the beds. I think after it's up and running, he will put Hollywood, Florida, on the map."
Wheelchair attendants strike at FLL airport
They prayed, chanted motivational slogans and shared their stories as they gathered in solidarity on the picket line Tuesday.
About 50 wheelchair attendants at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport rallied in the heat, some dogding raindrops during a one-day strike to protest what they called the "poverty wages" paid by their employer and other labor related concerns.
The strikers are employed by G2 Secure Staff, which services Southwest and Virgin America airlines, according to the Service Employees International Union.
The SEIU 32BJ, which already represents cleaners at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood, is helping the G2 workers in their efforts to become unionized, a representative said.
G2 officials could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
Representatives of Southwest and Virgin said the strike did not affect customers in need of wheelchair service.
"Our flights and services are not impacted by labor disputes, and those with special needs will continue to receive" service, Southwest spokeswoman Michelle Agnew in an email.
G2's wheelchair attendants earn $8.05 plus tips with limited benefits, and many work multiple jobs, according to the SEIU. In contrast, other workers at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood earn up to $13.20, and their G2 counterparts at Miami International Airport earn as much as $14.27 per hour.
The G2 wheelchair agents in Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood want similar pay.
"We want the $14.27 per hour with benefits," said Gueldere Guerilus, 50, a G2 employee from Miami and strike participant. "For two years we've been voicing our issues and still nothing has been done."
For Fort Lauderdale wheelchair agent Sandra Smith, 47, it's been a struggle to make ends meet on her current pay. "It's sad to see how we have to fight to get a living wage. We're doing the same [work] and we're getting way less money here."
Ronald Fulton of the Disability Caucus of Miami said he supported the workers' cause.
"The workers at [the] Fort Lauderdale airport do a community service in their handling and care" of people in wheelchairs, Fulton said in a statement. "Respect for their work directly translates to respect for the disabled, which is why I stand with them."
Nadege Cantave, a mother of four who works for G2 as a wheelchair attendant, said her electricity has been shut off twice because she can't afford to pay her bills.
"We are on strike because we can't survive on what G2 is giving us," said Cantave, whose husband works for G2 as a skycap, earning $5.03 an hour plus tips. "It's hard to feed the kids, and we don't have enough to pay for rent."
In May, Broward County Commissioners introduced a bill to extend the county's Living Wage ordinance to include more than 1,200 passenger service workers at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood who earn an average of $8.14 per hour, the union said. The commission has not acted, the SEIU said.
Two more motions are needed to advance the living wage initiative, and the G2 employees hope at least one will be put on the Broward County Commission's agenda by June 23 before it goes on summer break, a SEIU representative said.
The G2 workers also made an appeal to Broward commissioners Tuesday and marched outside the county's Government Building in downtown Fort Lauderdale to voice their issues. Additional marches were held at G2's airport office and in Terminal 1.
Can Uber-style apps make affordable private jets a reality?
(CNN)Here's the scenario:
The business meeting wraps up in Boston, now an urgent situation is developing in Los Angeles.
A quick check of flight schedules reveals there's a premium-rate business-class seat available.
However, the flight doesn't depart until first thing tomorrow.
But hang on, there's another option.
A private jet, leaving when you want it to leave.
Seriously.
In the wake of Uber's shake-up of the taxi market and AirBnB's impact on accommodations, that most exclusive industry of all, executive aviation, could soon be disrupted in the same way.
So does that mean that ordinary business travelers could soon be switching to low-cost private aircraft in the same way they've been switching to cheaper, convenient cabs across town?
Some aviation entrepreneurs think so.
They're creating simple, sleek mobile apps to optimize spare capacity in the private jet market and create a smooth booking experience.
Obviously private aviation isn't going to be for the masses, but what if this exclusive preserve of the super-rich is about to become accessible to the merely affluent -- those that today fill the front cabin section of commercial aircraft?
Instead of calling a broker or buying into shared exec jet ownership, these new apps allow travelers to secure a private aircraft with just a few clicks and no membership fees.
Online marketplaces like Jetsmarter, Victor or Ubair rely on complex predictive algorithms to aggregate aircraft availability data from hundreds of private jet operators and provide quotes within seconds.
Cheaper than driving?
"We are a high tech big data company at core," says Sergey Petrossov, Jetsmarter's founder, adding that most of his company's clients are newcomers to executive avia
...
In case you missed these news stories.
Bill Vervaeke, CDME
West Palm Beach, FL 33411
(561) 795-5912 (Office & Facsimile)
Suicide Bomber Strikes Near Ancient Temple in Luxor, Egypt
Militants tried to attack the ancient temple of Karnak in southern Egypt on Wednesday, with a suicide bomber blowing himself up and two gunmen battling police. No sightseers were hurt in the thwarted assault, but it suggested that Islamic extremists are shifting targets from security forces to the country's vital tourism industry.
The violence left the bomber and one gunman dead, the other wounded and arrested, and four other people wounded. The temple was not damaged.
The attackers carried guns in backpacks, and one wore a belt of explosives. They rode in a taxi through a police checkpoint to a parking lot and sat at a cafe and ordered lemonades, witnesses told The Associated Press. The taxi driver, suspicious after they refused his offer to help with the packs, alerted police.
When a policeman approached, the bomber tried to hug him, but the policeman wrestled away. Seconds later, he detonated the explosives, and the others pulled automatic weapons from their bags and opened fire wildly, sending a small group of European tourists running for cover, the witnesses said.
The attack followed one this month outside the famed Giza Pyramids in which gunmen killed two policemen. The violence points to a change in tactics by Islamic militants against the government of President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi. For two years, attacks have been centered in the Sinai Peninsula, mostly by a group that has sworn allegiance to the Islamic State group and largely focused on retaliation against police and soldiers.
A campaign against tourism, one of the main sources of foreign revenue, could deal a blow to el-Sissi's promises to repair Egypt's economy.
Tourism has just started to show signs of recovery after plunging in the turmoil since the 2011 uprising that ousted autocrat Hosni Mubarak. The first five months of this year saw tourism revenues up 9 percent from the same period last year, Tourism Minister Khaled Ramy said.
Ramy said he expects the slow recovery to continue despite the attack, and he underscored how police had thwarted it.
"Security forces were there. It's a very important message to everyone," he told the AP on a flight from Cairo to Luxor.
Mohammed Sayed Badr, the governor of Luxor province, said the attack was "an attempt to break into the temple of Karnak."
"They didn't make it in," he said.
But witnesses noted it was civilian bystanders who alerted police to the threat.
Karnak, one of Egypt's biggest attractions, is a giant complex of temples, statues, obelisks and columns built by pharaonic dynasties alongside the Nile. The oldest sections date back nearly 4,000 years.
Access to the site is through a gate and a roadblock, leading to a parking lot and visitors' center hundreds of yards from the ancient structure, which is reachable only on foot.
The waiter who served the men said only one spoke to him and had an accent from northern Egypt, while the others stopped talking when he approached. When they paid their bill, he said he refused to take their tip.
"They looked scary. ... One of them had really bad eyes," said the waiter, who asked to be identified only by his first name, Ikrami, for fear of problems with police for talking to the media.
Another cafe employee, Abdel-Nasser Mohammed, said the taxi driver reported his suspicions about the men to police. As the three walked away, a policeman approached them, leading to the tussle between the officer and the bomber, Mohammed said.
The bomber triggered the blast near a public restroom, and the other two opened fire. One ran toward the visitors' center, and a policeman shot him in the head, Mohammed said.
Tourist shop owner Sheik Ahmed Abdel-Mawgoud said he been standing near the restroom only seconds before the blast.
"When the explosion happened, I ran for cover and told my friend, a tour guide, to run with the tourists with him. I screamed at him, 'Terrorism!'" he told the AP.
The exchange of fire with police lasted several minutes, witnesses said, and two policemen were among the wounded.
Only a handful of tourists and Egyptians were in the temple at the time, security officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media.
AP video of the scene showed what was believed to be the remains of the bomber covered with a black sheet with pools of blood nearby.
The monument "is safe and unaffected and visitors continue to arrive," temple director Mohammed Abdel-Aziz told the AP. Four groups of foreigners visited after the attack.
There was no claim of responsibility, but the attack bore the hallmarks of Islamic militants who have operating in the Sinai Peninsula.
Last year, the main Sinai-based insurgent group, Ansar Beit al-Maqdis, pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group, which has destroyed archaeological landmarks in Syria and Iraq, viewing them as idolatrous.
The violence in Sinai accelerated and spread to other parts of Egypt following the 2013 military overthrow of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi. The militants say the attacks are in retaliation for a massive crackdown on Islamists in Egypt.
A senior security official said investigators are looking to see whether the Luxor attackers are Egyptians and whether it marks an expansion of the violence to southern Egypt, which was a breeding ground for the militants of the 1990s and 2000.
In the 1990s, Islamic militants targeted tourism to try to undermine the economy. The deadliest attack was in Luxor in November 1997, 58 people were killed at the 3,400-year-old Hatshepsut Temple.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to reporters, said the new breed of militants were unknown to the authorities. But he said the latest attack was a qualitative shift in the militants' target.
The attack coincided with a major regional economic summit, hosted by el-Sissi at the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.
Luxor is home to some of Egypt's most famous ancient temples and pharaonic tombs, including that of King Tutankhamun. The city has been one the sites hit hardest by the sharp downturn in foreign visitors since the 2011 uprising.
Before the turmoil, tourism accounted for as much as 20 percent of Egypt's foreign currency revenues, with as a high of 14.7 million visitors in 2010.
After the uprising, those numbers plunged to 9.6 million, and then fell lower in 2013 after Morsi's ouster. Tourists have been coming back slowly, with revenues jumping to $4 billion so far this year, compared with $1.9 billion in the same period in 2014.
Beach resorts in southern Sinai and along the Red Sea coast have drawn most of the visitors, with cultural sites like Luxor seeing only a trickle. Most tourists in the searing heat of the summer months come to Luxor only for a one-day trip from the Red Sea resort of Hurghada.
Wednesday's attack is likely to result in cancellations in bookings for Luxor, although the blow is cushioned by the fact that it is low season and most tourists stay away until October.
Three major German operators, TUI Deutschland, the Germany branch of Thomas Cook and L'TUR, said they are temporarily canceling excursions to Luxor, but stressed that most of their customers are at Red Sea resorts or on Nile cruises.
"We have no reason to advise against traveling to Egypt at the present time, since the German Foreign Ministry hasn't changed its security guidance," said L'TUR spokesman Thomas Pluennecke. "But, as a precaution, we have stopped all excursions to Luxor. Of course we take the situation seriously."
EPA calls for regulating emissions from US airliners
The Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday called for regulating U.S. aircraft emissions, expanding the government's effort to crack down on industries officials say are contributing to global warming.
The EPA issued what's known as a preliminary finding of endangerment. The agency declared the emissions are harmful to human health and contribute to climate change -- a declaration that lays the groundwork for the government to eventually regulate the airline industry.
Critics, though, have warned that the looming rules could eventually lead to increased ticket prices -- and more crowded flights -- as airlines try to comply with new efficiency standards.
“The sky is the limit when it comes to how much of the U.S. economy the EPA wants to control,” Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas, said in a written statement following the EPA announcement.
Wednesday’s finding coincides with a multi-year push by the International Civil Aviation Organization, a branch of the United Nations, to develop global aircraft emissions standards. Final agreement on the ICAO standards, a U.N. agency, is expected in February 2016. The standards themselves aren’t expected to go into effect until 2020 or even as late as 2025, according to some environmentalists following the matter.
A final U.S. decision on adopting the international standards is likely to be left to the next presidential administration.
Smith, chairman of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee, said the regulations “would increase the price of airfare for Americans and harm our domestic carriers.” He added that the EPA finding is the “next leg of a nonstop journey by the EPA to control how Americans live, work and travel.”
The industry, though, praised the EPA for planning to go through the international process. Nancy Young, with Airlines for America, said it is "critical" that the emissions standards be agreed upon globally.
"U.S. airlines are green and we are getting even greener," she said in a statement.
The U.S. regulations would apply only to large planes like airliners and cargo jets and turboprop aircraft, and not to smaller jet aircraft, piston-engine planes, helicopters or military aircraft.
The ICAO standards are not expected to apply to airliners in service today or those that might be purchased before the effective date, said Vera Pardee, an attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity. The center is one of several environmental groups that sued the EPA to force the agency to issue its finding that emissions endanger public health.
Airlines typically fly planes for 20 years or more before replacing them. That means it's likely to be decades before planes that meet the anticipated global standards are in widespread use.
Airline emissions account for about 2 percent of total annual global greenhouse gas emissions. That sounds small, but it's nearly as much as the emissions produced by Germany, the sixth-greatest greenhouse gas producing country, according to a study released last year by The International Council on Clean Transportation, an environmental group with offices in the U.S. and Germany.
Aircraft manufacturers have already made significant strides in increasing fuel efficiency. Since the early years of the jet age in the 1960s, the fuel efficiency of airliners has increased 70 percent, according to Boeing. There's plenty of incentive to be as efficient as possible: Fuel typically vies with labor as airlines' greatest expense.
The U.S. airline industry has set a target of an average annual improvement in fuel efficiency of 1.5 percent, and so far has been successful in meeting that goal, said Young.
Alaska, Frontier and Spirit airlines were tied for most fuel-efficient U.S. airlines, the study found. The least fuel efficient was American, which operates a fleet of MD-80 airliners, an older design that is being phased out.
Changes in the operating strategies of airlines in recent years have also contributed to greater efficiency. Airlines are packing more people into fewer flights.
However, global aviation emissions are rising because there is more air travel overall. U.S. airlines, which include several of the world's largest carriers, account for about 29 percent of global airline carbon emissions if both domestic and international flights are included.
The world's two largest aircraft makers have recently introduced into service more fuel-efficient planes designed for long-distance international routes — the Boeing 787 and the Airbus A350.
Airlines, aircraft makers and the Federal Aviation Administration have also been working with biofuels companies to develop alternatives to jet fuel that could potentially reduce the aviation's industry's vulnerability to the ups and downs of oil supplies and prices, as well as reduce carbon emissions.
"We're not dragging our feet," said Tim Neale, a spokesman for Boeing. "We're hard at work on lighter airplanes, and GE is hard at work on more efficient engines. And we're working a lot of these operational issues with the carriers so they operate the planes more efficiently."
Boeing and airline industry officials say they support ICAO's effort to develop a single global standard, since airlines fly globally. But Pardee said environmentalists hope that if the ICAO standard turns out to be weak, the EPA will move forward with stronger standards for U.S. airlines.
Republican-Controlled House Passes Bill To Cut $242 Million From Amtrak's Budget
ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON (AP) — The GOP-controlled House passed legislation Tuesday to cut Amtrak's budget by $242 million, though lawmakers added new funding for video cameras inside locomotive cabs to record engineers and help investigators get to the bottom of crashes such as last month's deadly derailment in Philadelphia.
Amtrak announced last month it is going to install the cameras after years of delays. The transportation and housing measure approved by a narrow 216-210 vote contains $9 million approved last week to fund the inward-facing camera initiative in the budget year starting in October.
Amtrak is among many domestic programs whose budgets are cut or frozen by the GOP measures, as automatic spending curbs known as sequestration are again hitting federal agencies after two years of relief. Previous House GOP attempts to cut Amtrak over the years have been reversed, and Tuesday's transportation measure is but an opening move in a longer chess match with the White House over spending levels for agency operating budgets passed annually by Congress.
House Republicans also unveiled crunching cuts of $718 million to the Environmental Protection Agency even as a Senate panel gave initial approval to a huge measure awarding the Pentagon with a 7 percent increase. The 9 percent cut comes as Republicans press to rein in the EPA, which they say is too aggressive in pursuing a pro-environment agenda at the expense of business and industries such as utilities with coal-fired power plants.
The Amtrak funding measure is part of a huge, $55 billion spending measure funding transportation, housing for the poor and community development programs. It's the fifth of 12 spending measures to come to the House floor and, like its predecessors, faces a veto threat from President Barack Obama.
Obama is demanding that domestic programs get the same level of relief from sequestration that Republicans have awarded the Pentagon. Senate Democrats vowed Tuesday to block the GOP appropriations bills until Republicans come to the table and negotiate higher spending levels for domestic programs such as transportation grants, health research, rent vouchers for the poor and clean water grants.
"We're ready to start right now. Where are they?" said Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., dismissed the idea of a budget summit, at least for now, and questioned whether Democrats would go ahead and filibuster the Pentagon funding measure next week as they have threatened. The confrontation appears headed for a showdown this fall.
The $576 billion Senate Pentagon funding measure generally matches Obama's request but relies on accounting gimmicks to do so. Republicans are padding war accounts to get around sequestration, which would freeze core defense spending at current levels, even as troop pay goes up and cost overruns plague new weapons systems like the next-generation F-35 fighter plane.
Amtrak currently receives $1.3 billion from the government, most of which goes toward capital improvements and debt service. The railroad has long come under attack for expensive subsidies of its money-losing long-distance routes and losses from its food and beverage services, but its operating subsidies are forecast to dip below $300 million this year.
New data provided to Congress shows that Amtrak's long-distances routes are losing more money, however, while the busy, profit-making Northeast corridor route is making growing profits. Money-losing routes such as the Sunset Limited, which runs from New Orleans to Los Angeles at a subsidy of more than $400 a ticket, account for losses of more than $600 million, while the Northeast corridor is expected to contribute a $357 million profit this year.
Amendments by Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Texas, to eliminate the Sunset Limited and 11 routes whose operating costs amount to more than double the money from fares and dining car receipts failed as pro-Amtrak Republicans teamed with Democrats to defeat them.
The GOP-drafted measure cuts $242 million from capital accounts but fully funds the $289 million request for operating losses.
Elsewhere, the transportation and housing bill falls short of Obama's request for housing subsidies for the poor, which the administration says is lengthening waiting lists for rent vouchers. It would also cut funding to rehabilitate housing projects by almost $200 million to $1.7 billion, and would offer just $20 million to Choice Neighborhoods grants to help cities rebuild poor neighborhoods, a 75 percent cut from current spending.
While community development grants to states and local governments would be maintained at current levels of $3 billion and funding for a key program for the homeless would receive a nominal $50 million increase, money to help cities deal with poisonous lead paint in antiquated housing would absorb a $35 million cut, or almost one-third.
The measure also seeks to reverse Obama administration steps to greatly ease travel restrictions to Cuba.
Martin, Indian River lose challenge to All Aboard
Judge rules counties failed to show project hinges on bonds sale.
All Aboard Florida will be allowed to sell $1.75 billion in tax-exempt bonds to help pay for its express-passenger rail project between Miami and Orlando, a federal judge ruled Wednesday.
U.S. District Court Judge Christopher Cooper denied requests by Martin and Indian River counties for an injunction to block the bond sale, saying, in part, that the money was not a linchpin to finishing the passenger rail line.
In a 21-page opinion, Cooper said the counties did not show that the rail project is dependent on the private activities bonds, or that their sale would influence the outcome of a federal environmental study examining the impact of the trains.
Martin and Indian River counties filed federal lawsuits this year against the U.S. Department of Transportation, challenging whether All Aboard Florida is eligible for the private activity bonds. All Aboard Florida is an intervenor in the suit.
Indian River County officials said they were “reviewing the order and analyzing our options.”
An attorney representing Martin County also said he was studying the ruling.
“We are studying the judge’s decision. The bottom line of tonight’s order is the judge never reaches the merits of our claims,” said Steve Ryan, a Washington, D.C.-based attorney hired to represent Martin County. “The decision not to grant the injunction we sought does not end this case. It resolves only the first legal skirmish.”
In a statement, the passenger rail company said, “We look forward to continuing to advance our investment into Florida’s infrastructure and expedite the delivery of an important new transportation option that will generate significant benefits for all residents and visitors to our state.”
All Aboard Florida plans to run 32 trains a day — 16 round trips — on the Florida East Coast Railway between Miami and Orlando. Service is expected to start in 2017. All Aboard Florida’s parent company, Florida East Coast Industries, owns most of the right of way and track that the trains will run on.
All Aboard Florida won preliminary approval from the Department of Transportation in December to issue the private activity bonds, which are purchased by individual investors at no risk to taxpayers. The Coral Gables-based company also faces a final approval to issue the bonds by the Florida Development Finance Corporation.
In All Aboard Florida’s case, the bonds would be issued by the Florida Development Finance Corporation and then sold to investors by the private rail company.
The corporation was set to vote on the bond sale this week but postponed the meeting because travel logistics “created uncertainty for convening a quorum,” a spokesman said.
All Aboard Florida is seeking the private activity bonds because they are cheaper for the project than if it used taxable bonds. Replacing the bonds with taxable debt would increase All Aboard Florida’s interest costs by as much as $630 million over the first 10 years of the project, court documents say.
“At the end of the day, one cannot but conclude that the additional interest costs that would result from the absence of tax-exempt (bonds) would cause AAF, as a reasonable investor, to think twice about proceeding with the project,” Cooper wrote in the order. “In the court’s view, however, the counties have not demonstrated, as they must, that these costs would significantly increase the likelihood that AAF would abandon the project after years of planning and over a billion dollars in investment.”
The company has said it would move forward with the rail project regardless of whether it receives the tax-exempt bonds. In a brief filed in the suit, All Aboard Florida said that denying the bonds will only push back its start date and increase its costs.
In their federal suits, the counties argued that the U.S. Department of Transportation’s December approval of the bonds was unlawful because it was made before the completion of an environmental review by the Federal Railroad Administration
British airline flight crews plan lawsuit over toxic air
Most people stepping on commercial airlines worry far more about the danger from the air outside the fuselage than inside. However, concerns are growing ever louder from airline employees about toxic fumes inside the cabin, which may seriously damage the health of the flight crew and even frequent fliers. In fact, at least one British Airways pilot, Richard Westgate, is believed to have died from it, according to the senior coroner for Dorset.
Aerotoxic Syndrome, as it’s now known, is believed to come from regular exposure to air compression systems in commercial planes. As some of a plane’s circulated air is drawn from the jet engines, it sometimes comes with oil and other toxic molecules, which over long periods can cause significant health damage. However, Britain’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) begs to differ, claiming “fume events” to be rare and with no evidence of long-term effect on health.
Now, 17 airline employees, both former and current, are planning to take legal action against several British airlines, charging in a civil claim that contaminated cabin air poisoned them. Unite, a union representing 20,000 flight crew is funding the case and paying close attention to the verdict, which if in the employees’ favor, could open the floodgates for dozens more cases.
An uncensored safety report submitted to the CAA, and obtained by the BBC, appears to give the plaintiffs significant ammunition. Between April 2014 and May 2015, 251 separate incidents of fumes or smoke were recorded inside a large passenger jet operated by a British airline, with illness resulting in 104 cases, and even immediate oxygen administered in 28.
Hopefully the legal battle will be short, and both awareness and changes in plane design (as with the Boeing Dreamliner, which uses a different system) resolve the problem quickly, so all sides can breathe freely.
Frontier removes departure time from boarding passes
Passengers flying Frontier Airlines will notice something familiar missing from their boarding passes: the departure time.
Instead, Frontier will now list the time that "boarding begins" and the time that the boarding "door closes," which is 10 minutes prior to a flight's scheduled departure time.
Frontier began rolling out the new boarding pass format late last week, and the move appears to be a first among big U.S. carriers. The nation's nine other large carriers – Alaska Airlines, American, Delta, JetBlue, Hawaiian, Spirit, Southwest, United and Virgin America – all confirmed to USA TODAY that they still list departure times on their boarding passes.
None indicated an imminent change to that practice.
"We have no plans to remove departure time from our boarding passes," Spirit Airlines spokesman Paul Berry says.
As for Frontier, spokesman Jim Faulkner says the goal for the change is to keep flights on schedule.
"It's part of our emphasis to ensure an on-time departure for our customers," Faulkner tells Today in the Sky. "If the door closes 10 minutes before scheduled departure, customers still have time to stow their bags, get their seatbelts fastened and get settled in so that the plane can push back from the gate on time or before."
"If we're closing the door at the same time as the scheduled departure time, we're already running behind," he adds.
One industry expert describes Frontier's boarding-pass change as a relatively minor one. But he says it could be helpful to passengers nonetheless.
"I like the idea," says Brett Snyder, author of The Cranky Flier blog and operator of the Cranky Concierge travel service.
He notes most airlines already close their boarding doors before a flight's scheduled departure time. So Frontier's decision to list that time on its boarding passes instead "just makes it more clear to customers" about when they should be at the gate.
"They're going to close the door anyway, but hopefully this means there are less people still on the other side of it," Snyder says. "I don't see a downside."
No failsafe way to stop cockpit sabotage
The US Federal Aviation Authority says there is no effective failsafe way to prevent pilot sabotage.
In a response to a question from the National Transportation Safety Board following the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, the agency said there was no legal or technologically feasible solution to ensure electronics in the cockpit are completely tamper-proof.
The NTSB had asked that black box recorders and other mission critical electronics be designed to prevent them being switched off.
Pilots needed the option to cut the power in the event of overheating or fire, the FAA said.
"There appears to be no safe way to ensure recorders cannot be intentionally disabled while keeping the airplane safe from electrical failure that could become hazardous," FAA Administrator Michael Huerta wrote in a letter to NTSB officials, according to a Bloomberg News report.
The FAA also rejected a call to install video cameras in cockpits, saying there is 'no compelling evidence' it would assist any investigation.
The final position of flight MH370 carrying 239 people still remains a mystery, while evidence points to the theory that the plane was deliberately flown off course and its radios and tracking equipment were manually switched off.
The issue of cockpit safety has intensified following the Germanwings crash in the French Alps earlier this year.
Casino ship nearly ready to sail from Port of Palm Beach
The failed Island Breeze day-casino cruise boat is getting closer to re-launching under a new name and operator.
By early July, the 600-passenger casino boat could be sailing again from the Port of Palm Beach as the Blue Horizon, said Robert Weisberg, managing partner of its new operator, PB Gaming Inc.
The 160-foot casino boat — initially expected to be renamed Princess Royale —- has undergone millions of dollars in upgrades including new slot machines, Weisberg said in a phone interview.
It's now in the final stages of reconnecting operational and gaming systems onboard to be ready for its soft launch, he said.
Blue Horizon is expected to sail twice daily, but more details on its schedule, pricing and onboard offerings are expected to be announced in coming weeks, Weisberg said.
"We're proud of this boat," he said. "We're delighted by what we'll have onboard."
Electronic bingo, slot and blackjack tournaments are expected to be among its entertainment options, he said.
PB Gaming — a subsidiary of SourcePoint LLC of Puerto Rico — took possession of the casino boat and its charter agreement earlier this year after the assets of its former operator Island Breeze International Palm Beach were liquidated in bankruptcy.
SourcePoint had been the major creditor when IBI Palm Beach filed for bankruptcy last November.
Counting the brief four months the same casino ship ran trips between November 2012 and February 2013 as the Black Diamond, this will be the third latest attempt to resurrect day-casino trips from the Riviera Beach seaport.
The Palm Beach Princess day-casino cruise vessel, which stopped operating in 2010, was the last to run casino trips long term from the port. It operated there for more than 10 years before going out of business.
For PB Gaming, the third time could be the charm, but it's not just betting on luck.
Weisberg, a former SunCruz Casino executive, said the two previous operators of the ship weren't properly equipped to run day-casino cruises.
He cited a lack of marine experience in running these kinds of vessels, limited-to-no casino experience and insufficient funding among reasons for their failure.
That's not the case with PB Gaming, Weisberg said, noting it has vast experience in these areas and financing to make it work.
Port commissioners recently approved a five-year agreement with Weisberg's outfit.
The Riviera seaport is projecting to receive on average $730,000 in passenger fees, an estimated $80,000 in parking revenue and $36,000 in office rent annually from PB Gaming, said Jarra Kazcwara, senior director of business development.
For cheap fares, consider Tuesday, Saturday flights
Flying midweek and on Saturday should net you the cheapest fares this summer, according to an online booking service.
CheapAir.com, which tracks airline fares, also recommends waiting a bit to head out during the summer-vacation season. September and late August offer the best fares, CheapAir contends.
Tuesday is the cheapest day to fly, but Wednesday, during July at least, is only an average of $5 more expensive.
And Sept. 2 is the cheapest day to depart for Labor Day weekend, CheapAir said.
Orlando's first flight to Cuba departed today
Orlando International Airport's first flight to Cuba has finally left the airport.
A charter flight, operated by Miami-based World Atlantic Airlines, was scheduled to depart from the airport at 1 p.m. on a nonstop route to Havana.
Carolyn Fennell, an airport spokeswoman, said the charter flight is one of three scheduled by Gulfstream Air Charters, a tour operating group based in Miami.
The flight, however, was delayed because of bad weather and other issues, said Fennell. The flight finally left at 3:31 p.m., she said.
Today's charter flight is one of three by Gulfstream that have been approved at Orlando International, said Fennell. The other flights will leave June 17 and 24, she said.
Gulfstream Air Charters offers nonstop flights between Florida and Cuba, according to the company's website. A service schedule posted on Gulfstream's site only lists flights departing in September from Miami; ticket prices, according to the site, range from $309 to $349 per person.
Flights from Miami to Cuba are listed as operated by Envoy Air and Falcon Air Express. However, Falcon Air relinquished its FAA air carrier certificate June 5.
Fennell said there have not been discussions to extend Gulfstream's charter service beyond the three June flights.
Twice-weekly flights to the island nation were originally scheduled to depart Orlando starting July 8, via Island Travel & Tours.
Those flights will take place Wednesday and Sundays, said Island Travel & Tours officials when they announced their flights in April
British tourists may face imprisonment for stripping on Malaysian mountain
A British tourist, Eleanor Hawkins, was arrested for posing naked on top of a sacred mountain in Malaysia. The 24-year-old Southampton University graduate from Derby was detained at Tawau airport today, as she was flying out from the island of Borneo to Kuala Lumpur. She is one of five tourists arrested for the same stunt.
Three of the tourists turned themselves in to the Malaysia authorities: 23-year-old Canadian Lindsey Peterson, his 22-year-old sister Danielle Peterson, and 23-year-old Dutchman Dylan Snel. 33-year-old Canadian Emil Kaminski was arrested on Wednesday, and the Malaysia police are still looking for five other individuals involved in the incident.
On May 30, she set out to climb Mount Kinabalu as part of a tour that was organized by Jungle Jack Backpackers Lodge, a popular budget hostel less than a mile from the entrance to Kinabalu national park. On the way back, members of the tour group began to strip off their clothes, despite their tour guide warning them not to do so. Their response to the guide was, “Stupid man, go to hell.”
The group took a nude selfie and dressed so they could return to their lodge. A park ranger filed a complaint and Eleanor was the first to be arrested.
The deputy first minister of the state of Sarawak, Tan Sri Alfred Jabu, explained to the media that tourists need to understand and respect the culture and traditions of the places they visit. For Malaysians, this mountain is sacred.
Tribal elders have called for the case to also go before a native court.
These tourists could be imprisoned for up to three months.
The five are expected to appear before the court again on Monday, where they will find out if they are to face charges.
One of the five arrested, Emil Kaminski, is a blogger and adventure tourism organizer from Winnipeg, and appears to have no remorse for the incident. In addition to possible charges for indecent exposure, he may be also charged for insulting the culture via his posts on social media.
Kaminiski called the minister "a deranged prick, and a regressive" and was quoted as having said, “it's just a f------ mountain."
Delta to acquire 60 new aircraft upon pilot ratification of tentative agreement
ATLANTA, GA - Delta Air Lines will enter into an aircraft acquisition deal with The Boeing Co. for 20 Embraer E190 aircraft and 40 additional new 737-900ERs upon ratification of a tentative agreement covering more than 12,000 Delta pilots. The tentative agreement was approved for membership ratification today by the Delta Master Executive Council (MEC) of the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA).
The tentative agreement provides enhancements to overall pilot compensation—including base pay increases—along with a revision of the airline's profit sharing formula beginning in 2016. Additionally, this accord would secure additional career advancement opportunities for Delta pilots while providing the airline with productivity enhancements and further fleet flexibility across the airline's U.S. domestic system.
"Our airline's culture of working and winning together has long set Delta apart from others in our industry," said Richard Anderson, Delta's Chief Executive Officer. "This tentative agreement with ALPA reflects the key role and contributions of our pilots in our excellent financial and operational performance."
The MEC will put the tentative agreement out to pilots for a ratification vote. If approved, the agreement would have an amendable date of Dec. 31, 2018.
"We fully support the Delta MEC's endorsement of this agreement and are optimistic of its approval by our pilots," Anderson said. "This continues the investments we've made in our people and in our products and services for our customers. These moves will continue to drive the industry-leading performance that has allowed us to return more than $3 billion to shareholders and still reward our employees with industry-leading profit sharing."
Upon ratification of the agreement, Delta will acquire 20 Boeing-held Embraer E190 aircraft previously operated by another carrier. The E190s will enter mainline Delta service in the fourth quarter of 2016.
"These 98-seat mainline aircraft will be flown by Delta pilots," Anderson said. "The capability and aptitude of all Delta people has already shown that they are the best in the business at managing a diverse fleet while keeping costs in check and never compromising safety. These cost-efficient aircraft will play a key role as we strive to achieve higher returns for our shareholders, and we thank Boeing for their important partnership."
The E190 will be deployed on U.S. domestic routes to improve the flying experience for Delta customers and continue the shift of flying away from inefficient 50-seat regional jets as part of the company's successful upgauging strategy.
Delta will also order an additional 40 new Boeing 737-900ERs, augmenting an existing order of the efficient and reliable aircraft to 140 in total. Delta plans to deploy these aircraft as replacements for other narrowbody aircraft scheduled to retire through 2019.
Negotiating committees for Delta and ALPA reached a tentative agreement on June 4. In the ensuing days, the tentative agreement was reviewed and subsequently approved by the Delta MEC on June 10.
Big questions over Carnival's venture into voluntourism
Should we applaud or be appalled by Carnival's entry into the voluntourism sector? Responsible Travel MD Justin Francis shares his views...
"Carnival Corporation is the world's largest cruise ship operator with revenues of over $15 billion. Last week Carnival Corporation boss announced a new 'social impact' brand, Fathom.
Passengers on seven-day journeys from Port Miami to the Dominican Republic, starting in April of 2016, will also be able to help cultivate cacao plants; make chocolate with a women's cooperative; work with educators to teach English skills and help build water filters, all while using the docked ship as their home away from home.
In an interview with the Miami Herald, Arnold Donald, CEO of Carnival Corp., said the main goal of Fathom is to do good by 'driving, over time, real meaningful change for the better in a community'. In a statement, Carnival added: "What sets fathom apart is the long-term, systematic partnership approach with its partner countries paired with the unique business model that allows for sustained impact and lasting development. Fathom's scale and global vision reach beyond what the world has ever seen."
At first glance Fathom might appear a wonderful initiative. Many have argued that the mainstream travel sector must adopt responsible tourism practices and they don't come much bigger than Carnival.
However, some difficult questions are already being asked by those skeptical of Carnival's motivations and ability to deliver responsible volunteering.
Corporate social responsibility is a holistic approach to doing business in a responsible way, rather than cherry picking a few high profile initiatives. Last year Carnival was reported by GlobalExchange.org as the world's 3rd 'most criminal company' for 'dumping sewage pollution into oceans; use of cheap air-polluting fuels; tax evasion; and unfair labor wages'.
The organization goes on to claim: "Over the past five years, the corporation has only paid corporate taxes for a total of 1.1% of their $11.3 billion in profits, according to the New York Times. Additionally, Carnival's workers are paid substandard wages; staff members on United Kingdom-based ships are paid $1.20 per hour, or $400 per month in basic wages, and claim to be denied their tips. Their pay is below international standards. Workers are also allegedly given minimal accommodations and often insufficient food. The cruise system makes it very easy for labor to be abused, and Carnival Cruises has been called a 'sweatshop at sea'."
In my opinion, one thing that would be guaranteed to hole the Fathom concept below the water line would be any sense among well meaning volunteers that the staff cleaning their rooms or serving their food on board were, as global exchange claim, working in a 'sweatshop at sea'
Carnival does have a Code of Business Conduct and ethics. I would expect a public company of the size of Carnival to publish an externally verified social and environmental audit, but I cannot find this and so cannot examine any of its claims in regard to ethics.
The concept of 700 volunteers with minimal training descending to 'do good' has also been questioned in this post on the Better Volunteering facebook page.
The reputation of the voluntourism sector has suffered greatly in recent years, with acres of bad press having been generated. One of the principle criticisms has been that volunteering opportunities have been created as a business opportunity rather than based on a real local need; that volunteers arrive to find there is little worthwhile work to do and they lack the relevant skills to make a difference; or worse still skilled local staff are fired so short term volunteers can take their place.
In the Better Volunteering post questions are asked (and not answered) about whether volunteers with be checked for criminal records; how skills will be assessed and matched against needs, and whether volunteers will be thinly spread through communities to avoid too much disruption.
Carnival is working with local partners (including an NGO with somewhat confusingly the same name as the new cruise brand Fathom.org) and they have acknowledged but not yet answered these questions.
For me there is a sense that this could be a pivotal moment in the development of the voluntourism sector. Done right it could help bring it into the mainstream, but if not it could be a death knell to a sector already reeling from bad PR. At the very least Carnival needs to get its messaging straight. In one breath it talks of 'a unique business model that allows for sustained impact and lasting development' and in another the CEO says 'this is a market-driven solution and in the highly unlikely event that we don't get bookings, we will kill it'.
Wet 'n Wild Orlando Waterpark to Close Permanently in 2016
After nearly four decades in operation, Universal Orlando announced on Wednesday that Wet 'n Wild Orlando waterpark will close at the conclusion of 2016.
In a statement on its official blog, the resort said the park will officially close on Dec. 31, 2016.
But given the timing of the announcement, the disappointment over the end of Wet 'n Wild Orlando is arguably equal to the excitement surrounding the 2017 arrival of Universal's next-generation waterpark Volcano Bay, which Universal unveiled plans for last month.
"...the groundbreaking spirit that has defined Wet 'n Wild will continue in the development of Universal's Volcano Bay, a next-generation water theme park that reimagines what it means to be a water park," said Universal Orlando spokesman Tom Schroder in a statement. "We’re grateful to our countless fans and team members for making Wet 'n Wild such a special place for so very long."
Opened in March 1977, the 30-acre Wet 'n Wild Orlando is open year-round, boasting more than a dozen different attractions.
Universal Parks & Resorts purchased the waterpark back in 1998 and just recently purchased 50 acres of land under and around the park for $30.9 million. "We are pleased with Wet 'n Wild as a component of our business, and this purchase was a natural step for us," said Schroder following the purchase in June 2013 via the Orlando Sentinel. "Beyond that, we don't discuss our business transactions."
Prior to the emergence of nearby Walt Disney World's Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach, Wet 'n Wild was the U.S.'s premier waterpark, posting the nation's highest attendance figures for a majority of the 1990s.
But Wet 'n Wild drew just over 1.2 million visitors in 2012, putting it behind it well behind Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach, which combined to host four million visitors that year, according to consulting firm AECOM via the Sentinel.
TA rethinks proposed change to size of carry-ons
In the face of criticism, IATA said that it has put on hold its recently announced international guidelines for carry-on luggage that would have slightly reduced recommended dimensions.
IATA had recommended dimensions that were slightly smaller than those allowed by most U.S. airlines. The proposal was rejected by U.S. carriers and panned by politicians.
Nicholas Calio, CEO of U.S. airline trade group Airlines for America, said that its members “reject the recent carry-on size initiative put forth by IATA because it is unnecessary and flies in the face of the actions the U.S. carriers are taking to invest in the customer experience — roughly $1.2 billion a month — including larger overhead bins.
“Our members already have guidelines in place on what size bags they can accommodate, making this action unnecessary. We agree with IATA’s action to reassess this initiative and take into account stakeholders’ views and recognize work already underway to improve baggage facilitation.”
Tom Windmuller, IATA’s senior vice president, airport, passenger, cargo and security, said, “While many welcomed the Cabin OK initiative, significant concerns were expressed in North America. We need to get it right. Today we are pausing the rollout and launching a comprehensive reassessment of the Cabin OK program with plans to further engage program participants, the rest of our members, and other key stakeholders.”
Two U.S. senators who spoke out against IATA’s plan were Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.).
The Global Business Travel Association said IATA was wise to “hit the pause button.”
“This proposal, if adopted by air carriers, would increase costs and pose headaches for business travelers who want to avoid the delays and time lost associated with checking baggage,” said Michael McCormick, GBTA's executive director.
U.S. Travel Association CEO Roger Dow said that cracking down on the size of carry-on bags “would have been unnecessary and yet another slap in the face to travelers.”
JetBlue rolls out corporate booking tool
JetBlue Airways has launched Blue Inc. a free booking tool for small to midsized companies.
In addition to the booking capabilities found on its consumer website, Blue Inc. allows companies to earn TrueBlue points. Companies will earn three loyalty points per dollar spent on JetBlue flights for employee travel booked through the portal. Businesses can then grant access to registered travelers within the company to redeem points.
Travelers earn six TrueBlue points per dollar spent for their individual TrueBlue accounts.
Blue Inc. has travel management capabilities. Travel managers can set travel budgets, track spending and manage bookings. Companies can book multiple travelers for group travel, while still offering personal payment options for each traveler if necessary.
Users can also book hotels and rental cars on Blue Inc.
“JetBlue is becoming increasingly serious about courting the business travel market, not just corporate accounts but the small to mid-sized businesses that the airline has long served,” said industry analyst Henry Harteveldt.
Airbus edges Boeing in orders race at Paris air show
Airbus collects orders worth $57 billion at Paris air show, edging out Boeing's $50 billion
LE BOURGET, France (AP) -- Airbus glided past U.S. rival Boeing to take top honors in their annual competition to sell commercial jets at the Paris Air Show, according to final tallies that together amounted to over $107 billion in business.
The announcements Thursday capped four days of deal-making at the biennial air show, when top executives from the world's largest airlines clink champagne glasses and write whopping checks as test pilots fly demonstrations of high-tech aircraft at Paris' normally sleepy Le Bourget airfield.
Airbus racked up $57 billion worth of business for 421 aircraft. The announcement of a provisional deal by European low-cost carrier Wizz Air for 110 A321neos — worth more than $12.5 billion at list prices — put the Toulouse, France-based plane maker over the top Thursday against Boeing in financial terms. It was the show's single biggest order.
Chicago-based Boeing tallied orders and commitments for 331 planes worth $50.2 billion. Its biggest deal was with Dutch leasing company AerCap for 100 737MAX-8 planes, worth up to $10.7 billion at list prices. Customers routinely negotiate discounts off those list prices.
Overall, business was not as good as in previous years. Last year, at Britain's Farnborough Air Show, which trades the spotlight with Paris from year to year as the site of Europe's premier aviation event, Airbus clinched orders and commitments for 486 aircraft valued at $75 billion. But Boeing won more this year than last, when it landed business worth $40.2 billion for 201 planes.
Industry watchers had been expecting a modest haul of orders as airlines pull back from a record-breaking spate of plane buying in recent years.
High fuel prices up until a year ago had prompted airlines to invest massively in a new generation of more fuel-economical aircraft like the Airbus A320neo and the Boeing 737MAX.
Thursday's announcements wrapped up the press-and-industry-only part of the air show, which now opens to the public from Friday to Sunday.
Airbus' orders count appeared to surpass its own expectations. On Tuesday, Airbus CEO Fabrice Bregier had told The Associated Press that he predicted about 200 orders or commitments by the end of the show.
While Airbus executives have forecast high demand for the company's A380 superjumbo to serve growing megacities, the company booked no new orders for the massive 500-seater. The last order for the jet dates back to last year.
Boeing forecasts demand for 38,050 airplanes over the next 20 years, and says 26,730 of those will be single-aisle jets. Airbus projects that 32,600 new planes worth a total of $4.9 trillion will be needed by 2034.
Indonesian flag-carrier Garuda was one of the show's most active buyers, signing a letter of intent for up to 60 Boeing jets — 30 of the popular single-aisle 737MAX and 30 787-9 planes.
Garuda also put in a provisional order for 30 wide-body Airbus A350 planes, worth about $9 billion, which could serve routes from Jakarta or Bali to Europe.
Passenger busted in Miami trying to smuggle cocaine in fried fish bellies
Saturday morning, as you were either waking up, still sleeping, or just generally not being involved in drug smuggling of any kind, the defenses of Miami International Airport were being put to the test – the lightly fried test.
Over two pounds of cocaine – 2.3 pounds, at official count – arrived at the airport inside the bellies of fried fish, further inside the checked luggage of a passenger disembarking a flight from Jamaica. Aware that the drug in any quantity is neither cool nor legal, the passenger apparently decided that prepared local catch from the country of origin was the perfect vessel for evading trouble. Well, it was not.
After a standard X-ray examination, the jig was up, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operations had another arrest – and more drugs to throw on the million-pound pile it seizes from troublemakers annually (3.8 million last year).
As lightly detailed in the report, inconsistencies in the shape and size of the fish drew the attention of the Customs agents, who proceeded to strike white gold upon tearing into the fish’s sewn bellies. The plan, it seems, was not to be – but then again, it is not the first fish-related drug smuggling plot to fail. In 2013, two Polish men were foiled attempting to smuggle millions worth of liquid cocaine concealed inside the bodies of four giant South American fish (the fish lived and had a happy ending waiting). Last year, a shipment of frozen fish fillets packed with $68 million in heroin and methamphetamine was thwarted in Sydney.
Holland America Ship Scores Third Straight 100 on Health Inspection
Holland America Line’s Statendam scored a 100 on its most recent U.S. Public Health inspection, making it the third consecutive perfect score for the ship.
The Statendam’s surprise inspection was conducted June 5 while the ship was at Juneau, Alaska, during a 14-day round-trip from Seattle. Before that, Statendam received a 100 in February 2015 during a call at Hilo, Hawaii, and in June 2014 in Ketchikan, Alaska.
So far this year, there have been 18 perfect scores.
Others doing so in recent weeks are Royal Caribbean International’s Radiance of the Seas on June 7, Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ Seven Seas Navigator on May 7, Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Equinox on April 27 and Celebrity Infinity on March 29, and Carnival Cruise Lines’ Carnival Sunshine on April 18 and Carnival Ecstasy on April 13.
“Achieving a perfect score on a USPH inspection is not easy, and we congratulate everyone on the team who worked diligently toward this success,” Holland America President Orlando Ashford said. “We always aim for a score of 100, and for Statendam to continue its perfect streak for the third consecutive time is something we celebrate with great pride.”
Holland America is on a roll. One of its other ships, Eurodam, earned a 100 for the eighth consecutive time in February, and in the past year Nieuw Amsterdam, Noordam, Ryndam, Zuiderdam and Westerdam also achieved perfect scores.
The VSP inspections were introduced in the early 1970s and are required for all passenger ships that call at a U.S. port. The unannounced inspections are carried out by U.S. Public Health officials twice a year for every cruise ship.
The score, on a scale from one to 100, is assigned on the basis of a checklist involving dozens of areas of assessment, encompassing hygiene and sanitation of food (from storage to preparation), overall galley cleanliness, water, shipboard personnel and the ship as a whole.
British Line Cancels Cruise Due to Norovirus Outbreak
Fred Olsen Cruise Lines has cancelled the Balmoral’s June 20 cruise from Southampton, England, so it can clean and sanitize the ship after a norovirus outbreak.
Olsen said canceling the three-night “Belgium & France Mini-Cruise” will “give the ship a clear ‘fire break,’ when the virus cannot pass from human-to-human contact, thereby providing the greatest opportunity for the virus to be removed from any surfaces.”
Guests booked on the canceled cruise can get a full refund or transfer to a selection of alternative sailings this year, which a number of guests have done.
In a statement, Olsen noted the “high incidence” of the gastrointestinal illness, norovirus, in the U.K. over the past few weeks. “Sadly this has meant some guests have brought this virus onto the ship,” the company said. “Norovirus is a very common virus, second only to the common cold, and affects over 265 million people annually, as well as many hospitals. The virus has been very prevalent in the U.K. this year, and is spread very easily by contact with surfaces and from person-to-person, especially within ‘closed’ communities. According to Public Health England, a total of 69 wards/bays were closed in English hospitals due to norovirus from April 27 to 31st May 31.”
Fred Olsen operates four ships and primarily markets to British travelers.
European Commercial Jets Urged to Carry Defibrillators, Life-Saving Equipment
In the wake of 47-year-old Davina Tavener's tragic death aboard a Ryanair flight late last year, coroner Alan Walsh is urging airlines to carry defibrillators and other emergency equipment on short- and long-haul flights, according to The Guardian.
Tavener was traveling to Spain with her husband for vacation when she became ill several hours into the flight, collapsed, and ultimately died of an undiagnosed heart condition.
Consultant surgeon Clare Garnsey, who was on the flight and tried to help revive Tavener, indicated that she was surprised a defibrillator wasn't available. "I did ask for a defibrillator, because if it’s a cardiac issue that’s the best chance of survival, and it was quite a surprise this wasn’t there," said Garnsey via The Guardian.
Currently, airlines aren't required to possess a defibrillator onboard.
While Walsh acknowledged that there's no way to know for certain that a defibrillator would have been enough to keep Tavener alive, he plans to reach out to multiple agencies in an effort to make the device accessible on commercial aircraft.
In addition to defibrillators, Walsh wants airlines to consider adding devices like bag valve masks, airway adjuncts and suction equipment to improve the chances of resuscitation in future medical emergencies.
Walsh said he plans to write letters to the European Aviation Safety Agency, the Civil Aviation Authority, and the Irish Aviation Authority.
The push is for the devices to be made available on every flight as Walsh believes the risk of another tragedy is uniform.
"I don’t believe there is any difference between short-haul flights and long-haul flights, said Walsh via The Guardian. "It takes a second to have a cardiac event and sadly cardiac events don’t choose whether they are 10 minutes into a flight or 10 hours into a flight. If you are, by the nature of air travel, trapped in aircraft without access to any other facility, the authorities need to consider the equipment to be carried on those airlines, whether it’s short haul or long haul."
European Airlines Lobbying for US-Style Aviation Rules
With recent strikes stranding passengers and hurting business, Europe's leading airlines are eyeing new rules and regulations designed to reduce the impact of future strikes as well as cut down on taxes.
According to the Associated Press, CEOs of Air France, KLM, Lufthansa, Easyjet, Ryanair and the International Airlines Group (British Airways parent) met with European regulators in Brussels on Wednesday to express their concerns over the region's lack of progress in simplifying its air traffic control system.
The airlines are hoping to establish aviation rules comparable to those in the U.S.
Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary expressed support for early measures designed to reduce the likelihood of a strike by allowing workers to air their grievances prior to striking. O'Leary also recommended technology that could effectively replace air traffic control workers by allowing air space to remain open even if those workers are on strike.
Air traffic controllers argue the proposed rules would have a negative impact on passenger safety as well as their job security, according to the AP.
With strikes occurring much more frequently in Europe compared to the U.S., it's understandable as to why the continent's top carriers would push for rules similar to those overseas. However it's uncertain whether European regulators will implement the proposed changes.
Noordam Comes to Aid of Sightseeing Vessel
Taking a cruise can be the vacation of a lifetime for many travelers, but one ship traveling around Alaska came to the aid of a disabled boat last week, helping its passengers and crew on board.
According to Holland America, the company’s ms Noordam was in the middle of a seven-day Alaska cruise when it came to the aid of a disabled sightseeing boat on Wednesday, June 10, near Jaw Point at Glacier Bay, Alaska.
The Noordam received a call for help at 12:35 p.m. local time and arrived on the scene to find the 79-foot sightseeing vessel Baranof Wind having mechanical issues. The Holland America Line ship lowered a tender into the water and brought Baranof Wind’s 40 passengers and one park ranger on board.
Holland America Line president Orlando Ashford released a statement about the incident:
“We are proud of the proficient response Captain van Donselaar and his team executed in assisting the passengers of Baranof Wind. Our crewmembers are highly trained to respond when needed and we were fortunate to have been nearby to provide support.”
The passengers from the sightseeing vessel were brought onboard the ms Noordam where they were served lunch. The ship made a detour to Bartlett Cove at around 5:30 p.m. local time to drop off the passengers and the park ranger before sailing to its next port of call, Ketchikan, Alaska.
While this was a great gesture by the crew and a testament to the dedication of Holland America, this is not the first time something like this has happened. As Travel Pulse’s Theresa Norton Masek reported earlier this year when two of the company’s other ships helped assist vessels in distress, the Holland America’s fleet has the ability and the compassion to help those in need.
Surf's Up Once Again at Marvelous Munich Airport
Munich Airport remains a bodacious oasis for surfing.
I know, it’s odd to hear but wonderful to enjoy, and it’s back again to quell that need to carve some serious waves on your next layover.
Via a press release, the doldrums of airport spelunking are about to come to an end: “For the fifth anniversary edition of ‘Surf & Style,’ surfing enthusiasts will try out their best moves in the Forum of the Munich Airport Center starting July 31. Surfers of all skill levels are welcome to ride the world's largest standing wave through August 23.”
We previously reported on the airport’s predilection to hanging 10 and generally welcoming your own gnarly peculiarities, so we are tickled at the reminder that the surf is most definitely up in Germany once again.
While about a month long, the event garners myriad smiles from kids of all ages as evidenced by the following videos:
https://youtu.be/zpr_R4IVh88
In a rare twist, we are actually geeked to visit and stay for a longer duration than normal at a city’s airport.
For those interested, the waves at the MAC Forum will treat visitors from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time.
Or, if you are more into people watching and lack water-riding coordination, the release informs that there is the European Stationary Wave Riding Championship to look forward to, which takes place Aug. 14-16.
And you can always head to the airport’s website, which features all the details you need to enjoy a day at the airport.
For a few short weeks this summer all other airports will again be rendered extremely boring by comparison.
Three tourists killed in Algarve coach crash
Tourist officials in the Algarve have reassured holidaymakers following a fatal coach crash on Wednesday night.
Three Dutch tourists were killed in the crash and 31 other tourists injured when a bus veered off the A22 motorway and into a ravine close to the Albufeira exit.
Latest report say three of the injured tourists are in a serious condition.
The Algarve Tourism Bureau issued a statement today, which said: "Following the terrible news of last night's coach crash in Portugal, we would like to extend our condolences to the friends and families of those killed or injured in the incident.
"The Algarve takes its commitment to tourist safety and security very seriously and this incident will be fully investigated, with regulations being altered if and where necessary.
The bus was heading from Faro to the Western Algarve.
UK Tour Operator Thomas Cook moves customers after child-snatching scare at Cyprus hotel
Thomas Cook has moved around 60 British and Irish holidaymakers from a Cyprus hotel over fears for the safety of children.
The clients were moved from the Anastasia Beach Hotel in Protaras after an incident on Tuesday night in which a gang allegedly tried to snatch children from the hotel.
According to a report in the Daily Record, a couple were trying to lure three children under the age of 10 into a waiting car but were stopped when a suspicious holidaymaker intervened.
The alleged abductors were grabbed and taken to the hotel office where they were handed over to local police.
Concerned holidaymakers mounted safety patrols of the hotel grounds to protect their children.
Some guests claimed they had seen members of the gang hanging around the hotel on previous occasions during their holidays.
Holidaymakers praised Thomas Cook reps for the speedy and professional way they handled the situation and tried to calm fears.
The operator arranged for the families directly affected by the incident to fly back to the UK and agreed to move others who didn't feel safe.
A Thomas Cook spokesperson said the company was taking the incident extremely seriously and had requested an increased and immediate security presence at the hotel.
"The safety and welfare of our customers is always our first priority and upon hearing about the incident, we immediately deployed our experienced resort team to the property to provide those customers in residence with individual support.
"Customers who did not wish to stay at the property were immediately moved to alternative hotels of a similar or higher standard.
"While incidents of this nature are extremely rare, we would like to reassure all customers that this is being taken incredibly seriously and we are continuing to work closely with the local authorities and the hotel as the investigation continues.
"Any customers with concerns about future holidays at this hotel are asked to contact us directly so that we can deal with them personally and directly."
The incident was played down by the local police and in the local press.
According to the Cyprus Mail, police said they arrested a 19-year-old man from Bulgaria who holidaymakers claim had been filming their children and was trying to abduct them.
But they said after going through his phone and searching his home, nothing suggested he was part of a child-abducting gang or that he was stalking children.
English tourist speared through eye by hotel parasol to win millions in compensation
A holidaymaker speared through the eye by a flying parasol at a Tenerife hotel is set to receive millions of pounds in compensation.
Godfrey Keefe, 52, from Gateshead, was staying at the Bahia Principe Costa Hotel with his family in October 2006.
He was sitting beside the hotel pool when a gust of wind blew an unsecured parasol into his face, spearing his right eye socket and penetrating into his brain, causing him very serious injuries.
According to a report in the Telegraph, a judge in the case has valued his damages claim at more than £5 million, although the amount has yet to be assessed.
The case has dragged on for eight years because Hoteles Pinero Canarias SL, the owners of the resort, argued that Keefe was not entitled to sue them in England.
Instead the Spanish firm said he would have to take legal action in Spain, where damages awarded would have been below £600,000.
But at an Appeal Court this week, judges ruled that under European law he is entitled to sue both the hotel owners and their Spanish insurers in an English court.
Keefe, a keen sportsman, underwent emergency surgery to remove the parasol spike and has had more operations since.
According to his lawyers, he is now unfit to work and has to undergo an intensive care regime.
He was a director of a civil engineering firm at the time of the incident.
Marriott joins TripAdvisor's Instant Booking platform
Travel planning site TripAdvisor has announced a partnership with Marriott International Inc. enabling its users to search and book rooms at Marriott's 4,000-plus hotels in 80 countries.
Marriott inventory is being added to TripAdvisor's Instant Booking platform, a tool it launched last year for US customers which displays a 'Book on TripAdvisor' button for direct reservations without leaving the TripAdvisor site.
All Marriott's 19 brands can be accessed through Instant Booking.
Shafiq Khan, senior vice president for channel strategy and distribution at Marriott, said: "It maintains our ability to control where the rates and inventory for Marriott's hotels are displayed. The result is mutually beneficial to both partners from a strategic and economic standpoint."
"TripAdvisor is a perfect partner for Marriott, both strategically and culturally," added Marriott CEO Arne Sorenson.
"Our new agreement demonstrates how the growth strategies for our two companies are aligned in the travel space."
Initially, hotel chains were slow to partner with TripAdvisor for the Instant Booking service, but it has signed up some major hotel groups including Best Western, Accor and Choice Hotels.
American Airlines seeking approval for Ecuador flights
American Airlines plans to launch flights to Quito, Ecuador from its Dallas/Fort Worth hub this winter.
American filed an application to the US Department of Transportation for five weekly flights beginning December 18 and plans to deploy 128-seat Airbus A319s on the route.
"We're the largest carrier to Central and South America, and this demonstrates our commitment to that region," American spokesman Casey Norton said.
"It provides yet another destination out of our largest hub at Dallas/Fort Worth."
American also serves Lima, Sao Paulo, Buenos Aires, and Santiago, Chile from DFW and also flies to Quito from its Miami hub.
Meanwhile the Ecuador Ministry of Tourism is continuing its 'All You Need is Ecuador' campaign targeting the US and other key markets including Canada, UK, Germany, Brazil, Japan and Australia.
It will roll out a new series of press, TV and digital ads.
Ecuador welcomed a record 1.5 million international visitors in 2014, a 12.3% year over year increase and has seen 10.9% growth in the first four months of 2015.
Rising hotel occupancy slows in May
The spurt in hotel occupancy may be tapering off across South Florida, but tourism officials say the industry is still showing signs of improvement.
In May, Broward County hotels were 74.7 percent full — the same occupancy they had in May 2014, according to data released Tuesday by industry tracker STR Inc.
However, Broward's average daily room rate increased in May, rising to $118.35 from $114.13 a year ago. (Rising room rates are considered an indicator of the industry's health.)
"While we hit yet another record-breaking month in May, our occupancy reflects the absence of a couple of major conferences and sports activities," said Nicki Grossman, president of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau. "Our leisure business held up well and we had one of the highest occupancies in the state for May. Bring on summer!"
In Palm Beach County, hotel occupancy fell slightly in May to 69 percent, from 69.3 percent in the same month last year. Here, the shortfall in occupancy was attributed to largely to the increase in hotel room inventory in the destination.
"With the [accommodations] pie bigger overall, occupancy becomes a bigger challenge. There's more room in the inn, so to speak," said a spokesperson for Discover The Palm Beaches, the county's official tourism marketer.
The county's average daily rate climbed to $139.32 from $131.19, STR data showed.
That 6.2 percent increase in room rates from a year ago and a 9.6 percent uptick in total room revenue are indicators of continued strength in county tourism, he said. "All in all it's not a bad story."
In Miami-Dade County, hotel occupancy in May dropped to 76.5 percent from 78.4 percent last year. The average daily hotel rate rose to $177.08 from $169.28.
Orlando's hotels are outperforming 2014 in year-over-year metrics
Despite the Orlando hotel industry's year-over-year statistics increasing in three key performance metrics, May has been its worst month of 2015.
The region's hotels reported a 74.9 percent occupancy rate last month, according to STR Inc., a company that tracks supply and demand for the hotel industry domestically and internationally.
That's up 3.4 percent from last May but down nearly six percentage points from April's report, according to STR.
Historically, Orlando's May reports have been neither the best nor the worst for the area.
Villas of Grand Cypress in Orlando was ranked No. 8 of 25 best hotels in the U.S. also ranked No. 4 of 25 best luxury hotels.
The region's year-end average last year was 73.7 percent, according to STR.
Additionally, Orlando hotels reported the lowest RevPAR, a metric that determines the revenue made per available room, and average daily rates of the year.
Orlando's room prices averaged $105.93 a night a May, marginally up from $102.14 in May 2014. Revenue per room was up to $79.32 compared with $72.98 last year.
May's occupancy rate is still not as low as in November, when its 68 percent rate made it the worst month for Orlando hotels last year.
Despite nearly flat year-over-year performance, some of Orlando's changes were better than the overall industry.
The U.S. hotel industry's average occupancy increased by less than a percentage point in year-over-year reports. Orlando's rate is also well about the country's average rate of 67.5 percent, according to STR.
The hotel industry saw a strong May, as national averages also increased in RevPAR and average daily room rates.
"May 2015 broke the occupancy record for the month, and demand broke an unprecedented 104 million room nights," said Jan Freitag, senior vice president of strategic development for STR.
Six markets, including Nashville, Tenn., and Denver, reported double-digit increases in RevPAR.
Houston and New York were the only two markets to report decreases in all three categories, according to STR.
The nation's hotel industry has slowly been rebounding for the last six years, when the recession hit the industry hard.
Delta CEO: Gulf carriers a threat to Detroit jobs
The war of words over open skies agreements with airlines from Qatar and United Arab Emirates continued this week, with Delta Air Lines' CEO Richard Anderson warning that thousands of Detroit area jobs were being threatened by "the massive subsidization of the Gulf carriers."
Speaking at the Detroit Economic Club, Anderson said that the Gulf-based airlines receive more than $42 billion in subsidies from their governments, undermining fair competition, according to a statement from The Partnership for Open and Fair Skies.
"What we've discovered at Delta Air Lines is we compete against a lot of state-owned and state-subsidized enterprises," he said. "When the playing field is relatively level, we win because we have these great people that are committed to their company and committed to their customers. But when the playing field is so far tilted, it is difficult in any industry to be able to compete against governments."
Anderson characterized this issue as particularly important to Detroit, which he called the "gateway into Asia" and where he said there would be about 130,000 Delta departures this year. He added that "every one of the nonstop, widebody flights we put to Asia supports about 900 to 1,000 jobs."
In the statement, The Partnership for Open and Fair Skies said that the Gulf airlines have grown "four times faster than U.S. carriers without stimulating new market demand and they're growing at the expense of U.S. airlines."
"We are supporters of fair trade... but like many trade relationships there are outliers," Anderson said. "We support open skies, we support open and free trade but in this instance we have bilateral agreements that are being violated by those countries."
Anderson's comments came shortly after the U.S. Travel Association released research indicating that these Open Skies agreements added billions of dollars in economic activity and tax revenue, as well as tens of thousands of jobs, to the US economy.
Tourico prebuys more than 90K rooms in Paris, New York
Tourico Holidays this week said it agreed to prepurchase more than 90,000 hotel room nights at two Hyatt-branded properties in Paris and New York, as the online travel wholesaler looks to lock in room rates for its travel agent clients during the next 20 months.
Closely held Tourico prebought 47,000 room nights at the Hyatt Regency Paris Etoile through February 2017, indicating that the wholesaler planned to sell about 80 rooms a night on average at the 950-room hotel. Tourico sells 2,100 rooms a day through its 425 supplier hotels in Paris and said Paris room-night bookings are up 36% this year.
Tourico also prepurchased 44,000 room nights at the Grand Hyatt New York through March 2016, indicating an average booking of about 160 rooms a night at the 1,306-room hotel. Tourico sold more than a half-million room nights in New York last year.
Lauren Volcheff, vice president of North American sales and marketing at Tourico, said the room-night figures represented "very large blocks" and said the company typically prebuys between 2,000 and 20,000 room-nights per year from its hotel partners.
"Both hotels meet a short list of criteria that makes them perfect for a prebuy agreement: amazing location in areas tourists love, a lot of rooms for sale and a true partner at the hotel and corporate level," Volcheff said.
Tourico, which generates more than $1 billion in annual revenue, continues to try to bring down its costs by buying inventory from travel suppliers in bulk. The company, which has 4,900 travel-professional clients in 100 countries, said in March that it would start prepurchasing tickets for activities and attractions such as Las Vegas' High Roller observation wheel, adding that the discounted rates would allow it to pass on savings to its travel-agent customers.
Hyatt Regency Paris Etoile was formerly the Concorde Lafayette before Hyatt reached an agreement to rebrand the property in 2013. The Grand Hyatt New York completed a $130 million renovation in late 2011.
Airline industry, government at odds over emissions standards
As the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) moves to catch up with overseas regulators by enacting emissions standards for the aviation industry, the largest U.S. airline trade group is pushing back.
The trade group, Airlines for America (A4A), argues that the industry has already done its part to reduce emissions and that it now is up to the government to address improvements to the air traffic control system that could further reduce airline fuel consumption.
Just weeks after the EPA reported that its early findings confirmed that aircraft carbon dioxide emissions contribute to global warming, A4A was gearing up for a lobbying effort that will highlight both the industry's fuel-efficiency gains and the need for the federal government to update aircraft-control systems. A4A is pointing to data suggesting that U.S. carriers have more than doubled fuel efficiency since 1978 and that airlines account for 5% of the U.S. economy, but just 2% of the country's emissions.
"The U.S. airlines carried 20% more passengers and cargo in 2014 than they did in 2000, while emitting 8% less carbon dioxide," A4A spokesman Vaughn Jennings said. "Coupled with the long-term fuel efficiency improvements the U.S. airlines have accomplished [dating] back to the late 1970s, there is a real question as to whether any [greenhouse-gas] emissions regulation is needed."
As it is, the EPA appears to be following up efforts by the United Nations' International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which has been trying to address the issue of aircraft emissions for at least five years and is pushing for the global aircraft industry to boost fuel-efficiency by 1.5% a year through 2020. ICAO is working with the industry to develop aircraft emissions standards, which could be disclosed as soon as early next year.
One burning question for airlines is whether the EPA's move toward emissions standards would end up creating a system in which different emissions mandates would apply to aircraft flying in Europe and those flying in North America. Similar conflicting standards already exist in the global automobile industry. And it's not clear which standard would then apply for aircraft used for transatlantic flights.
In a June 10 statement, the EPA said it was pursuing policies "that are equitable across national boundaries," but it did not explain what that meant or offer further detail. Meanwhile, Jennings said it was "critical" that international emissions standards be common.
Bob Offutt, senior technology analyst at Phocuswright, said that while it was unclear which standards would apply on transatlantic flights, he expected them to be similar, with the greatest potential for differences arising with when the emissions standards would be phased in.
Regardless, Offutt said the EPA's timing is no accident. The concept of aircraft pollution and its potential impact on global weather patterns have been discussed in scientific journals since at least 9/11, when, in the days following those terrorist attacks, flights were grounded, offering a chance to test theories on the impact of aircraft emissions.
Even so, in the ensuing years as the aviation industry was riddled by lackluster customer demand and higher fuel costs, the EPA appears to have taken a hands-off approach to the issue of aircraft emissions and their potential impact on global warming.
What has changed in recent years is that fuel prices will have fallen 20% between 2013 and 2015, while worldwide passenger departures will increase 6.8% this year, to 3.53 billion, and air transport will boost passenger revenue by 4.3% this year, to $823 billion, according to IATA.
As a result, many U.S. airlines are reporting record profits. United reported net income of $1.13 billion last year, compared with a $723 million net loss in 2012, while American Airlines earned net income of $2.88 billion in 2014, compared with a $1.88 billion loss two years prior.
"The airlines had complained that they were struggling. This is old news, of course," Offutt said. "The EPA may have been holding off for a while so that [the airlines] could be profitable. Now, the EPA is saying, 'your turn.'"
Indeed, the EPA noted in its June 10 statement about addressing aircraft greenhouse-gas emissions that U.S. aircraft account for 29% of global aircraft emissions as well as about 11% of emissions from the domestic transportation sector.
"In 2009, EPA determined that GHG [grenhouse-gas] pollution from cars and light trucks threatens Americans' health and welfare by leading to long-lasting changes in our climate that can have a range of negative effects. The body of science on human-induced climate change has strengthened, supporting today's proposed finding … that GHGs emitted from aircraft engines contribute to pollution that causes climate change endangering public health and welfare."
While the airlines have not denied those assertions, A4A has already made it clear that the industry feels that a large part of solution to the emissions problem lies with the country's outdated air traffic control system, which damages the industry's efficiency. A replacement Gen-3 system has long been a political football in Congress. The airlines and A4A will likely use the EPA data in their push for the government to transition from an outdated radar-based infrastructure to a satellite-based GPS.
"While the A4A airlines are doing all that they can to promote efficiencies within the current air traffic management system, the limitations of that system account for over 10% of unnecessary fuel burn and resulting emissions," Jennings said.
Lufthansa offers first class passengers Porsche 911 experience
Lufthansa First Class passengers and Lufthansa Private Jet guests can now enliven the waiting time before their next take-off with a unique experience - taking a Porsche 911 or Panamera for a spin through Munich, the sub-Alpine landscape or Lower Bavaria.
The Porsche First Class Excitement offer is available for all Lufthansa, SWISS or Austrian Airlines passengers, Lufthansa HON Circle members and Lufthansa Private Jet guests who possess a valid First Class boarding ticket for that day.
“With Lufthansa First Class, we offer our customers the highest travel quality.
“This is suitably complemented by the exclusive offer from Porsche, which turns the waiting period before take-off into a memorable experience,” said Thomas Klühr, Lufthansa executive board member for finance.
For guests, the Lufthansa First Class Personal Assistant accepts reservations in the First Class Lounge and arranges the car rental.
Passengers can book their sports car online before the flight, or make a spontaneous on-the-spot decision, as long as the chosen offer is available.
Back at the airport, a First Class flight starts as usual - a limousine takes passengers straight to the apron position beside the aircraft.
Once on board, passengers enjoy First Class menus by famous star chefs and a selection of premier wines.
Anaheim Rebrands as a City That Goes Beyond Disneyland
For visitors to Disneyland Resort in California, Anaheim has sometimes been an after thought—a place you travel to in order to experience the theme park. But Anaheim is actually much more than that and it has developed a new brand and logo to prove it.
The Anaheim/Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau (AOCVCB), which was a bit of a mouthful to say, on June 24 unveiled its new name, Visit Anaheim, and a new URL, www.VisitAnaheim.org . After more than 20 years as AOCVCB, the destination marketing organization decided to introduce a fresh new brand that reflects the past, present and future of the city, while encouraging travelers to visit.
According to Jay Burress, president and CEO of Visit Anaheim, the new brand came after a year of consumer, meetings and travel trade research showed the city needed a new name and new brand. “Visit Anaheim is a name that travel enthusiasts and conventioneers can easily find and understand,” he said.
“It evokes a sense of discovery and clearly communicates that we have an incredible, awe-inspiring destination that people should come see for themselves.”
As the second largest city in Orange County, Anaheim has undergone a massive revitalization and beautification program over the past decade and is home to some of California’s top attractions, entertainment and sports venues, theme parks, and a growing restaurant and craft brewing scene.
New attractions include the Packing District, located at the intersection of Anaheim Boulevard and Santa Ana Street, which includes the restored Packard Building and former Car Showroom, Farmers Park and the restored citrus Packing House, including Cooks Chapel, a community kitchen private event venue, as well as The Backyard, an outdoor event area with a fireplace and orange grove. The Packing House features more than 20 artisan eateries. In addition, the Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center (ARTIC) is transforming how residents travel. This transportation hub offers a wide variety of transit, dining, retail and entertainment options in one location.
Anaheim also is set to see a dramatic expansion of its hotel inventory as it adds 4,000 hotel rooms in the next few years, including two planned four-diamond properties. Last year it welcomed 1.2 million meetings and convention visitors, many of whom took advantage of the city’s convention center, a facility that is already the largest in California but will be expanding further after a $200 million project is completed in 2017.
Burress said Anaheim’s new logo pays tribute to the unique qualities of Anaheim. “It also perfectly encapsulates the next stage we are entering into as an organization,” he said. “We are here to help inspire the imagination of every visitor that comes to our destination—whether they’re a sports fan, adrenaline junkie, beach lover, theme park enthusiast or foodie—and change the way they see the world.”
Visit Anaheim conducted multiple focus groups and interviews in and around Anaheim, Orange County, Los Angeles, Phoenix and San Jose to better understand how travelers viewed the destination, which includes Anaheim, Garden Grove and the greater Orange County. It found that Anaheim’s broad consumer and business travel audiences were not aware of what the destination offers and what it represents.
Designed by Kansas City-based travel marketing agency MMGY Global, the Visit Anaheim logo has multiple design elements that speak directly to Anaheim and Orange County’s past, present and future.
The big “A” recalls the number of big A logos around the destination; the looped “h” is similar to an Anaheim logo created by a former Disney creative; the dot over the “i” is Disney’s dot; and the palm tree icon speaks to the City of Anaheim’s robust revitalization. The logo’s colors, blue and marigold, are a tribute to Southern California’s ocean views, clear blue skies and warm sunny days.
To celebrate its new branding, Visit Anaheim took to the streets of New York City’s Flatiron district on June 24 with a special event where New Yorkers were invited to experience what Visit Anaheim is all about. Partnering with famed 3D pavement artist Joe Hill, three large, interactive 3D illustrations were installed in front of the Flatiron Building at 175 5th Ave.
Allianz Survey: More Travel, Less Spending By Americans In 2015
Although more Americans are confident they will vacation this summer, those who do plan to spend significantly less while on holiday, mainly due to wider utilization of “sharing economy” travel options.
Those are among the findings of an Insurance Vacation Confidence Index survey released this week by travel insurance provider Allianz Global Assistance USA.
Americans will spend $85.5 billion on summer vacations in 2015, according to the survey, down 13.5 percent from $98.8 billion in 2014. The decrease comes despite a 0.5 percent increase in the number of Americans they poll identifies as “confident they will take a vacation this summer.”
The average American taking a vacation this summer will spend $1,621, down from $1,895 in 2014. More travelers (19 percent) say they will spend less than $400 on their vacation this year than in 2014, when 13 percent of travelers said they spend under $400.
Allianz officials say the results largely point to one factor: the willingness of travelers ages 18 to 34 to utilize non-traditional travel, transportation and hospitality services including Airbnb, Uber, Lyft, GetAround, and Feastly.
The six percent increase in travelers intending to spend less than $400 on their vacation since 2014 is “a big, big number,” said Dan Durazo, Allianz’ director of communications. “It’s pretty big jump. This is being driven, we feel, by millennials who have told us that they‘re very comfortable with the sharing economy,” he said. “They think the sharing economy is a good way to save money while on vacation.
“Millennials are quite familiar with these services,” said Durazo. “Sixty percent said they trust these services, which is a pretty big percentage compared to 37 percent of all other travelers. Forty-seven percent of Americans are aware of at least one these services but 58 percent of millennials are,” he said.
Nearly 40 percent of millennials said they plan to spend less than $400 on summer travel, twice the number of all other age groups combined. “You’ve got higher awareness and higher trust of sharing economy travel services by millennials,” Durazo added.
Also, while 17 percent of Americans said they’re likely to use a sharing economy service during their summer vacation, 28 percent of young adults under the age of 35 said they plan to book travel and related services with sharing economy providers.
Millennials were also found to be the most confident of any age group in taking a summer vacation, with 50.5 percent saying they expect to vacation this summer, said Durazo.
The survey did include a slim glimmer of light for traditional travel providers: all age groups agreed that established travel providers, including travel agents, OTAs, hotels and resorts, offer “better experiences and services” compared with sharing economy providers.
These Allianz survey findings are based on an Ipsos telephone poll of a nationally representative sample of 1,000 randomly selected adults conducted June 5 to 9, 2015. The results are considered accurate within plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.
New York Impounded 496 Vehicles in Uber Crackdown
One of the fastest growing ways of getting around is ride-sharing service Uber, but officials in New York City are cracking down on drivers who are picking up illegal street hails by seizing their cars when caught.
According to Rebecca Harshbarger of the New York Post, the Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) seized 496 vehicles associated with Uber drivers who were making illegal passenger pickups between April 29 and June 15.
Drivers using the Uber app are only allowed to pick up passengers who arraigned for the ride through the service or those who base dispatch approved for pick up. One of the places where officials found the most violators was at John F. Kennedy International Airport.
The fear is that with an estimated 19,000 drivers affiliated with Uber and no cap on the number of drivers in New York City, the streets of the city will eventually become overwhelmed by the number of ride-sharing cars, including both Uber and standard taxis.
New York Taxiworkers Alliance representative Bhairavi Desai told the New York Post, “I think it’s honestly a reflection of the oversaturation of the vehicles, and the desperation everyone is feeling on the streets to earn a living. At least they’re beginning to take action.”
Before the recent decision to impound the cars of those drivers found to be operating illegally, offenders would have been given a summons, but the implementation of more severe punishments should help deter many current or potential future offenders.
New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers head, Fernando Mateo, told Harshbarger, “If you’re willing to risk breaking the law, you have to be willing to lose your car. I would recommend, go back to the basics. Everyone has an app. You can’t make a living with just the Uber application.”
Tourists Arrested For Crashing Drone Into Cathedral
Here we go. We all knew this would start to happen. Dopey tourists flying their drones too close to something and eventually crashing it. Yesterday in Milan, three Korean men who were in town for the Expo 2015 were flying their drone around the Cathedral of Milan.
They caught the attention of the company that is working on the cathedral who alerted authorities.
When the tourists were approached, they lost control of their vehicle and crashed it into the scaffolding of the workers and caused some minor damage. There is no word if or when they will be charged, but they were taken in by the authorities for questioning.
This is not the first time that people have gotten in trouble with their drones overseas. In October of last year, an Israeli tourist was jailed for flying over one of Paris’ main attractions. And the February before a French Foreign Legion member was held by police after making a video of the Eiffel tower.
England also has strict laws when it comes to operating drones. The law states drones must not be flown within 150 meters of any congested area, or within 50 meters of buildings not owned by their operator.
Here at home, the FAA is about to clear commercial drones within the next year. Amazon has already come out and announced that they will be beginning drone delivery as soon as federal law allows. The personal drone war is starting to come about as well. In July of last year a man was arrested for filming with his drone outside of a hospital into an examination room. He was eventually acquitted. But you never know where this is going to go.
So make sure you check with local authorities before you take your fancy drone out and start filming for that new perspective. You want to make sure that you don’t end up with a new perscpetive of the back of a polica car.
Virgin commits to second summer of Belfast-Orlando flights
Virgin Atlantic has confirmed that its summer Belfast to Orlando flights, which launch this week, will return in 2016.
The airline said the weekly service, which will run for four weeks this summer, will return at the end of June next year.
The service is part of Virgin Atlantic's joint venture partnership with Delta Air Lines.
Virgin said 50% of the bookings were made as part of a holiday package with its tour operator Virgin Holidays.
A Boeing 747-400 aircraft will operate next summer's Belfast to Orlando service on Thursdays from June 23.
Ryanair bomb scare: man arrested for hoax call
Warsaw Modlin Airport was closed to incoming flights this morning after a security scare on a Ryanair flight.
The airline confirmed that an anonymous hoax call was made to the airport saying there was an explosive device on a flight due to leave Warsaw for Oslo at 8.40am.
"The airport security authorities ordered an immediate inspection of the aircraft, which hadn't yet boarded, and closed the airport to inbound arrivals as a security precaution," said a Ryanair spokeswoman.
"The security sweep confirmed this was a hoax and the aircraft has returned to service, while the airport has since reopened."
Ryanair apologised to the customers of the outbound Oslo flight for any inconvenience caused by the hoax call.
It said the aircraft has now been cleared to return to service and the airport has reopened.
A 48-year-old man has been arrested after the call was traced to his home.
Modlin is a small, auxiliary airport in Warsaw used only by Ryanair.
Initial reports said the plane involved had made an emergency landing but Ryanair said this was not the case as the search was made before passengers had even boarded.
UK Airline calls on industry to get tough with unruly passengers
Jet2.com is calling for industry-wide action to tackle a 'shocking' rise in disruptive passenger behaviour.
The move comes week after the airline banned a passenger for life for his behaviour on a flight from Leeds Bradford to Alicante which caused the pilot to divert the plane to Toulouse.
Following the incident, the airline conducted some research among other airlines and travel companies and noted a sharp rise in bad behaviour.
It is now working with the British Air Transport Association and Airport Operators Association to try to get the message out to consumers that unruly behaviour onboard aircraft won't be tolerated by the airlines.
Managing director Phil Ward said that, on average, Jet2 prevents six passengers a day boarding aircraft due to their unruly conduct.
"Only yesterday in Alicante we had the police meet two people from Manchester who were unruly and rude and we have refused them travel to return home at the weekend," said Ward.
Due to a rise in disorderly - mostly drink-related - behaviour on aircraft, airlines are more likely than ever to take a zero-tolerance approach, denying them boarding, banning them for life and, in some cases, taking legal action against them.
Jet2 is taking legal action against two passengers at the moment.
"We have told our ground staff, cabin crew and flight crew that if they deny boarding or they need to divert due to a disruptive passenger, we are totally behind them. We won't tolerate this, for the sake of our other passengers," said Ward.
"We need to get the message across to the rest of our customers that we are tackling bad behaviour on board and we will look after them.
Ward said the problem had become worse over the past two years, with Jet2 alone seeing a 20% rise in incidents in the past 12 months, but he said it wasn't only short-haul budget airlines that were suffering. "It's Virgin Atlantic to the US, United to Chicago, this is a growing problem for all airlines," he said.
"Cabin crew increasingly have to deal with people displaying abusive, racist and often noisy and aggressive conduct, causing misery and disruption for other passengers nearby."
Ward called on travel agents to help by advising customers not to drink excessively before or during a flight and warning them that any bad behaviour on board could land them in trouble.
"We are doing our bit to get the message out there at the start of the holiday season but we need the trade and the public to help."
Taxi Drivers Protest Uber in Clashes Across France
Taxi drivers took to the streets across France on Thursday in protests against the expansion of Uber, the ride-booking service.
French taxi drivers blocked the entrances to Paris’s major airports and train stations, while disruptions were also reported in other cities, including Marseille and Aix-en-Provence in the South.
In Grenoble, near the border with Italy, taxi associations burned tires on the highway, while in Paris, police officers in riot gear used tear gas to disrupt the protests.
The anger from French taxi drivers is the latest in a series of challenges confronting Uber, which has been accused by taxi associations and some policy makers of breaking national transportation laws and of creating unfair competition to traditional taxis. The ride-booking service faces regulatory scrutiny in many of the countries in which it operates.
The growing anger against the American technology company, however, has not stopped its meteoric rise from a small start-up founded in San Francisco in 2009 to a transportation giant that is now valued at more than $50 billion. Uber, which connects drivers with potential passengers through a smartphone app, operates in more than 300 cities and 57 countries, including the United States and China.
The latest problems in France relate to Uber’s low-cost UberPop service, which allows drivers without professional chauffeur licenses to pick up passengers through the use of their smartphones. While these drivers must pass security checks, French taxi associations claim that the Uber drivers do not comply with the country’s transportation rules and should not be allowed to operate.
In contrast to Uber drivers, French taxi drivers must pay up to $270,000 for an operating license. The French drivers say Uber undercuts existing services.
In recent weeks, Uber’s low-cost service has expanded beyond Paris. That growth comes despite a ruling last year by a French court that banned unregistered drivers from picking up passengers. Uber has appealed the ruling, though police officers have begun stopping UberPop drivers in the French capital, who may then be fined.
This is not the first time that European taxi drivers have voiced their anger by taking to city streets. Last year, more than 10,000 drivers in cities like London, Madrid and Milan staged a one-day protest against Uber.
Several European cities, including Berlin and Amsterdam, have banned some of the company’s services, saying that they do not comply with local transportation rules. And in Spain, Uber closed its operations after a judge ruled in December that the company’s low-cost service did not conform to Spanish laws and could amount to unfair competition for taxi drivers.
In response, Uber has asked the European Commission, the executive arm of the European Union, to intervene, saying the bans violate the bloc’s rules against discriminating between rival services.
Disney serves up poo at Animal Kingdom sweets shop
A new shop at Disney’s Animal Kingdom is serving up desserts that look like varieties of animal droppings. Four kinds of poo are now in the case amid the caramel apples and marshmallow treats at Zuri’s Sweets Shop.
Disney World's Animal Kingdom Wants You to Eat Poop for Dessert
Disney World doesn't exactly have a reputation for serving haute cuisine, but the park's newest offering quite literally looks like crap: The Orlando Sentinel notes that a new store at Disney's Animal Kingdom "is serving up desserts that look like varieties of animal droppings." The manure-themed confections are sold at Zuri's Sweets Shop, which opened last week in the park's Africa section.
According to brave reporter Dewayne Bevil, the chocolate poop — which looks vaguely like truffles or cake balls — comes in several different varieties including elephant ("dominated by oats and peanut butter") and giraffe ("fudgy, like a brownie). While the display case doesn't actually identify the treats as poop, the itemized receipt reportedly prints out terms such as "Poo, Giraffe."
If pseudo-poop for dessert doesn't satiate the appetite you've worked up after a long day at Disney World, there's also a new Star Wars restaurant serving "Light Saber Bites" (er, mini corn dogs) and cake in the shape of Yoda's face.
This airline is offering a new perk for first-class: better air
One airline is offering better air — yes, air — to its first-class passengers.
When you pay extra to fly fancy with German airline Lufthansa, you’ll now get the benefit of recently installed humidifiers, the Times of India reports.
“It gives a totally different experience,” Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr told the Times of India. “Passengers arrive in a much better shape after a long-haul flight.”
One Lufthansa official told the Times that the humidifiers, which have been installed on the airline’s Airbus A-380s, will improve passengers’ sleep and well-being — and even the way their food tastes.
The new additions should increase the humidity levels in first class from 5 percent to 15 or 25 percent, the official told the Times, which could help prevent itchy eyes and dry throats.
DOJ investigating airlines for possible collusion
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. government is investigating possible collusion between major airlines to limit available seats, which keeps airfares high, according to a document obtained by The Associated Press.
The civil antitrust investigation by the Justice Department appears to focus on whether airlines illegally signaled to each other how quickly they would add new flights, routes and extra seats.
A letter received Tuesday by major U.S. carriers demands copies of all communications the airlines had with each other, Wall Street analysts and major shareholders about their plans for passenger-carrying capacity.
Justice Department spokeswoman Emily Pierce confirmed Wednesday that the department was investigating potential "unlawful coordination" among some airlines. She declined to comment further, including about which airlines are being investigated.
Thanks to a series of mergers starting in 2008, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines and United now control more than 80 percent of the seats in the domestic travel market. During that period, they have eliminated unprofitable flights, filled a higher percentage of seats on planes and made a very public effort to slow growth in order to command higher airfares.
It worked. The average domestic airfare rose 13% from 2009 to 2014, when adjusted for inflation, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. And that doesn't include the billions of dollars airlines collect from fees. During the past 12 months, the airlines took in $3.6 billion in bag fees and another $3 billion in reservation change fees.
All of that has led to record profits for the industry. In the past two years, U.S. airlines earned a combined $19.7 billion.
This year could lead to even higher profits thanks to a massive drop in the price airlines pay for jet fuel, their single highest expense. In April, U.S. airlines paid $1.94 a gallon, down 34% from the year before.
Debt-laden Puerto Rico says travel business is good
As Puerto Rico staggers under a crushing $73 billion debt load that Gov. Alejandro Garcia Padilla concedes is unpayable, tourism appears to be an economic bright spot.
The sector is performing well across the board in stayover arrivals, hotel occupancy and cruise passenger arrivals, according to Ingrid Rivera Rocafort, executive director of the Puerto Rico Tourism Co.
While the economic fallout from the financial crisis could be severe, it is not expected to have much impact on tourism, she said. “We have successfully worked to improve attractions, enhance our cruise piers, open new hotels, attract investors and increase airlift over the past three years and we will continue to do so,” Rivera Rocafort said.
Meet Puerto Rico, the nonprofit organization that markets meetings and conventions, “continues to operate in a fiscally sound environment. Airports, hotels, taxis, communication services and other elements of Puerto Rico’s tourism infrastructure are not affected by the government’s financial crisis,” according to Milton Segarra, president and CEO.
The organization is closely monitoring dozens of clients and groups with events planned in Puerto Rico.
“No group has canceled and we will continue to provide information to them and to those considering Puerto Rico as a venue, so that they feel secure in having made the right decision to come to Puerto Rico,” Segarra said.
Blue Horizon gambling cruise ship to launch within 10 days
Casino day cruise ship Blue Horizon is expected to begin sailing from the Port of Palm Beach within the next 10 days, a company official said Tuesday.
Robert Weisberg, a partner in PB Gaming, which plans to operate the 600-passenger gambling, entertainment and buffet dining ship out of the Riviera Beach port, said he’s waiting for the state to issue a liquor license.
“We are going to be ready to go sometime this week or early next week,” Weisberg said.
Tickets are $25 per person, but each passenger will receive a discount of at least $5.
The ship will sail in the morning (11 a.m. to 4 p.m.) and evening Tuesday through Saturday (7 p.m. to midnight, but until 12:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.) There will be no sailings on Monday, and Sunday will have only one sailing, a champagne brunch with an 11 a.m. departure.
Manuel “Manny” Almira, the port’s executive director, said, “The Port anxiously awaits the first sailing and we’re looking forward to a very anticipated successful operation.”
PB Gaming bills the Blue Horizon as “the only place in South Florida to play craps, roulette and bet on sports book.” It also features blackjack and over 250 popular slots and bingo.
Port spokeswoman Tara Monks said the vessel was awarded its Certificate of Inspection from the U.S. Coast Guard the week of June 22.
In May, the port commission approved a five-year, three-month agreement with PB Gaming, which is using the same ship as the previous gambling day cruise out of the port.
As the Island Breeze, the ship carried about 11,000 passengers on 100 day cruises from March to June last year. The company that operated it, IBI Palm Beach, filed for bankruptcy in November.
The Island Breeze’s largest creditor, SourcePoint LLC, took over the ship’s charter earlier this year. Weisberg is also a partner in SourcePoint, a private equity firm based in Puerto Rico.
Under its contract with the port, PB Gaming must pay $730,000 a year in passenger fees, an estimated $80,000 in parking fees and $36,470 a year to lease 2,605 square feet of offices on the port administration building’s fourth floor.
After IBI Palm Beach’s failure, the port required PB Gaming to pay a $250,000 nonrefundable cash deposit in March and another $150,000 in pre-passenger payments.
The Island Breeze was one of five casino cruises to nowhere that have sailed form the port in recent years, but stopped operating. Prior to being named the Island Breeze, the ship was called the Black Diamond.
Tri-Rail pledge boosts massive All Aboard MiamiCentral station project
If there were any doubts about whether All Aboard Florida would be able to pull off it’s planned rail line linking southeast Florida to Orlando, the sheer size of the company’s station planned in the heart of downtown Miami might be enough to dispel them.
Construction fencing spanning six-city blocks now hides much of the work going on at the site, located within walking distance of the American Airlines Arena and a short shuttle ride from PortMiami, which processed more multi-day cruise passengers than any other port in the world last year.
Soon there will be another link — this week the Miami-Dade Commission pledged $13.9 million to connect Tri-Rail to the planned MiamiCentral project.
Once complete, the project will include five train tracks, which will be elevated 50 feet above a mix of businesses and restaurants.
Above the tracks, All Aboard is building three towers. Those buildings will include two residential towers with 800 apartments and a third tower with 190,000 square feet of office space.
All Aboard will soon begin construction on a fourth building, located just west of the tracks. The building will include 125,000 square feet of retail and office space and 1,100 parking spaces to serve the station.
As part of a second construction phase, All Aboard plans to build a “super tower” with 600,000 square feet of office space, 280 residences, and 250 hotel rooms.
If you lost count, that’s nearly 1 million square feet of office and retail space and more than 1,300 apartments, condos and hotel rooms. And All Aboard Florida’s trains, coupled with three other South Florida rail lines, will carry a steady stream of passengers to the downtown hub.
Michael Reininger, All Aboard Florida’s president, said the station in itself will be a shopping and entertainment destination — similar to CityPlace in West Palm Beach, but on a much larger scale. The company is already recruiting retailers and restaurants to fill the ground floor.
“You will want to come here,” Reininger said. “And you may never leave the station.”
On Wednesday, construction crews were busy drilling the holes that will serve as the foundation for MiamiCentral.
Crews have already completed about 1,100 of the 1,650 foundation pilings needed for the project, All Aboard officials said. Vertical construction is expected to begin in September.
The Miami-Dade County Commission’s pledge was expected, but it’s just the first of three similar pledges needed to make this part of the All Aboard project a reality. The goal is to link All Aboard’s Miami station to Tri-Rail, a commuter rail line that runs between Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami Dade counties.
The link will allow Palm Beach County residents to ride Tri-Rail trains to downtown Miami. Of the 50 daily Tri-Rail trains, 26 are expected to travel to All Aboard’s Miami station.
The Miami station will also connect to two other Miami-Dade rail projects — Metromover, a 4.4-mile electrically powered transit system, and Metrorail, a 25-mile rail line with nearly two dozen stations.
The two elevated rail lines run just west of the site of All Aboard Florida’s Miami station, giving passengers a bird’s-eye view of the construction below.
Together county-run lines carry passengers between downtown Miami and more than three dozen other destinations, including the Miami International Airport, the Adrienne Arsht Center, the financial district, the Brickell Avenue area, and mall and shopping districts.
“There are very few integrated stations like this in major cities in the country,” Reininger said. “This connects all of the neighborhoods of South Florida together in a really interesting way.”
All Aboard Florida plans to run 32 trains a day — 16 round trips — on the Florida East Coast Railway tracks with stops in Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and Orlando. Service is expected to start in 2017.
Treasure Coast officials have been battling to block the $2.9 billion project, saying it will bring increase noise, traffic and safety hazards as trains travel up to 110 mph through their communities and historic downtowns. Martin and Indian River counties have pledged a combine $4.1 million to fight All Aboard Florida. Both have filed federal lawsuits challenging $1.75 billion in tax-exempt private activity bonds that the company plans to use to help pay for the project.
Last month, a federal judge denied a request by the two counties for an injunction blocking the bond sale. Despite the ruling, Treasure Coast officials have vowed to continue their fight.
The legal skirmish has not dissuaded All Aboard Florida. Construction is underway at all three of the company’s South Florida stations.
Survey: One-Third of Americans Open to Idea of Leaving Country
On Saturday we celebrate our independence day, and judging by a poll from TransferWise, a U.K. peer-to-peer money transfer service, many of us would be happy to declare independence from our own country.
A total of 35 percent of respondents would consider leaving the United States to live elsewhere and 14 percent said they would consider a move within the next five years.
A total of 65 percent of Americans said that given the right reasons, they would consider a move. And what are the right reasons? A 36 percent total cited a better quality of life, 33 percent cited a lower cost of living and 31 percent cited the appeal of new experiences.
A whopping 84 percent of respondents say the United States should make itself more appealing. But how? A 58 percent majority mentioned more affordable healthcare, 51 percent pointed to lower taxes and 48 percent mentioned education improvements.
One danger confronting investors of every country now is the volatility of global financial markets. Star bond fund manager Bill Gross of Janus Group, like many others, is concerned.
With banks hobbled in their market activity by more stringent regulation since the 2008 financial crisis, a liquidity crunch represents a real danger, he writes in a commentary.
And what could spark such a crisis?
"A central bank mistake leading to lower bond prices and a stronger dollar," Gross writes. The Federal Reserve may begin raising interest rates in September.
Greece. A default/restructuring will lead to more worries for weaker eurozone economies, he says.
China. "It's the mystery meat of economic sandwiches: you never know what’s in there," Gross explains.
"Credit has expanded more rapidly in recent years than any major economy in history, a sure warning sign."
Geopolitical risks.
"A butterfly’s wing. Chaos theory suggests that a small change in non-linear systems could result in large changes elsewhere," Gross writes. "Call this kooky, but in a levered financial system, small changes can upset the status quo."
TSA Worker Tweets Photo of Passenger's $75,000
See the video here: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2015-07-02/tsa-worker-tweets-photo-of-passenger-s-75-000?cmpid=yhoo
At least 36 dead after ferry capsizes in Philippines
At least 36 people died Thursday after a ferry with 189 passengers and crew aboard capsized in the Philippines, officials said.
The Philippine Star said the M/B Kim Nirvana overturned soon after midday local time, shortly after leaving the central port of Ormoc City on the island of Leyte. It was headed for Camotes Island on the island province of Cebu, about 27 miles to the south.
Coast guard spokesman Armand Balilo said the wooden outrigger ferry was lashed by strong waves, the Associated Press reported. It wasn't immediately clear what caused the vessel to overturn.
"There wasn't any storm or any gale. We're trying to find out (why it happened)," Balilo told AFP.
At least 127 passengers were rescued by nearby fishing boats and coast guard personnel or swam to safety off Ormoc, and at least 26 people were missing, the AP said. Balilo said the captain and some of the crew were rescued and are in custody pending an investigation.
Balilo told AFP that the ferry's outriggers appeared to have broken in the accident, and said that it was possible the crew had committed a navigational error.
Ciriaco Tolibao from Ormoc's disaster risk reduction and management office told the agency that divers were searching for survivors. "We're scouring the ship for more survivors who may be trapped inside the hull," he said. "We hope to finish the rescue before dark and before it starts to rain."
He said many of the passengers were traders taking farm produce and other items to the Camotes, AFP said.
Mary Jane Drake, who was traveling with her mother and American husband, told the AP that the ferry was pulling slowly out of the port when it suddenly flipped to the left in strong waves and overturned. She said that she, her mother and husband swam to safety from underneath the vessel.
"No one was able to jump out because it overturned very swiftly," she said. "There was no time to jump."
Her husband, Lawrence Drake, 48, a retired firefighter from Rochester, N.Y., added that he ran to one side of the boat to try to balance it.
"I jumped out of my seat and ran to the front as far as I could, and tried to lean over," he said. "I am a big guy, and tried to push the boat back over but it was way too late."
TSA pays millions for bag claims
See the video: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2015-07-02/tsa-worker-tweets-photo-of-passenger-s-75-000?cmpid=yhoo
It's easier than ever to just text the hotel front desk for your embarrassing requests
Whenever I have to call a hotel front desk from a foreign country, there’s always that moment when I choke and wonder what language to lead with. Sure, most people in the hospitality industry speak English these days, but sometimes in a Spanish- or French-speaking country, I feel compelled to attempt requests in the local tongue, which makes me think twice about how much I really need that body pillow. Soon, I won’t have to worry about it all, as hotels are increasingly allowing guests to simply text the front desk — an anonymous-feeling exchange I’d have no hesitation about doing in English (actually, make that a body pillow and bath salts, please!).
As the New York Times points out, two popular texting platforms, Zingle and Kipsu, are now working with a growing number of hotels. Zingle launched last year and is currently being used in 300 properties, including Hyatt Regency locations. A similar service, Kipsu, has been adding hotels like gangbusters and is now used in 150 of them, including Starwood properties.
Both services allow guests to text the front desk with requests before or after they arrive at the hotel. They can be programmed to send messages to check in on things (“How do you like your room?” etc.), and Zingle can be automated to answer simple questions, like “What time is check-out?” or “Where is the gym?” without need for a live human to type the same responses over and over.
Some hotels are incorporating request features right into their apps. IHG’s new app includes a “Guest Request” service, and both Hilton and Marriott offer something similar. It’s great that technology is enabling hotels to allow guests be in touch easily, and vice versa. Of course, the challenge, as always, is for hotels to avoid checking in too often and sounding like my needy ex-boyfriend.
Bankruptcy Court Approves Baha Mar Interim Financing
The U.S. Bankruptcy Court on Wednesday approved continued payments to employees, suppliers and vendors, and the operation of “certain customer loyalty and other programs,” on behalf of Baha Mar, the $3.5 billion mega-resort whose developers filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Monday.
Late Wednesday, the bankruptcy court approved interim debtor-in-possession financing arranged by Sarkis Izmirlian, Baha Mar Ltd.’s chairman. Up to $30 million of the funding will be utilized by Baha Mar over the next 30 days; the total facility totals up to $80 million.
The $3.5 billion mega-resort’s developers filed for Chapter 11 on Monday, charging that general contractor China Construction America missed deadlines leading to delay costs and repeated postponements of the mega-resort’s originally scheduled December 2014 opening.
Baha Mar officials also canceled all existing guest reservations at the mega-resort’s anchor property, the Baha Mar Hotel & Casino, and have stopped taking new bookings.
The developers are advising travelers with reservations at the three other resort properties under construction – the Grand Hyatt and the Rosewood and SLS hotels - to contact their respective hotels directly. The mega-resort’s sole open property, the Meliá Nassau Beach, is operating normally.
U.S. tour operators are adjusting their strategies in the wake of the Chapter 11 filing. “With the Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, Pleasant Holidays has suspended sales of the Baha Mar hotels until we get clarity on the opening date of the resort,” said Jack E. Richards, the firm’s president and CEO.
“The preliminary information in the bankruptcy papers indicates the resort is about 97 percent complete so we are hopeful the resort will be open sometime in 2015,” Richards added.
Baha Mar officials have also launched a website designed to update stakeholders on the progress and reasons behind the project’s Chapter 11 filing. In addition to news related to the Chapter 11 and court filings, the site includes sections for guests, Baha Mar staff and Bahamas citizens, vendors and suppliers and “community.”
The site directs project vendors and suppliers to file “proof of claims for any amounts owed prior to the commencement of the Chapter 11.” Baha Mar has engaged a claims agent to assist the vendors and suppliers in the claims process.
Said Izmirlian, “Our goal is to complete construction and successfully open Baha Mar as a world-class destination resort that will attract guests from across the globe and serve as a key economic sparkplug in the Bahamas.”
American Tourist Missing for 5 Years Discovered in Australia
Despite having been missing for five years, a vanished American tourist was found alive by police in Australia.
According to the Cairns Post, police found the man amid a burglary investigation after he was chased down by a police K-9 and arrested.
The man, identified as 60-year-old Kenneth Rodman, went missing shortly after heading to the beach in northern Australia back in 2010. Officials were only able to recover a submerged kayak, which was discovered a month after Rodman's disappearance.
"Friends, family, and police were unable to make contact with him since 2010," said Queensland state police in a statement earlier this week. "On Saturday night, officers investigating a matter stumbled across the now 60-year-old man where he allegedly confessed to police that he had been listed as a missing person."
Police have since turned Rodman over to immigration officials, and It’s expected that he'll be deported back to the U.S.
"The matter was never closed as a missing person case but inquiries led police to believe he was avoiding contact with authorities to stay in Australia, despite his visa expiring," said Inspector Glenn Horan via the Post.
A Department of Immigration and Border Protection spokesman called Rodman a "person of interest," and said that "he will be put on a flight as soon his travel documents are in order."
"If he has his American passport that could be within days."
The reason for Rodman's disappearance remains unknown and authorities weren't able to say whether he was assisted. However, police believe he spent a majority of the past five years hiding out in the tropical areas of Far North Queensland.
Prior to his disappearance, Rodman, who was 55 at the time, was last seen near Port Douglas, which is located nearly 40 miles north of the popular Australian tourist town of Cairns.
Qantas Glitch Results in Super Cheap Australia-Los Angeles Flights
If you thought you could get your hands on a roundtrip ticket from Australia to Los Angeles for a little more than $400, you'd be wise to keep dreaming.
Unfortunately for Australia's flag carrier Qantas, that dream briefly became a reality this week when a computer glitch caused some eye-popping deals to appear on websites like Hopper.com and Skyscanner.com.au , according to Mashable's Jenni Ryall.
Roundtrip tickets for scheduled flights from July to September were shown on Hopper for as low as A$577 ($444). Meanwhile, Skyscanner featured one-way fares for just A$286 ($220) for flights scheduled as far ahead as March 2016.
Skyscanner told Mashable that the low fares were the "result of a promotion or sale running from one of our partners, an online travel agency and the fare is available only on certain dates."
But Qantas confirmed that the ridiculously low fares were in fact the result of a glitch.
"There was a glitch that impacted third party USA-based online booking systems this morning, as we made some fare changes effective 1 July for travel originating in Australia. These mistake fares were incorrectly offered and have been removed from sale. The glitch was fixed at 11.30am AEST and we’re currently following up affected bookings," said a Qantas spokesperson in a statement via Mashable.
The airline did not say whether it would honor tickets that were booked for the low prices and it remains to be seen how many travelers could potentially be affected.
This isn't the first time and certainly won't be the last time that travelers are impacted by a computer glitch. Last month a glitch led the U.S. State Department to cease issuance of passports and visas. And in February 2015, a computer glitch resulted in nationwide delays for United Airlines.
Data breach discovered at Trump Hotels
A bad week just got even worse for Republican Presidential hopeful Donald Trump.
The Trump Hotel Collection has reportedly suffered a credit card data breach according to data from several US banks.
The breach can be dated back to February 2015, according to the Krebs on Security website, and has affected several US locations including Chicago, Honolulu, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, and New York.
After declining several requests for comment Trump Hotels finally acknowledged the breach.
"Like virtually every other company these days, we have been alerted to potential suspicious credit card activity and are in the midst of a thorough investigation to determine whether it involves any of our properties," said Eric Trump, executive vice president of development and acquisitions in a statement.
"We are committed to safeguarding all guests' personal information and will continue to do so vigilantly."
It is unclear yet how many customers may have had their personal data compromised in the breach.
The type of attack has also not been disclosed but is likely to follow a similar pattern to recent breaches at other hotel groups such as Mandarin oriental and White Lodging.
In these breaches point of sale systems at F&B outlets were infected with malware allowing cyber crooks to access sensitive card data.
Donald Trump has endured a torrid few days following inflammatory comments made about Mexican immigrants.
This has sparked several companies to cut ties with the real estate developer, including NBC and Macy's.
Ferry operator Balearia gets US nod to serve Cuba
The Spanish company that operates ferries from Fort Lauderdale to the Bahamas is one step closer to adding service to Cuba.
Spain's Balearia said it received approval from the U.S. Commerce Department to operate ships between Florida and Cuba. It also expects authorization from the U.S. Treasury Department "in the coming weeks" to carry passengers between the two neighboring nations, a news release said.
Pending approval from Cuba, ferry service between the U.S. and Cuba could start as soon as fall, attorneys familiar with U.S.-Cuba business have said.
Balearia has been offering fast ferry service between Port Everglades and Freeport on Grand Bahama Island since 2011 under the brand name Bahamas Express.
For Cuba service, it plans to operate two routes to Havana: a high-speed vessel from Key West and a ferry from Port Everglades, the news release said. No further details were specified.
U.S. authorities in May licensed at least six companies to offer ferry service to Cuba, the first such approvals in five decades. Ferry service had been cut amid tensions between the two governments. It is being restored in line with restoration of diplomatic ties between the two neighbors.
The ferry companies plan to offer trips that cost less than charter flights and allow more baggage free. Many Cuban-Americans haul down hefty supplies for family homes and new private businesses.
Also licensed are Havana Ferry Partners of Fort Lauderdale, Baja Ferries of Miami, United Caribbean Lines of Greater Orlando, Airline Brokers Co. of Miami, America Cruise Ferries of Puerto Rico and International Port Corp. of Miami, among others.
The U.S. embargo on Cuba still bans Americans from leisure tourism in Cuba. But Americans can visit the island for 12 categories of "purposeful" travel including family visits, government business, professional research, performances, plus educational, religious and humanitarian activities.
Balearia is looking to serve Cuba as part of a broader international expansion.
This year, the company expects to transport more than 130,000 passengers between the U.S. and the Bahamas, up 25 percent from last year. It estimates that revenues from international operations in the Caribbean and Mediterranean regions will account for about 15 percent of its total business.
In five years, Balearia aims to derive about 50 percent of its revenue from international business, perhaps including Puerto Rico-Dominican Republic service as well, the company said.
Balearia now has 23 ships and employs more than 1,000 people worldwide.
Rental car customers and rates up during the July Fourth weekend
Robust travel expected for July 4th weekend
Road trips will be popular this week as many Americans travel from home to celebrate Independence Day.
Nearly 36 million Americans, including 1.8 million Floridians, will travel 50 miles or more from home in personal or rented vehicles during the Fourth of July holiday period running Wednesday through Sunday, according to travel group AAA.
And that's expected to keep major highways and thoroughfares jammed.
Some car rental companies across South Florida are seeing brisk business.
"We're already registering a clear increase in demand for the July Fourth holiday weekend," Evan Wexler, executive vice president operations of Sixt USA, said of business at its rental sites in the Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and Miami area.
Car rental demand in Fort Lauderdale has been fueled in part by new flight connections to South America and other international destinations that operate at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, Wexler said. And Miami is popular with European and South American travelers during the summer.
For reservations beginning Friday, rates at Sixt's 700 E. Sunrise Blvd. location for an economy car such as a Hyundai Accent starts at $45.24 a day for a three-day rental through Monday, according to an online search Wednesday on sixt.com . That's up from about $33.68 per day a week ago.
On Wednesday, Oakland Park resident Steven Winkler, 47, stopped at Sixt on Sunrise Boulevard to pick up a car for trips this weekend to South Beach and Key Largo with a friend visiting from Canada.
"I don't want to put the mileage on my own car, and I like the luxury cars that Sixt offers," he said, while waiting for a Mercedes Benz to be readied. "This location is more convenient for me than going to the airport."
At Enterprise Holdings — parent company of Enterprise, Alamo and National car rental brands — reservations in South Florida are up 7 percent this year for the July Fourth holiday weekend from last year, spokeswoman Laura Bryant said.
Overall, it's shaping up to be the busiest Fourth of July holiday travel period since 2007, with 41.9 million Americans (2.09 million Floridians) traveling during the five-day holiday period, AAA said.
Americans traveling also are expected to spend more money this year — $378 each, or $15.8 billion total, according to economists at the U.S. Travel Association. That's an increase of 1.7 percent from 2014.
The number of people hopping on buses, trains and cruise ships for the July Fourth holiday – roughly 3.2 million travelers — is also slightly higher than in 2014, AAA said.
City-to-city express bus company Megabus.com said it's expecting a 20 percent increase in ridership this July 4 weekend compared with a normal weekend. Fort Lauderdale, Miami and Orlando are among more than 130 cities that Megabus serves across North America.
On Wednesday, fares on megabus.com for travel from Fort Lauderdale to Orlando Friday ranged from $27 to $32 one way, while fares returning Monday ranged from $18 to $30 one way, depending on time of day.
If traveling this Fourth of July, consider these tips:
Airports/Airfares: If traveling by air for July Fourth festivities, expect increased activity at South Florida airports. Nationwide, AAA forecasts air travel to climb 1.5 percent this year to 3.2 million fliers between Wednesday and Sunday. Average airfares for the top 40 domestic flight routes are 6 percent higher this holiday period, climbing to $227, AAA said.
Gasoline: Most drivers are likely to pay the lowest gas prices for Independence Day in five years, AAA said. Across South Florida on Wednesday, the average price of regular unleaded gas ranged between $2.76 and $2.84 a gallon, according to AAA's Daily Fuel Gauge Report. That compares with $3.65 to $3.72 a year ago.
Hotels: Room rates are about 6 percent to 9 percent higher this year, according to AAA's Leisure Travel Index.
Tolls: Drivers will pay 1.6 percent more for tolls on Florida's Turnpike and other state-operated toll roads starting Wednesday. That will affect travel along Alligator Alley, the Sawgrass Expressway and the BeachLine Expressway between Orlando and the Space Coast, and the turnpike.
Orlando skyscraper roller-coaster plan clears FAA
The Federal Aviation Authority determined the proposed 700-foot Skyscraper roller-coaster structure, which includes a restaurant and observation deck, poses no hazard to air traffic.
The decision will become final next Monday because no one filed a petition against the federal agency's aeronautical study, said Kathleen Bergen, FAA spokeswoman.
"The study disclosed that the described structure would have no substantial adverse effect on air navigation," reads the May 27 letter, adding it would only be 8.52 nautical miles west of Orlando International Airport.
The structure will be put on aeronautical charts, said the FAA. Petitioners had until Friday to file against the project.
The letter was sent to developers of the proposed roller coaster, which itself tops out at 570 feet and would be in the proposed Skyplex Orlando entertainment complex at the intersection of International Drive and Sand Lake Road.
The 570-foot height includes the proposed restaurant, said Joshua Wallack, managing principal of the Skyplex complex. Wallack said FAA approval is one step of many for the development's progression.
The plans still require review from Orange County's Planning and Zoning Commission for a rezoning request of the parcels it would be built upon. Wallack wants Orange County to rezone the land from C-2 to planned development.
Development plans have not been without contention. In May, several I-Drive stakeholders expressed concern allowing Wallack's team to build something so tall, saying it could lead the way for bigger, taller construction in the tourism district.
Skyplex plans also call for more than 333,000 square feet of entertainment retail, more than 95,000 square feet of general retail, nearly 40,000 square feet of restaurant space and the construction of a zip line, a drop ride and a surf park.
The plans advanced last week when the county's Development Review Committee recommended the complex go forward, said an Orange County spokeswoman.
Skyplex will be reviewed by Planning and Zoning officials Aug. 20. If approved there, the complex will go before county commissioners for final approval.
After that approval, Wallack and his development team will still need to get final permitting before they can begin building.
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i don't know
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At $12.5bn, what phone corporation became Google's biggest acquisition in Aug 2011?
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Facts about Google’s acquisition of Motorola
Motorola Mobility Patents
Overview
On August 15, Google announced an agreement to acquire Motorola Mobility , based in Libertyville, Illinois, for $40 per share. Both companies’ boards of directors have approved the deal.
Benefits of the deal
Google and Motorola Mobility together will accelerate innovation and choice in mobile computing. Consumers will get better phones at lower prices.
Motorola Mobility’s patent portfolio will help protect the Android ecosystem. Android, which is open-source software, is vital to competition in the mobile device space, ensuring hardware manufacturers, mobile phone carriers, applications developers and consumers all have choice.
Why Motorola Mobility?
Motorola Mobility’s full commitment to the Android operating system means there is a natural fit between our companies.
Motorola Mobility was a founding member of the Open Handset Alliance in 2007.
Motorola Mobility in 2008 made a big bet on Android as the sole operating system for all its smartphone devices.
Google is great at software; Motorola Mobility is great at devices. The combination of the two makes sense and will enable faster innovation.
Motorola Mobility has a long history of innovation in communications technology and the development of intellectual property.
Its many industry milestones include the introduction of the world’s first portable cell phone nearly 30 years ago, and the StarTAC–the smallest and lightest phone in the world when it was launched.
J.K. Shin, President, Samsung, Mobile Communications Division
“We welcome today’s news, which demonstrates Google’s deep commitment to defending Android, its partners, and the ecosystem.”
Ken Hong, LG spokesman
"We will continue [to] support the Android operating system, and we have no concerns about the changes in the Android environment.” ( MarketWatch )
David Balto, a former FTC antitrust official and senior fellow at the Center for American Progress
“If anything, antitrust regulators may see the deal as a boost to competition. Android is such a crucial competitor to the iPhone in particular, that allowing Google to buy Motorola Mobility will likely produce even more innovation in smartphones and other devices.” (AP via ABC News )
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Motorola
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What weed is named from the French 'lion's tooth'?
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Facts about Google’s acquisition of Motorola
Motorola Mobility Patents
Overview
On August 15, Google announced an agreement to acquire Motorola Mobility , based in Libertyville, Illinois, for $40 per share. Both companies’ boards of directors have approved the deal.
Benefits of the deal
Google and Motorola Mobility together will accelerate innovation and choice in mobile computing. Consumers will get better phones at lower prices.
Motorola Mobility’s patent portfolio will help protect the Android ecosystem. Android, which is open-source software, is vital to competition in the mobile device space, ensuring hardware manufacturers, mobile phone carriers, applications developers and consumers all have choice.
Why Motorola Mobility?
Motorola Mobility’s full commitment to the Android operating system means there is a natural fit between our companies.
Motorola Mobility was a founding member of the Open Handset Alliance in 2007.
Motorola Mobility in 2008 made a big bet on Android as the sole operating system for all its smartphone devices.
Google is great at software; Motorola Mobility is great at devices. The combination of the two makes sense and will enable faster innovation.
Motorola Mobility has a long history of innovation in communications technology and the development of intellectual property.
Its many industry milestones include the introduction of the world’s first portable cell phone nearly 30 years ago, and the StarTAC–the smallest and lightest phone in the world when it was launched.
J.K. Shin, President, Samsung, Mobile Communications Division
“We welcome today’s news, which demonstrates Google’s deep commitment to defending Android, its partners, and the ecosystem.”
Ken Hong, LG spokesman
"We will continue [to] support the Android operating system, and we have no concerns about the changes in the Android environment.” ( MarketWatch )
David Balto, a former FTC antitrust official and senior fellow at the Center for American Progress
“If anything, antitrust regulators may see the deal as a boost to competition. Android is such a crucial competitor to the iPhone in particular, that allowing Google to buy Motorola Mobility will likely produce even more innovation in smartphones and other devices.” (AP via ABC News )
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i don't know
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Slate is an example of what sort of rock, whose name loosely means 'change in form'?
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Geologynet - Geology Software, Minerals and Rocks
Minerals and Rocks
by Longwell, C.R., Knopf, A, Flint, R.F. (1934)
CHAPTER 2
INTRODUCTION AND DEFINITION
Below a thin, ragged mantle of soil and superficial material, the Earth's outermost shell is made up of rocks Most of these rocks are in turn made up of minerals. As the rocks are the chief documents in which the geologic history of the Earth is written, they be- come deeply interesting when regarded from this point of view. In order to penetrate their meaning and to understand them as historical records we must be able to recognize the minerals that make up the rocks. A mineral is a substance the product of inorganic nature, that is characterized by distinctive physical properties and a composition expressible by a chemical formula. Minerals are composed of chemical elements. A few consist of single elements, such as native gold and silver, as these metals are termed when they occur in elementary state in nature, or diamond and graphite, both of which are crystalline forms of the element carbon. Diamond and graphite illustrate in the most striking way possible what is meant by a mineral. Although both are identical in chemical composition, yet each is a distinct mineral because each has its own characteristic physical properties: diamond is transparent and is the hardest substance known, whereas graphite is opaque and is nearly the softest substance known. Most minerals, however, are made up of two or more chemical elements united in such a way that the product of the union differs greatly in its properties from those of the elements composing it.
CHARACTER OF MINERALS
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
A few minerals have an invariable chemical composition; but most of them have a variable composition which, however, can be expressed by a chemical formula. Quartz, one of the most abundant minerals, has a fixed composition, expressed by the chemical formula SiO2 2 which is a sort of shorthand saying that one atom of silicon is united with two atoms of oxygen; in short, quartz, regardless of where obtained or how formed, is essentially 100 per cent (silica). Sphalerite from which most of the world's zinc is obtained, is a minera1 of variable composition, which is indicated by writing its formula thus: Zn,FeS thereby indicates g that in this mineral an atom of iron can proxy for an atom of zinc, The various minerals react differently to chemical reagents, and these reactions are one of the means used in identifying minerals. It is beyond the scope of this book to explain how minerals are identified by their chemical behavior, but, many textbooks of mineralogy treat the subject fully.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERS
Nearly all minerals are crystalline that is to say, they are built up of atoms that are organized in definite geometric arrangements. A few minerals are amorphous (non-crystalline). Under favorable conditions of growth most minerals form crystals A crystal is a solid that is bounded by smooth plane surfaces called faces whose arrangement is governed by the internal structure of the mineral. The crystals of any particular mineral have forms that are more or less characteristic. For instance, the mineral pyrite frequently crystallizes in cubes (Fig. 4). Garnet commonly occur as twelve-sided crystals known 88 dodecahedrons (Fig. 5). The recognition of these crystal forms helps in identifying minerals.
Structure of Minerals. The structure of minerals generally refers to their outward shape and form. The following descriptive terms are used, some of which are self-explanatory: crystallized occurring as crystals or showing crystal faces; massive not bounded by crystal faces: the antithesis of crystallized; columnar; fibrous (Fig. 6); botryoidal (Fig. 7), consisting of small rounded forms like closely bunched grapes; micaceous, occurring in thin sheets that can readily be split into thinner sheets; granular, in aggregates of coarse to fine grains; com- pact; earthy; oolitic, formed of small spheres resembling fish roe.
Cleavage and Fracture. The manner in which many minerals break or split is so characteristic that it helps greatly in identifying them. If they break so that smooth plane surfaces are produced, they are said to have a cleavage. Although this cleavage invariably occurs along planes, these planes are not necessarily parallel to the surface faces that bound the crystal. Some minerals have but one cleavage; other have two, three, or even six different cleavage directions. The number of cleavage directions that a mineral has serves as an aid in determining the mineral. A fine example is the cubic cleavage of galena, which causes the galena to cleave in three planes at right angles to one another, so that it breaks up into small perfect cubes which can in turn be split into still smaller cubes, and so on (Fig. 8). Other ex- ample are the rhombohedral cleavage of calcite three planes not at right angles, so that the resulting cleavage fragments are rhombohedrons (Fig. 9); and the cleavage of mica in one direction only, the most remarkable cleavage in the whole mineral king dom, by virtue of which the mica can be split into sheets of indefinite thinness. If a mineral has no cleavage, then the nature of its broken surface its fracture is more or less distinctive The fracture of a mineral is conchoidal, if the surface of a fracture is curved like the interior of a clam shell; fibrous or splintery if it is like that of wood; uneven or irregular, if the surface is rough.
Color. The color of a mineral is one of its most conspicuous features. A few minerals have a distinctive color that serves as a ready mean s of identification. For example, the golden-yellow of chalcopyrite the lead-gray of galena, the black of magnetite, are striking properties of these minerals. The golden-yellow color of chalcopyrite, together with a test for soft brittle character, practically surfaces to identify chalcopyrite, but unhappily few minerals can be identified so easily. Surface alterations are likely to change the color of a mineral, as shown by the golden-yellow tarnish frequently seen on pyrite. To observe the true, intrinsic color of a mineral a fresh surface must be examined. Moreover, many minerals vary in color in the different specimens. This is due to a difference in composition such as an increased amount of iron in Sphalerite, with the consequent darkening in color of the mineral: or to impurities such as the red color given to quartz by admixed hematite. Other minerals, such as fluorite (colorless, green, blue, violet), although having no perceptible variation in composition, show a wide range in color, the result of containing some foreign constituent in infinitesimal amount in a state of extremely minute subdivision evenly distributed through them.
Color of Powder or Streak. The color of the streak is an important aid in identifying minerals. The streak is a thin layer of the powder of the mineral obtained by rubbing the mineral on an unglazed porcelain place know n as a streak plate The color of the streak may be like that of the mineral, but surprisingly enough the color of the streak of many minerals differs greatly from their body color. For example, some varieties of hematite are brilliantly black, but they give a red- brown streak, which positively identifies them as hematite. Luster. The luster of a mineral is the appearance of its surfaces as determined by its inherent reflecting quality. Luster must not be confused with color, for two minerals of the same color can have to- tally different luster's, just as a black paint with a shiny finish, such as an enamel, differs in appearance from a black paint with a dull finish because it reflects light differently. The different kinds of luster are the following:
Metallic. Having the luster of a metal. Example: pyrite. Most minerals that give a dark or black streak have metallic luster.
Glassy Having the luster of glass. Example: quartz.
Resinous. Having the luster of yellow resin. Example: Sphalerite.
Pearly. Having the iridescence of pearl. Example: some varieties of feldspar.
Greasy. Looking as if covered with a thin layer of oil. Example: some varieties of massive quartz.
Silky. Like silk, as the result of a finely fibrous structure Example fibrous
Adamantine. Having a brilliant luster like that of a diamond.
Hardness of minerals. Minerals differ greatly in hardness, and the determination of this property is an important aid in identifying them. The reactive hardness of a mineral is determined by comparing it with the hardness of a series of minerals that has been chosen as a standard scale The scale consists of the following minerals, each mineral being harder than those that precede it in the scale.
Scale of Hardness
9. Corundum
10. Diamond
The relative hardness of a mineral in terms of this scale is deter- mined by finding which of these minerals it can scratch and which it can not scratch. In determining hardness the following precautions must be observed. A mineral that is softer than another may leave a mark on the harder one which can be mistaken for a scratch. The mark can be rubbed off. however, whereas a true scratch is permanent. Some minerals are commonly altered on the surface to material much softer than the original mineral The physical structure of a mineral may prevent the correct determination of its hardness. For instance, if a mineral is powdery, finely granular, or splintery in structure it can apparently be scratched by a mineral much softer than itself. It is always advisable when making the hardness test to confirm the test by reversing the procedure, that is, by rubbing the mineral of unknown hardness on the material of known hardness. The following materials serve as additions to the above scale. The finger nail is a little over 2 in hardness, as it can scratch gypsum but not calcite. A copper coin is slightly above 3 in hardness, as it can scratch calcite but not fluorite The steel of an ordinary pocket knife just exceeds 5, and ordinary glass has a hardness of 5.5. Specific Gravity. The specific -gravity of a substance is expressed as a number that indicates how many times heavier a given volume of the substance is than an equal volume of water. Minerals range in specific gravity between 1.5 and 20.0. The great majority range between 2.0 and 4.0. There are various instruments by which the specific gravity of a mineral can be determined accurately, but ordinarily it is sufficient to judge the weight of a fair-sized piece in the hand. After some experience rather small differences in specific gravity can be detected in this way, and the specific gravity of a mineral can be roughly estimated.
COMMON MINERALS
A few of the more common minerals are described on the following pages. The student should compare these descriptions with as many different specimens of the minerals as possible, and should note the form, color, and luster of each specimen and make the simple tests for hardness, streak, and specific gravity.
Magnetite. An oxide of iron, Fe304. Physical Characters. Black; metallic luster. Streak black. Hardness 6. Specific gravity 5.17. Strongly magnetic, hence its name. Granular or massive; fairly common it octahedral crystals (Fig. 10). Occurrence. Is a valuable iron-ore mineral, containing 72 per cent of iron. It is mined in the Adirondacks, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and many other parts of the world. It is common as a minor constituent in rocks, particularly in the darker-colored igneous rocks. The black sand of the seashore is largely magnetite.-
Hematite. The ferric oxide of iron, Fe2O3. Physical Character Dark steel-gray to iron-black; brilliant metallic luster (except in earthy specimens). Streak light to dark red-brown (Indian red); color of streak distinguishes it from limonite. Hardness 5.5 to 6.5. Specific gravity about 5. Granular micaceous; earthy (in this form it is red). Rarely in crystals. Occurrence: Hematite is widely distributed in rocks and is the most abundant ore mineral of iron; it contains 70 per cent of iron. More than nine-tenths of the iron produced in the United States comes from this mineral. The chief districts are near the shores of Lake Superior in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. Other important districts are in northern Alabama and eastern Tennessee. Earthy hematite is the pigment that gives many sandstone's their red color. It is used also in red paints and as a polishing material.
Limonite. Hydrous ferric oxide, Fe2O3-H2O. Physical Character Dark brown to nearly black Streak yellowish-brown, which distinguishes it from hematite. Hardness 5 to 5.5.. Specific gravity about 4. Common as masses that resemble compact bunched of grapes (botryoidal structure [Fig. l]); if broken open, these masses generally have a radiating fibrous structure; occurs also in stalactitic forms resembling icicles earthy. The term limonite is restricted to the amorphous and earthy forms, and the crystalline forms are called goethite. Occurrence. Limonite is a valuable source of iron, but contains less iron than magnetite and hematite. It is a common mineral formed by the alteration of previously existing minerals that contain iron. Ordinary iron rust is limonite. It gives brown, orange, and yellow colors to many weathered rocks, to some non- weathered sedimentary strata, and to many soils.
Pyrite. Iron sulphide, FeS2 Physical Characters. Pale brass-ye1low, but some specimens are tarnished to deeper shades of yellow. Streak black Hardness 6 to 6.5 unusually hard for a sulphide Specific gravity about 5. Generally granular Common as crystals, especially as cubes whose faces are marked with fine parallel lines, or striae (Fig. 4). Occurrence. The most common sulphide mineral. Occurs in many rocks and is an important vein mineral. May carry small amounts of gold or copper and so become an ore of both these metals. Is not used as an ore of iron, but as a source of sulfur in the manufacture of sulfuric acid. Its presence in building stones detracts from their value, as its oxidation produces not only iron-oxide stains but also sulfuric acid, which causes the stones to disintegrate.
Chalcopyrite (Copper Pyrite). Copper-iron sulphide, CuFeS2. Physical Characters Golden-yellow; generally tarnished to bronze or iridescent colors. Streak greenish-black. Hardness 3.5, hence much softer than pyrite. Specific gravity 42. As a rule massive, rarely in crystals Occurrence. An abundant and valuable ore-mineral of copper, containing 34 per event of the metal. Occurs intimately distributed in vein deposits with many other sulphide minerals.
Sphalerite. Zinc sulphide, ZnS, when ideally pure; generally contains some iron, as indicated by the formula ZnFeS. Physical Character Commonly yellow-brown to dark-brown, being darker in the varieties containing more iron. Resinous to submetallic luster Hardness 3.5 to 4. Specific gravity about 4. White to yellow and brown streak, of lighter shade than the mineral itself. Has brilliantly Bashing cleavage planes sloping in six different directions. As a rule massive. Occurrence. The most important source of zinc. Widely distributed, but generally in veins or irregular bodies in limestone. Associated generally with galena, pyrite, and chalcopyrite.
Galena Lead sulphide PbS. Physical Characters. Lead-gray. Bright metallic luster. Streak grayish-black Hardness 2.5 (soft). Specific gravity about 7.5 (" very heavy "). Perfect cleavage in three planes at right angles to each other, forming cubes Fig. 8 (not visible, however, in finely granular specimens). Occurs in natural cubic crystals, but massive and granular aggregates are more common. Occurrence. Is the chief source of lead; contains 87 per cent of the metal. Some contains silver and serves as an ore of that metal. Commonly occurs with zinc minerals.
Calcite. Calcium carbonate, CaCO3. Physical Characters. Generally white or colorless. Also variously tinted gray, red, green, and blue. Commonly opaque or translucent; rarely transparent Hardness 3. Specific gravity 2.7. Perfect cleavage in three planes at oblique angles to each other (rhombohedral cleavage [Fig. 9]), giving rhombic-shaped faces. well-formed crystals are common. Effervesces freely on application of cold acid, because of the copious liberation of the gas carbon dioxide. This test serves to distinguish calcite from dolomite, another common carbonate, which does not effervesce under these conditions. Occurrence. A very common mineral. Is the chief constituent of limestone's and marbles; also common in veins. Used in the manufacture of lime, plasters, and cement as a metallurgic flux, and in chemical industries.
Dolomite. Carbonate of calcium and magnesium, CaMg(CO3)2. Physical Characters. Generally white or gray; rarely flesh-colored. Opaque to translucent. Hardness 8.5 to 4 (harder than calcite). Perfect cleavage in three planes not at right angles to each other (rhombohedral cleavage). Specific gravity 2.9. Glassy to pearly luster. Does not effervesce on application of a drop of cold acid unless the acid is placed on a scratched or powdered surface. In this respect it differs from calcite. Occurrence. Composes the common rock known as dolomite; also dolomite marble. Occurs also as a vein mineral. In the rock form, it is used as a building and ornamental stone, for the manufacture of some cements, as s source of magnesia for refractory substances and as agricultural lime.
Gypsum. Hydrous calcium sulfate, CaSO4 2H2O. Physical Characters. Usually white or colorless. Hardness 2 easily scratched with the finger nail). Specific gravity about 2.8. Has one perfect cleavage; an- other imperfect cleavage is visible in some specimens. Occurrence. Is widely distributed in sedimentary rocks. In place forma thick beds, commonly interstratified with limestone and shale. Generally occurs in association with salt beds. Is chiefly used for the production of plaster of Paris.
Halite (Common Salt). Sodium chloride, NaCl Physical Characters. White or colorless. Hardness 2.5. Specific gravity 2.1. Perfect cleavage in three planes at right angles to one another (cubic cleavage). Transparent to translucent. Salty taste. Generally in cubic crystals or in masses showing cubic cleavage. Occurrence. In thick beds interstratified with sedimentary rocks and associated with gypsum. Used for cooking and preservative purposes; also extensively in chemical industry.
Quartz. Silicon dioxide, SiO2. Physical Characters. Colorless or white; but many varieties are colored by impurities, yellow, red, pink, amethyst, green, blue, brown, black. Glassy luster. Transparent to opaque. Hardness 7. Specific gravity 2.65. In contrast to most common minerals, quartz shows no cleavage; has conchoidal fracture. Commonly in hexagonal crystals similar to Fig. 11. The triangular faces at the ends of the crystals are usually smooth, whereas the rectangular faces between the ends are horizontally striated. Also massive. Varieties. There are many varieties of quartz to which different names are given. A few are as follows. rock crystal which is colorless quartz, commonly in distinct crystals; amethyst quartz colored purple or violet; rose quartz, usually massive with a pink color; smoky quartz, quartz of a smoky yellow, brown, or almost black color; chalcedony, finely fibrous variety, translucent with a waxy luster; agate, a variegated chalcedony delicately banded in different colors; jasper, extremely fine-grained quartz colored red by admixed hematite. Occurrence. Quartz is one of the most common minerals. It is most abundant as a constituent of granite, in which it resembles bits of window glass. It is also the most common vein mineral. It makes up the largest part of most sands and sandstone's.
Garnet. There are several garnets, which differ from one another in the elements they contain. They are all silicates with analogous chemical formulas. The most common garnet is a red variety (almandine), containing ferrous iron and aluminum, FesAl2(Si04) g. Other garnets contain magnesium, calcium, manganese, and ferric iron. Physical Characters. Color depends somewhat on the composition, but is an unsafe criterion; most commonly red (almandine) or brown. Also yellow, green, and black. Transparent to almost opaque. Hardness 7. Specific gravity 32 to 43 (varies with the chemical composition Generally well crystallized, either in a form showing 12 rhombic-shaped faces (dodecahedron, Fig. 5) or 24 trapezium- shaped faces (trapezohedron). Occurrence. Garnet is a widely distributed mineral, occurring most commonly in metamorphic rocks. Used as a semi-precious gem stone and, because of its hardness, as an abrasive material.
Orthoclase (Potassium Feldspar). Potassium-aluminum silicate, KAlSi2O4. Physical Characters. Colorless, white, gray, pink, and red; rarely green. Streak white, in spite of the diversity of colors. Hardness 6. Specific gravity 2.56. Has two good cleavages that make right angles with each other (whence the name of the mineral). Occurrence. The most common silicate. Widely distributed as a prominent rock constituent, occurring in rocks of many kinds, but most abundantly in granite and allied rocks. Also in large crystals and cleavage masses in what are known as pegmatite dikes. From these dikes it is quarried in large amounts for use in the manufacture of porcelain.
Plagioclase Feldspars. Sodium-calcium-aluminum silicates. Physical Characters. Various shades of gray, less commonly white. Tans- parent to opaque. Hardness 6. Specific gravity 2.6 to 2.76. Have two cleavages making nearly a right angle with each other, one of them (the basal cleavage being better than the other. Some specimens are distinguishable from orthoclase by having on their basal cleavage planes a series of stria (fine parallel lines, which resemble rulings made by a fine diamond point). Some cleavage surfaces, especially of the dark-gray variety, give a beautiful play of colors when specimen is rotated in good light. The white variety commonly occurs in thin-bladed crystals with curved surfaces and a pearly luster. Occurrence. In much the same manner as orthoclase. The plagioclase in gabbros is likely to be dark colored or black and therefore not easily distinguishable from the associated pyroxene.
Muscovite (White Mica). A complex silicate containing potassium and aluminum. Physical Characters Has a perfect cleavage in one direction, which allows the mineral to be split into exceedingly thin sheets or flakes. These sheets are flexible and elastic, ie., on release of pressure a bent sheet- has the power of resuming its original shape. Transparent and almost colorless in thin sheets. In thicker blocks, opaque with light shades of brown and green. Hardness 2 to 2.5. Specific gravity 2.76 to 3. Occurrence. A common rock-making mineral. It occurs in granite together with quartz and feldspar, and with the same minerals in pegmatite dikes It is characteristic of a series of rocks made up of abundant mica, in which it is arranged in parallel orientation, with the result that the rocks split in flakes and slabs parallel to the cleavage of the mica. These rocks are known as mica schists. Is used chiefly as an insulating materials l in the manufacture of electrical apparatus. There are many minor uses.
Biotite (Black Mica). A complex silicate containing potassium, magnesium, iron, and aluminum. Physical Characters. Perfect micaceous cleavage. Cleavage sheets and flakes are flexible and elastic. Generally dark-green, brown, or black. Thin sheets generally have a smoky color differing from the almost colorless muscovite). Hardness 2.5 to 3. Specific gravity 3. Occurrence. An abundant rock-making mineral, common in granites and many gneisses and schists.
Chlorite. A complex silicate containing magnesium and aluminum. Chlorite is a name given to a group of minerals that are prevailingly of green color and of broadly similar characters. Physical Characters. Perfect micaceous cleavage. Flakes are flexible but not elastic differing in this lack of elasticity from the micas). Green of various shades. Hardness 2 to 2.5. Specific gravity 2.65 to 2.96. Occurrence. A common rock-making mineral. The green color of many rocks is due to the presence of this mineral. This is particularly true of many schists and slates (green roofing slates). Serpentine. Magnesium silicate , H4Mg3Si2O3. Physical Characters. Green of various shades: olive-green, yellow-green. ranging to blackish-green. Luster greasy or wax-like; silky when fibrous. Hardness 2.5 to 5, generally 4. Specific gravity 2.5 to 2.65. Usually massive but also fibrous or felted. The name serpentine is given also to the common rock com- posed largely of the mineral serpentine. Occurrence. A common mineral, widely distributed. Invariably an alteration product of some magnesia n silicate, chiefly olivine. It is the chief constituent of the rock called serpentine, some varieties of which are used as ornamental stone. The fibrous variety known as chrysotile is the principal source of asbestos.
Olivine. Silicate of magnesium and iron, (Mg,Fe) 2Si04. Physical Characters. Olive-green to yellowish-green; rarely brownish. Trans- parent to opaque. Hardness 6.5 to 7. Specific gravity 327 to 3.37. Glassy luster Conchoidal fracture, causing it to resemble yellowish-green quarts. Occurrence. Common as irregular grains in the dark, heavy granular igneous rocks gabbros and peridotites, and as distinct crystals in many basalts.
Pyroxene and Amphibole
These two abundant rock making minerals are similar in some respects, and their identification is based on crystal form. Consequently, it is difficult to discriminate them in most rocks, because good crystal forms are rare in rocks. However, it is well to study them separately under favorable conditions, in order to appreciate their differences as well as their points of similarity. Pyroxene. A silicate containing chiefly calcium and magnesium; also varying amounts of aluminum, iron, and sodium. Physical Characters. Light- to dark-green to black, varying with the amount of iron; white in iron-free variety. Commonly opaque. Hardness 5 to 6. Specific gravity 3.1 to 3.6. In prismatic crystals with eight sides (Fig. 12a); in reality square prisms whose corners are truncated. The angle between alternate faces is therefore nearly 90'. These faces will fit into the corner of a box or tray. By means of these angles pyroxene can best be told from amphibole. Some specimens show a fair cleavage parallel to the faces lettered m in the figure, the angle between the cleavage faces being also nearly 90'. This cleavage is not visible in all specimens used for demonstration purposes. Occurrence. Pyroxene is a highly abundant rock-making mineral, occurring chiefly in the dark-colored igneous rocks. Rare in rocks that contain much quartz. Amphibole. Silicate of calcium and magnesium with varying amounts of aluminum, iron, and sodium. Chemical composition is much like that of pyroxene. Physical Characters. Light- to dark-green to black, varying with amount of iron. Commonly opaque, Hardness 5 to 6. Specific gravity 2.93 to 3.8. Commonly in prismatic crystals with six sides. Figure 12b shows that the angles between the faces lettered m are 124 and 56' (very different from the corresponding angles in pyroxene). Has a good cleavage parallel to the faces lettered m. The difference in the form of the crystals and in cleavage angles and the fact that amphibole has the better cleavage are the chief outward distinctions between amphibole and pyroxene. Amphibole as a rule has a higher luster and yields smoother more continuous cleavage surfaces than does pyroxene. Some varieties of amphibole have long, needle-like crystals resulting in a fibrous structure. Pyroxene does not occur in this form. It should be remembered that the 56' and 124' with each other. The presence of well-formed crystal faces or cleavage surfaces is essential in order to distinguish between pyroxene and amphibole in hand specimens. Occurrence. Amphibole is an abundant rock-making mineral, occurring in biotite rich igneous and metamorphic rocks. Hornblende is a common dark variety of amphibole. Pyroxene and amphibole together with biotite are the dark minerals commonly occurring in many rocks. The first two can be distinguished from biotite by the fact that they occur in prismatic crystals that can not be divided into thin elastic Hakes; that is, they lack the perfect cleavage of the micas. If present as small grains in a rock, they lack the high luster characteristic of flakes of biotite. They can be distinguished from chlorite by their much greater hardness as well as by their form and lack of micaceous cleavage.
Rocks
Most rocks are aggregates of minerals. Therefore they differ greatly in appearance and other properties, depending on what minerals are present, the number of minerals present and their relative abundance, the size of the mineral grains, and the way in which the minerals are associated. The kinds of rocks are many and the varieties endless, but, if classified according to their modes of origin, they fall into three major classes:
I. Igneous rocks formed by the solidification of molten rock-matter, as exemplified by the rocks formed on the cooling of lava discharged from a volcano. II. Sedimentary rocks, most of which were formed by the settling of their substance as sediment from bodies of water such as streams lakes, and the sea. III. Metamorphic rocks, formed from pre-existing rocks by the development of new characters as the results of pressure, heat, or other geologic agents acting on them within the Earth's crust.
CHARACTERS USED IN IDENTIFYING ROCKS
The properties most useful in identifying rocks are structure, texture, hardness, and fracture. Color is sometimes useful, but is often misleading. Structure is a term used in describing the larger features of rocks. A layered or laminated structure generally indicates sedimentary origin. If a rock contains spherical or almond-shaped cavities or vesicles (" blowholes" formed by the liberated and expanding gases that were dissolved in molten rock-matter), it has s vesicular structure and is of igneous origin. If the vesicles become filled with minerals, the resulting structure is termed amygdaloidal (Fig. 18). Texture is the appearance of a rock as determined by the size, shape, and arrangement of the mineral grains of which it is built. The size of the grains determines the grain-size of the rock. If its grains are as large as peas, a rock is said to be coarse grained, or coarsely granular; if as small as the grains in granulated sugar, the rock is termed fine grained; and if so small that they can not be distinguished as separate entities, the rock will seem to be a homogeneous substance and is said to be aphanitic. The shape and arrangement of the mineral grains with respect to one another produce s distinct pattern the fabric of a rock. If, for example, the grains are roughly of one size, the rock has an equigranular fabric; but if the grains are very unequal in size, the fabric is termed inequigranular. There are many fabrics, some of which are characteristic of the rocks in which they occur. Inasmuch as texture (" appearance of the rock ") is the conjoint effect of grain-size and fabric, texture is customarily (and loosely) used for grain-size, for fabric, or for their conjoint effect Certain textures help in the megascopic identification of rocks, i.e., without the aid of the microscope, which is ill that is attempted here. The texture of a granite, so distinctive that it is termed the granitic texture, proves not only that the rock is of igneous origin, but also that it was formed under conditions of slow undisturbed cooling. A glassy texture proves that a rock having this texture is also of igneous origin, but that, unlike granite, it was formed by molten rock-matter suddenly solidifying, for glasses are the results of extremely rapid cooling. The clastic texture (clastic, from the greek meaning broken) occurs in rocks that are made up of angular or more or less rounded fragments of minerals and rocks, and is characteristic of many sedimentary rocks. Other textures are described in connection with particular rocks. Hardness aids in identifying some rocks. any rocks resemble limestone, but the test for hardness with the knife-point serves at once to distinguish a limestone, the hardness of which is 3, from the much harder rocks that resemble it. Fracture is a less useful property. However, perfect conchoidal fracture characterizes the volcanic glasses (Fig. 14); and a semi- conchoidal fracture yielding shell-like fragments characterizes shales. The tendency of most metamorphic rocks to split into slabs or thin flakes is a valuable aid to their identification.
IGNEOUS ROCKS
As their name implies, igneous rocks were formed at high Temperatures, and they are defined as those rocks made by the cooling of molten matter that originated within the Earth. This molten matter when rising from the depths is more or less highly charged with gases; and these gases begin to escape as soon as the pressure on the liquid is reduced, and they are entirely eliminated when the liquid solidifies. The liquid rock-matter plus its content of dissolved gas is called magma. There are many kinds of magma at least forty and they have a wide range in composition.
Extrusive and Intrusive Rocks. Magma extruded at the Earth's surface solidifies on cooling to form extrusive rocks. Vastly greater quantities of magma than ever reached the surface have remained within the crust, however, and have solidified there under a cover consisting of the rocks of the upper part of the Earth's crust. This magma moved upward from the place where it originated : it is an intruder in the place it now occupies, hence the resulting rocks are termed intrusive Manifestly, such bodies of intrusive rock have become accessible to view only after they have been uncovered by erosion. Intrusive rocks were formed in a geologic environment that differs greatly from that in which extrusive rocks have formed. In an intrusive mass the magma cools under an insulating cover of rocks; hence its dissolved gases tend to be held until a late stage of solidification and it loses heat sIowly, and therefore it solidifies slowly. In extrusive bodies, such as a lava flow the magma, becomes drastically chilled by exposure to the atmosphere even more so, by flowing into water and solidifies rapidly. As a result, most intrusive rocks differ greatly in appearance from extrusive rocks.
TEXTURE AND COMPOSITION OF IGNEOUS ROCKS
Texture. The most obvious thing about an igneous rock, except perhaps its color, is its texture. By texture, as already explained, is meant the appearance of a rock as determined by the size, shape, and arrangement of its constituents. Most igneous rocks are made up of mineral grains, but some consist of glass, and some of glass and mineral grains. The grain-size is coarser the more slowly the magma cooled When the magma is extremely hot, the minerals dissolved in it can not crystallize out; that is, the atoms and atomic groups in the magma can not arrange Themselves to form organized solid compounds (the minerals). After the temperature has fallen far enough the minerals begin to separate from the magma, and, if the cooling is slow, they have time to grow to large size, thus forming a coarse-grained rock. But if cooling is rapid, more and more nuclei centers of crystallization form spontaneously, and, instead of a few such nuclei growing to large crystals, many begin to grow simultaneously; therefore none of them can attain large size, and consequently the resulting rock is fine grained. If cooling is still more rapid, the crystals remain so minute that they are not visible to the unaided eye, and the resulting rock is aphanitic Under conditions of extremely rapid cooling the magma solidifies into a homogeneous substance before any crystallization can occur. In this event the product is a glass sometimes called a natural glass. Porphyry: Porphyritic Texture. So far all the mineral grains in a given rock have been tacitly assumed to be of uniform size, i.e., That the rock is equigranular (Fig. 15). Not all igneous rocks, however, are equigranular. Many of the consist of grains of two markedly contrasting sizes: in part of large conspicuous crystals and in part of much smaller grains, which form a matrix inclosing the large crystals. An igneous rock of this texture is said to be porphyritic (Fig. 16) . The matrix is called the ground- mass, and the large crystals imbedded in the groundmass are the phenocrysts, the easily discernible crystals. Porphyritic rocks are abundant and of many kinds. Some have medium- grained groundmasses; others have fine-grained, aphanitic, or glassy ground- masses as exemplified by the lavas, which as a rule are porphyritic rocks having aphanitic groundmasses. The phenocrysts also range greatIy in size from those several in the s in diameter to those so small as to be barely visible to the unaided eye, and they range from sparse to abundant. In all porphyritic rocks, however, the phenocrysts contrast conspicuously in size with the grains that make up the groundmass; and this contrast in size is the essential feature of a porphyry. The porphyritic texture is not a contrast of colors; thus a rock made of grains of light-colored quartz and feldspar and containing a few crystals of black mica in marked color contrast, the grains of all three minerals being of about the same size, is not a porphyry. Factors Determining grain-size. Reduced to its fundamentals, grain-size is determined (1) by the viscosity of the magma during the time the minerals are growing and (2) by the time available for them to grow. Low viscosity increases the mobility of the atoms while they are getting together to build up the growing crystals, and adequate time is necessary for them to travel to the growing crystals. Viscosity is enormously affected by the mica composition of the magma. Silicic magma (those high in silica) are several hundred thousand times as viscous as are the subsilicic magmas (those low in silica) . The effect of this great difference in viscosity is impressively Illustrated by the strongly contrasting behavior of these magmas when erupted at the Earth's surface. Subsilicic magmas require such drastic chilling to form glasses that subsilicic glasses are rare, whereas silicic magmas, because of their great viscosity and consequently feeble tendency to crystallize, commonly produce silicic glasses. No subsilicic counterpart of the large, thick flow of silicic glass (obsidian) at Obsidian Cliff, Yellowstone National Park, occurs anywhere in the world. The presence of gases especially the water contained in magmas , decreases the viscosity of the magma and thereby promotes a coarser crystallization to an astonishing degree. An intrusive body of mag- ma, cooling and solidifying under a cover of rocks, is likely to retain its gases to a late stage and consequently to develop a coarsely crystalline texture. Depth in the crust and especially gas-tightness of the surrounding rocks are therefore important factors in determining the texture of igneous rocks. A silicic magma increases enormously in viscosity when its gas content escapes; hence the very great contrast in appearance between the rocks formed in a gas-tight environment within the crust and the rocks formed from the same kind of magma erupted at the Earth's surface, where of course the gas content escapes freely. However, if the subterranean magma solidifies surrounded by confining rocks that are fissured or otherwise allow the gases to escape, it takes on a texture like that of surface rocks. For example, in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, certain intrusive masses are coarse grained, whereas others formed at the same time, but deeper in the crust, are porphyritic; evidently depth was not the controlling factor here in developing coarsely granular texture. The importance of depth in determining a coarse-grained texture in igneous rocks has in the past been greatly exaggerated. Minerals Common in Igneous Rocks. The minerals that make up most of the igneous rocks are the following:
Light-colored Group
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Metamorphic rock
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From Latin meaning border, or edge, what traditional term refers to the brain structures including the hippocampus and amygdala, which support functions of emotion, behaviour, long term memory, and smell?
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Petrogenesis
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The term petrogenesis refers to the means by which a rock or mineral deposit is formed. Three different modes of formation are common; these consist of igneous activity, metamorphism, and sedimentary processes. Mineral deposits may thus occur in igneous, metamorphic or sedimentary environments and also in vein environments.
Igneous rocks are formed by the solidification of magma or molten rock. Igneous rocks are classified according to whether they formed from magma which cooled at depth within the earth's crust or from magma which erupted out of a volcano or vent at the earth's surface. Intrusive igneous rocks, or rocks which solidify deep within the earth, are called plutonic rocks. Extrusive rocks, in contrast, form from magma which erupts at the earth's surface before cooling. Extrusive igneous rocks are termed volcanic rocks.
Igneous rocks may also be classified according to their texture, a characteristic defined by the size and shape of the grains of which they are composed. The size of the crystals in an igneous rock depend largely on the rate of cooling of the magma which formed the rock. Plutonic rocks tend to have large crystals because magma trapped at depths within the earth cools slowly. Magma which is ejected by a volcano, on the other hand, tends to cool quickly. Volcanic rocks therefore tend to contain only very small crystals.
One final means of classifying igneous rocks is by composition. Rocks are divided into two classes according to whether they contain a greater proportion of iron and magnesium or of potassium, sodium, and calcium. Igneous rocks which contain a high percentage of iron and magnesium tend to possess a dark color and are said to be of basaltic or mafic composition. In contrast, igneous rocks which contain a greater percentage of potassium, sodium, or calcium tend to have a lighter color and are said to be of granitic or felsic composition. Rocks with an intermediary composition are termed andesitic.
Metamorphism describes the set of solid state processes which transform one type of rock into another. Any type of rock, whether igneous, metamorphic, or sedimentary, may be metamorphised. Metamorphic changes occur mainly in mineral structure and texture; changes in chemical composition may also take place. Metamorphism typically occurs at the high temperatures and pressures which are present deep within the earth's crust. The process is defined to occur in the solid state and melting of the rock may therefore not occur. Any process during which complete melting of the rock does occur is considered to be of igneous rather than metamorphic nature.
Metamorphic processes may be divided into two categories according to the area of their extent. Regional metamorphism consits of geologic processes which act over wide areas and cause metamorphic changes in vast expanses of rock. In contrast, local metamorphism affects only relatively small areas. Local metamorphism occurs when an igneous body or pluton intrudes into and heats a surrounding body of rock. For this reason local metamorphism is also called contact metamorphism.
Different types of metamorphism may alternately be categorized according to the agents which are active during each process. Stress, pressure, and shock are causative agents of dynamic metamorphism, while thermal metamorphism is due merely to the influx of heat from a nearby igneous intrusion. In contrast, hot, volatile fluids play a significant role in hydrothermal metamorphism. Hydrothermal metamorphism takes place when volatile solutions percolate into and react with a host rock. Both the heat of the intrusive igneous body and the reactive fluids serve to catalyze metamorphic reactions in the host rock. The intrusive magma and the associated volatile fluids may introduce previously absent elements into the reaction process; the chemical composition of the host rock may therefore be extensively altered during hydrothermal metamorphism.
A third possible method of classifying metamorphic processes is whether or not previously absent elements are introduced into the system. Isochemical metamorphism consists of the recrystallization of previously present elements into new species of minerals. Such minerals may differ structurally from the original minerals, but will contain only those elements which were originally present. In contrast, allochemical metamorphism introduces new elements into the system during the reaction process and the resultant mineral species contain elements not previously present. Dynamic and thermal metamorphism are thus types of isochemical metamorphism, whereas hydrothermal metamorphism is an allochemical process.
Veins are mineral deposits which form when a fracture or fissure within a larger body of rock is filled with new crystalline material. Veins are believed to form when aqueous solutions migrate through fissures in rock and deposit minerals onto the fissure walls.
Most veins form as new mineral species are precipitated onto rock walls but leave the wall rock unaltered. In such cases minerals fill the original crack or fissure but do not extend into the host rock, and the boundary betwen host rock and newly deposited vein minerals remains clearly delineated. Because the mineral species which compose the veins were precipitated by hot water, vein deposits of this nature are a type of hydrothermal deposit and the mineral material of such veins is chemical sedimentary rock. However, occasionally the rock wall which contains the vein undergoes alteration. Portions of the host rock may dissolve or react chemically with the circulating volatile fluids. In this case the boundary between vein deposit and original rock wall will be unclear. Such veins are termed hydrothermal replacement deposits. Hydrothermal replacement deposits are a form of hydrothermal metamorphism.
Sediment includes all uncemented, particulate matter which accumulates at the earth's surface. Sediments are derived from the erosion of preexisting rocks, by precipitation from aqueous solution, or from the skeletal remains of organisms, and are transported by flowing water, wind, and moving glaciers. Sedimentary rock is formed when loose sediments are collected together, compacted, and cemented into rock with the aid of heat, pressure, and chemical agents.
The term diagenesis is used to portray the processes which result in the conversion of loose sediment into sedimentary rock. These changes include recrystallization; lithification, or compaction and cementation; and precipitation. Compaction is a physical change which occurs as layers of sediment accumulate in one area and the lowest layers are gradually compressed by the weight of the layers above. Cementation, in contrast, is a chemical change during which aqueous solutions seep through the sediment, filling spaces and cementing individual particles together. Sedimentary diagenesis takes place at relatively shallow depths and low temperatures.
Sedimentary rocks may be classified according to their texture. Such rocks are categorized according to whether they are clastic or nonclastic. Rocks of clastic texture exhibit a mass of discrete particles and grains which are cemented together but retain their individual shape, whereas rocks which are nonclastic do not contain visible, macroscopic grains or particles.
Sediments are derived by the two different processes of mechanical and chemical weathering. These two different means of derivation provide another method for the classification of sedimentary rocks. Detrital sedimentary rock contains particles and sediment which were derived by mechanical means. The materials which compose such rocks were ground down by mechanical processes such as the passage of wind, the movement of glaciers, and splitting due to freezing and thawing. These materials were then transported to the site of deposition by mechanical means such as wind, flowing water, or travelling glaciers. Few chemical changes occur in the mineral material of which detrital sedimentary rocks are composed. Chemical sedimentary rock, on the other hand, contains only substances which were derived by chemical weathering processes. The constituent materials of chemical sedimentary rock were dissolved in water, transported to the deposition site in the form of aqueous solutions, and finally precipitated.
2. Igneous Processes
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Magma is molten rock which originates deep within the earth. Magma is formed as rock melts at the intense temperatures and pressures present at great depths within the earth. Igneous rocks form when magma rises towards the earth's crust, cools, and solidifies. The name igneous is derived from ignius, a Latin term meaning 'fire'. Most of the rocks which compose the earth, moon, and other planets are igneous in origin.
The Melting of Rock
It is hypothesized that the earth's crust and mantle are composed mainly of solid rather than molten rock. It is also estimated that rock within the lower crust and upper mantle maintains a temperature of 1200° to 1400° Celcius. This temperature is very close to the melting point of rock. With the aid of added heat, volatile agents, or a change in pressure, melting may occur.
One potential source of heat is friction in subduction zones as one crustal slab is subsumed by another. Another is the introduction of heat by mantle rock rising from yet greater depths. Either of these may serve to introduce the heat necessary in order to initiate partial melting of the mantle rock. Because an increase in pressure causes an increase in the melting temperature of rock, rock may also undergo a solid to liquid phase transition if the pressure of its environment drops. This process is termed decompression melting. Rock which contains a significant portion of volatile fluids such as water vapor (
H2O
) and gaseous carbon and sulfur dioxide (
CO2
and
SO2
) has a lower melting point than rock which lacks such volatiles. If volatiles are introduced into previously solid rock, melting may be induced. Frictional heat, externally introduced heat, volatile fluids, and the reduction of pressure may thus all serve as agents which initiate the partial melting of mantle rock and the formation of magma.
The Ascent and Evolution of Magma
When a magma is less dense than the surrounding mantle rock, the rock exerts an upward force on it. Due to this buoyant force the magma then rises from its place of origin deep within the crust. Both the viscosity, qualitatively defined as the internal resistance to fluid flow, and the density of a magma determine how fast it rises. A large silica content tends to increase the viscosity of a magma. In contrast, the presence of volatile agents such as
H2O
and
SO2
. As a magma rises through the earth's crust, its chemical composition may undergo a series of changes. Crystallization may remove some elements from solution and increase the concentration of those which remain. Melting of the enclosing rock may introduce into the solution elements which were previously absent. Through processes such as these a magma will change in composition as it rises through the crust.
Minerals may crystallize within the magma and then drop out of solution under the effect of gravity; alternately, crystals which are less dense than the magma may float to the upper portions of the enclosing chamber. Crystals may form along the enclosing rock walls and be left behind as the magma ascends through the crust. Components of the magma may exsolute, crystallize, and be carried along as the magma rises. All such crystallization changes the constituency of the magma by removing certain elements from solution and increasing the concentration of those which remain.
The magma may also break off portions of the wall rocks through which it passes and transport them towards the earth's surface. Minerals from the rock wall may be melted and assimilated into the magma. Both of these possibilities may introduce to the solution elements which had previously been absent. Minerals which formed earlier may continue reacting with the still-fluid portion of the magma to form new substances. Through processes such as crystallization and melting of surrounding rock a magma may change dramatically in composition as it rises through the crust. A wide variety of igneous rocks may thus originate from a single parent magma.
Plutonic versus Volcanic Rocks
Igneous rocks are classified according to whether they formed from magma which cooled slowly at great depths within the earth's crust or from magma which erupted at the earth's surface. Intrusive igneous rocks, or rocks which solidify while buried deep within the earth, are called plutonic rocks. This term was derived from the name of Pluto, Greek god of the underworld. In contrast to intrusive or plutonic rocks, extrusive rocks form from lava, or magma which erupts at the earth's surface before cooling. Extrusive igneous rocks are termed volcanic rocks, after Vulcan, the Roman god of fire. Intrusive rocks crystallize slowly at high temperatures and pressures whereas extrusive rocks crystallize at atmospheric pressure and cool quickly.
The size of the crystals which compose an igneous rock depend largely on the rate of cooling of the magma which formed the rock. In a magma which cools quickly, large crystals do not have time to form, and the resultant rock will be glassy or contain only tiny crystals. In contrast, a magma which pools at great depths and looses its heat slowly may develop crystals which are quite large.
Once a lava erupts at the earth's surface it tends to loose heat very rapidly to its surroundings. Because they usually cool quickly, volcanic rocks are typically of glassy texture or contain only very tiny crystals. Plutonic rocks, in contrast, solidify from magmas which pool at great depths within the earth's crust. At such depths the surrounding rock wall is already at a relatively high temperature. Plutonic rocks therefore tend to loose heat only very slowly to the rock wall which surrounds them. Large plutons - which may possess a diameter on the order of 100 kilometers - can take hundreds of thousands of years to solidify. Because such rocks cool very slowly, they tend to form large crystals. Plutonic rocks are observed at the earth's surface due to erosion or tectonic upheaval long after crystallization.
Texture
The term texture describes the size and shape of the grains which compose a rock as well as the manner in which they are arranged. Igneous rocks may be classified according to their texture. Volcanic rocks cool and crystallize quickly from magma which has been extruded upon the earth's surface. During such rapid cooling large or complex crystalline structures do not have time to form. Volcanic rocks therefore tend not to contain visible crystals or else to contain only tiny ones. The texture of such rocks is termed glassy or aphanitic. Plutonic rocks, in contrast, cool and crystallize slowly at great depths and may thus contain large crystals. The texture of these rocks is described as phaneritic. Porphyritic texture describes a rock which contains a few large crystals embedded in an aphanitic matrix.
Glassy texture
Some igneous rocks formed as lava erupted at the surface of the earth and cooled before a crystalline structure formed. Such a rock possesses a disordered internal structure and is called a glass. Obsidian is a familiar example of a volcanic rock which demonstrates glassy texture.
Aphanitic texture
Rocks which cooled quickly at or near the surface of the earth contain only very small crystals. The texture of such fine-grained rocks is termed aphanitic, which is derived from the Greek aphanes, or 'invisible, unseen'.
Phaneritic texture
In contrast to rocks of aphanitic texture, igneous rocks of phaneritic or 'visible' texture contain macroscopic crystals. Phaneritic rocks are of plutonic origins; in order to enable the growth of macroscopic crystals the process of cooling and crystallization of magma had to take place at a relatively slow rate deep within the earth's crust.
Porphyritic texture
Because crystals of differing chemical compositions solidify at different rates, it is possible for certain crystals to reach significant size before others have formed at all. Occasionally a magma which contains a few large crystals but is otherwise still liquid shifts suddenly towards cooler surface temperatures. In such cases the crystals may be transported along with the liquid portion of the magma. The remaining magma would then crystallize quickly at the new, cooler surface temperatures. The resulting rock may contain a few large crystals imbedded in an aphanitic matrix of tiny, quickly-cooled crystals. This type of texture is termed porphyritic.
Pegmatites
A pegmatite is a body of plutonic rock which contains unusually large crystals. Crystals measuring thirty centimeters across are common. Quartz crystals weighing thousands of kilograms and mica crystals of three meters or more in diameter have been found in association with pegmatites.
Pegmatites often extend outwards as veins or dikes from larger masses of plutonic rock. The formation of a pegmatite is probably directly related to the formation of this larger plutonic body. As the magma within the main chamber cools, minerals crystallize and exsolute, increasing the concentration of volatiles such as water vapor (
H2O
), and phosphorous (
P
) in the remaining magma. Higher concentrations of such volatiles increase the fluidity and lower the viscosity of the magma which remains, which may then escape the main chamber and penetrate into the surrounding rock as a vein or dike. In this more fluid magma, ions possess an unusually high mobility, and atypically large crystals may develop as the magma cools.
Pegmatites are occasionally rich in molybdenum, lithium, cesium, uranium, and titanium-bearing minerals. Gemstones such as garnet, tourmaline, beryl, and topaz have been found in pegmatite environments.
The Composition of Igneous Rocks
The chemical composition of a magma at the time when it cools determines the identity of the minerals which crystallize from the magma and therefore the identity of the resultant igneous rock. The most prevalent component of magma by weight is typically silica (
SiO2
). However, magma also contains in varying quantities ions of all the other elements (aluminum,
Al
KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
).
Igneous rocks which contain a high percentage of the ferromagnesian silicates tend to possess a dark color. In contrast, those igneous rocks which contain a greater percentage of nonferromagnesian silicates tend to have a lighter color.
Igneous rocks can be divided into two classes according to their proportional content of ferromagnesian and nonferromagnesian silicates. Igneous rocks composed mainly of dark, ferromagnesian silicates are said to be of basaltic composition. They are also called mafic rocks, the word mafic being derived from the first syllables of magnesium and ferrum, or iron. Because of their iron content such rocks tend to be both denser and darker in color than those rocks composed mainly of nonferromagnesic silicates. Igneous rocks which are composed mainly of the light-colored, nonferromagnesian silicates such as quartz and feldspar are said to be of granitic composition. Granitic rocks are also called felsic rocks, the word felsic being derived from the initial syllables of feldspar and silica (or quartz). Such rocks tend to contain a relatively greater percentage of silica (
SiO2
); typically this is about 70% by mass. Rocks with an intermediary composition are termed andesitic after the volcanic rock andesite.
Carbonatite Deposits
Carbonatite is a unique type of intrusive igneous deposit which is rich in calcium carbonate (calcite,
CaCO3
) and minerals of the carbonate class. Calcium carbonate is typically burned out of igneous materials by intense heat; the preponderance of calcite found in carbonatite therefore makes it a very unusual type of igneous formation. Carbonatite deposits may form as plugs, dikes, sills, or veins when carbonatite magma intrudes into host rock formations. Carbonatites are only observed to occur in continental plates and do not occur in oceanic plates or at plate boundaries.
Carbonatite magma differs greatly from the more prevalent silicate magma, and the two different types of magma are immiscible. Carbonatite rarely contains more than 10% silica by mass and may contain much less. Such magmas possess a very low viscosity because the lack of silica prevents extensive silicate polymerization. It has been shown experimentally that at a temperature of around 600° Celsius a magma possessing a high carbon dioxide (
CO2
) content will divide into separate, immiscible silicate and carbonatite magmas.
One possible method of carbonatite formation is that a parent magma originating in the mantle underneath a continental crust rises until it reaches the boundary between crust and mantle. The magma may then be of a higher density than the crustal plate and may be detained. Ferromagnesic silicates may crystallize out at these high temperatures although non ferromagnesic silicates remain liquid. Portions of the crustal plate, which contains plentiful carbonates, may also melt and be incorporated into the magma. When the ferromagnesic silicates are removed from the magma its density decreases due to the newly lessened relative concentration of iron and magnesium. The magma may then rise into the crust until it reaches zones of lower temperature (around 600° Celsius) where it may separate into silicate and carbonatite magmas.
Carbonatites contain atypically high concentrations of rare earth elements such as titanium (
Ti
) are other species which are often present.
3. Metamorphism
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Metamorphism describes the set of solid state processes which transform one type of rock into another. Any type of rock, whether igneous, metamorphic, or sedimentary, may be transformed into a metamorphic rock.
Metamorphism occurs when the protolith, or parent rock, is either subjected to temperatures and pressures greater than those at which it formed or else is chemically altered by incident fluids. The metamorphic process occurs as the minerals of the original rock become unstable at the new set of temperatures and pressures or upon the inclusion of previously absent chemical substances. During metamorphism, mineral and rock deposits change and adapt until equilibrium with the new environmental conditions is reached.
Agents of metamorphism are heat, volatile fluids, and pressure or stress. Heat capable of catalyzing a metamorphic reaction may be supplied by nearby igneous intrusions, the latent heat of crystallization of a nearby solidifying magma, or by the geothermal gradient within the earth's crust. Volatile fluids often act as a catalyst, reactant, or product during metamorphism. Such fluids are typically a mixture of
H2O
and
SO2
and may be derived from meteoric groundwater, seawater, or a nearby igneous intrusion. Pressure and stress applied to rock may also induce metamorphism.
Metamorphic changes occur mostly in mineral structure and texture. Molecular structure may be altered and the rearrangement of chemical components may occur during recrystallization. Changes in chemical composition due to reactions involving aqueous solutions may also take place. Mineral grains may be physically deformed or broken. The identity of the resultant metamorphic rock depends not only on the chemical composition of the parent rock and that of any incident fluids but also on the temperature and pressure at which the metamorphism took place.
Metamorphism is a process which typically occurs at the high temperatures and pressures present deep within earth's crust. The delineation between sedimentary diagenesis and metamorphism is defined to occur at about 200° Celsius. Changes in mineral form which occur at temperatures lower than 200° Celcius are thus defined as sedementary diagenesis; changes which take place at higher temperatures are considered to be metamorphic. Metamorphism is defined to occur in the solid state, so that melting of the rock may not take place. The high temperature limit of metamorphism is therefore given by the melting temperature of the rock in question. Any process in which temperatures are great enough that complete melting of the host rock takes place is considered to be igneous rather than metamorphic.
Metamorphic processes may be divided into two categories according to the area of their extent. Regional metamorphism may affect vast expanses of rock, whereas local metamorphism will affect only relatively bounded areas.
Different types of metamorphism may alternately be categorized according to the agents active during each process. Thermal metamorphism is due merely to the influx of heat from a nearby igneous intrusion. In contrast, highly reactive volatile fluids play a significant role in hydrothermal metamorphism. Stress, pressure, and shock are causative agents of dynamic metamorphism.
A third possible method of classification of metamorphic processes is whether or not previously absent elements are introduced into the reaction process. The process of isochemical metamorphism consists of the recrystallization of previously present elements into new species of minerals. Such minerals may differ structurally from the original minerals, but will contain only those elements which were originally present. In contrast, allochemical metamorphism integrates elements introduced into the system during the reaction process into the newly formed mineral species. It is apparent that thermal and dynamic metamorphism are types of isochemical metamorphism because they introduce no new elements into the reacting system, while hydrothermal metamorphism is a variant of allochemical metamorphism and may radically change the chemical composition of the system.
Regional Metamorphism
Regional metamorphism describes geologic processes which act over wide areas and cause metamorphic changes in vast expanses of rock. This type of metamorphism is also called dynamothermal metamorphism. Mountain ranges may be composed of large bodies of rock which were shaped and formed by regional metamorphism.
Regional metamorphism occurs in subduction zones where one crustal plate slides under another. At plate boundaries and in places of collision, large quantities of rock may be subsumed and subjected to the greater temperatures and pressures found deep within the earth. This type of regional metamorphic process is called orogenic metamorphism.
Regional metamorphism often occurs beneath midoceanic ridges and trenches. As one oceanic plate slides beneath another or as two plates draw apart, seawater may seep into crust rocks. Both seawater and water escaping from upwelling magmas may catalyze metamorphic processes.
Burial metamorphism occurs in large basins which progressively fill with sedimentary material. The rock underneath the basin may sink as the basin fills, experiencing increasing pressures as subsequent levels of sediment are deposited over the top. Metamorphism typically begins at depths of about 8 kilometers where temperatures may be from 100° to 200° Celsius.
Local Metamorphism
Local metamorphism occurs in an area of much smaller scale than that of the great bodies of rock affected by regional metamorphism. Local metamorphism occurs when an igneous body or pluton intrudes into and affects the surrounding rock. For this reason local metamorphism is also called contact metamorphism.
Thermal Metamorphism
The process of thermal metamorphism, also called pyrometamorphism, takes place when an intrusive igneous body heats the surrounding rock. Metamorphism then occurs as heat inflow from the nearby igneous source catalyzes recrystallization of previously present rock.
In cases of thermal metamorphism no new elements are introduced into the set of available elements. Instead new minerals form from those elements which were previously part of the system. For this reason thermal metamorphism is a type of isochemical metamorphism. For example, when a pure limestone (
CaCO3
) is heated by an intruding igneous body, it will recrystallize into pure marble (
CaCO3
). However, if impurities such as quartz (
SiO2
).
Dynamic Metamorphism
Strain metamorphism occurs when the host rock is subjected to stress; this frequently takes place along fault lines. At low temperatures and pressures the rock may be pulverized; at higher temperatures and pressures ductile flow may occur, and rocks may elongate, fold and flow. Confining non-directional pressures may initiate metamorphism which produces a more dense, compact rock. Shock metamorphism due to extremely high temperatures and pressures of very short duration may occur when initiated by a meteorite impact. Dynamic metamorphism is a type of isochemical metamorphism because no new elements are introduced into the host rock.
Hydrothermal Metamorphism
Hydrothermal metamorphism, also called metasomatism, may take place across wide regions of rock, thereby constituting a variant of regional metamorphism. It may alternately may take place in a limited, localized area and constitute a variant of local metamorphism.
Hydrothermal metamorphism takes place when hot, volatile solutions percolate into and react with the protolith, or the original rock. The heat of the intrusive igneous body and the hot volatile fluids serves to catalyze metamorphic reactions in the host rock. The incident fluids enhance ion mobility in the system and are highly reactive. Both the intrusive magma and the associated volatile fluids may introduce elements which were not present in the protolith into the reaction process. The incident volatile fluids may also dissolve and remove elements originally abundant in the host rock. The chemical composition of the host rock may be extensively altered during the process of hydrothermal metamorphism. Hydrothermal metamorphism is therefore a type of allochemical metamorphism.
The hot, volatile fluids responsible for hydrothermal metamorphism may be derived from several sources. Such fluids may consist of volatiles escaping directly from the intrusive magma; they may also be composed of meteoric groundwater heated by the igneous intrusion or by the geothermal gradient. High temperatures and pressures can expel water from hydrated minerals such as gypsum, talc, chalk, and clay. These sources of fluid are typically associated with local metamorphism. When an oceanic plate is subsumed at a boundary between two plates, water may be transported along with it and may subsequently take part in any metamorphic processes which occur. Seawater may also seep into the crust as two oceanic plates move apart. Such sources of volatile fluids are associated with regional metamorphism and the movement of crustal plates.
Much hydrothermal metamorphism occurs at the boundaries of oceanic plates. Plates which are moving apart allow seawater to percolate through the oceanic crust. As the seawater migrates, it heats and reacts with the host rock. Large quantities of metals such as iron, cobalt, nickel, silver, gold, and copper are dissolved from the crust. When the hot, metal-laden fluid later comes into contact with cold seawater, sulfide and carbonate minerals precipitate to form deposits of metal ores. The copper ore which has been mined on Cyprus for several thousand years is thought to have been deposited in this way.
The presence of previously unavailable elements and the catalyzation provided by heat and volatile fluids enables a wide variety of mineral species to form during hydrothermal metamorphism. Many of these species contain elements not originally present in the host rock. The process of hydrothermal metamorphism thus produces a greater variety of minerals than may be formed by thermal metamorphism alone. Silicates which are found in hydrothermal metamorphic deposits include quartz, garnet, wollastonite, olivine, topaz, and tourmaline. The halide fluorite may be present. Sulfide ores such as pyrite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite, and molybdenite and oxides such as magnetite, hematite, spinel, and corundum may also occur.
Local hydrothermal metamorphic deposits may grade into hydrothermal vein deposits. A vein forms when hot, mineral-bearing fluids deposit new materials along the walls of a preexisting fissure or crack in the host rock. In the case where minerals merely exsolute from the aqueous solution to crystallize along the walls of the fissure, leaving the wall rock intact and unchanged, no metamorphism is involved. However, the minerals of the fissure walls often react with the passing volatile fluids. Some may be dissolved and transported away; some may recrystallize or crystallize as new mineral species. The formation of this type of vein deposit, called a hydrothermal replacement deposit, does constitute hydrothermal metamorphism.
Isochemical and Allochemical Metamorphism
Isochemical metamorphism requires that no new elements are introduced into the system and that the relative concentrations of previously present elements remain constant throughout the metamorphic process. Isochemical metamorphism thus involves no injection or leaching out of new elements by magma or volatile fluids. In contrast, allochemical metamorphism involves changes in chemical composition due to the arrival of new substances or the removal of previously present ones. Thermal metamorphism and dynamic metamorphism are types of isochemical metamorphism, whereas hydrothermal metamorphism typically implies allochemical metamorphism and the introduction of previously absent elements.
Texture
Several different textures are observed in metamorphic rocks.
Foliation
The term foliation indicates a texture sometimes displayed by rocks which have undergone the folding and distortion of dynamic metamorphism. A rock whose mineral grains exhibit a preferred, directional orientation is said to demonstrate foliation. Foliation is occasioned by the contortion of mineral grains during directional and compressional stress. The planar, sheetlike layering of mineral grains in certain minerals is a type of foliation. This layering of grains is termed foliated, lamellar or micaceous habit and is typical of mica and slate. (Please refer to the discussion of crystal habit in Section 2 .) Layered banding where alternating layers of light and dark minerals occur is also a type of foliation.
Porphyroblastic Texture
Certain metamorphic mineral species such as garnet and staurolite tend to recrystallize to form large, individual crystals, while other species such as mica and biotite tend to form masses composed of small interlocked grains. If two species with differing behaviors recrystallize in the same location, the resulting metamorphic rock will typically contain large crystals of one species embedded in a matrix of small crystals of the other. For example, large garnets are often found embedded in a mass of fine-grained muscovite or biotite. Metamorphic rocks possessing this type of texture are termed porphyroblasts.
Banding
Metamorphism sometimes occurs as the minerals of the protolith or host rock become unstable upon the introduction of new elements in solution. The mineral deposits of the host rock morph until equilibrium with the new environmental conditions is reached. The presence of volatile fluids and the influx of heat increase ion mobility and catalyze the metamorphic process. Metamorphism is thus driven by the imperative of chemical equilibrium but regulated by kinetic processes such as the diffusion of ions.
Since metamorphism is regulated by kinetic processes, the innermost portion of a mineral sample may contain the original reactant while the outermost layers are of the new composition and are in equilibrium with the surrounding system. The concentric rings and banded structures which characterize structures of concretionary habit may form as new phases of material surround the original reactant. The vividly colored concentric layers observed in malachite offer an example of such banded concretions in metamorphic rocks.
Migmatism
Different varieties of rock melt at differing temperatures. For example, the light-colored, nonferromagnesian silicate minerals such as quartz, feldspar melt at much lower temperatures than do the dark-colored, ferromagnesian silicates such as olivene, pyroxene, and amphibole. If a rock deposit reaches temperatures high enough to melt the nonferromagnesian silicates yet does not reach the melting point of the ferromagnesian silicates, the rock may partially melt although significant portions may remain solid. In some rocks bands of light and dark material will then separate out. The nonferromagnesian silicates which occupy the light-colored bands will have melted and will therefore appear to be igneous rocks. The ferromagnesian silicates which occupy the dark-colored bands, in contrast, will have remained solid and will constitute metamorphic materials. Rocks which contain bands of contrasting color and disseparate history are termed migmatites. Such formations may be classified as intermediate between metamorphic and igneous rocks.
4. Veins
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Veins are mineral deposits which form when a preexisting fracture or fissure within a host rock is filled with new mineral material. The deposition of minerals is typically performed by circulating aqueous solutions. Many ore deposits of economic importance occur in veins.
Vein deposits are believed to form when aqueous solutions carrying various elements migrate through fissures in rock and deposit their burden onto the fissure walls. Hot, rising water escaping from cooling igneous plutons may deposit minerals as it ascends through the crust. As heated magmatic waters rise, the temperature and pressure of their environment drop and minerals exsolute and crystallize. Meteoric ground water may also percolate down through the earth's crust, dissolving surface minerals and gaining heat from the geothermal gradient or from nearby igneous intrusions. At greater depths the dissolved substances may precipitate and crystallize along the walls of the fissures and cavities through which the water travels.
Most vein deposits are formed as new mineral species are precipitated onto rock walls which themselves remain unaltered. In such cases mineral deposits fill the original crack or fissure in the host rock but do not extend into the host rock itself. The boundary betwen host rock wall and deposited vein minerals therefore remains clearly delineated. Vein deposits of this nature are a type of hydrothermal deposit because the mineral species which compose the veins were precipitated by hot waters. However, sometimes the preexisting rock wall which contains the vein undergoes alteration. Portions of the host rock may either dissolve and be transported away or else react chemically with the circulating volatile fluids or the newly formed mineral species. In this case the boundary between vein deposit and original rock wall will be unclear. If most of the mineralization process occurs within the space once occupied by unaltered wall rock then the vein is termed a hydrothermal replacement deposit. A hydrothermal replacement deposit occurs when hot circulating aqueous solutions replace the original rock with new mineral species. This typically occurs in more soluble rocks such as limestone. Hydrothermal replacement deposits are a form of hydrothermal metamorphism or metasomatism.
Hydrothermal Deposits
Hydrothermal deposits are categorized according to the depth and temperature at which they formed. Hypothermal deposits are formed at great depths and high temperatures; mesothermal deposits at intermediate depths and temperatures; and epithermal deposits at the shallowest depths and relatively low temperatures.
Some mineral species crystallize mainly at preferred temperatures and pressures. Because the temperatures and pressures are different for each type of hydrothermal deposit, each has a different, characteristic set of associated minerals.
Hypothermal
Hypothermal deposits are formed at great depths and high pressures and temperatures. Temperatures may range from 300° to 500° Celsius during the formation of such deposits. Casseterite, wolframite and molybdenum veins; gold-quartz veins; copper-tourmaline veins; and lead-tourmaline veins provide examples of mineral associations which may occur in hypothermal deposits. Minerals which are found in hypothermal veins include quartz, fluorite, tourmaline, and topaz. Ore minerals found may include native gold (
Au
) which in turn react with copper to form soluble copper sulfate (
CuSO4
). Copper sulfate may be transported downwards as meteoric groundwaters percolate through the rock. As the copper sulfate moves downwards it reacts with the sulfide minerals which it encounters. These are altered to produce secondary copper sulfides such as chalcocite (
Cu2S
). The secondary copper sulfides may then in turn oxidize, continuing the downward migration of metal through the vein environment.
The upper zone of a vein in which secondary replacement occurs may become barren and leached and is referrred to as the oxidized zone. Delicate crystalline materials may be found in the oxidized zone because the primary minerals have been removed, providing the room necessary for extensive crystals to form. The zone of oxidation is typically fairly shallow; it tends to extend from the surface to the water table. Near the water table a zone of secondary enrichment may form; in this region copper which seeped down from the higher primary regions will be concentrated. Large chalcocite 'blankets' are occasionally found in zones of secondary enrichment. Below the secondary regions only primary minerals are found.
5. Sedimentary Rocks
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Sediments include all uncemented, particulate materials which accumulate at the earth's surface. Such materials are derived from the erosion of preexisting rocks by mechanical or chemical weathering processes, by precipitation from aqueous solution, or from the skeletal remains of organisms. Sediments are transported by the movement of water, wind, and glaciers. Sedimentary rock is formed when volumes of loose sediments are collected together, compacted, and cemented into rock with the aid of heat, pressure, and cementing agents.
Only five percent of the earth's crust by volume is estimated to consist of sedimentary rocks. However, at least two thirds of the surface area of the earth is covered by a thin layer of this type of rock. The processes by which sedimentary rocks are formed are surface phenomena driven by surface waters and weather.
Sedimentary Diagenesis
The term diagenesis is used to portray all changes which result in the conversion of loose sediment into sedimentary rock. These changes include recrystallization, lithification and precipitation. Sedimentary diagenesis takes place at depths of less than a few kilometers within the earth's crust and occurs at temperatures of less than 200° Celsius. Changes in rock which occur at greater depths or temperatures are defined to be metamorphic rather than sedimentary.
Recrystallization is the means by which a less stable mineral species may take on the form of a chemically identical but more stable mineral species. In order to do this a mineral will dismantle its crystalline lattice and rearrange its chemical constituents. The chemical composition of the system does not change during recrystallization although the crystalline structure does change. One example of this process is provided by the two calcium carbonate species calcite and aragonite, both of which possess the chemical formula
CaCO3
. The shells of marine organisms are composed of aragonite; volumes of these shells may accumulate to produce large deposits of sediment. Because aragonite is less stable than calcite, when these deposits are buried and thereby subjected to increased temperatures and pressures the aragonite recrystallizes to adopt the structure of calcite. Calcite remains stable in more extreme conditions than does aragonite, and is the main constituent of the familiar sedimentary rock called limestone.
The methods by which unconsolidated particles of sediment are transformed into sedimentary rock are termed lithification. Lithification includes the two processes of compaction and cementation. Compaction is a physical change which occurs as layers of sediment accumulate in one area. Gradually the lowest layers are compressed by weight of the layers above; the amount of pore space between individual grains of sediment is reduced, and water trapped within the pore spaces is forced out. Cementation, in contrast, is a chemical change. During cementation elements carried by aqueous solutions which seep through the sediment precipitate into the pore spaces between grains, filling these spaces and cementing the individual particles together. The most prevalent cementing minerals are calcite (
CaCO3
), and iron oxide (
Fe2O3
). The presence of iron, which is a strong pigmenting agent, tints rocks cemented with iron oxide orange, red, or red-brown.
Not all sedimentary rocks undergo lithification; some are crystalline and originate as masses of interlocked crystals. Certain limestone deposits, which form when deposits of aragonite recrystallize into calcite, offer examples of crystalline sedimentary rock.
Detrital and Chemical Sedimentary Rock
Sediments and the particulate mineral matter which compose sedimentary rocks are derived by the two different means of mechanical and chemical weathering. Sedimentary rocks may in turn be classified according to which of these two means resulted in their formation. Detrital sedimentary rock contains particles and sediment which were derived by mechanical means, while chemical sedimentary rock contains only substances which were derived by chemical weathering processes. The materials which compose detrital sedimentary rocks were ground down by mechanical processes such as wearing by wind, grinding by glaciers, and splitting due to cyclic freezing and thawing. These materials were also transported to the site of deposition by mechanical means such as wind, suspension in moving water, or travelling glaciers. These are compacted and cemented together; few chemical changes occur in the mineral material of which the rocks are composed. The constituent materials of chemical sedimentary rock, in contrast, were dissolved in water, transported to the deposition site in the form of aqueous solutions, and finally precipitated. Attack by rainwater and atmospheric carbon dioxide (
CO2
) may dissolve parent rock and allow it to be transported to the site of deposition. The precipitation of chemical sedimentary rocks may then be caused by either inorganic or organic agents. Inorganic processes include evaporation whereas organic processes occur when water-dwelling organisms extract calcite from their environment and in turn excrete a calcareous exoskeleton.
Sandstone provides an example of a familiar detrital sedimentary rock while limestone is perhaps the most well-known chemical sedimentary rock. Sandstone is so named because it is composed of sand-sized grains. Because the mineral quartz (
SiO2
) is quite stable and durable, it forms the most prominent constituent of most sandstones. Less stable or robust minerals often disintegrate during the mechanical weathering and collection processes which result in detrital sedimentary rocks.
Limestone is an example of a chemical sedimentary rock which may be formed through either inorganic or organic processes. Limestone stalactites (
CaCO3
) offer an example of inorganic precipitation. Such stalactites are formed as calcium-carbonate bearing water drips from an overhead projection in a cave. (The greek word stalaktos means 'dripping' or 'trickling'.) A minute quantity of calcium-carbonate is precipitated from each water droplet, slowly building up the pendulous stalactite formation. Many larger limestone deposits, on the other hand, are formed through organic precipitation. In particular this occurs when small organisms such as corals extract calcite from their ocean environment and secrete a calcareous extoskeleton. A colony of corals may over time achieve a massive, solid limestone reef.
Chemical sedimentary minerals which precipitate when evaporation removes the water in which they are dissolved are termed evaporites. These minerals include halite (
NaCl
).
Texture
The quality of texture also plays a role in the classification of sedimentary rocks. With respect to texture, sedimentary rocks are categorized according to whether they are clastic or nonclastic. The word clastic is derived from the Greek term klastos, which means 'broken'. Rocks of clastic texture exhibit a mass of discrete particles and grains which are cemented together but retain their individual shape. All detrital sedimentary rocks display clastic texture, while some chemical sedimentary rocks display clastic texture and others display nonclastic texture. Chemical sedimentary rocks such as halite (
NaCl
) and sylvite (
KCl
) which are deposited when seawater evaporates possess a nonclastic texture. Rocks such as calcite, which is formed as aragonite recrystallizes, typically have a nonclastic texture composed of interlocking crystals.
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i don't know
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What is the fuller name of the road surfacing material, tarmac?
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Pavingexpert - AJ McCormack and Son - Tarmacadam, Bitmac and Asphalt
Pre-packs
This page provides a general overview of the use of tarmacadam/bitmac in Britain and Ireland. The Laying Tarmacadam page looks at the methods used in constructing a tarmacadam footpath and an examination of the main layers within a pavement can be found on the Tarmacadam Construction page.
Introduction
Uses and Applications
Tarmacadam, properly referred to as bituminous macadam or "Bitmac" for brevity, is often thought to be the cheapest method of surfacing a driveway or forecourt, but for smaller areas it can work out quite expensive, and the red tarmacadam can be more expensive than block paving. Tarmacadam has become a popular, although technically incorrect, term for both bitmac and for asphalt used to surface pavements, highways and even internal floors.
Note that the the term "Tarmac" ™ © ® is the name of a publicly listed company and they become annoyed enough to set lawyers upon those who take their name in vain and use it to refer to the material "tarmacadam", even though the name has entered the vernacular in the same was as, for example, "Hoover", "Biro" and "Sellotape". Throughout these pages, we have sought to use the contentious term as little as possible, preferring to refer to 'bitmac' or 'macadam' instead.
Surfacing contractors normally charge by the weight or area of material laid, but for smaller areas, they may charge on a daywork basis that will include transporting the requisite equipment to the site. A typical surfacing gang of 4 men (1 x Rake-hand , 1 x Roller Driver and 2 x Labourers) will cost around £60-120 per hour + VAT.
Bitmac is suitable for areas to be trafficked by vehicles, such as drives and forecourts, and can be used for paths, although we are not overly keen on using bitmac for garden paths. The wearing/surface course (the uppermost surface) can be 'coloured' by using a coloured binder, often with coloured aggregates, or by incorporating coloured, coated chippings into a HRA wearing course.
In general, all bitmac should be machine-laid by an paver machine except where it would be impossible/impractical to use a paver. Such exceptions include small areas (such as some private driveways), confined spaces and footpaths. On private works, the contractor will ascertain which is the most appropriate laying method to use. In most cases, the finish achieved with machine-laid bitmac is far superior to hand-laid material.
Machine Laying
Caveat
All bitmac should be laid by a professional company as the tools and techniques are beyond the reach of most DIY enthusiasts. Accordingly, the methods outlined on this site are intended to give the casual reader a guide to good practice, rather than a step-by-step guide to laying bitmac.
Beware of Cowboys! Armed with an understanding of how a bitmac pavement or highway should be constructed, you can check that the work being undertaken on your behalf is being done correctly. This is especially important given the large number of 'tinkers' offering to lay bitmac at a discount price - they usually just throw down a thin layer of wearing/surface course, safe in the knowledge that they will be long gone in a couple of weeks when your new drive starts to fall apart!
Beware of anyone knocking at the door offering bitmac 'left over from a big job down the road' - reputable contractors do not cold call to rustle up work!
Definitions
To try and clear up the confusion and get the terminology correct, here's a brief explanation....
Bitumen is a product of the oil-refining and petro-chemical industries. Very basically, it is the thick, sticky, residual goo that's left over when all the useful fuel oils, such as kerosene, petrol, diesel, etc., have been extracted by fractional distillation of a crude oil.
Macadam is a process of binding together smaller aggregates, as pioneered by the legendary John MacAdam in the 19th century (although there are tales of the Chinese having used a form of "macadam" as far back as 3000BC). His work resulted in the development of tar-based macadams, which became abbreviated to Tar-mac. Nowadays, we use bitumen from the oil industry rather than naturally occurring tar, and therefore we now have bitumen macadam or, as we call it in the trade, bitmac.
Asphalt, according to British and European (CEN) definitions, is a mixture of bitumen and minerals. However, in the US, they use the term 'asphalt' for what we in Britain and the rest of Europe refer to as a Bitumen. This is the source of much of the confusion amongst non-trade professionals as to what's what and what's not.
Asphalt Flooring So, when Americans talk of asphalt roads they do not mean roads surfaced with the hard, shiny, black floor covering found beneath the carpets in many newer houses, and, for American readers, when you hear about British and Irish homes having asphalt floors, this is not the same stuff as used to surface your roads and sidewalks. Confused? Good!
Penetration Grades
Bitumen, the binder used in Bitmac, comes in a range of "penetration grades". There are specific tests that determine just what is the "penetration grade" of a given bitumen, but, rather than go into a lot of very technical and insomnia-curing detail, it is best to think of 'pen' as being a measure of "bitumen softness", of how far a point load will sink into a block of pure bitumen at normal temperatures.
The pen grade of the bitumen binder has a direct bearing on the 'hardness' of the bitmac produced using that bitumen, and so we have a range of penetration grades, from 15pen, which is pretty damned hard, to 450pen, which is relatively soft. A 'softer', more pliable binder produces a softer, more pliable bitmac. Imagine trying to push the blade of a Phillips screwdriver into a bitmac surface; some bitmacs will offer far more resistance than others, and a lot of that difference is dependent on the 'pen grade' of the bitumen binder. So, some bitmacs are harder, or softer, than others, and the degree of pliability can be tailored to suit the requirements of the job in hand.
As a sweeping generalisation, the harder grades (70pen or less), are used as 'asphalts', while the softer grades (100 pen or more, are used as binders for bitumen macadams (bitmac). Bitumens of different pen grades can be blended to create binders with a specific pen grade.
Cutback
Under normal circumstances, a bitumen would need to be heated to relatively high temperatures (150°-180°C) to make it 'workable' on site. However, there are all sorts of reasons why such high temperatures may not be achievable or even desirable, the most common of which is that the mixed material will lose heat as it is transported from the batch plant to the site. And so, the bitumen technologists have developed what is known as "Cutback", a technique that renders the bitmac workable at lower temperatures for longer periods. This effect is achieved by 'doping' the bitumen binder with a lighter oil (often kerosene, creosote or similar), which acts as a solvent, retarding the setting process until it has evaporated.
There are different grades of cutback (you knew there would be, didn't you!) ranging from slow-curing, through medium-curing to fast-curing. Medium-curing cutback is a popular choice for hand-laid work, as it gives a good degree of workability for a reasonable amount of time, but still gives a trafficable surface in a matter of hours. Slow curing bitmac (aka Deferred Set Bitmac) is most often used by Local Authorities and the Utility Companies to effect minor or temporary repairs to roads and footpaths, because it can be stored in their depot or on the back of a normal wagon for several days, and then used as and when required. Once it has been compacted, it will achieve a degree of stability and be firm enough to carry traffic. This type of bitmac is the sort of stuff found in the 25kg packs of DIY/repair macadams sold in many Builder's Merchants.
Fast-cure cutback bitmacs would normally be used in machine-laid projects, where a blast of additional heat from the Paver Machine will render the bitmac that bit more workable and easier to level accurately with the screed bar at the rear of the Paver.
"My drive was tarmacked some weeks ago but is still soft and tacky. Have I been swindled?
See also the Tarmacadam Construction Layers page.
The basic premise of a bitmac or asphalt surface is that the material is laid while hot and viscous, levelled and compacted as quickly as possible, and then allowed to cool so that it 'sets' and each particle is bound to its neighbours.
Bitmacs with large aggregates (up to around 70mm) are used as road bases or base/binder courses, and the smaller aggregates are used for the surface layer, more commonly known as the surface or wearing course. The general principle is that progressively smaller aggregates are used from the bottom of the pavement up towards the top, as this helps to spread the loads imposed upon the finished pavement by vehicles or other road users.
Typical layers of a bitmac pavement
Euro-names:
During the recent review of British Standard 4987:Coated macadam for roads and other paved areas: Parts 1 and 2, the "Powers That Be", who wouldn't know which end of a tarmac rake to hold, decided that the terminology used for the layers of a tarmac surface are to be replaced as part of the ongoing 'harmonisation' with Europe. Road base is to become Base, while the base course becomes the Binder Course and the Wearing course is due to be renamed as Surface Course. In the long tradition of the UK and Irish Building Trade, we are totally confident that the older terminology will persist for many years to come.
The photo opposite shows the various layers of typical bitmac surfacing.
On the left, the carriageway comprises a barely visible Sub-Base, overlain by a Base, then a Binder Course and finally a Surface Course which brings the level up to that of the watermark on the kerbline.
On the right, the footway is incomplete, and comprises (at this stage) only the Sub-Base and the Binder Course. The Surface Course was laid at a later date.
There are three main types of 'bituminous' surface;
Hand Laid Bitmac, for domestic driveways, footpaths and other small areas
Machine Laid Bitmac for larger drives, forecourts and roads
Asphalt (SMA/HRA) machine-laid as a wearing course on public roads. [1]
[1] - HRA on high speed roads is increasingly being replaced with SMA (Oh how we love these acronyms!) which is Stone Mastic Asphalt. This is a denser, tougher, more durable asphaltic material reinforced with fibres and has been shown to produce less traffic noise, much to the delight of the Highways Agency (HA). As with HRA, it must be machine-laid.
Hand-laid 6mm dense bitmac
Hot Rolled Asphalt with coated chippings
Mostly used on roadways
10mm Stone Mastic Asphalt in red
Photo by Dave L at RW Gale in Somerset
Construction
Construction of a bitmac pavement is dealt with on other pages. The various layers of a bitmac pavement are examined in the Tarmacadam Construction page while the working methods used in laying bitmac are described and illustrated on the Laying Bitmac Paths page.
Overlays
As mentioned elsewhere, a wearing/surface course may be laid over an existing bitmac or concrete surface. This is known as an "Overlay". The overlay surfacing should be a minimum 25mm thick and MUST be bonded to the existing surface with a cationic or anionic bonding emulsion, commonly referred to as a 'Tack Coat'.
Tack Coats
Tack coat is a browny-black emulsion of bitumen that is applied to the prepared, existing surface before laying the new surface/wearing course. The emulsion bonds to the existing surface, and then the new wearing course will bond to the emulsion, ensuring full adhesion. It also helps ensure that water does not find its way between the new and existing surfaces where it can freeze and lift off the new surface. The tack coat is absolutely essential in almost all instances of overlay work, the only notable exception being where a wearing course is laid over a recently laid (ie, within the preceding 7-14 days) base course.
25 litre drums of Tack Coat Tack coat is typically spray-applied to the existing surface at the rate of 0.4 to 0.6 litres per m². Some tack coats need to be heated prior to application; some are cold applied. On smaller jobs where a spray unit isn't feasible, the tack coat may be applied by a brush. The keys points are that the coverage should be complete, ie, no 'bald' spots, and there should be no pools of liquid on the treated surface. Tack coat 'breaks' (dries/sets/cures) in 10-15 minutes and is incredibly sticky when it does, so precautions may need to be taken to prevent operatives or vehicles crossing treated areas and picking up the bitumen emulsion as they pass.
Laying
The surface to be overlain must be clean and sound and free of organic material or other detritus. If the new material is laid over a badly cracked concrete base, old flagstones, or any other unsound base, any joints or cracks will soon be transmitted to the surface of the new bitmac, and the surfacing will fail.
This phenomenon is known as "Reflective Cracking" and is a well-documented problem for all overlay surfacing, not just with bitmac, but with all other surfacing materials, such as concrete and resin-bound aggregates . Any 'contractor' recommending an overlay of badly cracked concrete or old flagstones should be told to get back on his horse!
It is important that any proposed overlay to a residential driveway will not raise the level of the surface to an impractical height, such as at garage door thresholds, and that it the new surface is at least 150mm below any damp-proof courses in the brickwork of the house or garage. It may be necessary to cut-out 'keys' at the thresholds to accommodate the new surfacing.
Also, the level of any utility covers within the pavement being overlaid will need to be adjusted. These include water Stop Tap boxes, manhole and inspection chamber covers, cable tv boxes, etc. Unless there is a significant "lift" in level of 50mm or more, gullies, linear drains and the like are best left at their original level and keys cut around them, much as illustrated opposite for a threshold, and then the new surfacing is feathered-in to meet the original level.
Pros and Cons
As mentioned earlier, bitmac can be a cheap, reliable surface over larger areas. Small areas can often prove quite costly as the 'set-up costs' of transporting a roller and other plant, an insulated bitmac wagon, and a laying gang account for a larger proportion of the overall cost. For residential driveways, it is often advisable to encourage a few neighbours to have their surfacing work done at the same time, thereby reducing the impact of the fixed, set-up costs.
All bituminous materials will slowly degrade in UV light, which results in the binder becoming 'brittle'. This is the primary reason why older bitmac drives often have a crumbly appearance and the aggregate tends to be scuffed free of the surface quite easily. While there are some products that can 'rejuvenate' old, tired bituminous surfacing, (See Bitmac Cover-Ups ) they may not work too well on badly deteriorated surfacing.
Modern binders are much more light-stable than those of just a few years ago and we estimate that a newly-laid bitmac driveway or pathway should give at least 10 years trouble-free service. We know of bitmac driveways that have survived in excess of 30 years, and while they may be deemed adequate for a private householder who requires only a firm surface on which to park the car, their condition is generally poor and, in the public domain, they would be deemed unsafe and warrant immediate replacement. As bitmac is an oil-based product, spillages of light oils, petrol, diesel, paraffin etc. will dissolve the binder, and this dissolution can penetrate to a significant depth if left unchecked. The only remedy is to cut out the contaminated material and patch-in with new.
See FAQ covering the replacement of fuel-contaminated bitmac on a residential driveway
Bitmac, like concrete and other non-elemental surfacings, cannot be 'invisibly' repaired. Patching is the only solution, but will be obvious to the eye. If a sizable area is to be 'patched', it may be better to resurface the entire area, to maintain the pleasing appearance of a uniform surface.
Untrafficked areas, paths and drives in shady and/or damp locations, and older bitmac surfaces are prone to moss and algae, which can become dangerously slippy. This is the main reason why we NEVER recommend bitmac as a surface for garden paths.
Surface vegetation is best removed by scrubbing with water, a general weedkiller and a stiff brush. Power washers can dislodge individual stones within the aggregate of an older bitmac surface and so should be used with care. Test out on a discreet corner before attempting to power-wash a larger area. Bitmac must be properly levelled and laid to adequate falls that will drain the surface water to a gully or other suitable drainage point. Whereas a machine-laid bitmac surface can be laid to falls as tight as 1:80, hand-laid surfacing is particularly prone to small low-spots, and, in order to avoid the puddles that seem to afflict so many bitmac drives, a fall of not less than 1:50 is recommended.
Prices
The price of bitmac or asphalt surfacing is somewhat volatile, to say the least. As the key materials are all oil-based, their price is largely determined by the price of oil, which has a habit of rising and falling in an unpredictable manner.
Previously, guide prices for various "typical" installations have been given, but in the wake of the roller-coaster oil price white-knuckle-ride of recent years, it has been decided to withdraw price information as it became impossible to ensure accurate pricing from one day to the next. However, surfacing contractors are usually happy to provide prices for any work and so it is recommended that you enquire locally.
Construction Diagram
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Tarmac
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What style of cooking is named after a province of south-western China, and is noted for its spicy taste, especially from garlic, chili peppers, peanuts, sesame, and ginger?
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Paving Expert - AJ McCormack and Son - Laying Tarmacadam Drives and Paths
Timber edgings
Sub-base
Once the concrete haunching to the edgings has set (usually at least 24 hours) the sub-base material will be placed (if not already in place), levelled out with shovels and/or rakes, topped-up as and where required, and then be compacted with a mechanical roller. Some smaller jobs may use a vibrating plate compactor to consolidate the sub-base, but, as a roller is essential for later compaction of the bitmac layers, there is normally one available on site and besides compacting the sub-base much more thoroughly than many plate compactors, they are considerably faster.
Rake and Roll!
Sub-base is spread and raked to level...
...before being compacted using a heavy roller
The accuracy of the sub-base layer will be checked at regular intervals by placing a straight-edge timber from the road kerb to the edging kerb and 'dipping' - measuring the distance between base of straight-edge and the consolidated surface of the sub-base. For most jobs, the sub-base is expected to be accurate to ± 10mm. Although a tape measure can be used to check the 'dip', we find that technique requires far too much bending to read the tape.
A noggin of timber cut to the required depth (in this example, 75mm) can be fastened to the base of the straight-edge and used to judge the dip - if the sub-base is too high, the ends of the straight-edge won't sit on the kerbs; if too low, the noggin will be carried above the surface of the sub-base.
A quick word about Regulating
Quite often, a surfacing job will involve laying over an existing substrate. When this is simply a matter of laying a new surface course on top of a pre-existing pavement, this is known as an Overlay . However, on some jobs, the levels of the existing surface may be low and will require 'building-up' to bring the levels within tolerance.
When a contractor is required to lay, say, 30mm of 10mm SMA surface course, there is no extra paid if 40mm is laid. The contractor is expected to ensure the levels of any sub-layers are as close to the required level as is possible, and to notify the client of any variation before laying the surface course.
To ensure the layers of macadam or asphalt are as close to specification as possible, and that there is no needless over-use of material, a contractor may find it necessary to "regulate" one or more of the sub-layers. Regulating involves building-up sub-layers using additional material as and where required. Build-up is always done using the cheapest suitable material. Sub-bases will be regulated with additional sub-base material, while base and binder courses would be regulated with binder course material. The aim is to keep costs to a minimum, and to lay the most expensive material, which is always the surface course, as close to the specified depth as possible.
Regulating may involve laying 10-30mm of additional material over an existing sub-layer. Occasionally, large areas will require regulating by laying a variable depth of additional material over the entire area, but in most cases, regulating will involve build-up in discrete patches that will, eventually, be covered and hidden forever by the subsequent upper layers.
It's not always necessary, but when it is, good regulating saves money. It make best use of the available specified materials and ensures a good quality pavement is constructed without unnecessary wastage of the more expensive materials.
Regulated sub-base minimises over-use of binder course
Regulated binder/base reduces over-use of surface course
Binder Course
The binder course is the first of the two bitmac layers used in a typical footpath or residential driveway. The aggregate in this type of bitmac is chunkier than that used in the surface course, a typical size being 20mm. The binder course material is delivered to the site in insulated wagons which keep it hot, and it is then laid as quickly as possible, before it becomes too cool and becomes unworkable.
The type of job normally dictates how the bitmac will be laid. If being machine-laid, the delivery wagon empties the bitmac into the paver machine as it progresses along the run. The paver machine re-heats the bitmac before spreading and screeding it level in one continuous operation.
Paver machines lay binder course where possible
Note how hopper sides 'lift' to force bitmac into centre One hand-lay jobs, the bitmac is normally treated with an oil-based compound known as cut back that helps to keep the bitmac workable for longer at lower temperatures. The bitmac will be tipped off the delivery wagon onto a clean surface, such as the existing roadway, and then sheeted over with large tarpaulins that help retain the heat. A JCB or other Loading Shovel may then feed the bitmac to the laying gang, tipping it out as needed to each section of path, where it is raked level by the rake-hands who use their skill and experience to judge the accuracy of level.
Rakes and shovels take over in more inaccessible areas On smaller jobs, it may not be feasible to use a Loading Shovel and so the bitmac may be manually shovelled from the sheeted pile into barrows and then wheeled to the laying edge by the labourers who tip it out where it is needed as directed by the Rake-hands .
The carrying bucket of the Loading Shovel or the skip of a wheelbarrow will be 'painted' with red diesel (fuel-tax exempt and so relatively cheap) as this helps prevent the hot bitmac sticking to the cold metal and building up over time into a solid, immovable mass. Similarly, the rakes and shovels will be occasionally dipped in diesel to help prevent the bitmac sticking and the Rake-hands like to keep their tools hot, heating them over a flame at the back of the paver machine or over a fire-bucket, as this too helps keep them from becoming clogged and unmanageable as the bitmac cools.
Heavy rollers compact the bitmac while it is still hot
Vibrating plate compactors may be used in awkward areas
The binder course is rolled as soon as it is laid. It will take at least half-a-dozen passes with the roller to consolidate the still-warm bitmac. To prevent the bitmac sticking to the roller, water is continually dripped over the drums from an on-board storage tank. This is the cause of the steam often seen rising from freshly-laid bitmac and asphalt surfaces. Vibration is rarely used when rolling hot bitmac/asphalt.
Be aware that rolling and compaction is very noisy work. Until you've witnessed the compaction phase of blacktop construction, it can be difficult to appreciate just how much of a din is made by all the heavy kit. It may be a good idea to forewarn neighbours and to keep sensitive pets well out of the way.
For the binder course, the roller driver will continue rolling non-stop until there are no roller marks in the surface. When compacted, the finished level of the binder course is required to be accurate to around ± 10mm.
Surface Course
Finally, the Surface Course is laid. This is usually done immediately following completion of the binder course, but on larger projects, it may be the following day or later in the week before this task is undertaken. On some projects it may be several weeks or months before the final layer is placed: a good example would be the access roads on a new housing development. The surfacing contractor will lay and compact a base and/or binder course which will be used as a running surface while other construction work takes place on site.
Insulated delivery wagon tips bitmac into hopper of paver machine. Both vehicles travel safely over the new base/binder course.
Sealing grit applied to new estate road This running surface may be coated with a 'Sealing Grit', a bitumen-coated fine aggregate (3 - 0mm) with low tackiness, which is used to fill any voids in the surface and so prevent them filling with undesirable detritus, and to reduce the initial tackiness of the new surface. Once construction work is completed, the running surface can be cleaned and repaired or regulated as necessary before the final surface is laid. The sealing grit will, hopefully, have helped preserve the bitmac surface while it awaits its top course. The surface course material contains much smaller aggregate than the Binder Course, intended to give a finer, smoother finish. The surface course is laid in much the same way as the binder course, except even greater care is taken with levelling as this is the final layer and will need to be accurate to around ± 6mm.
Machine-laid surface course material is accurately levelled as a matter of course, but with hand-lay jobs, the Rake-hands will often use a 'Lute' (has no teeth, gives smoother finish to dense wearing courses) to spread and level the wearing course material, especially when working with Dense material .
Hand laying surface course
Completion and Making Good
The newly laid bitmac can be walked upon immediately after rolling. For residential driveways, it is often wise to allow at least an hour or so for the surface course to completely cool before trafficking with vehicles. Most contractors would prefer vehicles to be kept off the newly completed surface for 24 hours, and this is generally good advice.
Also, it should be noted that with driveways, extra care should be taken with cars and other vehicles for the first week or so, especially if a "cut-back" surface course has been used. Wheel spins, sudden acceleration or deceleration, and sharp turning at speed or "on the spot" can scuff or "tear" the wearing course. It can be impossible to invisibly repair such scuffing, and no contractor is likely to accept any liability for damage caused in this way.
Finally, the site should be cleaned and cleared of all detritus, dregs, bits of spilled or surplus bitmac, and any other construction materials. The haunching to edging kerbs should be covered over with topsoil, turf or other suitable material, taking care not to contaminate the new surface.
Completed bitmac footpath
On wider jobs, it's often possible to spot the 'seams'
formed by individual passes of the paver machine Making good to the soft-landscaping (lawn, garden, etc) is often a source of problems on private driveway projects. Many of the better blacktop gangs do not undertake soft-landscaping. They are often brought in to lay the 'mac and any restoration or making-good is left to another contractor. However, some gangs do offer a full service and will re-lay lawn or make good to planter beds that may have been disturbed during construction works. So, it is a good idea to establish beforehand just what services will be provided by the contractor, to ensure there is no misunderstanding or ill-feeling at the end of the job.
Which raises the issue of just when should any 'making-good' take place? Many blacktop contractors would be less than happy at the thought of their freshly laid blacktop being sullied by some gardener bringing in topsoil or plants, which inevitably dirties the surface and can be hard to clean. Accordingly, some of the better organised projects see the soil and other softscape requisites brought into the site before the final surfacing is undertaken, even though it means stockpiling the materials until the surfacing is complete and the 'making good' can be effectively completed without the need to traffic the new surfacing.
Other Tarmacadam resources on this site...
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i don't know
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What species of shark featured as the killer in the book/film Jaws?
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Shark Week: Inside the First Trip to Cuba [Video]
Shark Week: Inside the First Trip to Cuba
Mandi Bierly
Yahoo TV•
July 7, 2015
Seventy years ago, a great white measured at 21-feet long was captured off the coast of Cuba. The largest white shark ever caught, it was dubbed “El Monstruo.” In the new Shark Week special Tiburones: Sharks of Cuba (premiering July 7 at 10 p.m. on Discovery), a joint U.S.-Cuba expedition ventures into the largely-untouched waters, which are home to more than 50 shark species, to search for another mega shark and gather intel that will be used to inform Cuba’s first ever national plan of action for the conservation of sharks.
Cinematographer Andy Casagrande, a Shark Week vet who worked on half of this year’s new specials, was there to film those dives and spoke to Yahoo TV about the historic trip, which took a year and a half of paperwork to arrange.
Related: Shark Week: Inside ‘Bride of Jaws,’ the Search for Joan of Shark
You’ve been filming sharks for 15-plus years. At this point in your career, how exciting is it to go to a place you’ve never been — and end up filming a shark for the first time, the elusive longfin mako (which become only the second of its species to ever be tagged)?
It was amazing. Just getting the call, “Hey, Andy, do you want to go to Cuba for Shark Week?” I was like, “Well, wait a second, I don’t even think that I’m allowed to go to Cuba as an American.” They’re like, “No, no, we got it sorted. We got the permits. We got the Visas. It’s good to go.” This is sort of a dream come true. I’ve done a lot of really amazing projects around the world, but to be honest, I often go back to the same places: New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Mexico, Bahamas, New Zealand — it keeps continuing through that cycle. To have this new location, this sort of pristine, unspoiled paradise that’s full of sharks — on top of just being able to go to a place where previously we weren’t allowed — was just amazing. To be able to encounter a shark that’s incredibly rare and be a part of a research project involving Cuba and America was just an all-around awesome experience. It was breaking down the barriers, all in the name of sharks and Shark Week. For me, it’s like, wow, I don’t have to be some U.N. worker or some news journalist, I can be a wildlife cameraman and do these amazing things that inspire people. I think people will like it because most of America has never had the opportunity to go to Cuba or really see what it’s like there.
You often hear Cuba referred to as, “Oh, man, it’s like frozen in time 50 years ago.” What’s cool about the underwater world is it’s very similar. Because they’ve had so few divers from the States coming in like you get in the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos — people come in constantly and it’s a very touristic attraction — here it’s very rustic and off-the-beaten path, so to speak.
Because you’re in Cuba, you don’t have the kind of boats you’d normally use — nor do you have any cages. You dive in and immediately encounter large silkys. You’ve been cage-less with great whites, so this is probably nothing too crazy for you. But how did the rest of the team react?
Because I’ve done a lot of diving with sharks without cages, I was pretty comfortable there, but a lot of the scientists don’t have as much in-water experience. They spend a lot of time in the lab and writing the papers. They do some field work, but as a cameraman, I think I spend a lot more time underwater with the animals than a lot of scientists do. I was filming the whole scene, and I see these divers and the silkys, and then I noticed, “Wait a second, all the silkys just disappeared, and these two big remoras just showed up.” I know that remora hang on to very large predators, and they were too big to be hanging on to any of the silky sharks, so something big had moved into the area.
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Often the remoras will peel off and check things out, and then go back to their host. I definitely thought, “OK, something big is around here, and the water is getting murkier, the sun’s going down, multiple people in the water…” I just thought it was common sense that we had enough footage, and if the shark was gonna show up, we’ll wait around a little bit, but with the visibility decreasing it’s not a good idea to be in the water where potentially a very big great white is hanging around.
One of the most memorable sequences in the special is when local divemaster Noel Lopez Fernandez starts using his technique (grabbing a shark by its tail, bending the tail gently, and rubbing its belly to sedate it) so the scientists could successfully tag a shark in Cuba for the first time ever.
I had seen people put sharks in tonic before, but mainly sharks in the Bahamas where they’re baiting the sharks and bringing them in for tourists — they’re almost conditioned to come in and go through these interactions. But in a place like Cuba, where they do have some tourism but nothing to the scale of these other locations, it was funny. I actually convinced the scientists [to give Noel a try]. At first, they were catching a lot of these [Caribbean reef sharks, too small for the satellite tags], and I said one night over dinner, “I’ve been hearing these stories about Noel being this shark whisperer and being able to put these sharks in tonic. Why don’t we let him work his magic and see if we can non-evasively tag these sharks, as in not have to hook them and pull them out of the water.” We convinced the scientists that it sounded like a good idea. It was awesome.
But when they got the first shark into tonic and tried to pierce the shark’s skin with the tag, it woke up and freaked out and swam away. We were a little bit like, “OK, maybe this is not gonna work.” But when they finally all did it, it was pretty joyous, glorious, or whatever. [Laughs.] I was definitely excited because it was just a nice change of pace, working with a different shark species, not just great whites, which I’m often focused on.
To me, it was just an all-around awesome trip. Plus, tack on some mojitos, and Cuban cigars, and good food — it was pretty amazing.
Were you worried for Noel’s safety? You said in the special that you’d never seen silkys this large before. They’re not used to being around humans.
Noel’s a pretty big guy, too. I wasn’t too worried. Most of the time, when sharks are in one of these situations, they generally try to flee. They can, of course, lash out in defense and swing back and try to bite someone. That was definitely on our radar. But sharks, although they can be dangerous, they’re generally not malicious. In my opinion, they’re never malicious. They’re just simply predators trying to survive. I think it was worth some of the risks, and Noel is kind of known as the shark whisperer there, so he knew what he was doing, and it was an honor to be there to film and capture some of this historic, groundbreaking stuff between America and Cuba and Shark Week. Hopefully it opens up further doors for other wildlife projects and other shark projects down there. I’m based in Florida, and it’s very, very close to me.
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Great White
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Alfred Pennyworth was whose butler?
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There Are Other Sharks in the Sea | NRDC
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There Are Other Sharks in the Sea
Shark Week has been running for 28 years, and yet so many endangered sharks are still waiting for their close-up.
July 08, 2015 Jason Bittel
Great white shark
I’ve been patiently waiting for a great white shark to separate my legs from my torso since my parents let me watch Jaws back in the early 1990s. The ocean, murky ponds, pools at night, suspiciously deep puddles—all these are the potential scenes for my gulping demise. Even now, just about any patch of dark water triggers a fight-or-flight reflex that I, as a rational adult, must work to suppress.
I do not fear bull sharks. Hammerheads, makos, and tigers likewise do not faze me. No, it is the great white that always haunts my imagination; it is the great white that will someday, somehow bisect me. It will be the first such attack Pittsburgh will ever see.
All of which is to say that I understand why Discovery Channel’s 28th annual Shark Week is made up of mostly of great white shark programming.
Tiburones: Sharks of Cuba, Island of the Mega Shark, Bride of Jaws, Return of the Great White Serial Killer—Shark Week’s schedule is full of the breaching beast. Great whites leaping, great whites eating, great whites chomping and gnashing and great white–ing so hard, it’s easy to forget other sharks even exist.
Of course, that’s part of the problem.
“It’s always amazing to see a 15-foot fish breach out of the water in HD on my big screen,” says David Shiffman , a PhD candidate at the University of Miami studying shark ecology and conservation. “But there are more than 500 species of shark, and the ones that people have heard of are the ones that people care about, and that leads to conservation pressure and research funding.”
A few quick searches on Google Scholar back this up. Choosing 1988, the year Shark Week debuted, as a start date, I looked up how many scientific studies had been published on some of the most popular shark species. Tiger sharks: 2,780. Hammerheads: 2,130. Bull sharks: 2,620.
Great whites lead the pack with 4,010.
Study numbers are far from conclusive evidence that watching great whites fly through the air leads to funding, but public awareness is unquestionably valuable. Take the dusky shark, one of the species featured below: 1,630 studies since 1988. Or the angel shark, a sea floor lounger with essentially no PR: just 581 studies.
And it’s not that these species don’t need or deserve some attention—a full quarter of all shark, skate, and ray species are on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species . The beloved great white is on there, too, but the list is also rife with shark species that don’t get their own week of dedicated programming. Here are a few of my favorites.
Whale Sharks (Vulnerable)
Photo: Justin Henry/Flickr
These spotted behemoths can grow to 40 feet long, migrate up to 5,000 miles to give birth, and subsist entirely on plankton and roe. Remind me again why the whale shark isn’t shoved down the throat of every kidnergartener in America?
I’m serious. Our whole perception of sharks is based on the orgy of blood and the biting with the teeth and the “hey, hey, hey, it hurts me.” Shark attacks of any kind are exceedingly rare. Even the gap-toothed great whites of my nightmares only “nibble” on humans occasionally. You’re far more likely to be injured by a toilet (see "A Short Sampling of Things More Likely to Kill You Than Sharks," below). And whale sharks? These guys are the biggest dang sharks we’ve got—and among the most peaceful.
So peaceful, in fact, that a whole slew of human terrors have filmed themselves riding, surfing, and otherwise harassing them . People, this is why we can’t have nice things. According to the World Wildlife Fund , whale sharks are also victims of unregulated fisheries where they are sought for their meat, oil, and fins.
Frilled Sharks (Near Threatened)
Photo: Mario Sánchez Bueno/Flickr
Frilled sharks live more than 5,000 feet below sea level, a depth well past where sunlight can penetrate. That we only caught our first glimpse of this species alive in its own habitat as recently as 2004 is no coincidence.
Most of the frilled shark’s history is a mystery, but there is evidence to suggest that the females have the longest gestational period of any vertebrate—up to 42 months, or 3.5 years . That means the frilled shark is pregnant longer than the average NFL player’s career , and the species has impressive offensive skills to boot. Boasting a huge liver that helps keep the animals naturally buoyant, frilled sharks, scientists believe, hover in the water column, waiting to lunge at their squid and octopus prey like a rattlesnake striking a squirrel. Teeth that look like caterpillars made out of needles ensure there’s no escape for those cephalopods.
No one seems to be specifically targeting frilled sharks yet, but the species is under threat from various fishing methods—namely trawling, longlines, and deep-set gillnets —that inadvertently catch and kill bottom dwellers and midwater species.
Dusky Sharks (Vulnerable)
Photo: Steve Garner/Wikimedia Commons
So maybe gentle giants and toothy float-and-strikers aren’t your thing. How about the dusky shark, a 12-foot, 400-pound carnivore with the most powerful bite of any shark?
Oh yeah, did I mention duskies might hunt in packs in order to take down bigger prey, like humpback whale calves? (Warning: photos of nature doing its best “red in tooth and claw” thing here .)
Duskies can be found all over, along the coasts of North and South America, East Africa, the Mediterranean, China, and Australia. The IUCN lists dusky sharks as vulnerable globally, but their Atlantic population has declined by at least 80 percent since the 1970s.
Though the United States officially banned commercial and recreational fishing for duskies in 2000, their numbers have only now begun to recover, and just barely. This is likely due to the shark’s low reproductive rate, one of the slowest of any shark. Duskies live up to half a century but don’t reproduce until they’re 20 and then only give birth every one to three years.
According to stats on the U.S. Federal Register, America’s dusky population will take around 400 years to recover at its current rate. Shiffman points out that this is much, much longer than the register or the federal government has even existed. In other words, the odds aren’t great.
River Sharks (Critically Endangered)
Photo: Bill Harrison/Wikimedia Commons
Speaking of dismal prospects, the Ganges and New Guinea river sharks are both critically endangered. As is the Irrawaddy river shark, though even that listing seems generous considering the only known specimen was collected back in 1896 in Myanmar (then Burma).
We know surprisingly little about any of these sharks, which would probably make a weeklong television event pretty speculative. (Of course, Shark Week has included plenty of speculation in years past .)
But, Discovery, there’s plenty for viewers to love here, too. When we think of sharks, we envision dorsal fins slicing through coral reefs and open oceans. Yet the river sharks swim some of the gloomiest, most polluted waters on earth. And it’s freshwater, or fresh(ish), at that!
Bull sharks, which many mistake Ganges sharks for, are infamous for finding their way up rivers. But unlike the bull, the Ganges lives almost exclusively in freshwater.
I want a special about that. And I don’t mean that horrible Lou Diamond Phillips vehicle, Red Water . Don’t even talk to me about that steaming pile of chum.
Angel Sharks (Vulnerable to Critically Endangered)
Photo: Ryo Sato/Wikimedia Commons
There are 23 known species of angel sharks (genus: Squatina), 11 of which you can find on the IUCN’s Red List. Three are critically endangered.
Like the peaceful plankton eaters, angel sharks push the boundaries of what’s normally considered sharkdom. These guys can be flat as a pancake and are more likely to be found buried under the sand and mud than bursting out of the waves in pursuit of seal sashimi .
Even though they’re bottom-feeders, angel sharks can get pretty big. Females from one of the critically endangered species, Squatina squatina, can reach almost eight feet in length. Imagine swimming along the sea floor and seeing one of those rear up out of the mud.
Luckily, angel sharks much prefer to eat lobsters, crabs, or fish. They pose almost no threat to humans unless you seriously mess with them. This, though, is true for almost every shark species. So, again, don’t mess with them!
But we do. Trawling is a major killer of the angel sharks, since these nets indiscriminately drag up anything that lives near the ocean floor.
Everything Else
Photo: Elias Levy/FlickrTasselled wobbegong shark
Give me tasselled wobbegongs ( near threatened ) with their camouflage spots and threshers ( vulnerable ) with that crazy, comic-book-villain tail. I want basking sharks ( vulnerable ) with mouths like whoa and the sharpnose sevengill ( near threatened ) with its huge, fluorescent green eyes.
While we’re at it, how about a week on rays and skates? Many of those lesser-known elasmobranches are hurting, too, and in need of some public exposure. And what about sawfish—those crazy-faced ray cousins whose numbers are so low, they’ve apparently started reproducing by virgin birth .
“Honestly, my dream Shark Week would be pretty similar to what they’re already doing with the Alien Sharks series,” says Shiffman who spends each Shark Week critiquing the validity of each show. (Note: Shark Week is way better with Shiffman’s companion tweets .)
Alien Sharks aired Monday night and included glimpses of many of the species mentioned above. But for most of the rest of the week, it’s back to the same ol’ great white grind.
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i don't know
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On what island did tycoon Richard Branson's holiday retreat burn down in August 2011?
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Richard Branson has rebuilt the house on his private Necker island to replace the one that burned down | Daily Mail Online
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Sir Richard Branson shows off the new luxury home he has built on his private island to replace the one which burned to the ground.
His previous pile on Necker Island in the Caribbean was razed in a blaze two years ago while Kate Winslet was staying as a guest and she helped lead the tycoon's mother Eve to safety.
Now Sir Richard has completed the replacement and the Virgin boss told Hello! magazine that he now uses it as his main residence.
Family fun: Richard Branson and his family (L-R) son Sam and wife Isabella, daughter Holly and husband Freddie Andrewes shows off their new house on Necker Island that replaced the one that burned down
The businessman - who posed with his family in a shoot for the magazine - said the best way to recover from the shock of the devastating fire had been to immediately begin building another house.
Out this week: Read all about Richard Bransons rebuild in Hello this week
'It may sound strange for me to say that, but we had an hour when we weren't sure if everyone had got out alive, so the enormous relief we felt when we realised everybody was fine.
'Later that morning, while the fire was still burning, we got out a big sheet of paper and started planning the rebuild. That's the best way to cope with situations like this - to be positive and plan for the future.'
Speaking about how he has based himself there, Sir Richard said: 'I bought the island when I was 27 and have tried to come here every spare minute ever since.
'I have my office here and it's easy to attract people to come from all over the world, to plot and plan things. When I'm not working I can spend a day kiting, playing tennis, keeping fit, and now I'm in my mid-60s I feel I've reached an age where [those sort of activities] are essential.'
He posed alongside his children Holly and Sam and their respective spouses Freddie Andrewes and Isabella Calthorpe in front of the property in the Virgin Islands.
Holly said they had tried to retain the essence of the original property, called the Great House:
'Initially, when we first started making plans, Sam and I were pernickety about the details, getting our notebooks out.
'But what's amazing is that as soon as we walked in we were like, "Wow - it has the same feeling." It's got the same vibe as the old place.'
The full interview is in the new edition of Hello! which is out now.
Destruction: The original house burned to the ground when it was struck by lightning during Tropical Storm Irene in 2011
Let the parties commence: Richard is happy that the rebuild is complete and his family can enjoy Necker Island once again
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Necker Island
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In the mid 1700s Swede Carl Linnaeus devised the modern day taxonomy (category structure) for, and was first to catalogue what?
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Inside Richard Branson's Necker Island - refurbished after fire - but it will only cost you £40,000 a night | Daily Mail Online
Inside Richard Branson's $60,000-a-night Necker Island: Beautiful Caribbean retreat restored to its former glory after devastating fire caused by lightning strike
Necker Island's Great House burned down in 2011 after an apparent lightning strike
But two years later, Sir Richard Branson has announced the extensive restructure is almost finished
The new Great House boasts a 1,500 square feet master bedroom and eight guests rooms
Each room comes with a balcony, king-size bed and en-suite bathroom
The paradise island will be available to rent again from September and guests
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i don't know
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What geological term refers to granular material sized between sand and clay, derived from soil or rock?
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Landslide Types and Processes
Landslide Types and Processes
U.S. Department of the Interior
U.S. Geological Survey
Fact Sheet 2004-3072
July 2004
Landslides in the United States occur in all 50 States. The primary regions of landslide occurrence and potential are the coastal and mountainous areas of California, Oregon, and Washington, the States comprising the intermountain west, and the mountainous and hilly regions of the Eastern United States. Alaska and Hawaii also experience all types of landslides.
Landslides in the United States cause approximately $3.5 billion (year 2001 dollars) in damage, and kill between 25 and 50 people annually. Casualties in the United States are primarily caused by rockfalls, rock slides, and debris flows. Worldwide, landslides occur and cause thousands of casualties and billions in monetary losses annually.
The information in this publication provides an introductory primer on understanding basic scientific facts about landslides—the different types of landslides, how they are initiated, and some basic information about how they can begin to be managed as a hazard.
Click on image for larger version.
TYPES OF LANDSLIDES
The term "landslide" describes a wide variety of processes that result in the downward and outward movement of slope-forming materials including rock, soil, artificial fill, or a combination of these. The materials may move by falling, toppling, sliding, spreading, or flowing. Figure 1 shows a graphic illustration of a landslide, with the commonly accepted terminology describing its features.
The various types of landslides can be differentiated by the kinds of material involved and the mode of movement. A classification system based on these parameters is shown in figure 2. Other classification systems incorporate additional variables, such as the rate of movement and the water, air, or ice content of the landslide material.
Figure 2. Types of landslides. Abbreviated version of Varnes' classification of slope movements (Varnes, 1978).
Although landslides are primarily associated with mountainous regions, they can also occur in areas of generally low relief. In low-relief areas, landslides occur as cut-and-fill failures (roadway and building excavations), river bluff failures, lateral spreading landslides, collapse of mine-waste piles (especially coal), and a wide variety of slope failures associated with quarries and open-pit mines. The most common types of landslides are described as follows and are illustrated in figure 3.
SLIDES: Although many types of mass movements are included in the general term "landslide," the more restrictive use of the term refers only to mass movements, where there is a distinct zone of weakness that separates the slide material from more stable underlying material. The two major types of slides are rotational slides and translational slides. Rotational slide: This is a slide in which the surface of rupture is curved concavely upward and the slide movement is roughly rotational about an axis that is parallel to the ground surface and transverse across the slide (fig. 3A). Translational slide: In this type of slide, the landslide mass moves along a roughly planar surface with little rotation or backward tilting (fig. 3B). A block slide is a translational slide in which the moving mass consists of a single unit or a few closely related units that move downslope as a relatively coherent mass (fig. 3C).
Click on image for larger version.
Figure 3. These schematics illustrate the major types of landslide movement that are described in the previous pages. For additional information on these processes and where to find photos, please see "Where to Go For More Information" at the end of this fact sheet.
FALLS: Falls are abrupt movements of masses of geologic materials, such as rocks and boulders, that become detached from steep slopes or cliffs (fig. 3D). Separation occurs along discontinuities such as fractures, joints, and bedding planes, and movement occurs by free-fall, bouncing, and rolling. Falls are strongly influenced by gravity, mechanical weathering, and the presence of interstitial water.
TOPPLES: Toppling failures are distinguished by the forward rotation of a unit or units about some pivotal point, below or low in the unit, under the actions of gravity and forces exerted by adjacent units or by fluids in cracks (fig. 3E).
FLOWS: There are five basic categories of flows that differ from one another in fundamental ways.
a. Debris flow: A debris flow is a form of rapid mass movement in which a combination of loose soil, rock, organic matter, air, and water mobilize as a slurry that flows downslope (fig. 3F). Debris flows include <50% fines. Debris flows are commonly caused by intense surface-water flow, due to heavy precipitation or rapid snowmelt, that erodes and mobilizes loose soil or rock on steep slopes. Debris flows also commonly mobilize from other types of landslides that occur on steep slopes, are nearly saturated, and consist of a large proportion of silt- and sand-sized material. Debris-flow source areas are often associated with steep gullies, and debris-flow deposits are usually indicated by the presence of debris fans at the mouths of gullies. Fires that denude slopes of vegetation intensify the susceptibility of slopes to debris flows.
b. Debris avalanche: This is a variety of very rapid to extremely rapid debris flow (fig. 3G).
c. Earthflow: Earthflows have a characteristic "hourglass" shape (fig. 3H). The slope material liquefies and runs out, forming a bowl or depression at the head. The flow itself is elongate and usually occurs in fine-grained materials or clay-bearing rocks on moderate slopes and under saturated conditions. However, dry flows of granular material are also possible.
d. Mudflow: A mudflow is an earthflow consisting of material that is wet enough to flow rapidly and that contains at least 50 percent sand-, silt-, and clay-sized particles. In some instances, for example in many newspaper reports, mudflows and debris flows are commonly referred to as "mudslides."
e. Creep: Creep is the imperceptibly slow, steady, downward movement of slope-forming soil or rock. Movement is caused by shear stress sufficient to produce permanent deformation, but too small to produce shear failure. There are generally three types of creep: (1) seasonal, where movement is within the depth of soil affected by seasonal changes in soil moisture and soil temperature; (2) continuous, where shear stress continuously exceeds the strength of the material; and (3) progressive, where slopes are reaching the point of failure as other types of mass movements. Creep is indicated by curved tree trunks, bent fences or retaining walls, tilted poles or fences, and small soil ripples or ridges (fig. 3I).
LATERAL SPREADS: Lateral spreads are distinctive because they usually occur on very gentle slopes or flat terrain (fig. 3J). The dominant mode of movement is lateral extension accompanied by shear or tensile fractures. The failure is caused by liquefaction, the process whereby saturated, loose, cohesionless sediments (usually sands and silts) are transformed from a solid into a liquefied state. Failure is usually triggered by rapid ground motion, such as that experienced during an earthquake, but can also be artificially induced. When coherent material, either bedrock or soil, rests on materials that liquefy, the upper units may undergo fracturing and extension and may then subside, translate, rotate, disintegrate, or liquefy and flow. Lateral spreading in fine-grained materials on shallow slopes is usually progressive. The failure starts suddenly in a small area and spreads rapidly. Often the initial failure is a slump, but in some materials movement occurs for no apparent reason. Combination of two or more of the above types is known as a complex landslide.
g. Artificial vibration
h. Water leakage from utilities
Although there are multiple types of causes of landslides, the three that cause most of the damaging landslides around the world are these:
Landslides and Water
Slope saturation by water is a primary cause of landslides. This effect can occur in the form of intense rainfall, snowmelt, changes in ground-water levels, and water-level changes along coastlines, earth dams, and the banks of lakes, reservoirs, canals, and rivers.
Landsliding and flooding are closely allied because both are related to precipitation, runoff, and the saturation of ground by water. In addition, debris flows and mudflows usually occur in small, steep stream channels and often are mistaken for floods; in fact, these two events often occur simultaneously in the same area.
Landslides can cause flooding by forming landslide dams that block valleys and stream channels, allowing large amounts of water to back up. This causes backwater flooding and, if the dam fails, subsequent downstream flooding. Also, solid landslide debris can "bulk" or add volume and density to otherwise normal streamflow or cause channel blockages and diversions creating flood conditions or localized erosion. Landslides can also cause overtopping of reservoirs and/or reduced capacity of reservoirs to store water.
Landslides and Seismic Activity
Many mountainous areas that are vulnerable to landslides have also experienced at least moderate rates of earthquake occurrence in recorded times. The occurrence of earthquakes in steep landslide-prone areas greatly increases the likelihood that landslides will occur, due to ground shaking alone or shaking-caused dilation of soil materials, which allows rapid infiltration of water. The 1964 Great Alaska Earthquake caused widespread landsliding and other ground failure, which caused most of the monetary loss due to the earthquake. Other areas of the United States, such as California and the Puget Sound region in Washington, have experienced slides, lateral spreading, and other types of ground failure due to moderate to large earthquakes. Widespread rockfalls also are caused by loosening of rocks as a result of ground shaking. Worldwide, landslides caused by earthquakes kill people and damage structures at higher rates than in the United States.
Landslides and Volcanic Activity
Landslides due to volcanic activity are some of the most devastating types. Volcanic lava may melt snow at a rapid rate, causing a deluge of rock, soil, ash, and water that accelerates rapidly on the steep slopes of volcanoes, devastating anything in its path. These volcanic debris flows (also known as lahars) reach great distances, once they leave the flanks of the volcano, and can damage structures in flat areas surrounding the volcanoes. The 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens, in Washington triggered a massive landslide on the north flank of the volcano, the largest landslide in recorded times.
Landslide Mitigation—How to Reduce the Effects of Landslides
Vulnerability to landslide hazards is a function of location, type of human activity, use, and frequency of landslide events. The effects of landslides on people and structures can be lessened by total avoidance of landslide hazard areas or by restricting, prohibiting, or imposing conditions on hazard-zone activity. Local governments can reduce landslide effects through land-use policies and regulations. Individuals can reduce their exposure to hazards by educating themselves on the past hazard history of a site and by making inquiries to planning and engineering departments of local governments. They can also obtain the professional services of an engineering geologist, a geotechnical engineer, or a civil engineer, who can properly evaluate the hazard potential of a site, built or unbuilt.
The hazard from landslides can be reduced by avoiding construction on steep slopes and existing landslides, or by stabilizing the slopes. Stability increases when ground water is prevented from rising in the landslide mass by (1) covering the landslide with an impermeable membrane, (2) directing surface water away from the landslide, (3) draining ground water away from the landslide, and (4) minimizing surface irrigation. Slope stability is also increased when a retaining structure and/or the weight of a soil/rock berm are placed at the toe of the landslide or when mass is removed from the top of the slope.
Where to go for more information
1. The U.S. Geological Survey Landslide Program has information, publications, and educational information on its Web site. Please see: http://landslides.usgs.gov or phone toll-free: 1-800-654-4966
2. For general information about slides, debris flows, rock falls, or other types of landslides in your area, contact your city or county geology or planning office. In addition, all 50 States have State Geological Surveys that can be accessed through a link at the USGS Web site, http://landslides.usgs.gov
3. For an assessment of the landslide risk to an individual property or homesite, obtain the services of a State-licensed geotechnical engineer or engineering geologist. These professionals can be found through the membership listings of two professional societies, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), http://www.asce.org and the Association of Engineering Geologists http://www.aegweb.org . Often, personnel in State or county planning or engineering departments can refer competent geotechnical engineers or engineering geologists.
4. For more information about the design and construction of debris-flow mitigation measures which may include debris basins, debris fences, deflection walls, or other protective works, consult your city or county engineer, local flood-control agency, or the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service: http://www.ncgc.nrcs.usda.gov/
5. For photos of landslide types please see: USGS Circular 1325: The Landslide Handbook—A Guide to Understanding Landslides
6. For more detailed information: two excellent publications that very clearly describe the processes of landslides were consulted for this fact sheet: Varnes, D.J., 1978, Slope movement types and processes, in Schuster, R.L., and Krizek, R.J., eds., Landslides—Analysis and control: National Research Council, Washington, D.C., Transportation Research Board, Special Report 176, p. 11–33. Turner, Keith A., and Schuster, Robert L., 1996, Landslides—Investigation and mitigation: Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, National Academy Press.
Compiled by Lynn Highland Graphics and layout design by Margo Johnson
This fact sheet is available online at https://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2004/3072/
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Glossary
AASHTO: American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
Absorption: The penetration of liquid into aggregate particles with an increase in particle weight.
Acid-Soluble Material: Material that is soluble in 4 mol/L Hydrochloric Acid, contained in fine aggregate.
Acrobatch An oscillating mechanical aggregate feeder usually used for feeding dry aggregates from storage bins.
Activity (A) of a soil is the PI divided by the percent of clay-sized particles present. Different types of clays have different specific surface areas which controls how much wetting is required to move a soil from one phase to another such as across the Liquid Limit or the Plastic Limit. From the activity one can predict the dominant clay type present in a soil sample. High activity signifies large volume change when wetted and large shrinkage when dried. Soils with high activity are very reactive chemically. Normally, activity of clays is from the range 0.75 – 1.25 and it is assumed that the plasticity index is approximately equal to the clay fraction (A = 1). – A < 0,75 – inactive soil – A > 1,25 – active soils
Adhesion Agent A substance used for the purpose of improving the adhesion between a bituminous binder and the aggregate.
AggregateSand, gravel, crushed stone and quarried rock used for construction purposes.
Aggregate Abrasion Value (AAV) Specimens of chippings passing 14mm and retained on the 20mm-14mm flake-sorting sieve, are held in resin and subjected to wear on a standard flat circular metal surface fed with high silica sand. Percentage loss in weight gives the AAV. Results range from 1 (some flints) to 15 (normally regarded as too soft for use in wearing course) LOW RESULTS BEST.
Aggregate Crushing Value (ACV)14mm – 10mm chippings subjected to 400 Kn. Loads evenly over 10 minutes. Sieved on 2.36mm sieve. Percentage passing gives ACV. Results range 10 (very strong) to 35 (normally regarded as too weak for use in road surfacing). LOW RESULTS BEST.
Aggregate Gradation The distribution of aggregate particles among various sizes, usually expressed in terms of cumulative percentages larger or smaller than each of a series of sizes (sieve openings) or the percentages between certain ranges of sizes (sieve openings).
Aggregate Impact Value (AIV) As for ACV but subjected to 15 blows impact using standard apparatus. Similar results to ACV except for brittle rocks, e.g. Quartzite and hard grit stones, which can be up to 3 points higher. LOW RESULT BEST.
Aggregate Testing Any of a number of tests performed to determine the physical and chemical characteristics of an aggregate. Common tests are for abrasion, absorption, specific gravity, and soundness.
Agricultural Dust Sedimentary rock consisting largely of calcium carbonate and containing not more than 15% magnesium expressed as MgO and of which 100% will pass through a 5mm sieve, not less than 95% will pass through a 3.35mm and not less than 20% will pass through a 150 micron sieve.
Alkali-Carbonate Reaction The reaction between the alkalis (sodium and potassium) in portland cement binder and certain carbonate rocks, particularly calcite, dolomite and dolomitic limestone’s, present in some aggregates; the products of the reaction may cause abnormal expansion and cracking of concrete in service.
Alkali-Silica Reaction The reaction between the alkalis (sodium and potassium) in portland cement binder and certain siliceous rocks or minerals (e.g. opaline chert, strained quartz, acidic volcanic glass) present in some aggregates; the reaction particularly takes place in warm, moist climates or environments and the products of the reaction may cause abnormal expansion and cracking of concrete in service.
All-In Aggregate Aggregate consisting of a mixture of coarse and fine aggregates. It may be produced without separating into coarse and fine fractions, or by combining coarse and fine aggregate (sand).
Ambient water quality Water in its natural state; the existing environmental condition of the water or how it was found.
Angular Aggregate Aggregate particles that possess well-defined edges formed at the intersection of roughly planar faces.
Aquifer A layer of gravel, sand or porous, fractured rock containing saturated permeable material through which significant amounts of ground water can travel to wells and springs.
AREA American Railway Engineering Association
Armor stone 2 to 8 ton boulders used to construct jetties to prevent erosion due to the action of large waves.
Armour Stone Large pieces of rock between 1 ton and 15 ton for sea defense or river defense.
Artificial Aggregate Aggregate of mineral origin resulting from an industrial process involving thermal or other modification.
As-built drawings Engineering plans that have been revised to reflect all changes to the plans that occurred during construction.
As-graded The configuration of the surface conditions on completion of grading.
Asphalt A black petroleum residue, which can be anywhere from solid to semisolid at room temperature. When heated to the temperature of boiling water, it becomes able to be poured. It is used in surfacing roads (mixture of bitumen and aggregate), roofing materials, in lining the walls of water-retaining structures such as reservoirs and swimming pools, and in the manufacture of floor tiles.
asphaltic concrete A mixture of coarse aggregate, fine aggregate, liquid asphalt and possibly other additives that when mixed in a Hot Plant and properly placed and compacted at the jobsite, provide a hard and durable flexible pavement.
ASTM American Society for Testing and Materials
Atterberg Limits Basic measure of the nature of a fine-grained soil. Depending on the water content of the soil, it may appear in four states: solid, semi-solid, plastic and liquid. In each state the consistency and behavior of a soil is different and thus so are its engineering properties. Thus, the boundary between each state can be defined based on a change in the soil’s behavior. It was then done by A. Atterberg in terms of limits: Liquid Limit (LL) – the boundary between the liquid and the plastic states; Plastic Limit (PL) – the boundary between the plastic and the semi-solid states; Shrinkage Limit (SL) – the boundary between the semi-solid and the solid states.
Average Least Dimension (ALD) The average height of the aggregate particles when they are spread as a single layer with their least dimensions vertical.
Average monthly discharge The average of the measured turbidity or other water quality values (TSS, TDS, etc.) collected from a discharge point over a calendar month’s time. For further water quality information related to the environment, contact the local office of the Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection. For information related to discharge and drinking water, contact the local office of the Regional Health Authority.
Backhaul Material delivered back to a pit or quarry location. Material could be crushable or non-crushable, depending upon parameters set at the individual dump location.
Baffles Partitions within a settling pond or retention basin designed to increase the length the water travels before discharge.
Ballast The mix of coarse and fine aggregates.
Basalt A fine-grained basic volcanic rock, which can be used in aggregate production, similar in composition to gabbros.
Baserock Aggregate Base is a well-graded aggregate suitable for compacting to such a degree that it provides a firm, stable base. Project specifications determine what class of aggregate base will be used.
Batch Mixer A type of coating plant where a pre-set amount of aggregate and bitumen are mixed at one time.
Bedding Aggregate onto which slabs, blocks or pipes are laid. Usually single size for pipes and coarse sand or coarse dust for blocks and slabs.
Bedrock The solid rock that underlies the soil, overburden and unconsolidated material.
Belt Weigher Equipment fixed to a conveyer that weighs the material carried on the conveyer.
Bench A relatively level or back sloping step, excavated or constructed on the face of a graded slope surface for safety, stability, drainage and to facilitate maintenance.
Berm A constructed barrier of overburden, topsoil or waste rock, often planted with trees, shrubs and ground cover. Berms are used to block noise, dust and views of an aggregate operation from reaching adjacent properties.
Best management practices (BMP) BMPs can be physical structures, activities, practices or procedures that prevent, reduce or mitigate an undesired event, impact or effect.
Bin A large container of processed aggregate holding anything from 1 ton to 60 ton.
Binder An adhesive used to hold aggregate together in a coherent mass or, as in a surface dressing, to stick chippings to a road surface or to coat chippings used in surface dressing or scattered on the surface of a wearing course.
Biodiversity The variety and variability among living organisms and the ecological complexes in which they occur.
Bioengineering Restoration or reinforcement of slopes and stream banks with living plant materials.
Biophysics The study of the biological and physical characteristics of an area (e.g., topography, soils, climate, landforms, watercourses, vegetation, etc.).
Bit’ Sand A mixture of natural sand and bitumen, used mainly for the bases of large steel storage tanks.
Bitumen A product of the oil refinery process that is usually stored at approximately 150°C to maintain it in a liquid form. Used in asphalt and spray seal applications.
Blast The breaking up of the quarry face with the use of explosives.
Bond The adhesion of cement paste to aggregate and or the rebar.
Borrow pit An excavation to provide fill for construction activities.
Boulder Pieces of rock larger than 200mm
Bound Material A mixture of fine and coarse aggregates bound together with bitumen, cement etc.
Buffer strip A strip of land that separates incompatible activities. Buffer strips can be used to intercept dust and noise, enhance aesthetics or other qualities along or adjacent to residences, roads and trails, filter storm water runoff or protect an environmentally sensitive area such as a stream (riparian area). They may be land left in its natural state or planted to perform specific objectives.
Building Sand A naturally occurring sand which can be used for mortar for laying bricks or wall rendering.
Bulk Density The volume occupied by an aggregate. Either loose, where the aggregate is placed into a cylinder of a known volume and weighed, or compacted, where the aggregate is placed into the same cylinder and tamped down in layers and then weighed (expressed in kg/m3).
Cement-Aggregate Ratio The ratio, by weight or volume, of cement to aggregate in concrete.
Chipseal An application of a clean sized-aggregate which is applied to a freshly spread layer of asphalt emulsion
Clay Grains of rock less than 0.002mm.
Clean Stone Description of single size aggregates used for sizes from 3mm to 150mm.
cleanness value An indication of the clay-sized material clinging to coarse aggregate
Clearing The removal of trees and shrubs.
Coarse aggregate Generally considered to be aggregate that is larger than the #4.
Coated Macadam Graded aggregate that has been coated with bituminous binder and in which a major part of the strength of the mixture is derived from interlocking of the aggregate.
Cobble Pieces of rock between 60mm and 200mm
coir fascines Although “coir” is actually made from coconut husks, this term has been adopted in BC to mean a mat or bundle made from willow whips, branches or cuttings for such uses as filling ditches or making revetments on unstable slopes or banks.
Cold Bin/Feeder A small ground hopper into which aggregates are put to be fed into a coating plant. At the base of the bin is a feeder, which is sometimes calibrated to deliver accurate quantities of stone.
Combined Aggregate Grading Particle size distribution of a mixture of fine and coarse aggregate.
Community values Consensus, expectations and opinions of a local population.
Competency A measure of the strength or soundness of rock.
Concrete A composite material that consists essentially of a binding medium in which is embedded particles or fragments of relatively inert material filler. In portland cement concrete, the binder is a mixture of portland cement and water; the filler may be any of a wide variety of natural or artificial aggregates.
Concrete Aggregates Aggregates that are used in the production of concrete products and ready-mix concrete.
Cone Crusher A type of crusher that crushes the stone by pressure in a squeezing action. Basically a cone shape gyrates eccentrically round a fixed constraint against which the stone is crushed.
Conveyer Thick rubber belting of various widths, depending on capacity required, for the movement of aggregates from one part of a process to another.
Crushed aggregates Any hard, sound rock that is produced by blasting and then crushing. The aggregate is then screened to a specific size.
Crushed Gravel The product resulting from the artificial crushing of gravel.
Crushed stone Rock, boulders and cobbles that are blasted or mined and subsequently crushed and processed into aggregate.
Crusher-run Aggregate Aggregate that has been broken in a mechanical crusher and has not been subjected to any subsequent screening process.
Degradation The breakdown into smaller pieces of an aggregate when subjected to applied forces such as those produces by mixer blades, compaction, heavy wheeled loads, and grinding action.
Deleterious Harmful to health or well-being.
Deleterious materials Those substances present in an aggregate that are harmful to the desired properties of an aggregate-binder system.
Dense Bitumen Macadam Bitumen macadam in which the aggregates and filler are so graded as to form a close textured mixture, of low permeability, when spread and compacted.
Dense Graded Mix An asphalt produced with aggregate that produces a continual grading. Usually low air voids as compared with open graded products.
Dense-graded Aggregate Aggregates graded to produce low void content and maximum weight when compacted.
Density The measure of weight of the aggregate per cubic meter.
Deposit characteristics Physical properties, sedimentary features, quality, particle gradation and composition of a deposit.
deposit model A planning model that includes the geological feature that makes up the sand and gravel (e.g., Delta, alluvial terrace, outwash plain, drumlin), the deposit characteristic (e.g., rock types, rock characteristics), the deposit size (e.g., surface area, depth) and environmental effects of mining (e.g., high clay content).
Deposit size Surface area, thickness and volume of gravel.
Dimension Stone Stone quarried from the ground in large blocks then cut, shaped and carve to specific patterns.
Ditch grade control The action of controlling the steepness of a channel, ditch or any watercourse. Grades of less than 5 percent are generally desirable for watercourses to avoid erosion. Check Dams are commonly used to control grades in ditches.
Dolomite A mineral having a specific crystal structure and consisting of calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate in equivalent chemical amounts (54.27 and 45.73 percent by weight, respectively); a rock containing dolomite as the principal constituent.
Drain rock A clean durable aggregate that when in place allows the flow of water.
drainage blanket A layer of aggregate that allows the passage of water
Drill Rig The plant used for drilling the holes for blasting.
Drilling The means of producing holes for charging with explosives to blast rock from the quarry face.
Drum Mix A coating plant that dries the aggregate, adds the bitumen, and mixes the materials all within a long rotating drum.
Dryer The rotating drum part of a batch mixing plant in which the aggregate is dried.
Drying Shrinkage Aggregates under test are made into concrete prisms that are carefully measured and then subjected to a cycle of wetting and drying. Any change in length is the drying or shrinkage. LOW RESULTS BEST.
Durability The resistance of aggregate particles to the accumulative effects of environmental and cyclical load conditions. Lack of aggregate durability results leads to a breakdown of aggregate particles resulting in an alteration in gradation and impairment of performance.
Dust A commonly used term for fine hard rock quarried aggregates. After all single sizes have been screened off down to 6mm the remaining material-passing 6.3mm is dust. Sometimes this can be screened again to produce a fine dust and 3mm single size.
Effluent Waste material released either into the air or water, or onto land.
Egress 1) the act or an instance of going, esp. from an enclosed place. 2) A means or place of going out; an exit. 3). the right or permission to go out.
Elongation If an aggregate has one dimension substantially greater than the other two, it then suffers from elongation.
End Result Specifications The type of specifications written to focus on finished product compliance with project specifications.
erosion The wearing away of the ground surface as the result of wind, running water, ice or other geological agents, including such processes as gravitational creep.
Erosion and sediment control Procedures intended to prevent erosion and sedimentation, such as preserving natural vegetation, seeding, mulching and matting, plastic covering, filter fences, and sediment traps and ponds.
Exposed Aggregate Surface texture where cement paste is washed away from concrete slab surface to expose durable chip-size aggregates for the riding surface.
Extraction The process of removing raw material, rock or aggregate from the deposit location.
Face The exposed unbroken rock of the quarry after a blast has taken place.
Feed The flow of aggregate into a crusher, screen house or coating plant.
Filler A fine mineral powder substantially passing the 75um sieve. Derived from the dust suppression on crushing, screening, coating plants etc or by fine grinding of aggregate other similar granular material.
Filter fabricFabric used to prevent the migration of fines from one layer to another.
Filter Layer The layer of fabric, sand, gravel, and/or graded rock placed between a bank revetment and soil for the purpose of prevent the soil erosion through the bank revetment while allowing natural subsurface seepage through the bank;
Fine aggregateGenerally considered to be any material that passed the 3⁄8″ sieve, and essentially all passes the #4 sieve and is predominantly retained on the #200 sieve.
Fineness Modulus An index of fineness or coarseness of an aggregate sample. An empirical factor determined by adding total percentages of an aggregate sample retained on each of a specified series of sieves, and dividing the sum by 100.
Fines A BS882 description referring to solid material passing a 75-micron sieve. Sometimes used as a common descriptive term for fine aggregate (sand).
Flake Aggregate pieces that have two dimensions substantially larger than the third.
Flakiness Index The calculated index of the amount of flake in each individual size, which has been combined to produce a graded material.
Flocculation The process by which suspended or very fine particles in water are assembled into larger masses or floccules that eventually settle out of suspension. This process occurs naturally, but can also be accelerated through the use of chemicals such as alum.
Fog seal A very light application of diluted asphaltic emulsion, generally applied without an aggregate cover, to enrich and seal the surface of a bituminous pavement.
Fretting Loss of particles of aggregate from a wearing surface associated with deteriorating adhesion or cohesion in a material.
Fugitive dust Dust which is generated by unstable, non-point sources like movement of equipment and the effects of wind and rain on stockpiles and areas stripped of vegetation. Fugitive dust is the most common cause of dust complaints at aggregate operations, as it commonly settles on cars and in homes.
Gabion 3″ to 10″ stone used to fill galvanized a woven steel wire basket that is used for erosion control and retaining wall construction.
Gap-graded Aggregate Aggregate so graded that certain intermediate sizes are substantially absent.
Gas sand Utility sand approved, or pending Agency approval by the Gas Company for use in and around gas lines. Cannot have many fractured faces (sharp edges to possibly puncture gas lines)
Grab sample A single sample or measurement taken at a specific time or over as short a period as is feasible.
Gradation The distribution of different particles of aggregate by size.
Grade The elevation of the ground surface. Existing grade is the grade prior to disturbance. Rough grade is the stage at which the grade approximates the final finished grade. Finish grade is the final grade of the site Grading is any excavating, filling, removing or placement of material, or combination thereof.
Grading Aggregate The quantities of the various particle sizes present in a mineral aggregate, expressed as a percentage by mass of the whole. Also referred to as particle size distribution.
Granules A commonly used description of aggregate smaller than 3mm.
Gravel A non-coherent natural, detrital, mineral aggregate from natural disintegration of rock, consisting mainly of rounded pebbles for sub-angular rock fragments, or both. Usually occurs as part of a “sand & gravel” deposit. Fragment size between 2mm and 60mm.Unconsolidated materials that are made up of rock fragments 2 mm to 75 mm in diameter
Grit Small size aggregate, 5mm or less.
Ground water Water that passes through or stands underground in porous rocks and soils, in the zone of saturation, that is under a pressure equal to or greater than atmospheric pressure and supplies wells. The Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection is responsible for regulating groundwater quality.
Grubbing The removal of stumps and root systems from the soil.
Hardstone Exceptionally durable stone such as granite which is used in the top surface of roads to improve skid resistance and prevents rutting.
Heavy-Weight Aggregate An aggregate of very high unit weight, such as barium, boron, or iron ore, steel shot or punchings, which forms a high density mortar of concrete when bound together with hardened cement paste.
Hoggin A naturally occurring mixture of sand and gravel – containing sufficient clay to hold the mixture together when compacted. It is often in the form of overburden on top of good quality sand and gravel. Much used as base material in minor roads, foundations etc. on private housing developments.
Honeycomb An area in a foundation wall where the aggregate (gravel) is visible. Honeycombs can be usually be remedied by applying a thin layer of grout or other cement product over the affected area.
Hot Rolled Asphalt A road material consisting of a dense mixture of mineral matter and bituminous binder in which the mortar of fine aggregate, filler and high viscosity binder is a major factor in the performance of the compacted wearing course, base course or road base. As the strength of asphalt is derived from the stiff mortar (binder/sand/filler) the aggregate type is of little importance. In wearing course asphalt (normally 30% stone content) the greater part of the mix is sand (53%). It can be used at all layers in the road construction, i.e. road base, base course, wearing course. Normally 60% stone content is used for road base and base course and a 30% stone content for wearing course. Much asphalt wearing course now has designed binder content and has to meet a stability (strength) requirement dependent on the traffic density in terms of commercial vehicles. Such a requirement often necessitates the use of blended sand/crushed rock fine aggregate. Rock fines are also permitted by BS594. Because asphalt uses a high percentage of stiff bitumen it is expensive to produce (bitumen cost and aggregate heating costs). In consequence it is only used on heavily trafficked trunk roads and motorways where its cost can be justified. Normally produced on a semi-continuous or “asphalt” plant. Coated chippings are usually embedded into the surface of low coarse aggregate content hot asphalt to improve the surface texture and skid resistance. In consequence the chippings used should be of a high PSV and low abrasion value with good shape and size (normally 20mm size).
Hydroseeding A process whereby seed, fertilizer, wood fiber mulch and/or other agriculture approved additives are mixed together to form a slurry that, when applied to soil, encourages vegetation growth and is an effective means of erosion control.
Impact Crusher Type of crusher in which the breaking process is by impact action, since the rock is not crushed but rather fragmented by kinetic energy imported into the feed system.
Ingress 1) the act of going in or entering. 2) The right to enter. 3) A means or place of entering; entryway.
Interlock The characteristic of a crushed angular aggregate to key into adjacent angular aggregates that provides superior strength and load-carrying capabilities.
Jaw Crusher The crushing action resulting from the simple reciprocating motion takes place only during the forward stroke of the swinging jaw i.e. during half the time of operation of the crusher. The stone is crushed by pressure in a squeezing action.
Lake Asphalt A naturally occurring mixture of bitumen and finely divided mineral matter which is found in well-defined surface deposits.
Leachate Water or other liquid that has percolated through raw material, product, or waste and contains substances in solution or suspension as a result of the contact with these materials.
LI (see liquidity index)
Lightweight Aggregate Aggregate of low density, such as (a) expanded or sintered clay, shale, slate, diatomaceous shale, perlite, vermiculite, or slag; (b) natural pumice, scoria, volcanic cinders, tuff, and diatomite; (c) sintered fly ash or industrial cinders, used to produce lightweight concrete.
Limestone A sedimentary rock, consisting predominantly of calcium carbonate.
Liquid limit The water content at which the minus #40 size fraction passes from a plastic to a liquid state.
Liquidity index (LI) is used for scaling the natural water content of a soil sample to the limits. It can be calculated as a ratio of difference between natural water content and plastic limit, and plasticity index.
Lithology The physical character and composition of a sediment or rock, generally defined by its mineral composition.
Loadout facility Site and equipment for loading gravel into trucks or rail cars, or onto barges.
Lock Down Seal A reseal to prevent further loss of aggregate if original seal is experiencing aggregate loss. Normally 5mm or 7mm aggregate applied. Also referred to as Pin Down Seal.
Macadam Refers to a pavement type generally consisting of large single size aggregate with a surface layer of smaller material with or without binder to lock the surface together. Can be either a bitumen based or water based Macadam Pavement.
Macro texture Description of the road surface produced by different sizes or types of aggregate.
Magnesium Sulphate Soundness This test method is for determining the soundness of aggregates by subjecting the aggregate to cycles of immersion in a saturated solution of magnesium sulphate followed by oven drying.
Magnetite An aggregate used in heavy weight concrete, consisting primarily of ferrous metaferrite (Fe304). A black magnetic iron ore with specific gravity of approximately 5.2 and a Mohs hardness of about 6.
Matrix This is the internal physical components of a coated or dry stone material.
Maximum daily discharge limitation The highest allowable daily discharge of a pollutant, such as turbidity, measured during a calendar day or any 24-hour period that reasonably represents the calendar day for purposes of sampling. The daily discharge is calculated as the average measurement of the pollutant over the day.
Maximum particle size The minimum size screen opening through which 100% of the material will pass.
Maximum Size Aggregate Aggregate whose largest particle size is present in sufficient quantity to affect the physical properties of concrete; generally designated by the sieve size on which the maximum amount permitted to be retained is 5 or 10 percent by weight.
Mesh The number of openings (including fractions thereof) per unit of length in either a screen or sieve in which the openings are 6 mm or less.
Methylene Chloride Non-inflammable, volatile solvent used for washing bitumen from coated materials. A very good organic solvent not soluble in water. The solvent used for washing bitumen from coated material so the aggregate can be graded and bitumen content calculated.
Micron A micron is one thousandth of a millimeter.
Microsilica A fine powder additive to fresh concrete giving great increases in initial strengths and resistance to abrasion. Microsilica mixes allow use of a structure considerably faster than usual, giving a typical 30N/mm2 strength in a matter of 36-48 hours rather than the usual 28 days. Ideal for use in harsh environments such as coastal protection.
Microtexture This is the description of the actual surface of exposed aggregate on the road surface.
Mineral Reserves Geological deposits which are subject to planning permissions for extraction.
Mineral resource conservation The act of reserving the opportunity to extract mineral resources.
Mineral Resources Geological deposits, similar to those forming reserves, where economically workable minerals may prove to be present but remain as areas without planning permission.
Mining face The exposed vertical or near vertical portion of soil or rock that results from mining activity. Shape is generally determined by the reach of loading equipment working on the face.
Mobile Plant Equipment within the quarry which can be moved about, e.g. Loading Shovels, Compressors, Dumpers and Drill Rigs.
Mortar A mix of sand, cement and water which is used to bind together bricks and building stones.
MSHA Mine Safety & Health Administration (Federal)
Natural Aggregate Aggregate from mineral resources which has been subjected to nothing more than mechanical processing.
Natural Sand Sand resulting from natural disintegration and abrasion of rock.
Nominal Maximum Size Aggregate The smallest sieve opening through which the entire amount of the aggregate is permitted to pass; sometimes referred to as “maximum size” (of aggregate).
Normal Weight Aggregate Aggregate of mineral origin having a particle density not less than 2000 kg/m3.
Nuclear Density Meter An instrument for the non-destructive determination of the density and moisture content of material using a radioactive source for its operation.
Oarticle shape The shape of the individual aggregate particle.
Oven Dry Density Aggregate is dried in an oven then weighed. This weight is then used to calculate the density.
Overburden Rock, soil, or loose debris that is above the mineable aggregate resource and is of insufficient quality to process into construction grade aggregate.
Overfall The height above a surface watercourse from which a drainage structure discharges.
Particle Size The effective diameter of a particle measured by sedimentation, sieving, or micrometric methods.
particle strengthThe magnitude of tensile and/or compressive stress that an individual aggregate particle can withstand before failure occurs
Particle surface texture The degree of roughness or irregularity of the surface of an aggregate particle.
Particle-size Distribution Particle distribution of granular materials among various sizes, for aggregates normally designated as gradation. It is usually expressed in terms of cumulative percentages smaller or larger than each of a series of sieve openings or percentages between certain ranges of sieve openings.
Paving fabric A fabric used on an asphalt pavement overlay that when properly installed will prevent the cracks present in the original asphalt layer from transferring to the new pavement section.
Pea Beach A commonly used term for 20mm single size gravel, particularly from marine sources where material is naturally more rounded.
Pea Gravel A commonly used term for 10mm or 20mm single size gravels, particularly from marine sources where material is naturally more rounded.
pea gravel A clean rounded aggregate usually ¼” or 3⁄8″ typically used in drainage applications or in PCC
Pea Shingle A commonly used term for 10mm single size gravel, particularly from marine sources where material is naturally more rounded.
Pecker Hydraulic ram, which is used to break large pieces of rock down to a size, which can be crushed.
Percent Fines Amount, expressed as a percentage, of material in aggregate finer than a given sieve, usually the No. 200 (75 mm) sieve; also, the amount of fine aggregate in a concrete mixture expressed as a percent by absolute volume of the total amount of aggregate.
Perched water table Ground water trapped above an impervious layer of material such as a clay bed.
Permeability This is the ability of a material to let water pass through it and drain away.
Permeable Subbase Layer consisting of crushed aggregates with a reduced amount of fines to promote drainage and stabilized with Portland cement or bituminous cement.
Petrographic A procedure to determine the composition of coarse and fine aggregate in geological terms.
pH The pH of a substance measures its acidity or alkalinity in a scale that ranges from 1 to 14. A ph of 7 is defined as neutral, and large deviations, either above or below this value, are considered harmful to most aquatic life.
PI (see plasticity index)
Pipe Bedding Aggregate used for laying pipes into a trench to provide equal support along their length. Different sizes are used for different sized pipes.
Pit An open shallow surface working, from which sand and gravel is excavated from its natural bed.
Pit Run Unscreened alluvial aggregates as extracted from a pit.
Pitting The disintegration of weak, friable pieces of aggregate due to frost action.
Plant Mix A mixture of aggregate and asphalt cement or liquid asphalt, prepared in a central or traveling mechanical mixer.
plastic limit The lowest water content at which the minus #40 fraction remains cohesive enough to hold together when rolled with the fingers on a glass plate or sheet of unglazed paper into a thread 1⁄8″ in diameter.
Plasticity, Plastic Index This is a measure of the amount of clay in a drystone material. The plastic index is a ratio of the Plastic Limit and the Liquid Limit. Soils with a high PI tend to be predominantly clay, those with a lower PI tend to be predominantly silt, and those with a PI of 0 tend to have little or no silt or clay.
Polished Aggregate Friction Value (PAFV) A measure, on a scale of 0 to 100, of the resistance of an aggregate to polishing under the action of traffic as determined in standard laboratory tests.
Polished Stone Value (PSV) A measure of an aggregate’s resistance to the polishing action of vehicle tires. (Limestone – 40/45, Granite – 50/65, Gritstone – 55/70+).
pollutant An inorganic or organic substance or sound in the environment that, because of its chemical composition or quantity, prevents the functioning of natural processes and produces undesirable environmental and health effects or adversely affects the usefulness of a resource. With respect to water, pollutants include any man-made or man-induced alteration of the physical, biological or chemical integrity of the water.
Pollution Contamination of the environment with objectionable or offensive matter.
Porosity The percentage of open spaces between pieces of gravel cobble etc.
Portland Cement Concrete A mixture of hydraulic cement, coarse aggregate, fine aggregate, water, and possibly admixtures when properly mixed and allowed to properly hydrate provide a strong, hard structural building material.
Pre-Coated Chippings Normally 20mm or 14mm high PSV aggregate with 1.5% 50 Pen coating of bitumen, which is then allowed to cool, then broken up so they can be spread onto asphalt and rolled in when the material is hot. It provides the skid resistance and texture depth.
Precoating The coating of aggregate with a liquid to improve adhesion with the bituminous binder and the aggregate.
Pre-placed aggregate Coarse aggregate placed in a form, with Portland cement grout injected later.
Pressure Filter Apparatus used to force the methylene chloride bitumen liquor from the aggregate filler through a filter paper under pressure.
Primary Crusher The first crushing process after material has been won from the ground.
Primer Seal An application of a primer binder with a fine cover aggregate to a prepared base to provide penetration of the surface and retain a light cover of aggregate. It is used as a preliminary treatment to a more permanent bituminous surfacing. It is intended to carry traffic for a longer period than a prime.
Processing plant flow sheet A conceptual model that attempts to predict processing plant performance. The flow sheet forms the basis for the selection of equipment to meet the processing goals.
Procter Test a method to determine the maximum density that can be achieved through wetting and packing for a given aggregate.
Proctor See Standard Proctor.
Progressive / concurrent reclamation The practice of restoring a worked area at a site using soil, overburden and other materials removed in order to access a new section of the deposit, while extraction is going on elsewhere.
Proportioning Selection of proportions of ingredients for mortar or concrete to make the most economical use of available materials to produce mortar or concrete of the required properties.
Pugmill A stationary mechanical mixer for blending cement and aggregate.
Quality assurance The dependable and accurate monitoring and documentation process to assure that the products shipped do indeed meet aggregate specifications.
Quality control The process of controlling the quality of the aggregate and encompasses the processing plant design, the techniques implemented in processing, materials handling, stockpiling, and loadout.
Quarry Any site that is used for the extraction of rock from bedrock to be used for construction purposes.
Railway Ballast 50mm single sized aggregate to be laid as ballast under permanent way for construction and maintenance of rail track bed. The aggregate must conform to a grading requirement and certain specifications for physical properties, the most significant of which is the Wet Attrition Test. The current specification details a Wet Attrition Value of 6 maximum for high speed tracks and this excludes most limestone.
Reactive aggregate Aggregate containing substances certain silica or carbonate compounds that are capable of reacting chemically with the products of solution or hydration of the Portland cement (alkalis generally) in concrete or mortar, under ordinary conditions of exposure, resulting in harmful expansion, cracking, or staining.
Recycled aggregates Reprocessing of waste concrete and asphalt pavements into useable aggregates.
Rehabilitation The creation of landforms, land productivity and land uses that are compatible with existing land uses in the surrounding area.
Relative Density Samples soaked for 24 hours, weighed in distilled water, surface dried, and weighed and then over dried and weighed. Relative density range from 2.5 – 3.0.
Resistance Value (R Value) A test method to determine the Resistance to Lateral Deformation
Restoration The reformation of a quarry site or sand and gravel site back to agricultural use or leisure activities.
Revegetation The re-establishment of self-sustaining plant cover on a disturbed site.
Rip Rap Loose stone placed along a surface to prevent erosion, scour, or sloughing of a structure or surface such as breakwater, embankment, mountain trail, etc.
Roadbase A term used to describe crushed rock or natural gravel used in road construction.
Rock Pocket A portion of hardened concrete consisting of a concentration of coarse aggregate that is deficient in mortar; caused by separation during placement or insufficient consolidation, or both; see honeycomb.
Round rock aggregate Natural aggregate from either a fluvial or glaciofluvial deposit and comprised primarily of rounded particles created by mechanical erosion.
Run Of Quarry Material Stone blasted down from the quarry face but untreated in any way. Maximum size approximately 1m3. Sometimes sold for fill, dams, break-waters, sea defense etc.
Sampling The process of attaining a random and representative specified volume of an aggregate for testing.
sand Unconsolidated materials that are primarily composed of coarse, medium and fine mineral particles 4.76 mm (#4 sieve) to 0.074 mm (#200 sieve) in diameter.
Sand & Gravel Any clean, unconsolidated mixture of fine and/or coarse aggregate found in a natural deposit. Most sand & gravel deposits are formed by deposition of water.
Sand Equivalent Test (SE) A rapid field-correlation test to indicate the relative proportion of plastic fines and dust to sand size particles in granular soil and fine aggregate that pass the #4 sieve.
Saturated Surface Dry Density (SSD) The density calculated using the weight of the aggregate in a saturated surface dry state.
Scalpings Material removed to clean the run of quarry product either before or after the primary crusher – normally before. Consists of clay, muck etc. and the small flat particles from the blasted rock. Sized at either 75, 50 or 40mm down dependent on the cleanliness of the quarry and/or time of year. This is generally a saleable material as a good class fill for minor roads, foundations etc. Often slightly more rock than necessary is left in to upgrade the product and make it saleable. In some instances price is so good as to make it uneconomic to attempt to remove the rock but this is very dependent on the quantity of material “scalped”. Occasionally will meet the grading specification for Type 2 GSB with no further treatment.
Scarify Breaking up hard or compacted materials using a grader.
Screen Large vibrating sheet, or mat, of woven wire or polypropylene, with specific size holes through which aggregates fall through, and are collected.
Screened Aggregate Sand and gravel or crushed rock which has been separated by screens into various sizes. The separated sizes will usually differ dependent on whether it is a sand and gravel pit or a crushed rock plant. Sand and gravel usually produced to meet the requirements of BS882 (Aggregates from Natural Sources for Concrete) either as graded aggregates (40-5, 20-5, 14-5mm) or single sized (40, 20, 14, 10, 5mm). 3 fine aggregate gradings (C, M & F). Crushed rock produced in sizes to meet the requirements of BS63 (Road Aggregates) which are 50, 40, 28, 20, 14, 10, 6.3, 3mm and 3mm to dust.
Secondary Aggregates The waste products of other industries which can be used as a substitute for natural aggregates. For example incinerator bottom ash, crushed glass, china clay waste and slag.
Secondary Crusher This crusher is usually for re-crushing the primary crusher run smaller or rejects from the primary crusher run.
Sediment The very fine material within washing water and storm water runoff, originating from natural, mechanical and human disturbances. Sediment particles originate from the weathering and erosion of rocks or unconsolidated deposits and are transported by, suspended in, or deposited by water or air. Composed of clay, silt and sand.
Separation The tendency of coarse aggregate to separate from the concrete and accumulate at one side as concrete passes from the unconfined ends of chutes, conveyor belts, or similar arrangements.
Shell Content Content of shell particles in coarse aggregate passing a 10mm sieve and retained on a 5mm sieve.
Shock load The impact load of material such as aggregate or concrete as it is released or dumped during placement.
Shrinkage The property of the mortar in Portland Cement Concrete that undergoes shrinkage as it dries as a result of hydration and evaporation.
Silt Grains of rock between 0.002mm and 0.06mm
Silt Ponds/Lagoons The water used for washing and processing sand and gravel, ends up in ponds where the silt falls out and settles.
Single Size Aggregate An aggregate having a major proportion of particles lying between narrow size limits.
Site The land or water area where any facility or activity is physically located or conducted or all of the disturbed and undisturbed land within the legal boundaries of a property.
Skid Resistance The property of a paved surface that provides a resistance to skidding.
Slurry Seal A road surface treatment involving the application of a mixture of fine aggregate (5mm or 7mm) and emulsion in the form of a slurry over an existing pavement.
Sodium Soundness Test A test process used to determine the freeze-thaw characteristics of an aggregate.
Soil The unconsolidated material on the immediate surface of the land that serves as a natural medium for the growth of plants.
solubility The tendency of an aggregate to be dissolved by a liquid
Special provisions The section of a Project Bid Document that addresses special specifications that bidders must adhere to in submitting their bid documents.
Specific gravity The ratio of the mass of a given volume of aggregate to the mass of an equal volume of water.
stability The property which permits a combination of aggregate particles to remain stable and retain their load-carrying capabilities under various types of loading
Stakeholders All individuals, agencies, bodies, companies, etc. with an interest in a given matter.
Standard proctor A test that determines the maximum dry density for specific soil types. Specified compaction densities for fills are often based on a percentage of Standard Proctor for a specific moisture content.
Standards Levels of performance set by regulation or legislation.
Sterilization The removal of access, for whatever reason, to a potential aggregate site for extraction.
Stockpile Storage of an aggregate product in a large mound for later use, sale or disposal.
Stockpiling The practice of storing materials for later use, sale or disposal.
Storm water That portion of rainfall runoff that does not naturally seep into the ground or evaporate, but flows via overland flow, interflow, pipes and other features of a storm water drainage system.
Storm water drainage system Constructed and natural features that function together as a system to collect, convey, channel, hold, inhibit, retain, detain, infiltrate or divert storm water.
Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP) $150 million research program funded by the federal government to improve highway construction practices and products.
Stripping The loss of adhesion between asphalt and aggregate due to moisture sensitivity.
Superpave The product of the American Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP). Superpave (Superior Performing Asphalt Pavements) is an improved system for specifying the components of asphalt concrete, asphalt mixture design and analysis, and asphalt pavement performance prediction.
Surface moisture Free moisture retained on the surfaces of aggregate particles that becomes part of the mixing water in the concrete mix.
tack coat A light spray application of low viscosity asphalt emulsion (generally diluted) to an existing pavement surface to insure a bond between the original pavement and a subsequent asphalt concrete overlay
Timing windows A schedule of certain aggregate operations and mining activities to minimize environmental impacts.
Toast Rack A series of large concrete bays which different sizes of aggregate are stored.
Topsoil The upper-most soil layer that is commonly characterized by dark-colored, organically-enriched materials.
Toughness The resistance to fracture from impact. It is closely related to the absence of brittleness.
Uniformity Coefficient Test to determine relation of sieve size at which 60% of aggregate passes against the sieve size at which 10% passes. The result is expressed as a number; the higher the number the more blended the coarse and fine elements of the material. Commonly used in the DTp 600 series specifications for Earthworks, to determine suitability of material for various fills and back fills.
Vermiculite An aggregate somewhat similar to perlite that is used as an aggregate in lightweight roof decks and deck fills. It is formed from mica, a hydrous silicate with the ability of expanding on heating to form lightweight material with insulation quality. Used as bulk insulation and also as aggregate in insulating and acoustical plaster and in insulating concrete.
voids in aggregate mixture The spaces between aggregate particles
Washed Concrete Sand A commonly used term for BS882 fine aggregate sand, i.e. material generally passing a 5mm sieve. This can be further defined by grading into Coarse, Medium or Fine, depending upon the material’s natural composition and percentage of retention of particles on the 2.36mm sieve.
Washing Practice of cleaning aggregate with water to remove excessive amounts of fine particles.
Water Absorption The ability of an aggregate to absorb water 0.1 – 2% for normal road aggregates.
Water quality The chemical, physical, and biological characteristics of water, normally with respect to its suitability for a particular purpose.
Water table The upper surface or elevation of the groundwater within the aquifer that is closest to the ground surface.
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By about 2010 what more centrally meaningful word (and technology) had replaced 'router' for the internet connection hardware unit typically installed in homes and small businesses?
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the Internet facts, information, pictures | Encyclopedia.com articles about the Internet
E-mail .
Criminal activity on the Internet generally falls into the category of computer crime. It includes so-called hacking, or breaking into computer systems, stealing account passwords and credit-card numbers, and illegally copying intellectual property. Because personal computers can easily copy information—including everything from software to photographs and books—and the information can be sent anywhere in the world quickly, it has become much more difficult for copyright owners to protect their property.
Public and legislative attention, especially in the mid to late 1990s, focused on Internet content, specifically sexually explicit material. The distribution of pornography became a major concern in the 1990s, as private individuals and businesses found an unregulated means of giving away or selling pornographic images. As hard-core and child pornography proliferated, Congress sought to impose restrictions on obscene and indecent content on the Internet.
In 1996, Congress responded to concerns that indecent and obscene materials were freely distributed on the Internet by passing the Communications Decency Act (CDA) as part of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, Pub. L. No. 104-104, 110 Stat. 56. This law forbade the knowing dissemination of obscene and indecent material to persons under the age of 18 through computer networks or other telecommunications media. The act included penalties for violations of up to five years imprisonment and fines of up to $250,000.
The american civil liberties union (ACLU) and online Internet services immediately challenged the CDA as an unconstitutional restriction on freedom of speech. A special three-judge federal panel in Pennsylvania agreed with these groups, concluding that the law was overbroad because it could limit the speech of adults in its attempt to protect children. American Civil Liberties Union v. Reno, 929 F. Supp. 824 (E.D. Pa. 1996).
The government appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, but the Court affirmed the three-judge panel on a 7-2 vote, finding that the act violated the first amendment. Reno v. American Civil Liberties Union, 521 U.S. 844, 117 S. Ct. 2329, 136 L. Ed. 2d 236 (1997). Though the Court recognized the "legitimacy and importance of the congressional goal of protecting children from the harmful materials" on the Internet, it ruled that the CDA abridged freedom of speech and that it therefore was unconstitutional.
Justice john paul stevens, writing for the majority, acknowledged that the sexually explicit materials on the Internet range from the "modestly titillating to the hardest core." He concluded, however, that although this material is widely available, "users seldom encounter such content accidentally." In his view, a child would have to have "some sophistication and some ability to read to retrieve material and thereby to use the Internet unattended." He also pointed out that systems for personal computers have been developed to help parents limit access to objectionable material on the Internet and that many commercial web sites have age-verification systems in place.
Turning to the CDA, Stevens found that previous decisions of the Court that limited free speech out of concern for the protection of children were inapplicable. The CDA differed from the laws and orders upheld in the previous cases in significant ways. The CDA did not allow parents to consent to their children's use of restricted materials, and it was not limited to commercial transactions. In addition, the CDA failed to provide a definition of "indecent," and its broad prohibitions were not limited to particular times of the day. Finally, the act's restrictions could not be analyzed as forms of time, place, and manner regulations because the act was a content-based blanket restriction on speech. Accordingly, it could not survive the First Amendment challenge.
In 1998, Congress responded to the decision by enacting the Child Online Protection Act (COPA), Pub. L. No. 105-277, 112 Stat. 2681. This act was narrower in its application than the CDA, applying only to commercial transactions and limited to content deemed to be "harmful to minors." The new statute was subject to immediate litigation. A federal district court placed a preliminary injunction on the application of the statute, and this decision was affirmed by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. American Civil Liberties Union v. Reno, 217 F.3d 162 (3d Cir. 2000). Although the U.S. Supreme Court vacated the decision, it was due to procedural grounds rather than the merits of the challenge. Ashcroft v. American Civil Liberties Union, 535 U.S. 564, 122 S. Ct. 1700, 152 L. Ed. 2d 771 (2002). On remand, the Third Circuit again affirmed the injunction, holding that that statute likely violated the First Amendment. American Civil Liberties Union v. Ashcroft, 322 F.3d 240 (3d Cir. 2003).
The questions raised in Reno and subsequent decisions have also been raised in the debate over the use of Internet filters. Many schools and libraries, both public and private, have installed filters that prevent users from viewing vulgar, obscene, pornographic, or other types of materials deemed unsuitable by the institution installing the software.
The ACLU, library associations, and other organizations that promote greater access to information have objected to the use of these filters, especially in public libraries. The first reported case involving libraries and Internet filters occurred in Mainstream Loudon v. Board of Trustees of the London County Library, 24 F. Supp. 2d 552 (E.D. Va. 1998). A Virginia federal court judge in that case ruled that the use of screening software by a library was unconstitutional, as it restricted adults to materials that the software found suitable for children. Courts have generally been split about his issue, and several have found that the use of these filters in public schools is allowed under the First Amendment.
Pornography is not the only concern of lawmakers and courts regarding potential crime on the Internet. The Internet has produced forms of terrorism that threaten the security of business, government, and private computers. Computer "hackers" have defeated computer network "firewalls" and have vandalized or stolen electronic data. Another form of terrorism is the propagation and distribution over the Internet of computer viruses that can corrupt computer software, hardware, and data files. Many companies now produce virus-checking software that seeks to screen and disable viruses when they arrive in the form of an e-mail or e-mail file attachment. However, computer hackers are constantly inventing new viruses, thus giving the viruses a window of time to wreak havoc before the virus checkers are updated. Moreover, the fear of viruses has led to hoaxes and panics.
One of the most infamous viruses, dubbed the Melissa virus, was created in 1999 by David Smith of New Jersey. It was sent through a Usenet newsgroup as an attachment to a message the purported to provide passwords for sexrelated web sites. When the attachment was opened, it infected the user's computer. The program found the user's address book and sent a mass message with attachments containing the virus. Within a few days, it had infected computers across the globe and forced the shutdown of more than 300 computer networks from the heavy loads of e-mail that Melissa generated.
The Melissa virus represented one of the first instances where law enforcement personnel were able to take advantage of new technologies to track the creator of the virus. On April 1, 1999, about a week after the virus first appeared on the Usenet newsgroups, police arrested Smith. He pled guilty to one count of computer fraud and abuse. He was sentenced to 20 months in prison and was fined $5,000.
Another area of legal concern is the issue of libel. In tort law, libel and slander occur when the communication of false information about a person injures the person's good name or reputation. Where the traditional media are concerned, it is well settled that libel suits provide both a means of redress for injury and a punitive corrective against sloppiness and malice. Regarding communication on the Internet, however, there is little case law, especially on the key issue of liability.
In suits against newspapers, courts traditionally held publishers liable, along with their reporters, because publishers were presumed to have reviewed the libelous material prior to publication. Because of this legal standard, publishers and editors are generally careful to review anything that they publish. However, the Internet is not a body of material that is carefully reviewed by a publisher, but an unrestricted flood of information. If a libelous or defamatory statement is posted on the Internet, which is owned by no one, the law is uncertain as to whether anyone other than the author can be held liable.
Some courts have held that online service providers, companies that connect their subscribers to the Internet, should be held liable if they allow their users to post libelous statements on their sites. An online provider is thus viewed like a traditional publisher.
Other courts have rejected the publisher analogy and instead have compared Internet service providers to bookstores. Like bookstores, providers are distributors of information and cannot reasonably be expected to review everything that they sell. U.S. libel law gives greater protection to bookstores because of this theory (Smith v. California, 361 U.S. 147, 80 S. Ct. 215, 4 L. Ed. 2d 205 [1959]), and some courts have applied it to online service providers.
trademark infringement on the Internet has also led to controversy and legal disputes. One of the biggest concerns for registered trademark and service mark holders is protection of the mark on the Internet. As Internet participants establish sites on the Web, they must create domain names, which are names that designate the location of the web site. Besides providing a name to associate with the person or business that created the site, a domain name makes it easy for Internet users to find a particular home page or web site.
As individuals and businesses devised domain names in this medium, especially during the mid to late 1990s, they found that the names they created were similar to, or replicas of, registered trademarks and service marks. Several courts have considered complaints that use of a domain name violated the rights of a trademark or service mark holder, and early decisions did not favor these parties' rights.
In 1999, Congress enacted the Anti-cyber-squatting Consumer Protection Act, Pub. L. No. 106-113, 113 Stat. 1501. The act strengthened the rights of trademark holders by giving these owners a cause of action against so-called "cybersquatters" or "cyberpirates," individuals who register a third-party's trademark as a domain name for the purpose of selling it back to the owner for a profit.
Prior to the enactment of this law, an individual could register a domain name using the trademark or service mark of a company, and the company would have to use a different domain name or pay the creator a sum of money for the right to use the name. Thus, for example, an individual could register the name www.ibm.com, which most web users would have associated with International Business Machines (IBM), the universally recognized business. Because another individual used this domain name, IBM could not create a Web site using www.ibm.com without paying the cyber-squatter a fee for its use. The 1999 legislation eradicated this problem.
During the 1990s, a number of companies were formed that operated completely on the Internet. Due to the overwhelming success of these companies, the media dubbed this phenomenon the "dot-com bubble." The success of these companies was relatively short-lived, as the "bubble" burst in early 2000. Many of these Internet companies went out of business, while those that remained had to reconsider new business strategies.
Notwithstanding these setbacks, the Internet itself has continued to develop and evolve. During the 1990s, the vast majority of Internet users relied upon telephone systems to log on to the Internet. This trend has changed drastically in recent years, as many users have subscribed to services that provide broadband access through such means as cable lines, satellite feeds, and other types of high-speed networks. These new methods for connecting to the Internet allow users to retrieve information at a much faster rate of speed. They will likely continue to change the types of content that are available through this means of telecommunications.
further readings
"ACLU Analysis of the Cox/Wyden Bill (HR 1978)." July 10, 1995. American Civil Liberties Union site. Available online at < www.aclu.org > (accessed November 20, 2003).
"ACLU Cyber-Liberties Alert: Axe the Exon Bill!" April 29, 1995. American Civil Liberties Union site. Available online at < www.aclu.org > (acccessed November 20, 2003).
"A Civil Liberties Ride on the Information Superhighway." 1994. Civil Liberties: The National Newsletter of the ACLU 380 (spring).
"Amicus Curiae Brief in re U.S. v. Jake Baker and Arthur Gonda, Crim. No. 95-80106, U.S. District Court Eastern District of Michigan Southern Division." April 26, 1995. American Civil Liberties Union site. Available online at < www.aclu.org > (accessed November 20, 2003).
Blanke, Jordan M. 2003."Minnesota Passes the Nation's First Internet Privacy Law." Rutgers Computer & Technology Law Journal 29 (summer).
"Can the Use of Cyberspace Be Governed?" 1995. Congressional Quarterly Researcher (June 30).
"Constitutional Problems with the Communications Decency Amendment: A Legislative Analysis by the EFF." June 16, 1995. Electronic Frontier Foundation site. Available online at < www.eff.org > (accessed November 20, 2003).
"Legislative Update: Pending State Legislation to Regulate Online Speech Content." April 17, 1995. American Civil Liberties Union site. Available online at < www.aclu.org > (accessed November 20, 2003).
Leiter, Richard A. 2003. "The Challenge of the Day: Permanent Public Access." Legal Information Alert 22 (February): 10.
Peck, Robert S. 2000. Libraries, the First Amendment, and Cyberspace: What You Need to Know. Chicago: American Library Association.
Peters, Robert. 2000. "'Marketplace of Ideas' or Anarchy: What Will Cyberspace Become?" Mercer Law Review 51 (spring): 909–17.
"Prodigy Stumbles as a Forum Again." Fall 1994. Electronic Frontier Foundation site. Available online at < www.eff.org > (accessed November 20, 2003).
Reed, Cynthia K., and Norman Solovay. 2003. The Internet and Dispute Resolution: Untangling the Web. New York: Law Journal Press.
Smith, Mark, ed. 2001. Managing the Internet Controversy. New York: Neal-Schuman Publishers.
Tsai, Daniel, and John Sullivan. 2003. "The Developing Law of Internet Jurisdiction." The Advocate 61 (July).
cross-references
The Internet
The Internet is the world's largest computer network. It is a global information infrastructure comprising millions of computers organized into hundreds of thousands of smaller, local networks. The term “information superhighway” is sometimes used to describe the function that the Internet provides: an international, high-speed telecommunications network that offers open access to the general public.
The Internet provides a variety of services, including electronic mail (e-mail), the World Wide Web (WWW), Intranets, File Transfer Protocol (FTP), Telnet (for remote login to host computers), and various file-location services.
HISTORY OF THE INTERNET
The idea for the Internet began in the early 1960s as a military network developed by the U.S. Department of Defense's Advanced Research Project Agency (DARPA). At first, it was a small network called ARPANET, which promoted the sharing of super-computers amongst military researchers in the United States . A few years later, DARPA began to sponsor research into a cooperative network of academic time-sharing computers. By 1969, the first ARPANET hosts were constructed at Stanford Research Institute, University of California , Los Angeles (UCLA), University of California Santa Barbara, and the University of Utah .
A second factor in growth was the National Science Foundation's NSFNET, built in 1986 for the purpose of connecting university computer science departments. NSFNET combined with ARPANET to form a huge backbone of network hosts. This backbone became what we now think of as the Internet (although the term “Internet” was used as early as 1982).
The explosive growth of the Internet came with major problems, particularly related to privacy and security in the digital world. Computer crime and malicious destruction became a paramount concern. One dramatic incident occurred in 1988 when a program called the “Morris worm” temporarily disabled approximately 10 percent of all Internet hosts across the country. The Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) was formed in 1988 to address such security concerns.
In 1990, as the number of hosts approached 300,000, the ARPANET was decommissioned, leaving only the Internet with NSFNET as its sole backbone. The 1990s saw the commercialization of the Internet, made possible when the NSF lifted its restriction on commercial use and cleared the way for the age of electronic commerce.
Electronic commerce was further enhanced by new applications being introduced to the Internet. For example, programmers at the University of Minnesota developed the first point-and-click method of navigating Internet files in 1991. This program, which was freely distributed on the Internet, was called Gopher, and gave rise to similar applications such as Archie and Veronica.
An even more influential development, also started in the early 1990s, was Tim Berners-Lee's work on the World Wide Web, in which hypertext-formatted pages of words, pictures, and sounds promised to become an advertiser's dream come true. At the same time, Marc Andreessen and colleagues at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA), located on the campus of University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, were developing a graphical browser for the World Wide Web called Mosaic (released in 1993), which would eventually evolve into Netscape.
By 1995, the Internet had become so commercialized that most access to the Internet was handled through Internet service providers (ISPs), such as America Online and Netcom. At that time, NSF relinquished control of the Internet, which was now dominated by Web traffic.
Partly motivated by the increased commercial interest in the Internet, Sun Microsystems released an Internet programming language called Java, which promised to radically alter the way applications and information can be retrieved, displayed, and used over the Internet.
By 1996, the Internet's twenty-fifth anniversary, there were 40 million Internet users; by 2002, that number had increased to 531 million, and by 2006 the number of Web users was roughly 750 million. Internet-based electronic commerce has reached major proportions as well, totalling roughly $140 million in revenue in the United States alone in 2007. This number continues to rise steadily throughout the 2000s.
BANDWIDTH
Bandwidth is the capacity of a particular pathway to transmit information for online purposes. It is bandwidth that controls how fast Web sites download. In analog settings (such as dial-up), bandwidth is measured by frequency, the difference between the highest and lowest frequencies, expressed in Hertz. Digital lines measure bandwidth in bits/bytes per second (the amount of information transferred every second). Companies often determine and set the amount of bandwidth allowed for certain activities, an activity called bandwidth allocation.
INTERNET CONNECTIONS
There are many types of Internet connections, which have changed in sophistication and speed throughout the Internet's history. The first kind is the analog connection, or dial-up, one of the cheapest and slowest ways to connect. The computer dials a phone number to access the network and the modem can convert the data to either format, as required. This analog format is the slowest connection, and the one most subject to quality issues. ISDN, or integrated services digital network, is the international format for normal phone-related Internet connections. B-ISDN is a more recent format for other phone connections, such as fiber optics.
DSL is a constant connection that will take up the phone line the way an analog connection does. There are two main types of DSL—ADSL, which is used most commonly in America, and SDSL, which can transmit a larger amount of information and is more often found in Europe .
Others receive Internet through cable, a broadband connection that operates through TV lines. Certain TV channels are used to take and receive Internet information, and since these coaxial cable connections can handle a much higher rate of data than phone lines, cable Internet service tends to be faster.
Wireless Internet is also becoming popular—connecting computers to the Internet through radio-wave transmissions. This requires a wireless hub or router that transmits information into radio waves, but the connection can be accessed from anywhere in the radius of the broadcast.
E-MAIL
Electronic mail, or e-mail, is the most widely used function used on the Internet today. Millions of messages are passed via Internet lines every day throughout the world. Compared to postal service, overnight delivery companies, and telephone conversations, e-mail via the Internet is extremely cost-effective and fast. E-mail facilities include sending and receiving messages, the ability to broadcast messages to several recipients at once, storing and organizing messages, forwarding messages to other interested parties, maintaining address books of e-mail partners, and even transmitting files (called “attachments”) along with messages.
Internet e-mail messages are sent to an e-mail address. The structure of an e-mail address is as follows: PersonalID@DomainName
The personal identifier could be a person's name or some other way to uniquely identify an individual. The domain is an indicator of the location of that individual, and appears to the right of the “at” (@) sign. A domain name is the unique name of a collection of computers that are connected to the Internet, usually owned by or operated on behalf of a single organization (company, school, or agency) that owns the domain name. The domain name consists of two or more sections, each separated by a period.
From right-to-left, the portions of the domain name are more general to more specific in terms of location. In the United States, the rightmost portion of a domain is typically one of the following:
com—indicating a commercial enterprise
edu—indicating an educational institution
gov—indicating a governmental body
mil—indicating a military installation
net—indicating a network resource
org—indicating a nonprofit organization
In non-U.S. countries, the rightmost portion of a domain name is an indicator of the geographic origin of the domain. For example, Canadian e-mail addresses end with the abbreviation “ca.”
WORLD WIDE WEB
The World Wide Web (WWW) is a system and a set of standards for providing a graphic user interface (GUI) to Internet communications. The Web is the single most important factor in the popularity of the Internet, because it makes the technology easy to use and gives attractive and entertaining presentation to users.
Graphics, text, audio, animation, and video can be combined on Web pages to create dynamic and highly interactive access to information. In addition, Web pages can be connected to each other via hyperlinks. These hyperlinks are visible to the user as highlighted text, underlined text, or images that the user can click to access another Web page.
Browsers. Web pages are available to users via Web browsers, such as Mozilla/Firefox, Apple's Safari, Opera, or Microsoft's Internet Explorer. Browsers are programs that run on the user's computer and provide the interface that displays the graphics, text, and hyperlinks to the user. Browsers recognize and interpret the programming language called Hypertext Markup Language (HTML). HTML includes the ability to format and display text; size and position graphics images for display; invoke and present animation or video clips; and run small programs, called applets, for more complex interactive operations. Browsers also implement the hyperlinks and allow users to connect to any Web page they want.
Search Engines. Sometimes a user knows what information she needs, but does not know the precise Web page that she wants to view. A subject-oriented search can be accomplished with the aid of search engines, which are tools that can locate Web pages based on a search criterion established by the user. By far, Google is the most commonly used search engine.
Blogs. The ease with which users can publish their own information using the World Wide Web has created an opportunity for everyone to be a publisher. An outcome from this is that every topic, hobby, niche, and fetish now has a thriving community of like-minded people. The ease of publishing information on the Web became easier with the advent of Web logs or “blogs,” online diaries that opened the floodgates to an even greater level of individual participation in information sharing and community.
UNIFORM RESOURCE LOCATORS (URL)
A Uniform Resource Locator (URL) is a networked extension of the standard filename concept. It allows the user to point to a file in a directory on any machine on the Internet. In addition to files, URLs can point to queries, documents stored deep within databases, and many other entities. Primarily, however, URLs are used to identify and locate Web pages.
A URL is composed of three parts:
Protocol. This is the first part of the address. In a Web address, the letters “http” stand for Hypertext Transfer Protocol, signifying how this request should be dealt with. The protocol information is followed by a colon. URL protocols usually take one of the following types:
http—for accessing a Web page
ftp—for transferring a file via FTP
file—for locating a file on the client's own machine
gopher—for locating a Gopher server
mail—for submitting e-mail across the Internet
news—for locating a Usenet newsgroup
Resource Name. This is the name of the server/machine at which the query should be directed. For an “http” request, the colon is followed by two forward slashes, and this indicates that the request should be sent to a machine.
Path and File Name. The rest of a URL specifies the particular computer name, any directory tree information, and a file name, with the latter two pieces of information being optional for Web pages. The computer name is the domain name or a variation on it (on the Web, the domain is most commonly preceded by a machine prefix “www” to identify the computer that is functioning as the organization's Web server, as opposed to its e-mail server, etc.).
If a particular file isn't located at the top level of the directory structure (as organized and defined by whoever sets up the Web site), there may be one or more strings of text separated by slashes, representing the directory hierarchy.
Finally, the last string of text to the right of the rightmost slash is the individual file name; on the Web, this often ends with the extension “htm” or “html” to signify it's an HTML document. When no directory path or file name is specified (e.g., the URL http://www.domain.com ), the browser is typically pointed automatically to an unnamed (at least from the user's perspective) default or index page, which often constitutes an organization's home or start page.
Thus, a full URL with a directory path and file name may look something like this:
http://www.mycompany.com/files/myfile.html
Lastly, a Web URL might also contain, somewhere to the right of the domain name, a long string of characters that does not correspond to a traditional directory path or file name, but rather is a set of commands or instructions to a server program or database application. The syntax of these URLs depends on the underlying software program being used. Sometimes these can function as reusable URLs (e.g., they can be bookmarked and retrieved repeatedly), but other times they must be generated by the site's server at the time of use, and thus can't be retrieved directly from a bookmark or by typing them in manually.
Spam. Commercial abuse of e-mail continues to be problematic as companies attempt to e-mail millions of online users in bulk. This technique is called “spam,” (so named after a skit by the comedy troupe Monty Python that involved the continuous repetition of the word). Online users are deluged with a massive amount of unwanted e-mail selling a wide array of products and services. Spam has become a network-wide problem as it impacts information transfer time and overall network load. Several organizations and governments are attempting to solve the spam problem through legislation or regulation.
Viruses. Computer viruses spread by e-mail have also grown as the Internet has grown. The widespread use of e-mail and the growing numbers of new, uninformed computer users has made it very easy to spread malicious viruses across the network. Security issues for both personal computers and for network servers will continue to be a crucial aspect of the ongoing development of the Internet and World Wide Web.
INTRANET
Intranets are private systems, contained within servers owned by companies. They are based on the same principles that govern the Internet but are not widely available; instead, they are used only for communicating and transferring company information between employees. Companies utilize intranets to protect valuable information from outside access, creating them with layers of protection in place. Because intranet systems are private, they do not suffer from some of the problems the Internet faces, such as speed-related performance issues from too many users trying to access the same sites. Companies can place multimedia presentations on their systems more easily, showing presentations and running training programs for employees.
Company uses for intranet systems are varied, including procedural manuals, employee benefit resources, orientation programs, software and hardware instructions, and even company social networks or e-zine postings. Intranets can also be constructed for a company's specific needs, tailored in functions and appearance. They can include simple files of information, such as spreadsheets or word documents. They can also incorporate search engines that employees can use to find particular components or analyze sets of data. Many also provide links to the Internet and relevant Web sites.
VOIP
VoIP, or Voice over Internet Protocol, is a developing technology allowing users to access audio communication through their Internet settings. The Internet line sends voice transmissions in the form of data packets, like all other types of information stored in servers, which are then changed in audio on a receiving phone system. Users of VoIP benefit by not having to pay for separate phone and Internet services. Beyond the software and hardware required to set up VoIP, companies usually do not need to pay for more than their normal Internet service.
The most important factors in VoIP service are audio quality and accessibility. VoIP can be provided by many different companies, including CoolTalk, Vonage, and Phone Power, but companies should always be sure to conduct tests of the audio quality to ensure it is as good as normal phone service. Also, some companies may prefer to have a back-up system installed in case of emergencies, such as Internet shut-downs or power outages.
SOCIAL NETWORKING
Social networks have become increasingly popular in the past few years with the rise of such Web sites as MySpace and Facebook, where Internet users can create their own profiles and structure personal Web sites in online communities. Thanks to the ease of Internet communication, participants can form friendships and spread information at a high speed across a vast area. Businesses can make use of these social networks in several ways.
Many social networks employ widgets, or embedded advertisements, often in the form of rich media. These interactive advertisements can be posted along the edges of the Web sites and can serve as both marketing and analyzing tools. By making an animated advertisement that can be clicked on or interacted with, a business can judge how attractive the advertisement is through programs designed to collect widget data. Because social networks spread information so quickly, businesses can also use them as platforms to propagate their messages and brand. Some companies have their own MySpace sites to use for marketing purposes, trying a more personal form of promotion that many social network users find honest. Other organizations are beginning to view social networks as an effective way to recruit new employees.
SMARTPHONES AND PDAS
Mobile, handheld computer devices are very common in today's business world. PDAs, which offer online interaction and note-taking abilities, are being increasingly replaced by smartphones, which are phones configured to offer the same services, including connection to the Internet, e-mail, and document programs. While many companies are eager to offer these mobile devices to their employees as a communication tool, only some are currently taking advantage of handhelds as a marketing tool. Websites can be configured to the mini-browsers smart-phones rely on, giving those using handheld devices easier access to online information and advertisements. The primary problem cited with smartphones and PDAs is security, since they are not affected by companies' intranet or Internet protections.
E-COMMERCE
E-commerce can take many different forms. Some companies use a “click and mortar” system where they operate stores or factories in physical locations while also offering their products in an online store where orders can be made. Other companies have a central, physical hub and warehouses from which they conduct a large amount of business over the Internet without other bases, such as Amazon.com. Some companies exist by offering purely online services with only a central office, such as eBay.
A company's online store can be constructed to help customers personally, by keeping track of what they view, what they order, and offering similar products that they may be interested in. This is called personalization, and the ability to offer each customer their own experience every time they access the company Web site is a powerful marketing tool. It is also important for companies to consistently update their online stores to reflect their changing services or merchandise, including deals and discounts. The interface companies use is also important—how the Web site looks and reacts to customers, especially in response to searches and guided navigation.
WEB CAMS
The current quality of web cams allows companies to transfer video images in real time, letting them use the Internet to video-conference. Some companies are beginning to use video-messaging, a service that often accompanies instant messaging. This technology works for one-on-one meetings and conferences involving multiple attendees.
SEE ALSO Computer Networks; Computer Security; Electronic Commerce; Electronic Data Interchange and Electronic Funds Transfer
BIBLIOGRAPHY
“Bandwidth Shaping.” Webopedia. Jupiter Media Corporation, 2008.
Berners-Lee, Tim. Weaving the Web: The Original Design and Ultimate Destiny of the World Wide Web. New York : HarperBusiness, 2000.
Chung, Joe. “The Red Queen of E-commerce.” Ecommerce Times, 2008.
“The Difference Between VoIP and PSTN Systems.” Webopedia. Jupiter Media Corporation, 2008.
Grauer, Robert, and Gretchen Marx. Essentials of the Internet. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1997.
Hafner, Katie. Where Wizards Stay Up Late: The Origin of the Internet. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1998.
“Intranet Corner.” Intranet Journal, 2008. Available from: http://www.intranetjournal.com/articles/200107/ic_07_18_01a.html .
Kalakota, Ravi, and Andrew B. Whinston. Electronic Commerce: A Manager's Guide. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley, 1996.
“Types of Internet Connections.” Webopedia. Jupiter Media Corporation, 2008.
Cite this article
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
The Internet is a vast global system of interconnected technical networks made up of heterogeneous information and communication technologies. It is also a social and economic assemblage that allows diverse forms of communication, creativity, and cultural exchange at a scope and scale unknown before the late twentieth century.
The terms Internet and net are often used when discussing the social implications of new information technologies, such as the creation of new communal bonds across great distances or new forms of wealth and inequality. Such a usage is imprecise: The Internet is distinct from the applications and technologies that are built upon it, such as e-mail, the World Wide Web , online gaming, filesharing networks, and e-commerce and e-governance initiatives. There are also many networks that are or were once distinct from the Internet, such as mobile telephone networks and electronic financial networks.
Stated more precisely, the Internet is an infrastructural substrate that possesses innovative social, cultural, and economic features allowing creativity (or innovation) based on openness and a particular standardization process. It is a necessary, but not a sufficient, condition for many of the social and cultural implications often attributed to it. Understanding the particularity of the Internet can be key to differentiating its implications and potential impact on society from the impacts of “information technology” and computers more generally.
HISTORY AND STRUCTURE OF THE INTERNET
The Internet developed through military, university, corporate, and amateur user innovations occurring more or less constantly beginning in the late 1960s. Despite its complexity, it is unlike familiar complex technical objects—for example, a jumbo jetliner—that are designed, tested, and refined by a strict hierarchy of experts who attempt to possess a complete overview of the object and its final state. By contrast, the Internet has been subject to innovation, experimentation, and refinement by a much less well-defined collective of diverse users with wide-ranging goals and interests.
In 1968 the Internet was known as the ARPAnet, named for its principal funding agency, the U.S. Department of Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA). It was a small but extensive research project organized by the Information Processing Techniques Office at ARPA that focused on advanced concepts in computing, specifically graphics, time-sharing, and networking. The primary goal of the network was to allow separate administratively bounded resources (computers and software at particular geographical sites) to be shared across those boundaries, without forcing standardization across all of them. The participants were primarily university researchers in computer and engineering departments. Separate experiments in networking, both corporate and academic, were also under way during this period, such as the creation of “Ethernet” by Robert Metcalfe at Xerox PARC and the X.25 network protocols standardized by the International Telecommunications Union.
By 1978 the ARPAnet had grown to encompass dozens of universities and military research sites in the United States . At this point the project leaders at ARPA recognized a need for a specific kind of standardization to keep the network feasible, namely a common operating system and networking software that could run on all of the diverse hardware connected to the network. Based on its widespread adoption in the 1970s, the UNIX operating system was chosen by ARPA as one official platform for the Internet. UNIX was known for its portability (ability to be installed on different kinds of hardware) and extensibility (ease with which new components could be added to the core system). Bill Joy (who later cofounded Sun Microsystems) is credited with the first widespread implementation of the Internet Protocol (IP) software in a UNIX operating system, a version known as Berkeley Systems Distribution (BSD).
The Internet officially began (in name and in practice) in 1983, the date set by an ad hoc group of engineers known as the Network Working Group (NWG) as the deadline for all connected computers to begin using the Transmission Control Protocol and Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) protocols. These protocols were originally designed in 1973 and consistently improved over the ensuing ten years, but only in 1983 did they become the protocols that would define the Internet. At roughly the same time, ARPA and the Department of Defense split the existing ARPAnet in two, keeping “Milnet” for sensitive military use and leaving ARPAnet for research purposes and for civilian uses.
From 1983 to 1993, in addition to being a research network, the Internet became an underground, subcultural phenomenon, familiar to amateur computer enthusiasts, university students and faculty, and “hackers.” The Internet’s glamour was largely associated with the arcane nature of interaction it demanded—largely text-based, and demanding access to and knowledge of the UNIX operating system. Thus, owners of the more widespread personal computers made by IBM and Apple were largely excluded from the Internet (though a number of other similar networks such as Bulletin Board Services, BITNet, and FidoNET existed for PC users).
A very large number of amateur computer enthusiasts discovered the Internet during this period, either through university courses or through friends, and there are many user-initiated innovations that date to this period, ranging from games (e.g., MUDs, or Multi-User Dungeons) to programming and scripting languages (e.g., Perl, created by Larry Wall) to precursors of the World Wide Web (e.g., WAIS, Archie, and Gopher). During this period, the network was overseen and funded by the National Science Foundation, which invested heavily in improving the basic infrastructure of fiberoptic “backbones” in the United States in 1988. The oversight and management of the Internet was commercialized in 1995, with the backing of the presidential administration of Bill Clinton .
In 1993 the World Wide Web (originally designed by Tim Berners-Lee at CERN in Switzerland ) and the graphical Mosaic Web Browser (created by the National Center for Supercomputing Applications at the University of Illinois ) brought the Internet to a much larger audience. Between 1993 and 2000 the “dot-com” boom drove the transformation of the Internet from an underground research phenomena to a nearly ubiquitous and essential technology with far-reaching effects. Commercial investment in infrastructure and in “web presence” saw explosive growth; new modes of interaction and communication (e.g., e-mail, Internet messaging, and mailing lists) proliferated; Uniform Resource Locators (URLs, such as http://www.britannica.com ) became a common (and highly valued) feature of advertisements and corporate identity; and artists, scientists, citizens, and others took up the challenge of both using and understanding the new medium.
PROTOCOLS AND THE INTERNET STANDARDS PROCESS
The core technical components of the Internet are standardized protocols, not hardware or software, strictly speaking—though obviously it would not have spread so extensively without the innovations in microelectronics, the continual enhancement of telecommunications infrastructures around the globe, and the growth in ownership and use of personal computers over the last twenty years. Protocols make the “inter” in the Internet possible by allowing a huge number of nonoverlapping and incompatible networks to become compatible and to route data across all of them.
The key protocols, known as TCP/IP, were designed in 1973 by Vint Cerf and Robert Kahn. Other key protocols, such as the Domain Name System (DNS) and User Datagram Protocol (UDP), came later. These protocols have to be implemented in software (such as in the UNIX operating system described above) to allow computers to interconnect. They are essentially standards with which hardware and software implementations must comply in order for any type of hardware or software to connect to the Internet and communicate with any other hardware and software that does the same. They can best be understood as a kind of technical Esperanto.
The Internet protocols differ from traditional standards because of the unconventional social process by which they are developed, validated, and improved. The Internet protocols are elaborated in a set of openly available documents known as Requests for Comments (RFCs), which are maintained by a loose federation of engineers called the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF, the successor to the Network Working Group). The IETF is an organization open to individuals (unlike large standards organizations that typically accept only national or corporate representatives) that distributes RFCs free of charge and encourages members to implement protocols and to improve them based on their experiences and users’ responses. The improved protocol then may be released for further implementation.
This “positive feedback loop” differs from most “consensus-oriented” standardization processes (e.g., those of international organizations such as ISO, the International Organization for Standardization) that seek to achieve a final and complete state before encouraging implementations. The relative ease with which one piece of software can be replaced with another is a key reason for this difference. During the 1970s and 1980s this system served the Internet well, allowing it to develop quickly, according to the needs of its users. By the 1990s, however, the scale of the Internet made innovation a slower and more difficult procedure—a fact that is most clearly demonstrated by the comparatively glacial speed with which the next generation of the Internet protocol (known as IP Version 6) has been implemented.
Ultimately, the IETF style of standardization process has become a common cultural reference point of engineers and expert users of the Internet, and has been applied not only to the Internet, but also to the production of applications and tools that rely on the Internet. The result is a starkly different mode of innovation and sharing that is best exemplified by the growth and success of so-called “free software” or “open-source software.” Many of the core applications that are widely used on the Internet are developed in this fashion (famous examples include the Linux operating system kernel and the Apache Web Server).
CULTURAL, SOCIAL, AND ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS OF THE INTERNET
As a result of the unusual development process and the nature of the protocols, it has been relatively easy for the Internet to advance around the globe and to connect heterogeneous equipment in diverse settings, wherever there are willing and enthusiastic users with sufficient technical know-how. The major impediment to doing so is the reliability (or mere existence) of preexisting infrastructural components such as working energy and telecommunications infrastructures. Between 1968 and 1993 this expansion was not conducted at a national or state level, but by individuals and organizations who saw local benefit in expanding access to the global network. If a university computer science department could afford to devote some resources to computers dedicated to routing traffic and connections, then all the researchers in a department could join the network without needing permission from any centralized state authority. It was not until the late 1990s that Internet governance became an issue that concerned governments and citizens around the world. In particular, the creation of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has been the locus of fractious dispute, especially in international arenas. ICANN’s narrow role is to assign IP numbers (e.g., 192.168.0.1) and the names they map to (e.g., www.wikipedia.org), but it has been perceived, rightly or wrongly, as an instrument of U.S. control over the Internet.
With each expansion of the Internet, issues of privacy, security, and organizational (or national) authority have become more pressing. At its outset the Internet protocols sought to prioritize control within administrative boundaries, leaving rules governing use to the local network owners. Such a scheme obviated the need for a central authority that determined global rules about access, public/private boundaries, and priority of use. With the advent of widespread commercial access, however, such local control has been severely diluted, and the possibility for individual mischief (e.g., identity theft, spam, and other privacy violations) has increased with increasing accessibility.
On the one hand, increased commercial access means a decline in local organized authority over parts of the Internet in favor of control of large segments by Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and telecommunications/cable corporations. On the other hand, as the basic infrastructure of the Internet has spread, so have the practices and norms that were developed in concert with the technology—including everything from the proper way to configure a router, to norms of proper etiquette on mailing lists and for e-mail. Applications built on top of the Internet have often adopted such norms and modes of use, and promoted a culture of innovation, of “hacking” (someone who creates new software by employing a series of modifications that exploit or extend existing code or resources, with good or bad connotations depending on the context), and of communal sharing of software, protocols, and tools.
It is thus important to realize that although most users do not experience the Internet directly, the development of the particular forms of innovation and openness that characterize the Internet also characterize the more familiar applications built on top of it, due to the propagation of these norms and modes of engineering. There is often, therefore, a significant difference between innovations that owe their genesis to the Internet and those developed in the personal computer industry, the so-called “proprietary” software industry, and in distinct commercial network infrastructures (e.g., the SABRE system for airline reservations, or the MOST network for credit card transactions). The particularity of the Internet leads to different implications and potential impact on society than the impacts of “information technology” or computers more generally.
DIGITAL MUSIC, FILM, AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
One of the most widely discussed and experienced implications of the Internet is the effect on the culture industries, especially music and film. As with previous media (e.g., video and audio cassette recorders), it is the intersection of technology and intellectual property that is responsible for the controversy. Largely due to its “openness,” the Internet creates the possibility for low-cost and extremely broad and fast distribution of cultural materials, from online books to digital music and film. At the same time, it also creates the possibility for broad and fast violation of intellectual property rights—rights that have been strengthened considerably by the copyright act of 1976 and the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (1998).
The result is a cultural battle over the meaning of “sharing” music and movies, and the degree to which such sharing is criminal. The debates have been polarized between a “war on piracy” on the one hand (with widely varying figures concerning the economic losses), and “consumer freedom” on the other—rights to copy, share, and trade purchased music. The cultural implication of this war is a tension among the entertainment industry, the artists and musicians, and the consumers of music and film. Because the openness of the Internet makes it easier than ever for artists to distribute their work, many see a potential for direct remuneration, and cheaper and more immediate access for consumers. The entertainment industry, by contrast, argues that it provides more services and quality—not to mention more funding and capital—and that it creates jobs and contributes to a growing economy. In both cases, the investments are protected primarily by the mechanism of intellectual property law, and are easily diluted by illicit copying and distribution. And yet, it is unclear where to draw a line between legitimate sharing (which might also be a form of marketing) and illegitimate sharing (“piracy,” according to the industry).
THE DIGITAL DIVIDE
A key question about the Internet is that of social equity and access. The term digital divide has been used primarily to indicate the differential in individual access to the Internet, or in computer literacy, between rich and poor, or between developed and developing nations. A great deal of research has gone into understanding inequality of access to the Internet, and estimates of both differential access and the rate of the spread of access have varied extremely widely, depending on methodology. It is, however, clear from the statistics that between 1996 and 2005 the rate of growth in usage has been consistently greater than 100 percent in almost all regions of the globe at some times, and in some places it has reached annual growth rates of 500 percent or more. Aside from the conclusion that the growth in access to the Internet has been fantastically rapid, there are few sure facts about differential access.
There are, however, a number of more refined questions that researchers have begun investigating: Is the quantity or rate of growth in access to the Internet larger or smaller than in the case of other media (e.g., television, print, and radio)? Are there significant differences within groups with access (e.g., class, race, or national differences in quality of access)? Does access actually enhance or change a person’s life chances or opportunities?
The implication of a digital divide (whether between nations and regions, or within them) primarily concerns the quality of information and the ability of individuals to use it to better their life chances. In local terms, this can affect development issues broadly (e.g., access to markets and government, democratic deliberation and participation, and access to education and employment opportunities); in global terms, differential access can affect the subjective understandings of issues ranging from religious intolerance to global warming and environmental issues to global geopolitics. Digital divides might also differ based on the political situation—such as in the case of the Chinese government’s attempt to censor access to politicized information, which in turn can affect the fate of cross-border investment and trade.
SEE ALSO Information, Economics of; Media; Microelectronics Industry; Property Rights, Intellectual
Abbate, Janet. 1999. Inventing the Internet. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
Castells, Manuel. 2001. The Internet Galaxy: Reflections on the Internet, Business, and Society. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
DiMaggio, Paul, Eszter Hargittai, Coral Celeste, and Steven Shafer. 2004. Digital Inequality: From Unequal Access to Differentiated Use. In Social Inequality, ed. Kathryn Neckerman, 355–400. New York: Russell Sage Foundation.
International Telecommunication Union. ICT Indicators. http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/ .
Meuller, Milton. 2004. Ruling the Root: Internet Governance and the Taming of Cyberspace. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
National Telecommunications and Information Administration. A Nation Online: Entering the Broadband Era. http://www.ntia.doc.gov/reports/anol/index.html .
Norberg, Arthur L., and Judy E. O’Neill. 1996. Transforming Computer Technology: Information Processing for the Pentagon, 1962–1986. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press.
Pew Internet and American Life Project. http://www.pewinternet.org .
Schmidt, Susanne K., and Raymund Werle. 1997. Coordinating Technology: Studies in the International Standardization of Telecommunications. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
Waldrop, M. Mitchell. 2001. The Dream Machine: JCR Licklider and the Revolution That Made Computing Personal. New York: Viking Penguin.
Weber, Steven. 2004. The Success of Open Source. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
Christopher M. Kelty
Internet
The Internet is a vast network that connects many independent networks and links computers at different locations. It enables computer users throughout the world to communicate and to share information in a variety of ways. Its evolution into the World Wide Web made it easy to use for those with no prior computer training.
History
The Internet could not exist until the modern computer came to be. The first electronic computers were developed during the 1940s, and these early machines were so large—mainly because of all the bulky vacuum tubes they needed to perform calculations—that they often took up an entire room by themselves. They were also very expensive, and only a few corporations and government agencies could afford to own one. The decade of the 1950s proved to be one of silent conflict and tension between the Soviet Union and the United States —a period called the "cold war"—and computers naturally came to play a large role in those nations' military planning. Since each country was obsessed with the possibility of a deliberate or accidental nuclear war breaking out, the United States began to consider how it might protect its valuable lines of communication in case such a disaster did occur. By the 1960s, both nations had become increasingly dependent on their rapidly-improving computing technologies, and the United States eventually developed a means of linking its major defense-related computer facilities together (to form a network). In 1969, the U.S. Department of Defense began a network of university and military computers that it called ARPANET (Advanced Research Projects Agency Network).
Words to Know
HTML: HyperText Markup Language, used in writing pages for the World Wide Web; it lets the text include codes that define font, layout, embedded graphics, and hypertext links.
HTTP: HyperText Transfer Protocol, which is the way World Wide Web pages are transferred over the Internet.
Hypertext: System of writing and displaying text that enables the text to be linked in multiple ways, to be available on several levels of detail, and to contain links to related documents.
Links: Electronic connections between pieces of information.
Network: A system made up of lines or paths for data flow that includes nodes where the lines intersect and where the data can flow into different lines.
Packets: Small batches of data that computers exchange.
Protocols: Rules or standards for operations and behavior.
World Wide Web: A hypermedia system that is a graphical map for the Internet, that is simple to understand, and that helps users navigate around Internet sites.
Packet switching
The major characteristic of ARPANET was the way it used the new idea called "packet switching." What this does is break up data—or information to be transmitted from one computer to another—into pieces or "packets" of equal-size message units. These pieces or packets are then sent separately to their destination where they are finally reassembled to reform the complete message. So by "packet switching" data, a message is sent in pieces or segments, each of which may travel a different route to the same destination, where it is eventually put back together, no matter how or which way it got there. For defense purposes, this system seemed ideal since if there were any working path to the final destination, no matter how indirect, the new network would find it and use it to get the message through. In 1970, ARPANET began operations between only four universities, but by the end of 1971, ARPANET was linking twenty-three host computers.
How computers could talk to one another
As this system slowly grew, it became apparent that eventually the computers at each different location would need to follow the same rules and procedures if they were to communicate with one another. In fact, if they all went their separate ways and spoke a different "language" and operated under different instructions, then they could never really be linked together in any meaningful way. More and more, the scientists, engineers, librarians, and computer experts who were then using ARPANET found that the network was both highly complex and very difficult to use. As early as 1972, users were beginning to form a sort of bulletin board for what we now call e-mail (electronic mail). This made the need for common procedures even more obvious, and in 1974, what came to be called a common protocol (pronounced PRO-tuh-call) was finally developed. Protocols are sets of rules that standardize how something is done so that everyone knows what to do and what to expect—sort of like the rules of a game. This common language was known as a Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP).
Open architecture
The development of this protocol proved to be a crucial step in the development of a real, working network since it established certain rules or procedures that eventually would allow the network really to expand. One of the keys of the protocol was that it was designed with what was called "open architecture." This meant that each network would be able to work on its own and not have to modify itself in any way in order to be part of the network. This would be taken care of by a "gateway" (usually a larger computer) that each network would have whose special software linked it to the outside world. In order to make sure that data was transmitted quickly, the gateway software was designed so that it would not hold on to any of the data that passed through it. This not only sped things up, but it also removed any possibility of censorship or central control. Finally, data would always follow the fastest available route, and all networks were allowed to participate.
Computer address
In practice, the new TCP/IP set up a system that is often compared to a postal system. The information being sent or the "data packets" would have headers just as a letter has an address on its envelope. The header would therefore specify where it came from and what its destination was. Just as everyone's postal rules (protocols) state that all mail must be in an envelope or some sort of package and that it must have postage and a destination address, so TCP/IP said that every computer connected to the network must have a unique address. When the electronic packet was sent to the routing computer, it would sort through tables of addresses just as a mail sorter in a post office sorts through zip codes. It would then select the best connection or available route and send it along. On the receiving end, the TCP/IP software made sure all the pieces of the packet were there and then it put them back together in proper order, ready to be used. It makes no difference (other than speed) to the network how the data was transmitted, and one computer can communicate with another using regular phone lines, fiber-optic cables, radio links, or even satellites.
Personal computers and domain names
All of this took some time, but by the beginning of 1983, when the TCP/IP was ready to go and finally adopted, the Internet—or a network of networks—was finally born. To this point, most of the business on the "Net," as it came to be called, was science-oriented. About this same time, however, the microcomputer revolution was also starting to be felt. Called "personal computers," these new, smaller, desktop-size computers began slowly to enter businesses and homes, eventually transforming the notion of what a computer was. Until this time, a computer was a very large, super-expensive, anonymous-looking machine (called a "mainframe") that only corporations could afford. Now however, a computer was a friendly, nearly-portable, personal machine that had a monitor or screen like a television set. As more and more individuals purchased a personal computer and eventually learned about a way of talking to another computer (via e-mail), the brand-new Internet soon began to experience the problems of its own success.
By 1984, it was apparent that something had to be done to straighten out and simplify the naming system for each "host" computer (the host was the "server" computer that was actually linked to the Internet). That year, the system called "Domain Name Servers" was created. This new system organized Internet addresses into various "domains" or categories—such as governmental (.gov), commercial (.com), educational (.edu), military (.mil), network sites (.net), or international organizations (.org)—that were tacked onto the end of the address. Host or server names now were not only much easier to remember, but the alphabetical addresses themselves actually stood for a longer coded sequence of numbers that the computer needed in order to specifically identify an address. Thus, a person needed only to use a fairly short alphabetical address, which itself contained the more complex numerical sequence. By 2001, however, an entire batch of additional domain names (.biz, .info, .name,.museum, .aero, .coop, and .pro) had to be created to account for the increase in both specialization and use. This domain expansion is similar to the phone company issuing new area codes.
NSFNET
By the mid-1980s, a second, larger network had grown up in the United States, and it would eventually absorb ARPANET. The National Science Foundation established its own cross-country network, called NSFNET, in order to encourage increased network communication by colleges
and universities. NSFNET adopted the TCP/IP rules, but it did not allow its system to be used for non-educational purposes. This policy proved to be very important since it eventually led businesses to create networks of their own, and also encouraged several private "providers" to open for business. In 1987, the first subscription-based commercial Internet company, called UUNET, was founded. As the end of the 1980s approached, the Internet was growing, but it was still not the place for a beginner. The main problem was that every time users wanted to do something different on it (such as e-mail or file transfer), they had to know how to operate an entirely separate program. Commands had to be either memorized or reference manuals had to be constantly consulted. The Internet was not "user-friendly."
World Wide Web
The development of what came to be called the World Wide Web in 1991 marked the real breakthrough of the Internet to a mass audience of users. The World Wide Web is really a software package that was based on "hypertext." In hypertext, links are "embedded" in the text (meaning that certain key words are either underlined or appear in a contrasting sdifferent color) that the user can then click on with a mouse to be taken to another site containing more information. It was the development of the Web that made usage of the Internet really take off, since it was simple to understand and use and enabled even new users to be able to explore or "surf" the Net. Without the World Wide Web, the Internet probably would have remained a mystery to those huge numbers of people who either had no computer expertise or wanted any computer training.
The Web developed a new set of rules called HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) that simplified address writing and that used a new programming language called HTML (HyperText Markup Language). This special language allowed users easily to jump (by clicking on a link) from one document or information resource to another. In 1993, the addition of the program called Mosaic proved to be the final breakthrough in terms of ease-of-use. Before Mosaic, the Web
was limited only to text or words. However, as a "graphical browser," the Mosaic program included multimedia links, meaning that a user could click on icons (pictures of symbols) and view pictures, listen to audio, and even see video. By 1995, with the addition of sound and graphics and the emergence of such large commercial providers as America Online (AOL), Prodigy, and Compuserv, interest and usage of the Internet really took off.
By the beginning of the twenty-first century, the Internet had become a vast network involving millions of users connected by many independent networks spanning over 170 countries throughout the world. People use it to communicate (probably the most popular use), and hundreds of millions of e-mail messages electronically fly across the globe every day. People also use it as they would a library, to do research of all types on all sorts of subjects. On almost any major subject, a user can find text, photos, video, and be referred to other books and sources. The
Internet also has commercial possibilities, and users can find almost any type of product being sold there. A person with a credit card can book an airline flight, rent a beach home and car, reserve tickets to a performance, and buy nearly anything else he or she desires. Some businesses benefit from this more than others, but there is no dismissing the fact that the Internet has changed the way business is conducted.
Used daily for thousands of other reasons, the Internet is many things to many people. It is a world-wide broadcasting medium, a mechanism for interacting with others, and a mechanism for obtaining and disseminating information. Today, the Internet has become an integral part of our world, and most would agree that its usefulness is limited only by our imagination.
[See also Computer software ]
Internet
Traditionally, death has been a great taboo in Western culture, a topic delicately sidestepped in polite public company and private reflection alike. But since 1995, the taboo has been at least partially dispelled in the informational glut of the Internet, which has brought the subject of death within easy arm's reach of millions of the previously averse or oblivious—merely typing in the letters "d-e-a-t-h" in the window of a search engine (i.e., www.google.com) yields no fewer than 23,600,000 items, enough to daunt even the most avid scholar or morbid connoisseur of mortality.
However, these web sites provide far more than mere information: There is practical help in the form of bereavement support and information on organ donation and living wills, death in cultures around the world, hospice care, and numerous other areas.
General Sites
Some of the most useful sites guide the web surfer toward services as well as information. One such site is www.excite.com/family/family_in_crisis, which lists numerous links to social and medical services and information for those burdened with grief or terminal illness. The site lists links to other sites regarding euthanasia, suicide, estate planning, and many other related topics. Those with more theoretical concerns might profitably consult www.tripod.lycos.com. There, the student, teacher, or researcher can find additional links to a wealth of other informational sites.
Because search engines often yield a dizzying plethora of responses, it is useful to narrow the range of responses by making the topic as specific as possible. For example, instead of merely typing in "grief," one might add "AND" plus another word to limit the search—say, "children's." Then only topics pertaining to children's grief will appear on the list of responses, saving the searcher a good deal of time and effort by reducing the number of items to several dozen rather than several thousand.
Another important watchword for web surfing on this or any other topic is "vigilance," a critical tool in distinguishing between the trustworthiness of a site produced by a distinguished scholar, such as Michael Kearl, and a personal site titled "Buffy's Death Page." "Caveat emptor" should be the watchword for every Internet surfer, where triviality and fraud are as common as the authentic and rewarding.
Demographics of Death on the Web
A number of web sites specialize in a statistical approach to death—its causes and demographics, life expectancies, social factors, and so on. The data on these sites are updated frequently and are usually culled from reliable government and scholarly sources. Some such sites are devoted to particular segments of society. For example, www.runet.edu provides information on life expectancy for African Americans compared to whites, along with other health-related data. Government sites, such as www.cdc.gov/nchs, give a broader range of data for many different segments of American society, including major causes of death in various age groups.
In other sites the accent is on the individual—for example, by entering a name, place of death, or Social Security Number at www.vitalrec.com, one can locate the death record of anyone in the United States . This site also provides links to sites that yield overseas records as well.
Cross-Cultural and Religious Information
For those interested in the religious dimension of death and dying, there is a wealth of sites that provide access to information on the death rituals, funeral customs, and mourning practices of nearly every known religion or cult, major or minor. Other sites dwell on a more broadly cultural approach to the meaning of death and attitudes toward the dying—a site might be devoted to a single culture such as that of the Cree Indians (www.sicc.sk.ca), while others might explore a broad range of cultures. One of the best is found at www.encarta.msn.com. Sites such as these also provide links to related web sites, as well as to printed material and reading lists.
Grief and Bereavement
The most numerous death-related web sites are those that deal with grief, both as a subject of analysis and as a topic for practical guidance to coping. The Griefnet web site (www.griefnet.org) provides one of the most extensive support systems online. It includes several web pages and over thirty small e-mail support groups. Griefnet posts a companion site for children and parents.
Some sites are designed to deal with specific categories of grievers. The Australian Widownet site (www.grief.org.au) provides information and self-help resources for widows and widowers of all ages, religious backgrounds, and sexual orientations. Suicide often evokes special issues of grief. One particular site that includes personal testimony by those who have experienced the death of a loved one by suicide is www.1000deaths.com. Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, Inc., a nonprofit group that provides support to those who have lost a loved one who met his or her end while serving in the armed forces, can be found at www.taps.org. The site provides peer support, crisis information, a variety of resources, and the opportunity to establish a virtual memorial.
Other bereavement web sites provide information not only for the bereaved but also for the professionals who are a part of the death system. Genesis Bereavement Resources (www.genesisresources.com) provides a list of music, videos, and other material that may be helpful to grievers, health care professionals, funeral directors, and pastors.
No detail is too slight or awkward to escape the attention of web entrepreneurs. Bereavement Travel at www.bereavementtravel.com allows one to make travel arrangements at the time of death at the special bereavement rates offered by many airlines and hotels. This service is primarily a convenience for the bereaved.
There are also special sites dedicated to unique bereavement responses, including www.aidsquilt.org/Newsite, which provides information on the AIDS quilt that has been shown all over the United States as a memorial to victims of the illness. In addition to bereavement support, some sites offer guidance on life-threatening illnesses, such as www.cancer.org for the American Cancer Society and www.alz.org for the Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association.
Compassionate Friends, the best known of the national bereavement support groups for parents who have experienced the death of a child, has a web site at www.compassionatefriends.org. Here, one can locate local chapters, obtain brochures, form a local chapter, and catch up with the latest related news. There are also organizations that help visitors locate or start a grief support group.
Finally, there are sites for many well-known organizations that are part of the thanatology field. The Make-A-Wish Foundation (www.wish.org) fulfills special wishes for terminally ill children. They send children to theme parks, arrange meetings or phone calls with celebrities, and perform other special services for ill children.
Pet Loss
Bereavement guidance on the web is not limited to those who have suffered the loss of human companions. Those dealing with the loss of a pet may go to the web site for the Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement at www.aplb.org. One of the most unique sites in this area is www.petloss.com, which provides online grief support and describes a special candle ceremony held weekly to commemorate the death of a pet. Also at this site, one can find reference to other related web sites, chat rooms, and telephone support.
End-of-Life Issues
The web offers a range of end-of-life issues, including care of the terminally ill, living wills, and hospice care. Choice in Dying (www.choices.org) is the organization that first devised a living will in 1967, long before states adopted a legal policy on this issue. This nonprofit organization and its web site provide counseling for patients and families, information on advanced directives, outline training resources for professionals, and serve as an advocate for improved laws. The American Institute of Life-Threatening Illnesses, a division of the Foundation for Thanatology, can be found at www.lifethreat.org. This organization, established in 1967, is dedicated to promoting improved medical and psychosocial care for critically ill patients and their families.
Funeral Arrangements
People have long complained about the high cost of funerals and related expenses. There are numerous web sites that offer online casket purchases and other related items. Such sites promise quick service and complete satisfaction, often at steep discounts. In addition to caskets, www.webcaskets.com offers urns, markers, flowers, and other funerary items. At www.eternalight.com one can purchase an "eternal" light, guaranteed to glow for thirty years. The light can be used at home as a permanent memorial to the loved one. The site donates 10 percent of the purchase price to a national support group of the customer's choice.
It is possible to plan an entire funeral service online at www.funeralplan.com. One can actually watch a funeral service from many funeral homes by going to www.funeral-cast.com. The National Funeral Directors Association maintains a site at www.nfda.org. Here, one can locate funeral homes, obtain consumer information, and learn about careers in this field.
Unusual Sites
Some web sites defy easy classification. One popular site is www.deathclock.com. Here one can plug in one's date of birth and gender, along with one's attitudinal and philosophical propensities, and obtain the likely date of one's demise. Visitors can watch the clock count down their time on Earth . Many college students find this to be a fascinating site and download a screen-saver version—every time they turn on their computers they watch their lives "tick away." Other interesting sites include www.1800autopsy.com, where one can contact a mobile company to perform such an examination, and www.autopsyvideo.com, which allows visitors to view autopsies online. These web sites are used by professionals and educators, as well as the curious.
The web is aswarm with jokes on all topics, and death is no exception. Some web pages specialize in bad-taste death jokes, many of which center on celebrities. One site in particular allows the visitor to "bury or cremate" someone. After entering a name and choosing a method of body disposal, one can watch as the casket burns up.
Obituaries and Last Words
Numerous web sites provide visitors with the opportunity to post memorial messages. Most of these sites charge a fee for permanent placement. At www.legacy.com, one can pay a fee of $195 to place a memorial, including photograph, on the site.
Memorialtrees.com arranges for a memorial tree to be planted in any state in the United States or in the Canadian provinces. The fee is less than thirty dollars and includes a certificate of planting and a card that Memorialtrees.com sends to the survivor.
Near-Death Experiences
Much attention has been paid to the issue of the near-death experience. Two sites that are particularly useful include www.iands.org, the official web site of the International Association for Near-Death Studies, replete with research information, case studies, and resources; and www.neardeath.com, which includes near-death experiences of people of various faiths along with the testimony of children and suicides who have had brushes with death.
Legal and Financial Issues
A number of sites offer guidance in the many practical and financial matters that arise after a death. One very comprehensive site is www.moneycentral.msn.com. Here, one can find answers to general questions regarding finances, collecting life insurance, and handling bills of the deceased. One can also obtain information on making a will without consulting an attorney. A site like www3.myprimetime.com includes information on estates as well as the impact of being a griever and executor.
Conclusion
The Internet has dramatically expanded the availability of resources in the field of thanatology, providing both useful and irrelevant sites. Anyone consulting web sites must be careful to sort through them to find those that are helpful and accurate.
See also: Death Education; Grief: Overview; Grief Counseling and Therapy; Last Words; Memorial, Virtual; Near-Death Experiences; Technology and Death
Internet Resources
"Funeral Rites and Customs." In the Encarta [web site]. Available from www.encarta.msn.com.
Radford University. "Sociological Comparisons between African-Americans and Whites." In the Radford University [web site]. Available from www.runet.edu/-junnever/bw.htm
DANA G. CABLE
INTERNET
An internet is a collection of interconnected computers that use networking hardware and software to send and receive data. The Internet is the global network of inter-connected computers and servers available to the public. The World Wide Web is the collection of graphically intensive Web pages that have enabled the Internet to become a societal phenomenon.
THE ORIGINAL INTERNET
In the 1950s researchers and scientists across the country linked their mainframe computers via telephone connections operating at very slow speeds. This first network supported communication of basic text-based computer data. In the beginning, only federal agencies and a few research universities were linked. The system was funded by the Advanced Research Project Agency, a technology and research group in the U.S. Department of Defense. The system was referred to as ARPANET.
The first four universities connected to ARPANET were Stanford University, the University of California-Los Angeles, the University of California-Santa Barbara, and the University of Utah . Communications research in the 1960s led to decentralized networks, queuing theory, and packet switching. These technologies allowed different types of computers to send and receive data. Computers transmitted information in a standardized protocol called packets. The addressing information in these packets told
each computer in the system where the packet was supposed to go.
In 1972 the first electronic mail (e-mail) program was developed. It used file transfer protocol (FTP) to upload messages to a server that would then route the message to the intended computer terminal. This text-based communication tool greatly affected the rate at which collaborative work could be conducted between researchers at participating universities. This collaboration led to the development of the transmission control protocol (TCP), which breaks large amounts of data into packets of a fixed size, transmits the packets over the Internet using the Internet protocol (IP), and sequentially numbers them to allow reassembly at the recipient's end. The combination of TCP and IP is still the model used to move data over the Internet.
In 1984 the Pentagon, the leadership of the U.S. military, decided the growing academic and community-based Internet was far too open and lacked the security required for a military network. They transferred control of the original ARPANET to the National Science Foundation (NSF) and created a separate and secure network called MILNET. The NSF added a network backbone, renamed it NSFNet and made it available to a much larger number of colleges and universities.
With more universities connected and participating in the Internet, more programs and communication applications were created. A program called Telnet allowed remote users to run programs and computers from other sites. Gopher, developed at the University of Minnesota and named after the university's mascot, allowed menu-driven access to data resources on the Internet. Search engines such as Archie and Wide Area Index Search gave users the ability to search the Internet's numerous libraries and indexes. By the mid-1980s users at universities, research laboratories, private companies, and libraries were empowered by the new networking revolution. More than 30,000 host computers and modems were actively using the Internet.
THE INTERNET AND THE WORLD WIDE WEB
In August 1991, Dr. Tim Berners-Lee (1955– ) of CERN (the European Organization for Nuclear Research) in Switzerland envisioned the concept of a graphical, page-based Internet—the World Wide Web. Although many people use the terms Internet and World Wide Web inter-changeably, they refer to two separate, yet related, technologies. The Web is supported by hypertext markup language (HTML), a programming language used to create graphical Web pages, and hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP), the routing technology used to identify uniform resource locators (URLs) or Web page addresses.
Web pages are retrieved via Internet protocols and resources; the Web, however, is merely one of many Internet applications such as FTP, Telnet, and Gopher. Berners-Lee developed the Web as a way to simplify reading the location of documents by assigning standard names or file paths. In 1992 the first Web browsers, Viola and Mosaic, were developed. The ease of use and graphic capabilities (prior Internet data exchanges were primarily text-based) made Web browsers popular outside the academic community, and soon the general public found access to the Internet and World Wide Web to be useful.
The Internet and the World Wide Web continue to grow. The U.S. Census Bureau reported that in 2003, 61.8 percent of U.S. households had a computer and 54.7 percent had Internet access. Home use, however, does not reflect the number of people who use computers and the Internet at work, in libraries, at schools, and in community organizations. The Census Bureau found that nearly 60 percent of American adults used the Internet. Over 165 countries are connected to the Internet. Yet, no one nation or group operates or controls the Internet. Although there are entities that oversee the system, "no one is in charge." This allows for a free transfer and flow of information throughout the world. Search engines such as Google and Yahoo index the Web to help in the organization and retrieval of information.
USING THE INTERNET AND WORLD WIDE WEB
Accessing the Internet requires an Internet-capable computer and a modem to modulate/demodulate outgoing and incoming data packets. Modems connect computers to the Internet across telephone lines (dial-up) or by optical or wire cable (broadband or digital subscriber line, also known as DSL). The connection is provided by an Internet service provider (ISP), such as America Online, Com-cast, or RoadRunner. For a monthly fee, these companies provide access to the Internet, e-mail, a certain amount of storage, and search utilities. These Internet providers will often offer portal sites that provide a Web browser, a chat service (Internet relay chat—IRC), instant messaging (IM), bulletin boards, newsgroups, and forums.
Each application requires a specific software program. Many computers are sold with these applications preloaded, such as Microsoft's Internet Explorer, the most popular Web browser. E-mail applications such as Eudora are purchased separately; many e-mail programs, however, are now Web-based. This means that users can access their Web-based e-mail program from any computer that is connected to the Internet. A specific software application is no longer required because the application runs from the server rather than from the computer itself.
All ISPs require a username and password, which establishes the user's identity and gives authorization to use the Internet service. The Internet service provider has its own higher-order identity on the Internet, known as a domain. For example, in the following e-mail address:
[email protected]
the first part of the address, "jones" identifies the user; this is the username. The "@" (pronounced "at") separates the username from the domain. In this example, "abc" is the domain name, and ".com" is the extension that identifies the entity as a commercial provider. Other extensions include .net for network, .edu for education, .mil for military, .gov for government, and .org for organization.
Affect on Business and Industry
The World Wide Web has created a new industry segment called electronic commerce (e-commerce). Businesses sell to other businesses (B2B) and to consumers (B2C) on the Internet using secure Web sites. The "dot.com" frenzy came to a head in the late 1990s when the number of online companies exceeded demand. Although online commerce declined slightly, it has remained stable since then. Strong e-commerce providers are either "pure-play" (having only an Internet presence, such as eBay and Amazon.com) or "brick-and-click" (having both a physical store as well as an online store, such as Wal-Mart, Sears, and most other major retail outlets).
Internet technology has also had an impact on business and industry by supporting telecommuting. Rather than commuting to work, employees work from home via telecommunications (e.g., e-mail, video streaming, and online portals). Overhead costs are lowered if office space and equipment can be reduced, and the flexibility for the employee can be a benefit.
Changing Education
Additionally, Internet use has changed the face of education. Nearly every school in the United States has computer technology and Internet access. Students use Web browsers to search for information, teachers use online databases to access lesson plans and learning resources, and schools build Web sites that provide homework information, school calendars, and other important information for parents, faculty, and students.
Distance learning or online education has also made great strides. High schools, colleges, universities, and for-profit providers are supplementing their face-to-face classes with Web-based learning environments, such as Blackboard, WebCT, and e-College. Students can down-load activities, participate in synchronous chat groups or asynchronous discussion forums, work collaboratively with other students on group projects, take tests, and post their homework for evaluation. Some courses are offered totally online without any face-to-face interaction between the student and instructor.
Changes in Information Transfer and Communication
The Internet is one of the most innovative and productive technologies in history. The Internet can send information from virtually any place on the globe to any other place in seconds. This communication tool has dramatically changed the concept of the "speed of business." In effect, the Internet has created a sense of time compression. No longer do large documents need to be mailed by expensive overnight carriers. Electronic files are sent as e-mail attachments in seconds or documents can be posted to Web sites where they can be downloaded by thousands of recipients. Distribution has also been affected. Rather than mailing 1,000 newsletters to an organization's membership, Listservs enable the message to be sent to one address. The message is sent to the Listserv address (e.g., "[email protected]"), and anyone who has signed up or been added to the Listserv instantly receives the information.
A very popular new Web-based communication tool is the Weblog (or "blog"). Used by both companies and individuals, blogs are diaries posted to a host site that can be accessed by anyone. Some commercial blogs are designed for customer use. They offer free product advice, technical assistance, drivers and downloads, and product data to attract new customers. Microsoft's product developers use blogs to encourage interest in their work. In some cases, readers can post comments to forums, which the blogger monitors.
The ease of use and instantaneous communication of the Internet are generally seen as significant enhancements to society, but there are some negative aspects. The term CyberEthics refers to the ethical use of the Internet. For example, music or movie files are easily copied from compact disks or downloaded from file-sharing and peer-to-peer sites such as BearShare, e-donkey, Napster, and Kazaa. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) attempts to combat piracy—the illegal duplication and distribution of any recording—via lawsuits and fines. The RIAA reported that worldwide, the industry was losing $4.2 billion to piracy each year.
CONCLUSION
The personal computer will continue to evolve, but experts predict other Internet-smart appliances would become standard. Wristwatches will provide Internet access and support computer applications such as Word. Televisions will anticipate viewers' program preferences and record shows it thinks they may like. Kitchen appliances will be programmed by Internet-based command centers that will download recipes, inventory current ingredients (how much milk is left?), and print shopping lists. Like the explorers who discovered new continents, Internet users are just beginning to discover the full impact of the medium on information, space, and time.
see also Electronic Commerce; Electronic Mail; Intranet/Extranet
bibliography
Recording Industry Association of America. http://www.riaa.org
Lisa E. Gueldenzoph
Internet
█ JUDSON KNIGHT
The Internet is a vast worldwide conglomeration of linked computer networks. Its roots lie in the mid-twentieth century, with a number of projects by the United States government and the private sector, most notable of which was the computer network created by the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) of the Department of Defense (DOD) in 1969. Until the early 1990s, the Internet remained largely the province of specialists, including defense personnel and scientists. The creation of browsers, or software that provided a convenient graphical interface between user and machine, revolutionized the medium, and spawned rapid economic growth throughout the 1990s. In addition to the World Wide Web and e-mail, the parts of the Internet most familiar to casual users, the Internet
contains a frontier that offers both great promise and great challenges to law and security.
Birth of the Internet
The basis of the Internet is the network, a group of computers linked by communication lines. The distant ancestors of today's networks were highly specialized systems used either by DOD, or by private companies (for example, airlines, which tracked reservations on the SABRE system) during the late 1950s and early 1960s. The development of semiconductor technology in the 1960s enabled the growth of computer activity in general, and networking in particular. Universities and research centers participated in timesharing, whereby multiple users accessed the same system.
ARPANET, which connected time-sharing facilities at research centers, is generally regarded as the first true computer network. It provided a testing-ground for technologies that are still used today: simple mail transfer protocol (SMTP), the system that makes e-mail possible, and file transfer protocol (FTP), for transmitting large messages. To maximize effectiveness, ARPANET broke messages into small pieces, or packets, that could easily be transmitted and reassembled. The technique, known as packet switching, enhanced communication between computers.
The 1970s: TCP/IP. During the 1970s, ARPA (now known as the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA) continued its efforts to connect its users, but it eventually ran into a dead-end posed by the primitive systems of networking used at the time. Faced with this roadblock, DARPA turned to two computer scientists, Vinton Cerf and Robert Kahn, who developed a design that revolutionized networks.
This was the transmission control protocol (TCP), which, coupled with the related Internet Protocol (IP), provided a mechanism for addressing messages and routing them to their destinations using an open architecture that connected standardized networks. In 1980, DOD adopted TCP/IP as its standard, and required all participants to adopt the protocol as of January 1, 1983. Some observers regard this event as the true birth of the Internet.
The 1980s: civilian agencies get involved. The 1980s saw use of computer networks expand to include civilian agencies. Among these was the National Science Foundation (NSF), which worked with five supercomputing centers spread across the country to create NSFNET, a "backbone" system intended to connect the entire nation. NSF succeeded in linking small local and regional networks to NSFNET. Other civilian participants in computer networks, which began to increasingly overlap with one another, included the Department of Energy and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), as well as a number of private companies.
Also during this period, several independent consortiums took on themselves the task of organizing and policing the rapidly growing Internet. Among these were the Internet Engineering Task Force and the Internet Society, both of which are concerned with Internet standards, as well as the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). The latter controls policy with regard to the assignment of domain names, including top-level domains such as .com for commercial enterprises, .gov for government offices, .edu for schools, and so on.
The Internet Explosion
The mid-1980s saw the birth of the first commercial computer networks, including Prodigy, Compuserve, and Quantum Computer Services. The first two would eventually recede in significance as larger companies took over the Internet, but the third—founded in 1985 and renamed America Online (AOL) in 1989—would eventually merge with publishing and entertainment conglomerate Time Warner to control a wide span of media. All of that lay far in the future, however, during the mid-1980s, as the few commercial participants developed their first subscriber bases and linked up to NSFNET through the Commercial Internet Exchange (CIX).
A number of technological innovations in the 1980s and early 1990s portended the explosive growth of the Internet that would take place in the next decade. Among these was the development of the personal computer or PC, as well as local area networks (LANs), which linked computers within a single business or location. NSFNET, working with the Corporation for National Research Initiatives, sponsored the first commercial use of e-mail on the Internet. Then, in 1993, new legislation at the federal level permitted the full opening of the NSFNET to commercial users.
The result was much like the opening of lands in the western United States to homesteaders, only the "land" in this case existed in virtual or cyberspace, and instead of wagons, the new settlers used browsers. The first important browser was Mosaic, developed at the University of Illinois using standards created at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) by Tim Berners-Lee. Thus was born the World Wide Web, which uses hypertext transfer protocol, or HTTP. In this environment, Mosaic—known as Netscape Navigator after the formation of the Netscape Communications Corporation in 1994—and Microsoft's competing Internet Explorer would prove the most useful navigating tools.
Users of the Internet today can still travel to regions beyond the World Wide Web, where they can see what the Internet was like prior to 1993. The most significant surviving portion of this older section is Usenet, a worldwide bulletin board system containing some 14,000 forums or newsgroups. In addition to the Web and Usenet, the Internet includes e-mail (electronic mail), FTP sites (used for transferring pictures and other large files), instant messaging, and other components. At the edges of the Internet are proprietary services such as those accessible only to AOL users, as well as other pay sites. Additionally, company and government intranets (private networks accessible only through a password) lie beyond the periphery of the Internet, though a browser may be used to access both.
By 1988, the size of the Internet was doubling every year, and the advent of browsers made possible an enormous consumer influx. The mid-to late 1990s saw the formation of thousands of Internet service providers (ISPs), through which users gained access to the Internet in exchange for a monthly fee. As competition increased, fees decreased, forcing consolidation of providers. By the beginning of the twenty-first century, major companies such as AOL, AT&T, and Earthlink, along with a few second-tier ISPs, controlled most of the market.
The explosive growth of the Internet itself, coupled with the expanded opportunities for commerce it provided, fueled one of the greatest periods of economic growth in U.S. history, from 1996 to 2000. The economic downturn that began in April, 2000, and continued throughout the early 2000s, however, served as an indicator that the Internet—while it had certainly transformed communications—would not solve all problems.
There were several problems associated with the Internet itself, and simplest among these were the technological challenges involved in moving ever larger amounts of data. By the beginning of the twenty-first century, it became possible to access video and complex graphics using powerful data streams, and computer scientists envisioned technology that would make possible the use of high-resolution video or multiple streams on networks capable of processing 100 gigabits of data a second. To expand the number of available addresses, hitherto limited by the 32-bit IP address standard, the Internet Engineering Task Force in 1998 approved a new 128-bit standard. This made possible so many addresses that every electronic device in the world could have its own unique location in an ever-expanding Internet.
Less simple were some of the challenges associated with human activities. There were cybercrimes, such as hacking or the dissemination of viruses, either of which could be used simply as a form of information-age vandalism, or for extortion. Hacking of financial service sites also offered the opportunity to commit robbery without picking locks, and for this reason many companies adopted secure, encrypted sites. (The latter were designated by the prefix https://, in contrast to the ordinary http://. )
Just as the Internet could be used for education, commerce, and a host of other purposes, it also provided a forum for activities that tested the limits of free speech; extremist political parties and hate groups could operate a Web site. On the other hand, use of the Web to distribute drugs, weapons, or child pornography carried stiff penalties. At the same time, government attempts to restrict or control aspects of the Internet raised concerns over the abrogation of First Amendment rights. The Internet itself was worldwide, beyond the reach of even the U.S. Constitution or any law, and although China 's totalitarian regime attempted to restrict citizens' access to it, the network continued to work its way deeper and deeper into the fabric of modern life.
█ FURTHER READING:
BOOKS:
Gillies, James, and R. Cailliau. How the Web Was Born: The Story of the World Wide Web. New York : Oxford University Press, 2000.
Hafner, Katie, and Matthew Lyon. Where Wizards Stay Up Late: The Origins of the Internet. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1996.
Young, Gray, ed. The Internet. New York: H. W. Wilson, 1998.
ELECTRONIC:
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. < http://www.darpa.mil/ > (April 14, 2003).
Internet Society. < http://www.isoc.org/ > (April 14, 2003).
Webopedia: Online Dictionary for Computer and Internet Terms. < http://www.webopedia.com/ > (April 14, 2003).
SEE ALSO
Internet
For many people, a good deal of the day is spent online. The ability to send e-mail messages and "surf" the World Wide Web has already become matter-of-fact. But an amazing amount of technology and mathematics must occur for e-mail and Internet access to be successful.
A Brief History of the Internet
The general consensus is that the conception of the Internet occurred in the early 1960s as part of the Department of Defense's Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA), which was conceived and headed by J. C. R. Licklider from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The intent was to share supercomputers among researchers in the United States .
Because computers in the 1960s were so large and expensive, it was important to find a way for many people, often at different locations, to be able to use the same computer. By the end of the decade, ARPANET was developed to solve this problem, and in 1969 four universities—Stanford, University of California– Los Angeles , University of California–Santa Barbara, and the University of Utah—were the first to be successfully connected.
The ARPANET was not available for commercial use until the late 1970s. By 1981 there were 213 different hosts (central computers) available on the ARPANET, although many were completely incompatible with one another because each "spoke" a different language. Things were somewhat disjointed until Bob Kahn and Vint Cerf created TCP/IP (Transfer Control Protocol/Internet Protocol), which became the common language for all Internet communication. This transformed the disparate collection known as ARPANET into one cohesive group, the Internet.
Even though the intent of the ARPANET and Internet was to allow researchers to share data and access remote computers, e-mail soon became the most popular application to communicate information. In the 30-plus
years since then, not much has changed. In an average week, approximately 110 million people are online in the United States. If, on average, each of those people sends ten e-mails per week (a conservative estimate), then there are more than a billion e-mails sent every week.
Traveling on the Internet
Although e-mail is something that is often taken for granted, a great deal must happen for an e-mail message to go from one device to another. Depending on its destination, an e-mail message's travel path can be either very short or very long.
Sending e-mail is similar in some ways to sending a letter through regular mail: there is a message, an address, and a system of carriers that determines the best way to deliver the mail. The biggest differences between sending e-mail and regular mail are the first and last steps.
When an e-mail message is sent, it is first broken down into tiny chunks of data called "IP packets." This is accomplished by a mailing program (such as Outlook Express or Eudora) using the TCP Internet language. These packets are each "wrapped" in an electronic envelope containing web addresses for both the sender and recipient.
Next, the packets are sent independently through the Internet. It is possible that every single packet (and there can easily be hundreds of them) is sent on a different path. They may go through many levels of networks, computers, and communications lines before they reach their final destination.
The packets' journey begins within the Internet Service Provider (ISP) or network (AOL or MSN, for example), where the address on the envelopes is examined. Addresses are broken into two parts: the recipient name and the domain name. For example, in an e-mail message sent to [email protected] , "John_Doe" is the recipient name and "msn.com" is the domain name.
Based on the domain name, the router (a piece of equipment that determines the best path for the packets to take) will determine whether the packets remain on the network or need to be sent to a different router. If the former is the case, the packets are sent directly to the recipient's e-mail program and reassembled using TCP.
If the recipient is on a different network, things get more complex. The packets are sent through the Internet, where an Internet router determines both where they need to go and the best path to get there. Decisions like these are made by problem-solving programs called algorithms , which find the optimal path for sending the packets.
Each packet is sent from one network to another until it reaches its final destination. Because they determine where the packets should go, routers can be likened to different transportation stations within a huge transportation system containing buses, trains, and airplanes. To get from one part of the world to another, a message may have to go through several stations and use multiple types of transportation.
For example, assume that two travelers are both starting in New York City and heading for Los Angeles. They get separated and end up taking different modes of transport yet still end up at the same point. This is what happens to the packets when they make the trip from the originating computer to their eventual destination; that is, they can get separated and sent on different paths to their final destination. Routers determine the optimal path for each packet, depending on data traffic and other factors.
The packets often arrive at the final destination at different times and in the wrong order. The recipient will not see an e-mail message until all of the packets arrive. They are then recombined in the correct order by the recipient's mail program, using TCP, into a message that the recipient can read.
Connection Speed
How quickly all of this occurs can be influenced by many factors, some within the control of the e-mail user and others beyond it. One factor that can be controlled is the way information is received and sent to and from the originating computer. Popular types of connections available in 2001 are telephone modems, DSL (Digital Subscriber Line), Cable, T1 and T3.
Telephone modems are the earliest and slowest of the possible types of connections. In relation to the transportation metaphor used previously, they would be the buses. Under optimal conditions, one can download or upload information at rates of between 14 and 56 kbps (kilobits per second) with a modem. (One kilobit equals one thousand bits.) A bit is what makes up the data that are sent.*
*Eight bits equals one byte, and one byte equals a single character (a letter or numeral).
Actual transmission speeds for modems tend to be much slower than the optimal speeds because there is a vast, constant stream of data being transferred back and forth. Compare this to driving on a highway. Even though the speed limit may be 65 miles per hour (mph), because of traffic and road conditions, one may need to drive less than 65 mph. On the Internet, it is almost always rush hour.
Under perfect conditions, the 56,000 characters of data per second—which comes out to over 3 million characters per minute—that can down-loaded may sound like a lot of information, but it really is not. Most text messages (such as e-mail messages) are relatively small and will download quickly using a modem. Audio, video, or other multimedia files, however, cause more of a problem. These files can easily be upwards of 5 or 10 million bytes each, and thus use a much greater bandwidth .
Faster alternatives to modems are now widely available. The most common alternatives for home use are DSL and cable modems. DSL works through the phone line. Speeds for DSL tend to be in the range of 1.5 mbps (megabits per second). One megabit is equal to 1,000 kilobits.
Cable modems, unlike DSL, have nothing to do with phone lines. Cable modems transmit data using the cable that carries cable television signals. They offer fast speeds of up to 6 mbps. Even though this is a very good speed, an ISP may limit the available bandwidth, which restricts the size of files that can be uploaded or downloaded.
For large companies, universities, and the Internet Service Providers, speeds need to be high and bandwidths need to be enormous. T1 and T3 lines, which are dedicated digital communication links provided by the telephone company, are used for this purpose. They typically carry traffic to and from private business networks and ISPs, and are not used in homes.
Both T3 and T1 lines have their advantages in certain areas. With T3 connections one can potentially access speeds of nearly 45 mbps, or somewhere around one thousand times that of a modem. Transmission speeds for T1 lines are considerably slower, running at 1.5 mbps. The advantage of T1 is privacy. T1 connection lines are not shared with other users. In contrast, T3 connection lines (as well as modems, cable, and DSL) are shared.
Consider the highway metaphor once again. Having a T1 line is like maintaining a private two-lane highway on which only certain people are allowed to drive. Having a T3 line is more like driving on a 4-lane auto-bahn (the highway system in Germany , where there is no speed limit), with three of the lanes clogged up with slow-moving trucks. On the autobahn the potential exists to go very fast, but the traffic often prevents drivers from reaching high speeds. So whether the T1 or T3 is more desirable depends on which is more valued—speed or privacy.
When an e-mail message is sent, there is a very good possibility that the packets will encounter nearly all of these types of connections on their journeys—just like people can use planes, trains, and automobiles. The next time you hit the "send" button, think about all of the logical and mathematical operations that are about to happen.
see also Computers and the binary system; Internet data, reliability of; Numbers, massive.
Philip M. Goldfeder
Abbate, Janet. Inventing the Internet. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 1999.
Gralla, Preston. How the Internet Works: Millennium Edition. Indianapolis: QUE, 1999.
Lubka, Willie, and Nancy Holden. K •I •S •S Guide to the Internet. New York: Dorling Kindersley, 2000.
lnternet Resources
Average Weekly Web Usage: United States. < http://www.nielsen-netratings.com >.
Brain, Marshall. How E-mail Works. < http://www.howstuffworks.com/email1.htm >.
Finnie, Scot. 20 Questions: How the Net Works. <http://coverage.cnet.com/Content/Features/Techno/Networks/index.html>.
Frequently Asked Questions About T1. <http://www.everythingt1.com/faq.html>.
Timeline: PBS Life on the Internet. < http://www.pbs.org/internet/timeline/index.html >.
Cite this article
Internet
The Internet is a computer network that was designed to interconnect other computer networks. Its origins lie in the ARPANET, an experimental network designed for the U.S. Department of Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) in 1969. The original ARPANET had some features that were unique in its day.
The first unique feature was that it supported peer to peer networking. In this system, each computer has the same rights and abilities as any other computer on the network. The commercial computer networks at that time were hierarchical, where some devices performed special control functions, and other devices had to wait for permission to transmit from the controller.
Another unique feature of ARPANET was that it was not designed with a particular application or set of applications in mind. The designers created a network whose uses were not fully specified. As a result, ARPANET was designed to be transparent to applications. This allowed new Internet applications to be developed by placing the necessary functions (usually computer software) in end user devices rather than in the network. Thus, new applications did not require changes to the network.
Yet another unique feature of ARPANET was that it allowed organizations to have operational control of their local networks while still allowing them to be interconnected. This made it possible for a computer at a Burger King restaurant to communicate with a computer at a McDonald's restaurant without forcing the management at either restaurant to give up local autonomy for the privilege of communicating with each other.
In the 1980s, ARPANET split into a military component and a civilian section. The civilian part became known as NSFnet, in acknowledgement of support from the National Science Foundation. Other developments in this decade included the development of local area networks (LANs) , which pushed peer to peer networking closer to many end users, and the microcomputer, or personal computer, which made it possible for many people to have dedicated computer access. NSFnet was limited by its charter to educational and not-for-profit organizations. Although commercial firms began to see the advantages of NSFnet, they were not able to participate fully in this new age of communications until NSFnet was privatized in 1993.
The Internet has grown in leaps and bounds since privatization, fueled by the emergence of a new application, the World Wide Web , and the resources of the private sector.
The Internet has become a change agent in many areas of the economy. Examples of this include retail sales, business to business transactions, telephone and video carriage, and music distribution. In fact, few industries have not been touched in a significant way by the Internet. Many industries have reorganized themselves as a direct result of the economic changes brought about by Internet-based applications.
For the most part, computers on the Internet communicate via two communications protocols: the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and the Internet Protocol (IP). The role of finding a path through a complex network is left to IP. This is a "best effort" protocol, in that it does the best it can to deliver a packet to the desired destination, but makes no promises. Thus, if a portion of the network failed, IP would attempt to reroute around the failure if it could, but would not guarantee that all packets would survive intact. Many applications require stronger assurances than this, and that is the role of TCP. The TCP is a communications protocol that operates between two end devices, ensuring that the complete information that was transmitted arrives safely at the destination. If some of the information is lost by IP, TCP retransmits it until it is received correctly. Thus, the two protocols operate in tandem to provide a complete, reliable service to end users.
The Internet differs from telephone networks in that information is broken into packets, each of which is treated separately, much like a letter. The Internet allocates its resources to individual packets as needed. By contrast, the telephone network treats a telephone call as a stream of information, and allocates resources to that call (or stream of information) regardless of whether the users are speaking or are silent. In a packet network, resources are allocated only when there is information to transmit. This packet switching feature is commonly found in computer networks.
Physically, the Internet consists of special purpose computers called routers that are interconnected with each other. Routers are equivalent to switches in the telephone network, in that they decide what to do with a packet when it arrives from a neighboring router. This decision is aided by a routing table, which is used by the router to determine where the packet should be sent next. The routing tables are constructed by the routers themselves, which communicate with each other so that efficient paths through the network can be found for packets traveling between any pair of destinations, and so that congested or failed routers can be avoided.
Today, many users access the Internet through Internet Service Providers (ISPs) . For a monthly fee, an ISP provides users with a way of accessing the Internet (usually via a dialup modem), an electronic mail address and mailbox, and, often, a page that can be viewed by World Wide Web browsers. These retail ISPs often interconnect with large, high capacity backbone ISPs, which provide the transport functions so that a packet from one user can reach any other user.
The Internet is a constantly changing resource. It has had a deep impact on industries and on the lives of many Americans. The collection of computer networks known as the Internet will probably continue to affect society in ways that we are still trying to understand.
see also E-commerce; Government Funding, Research; Internet: Applications; Internet: Backbone; Internet: History; Intranet; Networks; Routing; Telecommunications; World Wide Web.
Martin B. Weiss
Dodge, Martin, and Rob Kitchin. The Atlas of Cyberspace. New York: Addison-Wesley, 2001.
Sutherland, Keith. Understanding the Internet: A Clear Guide to Internet Technologies. Boston: Butterworth-Heinemann, 2000.
Cite this article
Internet
Biologists often use two terms to describe alternative approaches for conducting experiments. "In vitro" (Latin for "in glass") refers to experiments typically carried out in test tubes with purified biochemicals. "In vivo" ("in life") experiments are performed directly on living organisms. In recent years, the indispensable use of computers and the Internet for genetic and molecular biology research has introduced a new term into the language: "in silico" ("in silicon"), referring to the silicon used to manufacture computer chips. In silico genetics experiments are those that are performed with a computer, often involving analysis of DNA or protein sequences over the Internet.
Geneticists and molecular biologists use the Internet much the same way most people do, communicating data and results through e-mail and discussion groups and sharing information on Web sites, for instance. They also make wide use of powerful Internet-based databases and analytical tools. Researchers are determining the DNA sequences of entire genomes at an ever accelerating pace, and are devising methods for cataloging entire sets of proteins (termed "proteomes") expressed in organisms. The databases to store all this information are growing at an equal pace, and the computer tools to sort through all the data are becoming increasingly sophisticated.
One of the most important Web sites for biological computer analysis (sometimes called bioinformatics ) is that of the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), a part of the National Library of Medicine, which, in turn, is part of the National Institutes of Health. The NCBI Web site hosts DNA and protein sequence databases, protein three-dimensional structure databases, scientific literature databases, and search engines for retrieving files of interest. All of these resources are freely accessible to anyone on the Internet.
Of all the powerful analytical tools available at NCBI, probably the most important and heavily used is a set of computer programs called BLAST, for Basic Local Alignment Search Tool. BLAST can rapidly search many sequence databases to see whether any DNA or protein sequence (a "query sequence," supplied by the user) is similar to other sequences. Since sequence similarity usually suggests that two proteins or DNA molecules are homologous (i.e., that they are evolutionarily related and therefore may have—or encode proteins—with similar functions), discovering a blast match between an unknown protein or nucleic acid sequence and a well-characterized sequence provides an immediate clue about the function of the unknown sequence. An important scientific discovery that, in the past, may have taken many years of in vitro and in vivo analysis to arrive at is now made in a few seconds, with this simple in silico experiment.
see also Bioinformatics; Genome; Genomics; Homology; Proteomics; Sequencing DNA.
Paul J. Muhlrad
Internet Resources
Basic Local Alignment Search Tool. National Center for Biotechnology Information. <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/BLAST/>.
Baxevanis, Andreas D. "The Molecular Biology Database Collection: 2002 Update." Nucleic Acids Research. Oxford University Press. <http://www3.oup.co.uk/nar/database/>.
ExPASy Molecular Biology Server. Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics. <http://ca.expasy.org/> .
Virtual Library of Genetics. U.S. Department of Energy. <http://www.ornl.gov/TechResources/Human_Genome/genetics.html>.
Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute. <http://www.sanger.ac.uk/> .
WWW Virtual Library: Model Organisms. George Manning. <http://ceolas.org/VL/mo/> .
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INTERNET
An online network linking million of computers throughout the world, the Internet is used by millions of people for things like research, communication, and commerce transactions. Via technology that spawned the "information age," the Internet has become a tool millions of individuals employ every day for professional, educational, and personal exchanges. As the Internet's popularity has increased, so have the opportunities for making money online. The skyrocketing stock prices of Internet-based companies like Web browser firm Netscape, book retailer Amazon.com, and auction site ebay.com in the mid-1990s reflected common perceptions about the Internet's potential as a commerce tool. Although investors began shunning these stocks later in the decade as analysts started to examine the business models of Internet-based businesses more closely, the Internet already had been firmly established as a viable means of conducting commerce.
The precursor of the Internet, ARPAnet, was created in 1969 by the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) at the directive of U.S. Department of Defense, which sought a means for governmental communication in the event of nuclear war. To create what would become the world's largest wide area network (WAN), ARPA chose Interface Message Processors (IMPs) to connect host computers via telephone lines. To create the underlying network needed to connect the IMPs, ARPA hired Bolt Beranek and Newman, a Cambridge, Massachusetts-based research and development firm. The last component needed was a protocol, or a set of standards, that would facilitate communication between the host sites. This was developed internally by the Network Working Group. ARPAnet's Network Control Protocol allowed users to access computers and printers in remote locations and exchange files between computers. This protocol eventually was replaced by the more sophisticated Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), which allowed ARPAnet to be connected with a several other networks that had been launched by various institutions. It was this group of networks that eventually formed the core of what later became known as the Internet. No longer useful, ARPAnet was shut down in 1990.
A National Science Foundation decree that prevented commercial use of the Internet was dissolved in 1991, the same year the World Wide Web came into existence. By then, personal computer use by businesses, institutions, and individuals had spiraled. When the graphics-based Web browsing program known as Mosaic was released in 1993, the Internet's growth exploded. Firms like Netscape and Yahoo! were founded soon after, making access to the Internet even easier. By 1996, an estimated 40 million individuals were accessing the Internet, and by 1999, that number had grown to 200 million.
FURTHER READING:
"Internet." In Ecommerce Webopedia. Darien, CT: Inter-net.com, 2001. Available from e-comm.webopedia.com.
"Internet." In Techencyclopedia. Point Pleasant, PA: Computer Language Co., 2001. Available from www.techweb.com/encyclopediat.
"An Internet Time Line." PC Week. November 18, 1996.
National Museum of American History. "Birth of the Internet: ARPANET: General Overview." Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution. Available from smithsonian.yahoo.com/arpanet2.
PBS Online. "PBS Life on the Internet: Timeline." Alexandria, VA: PBS Online, 2001.
SEE ALSO: ARPAnet; Berners-Lee, Timothy; Communications Protocol; History of the Internet and World Wide Web (WWW); Internet Infrastructure; MIT and the Galactic Network
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INTERNET
The Internet is an international system of interconnected computer networks of government, educational, nonprofit organization, and corporate computers. The computers and networks are connected to each other by high-speed data communications lines, and even dissimilar computers are able to exchange data with each other using a set of data communications protocols called TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol). TCP/IP supports Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) to permit the sending of electronic mail (E-mail) messages, File transfer protocol (FTP) for moving files between computers, and telnet which makes it possible to log in and interact with a remote computer. TCP controls the transmission of data between computers, and IP controls the automatic routing of the data over what might be a chain of computers.
The Internet's structure is based on a predecessor network called ARPAnet, which was established by the U.S. Department of Defense's Advanced Research Project Agency (ARPA) in 1969 as an experiment to determine how to build a network that could withstand partial outages, such as from an enemy attack. Each computer on the network communicates with others as a peer instead of having one or a few central hub computers, which would be too vulnerable. In the late 1980s ARPAnet was replaced by NSFNET, run by the National Science Foundation, which expanded the network, replaced its telephone lines with faster ones, and funded more college and university connections to the network. Thus, educational institutions became the dominant users in the 1980s. Other organizations and corporations joined by linking their computers, local area networks (LANs), and wide area networks (WANs) to the Internet and adopting TCP/IP to connect their computers. As a result, the Internet comprises some networks that are publicly funded and some of which are private and which charge network access fees. Consequently, different users pay different fees, or none at all, for the same services. In the 1990s corporations and consumers became the biggest users of the Internet.
See also: Computer Industry
INTERNET
The Internet allows multimedia documents to be moved between any two computers, using an "internetwork" of relaying computers. Multimedia documents can be found by those seeking information using a web browser to "pull" information off the " World Wide Web ," or using an e-mail system to "push" information to those currently uninterested or unaware of an issue.
The Internet has been called an "engine of empowerment" that creates healthy "virtual communities." Others, however, say it increases may social and health-related problems, including individual isolation and risky sexual practices by fragmenting relationships and by increasing the anonymous distribution and viewing of pornographic material. These seemingly contradictory outcomes can be reconciled in understanding that the Internet, like any communications technology, amplifies the intentions of its users. It amplifies these intentions by primarily increasing the "reach" of both the sender and receiver, who often share a common interest. As a result, its use may only increase the sharing of information that reinforces and amplifies preexisting life patterns.
Mike Chiasson
(see also: Advertising of Unhealthy Products; Information System; Information Technology; Patient Education Media; Self-Help Groups; Social Health )
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Hub
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What six-letter two-word French expression was adopted into English in the mid 1700s referring to a witty remark?
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What's the difference between a hub, a switch, and a router? - Ask Leo!
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What’s the difference between a hub, a switch, and a router?
Hubs, switches, and routers are all computer networking devices with varying capabilities. Unfortunately, the terms are also often misused.
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What’s the difference between a hub, a switch, and a router?
In a word, intelligence.
Hubs, switches, and routers are all devices that let you connect one or more computers to other computers, networked devices, or even other networks. Each has two or more connectors called ports into which you plug in the cables to make the connection. Varying degrees of magic happen inside the device and therein lies the difference. I often see the terms misused, so let’s clarify what each one really means.
Hubs
A hub is typically the least expensive, least intelligent, and least complicated of the three. Its job is very simple – anything that comes in one port is sent out to the others.
That’s it.
If a message 1 comes in for computer “A”, that message is sent out all the other ports, regardless of which one computer “A” is on:
And when computer “A” responds, its response also goes out to every other port on the hub:
Every computer connected to the hub “sees” everything that every other computer on the hub sees. The computers themselves decide if they are the targeted recipient of the message and when a message should be paid attention to or not.
The hub itself is blissfully ignorant of the data being transmitted. For years, simple hubs have been quick and easy ways to connect computers in small networks.
Switches
A switch does essentially what a hub does, but more efficiently. By paying attention to the traffic that comes across it, it can “learn” where particular addresses are.
Initially, a switch knows nothing and simply sends on incoming messages to all ports:
Even accepting that first message, however, the switch has learned something – it knows on which connection the sender of the message is located. Thus, when machine “A” responds to the message, the switches only need to send that message out to the one connection:
In addition to sending the response through to the originator, the switch has now learned something else – it now knows on which connection machine “A” is located.
That means that subsequent messages destined for machine “A” need only be sent to that one port:
Switches learn the location of the devices that they are connected to almost instantaneously. The net result is that most network traffic only goes where it needs to rather than to every port. On busy networks, this can make the network significantly faster.
Routers
A router is the smartest and most complicated of the bunch. Routers come in all shapes and sizes – from the small, four-port broadband routers that are very popular right now to the large industrial strength devices that drive the internet itself.
A simple way to think of a router is as a computer that can be programmed to understand, possibly manipulate, and route the data that it’s being asked to handle. Many routers today are, in fact, little computers dedicated to the task of routing network traffic.
As far as simple traffic routing is concerned, a router operates exactly as a switch, learning the location of the computers on its connections and routing traffic only to those computers.
Consumer grade routers perform at minimum two additional and important
tasks: DHCP and NAT .
DHCP – Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol – is the way dynamic IP addresses are assigned. A device asks for an IP address to be assigned to it from “upstream” and a DHCP server responds with an IP address assignment. A router connected to your ISP-provided internet connection will typically ask your ISP’s server for an IP address; this will be your IP address on the internet. Your local computers, on the other hand, will ask the router for an IP address and these addresses are local to your network.
NAT – Network Address Translation – is the way that the router translates the IP addresses of packets that cross the internet/local network boundary. When computer “A” sends a packet out, the IP address that it’s “from” is that of computer “A” – 192.168.1.2 in the example above. When the router passes that on to the internet, it replaces the local IP address with the internet IP address assigned by the ISP. It also keeps track, so that if a response comes back from somewhere on the internet, the router knows to do the translation in reverse – replace the internet IP address with the local IP address for machine “A” and then send that response packet on to machine “A”.
A side effect of NAT is that machines on the internet cannot initiate communications to local machines – they can only respond to communications initiated by those local machines.
The net effect is that the router then also acts as a firewall:
What that means is that malware that might spread by trying to independently connect to your computer over the network cannot.
All routers include some kind of user interface for configuring how the router will treat traffic. The really large routers include the equivalent of a full-blown programming language to describe how they should operate as well as the ability to communicate with other routers to describe or determine the best way to get network traffic from point A to point B.
A note about speed
A quick note on one other thing that you’ll often see mentioned with these devices and that’s network speed. Most devices now are capable of both 10mbps (10 mega-bits, or million bits, per second) as well as 100mbps and will automatically detect the speed.
More and more devices are now capable of handling 1000mbps or a billion bits per second (1gpbs).
Similarly, many devices are now also wireless transmitters that simply act like additional ports on the device.
Read more:
How do I secure my router? Your router is your first line of defense against malicious attacks from the internet. But is your router secure? I’ll review the important settings.
How should I set up my home network? Once you add a second computer to you’re faced with setting up a network, at least to share the internet connection. Here are some general guidelines.
What kind of router do I need? A router is a router is … actually, there are several different kinds of routers that are used in different situations. I’ll review the most common.
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i don't know
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What is the offspring of a male horse and a female donkey?
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Mules - info and games
A mule is the offspring of a male donkey and a female horse.
Inelegant Equid: Its short thick head, long ears, thin limbs, small narrow hooves, short mane, absence of chestnuts (horny growths) inside the hocks, and tail hairless at the root, all make the mule appear ridiculous.
In height and body, shape of neck and croup, uniformity of coat, and teeth, it appears equine. It has the voice neither of the donkey nor of the horse, but emits a feeble hoarse noise. Most mules have a brown or bay-brown coat – bay, or bright bay, or piebald occur rarely; a chestnut tint sometimes appears.
A Horse of a Different Caliber: The mule possesses the sobriety, patience, endurance and surefootedness of the ass, and the vigor, strength and courage of the horse. Operators of working animals generally find mules preferable to horses: mules show less impatience under the pressure of heavy weights, while their skin, harder and less sensitive than that of horses, renders them more capable of resisting sun and rain. Many North American farmers with clay soil found mules superior as plow animals, especially in the U.S. state of Missouri, hence the expression "stubborn as a Missouri mule".
Work Horses: Humans have used mules for centuries; the inhabitants of Mysia and Paphlagonia allegedly bred the first
mules. The ancient Greeks, and especially Romans, valued mules for transport, using them to draw carriages and carry loads. In the 19th century, mules hauled barges on the Erie Canal and other North American and European canals, and mule teams were often used by teamsters on the U.S. Western frontier. In the early 20th century use of mules survived mainly in military transport, being used to haul caissons and artillery through nearly impassable terrain, the bravery and focused intelligence of the animal serving it well in the midst of the noise and confusion of warfare.
Motor Car Vs. Mule: Mules have become far less common since the rise of the automobile, the motorized tractor, and other internal combustion-powered vehicles. Still, mules (and burros) can handle extremely rugged terrain and tracks that are too steep and twisted for either the less sure-footed horse or for a motor vehicle. Mules are also shown at equine shows.
Sterile but Sturdy: The mule, easier to breed and usually larger in size than a hinny, has monopolized the attention of breeders.
The chromosome match-up more often occurs when the jack (male donkey) is the sire and the mare (female horse) is the dam. It has been known for people to let a stallion (male horse) run with a jenny (female donkey) for as long as six years before getting her pregnant.
Mules are almost always sterile, as almost all hinnies are. The sterility is attributed to the different number of chromosomes the two species have: donkeys have 62 chromosomes, while horses have 64. Their offspring thus have 63 chromosomes which cannot evenly divide.
Mother Mule? A female mule, called a "molly", has estrus cycles and can carry a fetus, as has occasionally happened naturally but also through embryo transfer. The difficulty is in getting the molly pregnant in the first place.
All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License
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Hinny
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Snow, the world's biggest selling beer (at 2011), is based in and dominates the market of which nation?
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What is the name of a female donkey? | Reference.com
What is the name of a female donkey?
A:
Quick Answer
A female donkey is called a "jenny" or "jennet." There is some speculation that the name "jenny" for a female donkey came about hundreds of years ago as a counterpart to the male donkey term, "jack." Both male and female donkeys are called "asses."
Full Answer
Jennies are pregnant for 12 months before giving birth to their foal. Jennies can be mated with other species of horse to produce different types of offspring. A female donkey mated with a male horse produces a "hinny." A male zebra and a jenny results in a "zebrass" or "zedonk." All offspring from these unions are sterile.
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i don't know
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The 'Travel Bookshop' bookstore in North London served as a location for what successful 1999 film?
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Film locations for Notting Hill (1999)
Savoy Hotel, 1 Savoy Hill , on the Strand (currently closed for refurbishment)
Stay in relaxingly minimal surroundings at: The Hempel, 31-35 Craven Hill Gardens, W2 (tel: 020.7298.9000)– or just peek at the (private) Zen Garden across the road from the hotel entrance
If that's a little beyond your means, you could have the chance to pick up a bargain (though you need to be up pretty early to beat the professional dealers) on Portobello Road Market (tube: Notting Hill Gate, Circle District and Central Lines)
Pick up a copy of The Worldwide Guide to Movie Locations at The Travel Bookshop, 13-15 Blenheim Crescent (tel: 020.7229.5260)
Catch a film in Notting Hill at the Coronet Cinema, 103 Notting Hill Gate (tel: 020.7727.6705) (tube: Notting Hill Gate, Circle District and Central Lines), or in the West End, at UCI Empire Leicester Square, 5-6 Leicester Square (tel: 0870.010.2030) (tube: Leicester Square, Piccadilly and Northern Line)
Trivia
There's no shortage of British romcoms: Four Weddings and a Funeral , Bridget Jones's Diary and Love Actually
In the area
You can see a much seedier Notting Hill of the late Sixties in trippy classic Performance . Michael Caine lived in Notting Hill for two classics – at 18 Denbigh Close in The Italian Job , and at 29 St Stephen’s Gardens in Alfie .
27 St Luke’s Mews is where the lovestruck Mark ( Andrew Lincoln ) declares his feelings for Juliet ( Keira Knightley ) with cue cards in Love Actually .
You can buy a trendy outfit at boutique Paul & Joe, 39 Ledbury Road, where Scarlett Johansson worked in Woody Allen ’s Match Point .
Notting Hill location: the ‘blue door’ – William Thacker's flat, blue again: 280 Westbourne Park Road, Notting Hill, London W11
The famous blue door in Notting Hill must be one of the most famous British film locations ever to grace the screen. Who could have predicted that?
The team behind Four Weddings and a Funeral follows up that unexpected smash with another Transatlantic romance as mega-movie star Anna Scott ( Julia Roberts ) falls for mild-mannered English bookseller William Thacker ( Hugh Grant ).
The title is the setting, though the famously cosmopolitan locale seems to have been ethnically cleansed: this is the whitest Notting Hill you’ll ever see.
During the Fifties, Notting Hill in West London was bedsit-land – cheap, rundown accommodation for the largely West Indian immigrants, and became the site of notorious race riots when locals clashed with racist Teddy Boys.
It was the setting for 'issue' movies such as Bryan Forbes ' The L-Shaped Room (abortion, racism, prostitution...) in 1962, before the street market of Portobello Road became a staple of Swinging Sixties movies in films such as The Italian Job ( Michael Caine 's pad was just off the northern end of the road) and comedy spy thriller Otley. Caine also lived nearby as Cockney womaniser Alfie , and burned-out rockstar Mick Jagger retreated here in Nicolas Roeg - Donald Cammell 's landmark Performance at the end of the decade.
Notting Hill location: the guy who got the ‘I love Ken’ tattoo: Saints Tattoo Parlour, 201 Portobello Road, Notting Hill, London W11
The heart of the film is Notting Hill’s Portobello Road street market, in the top ten of London 's tourist attractions – a fact you'll appreciate if you visit at the weekend. But that really is the time to see it. On weekdays, locals buy fruit and veg here. Second-hand goods are included on on Friday but on Saturdays the road is packed for the famous antiques market.
Started in the 1860s, it's been busy ever since, becoming – along with Carnaby Street and the King's Road, Chelsea – one of the centres of the Swinging London phenomenon in the 60s. Sometimes on Portobello it feels like the 60s never went away.
But there is no ‘Travel Book Company’ on Portobello Road, the down-at-heel shop owned by William Thacker. The store was Nicholls Antique Arcade, then furniture store Gong, it’s now a shoe shop, sensibly called – yes – Notting Hill, 142 Portobello Road (and rather cheekily replicating the film’s typeface).
The real Travel Bookshop, on which William’s establishment was based, was around the corner. It really was called The Travel Bookshop, 13-15 Blenheim Crescent, just off Portobello, but rising costs in the area (ironically bumped up by the success of the film) and the continued rise of online selling meant that the shop closed its doors in 2011. The premises has since reopened as a book store once again.
Notting Hill location: William Thacker bumps into Anna Scott on the corner: Westbourne Park Road at Portobello Road, Notting Hill, London W11
Coffee Shop, which stood at 303 Westbourne Park Road, was the little, yes, coffee shop, where William gets the coffee and orange juice at the beginning of the film. It’s since closed down. Next door, on the corner of Westbourne Park and Portobello Road, was the empty property outside which he bumps into Anna Scott. And it’s now – a branch of Coffee Republic.
Notting Hill location: Hugh Grant’s travel bookshop: Notting Hill, 142 Portobello Road, Notting Hill, London W11
A few yards away, across Portobello Road, at 280 Westbourne Park Road is William Thacker's flat. The rundown bedsit interior was a studio set and bore no resemblance whatsoever to what actually lay behind the famous blue door, for this was actually home to the screenwriter Richard Curtis.
Rather than the homely mess of a flat which confronted Anna Scott, the converted chapel boasted a courtyard garden, a 1,000-square-foot reception room and a galleried mezzanine. Shortly after filming it was put on the market for £1.3 million, which must make Notting Hill the most expensive (not to say successful) real estate ad ever. Shortly after finding fame, the famous door was removed and auctioned off for charity, to be replaced by a rather anonymous black one. But you’ll be thrilled to know that, yes, at last it has been repainted to reclaim its iconic status.
Saints Tattoo Parlour, 201 Portobello Road, is the store from which the guy who got drunk and now can’t remember why he chose a tattoo reading ‘I love Ken’ emerges, under the opening credits. It’s also the ‘Brighton’ tattoo parlour peeked into by Bella (Lia Williams) in Michael Winner ’s film of Helen Zahavi’s Dirty Weekend.
Notting Hill location: William watches sci-fi movie Helix: Coronet Cine0ma, 103 Notting Hill Gate
The Coronet Cinema, 103 Notting Hill Gate is where William watches Helix, the sci-fi movie short on both horses and hounds, starring Anna Scott The scene where he watches a film in swimming goggles was shot in the screening room of BAFTA.
Notting Hill location: William and Anna enjoy a meal at the Japanese restaurant: Nobu, Metropolitan Hotel, Old Park Lane, London W1
Afterwards William and Anna enjoy a meal at Nobu, 19 Old Park Lane, the dizzyingly expensive Japanese restaurant of the Metropolitan Hotel , Old Park Lane, W1.
Notting Hill location: the failed restaurant of William�s friend, Tony: Portfolio, on the corner of Golborne Road and Bevington Road, London W10
At the other end of the scale, the failed restaurant of William’s friend, Tony ( Richard McCabe ), is Portfolio, an art store on the corner of Golborne Road and Bevington Road, W10 at the northern reach of Portobello Road market. Previously an art gallery, it also became an eaterie – Brad Dourif ’s diner – in a film which took a totally different look at the area, writer Hanif Kureishi’s directorial debut London Kills Me. Incidentally, it’s right opposite the flat shared by Tim and Mary in Richard Curtis ’s 2013 About Time .
Notting Hill location: the birthday party: 91 Lansdowne Road, Notting Hill, London W11
91 Lansdowne Road is the home of Bella and Max ( Gina McKee and Tim McInnerny ), where William surprises everyone with his megastar date at the birthday party.
Notting Hill location: sneaking into the communal gardens: Rosmead Gardens, Rosmead Road, London W11
The private communal gardens, into which Anna and William break at night (“Whoops a daisy!”), is Rosmead Gardens, Rosmead Road, W11. Don't even think about it – it's a fiercely private garden, and the drop from the fence is nastier than it appears on film.
Notting Hill location: Anna Scott stays at the Ritz Hotel, Piccadilly, London
And outside Notting Hill itself, there’s no shortage of London landmarks to seduce the US tourist dollar.
Anna Scott stays at the Ritz Hotel , 150 Piccadilly, W1, an establishment which rarely permits filming inside, but on this occasion gave unprecedented co-operation to the film company, as William passes himself off as a reporter from Horse and Hound.
Notting Hill location: the period movie shoot: Kenwood House, Hampstead, London NW3
The site of the Henry James period movie shoot is Kenwood , Hampstead Lane, NW3, on Hampstead Heath, north London . The Adam mansion, once home to Lord Mansfield, holds the Iveagh Bequest of old master paintings, and, amazingly, entry is free. The house crops up in another Roger Michell movie – again as a period movie set – in Venus, for which Peter O'Toole was Oscar nominated. In Patricia Rozema's 1999 film of Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park it appears as ‘Southerton’.
Notting Hill location: William proposes at the press conference: Savoy Hotel, 1 Savoy Hill, the Strand, London WC2
William publicly proposes at Anna Scott's’ press conference, in the Lancaster Room of the Savoy Hotel, 1 Savoy Hill , on the Strand. The Savoy was also featured in The French Lieutenant's Woman , The Long Good Friday , Entrapment and more recently it was the hotel of Nicolas Cage in National Treasure: Book of Secrets.
Notting Hill location: the wedding reception: Zen Garden, Hempel, Craven Hill Gardens, Bayswater, London W2
This is rom-com world, so naturally, Anna Scott accepts the proposal. The outdoors wedding reception is held in the beautiful Zen Garden of designer Anouska Hempel’s minimalist The Hempel , 31-35 Craven Hill Gardens, W2 (the garden stands opposite the hotel entrance) in Bayswater.
Notting Hill location: the movie premiere: Empire, Leicester Square, London
The final movie première is held at the UCI Empire Leicester Square, 5-6 Leicester Square.
View Notting Hill in a larger map
See also ...
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Notting Hill
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Jerry and Mike are the first names of what famous pairing of 1950s hit songwriters?
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The Travel Bookshop: Notting Hill store that inspired Hollywood film to close - Telegraph
Book news
The Travel Bookshop: Notting Hill store that inspired Hollywood film to close
It was the basis for a successful Hollywood film but after more than three decades in business, one of Britain’s most recognisable book stores is set to close its doors.
Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant star in Notting Hill Photo: REX FEATURES
By Andrew Hough , and Matthew Holehouse
7:00AM BST 24 Aug 2011
The Travel Bookshop was the inspiration for the 1999 romantic comedy Notting Hill, in which its bumbling owner, Hugh Grant, met and fell in love with a famous film actress played by Julia Roberts.
But despite becoming one of London’s most popular tourist attractions, it emerged on Tuesday that its real-life owners will shortly cease trading after 32 years in business.
Now a group of writers have offered to work for free in a last-ditch bid to save the cult store, located in Notting Hill, west London, from closing its doors in a fortnight after it was heavily hit by the recession.
The group, led by Olivia Cole , a 30 year-old poet and literary editor of GQ magazine, believe a shop with a volunteer staff of authors could become a better cultural draw card for tourists and visitors who appreciate its “specialist tradition”.
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25 Apr 2011
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AlecBaldwin
Last night Alec Baldwin, the Hollywood actor who played Roberts' boyfriend in the film , leant his support to the campaign, posting on Twitter, the micro blogging website: “sad news 4 everyone's favourite bookshop from Notting Hill. Save the Travel Book Shop!!!”
The store, founded in 1979, is being sold by its present owner for the past 25 years, Simon Gaul, after his children showed little interest in taking on the business.
Since being placed on the market in May, no buyers have come forward to buy the shop, which is located near the popular Portobello Road thoroughfare.
The store, founded in 1979, is now holding a “closing down”, in which its stock is being heavily discounted while several staff have been told they will be made redundant.
In messages posted on Twitter, and Facebook, the social networking site, the store said: “Hello everyone! 2 week closing down sale starts today. Sad days but we'll be here with smiles on our faces! Thanks for all your messages! Xx”.
“We'll be holding a 2 week closing down sale from Monday 22nd August. Last chance to get your travel fix in Notting Hill!”
According to its latest accounts, lodged with Companies House in March last year, the bookstore made a loss, after tax, of £18,775 with debts owed within a year of nearly £42,000.
It also shows that its sister company, European Estates Ltd, handed it a loan of more than £93,000.
Mr Gaul, a property developer believed to be now living in France, could not be reached for comment on Tuesday night.
Neither a spokesman for European Estates nor the shop’s manager responded to repeated requests for comment.
But a spokeswoman for the company said in May: "His (the owner's) adult children have indicated that they would rather not follow him into the business and so he feels that the continuance of the trade would be best served by selling it on for a new generation to look after one of London's iconic and special bookshops."
The shop's interior was rebuilt for the film, which grossed more than £220m, and located in a different building in Portobello Road, which leaves many tourists disappointed.
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i don't know
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What is seven-eighths of sixteen?
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The meaning of multiplying fractions -- Problems
THE MEANING OF MULTIPLYING FRACTIONS
PROBLEMS
To see the answer, pass your mouse over the colored area.
To cover the answer again, click "Refresh" ("Reload").
Do the problem yourself first!
1. Explain the meaning of each of the following; then "multiply."
1. a)
× 12 A third of 12. 4.
× 56 One seventh of 56. 8.
1. c)
× 35 One fifth of 35. 7.
× 72 One eighth of 72. 9.
1. e)
× 40 Two fifths of 40. 16.
1. f)
× 20 Three fourths of 20. 15.
1. g)
× 21 Two thirds of 21. 14.
1. h)
× 9 Five ninths of 9. 5.
1. i)
× 100 Three twentieths of 100. 15.
1. j)
× 100 Eleven fiftieths of 100. 22.
1. k)
× 100 Eight twenty-fifths of 100. 32.
1. l)
× 100 Seven tenths of 100. 70.
2. How much is
2. a) Two thirds of 10
? 6
b) Three fourths of 9
? 6
2. c) Seven tenths of 3
? 2
d) Five eighths of 9
? 5
2. e) One sixth of 7
? 1
f) One third of 2
?
2. g) Five ninths of 7
? 3
h) Seven eighths of 11? 9
5
3. You are going on a journey of 25 miles, and you have gone two
thirds of the distance. How far have you gone?
16
3
miles.
4. A recipe calls for 4 cups of flour and 5 cups of milk. Proportionally, 4. how much milk should you use if
4. a) you use 2 cups of flour?
2 cups are half of 4 cups. Therefore, half of 5 cups of milk is 2½ cups of milk
4. b) you use 3 cups of flour?
3 cups are three fourths of 4 cups.
Therefore, three fourths of 5 cups of milk = 3
3
4. c) you use 3½ cups of flour?
3½ cups are seven eighths of 4 cups.
Therefore, seven eighths of 5 cups of milk = 4
3
5. Express each fraction as a percent. (Multiply times 100%.)
3. a)
%
6. Multiplying by a mixed number. Calculate mentally.
6. a) If bananas cost 50¢ a pound, and you buy 2½ pounds, how much
4. a) do you pay? $1.25
6. b) If cheese is $3.20 a pound, and you buy 1¼ pounds, how much
4. a) do you pay? $4.00
7. Calculate mentally.
5. a) 2½ × 10 = 25
b) 1½ × 12 = 18
5. c) 2¼ × 16 = 36
d) 3½ × 80 = 280
5. e) 4
8. a) What is the price of 8 items at $52 each? $416
8. b) A yard of material cost $5.25. What is the price of 12 yards? $63
8. c) John needs 24 feet of lumber at $1.50 a foot. How much must he
6. c) pay? $36
9. Multiplying by numbers ending in 5. Calculate mentally.
9. a) 15 × 12 = 180 b) 15 × 18 = 270 c) 15 × 240 = 3600
9 d) 35 × 6 = 210 e) 25 × 16 = 400 f) 45 × 22 = 990
Continue on to the Section 2 .
or
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fourteen
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On a standard English 'qwerty' keyboard, which key is between Z and C?
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will give medals helpppp and fasst!!!!! - OpenStudy
will give medals helpppp and fasst!!!!!
Mathematics
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3 years ago
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anonymous
3 years ago
Question 1 (Multiple Choice Worth 1 points) [4.02] Add six and five-sixths plus two and one-third. 9 nine and one-sixth eight and one-half eight and one-sixth Question 2 (Multiple Choice Worth 1 points) [4.05] Which expression is one of the steps you take when finding the quotient of three over four and 5? three over four times one over five three over four times five over five four over three times one over five four over three times five over one Question 3 (Multiple Choice Worth 1 points) [4.05] Use estimation to determine which of the following quotients you expect to be less than 1. six−fifteenths divided by two-fifteenths three-eighths divided by seven-eighths nine-elevenths divided by one-eleventh six−sevenths divided by two-sevenths Question 4 (Multiple Choice Worth 1 points) [4.06] Divide eight and one-sixth divided by four and two-thirds. two and one-half four-sevenths two and two-thirds one and three-fourths Question 5 (Multiple Choice Worth 1 points) [4.04] Estimate four and eight-elevenths times two and three-seventeenths by rounding each factor to the nearest whole number. 8 ten twelve fifteen Question 6 (Multiple Choice Worth 1 points) [4.02] Add two and two-ninths plus four and five-ninths. two and seven-ninths two and one-third six and one-third six and seven-ninths Question 7 (Multiple Choice Worth 1 points) [4.06] Solve eight and one-fourth divided by two. eight thirty-thirds sixteen and one-half four and one-eighth four and one-fourth Question 8 (Multiple Choice Worth 1 points) [4.02] What is the difference of three and seven over eight minus one and three over fourin simplest form? two and one over eight two and one over two 3 2 Question 9 (Multiple Choice Worth 1 points) [4.06] Estimate the quotient of seven and five over six divided by one and one over five using compatible numbers. What is the quotient? 4 9 8 2 Question 10 (Multiple Choice Worth 1 points) [4.04] What is the product of four over seven times two and one over ten in simplest form? one and one over five one and seven over ten four over thirty-five two and two over thirty-five Question 11 (Multiple Choice Worth 1 points) [4.01] Solve three-sevenths plus four-sevenths. one-seventh three-sevenths one four-sevenths Question 12 (Multiple Choice Worth 1 points) [4.01] Tracy ran for two-thirds hours and Reina ran for one-sixth hours. How many more hours did Tracy run? one-fourth one-half one-third one-sixth Question 13 (Multiple Choice Worth 1 points) [4.02] Which number would you add to three and nine-tenths to give an approximate sum of 6? two and one-third three and two-elevenths one and one-twelfth two and seven-eighths Question 14 (Multiple Choice Worth 1 points) [4.03] Franklin's hair grew one-twelfth inches in one week. If his hair continues to grow at this rate, about how many inches would his hair grow in one year, or fifty-two weeks? 1 4 8 twelve Question 15 (Multiple Choice Worth 1 points) [4.01] Which fraction would be most likely estimated as 1? one-half one-seventh three-fourths one-third Question 16 (Multiple Choice Worth 1 points) [4.04] Judah and 3 of his friends shared some apples. Each of the four friends had one and one-fourth of an apple. How many apples did they eat? four and one-fourth three and one-fifth 5 five and one-third Question 17 (Multiple Choice Worth 1 points) [4.03] What is the product of two over three and five over eight? fifteen over sixteen seven over eleven ten over fifteen five over twelve Question 18 (Multiple Choice Worth 1 points) [4.04] Caleb took a one and one-fifth hour nap after soccer practice on Saturday afternoon. His younger brother slept two and three-fourths times as long as Caleb. How many hours did his brother sleep? three and three-tenths two and three-twentieths two and one-fifth three and nineteen-twentieths Question 19 (Multiple Choice Worth 1 points) [4.03] To which numbers could you apply cancelling when calculating the product eight-ninths times five-sixths? 8 and 6 9 and 6 8 and 5 5 and 9 Question 20 (Multiple Choice Worth 1 points) [4.05] What is the quotient of two over three divided by three over ten in simplest form? one over five five over thirteen two and two over nine three and one over three
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i don't know
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Most commonly what note is the highest pitch open (unfretted) string on a standard/soprano ukulele?
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Ukulele tuning and string tensions
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Ukulele tuning
Ukuleles traditionally have four strings, and the most common tuning is G-C-E-A (also called the C or C6 tuning and sometimes just the G tuning). The first G string can be low or high (an octave difference). The latter, or high-G, is called 're-entrant' tuning and is the original tuning. Many players who came to the uke from the guitar prefer low-G, however. The strings are tuned like the first four strings of a guitar with a capo at the fifth fret.
The string notes are D-G-B-E for baritone ukes (guitar players will be familiar with that tuning since it's the same as the guitar's first four strings). This is also an alternate tuning for tenor ukes as A-D-F#-B.
Gettuned.com shows how standard tuning works with a piano (the A is the first string, E the second, C the third and G the fourth):
This is, of course, re-entrant of high-G tuning. If you use a low-G tuning, the proper note in the above diagram would be the third white key to the left of the C.
They also have an online uke tuner (baritone sounds have to be individually selected, however). There are some variant tunings on Uke Hunt , along with sound clips. Flea Market Music has another tuner, but re-entrant C tuning only, no baritone or low-G. Others are available online.
Alternate tunings have been popular in the past, particularly A-D-F#-B (called D or D6 tuning, a whole tone or step higher than the C/G tuning) and even E-A-C#F# and Bb-Eb-G-C. You'll see a lot of these tunings on vintage song sheets, but whether anyone used them or simply played in the current standard tuning I can't say.
The Kala Pocket Ukulele, a sopranino, is tuned like a baritone (D-G-B-E) but an octave higher. Sometimes tenor ukes are tuned to D-G-B-E but to do so requires a different string set from the standard C tuning.
The A-D-F#-B tuning is still used as the default in some areas, including Canada's east coast and some parts of Europe. It was the default tuning for the Chalmers Doane Ukuleles in the Classroom program in Canada, too. Others are seldom seen outside vintage song sheets today.
The late John King and Jim Tranquada, writing in The Hawaiian Journal of History Vol. 37 (2003), noted that C6 tuning appears in the first published ukulele method book, written by Ernest Ka'ai in 1910. But although C6 dominated music publishing, Vaudeville and music hall performers often preferred D6 for its somewhat better projection. This was also the preferred tuning of both Roy Smeck and George Formby (from Ukulele Yes e-mag).
The above paragraph is reduced from an interesting comment in Ukuleles Yes , on the Internet's pervasive ability to homogenize things and make the C/G tuning the most prevalent. It's like American English: widespread use of the Net along with Microsoft, Apple and other American-made computer products, make it hard to keep British English in the fore. D6 tuning may not die out, but it will be hard pressed to retain its followers when more and more players use C6 in jams, songs, chord books, etc.
Here's a good page that explains some popular tunings from Southcoast Ukes . the author notes, "There are two keys below the key of C: B flat & A, that have been lately ignored for some unknown reason. They are excellent options on any instrument larger than a Soprano body - traditional or long scale. That icon of the jazz era, Ukulele Ike generally used these two tunings with his solo work. He played them on a standard 15� scale concert uke to beautiful effect, producing a mellower tone than the sharp sound on a C or D tuned Soprano. He used the prevalent gut string material of the day, and in doing so developed a unique playing style (see further discussion on the �Heavy Gauge Ukulele Strings� page)."
Many uke string sets are designed to be used for either C/G or D/A tuning, but you will need a different set of strings to get the E tuning and others (you can use nylon guitar strings of the appropriate diameter).
Uke strings are tuned like the higher four strings on a guitar; the same relationship between strings, except five frets higher. Those same strings on a guitar are tuned D-G-B-E (just like a baritone uke - this is also known as "Chicago tuning" on tenor guitars and other instruments). Put a capo on the fifth fret of a guitar and you get soprano, concert and tenor uke tuning: G-C-E-A (or on the seventh fret for A-D-F#-B tuning).
However, the traditional uke is tuned with the fourth (G) string an octave higher. This is called re-entrant tuning. So it's the same note (G), just higher and brighter. That creates the popular My-Dog-Has-Fleas tune when strummed from the top down.
Low G on soprano ukes may require a wound fourth string, however. James Hill writes in Ukulele Yes e-zine that: "...my recent experience has convinced me that Low-4th tuning doesn't work on soprano-sized instruments unless a wound 4th string is used (recommended gauge is between 0.026" and 0.030"). The nylon low-4th string works in D6 tuning because the tension on the 4th string is higher. In Sheshatshiu, I opted to teach in high-4th tuning because ArtsCan Circle had already established the use of C6 tuning in their programs, because high-4th tuning tends to be a more "forgiving" tuning for beginners and because I didn't have any wound strings with me."
Baritone ukes are tuned D-G-B-E (called G tuning), like a guitar (which sometimes causes their critics to belittle them as tenor guitars). Baritone ukes usually are low-D but there are some high-D string sets available. For re-entrant baritone tuning, you can use a classical guitar string (first or high E string). There are also sets of strings to tune a baritone G-C-E-A. I prefer to play it in its original G (or re-entrant G) tuning because the C tuning makes for very tight, stiff strings that I find hard on my fingers, and the pitch seems too high for the body size.
If you're a guitar player new to the uke, you can play the same guitar chords and finger picking patterns on a uke, but the high-G string creates a different sort of sound. You have to change some of your patterns if you use bass runs or particular finger picking patterns, but it's easy to get accustomed to playing a uke coming from a guitar. You may even find that, with only four strings to contend with, you're a better uke player than a guitar player! �
You can also string a uke in low-G tuning, so it has a bass note in the fourth string, not a high note. This makes it even more guitar-like for chords and picking patterns. Some songs definitely work better in low-G, but others are best in high-G. Personally, I like both, but I tend to play my high-G ukes more because I prefer the sound and it makes the uke different from a guitar. But you should have both on hand. It's a good excuse to own another uke!
Eight string ukes are tuned like a normal uke - GCEA - but the second set has some differences. The G pair is an octave apart - high and low G together. So is the C pair. The E and A pair are tuned to the same pitch. This is usually written gGcCEEAA to indicate the octave difference with upper and lowercase. However, some players prefer to tune one or all pairs to the same note, not an octave apart.
Six string ukes have paired C and A strings. The A pair are the same note, but the C pair are an octave apart (low and high C). Again like the eight-string, players can tune either or both pairs to the same note or an octave apart. You can also choose high or low G.
Five-string ukes have a paired G string, usually tuned an octave apart.
I personally think the octave difference on the multi-string ukes really makes the instrument sound beautiful and distinct, but it's up to you what you want it to sound like.
The Guitalele and the U-tar have six strings laid out like a guitar, not in pairs. They are tuned like guitars capoed at the fifth fret: ADGCEA. They are really short-scale guitars and, despite the names, not ukuleles.
Bass ukuleles are tuned like guitar basses at the same pitch: E-A-D-G.
If you're interested in a more technical perspective read the page on " Tunings for the tenor ukulele " by Kawika Ukuleles.
Tuning is critical. And thanks to modern technology, you can buy a simple, clip-on, battery powered uke-specific tuner for $10-$20. That sure beats trying to tune with a pitch pipe (how 20th century!) or even a tuning fork. You can buy a ukulele-specific tuner, or a chromatic tuner that can be used with several instruments. Some have both a clip-on (vibration) tuner and a microphone for tuning off the instrument. Kala, Pono and Lanikai have a branded tuner they sell with their ukes.
My current favourite is a Snark clip-on tuner. I find it more sensitive than any other clip-on I've used and works with bass and banjo ukes where other clip-ons did not. It has a bright light, big face, fully-pivoting head and easy-to-read dial. The most commonly used model in the uke community is the guitar-bass clip-on, but the all-instrument model has a tiny microphone as well as a clip-on, which can be useful for instruments with low vibration. These can also be bought online for much lower than the suggested retail price.
I've also used a Profile PT-2900, which is chromatic, ukulele, guitar, violin and bass tuners combined in a small, clip-on device (it's the oval-shaped one in the pictures, above). It's good, but I still prefer the Snark.
There's no excuse not to be in perfect pitch with these instruments so easily available. Tuning with one of these little wonder devices is a snap. All digital, they are so accurate it's scary. The only drawback: they're battery powered and seldom (if ever) accept rechargeable batteries (and the batteries are often inconveniently located). But they're so inexpensive you can carry one in each of your cases.
A uke-specific tuner should have settings for C (GCEA) and D (ADF#B) tuning, but probably won't have a baritone setting (DGBE). Ideally, a uke-specific tuner would have settings for re-entrant and regular stringing, baritone and soprano/tenor scales.
General chromatic tuners can be used for any instrument - but try to avoid those designed solely for specific instruments like guitar, violin or banjo, since they have a limited range of tones and often won't work with ukes (unless they also have a chromatic tuner). Some chromatic tuners also have separate instrument settings.
Some ukes come with a plastic pitch-pipe tuner (see picture, left). More power to you if you can use it to stay in tune, but my advice is to dump it and buy a digital one. These aren't very accurate. Metal pitch-pipe tuners are generally much better, but more expensive than plastic, and still not as good as a digital one.
Geared versus friction tuners
Another source of hot debate is whether to use traditional friction tuners or more modern geared tuners. Tuners are also called machine heads . Traditionalists demand friction tuners. They call the visible tuning pegs on geared instruments "ears" and decry their appearance.
Nylon strings, especially new ones, stretch - even the ones sold as 'pre-stretched'. That means they go out of tune a lot until they're 'broken in'. Expect to tune your uke several times each time you play it, for several days, until the strings settle. During this time, you will really appreciate geared tuners. (A good chromatic tuner won't prevent having to retune a lot, but will help you keep the strings in precise tune while you're breaking them in.)
While it's a matter of personal taste as to which looks better, most friction tuners are neither as efficient nor as effective as geared tuners. Friction tuners are prone to slip more, and they take more time and effort to wrap strings when replacing them. Tuning with fiction tuners is often frustrating because even a very small adjustment can be too much, since the ratio is a simple one-to-one.
On almost all of my ukuleles with friction tuners, I have had to adjust the tuning more often than with geared tuners. That can be daily, weekly or between every song. The one exception is the Fluke , which remains in tune with very little adjustment required. I am not personally moved by their appearance, but I came from guitars where friction tuners are a rarity. On ukes, they strike me as an affectation and generally inefficient.
Friction tuners have a tiny screw on the head can be tightened to hold better. However, it's easy to over-tighten, and make it too hard to turn them. And, you may learn to your dismay, the thread can be stripped and you end up having to replace the entire peg! Sometimes it can crack the peg head, too, so be careful.
Friction tuners work best on soprano ukes where the tension is lowest of all sizes (see tensions, below). The few concert and tenor ukes I've had with friction heads (see my Republic and Waverly Street reviews) have had problems retaining string tension for even a single day.
Give me geared tuners any day. They stay in tune, take less time to wrap a new string (especially when you use a string winder ), and are much, much more precise when tuning in small increments (they are 12-to-1 to 18-to-1 ratio , so you can make very small adjustments easily).
I prefer sealed tuners because they are easier to maintain, and less susceptible to building up dust and grime. But they also weigh a little more, which can be noticeable on a light ukulele. Open tuners give you easier access to the tightening screw if it proves necessary to adjust it (if geared tuners slip, tighten this screw a little), but require more frequent cleaning.
A hybrid type is the planetary tuner . This is really a geared tuner concealed within a friction tuner body. While considerably more efficient than a friction tuner (and even more accurate than most geared tuners), it is also more expensive and heavier. Because of its size, a planetary tuner cannot be directly fitted to an existing head to replace friction tuners without re-drilling the holes to accommodate the width. Planetary tuners are common on bluegrass banjos.
For some custom planetary tuners designed for ukuleles, check out pegheds.com .
String tensions
Nylon-string ukuleles put less pressure on the bridge and top than guitars, even nylon stringed guitars. Larger ukes have more tension. According to Kawika, Inc . these are the approximate tensions on the various sizes ukes:
Soprano: 33 lb.
6-string tenor: 65 lb.
8-string tenor: 83 lb.
In comparison, a classical guitar has 75-90 lbs. of tension and a steel-string guitar has 150-200 lbs. tension. A concert would likely be around 35-36 lbs. Baritones tuned to GCEA will have much higher tension than with a DGBE tuning.
I have no figures on stress for steel string ukes, guitaleles or the U-bass. If anyone has the data, please email them to me.
WARNING: If you put steel strings on a ukulele, you're likely to pull the bridge right off because it's not designed for the extra tension. At the very least, you will warp the top and probably the neck.
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A
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A pneumatic motor converts potential energy in the form of what into mechanical work?
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Guitar Terms Glossary
Guitar Terms Glossary
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Use the search bar to look for terms in all glossaries, dictionaries, articles and other resources simultaneously
A list of guitar-related topics.
Standard guitar variations
Acoustic guitar
An acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only acoustic methods to project the sound produced by its strings. The term is a retronym, coined after the advent of electric guitars, which rely on electronic amplification to make their sound audible.
Archtop guitar
An archtop guitar is a steel-stringed acoustic or semi-acoustic guitar with a full body and a distinctive arched top, whose sound is particularly popular with blues and jazz players.
Classical guitar
The classical guitar — (also called the "Spanish guitar" or "nylon string guitar") — is a 6-stringed plucked string instrument from the family of instruments called chordophones. The classical guitar is well known for its comprehensive right hand technique, which allows the soloist to perform complex melodic and polyphonic material, in much the same manner as the piano.
Electric guitar
An electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric signals. Since the generated signal is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker. Since the output of an electric guitar is an electric signal, the signal may easily be altered using electronic circuits to add color to the sound. Often the signal is modified using effects such as reverb and distortion. Conceived in 1931, the electric guitar became a necessity as jazz musicians sought to amplify their sound. Since then, it has evolved into a stringed musical instrument capable of a multitude of sounds and styles. It served as a major component in the development of rock and roll and countless other genres of music.
Flamenco guitar
Flamenco guitar can also refer to toque, the guitar-playing part of the art of Flamenco. Both uses are documented on this page.
The luthiers of Andalusia made instruments in a wide range of prices, largely based on the materials used, and the amount of decoration. The cheapest guitars were often simple, basic instruments made from the less expensive local woods such as cypress, rather than imported rosewood. Antonio de Torres, considered the Stradivarius of the guitar, did not differentiate between flamenco and classical guitars: it was only later, after Segovia, that these differences were claimed (see José L. Romanillos "Antonio De Torres: Guitar Maker-His Life and Work" (1987, 1997).
The traditional flamenco guitar is made of Spanish cypress or sycamore for the back and sides and spruce for the top, which accounts for its characteristic body color, and is lighter in weight than a classical guitar, to give the sound a “brighter” and more percussive quality. This is achieved by reducing the amount of internal bracing and thickness of the materials used in the body and top construction. The top is typically made of either spruce or cedar, though other tone woods are used today. Volume has traditionally been very important for flamenco guitarists, as they need to be heard over the sound of the dancers’ nailed shoes: to increase the volume of the instrument, harder woods, such as rosewood, can be used for the back and sides, with softer woods for the top.
In contrast to the classical guitar, the flamenco is often equipped with a tap plate (a golpeador), commonly made of transparent plastic, similar to a pick guard, whose function is to protect the body of the guitar from the rhythmic finger taps, or golpes. Even so, a well used Flamenco guitar will only survive so long before the constant "golpes" wear through the top. Frequent replacement and patching of the "golpeador" help.
Flat top guitar
A flat top guitar is a type of guitar body model which has a flat top (as opposed to archtop). The term "flat top" is usually used to refer to the most popular type of steel-string acoustic guitars, however, electric guitars such as the Fender Stratocaster, Fender Telecaster as well as the Gibson Les Paul Junior or Special can be described as "flat top".
Fretless guitar
A fretless guitar is a guitar without frets. It operates in the same manner as most other stringed instruments and traditional guitars, but does not have any frets to act as the lower end point (node) of the vibrating string. On a fretless guitar, the vibrating string length runs from the bridge, where the strings are attached, all the way up to the point where the fingertip presses the string down on the fingerboard. Fretless guitars are fairly uncommon in most forms of western music and generally limited to the electrified instruments due to decreased acoustic volume and sustain in fretless instruments. However, the fretless bass guitar has gained fairly widespread popularity and many models of bass guitar can be found in fretless varieties. Fretless Electric Bass is particularly popular among Jazz, Funk and R&B players due to the similarity in feel and sound to the acoustic double bass.
Parlor guitar
Parlor or parlour guitar usually refers to a type of smaller-bodied guitar smaller than that of a concert guitar.
The popularity of these guitars peaked between the late 19th century until the 1950s. Many blues and folk musicians have used smaller-bodied guitars, which were often more affordable, mass production models.
Parlor guitar has also come to denote a style of American guitar music from the 19th and early 20th centuries. Noted composers include William Foden, Winslow Hayden, William Bateman, Justin Holland, Wilhelm Bischoff and the American Blues great, Robert Johnson. The music for the guitar includes a variety of dance forms (waltz, schottische, polka), instrumental arrangements of popular songs, guitar arrangements of then popular classical music, operatic arrangements and music from European guitar composers (Sor, Giuliani, Carcassi, Coste and Mertz). The Scruggs style and its banjo rolls are based upon and contemporary with parlor-style guitar.
The parlour guitar is also currently enjoying a renaissance amongst fingerpicking guitar players across the USA and Western Europe. There are a number of modern luthiers making parlour guitars in a wide variety of tonewoods. Their defining characteristics are a brightness of tone and an often surprising volume for such small guitars. Although they might be underpowered compared to larger guitars, modern amplification has made sound volume a non-issue.
Resonator Guitar
A resonator guitar or resophonic guitar is an acoustic guitar whose sound is produced by one or more spun metal cones (resonators) instead of the wooden sound board (guitar top/face). Resonator guitars were originally designed to be louder than conventional acoustic guitars which were overwhelmed by horns and percussion instruments in dance orchestras. They became prized for their distinctive sound, however, and found life with several musical styles (most notably bluegrass and also blues) well after electric amplification solved the issue of inadequate guitar sound levels.
Resonator guitars are of two styles:
Square necked guitars designed to be played in steel guitar style.
Round necked guitars, which may be played in either the conventional classical guitar style or in the lap steel guitar style.
There are three main resonator designs:
The "tricone" ("tri" in reference to the three metal cones/resonators) design of the first National resonator guitars.
The single cone "biscuit" design of other National instruments.
The single inverted-cone design of the Dobro.
Many variations of all of these styles and designs have been produced under many brands. The body of a resonator guitar may be made of wood, metal, or occasionally other materials. Typically there are two main sound holes, positioned on either side of the fingerboard extension. In the case of single cone models, the sound holes are either both circular or both f-shaped, and symmetrical; The older "tricone" design has irregularly shaped sound holes. Cutaway body styles may truncate or omit the lower f-hole.
Semi-acoustic guitar
A semi-acoustic guitar or hollow-body electric is a type of electric guitar with both a sound box and one or more electric pickups. This is not the same as an electric acoustic guitar, which is an acoustic guitar with the addition of pickups or other means of amplification, either added by the manufacturer or the player.
Other semi-acoustic or acoustic electric instruments include basses and mandolins. These are similarly constructed to semi-acoustic guitars, and are used in the same ways and with the same limitations.
More often, the instrument is designed primarily to be used with an amplifier, and the sound box is used primarily to produce an amplified tone not obtainable with a solid body instrument.
Some are borderline between these two types. For example, some electric archtop guitars are physically and acoustically identical to models from the same company without pickups, but the electric versions are almost never seen in performance without an amplifier. So, although the instrument is demonstrably capable of use as an acoustic instrument, in practice this does not occur.
Tailed bridge guitar
Some electric guitars have an extended bridge for their tremolo system, named a tailed bridge guitar because of its shape. Most of these tailed bridge guitars were designed in the sixties and used in surf music.
The first tailed bridge guitars were designed by Leo Fender; the Fender Jaguar and the Fender Jazzmaster, both of which became popular among surf rock groups in the early to mid 1960s. It became popular again in the 1990s when it was used by a number of alternative rock players.
Twelve string guitar
The twelve-string guitar is an acoustic or electric guitar with 12 strings in 6 courses, which produces a richer, more ringing tone than a standard six-string guitar. Essentially, it is a type of guitar with a natural chorus effect due to the subtle differences in the frequencies produced by each of the two strings on each course.
Pitch-based variations
Baritone guitar
The baritone guitar is a variation on the standard guitar, with a longer scale length that allows it to be tuned to a lower range. It first appeared in the classical music realm. The Danelectro Company was the first to introduce the electric baritone guitar in the late 1950s, and the instrument began to appear in surf music, as well as background music for many movie soundtracks, especially spaghetti westerns. In more recent history, the baritone guitar has found use within rock and metal. Some Baritone guitars may also have the capacity to be used as a bass guitar if strung correctly.
A standard guitar's standard tuning (from lowest string to highest) is E A D G B E. Baritone guitars are usually tuned a perfect fifth lower (A D G C E A), a perfect fourth lower (B E A D F# B), or a major third lower (C F B♭ E♭ G C). Gretsch, Fender, Gibson (EB-6), PRS Guitars, Music Man, Danelectro, Jerry Jones, Burns London and many other companies have produced baritone guitars since the 1960s, although always in small numbers due to low popularity.
Baritone guitars have larger bodies than standard guitars, especially in the case of acoustic instruments, and have longer scale lengths which allow the strings to be tuned lower while remaining close to or at normal tension. On a standard, steel-string, acoustic guitar, the scale length (the distance from the nut or string guide to the saddle on the bridge) is typically 24.9" to 25.7", and the strings range in diameter from .012" to .054". The scale lengths of various baritone designs range from 27" to 30.5", and the string gauges range from the normal .012 - .054" set to sets as thick as .017 - .095". Shorter-scale baritone guitars are more like long-scale guitars, having more midrange volume, whereas the longer scale lengths and heavier string sets give more bass to the instrument's timbre. Shorter scale baritones tend to be tuned C-C or B-B whereas longer ones are typically tuned A-A.
Bass guitars
- Acoustic bass guitar
The acoustic bass guitar (also called ABG or acoustic bass) is a bass instrument with a hollow wooden body similar to, though usually somewhat larger than a steel-string acoustic guitar. Like the traditional electric bass guitar and the double bass, the acoustic bass guitar commonly has four strings, which are normally tuned E-A-D-G, an octave below the lowest four strings of the 6-string guitar, which is the same tuning pitch as an electric bass guitar.
Because it can be difficult to hear an acoustic bass guitar without an amplifier, even in settings with other acoustic instruments, most acoustic basses have pickups, either magnetic or piezoelectric or both, so that they can be amplified with a bass amp.
Traditional music of Mexico features several varieties of acoustic bass guitars, such as the bajo sexto, with six pairs of strings, and the guitarrón, a very large, deep-bodied Mexican 6-string acoustic bass guitar played in Mariachi bands.
- Bass guitar
The bass guitar (also called electric bass, or simply bass) is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb (either by plucking, slapping, popping, tapping, or thumping), or by using a plectrum.
The bass guitar is similar in appearance and construction to an electric guitar, but with a longer neck and scale length, and four, five, or six strings. The four string bass—by far the most common—is usually tuned the same as the double bass, which correspond to pitches one octave lower than the four lower strings of a guitar (E, A, D, and G). The bass guitar is a transposing instrument, as it is notated in bass clef an octave higher than it sounds (as is the double bass) to avoid excessive ledger lines. Like the electric guitar, the electric bass guitar is plugged into an amplifier and speaker for live performances.
Since the 1950s, the electric bass guitar has largely replaced the double bass in popular music as the bass instrument in the rhythm section. While the types of basslines performed by the bass guitarist vary widely from one style of music to another, the bass guitarist fulfills a similar role in most types of music: anchoring the harmonic framework and laying down the beat. The bass guitar is used in many styles of music including rock, metal, pop, punk rock, country, blues, and jazz. It is used as a soloing instrument in jazz, fusion, Latin, funk, and in some rock and heavy metal styles.
Tenor guitar
The tenor guitar is a slightly smaller, four-string relative of the steel-string acoustic guitar or electric guitar. The instrument (in its acoustic form) was developed so that players of the four-string tenor banjo could double on the guitar. Later, solid-body electric models were also produced.
Tenor guitars are four stringed instruments normally made in the shape of a guitar, or sometimes with a lute-like pear shaped body or, more rarely, with a round banjo-like wooden body. They can be acoustic and/or electric and they can come in the form of flat top, archtop, wood-bodied or metal-bodied resonator or solid-bodied instruments. Tenor guitars normally have a scale length (from bridge to nut) of between 21 and 23 inches.
Steel guitars
The lap steel guitar is a type of steel guitar, from which other types developed.
There are three main types of lap steel guitar:
Lap slide guitars, the first developed, which use a similar sound box to a Spanish guitar. These were originally called Hawaiian guitars and included versions that had a factory raised nut, but also included Spanish guitars with a nut extender.
Resonator guitars, particularly those with square necks, but would include round neck versions with a raised nut.
Electric lap steel guitars, which include the first commercially successful solid body instruments. These were originally marketed as Electric Hawaiian guitars. There are two types: one that sits on the musician's lap and a second version that has legs and was called a console version, but did not include pedals or knee levers. Electric lap steels are typically made with six to ten strings.
Lap slide and resonator guitars may also be fitted with pickups, but do not depend on electrical amplification to produce their sound.
Pedal steel guitar
The pedal steel guitar is a type of electric guitar that uses a metal bar to "fret" or shorten the length of the strings, rather than fingers on strings as with a conventional guitar. Unlike other types of steel guitar, it uses foot pedals and knee levers to affect the pitch, hence the name "pedal" steel guitar. The word "steel" in the name comes from guitars made of metal – such as those made by the National guitar company in the 1920's – which were used for Hawaiian steel guitar music. The instrument is horizontal with the strings face up, and is typically plucked with thumbpick and fingers or (two or three) fingerpicks. The pedals are mounted on a cross bar below the body and the knee levers extend from the bottom of the guitar's body and are used to stretch or slacken the strings and thus change the pitch in the process of the guitar being played; the action of the pedals may either be fixed, or may be configurable by the player to select which strings are affected by the pedals. The pedal steel, with its smooth portamenti, bending chords and complex riffs, is one of the most recognizable and characteristic instruments of American country music.
While there are some fairly standard pedal assignments, many advanced players devise their own setups, called copedents. The range of copedents that can be set up varies considerably from guitar to guitar. Aftermarket modifications to make additional copedents possible are common.
The pedal steel was developed from the console steel guitar and lap steel guitar. Like the console steel, a pedal steel may have multiple necks, but the pedals make even a single-neck pedal steel a far more versatile instrument than any multiple-neck console steel.
Extra strings
Seven-string guitar
A seven-string guitar is a guitar with seven strings instead of the usual six. Some types of seven-string guitars are specific to certain cultures (i.e. the Russian and Brazilian guitars).
Seven-string electric guitars are particularly used in certain styles of music, and have been popular over the past few decades in the heavy metal genre. Mainstream artists such as Steve Vai, Muse, Dream Theater, Staind, Rush, and Metallica have all experimented with seven-string guitars over the years on different albums. Some artists, such as Korn, Meshuggah, and Five Finger Death Punch, have created an identifiable, signature, and distinctively heavy sound using them almost exclusively in their music.
Eight-string guitar
An eight-string guitar is a guitar with eight strings instead of the commonly used six strings. Such guitars are not as common as the six string variety, but are used by classical, jazz, and metal guitarists to expand the range of their instrument by adding two strings.
Eight string variations are also found in classical nylon strung instruments. They are generally tuned with two extra basses ([BD]EADGBE) that vary in pitch depending on the piece being played. Another common variation is to add an extra bass and treble string. The extra treble is almost always tuned to A, while the added bass string usually falls on A, B, or C.
The Classical guitarists Paul Galbraith and Alexander Vynograd are two of the most notable 8 string players who use the extra high and low string tuning. Galbraith generally tunes (B)EADGBEA which puts standard 6 string guitar chord voicings and scale shapes within the neck and allows him to read directly off of lute tablature (a whole step higher). Vynograd chooses to tune AEADGCEA (notice the B string is tuned up a half step) which allows him to play the top 6 strings like a guitar a 4th higher. Vynograd writes his music on a grand staff in a different key and plays as if the guitar was tuned EBEADGBE. This is a less confusing approach than Galbraith's for a 6 string guitarist transitioning to 8 because the fingerings and sheet music are more familiar.
Misc
3rd Bridge
The 3rd bridge is an extended playing technique used on some string instruments (notably the electric guitar), that allows a musician to produce distinctive timbres and overtones that are unavailable on a conventional string instrument with two bridges (a nut and a bridge). The timbre created with this technique is close to that of Gamelan instruments like the bonang and similar Indonesian types of pitched gongs.
Third bridge instruments can be custom-made by experimental luthiers (as with guitars designed and played by Hans Reichel); modified from a non-third bridge instrument (as with conventional guitars modified with a pencil or screwdriver under the strings); or may take advantage of design quirks of factory-built instruments (as with the Fender Jazzmaster which has strings which continue from the "standard" bridge to the tremolo piece).
Perhaps the best-known examples of this technique come from No Wave artists like Glenn Branca and Sonic Youth. The 3rd bridge technique has a physical connection with Pythagoras' monochord, because both function with the scale of harmonics. Also many non-Western musical scales and musical instruments share these consonant just pitch relations.
Harp guitar
The harp guitar (or "harp-guitar") is a stringed instrument with a history of well over two centuries. While there are several unrelated historical stringed instruments that have appropriated the name “harp-guitar” over the centuries, the term today is understood as the accepted vernacular to refer to a particular family of instruments defined as "A guitar, in any of its accepted forms, with any number of additional unstopped strings that can accommodate individual plucking." Additionally, in reference to these instruments, the word "harp" is now a specific reference to the unstopped open strings, and is not specifically a reference to the tone, pitch range, volume, silhouette similarity, construction, floor-standing ability, nor any other alleged "harp-like" properties. To qualify in this category, an instrument must have at least one unfretted string lying off the main fretboard. Further, the unfretted strings can be, and typically are, played as an open string.
This family consists of an almost limitless variety of different instrument configurations. Most readily identified are American harp guitars with either hollow arms, double necks or harp-like frames for supporting extra bass strings, and European bass guitars (or kontragitarres). Other harp guitars feature treble or mid-range floating strings, or various combinations of multiple floating string banks along with a standard guitar neck.
Gittler guitar
A Gittler Guitar is an experimental designed guitar created by Allan Gittler (1928–2003). Gittler felt that sentimental design references to acoustic guitars are unnecessary in an electronically amplified guitar, and designed his instrument with the objective of reducing the electric guitar to the most minimal functional form possible. He made 60 guitars in New York in the mid 1970s to early 1980s (selling one to Andy Summers, which he plays in The Police's "Synchronicity II" video. In 1982, Gittler emigrated to Israel, settled in Hebron, changed his name to Avraham Bar Rashi, and licensed the design to a local company in Kiryat Bialik called Astron Engineer Enterprises LTD. They computer-machined around 300, Bar Rashi commented later to the effect that he was unhappy with the manufacturing. Astron, however, claims that their instruments are precisely manufactured copies of the original construction, and that the addition of a plastic body containing electronics for simplified handling, while arguably compromising the minimalism of the original idea, had no influence on the sound or the style of playing.
The first 60 are sometimes described as the Fishbone Gittler guitar. Three Gittler basses also exist, made in New York and numbered 1, 2, and 3, respectively.
The Gittler guitar has 6 strings. Each string has its own pickup. Later versions have a plastic body. The steel frets, consisting of stainless steel bars pressure fitted into the stainless steel neck, give the instrument a sitar-like feel, as it is possible to bend the strings downward past where a wooden fretboard would prohibit the movement in a conventional guitar. The six individual pickups can be routed to divided outputs via D-sub-9-pin. or be mixed to a 1/4" RS connector. The built in pre-amps are powered by a 9 V battery or via D-sub connector. The New York version came without a pre-amp section; the individual pickups' signals were led into single cables, which could then be plugged into a mixing box or each separately amplified.
Glock-Guitar
A glock-guitar is a percussion instrument in the idiophone instrument family. The glock-guitar is composed of a large, flat wooden board with a smaller handle known as the akkordboard. The akkordboard usually has four round peg holes for attaching three-chime chord block sets, often making a four-note partial scale of A-minor, E, D-minor, and D. The glock-guitar can be played with several different-sized mallets or with the hand like a guitar, hence the instrument's name. The instrument is related to the glockenspiel.
Portuguese guitar
The Portuguese guitar or Portuguese guitarra (Portuguese: guitarra portuguesa) is a plucked string instrument with twelve steel strings, strung in six courses comprising two strings each. It has a distinctive tuning mechanism. It is most notably associated with fado.
Prepared guitar
A prepared guitar is a guitar that has had its timbre altered by placing various objects on or between the instrument's strings, including other extended techniques. This practice is sometimes called tabletop guitar, because many prepared guitarists do not hold the instrument in the usual manner, but instead place the guitar on a table to manipulate it.
Vintage guitar
A Vintage guitar is an old guitar usually sought after and maintained by avid collectors. Musicians and dealers commonly claim that older guitars have superior craftsmanship to modern mass-produced ones. Besides the considered better sound quality because of the craftsmanship it also is considered a safe money investment.
Warr Guitars
Warr Guitars is a company that manufactures the Warr Guitar, a guitar like musical instrument developed by the company's founder, Mark Warr.
The Warr Guitar resembles a standard electric guitar, albeit with a very low action and more strings. It is designed for two-handed tapping techniques like a Chapman Stick, producing a similar sound to the Stick when played in this way. More traditional guitar or bass guitar techniques (like strumming, pizzicato, slap and pop or using a plectrum) can also be used. Because of the placement of the instrument's strapholders, the Warr Guitar may be played in a more upright, Stick-like position, or horizontally, like an electric guitar.
Warr guitars have anywhere from seven to fifteen strings. The strings may be arranged so that the lowest pitched string is nearest to the player, or in the center of the fingerboard, like on a Chapman Stick, and can be tuned to any custom tuning which the player desires for a wide range of tonal qualities. The fingerboard may be fretted, fretless, or a combination of the two. Custom-designed Bartolini magnetic, piezoelectric or a combination of both of these pickups are used. If piezo pickups are added, the instrument is compatible with onboard MIDI electronics, allowing direct triggering of Roland or Axon synths from the instrument. The neck is constructed of multiple, quartersawn laminates of varying thickness. Instruments built with ten or more strings have two embedded, dual-action truss rods and dual 1/4" outputs.
Common electric guitar models
Fender Stratocaster
The Fender Stratocaster, often referred to as "Strat", is a model of electric guitar designed by Leo Fender, George Fullerton, and Freddie Tavares in 1954, and manufactured continuously by the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation to the present. It is a double-cutaway guitar, with an extended top horn for balance while standing. The Stratocaster has been used by many leading guitarists and can be heard on many historic recordings. Along with the Gibson Les Paul, the Gibson SG and the Fender Telecaster, it is one of the most common and enduring models of electric guitar in the world. The design of the Stratocaster has transcended the field of music to rank among the classic industrial designs of all time; examples have been exhibited at major museums around the world.
Fender Telecaster
The Fender Telecaster, colloquially known as the Tele, is typically a dual-pickup, solid-body electric guitar made by Fender. Its simple yet effective design and revolutionary sound broke ground and set trends in electric guitar manufacturing and popular music. Introduced for national distribution as the Broadcaster in the autumn of 1949, it was the first guitar of its kind to be produced on a substantial scale. Its commercial production can be traced as far back as March 1950, when the single- and dual-pickup Esquire models were first sold. The Telecaster has been in continuous production in one form or another since its first incarnation.
Gibson Les Paul
The Gibson Les Paul is a solid body electric guitar that was first sold in 1952. The Les Paul was designed by Ted McCarty in collaboration with popular guitarist Les Paul, whom Gibson enlisted to endorse the new model. It is one of the most well-known electric guitar types in the world, along with the Fender Stratocaster and Telecaster.
Gibson ES-335
The Gibson ES-335 is the world's first commercial thinline arched-top semi-acoustic electric guitar. Released by the Gibson Guitar Corporation as part of its ES (Electric Spanish) series in 1958, it is neither hollow nor solid; instead, a solid wood block runs through the center of its body. The side "wings" are hollow, and the top has two violin-style f-holes over the hollow chambers.
Gibson SG
The Gibson SG is a model of solid-bodied electric guitar that was introduced in 1961 by Gibson, and remains popular in the present day.
Rickenbacker 360
The Rickenbacker 360 is an electric, semi-acoustic guitar made by Rickenbacker, and part of the Rickenbacker 300 Series. The instrument incorporates many features standard on Rickenbacker guitars, including a three-ply maple/walnut neck, shallow headstock angle, a thick rosewood fretboard finished with clear conversion varnish, and double truss rods. The 360 also features stereo or mono output, a body with Rickenbacker's "crescent moon" cutaway shape and rounded top edge and bound back, and an "R"-shaped trapeze tailpiece. A twelve string version of the 360 (Rickenbacker 360/12) is available. A three pickup version of this model is also available, the 370.
It is also the principal guitar of R.E.M.'s Peter Buck.
Guitar makers
Luthier (Guitar maker)
A luthier is someone who makes or repairs stringed instruments. In the United States, the term is used interchangeably with a term for the specialty of each maker, such as violinmaker, guitar maker, lute maker, etc. The word luthier comes from the French word luth, which means "lute".
The craft of making string instruments, or lutherie, is commonly divided into two main categories: makers of stringed instruments that are plucked or strummed and makers of stringed instruments that are bowed. Since bowed instruments require a bow, the second category includes a subtype known as a bow maker or archetier.
Bailey, John
John Bailey (born 1931) is a British luthier who made and repaired guitars and other stringed instruments during the 1960s revival of English folk music and beyond. Bailey lived in London until 1972 when he moved to Dartmouth in Devon. He continued to make instruments there into the 1990s.
B.C. Rich Guitars
B.C. Rich is a manufacturer of guitars and bass guitars founded by the late Bernardo Chavez Rico in 1969. Currently,] most B.C. Rich guitars are manufactured in Asia, but luthiers of the company's custom shop continue to hand-make instruments. The Hanser Music Group, based in Kentucky, operates B.C. Rich. As of 2001, no member of the Rico family is involved in the company.
Bourgeois Guitars
Dana Bourgeois is a luthier who heads a small guitar shop, Pantheon Guitars, in Lewiston, Maine. He makes traditionally styled acoustic guitars used in bluegrass and other acoustic music genres. His customers include Ricky Skaggs, Ry Cooder, Vince Gill, Lee Roy Parnell, James Taylor, and Guy Clark.
Caparison Guitars
Caparison Guitars is a Japan-based manufacturer of custom shop electric guitars.
Carlos (guitar)
The Carlos Guitar brand stems from Korea. A series of models have been produced and many early models were hand crafted.
The manufacturers continued to handcraft guitars up to the late 1960s, the last said to be some of the earlier Model 249 guitars.
Carvin A&I
Carvin Corporation is an American guitar, musical instrument and equipment manufacturer located in San Diego, California. Carvin was founded in 1946 by Lowell Kiesel, and originally manufactured guitar pickups.
Collings Guitars
Collings Guitars is an Austin, TX based stringed instrument manufacturer. Founded by Bill Collings in 1973, Collings today produces acoustic guitars, electric guitars, archtop guitars, mandolins, and ukuleles.
Cort Guitars
Cort Guitars is a guitar manufacturer centered in South Korea. The company is one of the largest guitar makers in the world, and produces instruments for many other companies.
Dean Guitars
Dean Guitars is an American manufacturer of guitars. It was founded in 1976 in Chicago, Illinois by Dean Zelinsky and is currently owned by Armadillo Enterprises in Tampa, Florida. Dean owner Elliott Dean Rubinson performs and tours with major artists that use his instruments like Michael Schenker and Uli Jon Roth.
Oscar Medeiros gained ownership of the brand in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Armadillo Enterprises purchased the Dean trade name in 1997.
Epiphone
The Epiphone Company is a musical instrument manufacturer founded in 1873 by Anastasios Stathopoulos. Epiphone was bought by Chicago Music Company, which also owned Gibson Guitar Corporation, in 1957. Epiphone was Gibson's main rival in the archtop market. Their professional archtops, including the Emperor, Deluxe, Broadway and Triumph, rivaled (and some contend surpassed) those of Gibson. Aside from their guitars, Epiphone also made upright basses, banjos, and other stringed instruments. However, the company's weakness in the aftermath of World War II allowed Gibson to absorb it.
The name "Epiphone" is a combination of proprietor Epaminondas Stathopoulos' nickname "Epi" and "phone" (from Greek phon-, "sound"/"voice"), as well as a play on one meaning of the word "epiphany," namely a sudden inspiration frequently presenting itself as supernatural in origin.
ESP Guitars
ESP Company, Limited (株式会社イーエスピー Kabushiki Gaisha Ī Esu Pī?), located in North Hollywood, California, is a Japanese manufacturer of electric guitars and basses.
Fender Musical Instruments Corporation
Fender Musical Instruments Corporation of Scottsdale, Arizona is a manufacturer of stringed instruments and amplifiers, such as solid-body electric guitars, including the Stratocaster and the Telecaster. The company, previously named the Fender Electric Instrument Manufacturing Company, was founded in Fullerton, California, by Clarence Leonidas "Leo" Fender in 1946. Leo Fender also designed one of the first commercially successful solid-body electric basses, the Precision Bass (P-Bass), which has become known in rock, jazz, country, Motown, funk, and other types of music.
The company is a privately held corporation, with the controlling majority of its stock owned by a group of its own company officers and managers. William (Bill) Mendello is Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer and James Broenen is Chief Financial Officer.
Fender's headquarters is in Scottsdale, Arizona with manufacturing facilities in Corona, California (USA) and Ensenada, Baja California (Mexico).
Fernandes Guitars
Fernandes Guitars is a guitar and accessory manufacturer that originated in Japan. Fernandes originated in Japan in 1969 building flamenco guitars. As the company grew it expanded production to include more acoustic guitars, electric guitars, bass guitars, amplifiers, and accessories to become one of the biggest guitar manufacturer in Japan. During the 1970s, it became Japan's premier manufacturer of Fender copies; its Stratocaster copy, in particular, is generally considered a vastly superior instrument to the actual Fender Stratocaster's; this is due to the fact of the high quality guitar craftsmanship that came from Japan during the early 70's to compete with the American market. Fernandes also owns a brand for Gibson replicas: Burny.
Despite its high production figures, Fernandes is better known in the United States for its Sustainer system, which uses electromagnetism to vibrate a string for an infinite period, so long as the user continues to fret a note. Unlike the similar E-Bow, it can be used with a standard plectrum. Fernandes' custom shop has installed numerous Sustainers into guitars built by other manufacturers.
Fernandes continues to manufacture guitars that cover the range from inexpensive starter models to custom instruments of exceptional quality.
In 2000, Fernandes made a guitar to promote the video game UmJammer Lammy, similar to Lammy's guitars.
Flipper's Guitar
Flipper's Guitar were a Tokyo-based Japanese pop band led and later duo by Keigo Oyamada and Kenji Ozawa. The band were influenced by the chirpy sound of British 80s pop groups like Haircut 100, Exhibit B, The Style Council and Aztec Camera, as well as the fashionably eclectic sounds of early 90s Britain, from indie dance to acid jazz. The sonic experimentation of Brian Wilson was also evident in some tracks. Oyamada was later to state that his greatest influences were "the three Bs — Beck, The Beatles and the Beach Boys".
The group were an important part of the Tokyo Shibuya-kei scene in the late 1980s to early 1990s, and Oyamada went on to produce work for Pizzicato Five and his close friend Kahimi Karie.
The band shows their influence on their sleeves, and their song titles often cited their British artists' influence — Goodbye Our Pastels Badges, Haircut 100, The Colourfield; the last album Doctor Head's World Tower treads the line between inspiration and plagiarism of Primal Scream's Screamadelica, Madchester artists like Stone Roses, Happy Mondays and Neo-psychedelia music from the early 90s.
Following the demise of the band in 1993 the two members pursued solo careers, Ozawa releasing the album The Dogs Bark But The Caravan Moves On under his own name, and Oyamada recording under the name of Cornelius. It was as Cornelius that Oyamada gained a minor cult following outside Japan, as well as remix work for the likes of Blur, Beck, and the Manic Street Preachers.
Gibson Guitar Corporation
The Gibson Guitar Corporation, of Nashville, Tennessee, manufactures guitars and other instruments which sell under a variety of brand names.
Gibson Guitar Corporation was ranked the worst place to work in America, according to a glassdoor.com survey in 2009.
Godin (guitar manufacturer)
Schecter Guitar Research, an American guitar manufacturer
Schechter Poultry Corp. v. United States, a landmark Supreme Court decision regarding the Commerce Clause
Shine Guitars
Shine Guitars is a Korean brand of electric guitars and bass guitars produced by Saein Musical Instrument Co. Ltd.
Saein Musical Instrument Co., Ltd. Is located in Namdong Industrial Complex in Incheon, Korea. Saein was established on 1991-01-07. As of 2007, they have 100 employees, and their monthly capacity is 4,500pcs still growing to expand.
In February, 2001, Saein launched an independent factory in Gaomi City, China. The Chinese factory has 300 employees, and their monthly capacity is 10,000pcs. They are also are an OEM vendor for Ibanez, Epiphone and Peavey.
Takamine Guitars
Takamine Co., Ltd. (高峰楽器製作所 Takamine Gakki Seisakusho?) is a Japanese guitar manufacturer based in Nakatsugawa, Gifu, Japan. Takamine is known for its steel-string guitars.
The company was founded in May 1962; in 1978 they were one of the first companies to introduce acoustic-electric models, where they pioneered the design of the preamp-equalizer component.
Taylor Guitars
Taylor Guitars is an El Cajon, California‐based luthier, specializing in acoustic guitars, as well as semi-hollow and solidbody electric guitars. It was established in 1974 by Bob Taylor and Kurt Listug.
Valley Arts Guitar
Valley Arts Guitar is an American electric guitar manufacturer currently owned and operated by the Gibson Guitar Corporation. Mike McGuire and Al Carness founded the company in the mid-1970s in North Hollywood, California, a district of Los Angeles, California in the San Fernando Valley; the name "Valley Arts" is a reference to the firm's original location. Partners in a music store and repair shop, their repairs and customizations gained the attention of Los Angeles studio musicians and jazz guitarists such as Lee Ritenour, Steve Lukather, Tommy Tedesco and Larry Carlton.] They began building custom guitars from scratch in 1977, and by 1983 demand for these guitars had increased to the point of requiring a separate manufacturing facility.] Most of their guitars had a radical styling similar to that of a superstrat; others were modified versions of Fender's popular designs, the Stratocaster and the Telecaster. "Signature" Valley Arts features often included highly-figured wood grain on the front, translucent colored finishes, gold hardware, Floyd Rose locking tremolos, EMG and Seymour Duncan humbucking pickups.
In late 1990 the store was destroyed by fire. Underinsured, McGuire and Carness found it necessary to sell the store and concentrate on the manufacturing side of the business. In an attempt to expand their business, in 1992 they sold half of Valley Arts to the Korean guitar manufacturer Samick. They quickly became dissatisfied with their positions in the company and the quality of the guitars manufactured by Samick, and by 1993 they had moved to positions at Gibson. Through the 1990s Gibson was moving to expand and diversify its brands, and by the late 1990s they had decided to acquire the "Valley Arts" name as an outgrowth of the Gibson Custom Shop. In late 2002 Valley Arts reopened as a music store, repair facility and small manufacturer specializing in custom guitars in downtown Nashville. Al Carness managed the store; Mike McGuire is operations manager of the Gibson Custom division, which oversees the Valley Arts line of guitars. The Nashville store closed in 2005.
Warwick (bass guitar)
Warwick is a bass guitar company from Germany founded in 1982 by Hans-Peter Wilfer.
Warwick basses were originally a premium brand offering a small range of models built from high quality and exotic tonewoods with 'Neck-through' design. Together with the original portfolio of models, the company now offer budget models, many of which are 'bolt-on neck' versions of the originals.
All Warwick basses are built in Germany, except for acoustic Alien basses that are built in Vietnam, the Pro Series from Korea that include the Corvette Standard models, and the budget line of Warwick, RockBass, which is produced in China.
Washburn Guitars
Washburn Guitars is an American guitar manufacturer. It was established in 1883 in Chicago, Illinois. Washburn is a part of U.S. Music Corporation.
Yamaha Corporation
The Yamaha Corporation (ヤマハ株式会社 Yamaha Kabushiki Gaisha) (TYO: 7951) is a multinational corporation and conglomerate based in Japan with a wide range of products and services, predominantly musical instruments, motorcycles, power sports equipment and electronics.
Zon Guitars
Zon Guitars is a manufacturer of bass guitars founded in 1981 by Joseph Zon.
There are five primary models of Zon Bass guitars. These include the Mosaic, the Sonus series, the Legacy Elite, the above mentioned Hyperbass, and the VB. Many models are available in a variety of configurations such as five or six-string models or models with custom electronics or woods.
Zon is also known as the first manufacturer to offer an optical pickup system from Lightwave Systems as a standard option on its basses.
Zon had elements of their graphite necks made by Modulus Guitars until Modulus' patent for Graphite neck construction ran out in the early 1990s.
Guitar-like instruments
Tar (lute)
The tār (Persian: تار) is a long-necked, waisted Iranian instrument. It has been adopted by other cultures and countries like Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, and other areas near the Caucasus region. The word tar (تار') itself means "string" in Persian, though it might have the same meaning in languages influenced by Persian or any other branches of Iranian languages like Kurdish.
Balalaika
The balalaika (Russian: балалайка, Russian is a stringed instrument of Russian origin, with a characteristic triangular body and three strings.
The balalaika family of instruments includes, from the highest-pitched to the lowest, the prima balalaika, sekunda balalaika, alto balalaika, bass balalaika and contrabass balalaika. All have three-sided bodies, spruce or fir tops, backs made of 3-9 wooden sections, and usually three strings. The prima balalaika is played with the fingers, the sekunda and alto either with the fingers or a plectrum, depending on the music being played, and the basses and contrabasses (equipped with extension legs which rest on the floor) are played with leather plectrums.
Cavaquinho
The cavaquinho is a small string instrument of the European guitar family with four wire or gut strings. It is also called machimbo, machim, machete (in the Portuguese Atlantic islands and Brazil), manchete or marchete, braguinha or braguinho, or cavaco.
The most common tuning is D-G-B-D (from lower to higher pitches); other tunings include D-A-B-E (portuguese ancient tuning, became popular by Julio Pereira) and G-G-B-D and A-A-C#-E. Guitarists often use D-G-B-E tuning to emulate the highest four strings of the guitar.
Cigar box guitar
The cigar box guitar is a primitive chordophone whose resonator is a discarded cigar box. Because the instrument is homemade, there is no standard for dimensions, string types or construction techniques. Many early cigar box guitars consisted of only one or two strings that were attached to the ends of a broomstick that was inserted into the cigar box. Other cigar box guitars were more complex, with the builder attempting to simulate a traditional string instrument such as a guitar, banjo, or fiddle.
Chapman Stick
The Chapman Stick (the Stick) is an electric musical instrument devised by Emmett Chapman in the early 1970s. A member of the guitar family, the Chapman Stick usually has ten or twelve individually tuned strings and has been used on music recordings to play bass lines, melody lines, chords or textures. Designed as a fully polyphonic chordal instrument, it can also cover several of these musical parts simultaneously.
Shamisen
The shamisen or samisen (三味線, literally "three flavor strings"), also called sangen (三絃, literally "three strings") is a three-stringed musical instrument played with a plectrum called a bachi. The pronunciation in Japanese is usually "shamisen" (in western Japan, and often in Edo-period sources "samisen") but sometimes "jamisen" when used as a suffix (e.g., Tsugaru-jamisen).
Ukulele
The ukulele, sometimes abbreviated to uke, is a chordophone classified as a plucked lute; it is a subset of the guitar family of instruments, generally with four nylon or gut strings or four courses of strings.
The ukulele originated in the 19th century as a Hawaiian interpretation of the cavaquinho or braguinha and the rajão, small guitar-like instruments taken to Hawaii by Portuguese immigrants. It gained great popularity elsewhere in the United States during the early 20th century, and from there spread internationally.
Tone and volume of the instrument vary with size and construction. Ukuleles commonly come in four sizes: soprano, concert, tenor, and baritone.
Lute
Lute can refer generally to any plucked string instrument with a neck (either fretted or unfretted) and a deep round back, or more specifically to an instrument from the family of European lutes.
The European lute and the modern Near-Eastern oud both descend from a common ancestor via diverging evolutionary paths. The lute is used in a great variety of instrumental music from the early Renaissance to the late Baroque eras. It is also an accompanying instrument, especially in vocal works, often realizing a basso continuo or playing a written-out accompaniment.
The player of a lute is called a lutenist, lutanist, or lutist, and a maker of lutes (or any string instrument) is referred to as a luthier.
Guitalele
A guitalele (sometimes spelt guitarlele) is a guitar-ukulele hybrid, that is, "a 1/4 size" guitar, a cross between a classical guitar and a tenor ukulele. The guitalele combines the portability of a ukulele, due to its small size, with the six single strings and resultant chord possibilities of a classical guitar. It may include a built-in microphone that permits playing the guitalele either as an acoustic guitar or connected to an amplifier. The guitalele is variously marketed (and used ) as a travel guitar or children's guitar. In January 1997, Yamaha Corporation came out with the GL-1 Guitalele.
A guitalele is the size of a ukulele, and is played like a guitar pitched up to "A" (that is, up a 4th, or like a guitar with a capo on the fifth fret). This gives it tuning of ADGCEA, with the top four strings tuned like a low G ukulele.
Bradford Reed
Bradford Reed is an American multi-instrumentalist, experimental luthier, and member of avant-garde band King Missile III. He is proficient at such instruments as drums, guitar, melodica, piano, and synthesizer. In the 1980s he invented the pencilina, a custom-made string instrument.
Parts
Headstock
Headstock or peghead is a part of guitar or similar stringed instrument. The main function of a headstock is holding the instrument's strings. Strings go from the bridge past the nut and are usually fixed on machine heads on headstock. Machine heads are used to tune the guitar by adjusting the tension of strings and, consequentially, the pitch of sound they produce.
Nut (string instrument)
The nut of a string instrument is a small piece of hard material which supports the strings at the end closest to the headstock or scroll. The nut marks one end of the speaking length of each open string, sets the spacing of the strings across the neck, and usually holds the strings at the proper height from the fingerboard. Along with the bridge, the nut defines the vibrating lengths (scale lengths) of the open strings.
Machine head
A machine head (also referred to as a tuner, gear head, or tuning machine) is part of a string instrument ranging from guitars to double basses, a geared apparatus for applying tension and thereby tuning a string, usually located at the headstock. A headstock has several machine heads, one per string. Non-geared tuning devices as used on violins, violas, cellos, lutes and (formerly) Flamenco guitars and ukuleles are known as tuning pegs.
Fret
A fret is a raised portion on the neck of a stringed instrument, that extends generally across the full width of the neck. On most modern western instruments, frets are metal strips inserted into the fingerboard. On historical instruments and some non-European instruments, pieces of string tied around the neck serve as frets.
Frets divide the neck into fixed segments at intervals related to a musical framework. On instruments such as guitars, each fret represents one semitone in the standard western system where one octave is divided into twelve semitones.
"To fret" is often used as a verb, meaning simply "to press down the string behind a fret." Fretting often refers to the frets and/or their system of placement.
Fingerboard
The fingerboard (also known as a fretboard on fretted instruments) is a part of most stringed instruments. It is a thin, long strip of material, usually wood, that is laminated to the front of the neck of an instrument and above which the strings run. In the playing of such an instrument, a musician presses the strings down towards it in order to change their vibrating lengths, causing changes in pitch. This is called "stopping" the strings.
The word "fingerboard" in other languages sometimes occurs in musical directions. In Italian it is called either manico or tasto, the latter especially in the phrase sul tasto, a direction for bowed string instruments to play with the bow above the fingerboard.
Truss rod
A truss rod is a guitar or banjo part used to stabilize and adjust the lengthwise forward curvature (also called relief), of the neck. Usually it is a steel rod that runs inside the neck and has a bolt that can be used to adjust its tension. The first truss rod patent was applied for by Thaddeus McHugh, an employee of the Gibson company, in 1921, although the idea of "truss rod" can be encountered in patents as early as 1908.
Inlay (guitar)
Inlay on guitars or similar fretted instruments are decorative materials set into the wooden surface of the instrument using standard inlay techniques. Although inlay can be done on any part of a guitar, it is most commonly found on the fretboard, headstock —typically the manufacturer's logo— and around the soundhole of acoustic guitars. Only positional markers on the fretboard or side of neck serve any function other than decoration. Nacre ("mother of pearl"), plastic and wood are the materials most often used as inlay.
Neck (music)
The neck is the part of certain string instruments that projects from the main body and is the base of the fingerboard, where the fingers are placed to stop the strings at different pitches. Guitars, lutes, the violin family, and the mandolin family are examples of instruments which have necks.
The word for neck sometimes appears in other languages in musical instructions. The French term is manche.
Pickup (music technology)
A pickup device acts as a transducer that captures mechanical vibrations, usually from suitably-equipped stringed instruments such as the electric guitar, electric bass guitar, Chapman Stick or electric violin, and converts them to an electrical signal which can then be amplified, recorded and broadcast.
Bridge (instrument)
A bridge is a device for supporting the strings on a stringed instrument and transmitting the vibration of those strings to some other structural component of the instrument in order to transfer the sound to the surrounding air.
Pickguard
A pickguard (also known as scratchplate or golpeador in Flamenco music, and uncommonly, a fingerrest) is a piece of plastic or other laminated material that is placed under the strings on the body of a guitar, mandolin or similar plucked string instrument. The main purpose of the pickguard is to protect the guitar's finish from being scratched by the guitar pick.
As well as serving a practical purpose, the pickguard may also be used for decoration and is often made in a contrasting color to that of the guitar body (popular variants are white pickguards on darker guitars and black pickguards on lighter guitars). As well as plastic, other pickguard materials can include acrylic glass, glass, plywood, fabrics, metal and mother-of-pearl/pearloid varieties. Expensive guitars may have luxury pickguards made from exotic woods, furs, skins, gems, precious metals, Mother of Pearl and abalone pearl.
Sounding board
A sounding board is a structure placed above or behind a pulpit or other speaking platform which helps to project the sound of the speaker. The structure may be specially shaped to assist the projection, for example, being formed as a parabolic reflector. In the typical setting of a church, the sounding board may be ornately carved or constructed.
The term may also be used figuratively to describe a person who listens to a speech or proposal in order that the speaker may rehearse or explore the proposition more fully.
Strings (music)
A string is the vibrating element that produces sound in string instruments, such as the guitar, harp, piano, and members of the violin family. Strings are lengths of a flexible material kept under tension so that they may vibrate freely, but controllably. Strings may be "plain" (consisting only of a single material, like steel, nylon, or gut). "Wound" strings, on the other hand, have a "core" of one material, with an overwinding of other materials. This is to make the string vibrate at the desired pitch, while maintaining a low profile and sufficient flexibility for purposes of playability.
Guitar use
Golpe has multiple meanings, as described below:
In music, golpe can mean
Golpe (guitar technique) is a Flamenco guitar technique where one uses the fingers to tap on the soundboard of the guitar, from the Spanish "golpe", meaning to strike.
Golpe (cuatro pattern), the percussive strummed patterns of the cuatro.
Tambour: string striking
Tambour (also called tambor or tambora, written in music as tamb.), is a technique used in Flamenco guitar and classical guitar which is designed to emulate the sound of a snare drum (Span. tambor). It is achieved by using a flat part of the hand, usually the side of the outstretched right thumb, or also the edge of the palm below the little finger, and sounding the strings by striking them rapidly just inside the bridge of the guitar. If performed incorrectly, the effect is similar to a right-hand apagado, or dampening of the strings.
Slapping: A variety of techniques
In music, the term slapping is often used to refer to two different playing techniques used on the double bass and on the (electric) bass guitar.
Head (Left) hand techniques
Double stop
A double stop, in music terminology, is the act of playing two notes simultaneously on a melodic percussion instrument (like a marimba) or stringed instrument (for example, a violin or a guitar). In performing a double stop, two separate strings are depressed ("stopped") by the fingers, and bowed or plucked simultaneously (without a string change).
A triple stop is the same technique applied to three strings; a quadruple stop applies to four strings. Double, triple, and quadruple stopping are collectively known as multiple stopping.
Finger vibrato
Finger vibrato is vibrato produced on a string instrument by cyclic hand movements. Despite the name, normally the entire hand moves, and sometimes the entire upper arm. It can also refer to vibrato on some woodwind instruments, achieved by lowering one or more fingers over one of the uncovered holes in a trill-like manner. This flattens the note periodically creating the vibrato.
Left-hand muting
Left-hand muting is a performance technique for stringed instruments, where the vibration of a string is muffled by the left hand. There are two variants of it. Left-handed musicians would perform this technique with the right hand, not the left.
Slide guitar
Slide guitar or bottleneck guitar is a particular method or technique for playing the guitar. The term slide refers to the motion of the slide against the strings, while bottleneck refers to the original material of choice for such slides: the necks of glass bottles. Instead of altering the pitch of the strings in the normal manner (by pressing the string against frets), a slide is placed upon the string to vary its vibrating length, and pitch. This slide can then be moved along the string without lifting, creating continuous transitions in pitch.
Lap slide guitar
A lap slide guitar is a general term often used to describe any guitar played on the lap with a slide or steel.
Lap slide guitars are generally one of three types:
Acoustic resonator guitars
Electric lap steels
Conventional acoustic guitars designed or adapted for this style of playing.
The latter type are now the least common of the three types of lap steel guitar, despite having been developed before the lap steel and resonator guitars. Acoustic lap steel guitars are generally the quietest of the three; however, renewed interest in acoustic instruments in the 1990s associated with improving amplification techniques and interest in vintage and historical musical instruments has led to a resurgence in interest in the distinctive sound of these instruments.
Legato techniques
Hammer-on
Hammer-on is a stringed instrument playing technique performed (especially on fretted string instruments such as guitar) by sharply bringing a fretting-hand finger down on the fingerboard behind a fret, causing a note to sound. This technique is the opposite of the pull-off. Passages in which a large proportion of the notes are performed as hammer-ons and pull-offs instead of being plucked or picked in the usual fashion are known in classical guitar terminology as legato phrases. The sound is smoother and more connected than in a normally picked phrase, due to the absence of the otherwise necessity to synchronize the plucking of one hand with the fingering on the fretboard with the other hand; however, the resulting sounds are not as brightly audible, precisely due to the absence of the plucking of the string, the vibration of the string from an earlier plucking dying off. The technique also facilitates very fast playing because the picking hand does not have to move at such a high rate, and coordination between the hands only has to be achieved at certain points. Multiple hammer-ons and pull-offs together are sometimes also referred to colloquially as "rolls", a reference to the fluid sound of the technique. A hammer-on is usually represented in guitar tablature (especially that created by computer) by a letter h. A rapid series of alternating hammer-ons and pull-offs between a single pair of notes is called a trill.
Legato technique (includes rolls and trills)
In musical notation the Italian word legato (literally meaning "tied together") indicates that musical notes are played or sung smoothly and connected. That is, in transitioning from note to note, there should be no intervening silence. Legato technique is required for slurred performance, but unlike slurring (as that term is interpreted for some instruments), legato does not forbid rearticulation. In standard notation legato is indicated either with the word legato itself, or by a slur (a curved line) under the notes that are to be joined in one legato group. Legato, like staccato, is a kind of articulation. There is an intermediate articulation called either mezzo staccato or non-legato.
Pull-off
A pull-off is a stringed instrument technique performed by plucking a string by "pulling" the string off the fingerboard with one of the fingers being used to fret the note.
Tapping
Tapping is a playing technique generally associated with the electric guitar, although the technique may be performed on almost any string instrument. There are two main methods of tapping: one-handed or 'ordinary' tapping, and two-handed tapping. Tapping may be considered an extended technique, in that it is executed by using one hand to 'tap' the strings against the fingerboard, thus producing legato notes, often in tightly synchronized conjunction with the other hand. Tapping usually incorporates pull-offs or hammer-ons as well, where the fingers of the left hand play a sequence of notes in synchronization with the tapping hand. For example, a right-handed guitarist might hammer down on fret twelve with the index finger of the right hand and, in the motion of removing that finger, pluck the same string already fretted at the eighth fret by the little finger of his/her left hand. This finger would be removed in the same way, pulling off to the fifth fret. Thus the three notes (E, C and A) are played in quick succession at relative ease to the player.
Harmonic techniques
Artificial Harmonics
To produce an artificial harmonic, a stringed instrument player holds down a note on the neck with the non-dominant hand, thereby shortening the vibrational length of the string, uses a finger to lightly touch a point on the string that is an integer divisor of its vibrational length, and plucks or bows the side of the string that is closer to the bridge. This technique is used to produce harmonic tones that are otherwise inaccessible on the instrument. To guitar players, one variety of this technique is known as a pinch harmonic.
Tap Harmonic
Tap harmonic is a technique used with fretted string instruments, (usually guitar). It is executed by tapping on the actual fret wire most commonly at the 12th fret, but also can be executed by tapping any of the fret wires with proper technique. It can also be done by gently touching the string over the fret wire instead of tapping the fret wire if the string is already ringing.
Guitar parts and accessories
Misc
Capo
A capo, or, rarely, capo tasto (from Italian capo, "head" and tasto, "tie or fret") is a clamp-like device used on the neck of a stringed instrument to shorten the strings, hence raising the pitch. It is frequently used on guitars, mandolins, and banjos. G.B. Doni first used the term in his Annotazioni of 1640, though capo use likely began earlier in the 17th-century. Alternative terms are capo d'astro and capodastro, also Italian. Various styles of capos use different mechanisms, but most use a rubber-covered bar to hold down the strings, clamped with a strip of elastic or nylon, a cam-operated metal clamp, spring clamp, or screw clamp.
Guitar pick
A guitar pick is a plectrum used on stringed instruments such as guitars. One material is generally used on a pick, among these are plastic, rubber, felt, tortoiseshell, wood, metal, glass, and stone. They are often shaped in an acute isosceles triangle with the two equal corners rounded and the third corner rounded to a lesser extent.
Neck-thru-body
Neck-through or neck-thru (or in full form neck through body) is a method of electric guitar or bass guitar construction that involves extending the piece (or pieces, in a laminate construction) of wood used for the neck through the entire length of the body, essentially making it the core of the body. The strings, fretboard, pickups and bridge are all mounted on this piece. So-called "ears" or "wings" (i.e. side parts of the body) are glued or laminated to the central "stick". The "wings" may be bookmatched in order to give a symmetrical appearance, and are often cut from one piece of wood.
Slide
Slide guitar or bottleneck guitar is a particular method or technique for playing the guitar. The term slide refers to the motion of the slide against the strings, while bottleneck refers to the original material of choice for such slides: the necks of glass bottles. Instead of altering the pitch of the strings in the normal manner (by pressing the string against frets), a slide is placed upon the string to vary its vibrating length, and pitch. This slide can then be moved along the string without lifting, creating continuous transitions in pitch.
Tremolo arm (Whammy bar)
A whammy bar, tremolo arm/bar, or vibrato arm/bar is a component of a guitar, used to add vibrato to the sound by changing the tension of the strings, typically at the bridge or tailpiece. The whammy bar enables the player to quickly vary the tension and sometimes the length of the strings temporarily, changing the pitch to create a vibrato, portamento or pitch bend effect.
Electronic tuner
An electronic tuner is a device used by musicians to detect and display the pitch of notes played on musical instruments. The simplest tuners use LED lights to indicate approximately whether the pitch of the note played is lower, higher, or approximately equal to the desired pitch. More complex and expensive tuners indicate more precisely the difference between offered note and desired pitch.
Tuners vary in size from units that can fit in a pocket, clip on an instrument, sit on a table-top, all the way up to 19" rack-mount units. The more complex and expensive units are used by instrument technicians, piano tuners and luthiers.
Cable (Electric, some Acoustics)
A cable is two or more wires running side by side and bonded, twisted or braided together to form a single assembly. In mechanics cables, otherwise known as wire ropes, are used for lifting, hauling and towing or conveying force through tension. In electrical engineering cables used to carry electric currents. An optical cable contains one or more optical fibers in a protective jacket that supports the fibers.
Electric cables discussed here are mainly meant for installation in buildings and industrial sites. For power transmission at distances greater than a few kilometres see high voltage cable, power cables and HVDC.
Guitar amplifiers
Distortion (guitar)
Distortion, overdrive and fuzz are effects applied to the electric guitar, the electric bass, and other amplified instruments such as the Hammond organ, synthesizers, harmonica and even vocals by electronically clipping the signal. This adds sustain and additional harmonics to the signal.
The most subtle types of distortion add a "warm" thickness to the original tone, used in electric blues, for instance, while more extreme types range from the noisy, buzzy sound of a 1960s fuzzbox to the screaming, "bite", "grit", and "crunch" of a late 1980s thrash-style distortion pedal and the hard-edged distortion featured in noise music, hardcore punk, industrial, grunge, and metal. A fuzzbox (or fuzz box) boosts and clips the signal sufficiently to turn a standard sine wave into a waveform much closer to a square wave. This gives a much more distorted and synthetic sound than a standard distortion or overdrive. Fuzz boxes also tend to have lower mid frequencies than other distortion types.
Guitar amplifier
A guitar amplifier (or guitar amp) is an electronic amplifier designed to make the signal of an electric or acoustic guitar louder so that it will produce sound through a loudspeaker. Guitar amplifiers also modify the instrument's tone by emphasizing or de-emphasizing certain frequencies and adding electronic effects.
Power attenuator (guitar)
In conjunction with an electric guitar amplifier, a power attenuator is used to divert and dissipate some or all of the amplifier's excess or unneeded power in order to reduce the volume of sound produced by the speaker.
Preamplifier
A preamplifier (preamp), or control amplifier, is an electronic amplifier that prepares an electronic signal for further amplification or processing. The preamplifier circuitry may or may not be housed separately from the device for which a signal is being prepared.
Guitar effects
Effects unit
Effects units are electronic devices that alter how a musical instrument or other audio source sounds. Some effects subtly "color" a sound, while others transform it dramatically. Effects can be used during live performances (typically with electric guitar, keyboard, or bass) or in the studio. While most frequently used with electric or electronic instruments, effects can also be used with acoustic instruments and drums. Examples of common effects units include wah-wah pedals, fuzzboxes, and reverb units.
Compression (electric guitar)
Compression (or more technically Dynamic range compression)is a subtle effect primarily for electric guitar where the highest and lowest points of the sound wave are "limited". This boosts the volume of softer picked notes, while capping the louder ones, giving a more even level of volume. This is frequently used in country music, where fast clean passages can sound uneven unless artificially "squashed".
Chorus effect
A chorus effect occurs when individual sounds with roughly the same timbre and nearly (but never exactly) the same pitch converge and are perceived as one. While similar sounds coming from multiple sources can occur naturally (as in the case of a choir or string orchestra), it can also be simulated using an electronic effects unit or signal processing device.
Delay (audio effect)
Delay is an audio effect which records an input signal to an audio storage medium, and then plays it back after a period of time. The delayed signal may either be played back multiple times, or played back into the recording again, to create the sound of a repeating, decaying echo.
Fuzz (electric guitar)
Distortion, overdrive and fuzz are effects applied to the electric guitar, the electric bass, and other amplified instruments such as the Hammond organ, synthesizers, harmonica and even vocals by electronically clipping the signal. This adds sustain and additional harmonics to the signal.
The most subtle types of distortion add a "warm" thickness to the original tone, used in electric blues, for instance, while more extreme types range from the noisy, buzzy sound of a 1960s fuzzbox to the screaming, "bite", "grit", and "crunch" of a late 1980s thrash-style distortion pedal and the hard-edged distortion featured in noise music, hardcore punk, industrial, grunge, and metal. A fuzzbox (or fuzz box) boosts and clips the signal sufficiently to turn a standard sine wave into a waveform much closer to a square wave. This gives a much more distorted and synthetic sound than a standard distortion or overdrive. Fuzz boxes also tend to have lower mid frequencies than other distortion types.
Flange (electric guitar)
Flanging is an audio effect produced by mixing two identical signals together, with one signal delayed by a small and gradually changing period, usually smaller than 20 milliseconds. This produces a swept comb filter effect: peaks and notches are produced in the resultant frequency spectrum, related to each other in a linear harmonic series. Varying the time delay causes these to sweep up and down the frequency spectrum.
Phaser (electric guitar)
A phaser is an audio signal processing technique used to filter a signal by creating a series of peaks and troughs in the frequency spectrum. The position of the peaks and troughs is typically modulated so that they vary over time, creating a sweeping effect. For this purpose, phasers usually include a low frequency oscillator.
Reverb (Reverberation)
Reverberation is the persistence of sound in a particular space after the original sound is removed. A reverberation, or reverb, is created when a sound is produced in an enclosed space causing a large number of echoes to build up and then slowly decay as the sound is absorbed by the walls and air. This is most noticeable when the sound source stops but the reflections continue, decreasing in amplitude, until they can no longer be heard. The length of this sound decay, or reverberation time, receives special consideration in the architectural design of large chambers, which need to have specific reverberation times to achieve optimum performance for their intended activity. In comparison to a distinct echo that is 50 to 100 ms after the initial sound, reverberation is many thousands of echoes that arrive in very quick succession (.01 – 1 ms between echoes). As time passes, the volume of the many echoes is reduced until the echoes cannot be heard at all.
Sustain - Infinite guitar
The Infinite Guitar was created by Michael Brook, as a way of allowing an electric guitar note to be held with infinite sustain (hence the name). It consists of an electronic circuit that takes the signal from a standard guitar pickup, amplifies it, and feeds it back into a separate pickup coil. When set up and used correctly, the result is a continuous sustained note that can be used as is, or treated to create new sounds or emulate traditional instruments.
Ebow
The EBow or ebow (brand name for "Electronic Bow" or Energy Bow) (often spelled E-bow in common usage) is a hand-held, battery-powered electronic device for playing the electric guitar, invented by Greg Heet in 1969. Instead of having the strings hit by the fingers or a pick, they are moved by the electromagnetic field created by the device, producing a sound reminiscent of using a bow on the strings.
Overdrive/distortion terms
Nestlé Crunch, a brand of candy and ice cream produced by Nestle
Crunch (exercise), a strength training exercise for the abdominal muscles
Crunch (album), an album by Impellitteri
Crunch (book), a book by Jared Bernstein
Crunch Bandicoot, a fictional character in the Crash Bandicoot video game series
Crunch Fitness, a chain of American health clubs
Crunch (programming block), a collection of television programs, aired on YTV during Saturday mornings
John Draper, a Vietnam War veteran and computer programmer
Crunch, a character in the children's novel The Cowardly Lion of Oz
Le Crunch, the name of the rugby test match between England and France
Crunch time, in video game programming, unpaid overtime usually prior to a deadline
Syracuse Crunch, ice hockey team based in Syracuse, New York
Crunch (computer term), the act of using data compression routines
Gain
In electronics, gain is a measure of the ability of a circuit (often an amplifier) to increase the power or amplitude of a signal from the input to the output. It is usually defined as the mean ratio of the signal output of a system to the signal input of the same system. It may also be defined on a logarithmic scale, in terms of the decimal logarithm of the same ratio ("dB gain"). A gain greater than one (zero dB), that is, amplification, is the defining property of an active electronic component or circuit, while a passive circuit will have a gain of less than one.
Distortion (guitar)
Distortion, overdrive and fuzz are effects applied to the electric guitar, the electric bass, and other amplified instruments such as the Hammond organ, synthesizers, harmonica and even vocals by electronically clipping the signal. This adds sustain and additional harmonics to the signal.
Overdrive (music)
Because they are often designed to operate off of low voltages such as a 9 volt battery, overdrive and distortion pedals typically use transistors to generate distortion. Classic examples include the Ibanez Tube Screamer and the Electro-Harmonix Big Muff. A few more modern effects pedals incorporate valves; usually these still run at voltages that are below the valve's design specifications, resulting in a "starved plate" configuration that some people feel generates harsh and buzzy distortion. Distortion pedals usually also provide signal gain, which can be used to drive the input stage of the pre-amplifier harder, resulting in further distortion and, in some cases, higher volume.
Wah-wah pedal
A wah-wah pedal (or just wah pedal) is a type of guitar effects pedal that alters the tone of the signal to create a distinctive effect, intended to mimic the human voice. The pedal sweeps the peak response of a filter up and down in frequency to create the sound (spectral glide), also known as "the wah effect."
Guitar software
Amplitube (guitar software)
AmpliTube is guitar amp and effects modeling software manufactured by IK multimedia, an Italy-based company which also operates from Sunrise, Florida. The latest version of this product is AmpliTube 3.
Guitar Pro
Guitar Pro is a multitrack editor of guitar and bass tablature and musical scores, possessing a built in MIDI-editor, a plotter of chords, a player, a metronome and other tools for guitarists and musicians. It has versions for Windows, Mac OS X (Intel processors only), and Linux and is written by the French company Arobas Music.
G7 (guitar software)
G7 is a computer program for Microsoft Windows and Apple Macintosh for writing guitar music and songs, developed by UK software company Sibelius Software and based on the Sibelius notation program.
Power Tab
Power Tab Editor is a free tablature authoring tool created by Brad Larsen for Windows. It is used to create guitar, bass and ukulele tablature scores, among many others. The current version uses the *.ptb file format.
The Power Tab Editor is able to import MIDI tracks, and can export to ASCII Text, HTML, and MIDI formats. In addition, individual sections may be exported as bitmap files.
RiffWorks
RiffWorks is a guitar recording and online song collaboration program for MacOS and Windows. RiffWorks is designed and developed by Sonoma Wire Works. The program includes guitar effects, drum tracks, an online music collaboration system, and the ability to post songs to its online community, RiffWorld.com.
Games
Guitar Freaks
GuitarFreaks (ギターフリークス) (also GUITARFREAKS, abbreviated GF) is a music video game series produced by Konami. The player uses a controller to simulate the playing of an electric guitar. The game consists of music predominantly from rock and roll and J-Pop genres, and is now in its 19th version, GuitarFreaks V7, which was released in March 2010. "Guitarfreaks V8" has been announced to be released on February 2011.
A spin-off series, GuitarFreaks XG was released in Japanese arcades on March 10, 2010, which added two more buttons to the fret bar.
Guitar Hero
The Guitar Hero series (sometimes referred to as the Hero series) is a series of music video games first published in 2005 by RedOctane and Harmonix Music Systems, and distributed by Activision, in which players use a guitar-shaped game controller to simulate playing lead, bass guitar, and rhythm guitar across numerous rock music songs. Players match notes that scroll on-screen to colored fret buttons on the controller, strumming the controller in time to the music in order to score points, and keep the virtual audience excited. The games attempt to mimic many features of playing a real guitar, including the use of fast-fingering hammer-ons and pull-offs and the use of the whammy bar to alter the pitch of notes. Most games support single player modes, typically a Career mode to play through all the songs in the game, and both competitive and cooperative multiplayer modes. With the introduction of Guitar Hero World Tour in 2008, the game includes support for a four-player band including vocals and drums. The series initially used mostly cover version of songs created by WaveGroup Sound, but most recent titles feature soundtracks that are fully master recordings, and in some cases, special re-recordings, of the songs. Later titles in the series feature support for downloadable content in the form of new songs.
Frets on Fire
Frets on Fire (FoF) is a free, open-source Finnish music video game created by Unreal Voodoo. Players use the keyboard to play along with markers which appear on screen, with the aim to score points, achieve a high point multiplier, and complete a song. Frets on Fire was the winner of the Assembly 2006 game development competition.
The game is written in the Python programming language, and is licensed under the GNU General Public License, although the game incorporates other free and open-source code under other licenses. The game's included song files and some internal fonts are proprietary, and their redistribution is not permitted outside of the Frets On Fire executable.
Rockband
Rock Band is a series of music video games developed by Harmonix Music Systems and MTV Games, and distributed by Electronic Arts for the Nintendo DS, iOS, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PSP, Wii, and Xbox 360 game systems. The series, inspired by Harmonix's previous efforts on the Guitar Hero series, allows up to four players to simulate the performance of popular rock music songs by playing with controllers modeled after musical instruments. Players can play the lead guitar, bass guitar, and drums parts to songs, as well as sing into a USB microphone. Players are scored on their ability to match scrolling musical notes while playing instruments, and by their ability to match the singer's pitch on vocals.
Guitar community
Golden Guitar
The Golden Guitar is one of the many "big" attractions that can be found around Australia. Located in Tamworth, New South Wales, the monument is one of the best-known points of interest in New England New South Wales. It is also a major attraction during the Tamworth Country Music Festival.
Guitar magazines, web-sites and other media
Guitar Player
Guitar Player is a popular magazine for guitarists. It contains articles, interviews, reviews and lessons of an eclectic collection of artists, genres and products. It has been in print since the late 1960s and during the 1980s under Editor Tom Wheeler the publication was extremely influential in the rise of the vintage guitar market and saw explosive growth. Wheeler would go on to author "American Guitars", a large, glossy volume that for a decade in the pre-Internet era was considered the bible of vintage guitars. The magazine is currently edited by Michael Molenda. Guitar Player is a part of the Music Player Network.
Guitar World
Guitar World is a monthly music magazine devoted to guitarists. It contains original interviews, album and gear reviews and guitar and bass tablature of approximately five songs each month. The magazine is published 13 times per year (12 monthly issues and a holiday issue).
Total Guitar
Total Guitar is a monthly magazine based in the United Kingdom. The magazine is the best selling guitar magazine in Europe.
The magazine is owned by Future Publishing, who publish many other magazines ranging from drums and video games to mountain bikes and knitting magazines.
Ultimate-Guitar
Ultimate Guitar Archive, also known as Ultimate-Guitar.com or simply UG, is a large guitarist community website known for its large amount of guitar and bass tablature, reviews of music and equipment, interviews with notable musicians, online written and video lessons, and forums. It was started on October 9, 1998 by Eugeny Naidenov - a student of economic faculty of Kaliningrad State University, Russia.
Young Guitar Magazine
Young Guitar Magazine is a popular Japanese guitar magazine which is respected by musicians from around the world for its seriousness and dedication to cover only music that is considered "pure" metal and rock 'n roll.
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.
Vintage Guitar (magazine)
Vintage Guitar is a guitar magazine, published monthly since 1986. Some of the writers for the magazine include Seymour W. Duncan, George Gruhn, and Wolf Marshall. The content of the magazine focuses on new and vintage acoustic and electric guitars (including bass guitars), amplifiers, and Guitar effects.
The magazine publishes an annual price guide review, which details the current market values of thousands of collectible instruments. Regular features are expert technical articles, new music reviews, new gear reviews, and celebrity instrument collections.
Guitar festivals
Crossroads Guitar Festival
The Crossroads Guitar Festival is a music festival and benefit concert first held in 2004 and again in 2007 and 2010. The festivals benefit the Crossroads Centre founded by Eric Clapton, a drug treatment center located in Antigua. The concerts are also intended to be a showcase for a variety of guitarists. All were hand-picked by Eric Clapton himself, who addressed the 2007 audience, saying that each were some of the very best, and those who had earned his respect.
Darwin International Guitar Festival
The Darwin International Guitar Festival is held once every two years at the Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia. The festival attracts many Australian guitarists including Karin Schaupp, Saffire, and Slava Grigoryan. Many international stars, such as John Williams, also attend.
Australian composers such as Richard Charlton, Peter Sculthorpe and Nicholas Routley are also features of the festival.
Output festival
The Output Festival is Dutch tri-annual music festival which focuses on experimental, contemporary electroacoustic music related to the electric guitar.
Guitar methodologies
Guitar Craft
Guitar Craft (GC) was a series of guitar and personal development classes, founded and often presented by Robert Fripp, who is best known for his work with King Crimson. The Introduction to Guitar Craft (2004) describes GC as three things:
A way to develop a relationship with the guitar;
A way to develop a relationship with music;
A way to develop a relationship with oneself.
In the wider guitarist community, GC was best known for having introduced the New Standard Tuning, Fripp's term for the guitar tuning that came to him in 1983 (C, G, D, A , E, G low to high), and that he had personally switched over to by 1984. In GC itself the tuning was only one tool used towards a wider aim of re-directing the student's guitar playing from scratch.
Slang and other terms
Axe - A Guitar
An axe (or ax) is a tool with a metal blade, commonly used to split wood, also historically used as a weapon.
Fret buzz
Fret buzz is one of the many undesirable phenomena that can occur on a guitar or similar stringed instrument. Fret buzz occurs when the vibrating part of one or more strings physically strikes the frets that are higher than the fretted note (or open note). This causes a "buzzing" sound on the guitar that can range from a small annoyance, to severe enough to dampen the note and greatly reduce sustain. Sometimes, fret buzz can be so minute that there is only a small change in the tone (timbre) of the note, without any noticeable buzzing. Fret buzz can be caused by different things:
Low action
Improperly installed frets (frets are too high)
Strings too loose
Improper relief of guitar neck
Fret buzz is evident in some famous recordings; an example is "Friends" by Led Zeppelin (although this example is undoubtedly caused by alternate open tunings that reduce string tension). In some metal songs, such as "My Last Serenade" by Killswitch Engage, the guitars are tuned to Dropped C and the low tension of the strings are used to create fret buzz by the bass player, to create a dirty sound.
Guitar battle or guitar duel
A guitar battle (or guitar duel) is where two or more guitar players take turns soloing, either with or without a rhythm section. The purpose of the guitar battle is to determine who among each of the guitar players present is the most proficient on the instrument. Often, it begins with the guitarists trading licks and phrases, while gradually increasing the complexity of the technique used. A guitar battle can be said to be over when one guitarist outplays (either through skill, endurance or the other guitarist(s) acknowledging that they cannot win) all the other guitar players present. This is also known among guitarists as a "head-cutting" duel.
Jam (music)
A jam session is a musical act where musicians play (i.e. "jam") by improvising without extensive preparation or predefined arrangements.
Jam sessions are often used to develop new material, find suitable arrangements, or simply as a social gathering and communal practice session. Jam sessions may be based upon existing songs or forms, may be loosely based on an agreed chord progression or chart suggested by one participant, or may be wholly improvisational. Jam sessions can range from very loose gatherings of amateurs to sophisticated improvised recording sessions intended to be edited and released to the public.
See all musical glossaries:
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i don't know
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What marketing term, a portmanteau word, refers to a news or information article which also carries publicity or promotion for the organization which provided it?
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Marketing Terms Glossary | PR Glossary | Co-Communications
PR/Marketing Glossary
Advertising – The paid promotion of goods, services, companies, or ideas by an identified sponsor. Marketers see advertising as part of an overall promotional strategy.
Advertising campaign – A series of advertisements, commercials, and related promotional materials that share a single idea or theme. Designed to be used simultaneously as part of a coordinated advertising plan.
Advertorial – An advertisement in a print publication that has the appearance of a news article.
Affiliate marketing – Considered a widespread method of website promotion, affiliate marketing rewards an affiliate for every visitor, subscriber and/or customer provided through its efforts. It is a modern variation of the practice of paying finder’s-fees to individuals who introduce new clients to a business.
Affinity marketing – Affinity marketing targets promotional efforts toward one group or category of clients based upon established buying patterns. The marketing offer is communicated via e-mail promotions, online, or offline advertising.
Angle – The viewpoint from which a story is told. Publicists, reporters, and journalists all use a specific angle, or approach, to communicate their story to a targeted audience. Typically, it is not possible to write about subjects in their entirety. The “angle” narrows the focus of the story to communicate a clear, yet limited, perspective of an issue, event, etc.
Billboard – (1) An outdoor sign or poster, which is typically displayed on the sides of buildings or alongside highways; (2) An introductory list of program/sponsor highlights that appears at the beginning or end of a television show or magazine.
Blog – Short for weblog, a blog is a web-based publication consisting primarily of periodic articles and commentaries by a specific author. Companies large and small use blogs to stay in touch with a much larger audience.
Boilerplate – Often found in press releases, a boilerplate is standard verbiage that gives a brief history of the organization(s) and is located at the bottom of all company-issued releases. The term comes from the early 1900s, when steel was issued in steam boilers – the boilerplate text is “strong as steel”.
Brand identity – The outward expression of the brand, which is the symbolic embodiment of all information connected with a product or service, including its name and visual appearance. The brand’s identity is its fundamental means of consumer recognition and differentiates the brand from competitors.
Broadcast media – Communication outlets that utilize air space, namely television and radio. Advertising in broadcast media often targets a specific demographic group, is designed to create buzz, and can also be used as a strategic branding tool.
Broadsheet – Standard size newspaper (i.e. New York Times) which is characterized by long vertical pages (Typical size: 16 x 24 inches). Another popular newspaper format is the tabloid.
Buzzword – Considered hip and trendy, a buzzword is a word or phrase that takes on added significance through repetition or special usage. Although buzzwords are widely used, they rarely have definitive meanings.
Byline – The name, and often the position, of the writer of the article. Bylines are traditionally placed between the headline and the text of the article, or at the bottom of the page to leave more room for graphical elements around the headline.
Circulation – In the media industry, circulation typically refers to the number of copies a print publication sells or distributes.
Click-through rate – The percentage of consumers receiving an e-mail who will click on an embedded URL in the message to reach a specific landing page.
Collateral materials – A wide range of documents including catalogs, brochures, counter displays and sell sheets that companies use to promote themselves to their target audience.
Communications audit – The systematic appraisal of all of an organization’s communications. A communications audit analyzes all messages sent out by the organization and may also study messages received by audiences about the organization.
Concept story – Feature story designed to pique the interest of a particular demographic audience.
Content – The design, text, and graphical information that forms a webpage.
Content Marketing – A process that uses intellectual property to build trust between an organization and its constituents.
Conversion Rate – The calculation of the number of viewers to qualified business or sales of your online marketing ad/page.
Co-op Advertising – A joint advertising program by which ad costs are shared between two or more parties. Many national manufacturers offer these programs to their wholesalers or retailers, as a means of encouraging these parties to promote goods. The manufacturer typically reimburses the local advertiser in part or in full for their placement of ads (print and broadcast).
Corporate fact sheet – A document describing a company’s principles, services, philosophy, and fees, along with all company contact information — address, telephone, fax, and e-mail.
Corporate identity & positioning –The physical manifestation of the brand, including logo and supporting devices, color palettes, typefaces, page layouts, and other means of maintaining visual continuity and brand recognition. Positioning defines the application of the identity.
Cost per thousand (CPM) – This is an industry standard which represents the cost per 1000 people reached during the course of an advertising campaign. The CPM model refers to advertising purchased on the basis of impression opposed to pay-for-performance options (price per click, registration). (Note: “M” represents thousand in Roman numerology).
Crisis Communication – Communication that organizations use when experiencing a crisis. It is differentiated from the standard messages communicated by the organization.
Customer Relationship Management (CRM) – a system that manages a company’s interactions with existing and potential customers.
Daypart – Different time segments of the day utilized by broadcast media to sell advertising. Advertising costs vary by the daypart selected. Time periods of the broadcast day include Daytime, Early Fringe, Prime Time, (television) and Morning Drive, Midday, Afternoon, Drive, (radio).
Demographics – Selected characteristics of a population, such as ethnicity, income, and education that define a particular consumer population.
Direct Mail – A form of marketing that attempts to send its messages directly to consumers using “addressable” media, such as mail. Direct mail may include a marketing letter, brochure, or postcard.
Email marketing – A form of direct marketing that uses electronic mail as a means of communicating messages to an audience. In its broadest sense, every email sent to a potential or current customer could be considered e-mail marketing.
Facebook – A free social networking website where users can create profiles and join networks organized by school, city, workplace and region to connect, keep in touch and interact with other users. Facebook is the largest social network in the world and is also used by businesses.
FCC – Federal Communications Commission; Established under the U.S. Communications Act of 1934, the FCC is a government agency that regulates broadcast and electronic communications. The president of the United States appoints its board of commissioners.
FTC – Federal Trade Commission; a Federal agency whose purpose is to encourage free enterprise and prevent restraint of trade and monopolies. This organization maintains the primary responsibility for regulating national advertising.
Forums – Social message boards or online discussion sites.
Free-standing inserts (FSI) – An advertisement in a print publication which is not bound and separated by any editorial. FSI’s are typically distributed with newspapers, magazines, and catalogs.
Frequency – The estimated number of times individuals are exposed to an advertising message.
Full position ad – An ad bordered by reading matter in a newspaper, increasing the likelihood that consumers will read the ad.
Ghostwriter – As a writer with no byline, ghostwriters usually work without the recognition that credited authors receive. They often get flat fees for their work without the benefit of royalties.
Graphic designer – The person who arranges image and text to communicate a specific message. Graphic design may be applied in any media, such as print, digital media, motion pictures, animation, product decoration, packaging, and signs.
Grand opening event – A promotional activity held by newly established businesses to notify the public of their location and products/services available to the community.
Horizontal publications – Business publications intended to appeal to people of similar interests in a variety of companies or industries.
Image Advertising – Advertising that is directed at the creation of a specific image or perception of a company, product, or service. The unique personality (i.e. luxury, reliability) is promoted as distinguished from advertising directed at the specific attributes of the entity. Advertisers believe brand image advertising is effective in leading consumers to select one brand over another.
Inbound Marketing – Unlike traditional ‘push’ marketing, Inbound Marketing pulls in audiences by offering information that they are already interested in. This information is often available as a downloadable paper or e-book and these leads may be nurtured through an online marketing program that aims to convert prospects into customers.
Internet – The Internet is the publicly available worldwide system of interconnected computer networks that transmit data. Made up of thousands of smaller commercial, academic, domestic, and government networks, the Internet carries various information and services, such as electronic mail, online chat, web pages, and other documents of the World Wide Web.
Insertion Order – A formal authorization to place an ad campaign, which identifies the specific print publication, run dates, and associated fees. This serves as a contract between the publisher selling the advertising space and the media buyer.
Lead – Details about a potential customer, which may be gained through an Inbound Marketing program.
Linkedin – A business-oriented social networking site designed to connect professionals worldwide, enabling them to collaborate and share expertise.
Logo – A logo, or logotype, is the graphic element of a trademark or brand, and is set in a special typeface/font and arranged in a particular way. The shape, color, and typeface should all be distinctly different from others in a similar market.
Marketing – The craft of linking the producers of a product or service with customers, both existing and potential. Marketing creates, communicates, and delivers value to customers in ways that benefit the organization and its stakeholders.
Marketing Campaign – A specific, defined series of activities used in marketing a product or service. The future estimated effects of a new marketing campaign must be included in demand and resource planning.
Marketing plan – A strategic plan that details the actions necessary to achieve specified marketing objectives. It can be for a product, service, brand, or a product line. Many marketing plans cover one year (referred to as an annual marketing plan), but may cover up to 5 years.
Marketing research – The process of systematically gathering, recording, analyzing, and interpreting data pertaining to the company’s market, customers, and competitors with the goal of improving marketing decisions.
Market share – A company’s sales, in terms of dollars or units, in relation to total industry sales. It is typically expressed as a percentage and can be represented as brand, line, or company.
Media advisory – A written document sent to local media outlets about an upcoming press conference, briefing, or other event. A media advisory usually includes the basic details about the event and its schedule and location. The goal of a media advisory is not to tell the complete story, but instead to entice media to attend and learn more.
Media kit – A media kit, sometimes called a press kit, is a set of promotional and informative materials about an organization or event. It includes company information, specifically a letter of introduction, press releases, news articles, and a company profile.
Media interview – A recorded conversation, usually conducted by a reporter, in which an individual provides information and expertise on a certain subject for use in the reporter’s article.
Media outlet – A publication or broadcast program that provides news and feature stories to the public through various distribution channels. Media outlets include newspapers, magazines, radio, television, and the Internet.
Media plan – A plan designed to target the proper demographics for an advertising campaign through the use of specific media outlets.
Media planning & buying – The role of an advertising agency in finding the most appropriate media products for each client and negotiating/buying ‘space’ based upon a predetermined budget.
Media policy – Organizational instructions as to how company representatives will communicate with the media.
Media Relations – A practice in which people converse with the press in the hopes of securing interviews, placing quotes, and fostering relationships between individuals and organizations and the media.
Media tour – A series of engagements, or a single event to promote a certain organization, product, or service to members of the public press. Common resources for a media tour include a press kit, presentation material, and a representative (internal or external) to interact with the press.
Media training – Providing individuals with guidelines, strategies, and skills to work efficiently and effectively with media for public relations purposes.
NAB – National Association of Broadcasters; The NAB is a trade association whose membership consists of more than 8,300 free, local radio and television stations.
New product launch – The introduction of new merchandise to the general public. This can be executed through a special event, ad campaign or PR push.
News conference – A media event staged by an individual or group wishing to attract media coverage for an item of news value. Television stations and networks especially value news conferences as source of “news” footage.
Newsletter – A publication sent out at specific intervals in print or via e-mail and generally about one main subject or topic that is of interest to its subscribers.
Newswire – An electronic data stream sent via satellite that delivers the latest news directly to print, broadcast, and online media databases across the world. Many organizations submit press releases to a newswire service to alert the world’s media about their latest news.
Nielsen rating – A measurement of the percentage of U.S. television households tuned to a program for a designated time period. Similar to Arbitron, A.C. Nielsen is a marketing/ media research company that conducts diary surveys to measure television-viewing habits.
Optimization – A procedure used to make a website as effective or functional as possible by allowing it to run well and provide a productive user experience.
Outdoor Advertising – A form of advertising (i.e. billboards, movie kiosks), which promotes a product or service in high-traffic outside locations.
Partnership marketing – Aligning one’s business with other organizations and businesses to equally expose partner brands to one another’s customers. Typically, partnerships are formed when two or more companies find value for their customers in each others products and/or services.
Pass-along rate – The number of times a received document (article, newsletter, brochure, report, etc.) is shared with other individuals. This number is higher than the circulation numbers because it is an estimate of how many readers view the same copy rather than how many copies are distributed.
Pitch – A concise verbal (and sometimes visual) presentation of an idea for a story, generally made to a media outlet in the hope of attracting positive coverage for a client.
Podcasting – The method of distributing multimedia files, such as audio programs or music videos, over the Internet using a syndication format and for playback on mobile devices and personal computers. The term podcast, like ‘radio’, can mean both the content and the method of delivery.
Point-of-Purchase (POP) displays – Promotional piece typically placed in an area of a retail store where payment is made.
Press release – A press release or news release is a concise written statement distributed to targeted publications for the purpose of announcing something of news value. Typically, it is mailed, faxed, or e-mailed to assignment editors at newspapers, magazines, radio stations, television stations, and/or television networks. Commercial newswire services can be hired to distribute news releases.
Print media – A medium consisting of paper and ink, including newspapers, magazines, classifieds, circulars, journals, yellow pages, billboards, posters, brochures, and catalogs.
Product differentiation – Establishing clear distinction between products serving the same market segment. This is typically accomplished through effective positioning, packaging, and pricing strategies.
Promotional mix – Advertising, publicity, public relations, personal selling, and sales promotion used to promote a specific product or service.
Promotions – Communications activities, excluding advertising, that call attention to a product or service by creating incentives. Contests, frequent buyer programs, unique packaging, and coupons are all examples of tools commonly used in promotions.
Proof – A paper rendering for the purpose of checking the quality and accuracy of the material to be printed.
Public relations – Considered both an art and a science, public relations is the management of communications between an organization and its key public to build, manage, and sustain its positive image. It is any activity used to influence media outlets to print stories that promote a favorable image of a company and its products or services.
Public relations plan – a document that details precise actions to achieve a public relations result. It can consist of target publications and media lists, planned events, community outreach, etc.
Publicity – A component of the promotional mix, the deliberate attempt to manage the public’s perception of a subject; Whereas public relations is the management of all communication between the client and selected target audiences, publicity is the management of product- or brand-related communications between the firm and the general public.
Qualitative research – Research that is conducted to determine subjective information about a company, product or an ad campaign. Two methods of securing information include focus groups and in-depth interviews.
Quantitative research – This method of market research utilizes sampling techniques (opinion polls, customer satisfaction surveys) to collect objective date. Numeric relevance of various kinds of consumer behavior, attitudes, or performance is tabulated and statistically analyzed.
Reach – Reach refers to the estimated number of individuals or households exposed to an advertising message during a specified period of time. It can be given as either a percentage or number of individuals.
Readership – the total number of primary and pass-along readers of a publication
Reputation Management – The practice of correcting and/or enhancing the perception of a brand, individual, organization or business. Reputation Management programs are often executed following crises.
ROI – Return on Investment (ROI) seeks to find the actual or perceived future value of a marketing campaign. It is calculated as the ratio of the amount gained or lost, relative to the initial investment.
RSS – Really Simple Syndication (RSS) is a family of web feed formats specified in XML (a generic specification for data formats) and is used for web syndication. RSS feeds enable users to passively receive newly released content such as text, web pages, sound files, or other media.
Search Engine Optimization – The “art and science” of making web pages attractive and keyword-rich to improve its ranking in search engines.
Seasonality – The seasonal fluctuation in sales for services and products throughout the year.
Speaking engagements – A planned event in which an individual educates the public on a particular topic. In marketing, speaking engagements are used to increase a client’s visibility and strengthen his or her reputation as an expert in the field. In addition, these opportunities give the speaker direct contact with his or her target audience.
Survey – An accumulation of a sample of data or opinions considered to be representative of a whole. Surveys are useful in public relations to support a client’s claim(s). They can be cited from other sources or funded by the client and conducted by a third party.
Social Media – Web-based communication tools that allow users to interest in real-time. Social Media is a powerful tool for brands seeking feedback or support from customers as well as businesses and nonprofits seeking to cultivate new audiences.
Social Media Monitoring – The process of monitoring and responding to statements regarding a business that occur in social media
Social Networking – the practice of gaining social and/ or business contacts by making connections through individuals via meetings, conferences, tradeshows, social media, etc.
Syndicated Program – A radio or television program that is distributed in various markets by a specialized organization.
Tabloid – A newspaper that measures at 12” wide by 14” high and is approximately half the size of a standard newspaper.
Tagline – A meaningful phrase or slogan that sums up the tone and premise of an organization in a way that is memorable to the public. A tagline is often the theme for a larger campaign.
Target audience – Groups in the community selected as the most appropriate for a particular marketing campaign or schedule. The target audience may be defined in demographic or psychographic terms, or a combination of both.
Tear sheets – A page sent to the advertiser that serves as proof of the ad insertion.
Telemarketing – The process of using the telephone as a medium to sell goods and services directly to prospective customers.
Trade publication – A trade publication often falls between a magazine and a journal, with articles focusing on information relating to a particular trade or industry. Trade publications typically contain heavy advertising content focused on the specific industry with little if any general audience advertising.
Trademark – A trademark is a design, logo, or brand name registered for the exclusive use by a manufacturer to distinguish its product or service.
Twitter – A free micro-blogging and social networking site that allows its users to post updates and read other users’ posts, otherwise known as “tweets,” and which are limited to 140 characters.
Unique selling proposition (USP) – the distinct features and benefits that differentiate a company’s product/service from the competition.
Web designer – A web designer creates websites, often by using web-authoring software or an HTML editor to design the individual pages. In some cases, web designers may plan the overall look of a website, but leave the actual coding to a Webmaster.
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Advertorial
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The formula 4/3pr3 (four-thirds x pi x radius cubed) is used to calculate the volume of a what?
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Marketing Terms Glossary | PR Glossary | Co-Communications
PR/Marketing Glossary
Advertising – The paid promotion of goods, services, companies, or ideas by an identified sponsor. Marketers see advertising as part of an overall promotional strategy.
Advertising campaign – A series of advertisements, commercials, and related promotional materials that share a single idea or theme. Designed to be used simultaneously as part of a coordinated advertising plan.
Advertorial – An advertisement in a print publication that has the appearance of a news article.
Affiliate marketing – Considered a widespread method of website promotion, affiliate marketing rewards an affiliate for every visitor, subscriber and/or customer provided through its efforts. It is a modern variation of the practice of paying finder’s-fees to individuals who introduce new clients to a business.
Affinity marketing – Affinity marketing targets promotional efforts toward one group or category of clients based upon established buying patterns. The marketing offer is communicated via e-mail promotions, online, or offline advertising.
Angle – The viewpoint from which a story is told. Publicists, reporters, and journalists all use a specific angle, or approach, to communicate their story to a targeted audience. Typically, it is not possible to write about subjects in their entirety. The “angle” narrows the focus of the story to communicate a clear, yet limited, perspective of an issue, event, etc.
Billboard – (1) An outdoor sign or poster, which is typically displayed on the sides of buildings or alongside highways; (2) An introductory list of program/sponsor highlights that appears at the beginning or end of a television show or magazine.
Blog – Short for weblog, a blog is a web-based publication consisting primarily of periodic articles and commentaries by a specific author. Companies large and small use blogs to stay in touch with a much larger audience.
Boilerplate – Often found in press releases, a boilerplate is standard verbiage that gives a brief history of the organization(s) and is located at the bottom of all company-issued releases. The term comes from the early 1900s, when steel was issued in steam boilers – the boilerplate text is “strong as steel”.
Brand identity – The outward expression of the brand, which is the symbolic embodiment of all information connected with a product or service, including its name and visual appearance. The brand’s identity is its fundamental means of consumer recognition and differentiates the brand from competitors.
Broadcast media – Communication outlets that utilize air space, namely television and radio. Advertising in broadcast media often targets a specific demographic group, is designed to create buzz, and can also be used as a strategic branding tool.
Broadsheet – Standard size newspaper (i.e. New York Times) which is characterized by long vertical pages (Typical size: 16 x 24 inches). Another popular newspaper format is the tabloid.
Buzzword – Considered hip and trendy, a buzzword is a word or phrase that takes on added significance through repetition or special usage. Although buzzwords are widely used, they rarely have definitive meanings.
Byline – The name, and often the position, of the writer of the article. Bylines are traditionally placed between the headline and the text of the article, or at the bottom of the page to leave more room for graphical elements around the headline.
Circulation – In the media industry, circulation typically refers to the number of copies a print publication sells or distributes.
Click-through rate – The percentage of consumers receiving an e-mail who will click on an embedded URL in the message to reach a specific landing page.
Collateral materials – A wide range of documents including catalogs, brochures, counter displays and sell sheets that companies use to promote themselves to their target audience.
Communications audit – The systematic appraisal of all of an organization’s communications. A communications audit analyzes all messages sent out by the organization and may also study messages received by audiences about the organization.
Concept story – Feature story designed to pique the interest of a particular demographic audience.
Content – The design, text, and graphical information that forms a webpage.
Content Marketing – A process that uses intellectual property to build trust between an organization and its constituents.
Conversion Rate – The calculation of the number of viewers to qualified business or sales of your online marketing ad/page.
Co-op Advertising – A joint advertising program by which ad costs are shared between two or more parties. Many national manufacturers offer these programs to their wholesalers or retailers, as a means of encouraging these parties to promote goods. The manufacturer typically reimburses the local advertiser in part or in full for their placement of ads (print and broadcast).
Corporate fact sheet – A document describing a company’s principles, services, philosophy, and fees, along with all company contact information — address, telephone, fax, and e-mail.
Corporate identity & positioning –The physical manifestation of the brand, including logo and supporting devices, color palettes, typefaces, page layouts, and other means of maintaining visual continuity and brand recognition. Positioning defines the application of the identity.
Cost per thousand (CPM) – This is an industry standard which represents the cost per 1000 people reached during the course of an advertising campaign. The CPM model refers to advertising purchased on the basis of impression opposed to pay-for-performance options (price per click, registration). (Note: “M” represents thousand in Roman numerology).
Crisis Communication – Communication that organizations use when experiencing a crisis. It is differentiated from the standard messages communicated by the organization.
Customer Relationship Management (CRM) – a system that manages a company’s interactions with existing and potential customers.
Daypart – Different time segments of the day utilized by broadcast media to sell advertising. Advertising costs vary by the daypart selected. Time periods of the broadcast day include Daytime, Early Fringe, Prime Time, (television) and Morning Drive, Midday, Afternoon, Drive, (radio).
Demographics – Selected characteristics of a population, such as ethnicity, income, and education that define a particular consumer population.
Direct Mail – A form of marketing that attempts to send its messages directly to consumers using “addressable” media, such as mail. Direct mail may include a marketing letter, brochure, or postcard.
Email marketing – A form of direct marketing that uses electronic mail as a means of communicating messages to an audience. In its broadest sense, every email sent to a potential or current customer could be considered e-mail marketing.
Facebook – A free social networking website where users can create profiles and join networks organized by school, city, workplace and region to connect, keep in touch and interact with other users. Facebook is the largest social network in the world and is also used by businesses.
FCC – Federal Communications Commission; Established under the U.S. Communications Act of 1934, the FCC is a government agency that regulates broadcast and electronic communications. The president of the United States appoints its board of commissioners.
FTC – Federal Trade Commission; a Federal agency whose purpose is to encourage free enterprise and prevent restraint of trade and monopolies. This organization maintains the primary responsibility for regulating national advertising.
Forums – Social message boards or online discussion sites.
Free-standing inserts (FSI) – An advertisement in a print publication which is not bound and separated by any editorial. FSI’s are typically distributed with newspapers, magazines, and catalogs.
Frequency – The estimated number of times individuals are exposed to an advertising message.
Full position ad – An ad bordered by reading matter in a newspaper, increasing the likelihood that consumers will read the ad.
Ghostwriter – As a writer with no byline, ghostwriters usually work without the recognition that credited authors receive. They often get flat fees for their work without the benefit of royalties.
Graphic designer – The person who arranges image and text to communicate a specific message. Graphic design may be applied in any media, such as print, digital media, motion pictures, animation, product decoration, packaging, and signs.
Grand opening event – A promotional activity held by newly established businesses to notify the public of their location and products/services available to the community.
Horizontal publications – Business publications intended to appeal to people of similar interests in a variety of companies or industries.
Image Advertising – Advertising that is directed at the creation of a specific image or perception of a company, product, or service. The unique personality (i.e. luxury, reliability) is promoted as distinguished from advertising directed at the specific attributes of the entity. Advertisers believe brand image advertising is effective in leading consumers to select one brand over another.
Inbound Marketing – Unlike traditional ‘push’ marketing, Inbound Marketing pulls in audiences by offering information that they are already interested in. This information is often available as a downloadable paper or e-book and these leads may be nurtured through an online marketing program that aims to convert prospects into customers.
Internet – The Internet is the publicly available worldwide system of interconnected computer networks that transmit data. Made up of thousands of smaller commercial, academic, domestic, and government networks, the Internet carries various information and services, such as electronic mail, online chat, web pages, and other documents of the World Wide Web.
Insertion Order – A formal authorization to place an ad campaign, which identifies the specific print publication, run dates, and associated fees. This serves as a contract between the publisher selling the advertising space and the media buyer.
Lead – Details about a potential customer, which may be gained through an Inbound Marketing program.
Linkedin – A business-oriented social networking site designed to connect professionals worldwide, enabling them to collaborate and share expertise.
Logo – A logo, or logotype, is the graphic element of a trademark or brand, and is set in a special typeface/font and arranged in a particular way. The shape, color, and typeface should all be distinctly different from others in a similar market.
Marketing – The craft of linking the producers of a product or service with customers, both existing and potential. Marketing creates, communicates, and delivers value to customers in ways that benefit the organization and its stakeholders.
Marketing Campaign – A specific, defined series of activities used in marketing a product or service. The future estimated effects of a new marketing campaign must be included in demand and resource planning.
Marketing plan – A strategic plan that details the actions necessary to achieve specified marketing objectives. It can be for a product, service, brand, or a product line. Many marketing plans cover one year (referred to as an annual marketing plan), but may cover up to 5 years.
Marketing research – The process of systematically gathering, recording, analyzing, and interpreting data pertaining to the company’s market, customers, and competitors with the goal of improving marketing decisions.
Market share – A company’s sales, in terms of dollars or units, in relation to total industry sales. It is typically expressed as a percentage and can be represented as brand, line, or company.
Media advisory – A written document sent to local media outlets about an upcoming press conference, briefing, or other event. A media advisory usually includes the basic details about the event and its schedule and location. The goal of a media advisory is not to tell the complete story, but instead to entice media to attend and learn more.
Media kit – A media kit, sometimes called a press kit, is a set of promotional and informative materials about an organization or event. It includes company information, specifically a letter of introduction, press releases, news articles, and a company profile.
Media interview – A recorded conversation, usually conducted by a reporter, in which an individual provides information and expertise on a certain subject for use in the reporter’s article.
Media outlet – A publication or broadcast program that provides news and feature stories to the public through various distribution channels. Media outlets include newspapers, magazines, radio, television, and the Internet.
Media plan – A plan designed to target the proper demographics for an advertising campaign through the use of specific media outlets.
Media planning & buying – The role of an advertising agency in finding the most appropriate media products for each client and negotiating/buying ‘space’ based upon a predetermined budget.
Media policy – Organizational instructions as to how company representatives will communicate with the media.
Media Relations – A practice in which people converse with the press in the hopes of securing interviews, placing quotes, and fostering relationships between individuals and organizations and the media.
Media tour – A series of engagements, or a single event to promote a certain organization, product, or service to members of the public press. Common resources for a media tour include a press kit, presentation material, and a representative (internal or external) to interact with the press.
Media training – Providing individuals with guidelines, strategies, and skills to work efficiently and effectively with media for public relations purposes.
NAB – National Association of Broadcasters; The NAB is a trade association whose membership consists of more than 8,300 free, local radio and television stations.
New product launch – The introduction of new merchandise to the general public. This can be executed through a special event, ad campaign or PR push.
News conference – A media event staged by an individual or group wishing to attract media coverage for an item of news value. Television stations and networks especially value news conferences as source of “news” footage.
Newsletter – A publication sent out at specific intervals in print or via e-mail and generally about one main subject or topic that is of interest to its subscribers.
Newswire – An electronic data stream sent via satellite that delivers the latest news directly to print, broadcast, and online media databases across the world. Many organizations submit press releases to a newswire service to alert the world’s media about their latest news.
Nielsen rating – A measurement of the percentage of U.S. television households tuned to a program for a designated time period. Similar to Arbitron, A.C. Nielsen is a marketing/ media research company that conducts diary surveys to measure television-viewing habits.
Optimization – A procedure used to make a website as effective or functional as possible by allowing it to run well and provide a productive user experience.
Outdoor Advertising – A form of advertising (i.e. billboards, movie kiosks), which promotes a product or service in high-traffic outside locations.
Partnership marketing – Aligning one’s business with other organizations and businesses to equally expose partner brands to one another’s customers. Typically, partnerships are formed when two or more companies find value for their customers in each others products and/or services.
Pass-along rate – The number of times a received document (article, newsletter, brochure, report, etc.) is shared with other individuals. This number is higher than the circulation numbers because it is an estimate of how many readers view the same copy rather than how many copies are distributed.
Pitch – A concise verbal (and sometimes visual) presentation of an idea for a story, generally made to a media outlet in the hope of attracting positive coverage for a client.
Podcasting – The method of distributing multimedia files, such as audio programs or music videos, over the Internet using a syndication format and for playback on mobile devices and personal computers. The term podcast, like ‘radio’, can mean both the content and the method of delivery.
Point-of-Purchase (POP) displays – Promotional piece typically placed in an area of a retail store where payment is made.
Press release – A press release or news release is a concise written statement distributed to targeted publications for the purpose of announcing something of news value. Typically, it is mailed, faxed, or e-mailed to assignment editors at newspapers, magazines, radio stations, television stations, and/or television networks. Commercial newswire services can be hired to distribute news releases.
Print media – A medium consisting of paper and ink, including newspapers, magazines, classifieds, circulars, journals, yellow pages, billboards, posters, brochures, and catalogs.
Product differentiation – Establishing clear distinction between products serving the same market segment. This is typically accomplished through effective positioning, packaging, and pricing strategies.
Promotional mix – Advertising, publicity, public relations, personal selling, and sales promotion used to promote a specific product or service.
Promotions – Communications activities, excluding advertising, that call attention to a product or service by creating incentives. Contests, frequent buyer programs, unique packaging, and coupons are all examples of tools commonly used in promotions.
Proof – A paper rendering for the purpose of checking the quality and accuracy of the material to be printed.
Public relations – Considered both an art and a science, public relations is the management of communications between an organization and its key public to build, manage, and sustain its positive image. It is any activity used to influence media outlets to print stories that promote a favorable image of a company and its products or services.
Public relations plan – a document that details precise actions to achieve a public relations result. It can consist of target publications and media lists, planned events, community outreach, etc.
Publicity – A component of the promotional mix, the deliberate attempt to manage the public’s perception of a subject; Whereas public relations is the management of all communication between the client and selected target audiences, publicity is the management of product- or brand-related communications between the firm and the general public.
Qualitative research – Research that is conducted to determine subjective information about a company, product or an ad campaign. Two methods of securing information include focus groups and in-depth interviews.
Quantitative research – This method of market research utilizes sampling techniques (opinion polls, customer satisfaction surveys) to collect objective date. Numeric relevance of various kinds of consumer behavior, attitudes, or performance is tabulated and statistically analyzed.
Reach – Reach refers to the estimated number of individuals or households exposed to an advertising message during a specified period of time. It can be given as either a percentage or number of individuals.
Readership – the total number of primary and pass-along readers of a publication
Reputation Management – The practice of correcting and/or enhancing the perception of a brand, individual, organization or business. Reputation Management programs are often executed following crises.
ROI – Return on Investment (ROI) seeks to find the actual or perceived future value of a marketing campaign. It is calculated as the ratio of the amount gained or lost, relative to the initial investment.
RSS – Really Simple Syndication (RSS) is a family of web feed formats specified in XML (a generic specification for data formats) and is used for web syndication. RSS feeds enable users to passively receive newly released content such as text, web pages, sound files, or other media.
Search Engine Optimization – The “art and science” of making web pages attractive and keyword-rich to improve its ranking in search engines.
Seasonality – The seasonal fluctuation in sales for services and products throughout the year.
Speaking engagements – A planned event in which an individual educates the public on a particular topic. In marketing, speaking engagements are used to increase a client’s visibility and strengthen his or her reputation as an expert in the field. In addition, these opportunities give the speaker direct contact with his or her target audience.
Survey – An accumulation of a sample of data or opinions considered to be representative of a whole. Surveys are useful in public relations to support a client’s claim(s). They can be cited from other sources or funded by the client and conducted by a third party.
Social Media – Web-based communication tools that allow users to interest in real-time. Social Media is a powerful tool for brands seeking feedback or support from customers as well as businesses and nonprofits seeking to cultivate new audiences.
Social Media Monitoring – The process of monitoring and responding to statements regarding a business that occur in social media
Social Networking – the practice of gaining social and/ or business contacts by making connections through individuals via meetings, conferences, tradeshows, social media, etc.
Syndicated Program – A radio or television program that is distributed in various markets by a specialized organization.
Tabloid – A newspaper that measures at 12” wide by 14” high and is approximately half the size of a standard newspaper.
Tagline – A meaningful phrase or slogan that sums up the tone and premise of an organization in a way that is memorable to the public. A tagline is often the theme for a larger campaign.
Target audience – Groups in the community selected as the most appropriate for a particular marketing campaign or schedule. The target audience may be defined in demographic or psychographic terms, or a combination of both.
Tear sheets – A page sent to the advertiser that serves as proof of the ad insertion.
Telemarketing – The process of using the telephone as a medium to sell goods and services directly to prospective customers.
Trade publication – A trade publication often falls between a magazine and a journal, with articles focusing on information relating to a particular trade or industry. Trade publications typically contain heavy advertising content focused on the specific industry with little if any general audience advertising.
Trademark – A trademark is a design, logo, or brand name registered for the exclusive use by a manufacturer to distinguish its product or service.
Twitter – A free micro-blogging and social networking site that allows its users to post updates and read other users’ posts, otherwise known as “tweets,” and which are limited to 140 characters.
Unique selling proposition (USP) – the distinct features and benefits that differentiate a company’s product/service from the competition.
Web designer – A web designer creates websites, often by using web-authoring software or an HTML editor to design the individual pages. In some cases, web designers may plan the overall look of a website, but leave the actual coding to a Webmaster.
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Aside from an extra 385 yards, how many miles is a marathon race?
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Useless Fact: The 26 Mile Marathon Is Actually 26 Miles, 385 Yards
The 26 Mile Marathon Is Actually 26 Miles, 385 Yards
Sports Trivia
The well known 26 mile marathon has actually been 26 miles, 385 yards since 1908. Before the 1908 Olympics the official marathon distance was exactly 26 miles. For the 1908 Olympics in London, England it was decided that the royal family needed a better view of the finish line. The race started at Windsor Castle and organizers added an extra 385 yards to the race so the finish line would be in front of the royal box.
From that point forward the marathon distance became 26 miles, 385 yards (42.195 kilometres). The International Assiciation of Athletics Federations (IAAF) adopted the distance as the "official" marathon distance in 1921.
Posted: 2004-08-10 3:41:28 PM
This fact has been viewed 12824 times.
2004-08-10
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If 27 solid cubes are formed into one big 3x3x3 cube how many individual cubes, at most, are visible from any single angle?
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26 Miles, 385 Yards : Blog Of The Nation : NPR
26 Miles, 385 Yards
April 21, 20081:57 PM ET
David Gura
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Earlier today. maple's mama hide caption
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1. You can participate in, or watch, reenactments of important battles from the Revolutionary War (Concord and Lexington).
2. You can festoon your front door with bright flags and buntings
3. You can stand on a Boston sidewalk, holding orange slices and bottles of water, to cheer for endurance athletes.
My brother, an avid runner, is celebrating his second Patriots' Day today. He drove across Massachusetts, from Williamstown to Newton, to watch Robert Cheruiyot, Dire Tune, and some 25,000 other marathoners amble up Heartbreak Hill .
It wasn't as competitive as usual this year, he told me. (The London Marathon was last week, and America's best female marathoners ran yesterday, hoping to qualify for the Olympics .) But the streets were lined with spectators.
On today's program, we're going to talk about the marathon. Who runs them? Why do they do it? (I've asked myself this question over and over again.) And what's the best way to train for one? Marathoners John Bingham and Gabriel Sherman will join us to answer these questions, and field yours.
Article continues after sponsorship
The marathon has become a badge of athleticism for hundreds of thousands.... Should it be? If you've run one, we'd love to hear your story.
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i don't know
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'Via Dolorosa' is the (how many) Stations of the Cross, the Christian ritual tracing the key stages of the death of Jesus, beginning with his condemnation and ending with his being laid in the tomb?
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Index-a
Don't Forget To Hit <ESC> before going to a different page.
Let's play a game of 30 questions. No, not that old standard of 20 questions, but one with an extra 10 questions added in and one that uses numeric answers (from 1 to 30). If you get stumped, go on to the next one. Perhaps the answer you need will be one of those left over when you complete all the questions you're sure of.
Each answer is a number.
The answers are the numbers 1-30. Each number appears only once.
(Obviously) the questions are not in the right order..
1. Aside from an extra 385 yards, how many miles is a marathon race?
2. If 27 solid cubes are formed into one big 3x3x3 cube how many individual cubes, at most, are visible from any single angle?
3. In the movie Spinal Tap what number is: "Well, it is one louder.."?
4. 'Via Dolorosa' is the (how many) Stations of the Cross, the Christian ritual tracing the key stages of the death of Jesus, beginning with his condemnation and ending with his being laid in the tomb?
5. How many dots are on a (standard 1-6) die?
6. The Russian 'Crimea Highway' trunk road from Moscow to the Crimea in Ukraine is the M (what)?
7. What number, between two hyphens, is used by journalists, etc., to mark the end of a newspaper or broadcast story?
8. How many unique dominoes are in a standard 'double six' set?
9. What number turned on its side (rotated 90 degrees) is the symbol for infinity?
10. The Marvel Comics superhero team led by Mr Fantastic was the Fanstastic (what)?
11. What is the larger number of the binary system?
12. Japanese haiku poems loosely comprise how many syllables?
13. The Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn are respectively (what number)-and-half degrees north and south of the Equator?
14. What number is Hurricane on the Beaufort Scale?
15. Greek deka, and Latin decem, are what number?
16. Conventionally how many books are in the Bible's New Testament?
17. How many legs (or arms) are most usually on a starfish?
18. A lunar month is an average (how many) days plus 12 hours, 44 minutes and 3 seconds?
19. 'Roaring' refers to what pluralised number in describing a 1900s decade of western world prosperity?
20. Traditionally what number of years anniversary is symbolized by silver?
21. What is generally stated to be the number of major joints in the human body?
22. What number is the French coded slang 'vingt-deux!', which warns that police are coming?
23. What is the only number that equals twice the sum of its digits (digit means numerical symbol)?
24. The early/mid-1900s American vaudeville comedy act was called the (how many) Stooges?
25. Any line of three numbers in the 'magic square' (a 3 x 3 grid of the numbers 1-9) adds up to what?
26. What is the international SPI resin/polymer identification coding system number (typically shown within a recycling triangle symbol) for polystyrene?
27. Traditionally the diameter of the 45rpm gramophone record is (how many) inches?
28. Pure gold is (how many)-carat?
29. The expression 'On cloud (what)' refers to being blissfully happy?
30. Each player begins with (how many) pieces in a game of chess?
Daniel David "Danny" Kirwan (born 13 May 1950) is a British musician whose greatest success came with his role as guitarist, singer and songwriter with the blues-rock band Fleetwood Mac between 1968 and 1972. Kirwan's first recorded work with the band was on the huge instrumental hit single "Albatross". Green later stated that, "I would never have done "Albatross" if it wasn't for Danny. I would never have had a number one hit record." The B-side of the single was Kirwan's first published tune, the instrumental "Jigsaw Puzzle Blues". This was an old clarinet piece, written by Joe Venuti and Adrian Rollini, and recorded by the Joe Venuti / Eddie Lang Blue Five in 1933. Kirwan had adapted the piece for himself and Green to play on guitar, but Green remembered, "I couldn't do it properly... My style wasn't all that satisfactory to Danny, but his style wasn't all that satisfactory to me." So Kirwan played all the guitar parts himself.
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How many dots are on a (standard 1-6) die?
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Full text of "The trial and death of Jesus Christ: a devotional history of our Lord's Passion"
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^^ ":^ Jr THE TRIAL AND DEATH JESUS CHRIST THE TRIAL AND DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST ^ Dcootional tjistorn of our I'orii's ^Jassiou JAMES STALKER. D.D. CRUX DOMINI PALMA, CEDRUS, CVPRESSUS, OLIVA S^ctD Pork': AMERICAN TRACT SOCIETY, 10 East 23d Street. ^ 1894. (All Rights Reserved.) \ P-Ql 'O4 ^t\il ws, ^""T-iOr,, Coi'VRIGHT, l8g4, A. C. ARMSTRONG & SON. TO MY WIFE O PREFACE EVER since I wiote, in a contracted form, The Life of Jesus Christy the desire has slumbered in my mind to describe on a much more extended scale the closing passages of the Saviour's earthly history ; and, although renewed study has deepened my sense of the impossibility of doing these scenes full justice, yet the subject has never ceased to at- tract me, as being beyond all others impressive and remunerative. The limits of our Lord's Passion are somewhat indeterminate. Krummacher begins with the Tri- umphal Entry into Jerusalem, Tauler with the Feet- washing before the Last Supper, and Rambach with Gethsemane ; most end with the Death and Burial ; but Giimm, a Roman Catholic, the latest writer on the subject, means to extend his Leidensgeschiehte to the end of the Forty Days. Taking the word " pas- sion" in the strict sense, I have commenced at the point where, by falling into the hands of His ene- mies, our Lord was deprived of voluntary activity ; and I have finished with the Burial. No doubt the X PRE FA CE same unique greatness belongs to the scenes of the previous evening ; and I should like to write of Christ among His Friends as I have here written of Him among His Foes ; but for this purpose a vol- ume at least as large as the present one would be requisite ; and the portion here described has an obvious unity of its own. The bibliography of the Passion is given with con- siderable fulness in Zockler's Das Kreuz Christi ; but a good many of the books there enumerated may be said to have been superseded by the monu- mental work of Nebe, Die LeidensgeschicJitc misers Herrn Jesii Christi (2 vols., 1881), which, though not a work of genius, is written on so comprehen- sive a plan and with such abundance of learning that nothing could better serve the purpose of any- one who wishes to draw the skeleton before painting the picture. Of the numerous Lives of Christ those by Keim and Edersheim are worthy of special notice in this part of the history, because of the fulness of information from classical sources in the one and from Talmudical in the other. Steinmeyer [Leidens- geschichte) is valuable on apologetic questions. On the Seven Words from the Cross there is an exten- sive special literature. Schleiermacher and Tholuck are remarkably good ; and there are volumes by Baring-Gould, Scott Holland and others. PREFACE XI In the sub-title I have called this book a Devo- tional History, because the subject is one which has to be studied with the heart as well as the head. But I have not on this account written in the de- clamatory and interrogatory style common in devo- tional works. I have to confess that some even of the most famous books on the Passion are to me intolerably tedious, because they are written, so to speak, in oh's and ah's. Surely this is not essential to devotion. The scenes of the Passion ought, in- deed, to stir the depths of the heart ; but this pur- pose is best attained, not by the narrator displaying his own emotions, but, as is shown in the incom- parable model of the Gospels, by the faithful ex- hibition of the facts themselves. Glasgow, 1894. CONTENTS CHAPTtR PAGE I THE ARREST i Matt. xxvi. 47-56 ; Mark xiv. 43-50 ; Luke xxii. 47-53 ; John xviii. i-n. 11. THE ECCLESIAS I ICAL TRIAL 15 Matt. xxvi. 57-68 ; Mark xiv. 51-65 ; Luke xxii. 54-71 ; John xviii. 12-14, IJ--I. III. THE C.REAT DENIAL . ...... 31 Matt. xxvi. 69-75 ; Mark xiv. 66-72 ; Luke xxii. 54-62 ; John xviii. 15-1S, 25-7. IV. THE CIVIL TRIAL 45 Matt, xxvii. ii ; Mark xv. 2 ; Luke xxiii. 2-4 ; John xviii. 2S-38. V. JESUS AND HEROD 61 Luke xxiii. 5-12. VI. BACK TO PILATE 75 Matt, xxvii. 15-23 ; Mark xv. 6-14 ; Luke xxiii. 13^25 ; John xviii 39, 40. VII. THE CROWN OF THORNS 89 Matt, xxvii. 2J-30 ; Mark xv. 15-20; Luke xxiii. 25 ; John xix. 1-5. CONTEXTS CHArrER PAGE VIll. THE SHIPWRECK OF PILATE loi Matt, xxvii. 24, 25 ; Mark xv. 15 ; Luke xxiii. 25 ; John xix. 5-16. IX. JUDAS ISCARIOT 114 Matt, xxvii. 3-10 ; Acts i. iS, 19. X. VIA DOLOROSA 130 Matt, xxvii. 31-3 ; Mark xv. 20, 21 ; Luke xxiii. 26 ; John xix. 16, 17. \.. THE DAUGHTERS OF JERUSALEM . . . .143 Luke xxiii. 27-31. XII. CALVARY 157 Matt, xxvii. 33-S ; Mark xv. 27, 28 ; Luke xxiii. 32, 33 ; John xix. iS-22. Xni. THE GROUPS ROUND THE CROSS . . . .173 Matt, xxvii. 39-44, 55, 56 ; Mark xv. 29-32 ; Luke xxiii. 35-7, 49 ; John xix. 23-5. XIV. THE FIRST WORD FROM THE CROSS . . .186 Luke xxiii. 34. XV. THE SECOND WORD FROM THE CROSS . . .198 Luke xxiii. 39-43. XVI. THE THIRD WORD FROM THE CROSS . . . 213 John xix. 25-27. XVII. THE FOURTH WORD FROM THE CROSS . . .226 Matt, xxvii. 46-g ; Mark xv. 34-6. CON TEN IS CHAPIER PAGE XVIII. THE FIFTH WORD FROM THE CROSS . . .241 John xix. 28. XIX. THE SIXTH WORD FROM THE CROSS . . .254 John xix. 30. XX. THE SEVENTH WORD FROM THE CROSS . . 266 Luke xxiii. 46. XXI. THE SIGNS 280 Matt, xxvii. 50-4 ; Mark xv. 38, 3g ; Luke xxiii. 44, 45, 47- XXII. THE DEAD CHRIST . . . . , . .295 John xix. 31-7. XXIII. THE BURIAL 3oq Matt, xxvii. 57-61 ; Mark XV. 42-7 , Luke xxiii. 50-6 ; John xix. 38-42. CHAPTER I. THE ARREST OUR study of the closing scenes of the life of our Lord begins at the point where He fell into the hands of the representatives of justice ; and this took place at the gate of Gethsemane and at the midnight hour. On the eastern side of Jerusalem, the ground slopes downwards to the bed of the Brook Kedron ; and on the further side-of the stream rises the Mount of Olives. The side of the hill was laid out in gar- dens or orchards belonging to the inhabitants of the city ; and Gethsemane was one of these. There is no probability that the enclosure now pointed out to pilgrims at the foot of the hill is the actual spot, or that the six aged olive trees which it contains are those to the silent shadows of which the Saviour used to resort ; but the scene cannot have been far away, and the piety which lingers with awe in the traditional site cannot be much mistaken. The agony in Gethsemane was just over, when 2 THE TRIAL AXD DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST 'Mo," as St. Matthew saj's, "Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude." They had come down from the eastern gate of the city and were approaching tlie entrance to the gar- den. It was full moon, and tlie black mass was easily visible, moving along the dusty road. The arrest of Christ was not made by two or three common officers of justice. The " great multitude" has to be taken literally, but not in the sense of a disorderly crowd. As it was at the instance of the ecclesiastical authorities that the ^ipprehension took place, their servants — tlie Levitical police of the temple — were to the front. But, as Jesus had at least eleven resolute men with Him, and these might rouse incalculable numbers of His adherents on the way to the city, it had been considered judicious to ask from the Roman governor a division of soldiers,* which, at the time of the Passover, was located in the fortress of Antonia, overlooking the temple, to intervene in any emergency. And some of the mem- bers of the Sanhedrim had even come themselves, so eager were they to see that the design should not miscarry. This composite force was armed with swords and staves — the former weapon belonging * l-eipa = cohors, tenth part of legion. See Ramsay, R.A., 38r. THE ARREST perhaps to the Roman soldiers and the latter to the temple police — and they carried liinterns and torches, probably because they expected to have to hunt for Jesus and His followers in the recesses of His re- treat. Altogether it was a formidable body : they were determined to make assurance doubly sure. The leader of them was Judas. Of the general character of this man, and the nature of his crime, enough will be said later ; but here we must note that there were special aggrtivations in his mode of carrying out his purpose. He profaned the Passover. The better day, says the proverb, the better deed. But, if a deed is evil, it is the worse if it is done on a sacred day. The Passover was the most sacred season of the entire year ; and this very evening was the most sacred of the Passover week. It was as if a crime should in Scotland be committed by a member of the Church on the night of a Communion Sabbath, or in Eng- land on Christmas Day. He invaded the sanctuary of his Master's devo- tions. Gethsemane was a favourite resort of Jesus ; Judas had been there with Him, and he knew well for what purpose He frequented it. But the respect 4 THE TRIAL AND DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST due to a place of prayer did not deter hiin ; on the contrary, he took advantage of his Master's well- known habit. But the crowning profanation, for which humanity will never forgive him, was the sign by which he had agreed to make his Master known to His ene- mies. It is probable that he came on in front, as if he did not belong to the band behind ; and, hurry- ing towards Jesus, as if to apprise Him of His dan- ger and condole with Him on so sad a misfortune as His apprehension, he flung himself on His neck, sobbing, " Master, Master !" and not only did he kiss Him, but he did so repeatedly or fervently : so the word signifies.* As long as there is true, pure love in tlie world, this act will be hated and despised by everyone who has ever given or received this token of affection. It was a sin against the human heart and all its charities. But none can feel its horror as it must have been felt by Jesus. That night and the next day His face was marred in many ways : it was furrowed by the bloody sweat ; it was bruised with blows ; they spat upon it ; it was rent with thorns : but nothing went so close to His heart as the profanation of this kiss. As another said, * Ka-E<pi?iriaEV. It is used of the woman who was a sinner, when she kissed the feet of the Saviour. THE ARREST who had been similarly treated : "It was not an enemy that reproached me, then I could have borne it ; neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me, then I would have hid myself from him ; but it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide and mine acquaintance ; we took sweet coun- sel together, and walked to the house of God in company." * Before the kiss was given, Jesus still received him with the old name of Friend ; but, after being stung with it, He could not keep back the annihilating question, " Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss ?" The kiss was the sign of discipleship. In the East, students used to kiss their rabbis ; and in all likelihood this custom prevailed between Christ and His disciples. When we become His disciples, we may be said to kiss Him ; and every time we renew the pledge of our loyalty we may be said to repeat this act. We do so especially in the Lord's Supper. In our baptism He may be said to take us up in His arms and kiss us ; in the other sacrament we obtain the opportunity of returning this mark of affec- tion. * Psalm Iv. 12-14. 6 THE TRIAL AND DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST II. Probably Judas, being ahead of the band he was leading, went somewhat into the shadows of the garden to reach Jesus ; and no doubt it was expected that Jesus would try to get away. But, instead of doing so. He shook Himself free from Judas and, coming forward at once into the moonlight, de- manded, " Whom seek ye ?" At this they were so startled that they reeled back and, stepping one on another, fell to the ground. Similar incidents are related of famous men. The Roman Marius, for instance, was in prison at Min- turnae when Sylla sent orders that he should be put to death. A Gaulish slave was sent to dispatch him ; but, at the sight of the man who had shaken the world, and who cried out, " Fellow, darest thou to slay Caius Marius ?" the soldier threw down his weapon and fled.* There are many indications scattered through the Gospels that, especially in moments of high emo- tion, there was something extraordinarily subduing in the aspect and voice of Christ. f On the occasion, for example, when He cleared the temple, the hard- * Other instances in Siiskind, Passionsschtde, in loc. f See fuller details in Imago Christi, last chapter. THE ARREST ened profaners of the place, though numerous and powerful, fled in terror before Him. And the strik- ing notice of Him as He was going up to Jerusalem for the last time will be remembered : " Jesus went before them, and they were amazed ; and, as they followed, they were afraid." On this occasion the emotion of Gethsemane was upon Him — the rapt sense of victory and of a mind steeled to go through with its purpose — and perhaps there remained on His face some traces of the Agony, which scared the onlookers. It is not necessary to suppose that there was anything preternatural, though part of the terror of Kis captors may have been the dread lest He should destroy them 'by a miracle. Evidently Judas was afraid of something of this kind when he said, " Take Him and lead Him away safely." The truth is, they were caught, instead of catch- ing Him. It was a mean, treacherous errand they were on. They were employing a traitor as their guide. They expected to come upon Christ, per- haps when He was asleep, in silence and by stealth ; or, if He were awake, they thought that they would have to pursue Him into a lurking-place, where they would find Him trembling and at bay. They were to surprise Him, but, when He came forth fearless, rapt and- interrogative, He surprised them, and com- 8 THE TRIAL AXD DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST pelled them to take an altogether unexpected atti- tude. He brought all above board and put them to shame. How ridiculous now looked their cumbrous prep- arations — all these soldiers, the swords and staves, the torches and lanterns, now burning pale in the clear moonlight. Jesus made them feel it. He made them feel what manner of spirit they were of, and how utterly they had mistaken His views and spirit. "Whom seek ye?" He asked them again, to compel them to see that they were not taking Him, but that He was giving Himself up. He was completely master of the situation. Singling out the "Sanhedrists, who probably at that moment would rather have kept in the background, He de- manded, pointing to their excessive preparations, " Be ye come out as against a thief, with swords and staves ? When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against Me." He, a solitary man, though He knew how many were against Him, had not been afraid : He taught daily in the temple — in the most public place, at the most public hour. But they, numerous and powerful as they were, yet were afraid, and so they had chosen the midnight hour for their nefarious purpose. " This is your hour," He said, " and the power of darkness." This midnight hour is your hour, be- THE ARREST cause ye are sons of night, and the power ye wield against Me is the power of darkness. So spake the Lion of the tribe of Judah ! So will He speak on that day when all His enemies shall be put under His feet. " Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and ye perish from the way when His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in Him." in. We cannot recall to mind too often that it was the victory in the Garden that accounted for this tri- umph outside the gate. The irresistible dignity and strength here displayed were gained by watching an-d prayer. This, however, is made still more impressively clear by the fate of those who did not watch and pray. On them everything came as a blinding and bewildering surprise. They were aroused out of profound slumber, and came stumbling forward hardly yet awake. When hands were laid on Jesus, one of the disciples cried, " Shall we smite with the sword ?" And, without waiting for an answer, he struck. But what a ridiculous blow ! How like a man "half-awake ! Instead of the head, he only smote the ear. This blow would have been dearly lo THE TRIAL AND DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST paid for had not Jesus, with perfect presence of mind, interposed between Peter and the swords which were being drawn to cut him down. " Suffer ye thus far," He said, keeping the soldiers back ; and, touching the ear, He healed it, and saved His poor disciple. Surely it was even with a smile that Jesus said to Peter, " Put up again thy sword into his place ; for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword." Inside the scabbard, not outside, was the sword's place ; it was out of place in this cause ; and those who wield the sword without just reason, and without receiving the orders of competent authority, are themselves liable to give life for life. But it was with the high strung eloquence with which He had spoken to His enemies that Jesus further showed Peter how inconsistent was his act. It was inconsistent with his Master's dignity ; " For," said He, " if I ask My Father, He would presently give Me more than twelve legions of an- gels ;" and what against such a force were this mis- cellaneous band, numbering at the most the tenth part of a legion of men ? It was inconsistent with Scripture : " How then shall the Scriptures be ful- filled, that t'lus it must be?" It was inconsistent with His own purpose and His Father's will : " The THE ARREST cup which My Father hath given Me, shall I not drink it ?" Poor Peter ! On this occasion he was thoroughly like himself. There was a kind of Tightness and nobleness in what he did ; but it was in the wrong place. If he had only been as prompt inside Geth- semane to do what he was bidden as outside it to do what he was not bidden ! How much better if he could have drawn the spiritual sword and cut off the ear which was to be betrayed by a maid-servant's taunt ! Peter's conduct on this occasion, as often on other occasions, showed how poor a guide en- thusiasm is when it is not informed with the mind and spirit of Christ. IV. Perhaps it was by the recollection of how deeply he had vowed to stick by Christ, even if he should have to die with Him, that Peter was pricked on to do something. The others, however, had said the same thing. Did they remember it now ? It is to be feared, not : the apparition of mortal danger drove everything out of their minds but the instinct of self-preservation. Sometimes, in cases of severe illness, especially of mental disease, the curious effect may be observed — that a face into which years 12 THE TRIAL AND DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST of culture have slowly wrought the stamp of refine- ment and dignity entirely lose? this, and reverts to the original peasant type. So the fright of their Master's arrest, coming so suddenly on the prayer- less and unprepared disciples, undid, for the time, what their 3'ears of intercourse with Him had effect- ed ; and they sank back into Galilean fishermen again. This was really what they were from the arrest to the resurrection. Here again their conduct is in absolute contrast with their Master's. As a mother bird, when her brood is assailed, goes forward to meet the enemy, or as a good shepherd stands forth between his flock and danger, so Jesus, when His captors drew nigh, threw Himself between them and His followers. It was partly with this in view that He went so boldly out and concentrated attention on Himself by the challenge, "Whom seek ye?" When the}' replied, " Jesus of Nazareth," He said, " I am He : if there- fore ye seek Me, let these go their way." And the fright into which they were thrown made them for- get His followers in their anxiety to secure Himself. This was as He intended. St. John, in narrating it, makes the curious remark, that this was done that the saying might be fulfilled which He spake, " Of them which Thou gavest Me have I lost none." This saying occurs in His great intercessory THE ARREST ^l prayer, offered at the first Communion table ; but in its original place it evidently means that He had lost none of them in a spiritual sense, whereas here it seems to have only the sense of losing any of them by the swords of the soldiers or by the cross, if they had been arrested with Him. But a deep hint un- derlies this surface meaning. St. John suggests that, if any of them had been taken along with Him, the likelihood is that they would have been unequal to the crisis : they would have denied Him, and so, in the sadder sense, would have been lost. Jesus, knowing too well that this was the state of the case, made for them a way of escape, and " they all forsook Him and fled." It was perhaps as well, for they miglit have done worse. Yet what an anti- climax to the asseveration which everyone of them had made that veiy evening, " If I should die with Thee, I will not deny Thee in any wise !" I have sometimes thought what an honour it would have been to Christianity, what a golden leaf in the his- tory of human nature, had one or two of them— say, the brothers James and John — been strong enough to go with Him to prison and to death. We should, indeed, have missed St. John's writings in that case — his Revelation, Gospel and Epistles. But what a revelation that would have been, what a gospel, what a living epistle ! 14 THE TRIAL AND DEA TH OF JESUS CHRIST It was not, however, to be. Jesus had to go un- accompanied : " I have trodden the winepress alone ; and of the people there was none with Me." So they " bound Him and led Him away." CHAPTER II. THE ECCLESIASTICAL TRIAL OVER the Kedron, up the slope to the city, through the gates, along the silent streets, the procession passed, with Jesus in the midst ; mid- night stragglers, perhaps, hurrying forward from point to point to ask what was ado, and peering towards the Prisoner's face, before they diverged again towards their own homes.* He was con- ducted to the residence of the high priest, where His trial ensued. * Here would come in the curious little notice in St. Mark ; " And there followed Him a certain young man, having a linen cloth cast about his naked body ; and the young men laid hold on him ; and he left the linen cloth and fled from them naked" ; on which I have not commented, not well knowing, in truth, what to make of it. It may be designed to show the rudeness of the soldiery, and the peril in which any follower of Jesus would have been had he been caught. Some have supposed that the young man was St. Mark, and that this is the painter's signature in an obscure corner of his picture. (See Holzmann in Handcommentar zum Neuen Testament?) In the first volume of the Expositor there is a paper on the subject by Dr. Cox, but it does not throw much light on it. l6 THE TRIAL AXD DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST Jesus had to undergo two trials — the one ecclesi- astical, the other civil ; the one before Caiaphas the high priest, the other before Pontius Pilate the gov- ernor. The reason of this was, that Judaea was at that time under Roman rule, forming a portion of the Roman province of Syria and administered by a Roman official, who resided in the splendid new sea- port of Caesarea, fifty miles away from Jerusalem, but had also a palace in Jerusalem, which he occa- sionally visited. It was not the policy of Rome to strip the covin- tries of which she became mistress of all power. She flattered them by leaving in their hands at least the insignia of self-government, and she conceded to them as much home rule as was compatible with the retention of her paramount authority. She was specially tolerant in matters of religion. Thus the ancient ecclesiastical tribunal of the Jews, the Sanhe- drim, was still allowed to try all religious questions and punish offenders. Only, if the sentence chanced to be a capital one, the case had to be re- tried by the governor, and the carrying out of the sentence, if it was confirmed, devolved upon him. It was at the instance of the ecclesiastical authori- ties that Jesus was arrested, and they condemned Him to death ; but they were not at liberty to carry THE ECCLESIASTICAL TRIAL 1 7 out their sentence : they had to take Him before Pilate, who chanced at tlie time to be in the city, and he tried the case over again, they of course being the accusers at his bar. Not only were there two trials, but in each trial there were three separate stages or acts. In the first, or ecclesiastical trial, Jesus had first to appear before Annas, then before Caiaphas and the Sanhe- drim during the night, and again before the same body after daybreak. And in the second, or civil trial. He appeared first before Pilate, who refused to confirm the judgment of the Jews ; then Pilate attempted to rid himself of the case by sending the Culprit to Herod of Galilee, who happened also to be at the time in Jerusalem ; but the case came back to the Roman governor again, and, against his conscience, he confirmed the capital sentence. But let me explain more fully what were the three acts in the ecclesiastical trial.* Jesus, we are informed by St. John, was taken first to Annas. This was an old man of seventy years, who had been high priest twenty years before. As many as five of his sons succeeded him in this office, which at that period was not a life appoint- * On the Sanhedrim and the high priests see Schiirer, The fezoisk People in the Time of Christ, div. ii., vol. i. iS THE TRIAL AND DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST ment, but was generally held only for a short time ; and the reigning high priest at this time, Caiaphas, was his son-in-law. Annas was a man of very great consequence, the virtual head of ecclesiastical affairs, though Caiaphas was the nominal head. He had come originally from Alexandria in Egypt on the invitation of Herod the Great. He and his family were an able, ambitious and arrogant race. As their numbers multiplied, they became a sort of rul- ing caste, pushing themselves into all important offices. They were Sadducees, and were perfect types of that party— cold, haughty, worldly. They were intensely unpopular in the countiy ; but they were feared as much as they were disliked. Greedy of gain, they ground the people with heavy ritual imposts. It is said that the traffic within the courts of the temple, which Jesus condemned so sternly a few days before, was carried on not only with their connivance but for their enrichment. If this was the case, the conduct of Jesus on that occasion may have profoundly incensed the high-priestly caste against Him. Indeed, it was probably the depth of his hatred which made Annas wish to see Jesus in the hands of justice. The war}' Sadducee had in all likelihood taken a leading part in the transaction with Judas and in the sending out of the troops for Christ's ap- THE ECCLESIASTICAL TRIAL prehension. He, therefore, waited out of bed to see what the upshot was to be ; and those who took Jesus brought Him to Annas first. But whatever interrogation Annas may have subjected Plim to was entirely informal.* It allowed time, however, to get together the Sanhedrim. Messengers were dispatched to scour the city for the members at the midnight hour, be- cause the case was urgent and could not brook de- lay. None knew what might happen if the multi- tude, when it awoke in the morning, found the pop- ular Teacher in the hands of His unpopular enemies. But, if the trial were all over before daybreak and Jesus already in the strong hands of the Romans before the multitude had learnt that anything was going on, there would be nothing to fear. So the Sanhedrim was assembled under cloud of night ; and the proceedings went forward in the small hours of the morning in the house of Caiaphas, to which Jesus had been removed. This was not strictly legal, however, because the letter of the law did not allow this court to meet by night. On this account, although the proceedings were complete and the sentence agreed upon during the night, it was considered necessary to hold an- * This, many think, is what is given in St. John. 20 THE TRIAL AXD DEATH OF JESUS CHRIS! other sitting at daybreak. This was the third stage of the trial ; but it was merely a brief rehearsal, for form's sake, of what had been already done.* There- fore, we must return to the proceedings during the night, which contain the kernel of the matter. Imagine, then, a large room forming one side of the court of an Oriental house, from which it is sepa- rated only by a row of pillars, so that what is going on in the lighted interior is visible to those outside. The room is semicircular. Round the arc of the semicircle the half-hundred or more f members sit on a divan. Caiaphas, the president, occupies a kind of throne in the centre of the opposite wall. In front stands the Accused, facing him, with the jailers on the one side and the witnesses on the other. How ought any trial to commence ? Surely with a clear statement of the crime alleged and with the production of witnesses to support the charge. But, instead of beginning in this way, " the high priest asked Jesus of His disciples and of His doctrine." The insinuation was that He was multiplying dis- ciples for some secret design and teaching them a * Many think that this is what is given in St. Luke. f The full number was seventy-one, including the president. THE ECCLESIASTICAL TRIAL secret doctrine, which might be construed into a project of revolution. Jesus, still throbbing with the indignity of being arrested under cloud of night, as if He were anxious to escape, and by a force so large as to suggest that He was the head of a revo- lutionary band, replied, with lofty self-conscious- ness, " Why askest thou Me ? Ask them that heard Me what I have said unto them ; behold, they know what I said." Why had they arrested Him if they had yet to learn what He had said and done ? They were trying to make Him out to be an underground schemer ; but they, with their arrests in secrecy and their midnight trials, were themselves the sons of darkness. Such simple and courageous speech was alien to that place, which knew only the whining of sup- pliants, the smooth flatteries of sycophants, and the diplomatic phrases of advocates ; and a jailer, per- haps seeing the indignant blush mount into the face of the high priest, clenched his list and struck Jesus on the mouth, asking, " Answerest Thou the high priest so ?" Poor hireling ! better for him that his hand had withered ere it struck that blow. Almost the same thing once happened to St. Paul in the same place, and he could not help hurling back a stinging epithet of contempt and indignation. Jesus was betrayed into no such loss of temper. But what 2 2 THE TRIAL AND DEA TH OF JESUS CHRIST shall be said of a tribunal, and an ecclesiastical tri- bunal, which could allow an untried Prisoner to be thus abused in open court by one of its minions ? The high priest had, however, been stopped on the tack which he had first tried, and was compelled to do what he ought to have begun with — to call witnesses. But this, too, turned out a pitiful fail- ure. They had not had time to get a charge prop- erly made out and witnesses cited ; and there was no time to wait. Evidence had to be extemporized ; and it was swept up apparently from the underlings and hangers on of the court. It is expressly said by St. Matthew that " they sought false witness against Jesus to put Him to death." To put Him to death was what in their hearts they were resolved upon, — they were only trying to trump up a legal pretext, and they were not scrupulous. The attempt was, however, far from successful. The witnesses could not be got to agree together or to tell a con- sistent story. Many were tried, but the fiasco grew more and more ridiculous. At length two were got to agree about something they had heard from Him, out of which, it was hoped, a charge could be constructed. They had heard Him say, " I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands." It was a sentence THE ECCLESIASTICAL TRIAL 23 of His early ministry, obviously of high poetic mean- ing, which they were reproducing as the vulgarest prose ; although, even thus interpreted, it is diffi- cult to see what they could have made of it ; be- cause, if the first half of it meant that He was to destroy the temple, the second promised to restore it again. The high priest saw too well that they were making nothing of it ; and, starting up and springing forward, he demanded of Jesus, " Answerest Thou nothing ? What is it which these witness against Thee ?" He affected to believe that it was something of enormity that had been alleged ; but it was really because he knew that nothing could be founded on it that he gave way to such unseemly excitement. Jesus had looked on in absolute silence while the witnesses against Him were annihilating one an- other ; nor did He now answer a word in response to the high priest's interruption. He did not need to speak : silence spoke better than the loudest words could have done. It brought home to His judges the ridiculousness and the shamefulness of their position. Even their hardened consciences began to be uneasy, as that calm Face looked down on them and their procedure with silent dignity. It was by the uneasiness which he was feeling that the high priest was made so loud and shrill. In short, he had been beaten along this second 24 THE TRIAL AND DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST line quite as completely as he had been along the first. But he had still a last card, and now he played it. Returning to his throne and confronting Jesus with theatrical solemnity, he said, " I adjure Thee by the living God that Thou tell us whether Thou be the Christ, the Son of God." That is to say, he put Him on oath to tell what He claimed to be ; for among the Jews the oath was pronounced by the judge, not by the prisoner. This was one of the great moments in the life of Christ. Apparently He recognised the right of the high priest to put Him on oath ; or at least He saw that silence now migTit be construed into the with- drawal of His claims. He knew, indeed, that the question was put merely for the purpose of incrimi- nating Him, and that to answer it meant death to Himself. But He who had silenced those by whom the title of Messiah had been thrust upon Him, when they wished to make Him a king, now claimed the title when it was the signal for condemnation. De- cidedly and solemnly He answered, " Yes, I am" ; and, as if the crisis had caused within Him a great access of self-consciousness, He proceeded, " Here- after shall ye see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of power and coming in the clouds of heaven. "* * See Psalm ex. i, and Dan. vii. 13. THE ECCLESIASTICAL TRIAL For the moment they were His judges, but one day He would be their Judge ; it was only of His earthly life that they could dispose, but He would have to dispose of their eternal destiny. It has often been said that Christians have claimed for Christ what He never claimed for Himself ; that He never claimed to be any moie than a man, but they have made Him a God. But this great state- ment, made upon oath, must impress every honest mind. Every effort has, indeed, been made to de- plete its terms of their importance and to reduce them to the lowest possible value. It is argued, for example, that, when the high priest asked if He were " the Son of God," he meant no more than when he asked if He were " the Christ." But what is to be said of Christ's description of Himself as " sitting on the right hand of power and coming in the clouds of heaven" ? Can He who is to be the Judge of men, searching their hearts to the bottom, estimating the value of their performances, and, in accordance with these estimates, fixing their eternal station and de- gree, be a mere man ? The greatest and the wisest of men are well aware that in the history of every brother man, and even in the heart of a little child, there aie secrets and mysteries which they cannot fathom. No mere man can accurately measure the character of a fellow-creature ; he cannot even estimate his own. 26 THE TRIAL AND DEATH OE JESUS CHRIST How this great confession lifts the whole scene ! We see no longer these small men and their sordid proceedings ; but the Son of man bearing witness to Himself in the audience of the universe. How little we care now what the Jewish judges will say about Him ! This great confession reverberates down the ages, and the heart of the world, as it hears it from His lips, says. Amen. The high priest had achieved his end at last. As a high priest was expected to do when he heard blasphemy, he rent his clothes, and, turning to his colleagues, he said, " What need have we of wit- nesses ? behold, now ye have heard His blasphemy." And they all assented that Jesus was guilty, and that the sentence must be death. Sometimes good-hearted Bible-readers, in perus- ing these scenes, are troubled with the thought that the judges of Jesus were conscientious. Was it not their duty, when anyone came forward with Mes- sianic pretensions, to judge whether or not his claim was just ? and did they not honestly believe that Jesus was not what He professed to be ? No doubt they did honestly believe so. We must ascend to a much earlier period to be able to judge their con- duct accurately. It was when the claims of Jesus were first submitted to them that they went astray. THE ECCLESIASTICAL TRIAL 27 He, being such as He was, could only have been welcomed and appreciated by expectant, receptive, holy minds. The ecclesiastical authorities of Judaea in that age were anything but expectant, receptive and holy. They were totally incapable of under- standing Him, and saw no beauty that they should desire Him. As He often told them Himself, being such as they were, they could not believe. The fault lay not so much in what they did as in what they were. Being in the wrong path, they went forward to the end. It may be said that they walked according to their light ; but the light that was in them was darkness. Their proceedings, however, on this occasion will not tend to soften the heart of anyone who looks into them carefully. They had hardly the least show of justice. There was no regular charge or regular evidence, and no thought whatever of allowing the Accused to bring counter- evidence ; the same persons were both accusers and judges ; the sentence was a foregone conclusion ; and the entire proceedings consisted of a series of devices to force the Accused into some statement which would supply a colourable pretext for con- demning Him.* * Even Jost, the Jewish historian, calls it a murder ; but he does not believe that there was an actual trial ; and in this Edersheim agrees with him. 28 THE TRIAL A. YD DEATH OE JESUS CHRIST But it was by what ensued after the sentence of condemnation was passed that these men cut them selves off forever from the sympathy of the tolerant and generous. A court of law ought to be a place of dignity ; when a great issue is tried and a solemn judgment passed, it ought to impress the judges themselves ; even the condemned, when a death sentence has been passed, ought to be hedged round with a certain awe and respect. But that blow in- flicted with impunity at the commencement of the trial by a minion of the court was too clear an index of the state of mind of all present. There was no solemnity or greatness of any kind in their thoughts ; nothing but resentment and spite at Him who had thwarted and defied them, lessened them in the pub- lic estimation and stopped their unholy gains. A perfect sea of such feelings had long been gather- ing in their hearts ; and now, when the opportunity came, it broke loose upon Him. They struck Him with their sticks ; they spat in His face ; they drew something over His head and, smiting Him again, cried, " Christ, prophesy who smote Thee." * One would wish to believe that it was only by the miser- able underlings that such things were done ; but * In allusion to His claim to be the Messianic Prophet. The Roman soldiers, on the other hand, ridiculed His claim to be a King. THE ECCLESIASTICAL TRIAL 29 the narrative makes it too clear that the masters led the way and the servants followed. There are terrible things in man. There are some depths in human nature into which it is scarcely safe to look. It was by the veiy perfection of Ciirist that the uttermost evil of His enemies was brouglit out. There is a passage in " Paradiso Lost," where a band of angels, sent out to scour Paradise in search of Satan, who is hidden in the garden, discover him in the sliape of a toad " squat at the ear of Eve." Ithuricl, one of the band, touches him with his spear, whereat, surprised, he starts up in his own shape, — " for no falsehood can endure Touch of celestial temper, but returns Of force to its own likeness. " But the touch of perfect goodness has often the op- posite effect : it transforms the angel into the toad, which is evil's own likeness. Christ was now getting into close grips with the enemy He had come to tliis world to overcome ; and, as it clutched Him for the final wrestle, it ex- liibited all its ugliness and discharged all its venom.* * " The central figure is the holiest Person in history , but round Him stand or strive the most opposed and contrasted moral types. . . . The men who touch Him in this supreme hour of His history do so only to hav^e their essential characters disclosed." — F.^irbairn. 30 THE TRIAL AND DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST The claw of the dragon was in His flesh, and its foul breath in His mouth. We cannot conceive what such insult and dishonour must have been to His sensitive and regal mind. But He rallied His heart to endure and not to faint ; for He had come to be the death of sin, and its death was to be the salvation of the world. CHAPTER Iir. THE GREAT DENIAL TO the ecclesiastical trial of our Lord there is a side-piece, over which we must linger before proceeding to the civil trial. At the very hour when in the hall of the high priest's house Christ was uttering His great confession, one of His disciples was, in the court of the same building, pouring out denial after denial. I. When Jesus was bound in Gethsemane and led away back to Jerusalem, all His disciples forsook Him and fled. They disappeared, I suppose, among the bushes and trees of the garden and escaped into the surrounding country or wherever they thought they would be safe. But two of the Twelve — St. Peter and St. John, who tells the story — soon rallied from the first panic and followed, at a distance,* the band in whose midst their Master was. Keeping in the shadow of * jiuKpoOev. 32 THE TRIAL AND DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST the trees by the roadside, keeping in the shadow of the houses in the streets, they stole after the moving mass. At last, when it got near its destination — the palace of the high priest — they hurried forward ; and St. John went in with the crowd ; but some- how, probably through irresolution, St. Peter was left outside in the street ; and the door was shut. To understand what follows, it is necessary to de- scribe more in detail the construction of such a house as the high priest's palace ; for it was very unlike most of our houses. A Western house looks into the street, but an Oriental into its own interior, having no opening to the front except a great arched gateway, shut with a heavy door or gate. When this door is opened, it discloses a broad passage, penetrating the front building and leading into a square, paved courtyard, open to the sky, round which the house is built, and into which its rooms, both upstairs and downstairs, look. A similar ar- rangement is to be seen in some large warehouses in our own cities, or you may have seen it in large hotels on the Continent. It only requires to be added that on the side of the passage, inside the outer gate, there is a room or lodge for the porter or portress, who opens and shuts the gate ; and in the gate there is a little wicket by which individuals can be let in or out. THE GREAT BE XI A L 33 When the band conducting Jesus appeared in front of the palace, no doubt the portress opened the large gate to admit them and then shut it again. They passed under the archway into the court, which they crossed, and then entered one of the apartments overlooking the courtyard. But the police and other underlings employed in the arrest, their work being now done, stayed outside, and, as it was midnight and the weather was cold, they lighted a fire there under the open sky and, gather- ing round it, began to w'arm themselves. As has been said, John went in through the gate with the crowd, but Peter was somehow shut out. John, who seems to have occupied a higher social position than the rest of the Twelve, was known to the high priest, and, therefore, probably was ac- quainted with the palace and knew the servants ; and, when he noticed that Peter had been left out, he went to the portress and got her to let him in by the wicket-gate. It was a friendly act ; and yet, as the event proved, it was unintentionally an ill turn : John led Peter into temptation. The best of friends may do this sometimes to one .another ; for the situation into which one man may enter without peril may be dan- gerous to another. One man may mingle freely in company which another cannot enter without terri- 34 THE TRIAL AXD DEATH OE JESUS CHRIST ble risks. There are amusements in which one Christian can take part, though they won hi ruin another if he touclied them. A mind matured and disciplined may read books which would kindle the fire of hell in a mind less experienced. There are always two things that go to the making of a temp- tation : there is the particular set of circumstances to be encountered on the one hand, and there is the peculiar character or historj'^ of the person entering into the situation on the other. We need to remem- ber this if we are to defend either ourselves or others against temptation. II. John no doubt, as soon as he got Peter inside the door, hurried away across the court into the hall where Jesus was, to witness the proceedings. Not so Peter. He was not familiar with the place as John was ; and he had the shyness of a plain man at the sight of the inside of a great house. Besides, he was under fear of being recognized as a follower of Christ and apprehended. Now also the unlucky blow he had made at Malchus at the gate of Geth- semane had to be paid for, because it greatly in- creased his chance of detection. He remained, therefore, just inside the great door, watching from the shadows of the archway what THE GREA T DEXIAL 35 was going on inside, and, without knowing it, him- self being watched by the portress from her coigne of vantage. He was ill at ease ; for he did not know what to do. He did not dare to go, like John, into the judgment-hall. Perhaps he half wished he could get out into the street again. He was in a trap. At last he strolled forward to the group round the fire and, sitting down among them, commenced to warm himself. It was a miscellaneous group there in the glare of the fire, and no notice was taken of him. He took his place as if he were one of them. It was, however, a dangerous situation in another sense than he supposed. It was of bodily peril he was in terror ; he did not anticipate danger to his soul ; yet this was very near. It is always danger- ous when a follower of Christ is sitting among Christ's enemies without letting it be known what he is. " Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful." It is more than probable that when Peter sat down the air was ringing with jest and laughter about Jesus ; but he did not interrupt : he kept silence and tried to look as like one of the scorners as he could. But not to confess Christ is the next step to denying Him. $6 THE TRIAL AXD DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST Temptation, as is its wont, came suddenly and from the most unexpected quarter. As has been said, when he was skulking beneath the archway, his movements were noted by the portress. They were suspicious, and she, with a woman's clever- ness, divined his secret. Accordingly, when she was relieved at her post by another maid, she not only pointed him out to this companion and com- municated to her what she thought about him, but, in passing to her room, she went up to the fire among the soldiers and, looking him straight in the face, said, with a malicious twinkle in ner eye. This is one of the Nazarene's followers. Peter was taken completely by surprise. It was as if a mask had been torn from his face. In a mo- ment the instinct of terror seized him ; perhaps, too, the instinct of shame at being thought a disci- ple of Him they were mocking. Indeed, there was a further shame : how could he confess himself the disciple of the Master whom he had heard blas- phemed without protest ? He had denied his Mas- ter in act before he denied Him in word ; and the preceding act made the word also necessary. " 1 do not know what you mean," he said, with a surly frown ; and away she tripped laughing, having done her work quite successfully. None pursued the subject. But Peter was un- THE GREAT DEXL4L 37 eas)% and took the earliest opportunity of escaping from the fireside. He went away into the archway, intending apparently, if he could, to get out of the place altogether. But here the trap was closed ; for the other maid, whose attention had been direct- ed to him, and who may have been laughing from a distance at her neighbour's sail}', was standing at the door of her lodge, with two or three men ; and, pointing him out to them as he came forward, she said, " That is one of the Nazarene's followers." Poor Peter ! felled to the ground a second time by the touch of a woman's hand. But how often has the saucy tongue and jeering laugh of a woman made a man ashamed of the highest and holiest ! Peter flung at her an angry oath and, turning on his heel, went back again to the fire. He was now completely panic-stricken, and lost all self-control. He was boiling with conflicting emotions and could not keep quiet. Assuming an air of defiance and indifference, he plunged into the conversation, speaking loudly to throw off suspicion, but really defeating his own object ; for he drew attention on himself, and they scanned him the more narrowly the more excited he became. A rela- tive of Malchus, whose ear he had cut off, recog- nised him. His loud country voice and rough Gali- lean accent aroused the suspicions of others. To 38 THE TRIAL AND DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST bait such a pretender was a welcome diversion in the idle night, and soon they were all in full cry after the quarry. Peter was thoroughly lost ; like a bull in the arena attacked and stabbed on every side, he became blind with rage, terror and shame ; and, pouring out de- nials, he added to them oaths and curses hurled at his adversaries. The latter element was, no doubt, the resurrec- tion of an old fisherman's habit, long since dead and buried. Peter was just the man likely to be a pro- fane swearer in his youth — the headlong man of temper, who likes to say a thing with as much em- phasis and exaggeration as possible. This is a sin whose power is generally broken instantly at conver- sion. While there are sins which linger on for 3'ears and require to be crucified by inches, profane swear- ing often dies an instant^ineous death. But even in this case it is difficult to get quit of the evil past. In Peter this sin may have seemed to die at his con- version ; for years it had been dead and buried ; yet, when the favourable moment came, lo and be- hold, there it was again in vigorous life. Old hab- its of sin are hard to kill. We seem to have killed and buried them ; but do you not sometimes hear a knocking beneath the ground ? do you not feel the dead thing turning in its coffin, and see the earth THE GREAT DEXIAL 39 moving above its grave ? This is the penalty of the days given to the flesh. Till his dying day the man who has been a drunkard or a fornicator, a liar or a swearer, will have to keep watch and ward over the graveyard in which he has buried the past. Yet there was a kind of method in the madness of Peter's profanity. When he wanted to prove that he was none of Christ's, he could not do better than take to cursing. They did not credit his assertions that he had no connection with his Master, but they could not help believing his sins. Nobody belong- ing to Jesus, they knew, would speak as Peter was doing. It is one of the strongest testimonies to Jesus still, that even those who do not believe in Him expect cleanness of speech and of conduct from His followers, and are astonished if those who bear His name do things which when done by others are matters of course. IV. While Peter was in the midst of this outbreak of denial and profanity, suddenly he saw the eyes of his tormentors turned away from him to another object.* It was Jesus, whom His enemies had con- * It is to St. Luke we owe the account here given of Peter's awakening ; but he also refers to the crowing of the cock, the 40 THE TRIAL AND DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST demned in the neighbouring judgment- hall, and whom they were now leading, amidst blows and re- proaches, across the courtyard to the guard-room, where He was to be kept for two or three hours till a subsequent stage of His trial came on. As Jesus stepped down out of the hall into the courtyard, His ear had caught the accents of His disciple, and, stung with unutterable anguish. He turned quickly round in the direction whence the sounds proceeded. At the same moment Peter turned, and they looked one another full in the face. Jesus did not speak ; for a single syllable, even of surprise, would have betrayed His disciple. Nor could He linger ; for the soldiers were hurrying Him on. But for a sin- gle instant their eyes' met, and soul looked into soul. Who shall say what was in that look of Christ ? * only cause mentioned by the other Evangelists. There is no difficulty in understanding that such a psychological crisis may have been due to two lines of suggestion. * Mrs. Browning's sonnets on this subject must be quoted in full: " Two sayings of the Holy Scriptures beat Like pulses in the Church's brow and breast ; And by them we find rest. in our unrest, And, heart-deep in salt tears, do yet entreat God's fellowship, as if on heavenly seat. The first is Jesus wept ; whereon is prest Full many a sobbing face, that drops its best And sweetest waters on the record sweet. THE GREAT DE.VIAL 41 There may be a world in a look. It may be more eloquent than a whole volume of words. It may reveal far more than the lips can ever utter. One And one is where the Christ, denied and scorned, Looked upon Peter. Oh to render plain, By help of having loved a little and mourned, That look of sovran love and sovran pain, Which He, who could not sin yet suffered, turned On him who could reject but not sustain. ' The Saviour looked on Peter. Ay, no word, No gesture of reproach ; the heavens serene, Though heavy with armed justice, did not lean Their thunders that way ; the forsaken Lord Looked only on the traitor. None record What that look was ; none guess ; for those who have seen Wronged lovers loving through a death-pang keen. Or pale-cheeked martyrs smiling to a sword, Have missed Jehovah at the judgment call. And Peter from the height of blasphemy — ' I never knew this man ' — did quail and fall, As knowing straight that God ; and turned free, And went out speechless from the face of all, And filled the silence, weeping bitterly. I think that look of Christ might seem to say : ' Thou, Peter ! art thou a common stone Which I at last must break My heart upon, For all God's charge to His high angels may Guard My feet better ? Did I yesterday Wash thy feet. My beloved, that they should run Quick to destroy me 'nealh the morning sun ? And do thy kisses, like the rest, betray ? 42 THE TRIAL AXD DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST soul may give itself away to another in a look. A look may beatify or plunge in the depths of despair. The look of Jesus was a talisman dissolving the spell in which Peter was held. Sin is always a kind of temporaiy madness ; and it was manifestly so in this case. Peter was so bewildered with terror, anger and excitement that he did not know what he was doing. But the look of Jesus brought him to himself, and immediately he acted like a man. He made at once for the exit with impetuous speed.* And now nothing stood in his way : he got past the maid and her companions without trouble. For, indeed, the trap of temptation is only an illusion. To a resolute man it presents no obstacles. But further, the look of Christ was a mirror in which Peter saw himself. He saw what Christ thought of him. The past came rushing back. He was the man who, in a great and never-to be-forgot- ten moment, had confessed Christ and earned His The cock crows coldly. Go, and manifest A late contrition, but no bootless fear ! For, when thy final need is dreariest, Thou shalt not be denied, as I am here ; My voice to God and angels shall attest. Because I VJS.o\\ this man, let him be clear.'" * This may be the meaning of e-ijia/.iov ; but it is much dis- puted. Other interpretations are : (i) = frrf/3n?Jie K^aleiv, he began to weep ; (2) with head covered — in mourning. THE GREAT DEXIAL 43 hearty recognition. He was the man who, a few hours ago, had vowed, above all the rest, that he never would deny his Master. And now he had de- serted Him and wounded Him to the heart in His utmost need. He had placed himself among His enemies as one of themselves and, with oaths and curses, trodden His sacred name beneath his feet. He had put off the disciple and reverted to the rude- ness of his godless youth. He was a perjured traitor. All this was in that look of Christ. But there was far more in it. It was a rescuing look. If any friend had met Peter rushing out from the scene of his sin, he might well have been terri- fied for what might happen. Where was he rushing to ? Was it to the precipice over which Judas plunged not many hours afterwards ? Peter was not very far from that. Had it been an angry look he saw on Christ's face when their eyes met, this might have been his fate. But there was not a spark of anger in it. There was pain, no doubt, and there was immeasurable disappointment. But deeper than these — rising up from below them and sub- merging them — there was the Saviour's instinct, that instinct which made Him reach out His hand and grasp Peter when he was sinking in the sea. With this same instinct He grasped Him now. In that look of an instant Peter saw forgiveness 44 THE TRIAL AND DEATH OE JESUS CHRIST and unutterable love. If he saw himself in it, he saw still more his Saviour — such a revelation of the heart of Christ as he had never yet known. He saw now what kind of Master he had denied ; and it broke his heart. It is this that always breaks the heart. It is not our sin that makes us weep ; it is when we see what kind of Saviour we have sinned against. He wept bitterly ; not to wash out his sin, but because even already he knew it had been washed out. The former weeping is a pelting shower ; this is the close, prolonged downpour, which penetrates deep and fertilises the plants of the soul at their very roots. Indeed, this was the real beginning of all the good St. Peter was to do in the world. But we will not speak of this now. Let our last thought be of Him who, in the crisis and extremity of His own suffer- ing, when He heard His name not only denied but mingled with oaths and curses, yielded not one mo- ment to the resentment which such an act of treach- ery might have occasioned, but, forgetting His own sorrows and overmastered with the instincts of the Saviour, threw into a look such a world of kindness and of love that, in an instant, it lifted the falling disciple from the gulf and set him on the rock where he ever afterwards stood, himself a rock in the con- stancy of his faith and the vigor of his testimony. CHAPTER IV. THE CIVIL TRIAL IN the chapter before last we saw the Sanhedrim pass a death sentence on Jesus. Gladly would they have carried it out in the Jewish fashion — by stoning. But, as was then explained, it was not in their power : their Roman masters, while conceding to the native courts the power of trying and pun- ishing minor offences, reserved to themselves the prerogative of life and death ; and a case in which a capital sentence had been passed in a Jewish court had to go before the representative of Rome in the country, who tried it over again, and might either confirm or reverse the sentence. Accordingly, after passing sentence on Jesus themselves, the Sanhe- drists had to lead Him away to che tribunal of the governor. I. The representative of Imperial Rome in Palestine at this time was Pontius Pilate. The position which he held may perhaps be best realised by thinking of 46 THE TRIAL AND DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST one of our own subordinate governors in India ; with the difference, however, that it was a heathen, not a Christian power, that Pilate represented, and that it was the spirit of ancient Rome, not that of modern England, which inspired his administration. Of this spirit — the spirit of worldliness, diplomacy and expediency — he was a typical exponent ; and vi^e shall see how true to it he proved on this mo- mentous day.* Pilate had occupied his position for a good many years ; yet he neither liked his subjects nor they him. The Jews were among the most intractable and difficult of all the states which the officials of Rome had to manage. Mindful of the glory of their ancient history, and still cherishing the hope of uni- versal empire, they were impatient of the yoke of subordination ; they were constantly discovering in the conduct of their rulers insults directed against their dignity or their religion ; they complained of the heavy taxation and pestered their rulers with petitions. Pilate had not got on at all well with them. Between him and them there was no sym- pathy. He hated their fanaticism. In his quarrels with them, which were frequent, he had freely shed * On Pilate there is an essay of extraordinary subtlety and power in Candlish's Scripture Characters. THE CIVIL TRIAL 47 their blood. They accused him of corruption, cruelty, robbery, and maladministration of every description. The residence of the governor was not in Jerusa- lem, in which no one accustomed to the pleasures of Rome — its theatres, baths, games, literature and society — could desire to live, but in the new coast city of Caesarea, which in its splendour and luxury was a sort of small imitation of Rome. Occasion- ally, however, the governor had to visit the capital for business reasons ; and usually, as on this occa- sion, he did so at the time of the Passover. When there, he took up his residence in wtiat had formerly been the royal palace while Judaea still had a king. It had been built by Herod the Great, who had a passion for architecture ; and it was situated on the hill to the south-west of the one on which the temple stood. It was a splendid building,* lival- ling the temple itself in appearance, and so large as to be capable of containing a small army. It con- sisted of two colossal wings, springing forward on either side, and a connecting building between. In front of the latter stretched a broad pavement ; and here, in the open air, on a raised platform, was the * An eloquent account in Keim (vi., p. So, English tr.), who gives the authorities : "in part a tyrant's stronghold, and in part a fairy pleasure-house." 48 THE TRIAL AND DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST scene of the trial ; because the Jewish authorities would not enter the building, which to them -was unclean. Pilate had to yield to their scruples, though piobabl}^ cursing them in his heart. But, indeed, it was quite common for the Romans to hold courts of justice in the open air. The front of the palace, all round, was supported by massive pillars, forming broad, shady colonnades ; and round the building there extended a park, with walks, trees and ponds, where fountains cast their sparkling jets high into the sunshine and flocks of tame doves plumed their feathers at the water's edge. Through the huge gateway, then, of this palatial residence, the Jewish authorities, with their Prisoner in their midst, came pouring in the early morning. Pilate came out to receive them and seated himself on his chair of state, with his secretaries beside him, and behind him, no doubt, numbers of bronzed Roman soldiers with their stolid looks and upright spears. The Accused would have to ascend the platform, too ; and over against Him stood His accusers, with Caiaphas at their head. What a spectacle was that ! The heads of the Jewish nation leading their own Messiah in chains to deliver Him up to a Gentile governor, with the petition that He should be put to death ! Shades THE CIVIL TRIAL 49 of the heroes and the prophets, who loved this na- tion and boasted of it and foretold its glorious fate, the hour of destiny has come, and this is the result ! It was an act of national suicide. But was it not more ? Was it not the frustration of the purpose and the promise of God ? So it certainly appeared to be. Yet He is not mocked. Even through hu- man sin His purpose holds on its way. The Jews brought the Son of God to Pilate's judgment-seat, that both Jew and Gentile might unite in condemn- ing Him ; for it was part of the work of the Re- deemer to expose human sin, and here was to be exhibited the tie plus ultra of wickedness, as the hand of humanity was lifted up against its Maker. And yet that death was to be the life of humanity ; and Jesus, standing between Jew and Gentile, was to unite them in the fellowship of a common salva- tion. " Oh the depth both of the wisdom and knowl- edge of God ! How unsearchable are His judg- ments, and His ways past finding out !" II. Pilate at once demanded what was the accusation which they brought against the Prisoner. The reply was a characteristic one, " If He were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered Him 5° THE TRIAL AXD DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST up unto thee." This was as broad a hint as they could give that they desired the governor to waive his right to re-try the case, accepting their trial of it as sufficient, and content himself with the other half of his prerogative — the passing and the execution of the sentence. Sometimes provincial governors did so, either through indolence or out of compliment to the native authorities ; and especially in a relig- ious cause, which a foreigner could not be expected to understand, such a compliment might seem a boon which it was not unreasonable to ask. But Pilate was not in a yielding mood, and re- torted, " Take ye Him and judge Him according to your law." This was as much as to say : If I am not to hear the case, then I will neither pass the sentence nor inflict the punishment ; if you insist on this being a case for yourselves as ecclesiastics, then keep it to yourselves ; but, if you do, you must be content with such a punishment as the law per- mits you to inflict. To them this was gall and wormwood, because it was for the life of Christ they were thirsting, and they well knew that imprisonment or beating with rods was as far as they could go. The cold, keen Roman, as proud as themselves, was making them feel the pressure of Rome's foot on their neck, and he enjoyed a malicious pleasure in extorting from THE CIVIL TRIAL 51 them the complaint, "It is not hiwful for us to put any man to death." Forced against their will and their expectation to formulate a charge, they began to pour forth many vehement accusations ; out of which at length three emerged with some distinctness — first, that He "was perverting the nation , second, that He forbade to pay the imperial tribute ; and third, that He set Himself up as a king. It will be observed that they never mentioned the charge on which they had condemned Him them- selves. It was for none of these three things that they had condemned Him, but for blasphemy. They knew too well, however, that if they advanced such a charge in this place, the likelihood was that it would be sneered out of court. It will be remem- bered how a Roman governor, mentioned in the life of St. Paul, dealt with such a charge : " Gallio said unto the Jews, If it were a matter of wrong or wicked lewdness, O ye Jews, reason would that I should bear with you ; but, if it be a question of words and names, and of your law, look ye to it ; for I will be no judge of such matters. And he drave them from the judgment-seat." * And, although of course Pilate could not have dared to exhibit the same cyn- * Acts xviii. 14-16. S2 THE TRIAL AND DEATH OE JESUS CHRIST ical disdain for what he would have called Jewish superstition, yet they knew that it was in his heart. But their inability to bring forward the real charge put them in a false position, the dangers of which they did not escape. They had to extemporise crimes, and they were not scrupulous about it. Their first charge — that Jesus was perverting the nation* — was vague. But what are we to say of the second — that He forbade to pay the imperial tribute ? When we remember His reply that very week to the question whether or not it was lawful to pay tribute — " Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's, and unto God the things which are God's" — it looks very like a deliberate falsehood. f There was more colour in their third statement — that He said He was Christ a King — for He had at their tribunal sol- emnly avowed Himself to be the Christ. Yet, in this case, also, they were well aware that to the ear of a Roman the claim that He was a king would convey a different meaning from that conveyed to their ears by the claim to be the Christ. Indeed, at bottom their objection to Him was just that He did not sufficiently claim to be a king in the Roman sense. They were eagerly looking for a king, of * eSvof, not Aadf : they were speaking to a heathen, f Keim calls it " a very flagrant lie." THE CIVIL TRIAL 53 splendour and military renown, to break the Roman yoke and make Jerusalem the capital of a worldwide empire ; and it was because the spirit and aims of Jesus were alien to such ambitions that they despised and hated Him. Pilate understood perfectly well with whom he was dealing. He could only be amused with their zeal for the payment of the Roman tribute. One of the Evangelists says, " He knew that for envy they had delivered Him." How far he was already acquainted with the career of Jesus we cannot tell. He had been governor all the time of the movement inaugurated by the Baptist and continued by Christ, and he can hardly have remained in entire ignorance of it. The dream of his wife, which we shall come to soon, seems to prove that Jesus had already been a theme of conversation in the palace ; and perhaps the tedium of a visit to Jerusalem may have been relieved for the governor and his wife by the story of the young Enthusiast who was bearding the fanatic priests. Pilate displays, all through, a real interest in Jesus and a genuine respect. This was no doubt chiefly due to what he himself saw of His bearing at his tribunal ; but it may also have been partly due to what he had already heard about Him. At all events there is no indication that he took the 'lartjes against Jesus seriously. The two first he 54 THE TRIAL AND DEATH OF J E SI'S CHRIST seems never to have noticed ; but the third — that He was setting Himself up as a king, who might be a rival to the emperor — was not such as he could altogether pass by. III. Pilate, having heard the accusations, took Jesus inside the palace to investigate them. This he did, no doubt, for the purpose of getting rid of the im- portunity of His accusers, which was extreme. And Jesus made no scruple, as they had done, about en- tering the palace. Shall we say that the Jews had rejected Him, and He was turning to the Gentiles — that the wall of partition had now fallen, and that He was trampling over its ruins ? In the silence, then, of this interior hall He and Pilate stood face to face — ^He in the prisoner's lonely place, Pilate in the place of power. Yet how strangely, as we now look back at the scene, are the places reversed ! It is Pijate who is going to be tried — Pilate and Rome, which he represented. All that morning Pilate was being judged and exposed ; and ever since he has stood in the pillory of history with the centuries gazing at him.* In the old pic- * " Socrates, quum omnium sapientissime sanctissimeque vixis- set, ita in judicio capitis pro se dixit, ut non supplex aut reus, sed magister aut dominusi videretur judicum." — Cicero. THE CIVIL TRIAL 55 tures of the Child Christ by the great masters a halo proceeds from the Babe that lights up the surround- ing figures, sometimes with dazzling effect. And it is true that on all who approached Christ, when He was in the world, there fell a light in which both the good and the evil in them were revealed. It was a search light, that penetrated into every corner and exposed every wrinkle. Men were judged as they came near Him. Is it not so still ? We never show so entirely what is in us as by the way in which we are affected by Christ. We are judging our- selves and passing sentence on ourselves for eternity by the way in which we deal with Him. Pilate asked Him, " Art Thou the King of the Jews ?' ' referring to the third charge brought against Him. The reply of Jesus was cautious ; it was an- other question : " Sayest thou this of thyself, or did others tell it thee of Me ?" He desired to learn in what sense the question was asked — ^whether from the standpoint of a Roman or from that of the Jews ; because of course His answer would be different according as He was asked whether He was a king as a Roman would understand the word or accord- ing as it was understood by the Jews, But this answer nettled Pilate, perhaps because it assumed that he might have more interest in the case than he cared to confess ; and he said angrily, 56 THE TRIAL AND DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST "Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered Thee unto me." If he in- tended this to sting, the blow did not fail of its mark. Ah, tingling shame and poignant pain ! His own nation — His own beloved nation, to which He had devoted His life — had given Him up to the Gentile. He felt a shame for it before the foreigner such as a slave on the block may feel before her purchaser- for the father and the family that have sold her into disgrace. Jesus at once proceeded, however, to answer Pilate's question on both sides, both on the Roman political and then on the Jewish religious side. First, He answered negatively, " My kingdom is not of this world !" He was no rival of the Roman emperor. If He had been, the first thing He must have done would have been to assemble soldiers about Him for the purpose of freeing the country from the Roman occupation, and the very first duty of these soldiers would have been to defend the per- son of their king ; but it could be proved that at His arrest there had been no fighting on His behalf, and that He had ordered the one follower who had drawn a sword to sheathe it again. It was not a kingdom of force and arms and worldly glory He had in view. Yet, even in making this denial, Jesus had used the words, "My kingdom." And Pilate broke in, THE CIVIL TRIAL 57 *' Art Thou a king then ?" " Yes," replied Jesus ; ** to this end was I borUj and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth." This was His kingdom — the realm of Truth. It differs widely from that of Caesar. Caesar's empire is over the bodies of men ; this is over their hearts. The strength of Caesar's empire is in soldiers, arms, citadels and navies ; the strength of this kingdom is in principles, sentiments, ideas. The benefit secured by Caesar to the citizens is ex- ternal security for their persons and properties ; the blessings of Christ's kingdom are peace of con- science and joy in the Holy Ghost. The empire of Caesar, vast as it was, yet was circumscribed ; the kingdom of Christ is without limits, and is destined to be established in every land. Caesar's empire, like every other earthly kingdom, had its day and passed out of existence ; but the kingdom of Truth shall last for evermore. It has been remarked that there was something Western rather than Oriental in this sublime saying of Christ. What a noble-minded Jew longed for above all ihings was righteousness ; but what a noble-minded Gentile aspired after was truth. There were some spirits, in that age, even among the heathen, in whom the mention of a kingdom of truth or wisdom would have struck a responsive 58 THE TRIAL AND DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST chord. Jesus was feeling to see whether there was in this man's soul any such longing. He approached still nearer him when He added the searching remark, " Every one that is of the truth heareth My voice ;" for it was a hint that, if he loved the truth, he must believe in Him. Jesus preached to His judge. Just as the prisoner Paul made Felix the judge tremble, and Agrippa the judge cry out, " Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian," so Jesus, with the instinct of the preacher and the Saviour, was feeling for Pilate's conscience. He who fishes for the souls of men must use many angles ; and on this occasion Jesus selected a rare one. There will always be some who, though common appeals do not touch them, yet respond to this deli- cate appeal. Is truth a magic word to you t do you thirst for wisdom ? There are those to whom the prizes which the majority strive for are as dross. The race for wealth, the pride of life, the distinc- tions of society — you laugh at them and pity them. But a golden page of a favourite poet, a thought newly minted in the glowing heat of a true thinker's mind, a pregnant word that sets your fancy ranging through eternity, a lutninous doctrine that rises on the intellectual horizon like a star, — these are your wealth. You feel keenly the darkness of the world, THE C/l'IL TRIAL 59 and are perplexed by a hundred problems. Child and lover of wisdom, do you know the King of Truth ? This is He who can satisfy your craving for light and lead you out of the maze of specula- tion and error. But is it true, as He says here, that everyone who is of the truth heareth His voice ? Is not the world at present full of men and women who are in search of truth, yet pass Christ by ? It is a very strong word He uses ; it is, " every one who has been born of the truth." Have you actually clambered on Truth's knees, and clung to her neck, and fed at her breast ? There are many who seek truth earn- estly with the intellect, but do not desire it to rule their conduct or purify their heart. But only those who seek truth with their whole being are her true children ; and to these the voice of Christ, when it is discerned, is like the sunrise to the statue of Mem- non or as the call of spring to the responsive earth. Alas ! Pilate was no such man. He was incapa- ble of spiritual aspiration ; he was of the earth earthy ; he sought for nothing which the eye cannot see or the hand handle. To him a kingdom of truth and a king of truth were objects of fairyland or castles in the air. "What is truth?" he asked; but, as he asked, he turned on his heel, and did not wait for an answer. He asked only as a libertine 6o THE TRIAL AND DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST might ask, What is virtue ? or a tyrant, What is freedom ? But he was clearly convinced that Jesus was inno- cent. He judged Him to be an amiable enthusiast, from whom Rome had nothing to fear. So he went out and pronounced His acquittal ; " I find in Hjm no fault at all." CHAPTER V. JESUS AND HEROD PILATE had tried Jesus and found Him inno- cent ; and so he frankly told the members of the Sanhedrim, thereby reversing their sentence. What ought to have followed ? Of course Jesus ought to have been released and, if necessary, pro- tected from the feeling of the Jews. Why was this not what happened ? An incident in the life of Pilate, narrated by a secular historian, may best explain. Some years before the trial of Jesus, Pilate, newly settled in the position of gov- ernor of Judaea, resolved to remove the headquarters of the Roman army from Caesarea to Jerusalem ; and the soldiers entered the Holy City with their standards, each of which bore the image of the em- peror. To the Jewish mind these images were idol- atrous, and their presence in Jerusalem was looked upon as a gross insult and desecration. The fore- most men of the city poured down to Caesarea, where Pilate was staying, and besought him to re- move them. He refused, and for five days the dis- 62 THE TRIAL AND DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST cussion went on. At length he was so irritated that he ordered them to be surrounded by soldiers, and threatened to have them put to death unless they became silent and dispersed. They, however, in no way disma)^ed, threw themselves on the ground and laid bare their necks, crying that they would rather die than have their city defiled. And the upshot was that Pilate had to yield, and the army was withdrawn from Jerusalem.* Such was the governor, and such were the people with whom he had to deal. He was no match for them, when their hearts were set on anything and their religious prejudices roused. In the present case they did with him exactly as they had done on that early occasion. He declared Jesus innocent, and thereupon the trial ought to have been at an end. But they raised an angry clamour — •" they were the more fierce," says St. Luke — and began to pour oirt new accusations against the Prisoner. Pilate had not nerve enough to resist. He weakly turned to Jesus Himself, asking, " Hearest Thou not what these witness against Thee ?" But Jesus " answered to him never a word." He would not, by a single syllable, give sanction to any prolonga- tion of the proceedings : " insomuch that the gov- * Josephus, " Ant.," XVIII., 3, i. /ESUS AXD IIEROD d^ ernor marvelled greatly." Flusteied and irresolute himself, he could not comprehend this majestic com- posure. The stake of Jesus in the proceedings was nothing less than His life ; yet He was the only calm person in the whole assemblage. Suddenly, however, amidst the confusion a way of escape from his embarrassing situation seemed to open to Pilate. They were crying, " He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, be- ginning from Galilee to this place." The mention of Galilee was intended to excite prejudice against Jesus, because Galilee was noted as a hotbed of in- surrection. But it set agoing a different train of thought in the mind of Pilate, who asked anxiously if He was a Galilean. It had flashed upon him that Herod, the ruler of Galilee, was in the city at the time, having come for the Passover celebration ; and, as it was not an unusual procedure in Roman law to transfer a prisoner from the territory where he had been arrested to his place of origin or of domicile, it seemed to him a happy inspiration to send Jesus to be tried by the ruler of the province to which He belonged, and so get rid altogether of the case.* He acted at once on this idea ; and, un- * It may be questioned whether it was for trial he sent Jesus to Herod or only for advice, rs Festus caused St. Paul's case to be heard by Agrippa. 64 THE TRIAL AND DEA 711 OE JESUS CHRIST der the escort of Pilate's soldiers, Jesus and His ac- cusers were sent away to the ancient palace of the Maccabees, in which Herod used to reside on his visits to the Holy City. Thus was Jesus, on this day of shame, tossed, like a ball, from hand to hand — from Annas to Caiaphas, from Caiaphas to Pilate, from Pilate to Herod, with more to follow ; and these weary marches* in chains and in the custody of the officers of justice, with His persecutors about Him, are not to be forgotten in the catalogue of His sufferings. There are several Herods mentioned in the New Testament, and it must be made clear which of them this was. The first of them was he who slew the babes of Bethlehem, when the infant Saviour was carried away to Egypt. He was called Herod the Great, and reigned over the whole country, though only by permission of the Romans. At his death his dominions were divided among his sons by the for- eigner, who thus more effectually brought the coun- try under control ; for the smaller the size of sub- * Called " die Gange des Dulders," in German devotional literature. JESC'S AXD HEROD 65 ject states the more absolute is the power of the suzerain. Judaea was given to Archehuis ; but it was soon taken from him, to be administered by the Romans themselves through their procurators,- of whom Pilate was one. Galilee and Peraea were given to another son, Antipas ; and a region more to the north to a third, Philip. Our present Herod is Antipas. He was a man of some ability and at the outset of his career gave promise of ruling well. Like his father, he had a passion for architecture, and among his achievements in this line was the building of the city of Tiberias, well known in connection with modern missions. But he took a step which proved fatal when he entered into an intrigue with Hero- dias, the wife of his own brother Philip. She left her husband to come to him, and he sent away his own wife, the daughter of Aretas, the king of Arabia Petraea. Herodias was a much stronger character than he ; and she remained at his side through life as his evil genius. Better aspirations were not, however, wholly extinguished in him even by this fall. When the Baptist began to fire the country, he took an interest in his preaching, and invited him to the palace, where he heard him gladly, till John said, "It is not lawful for thee to have her." For this the great preacher was cast into prison ; 66 THE TRIAL AXD DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST but even then Herod frequently sent for him. Mani- festly he was under religious impression. He ad- mired the character and the teaching of John. It is said " he did many things." Only he could not and would not do the one thing needful : Herodias still retained her place. Naturally she feared and hated the man of God, who was seeking to remove her ; and she plotted against him with implacable malignity. She was only too successful, making use of her own daughter — not Antipas', but her first husband's — for her purpose. On the king's birth- day Salome danced before Herod and so intoxicated him with her skill and beauty, that, heated and over- come, he promised^ — the promise showing the man — to give her whatever she might ask, even to the half of his kingdom ; and when the young witch, well drilled by her mother in the craft of hell, asked the head of the man of God, she was not refused. This awful crime filled his subjects with horror, and when, soon afterwards. King Aretas, the father of his discarded wife, invaded the countr}-, to re- venge his daughter's wrong, and inflicted on him an ignominious defeat, this reverse was popularly regarded as a divine punishment for what he had done. His own mind was haunted by the spectres of remorse, as we learn from the fact that, when he heard of the preaching of Jesus, his first thought JESUS AXD HEROD 67 was that this was John the Baptist risen from the dead. Indeed, from this point he seems to have rapidly deteriorated. Feeling the aversion of the minds of his subjects, he turned more and more to foreign customs. His court became distinguished for Roman imitations and affectations. The pur- veyors of pleasure, who in that age hawked their wares from one petty court to another — singers, dancers, jugglers and the like — were welcome at Tiberias. The fibre of his character was more and more relaxed, till it became a mere mass of pulp, ready to receive every impression but able to retain none. His annual visits to Jerusalem even, at Pass- over time, were inspired less by devotion than by the hope of amusement. In so large a concourse there would at any rate be acquaintances to see and news to hear ; and who could tell what excitement might turn up ? 11. His reception of Jesus was thoroughly character- istic. Had he had the conscience even of a bad man, he might have been abashed to see the Bap- tist's Friend. Once he had been moved with terror at the mere rumour of Jesus ; but that was all past ; these emotions had been wiped out by newer ones and forgotten. He was " exceeding glad" to see 68 THE TRIAL AXD DEATH OE JESUS CHRIST Him. First, it was an excitement ; and this was something for such a man. Then, it was a compli- ment from the Roman ; indeed, we are told that Pilate and he had aforetime been at enmity, but by this attention were made friends again. His de- light, however, arose chiefly from the hope that he might see Jesus working a miracle. For two or three years his own dominions had been ringing with the fame of the Miracle w^orker, but Herod had never seen Him. Now was his chance ; and no doubt entered his mind that Jesus would gratify his curiosity, or could count it anything but an honour to get the oppoitunity of displaying His skill. Such was Herod's estimate of Christ. He put Him on the level of a new dancer or singer ; he looked on His miracles as a species of conjuring or magic ; and he expected from Him the same enter- tainment as he might have obtained from any wan- dering professor of magical arts. At once he addressed Him in the friendliest man- ner and questioned Him in many words. Appar- ently he quite forgot the purpose for which Pilate had sent Him. He did not even wait for any re- plies, but went rambling on. He had thought much about religion, and he wished Jesus to know it. He had theories to ventilate, puzzles to propound, re- marks to make. A man who has no religion may JESUS AXD HEROD 69 )'^et have a great deal to say about religion ; and there are people who like far better to hear them- selves talking than to listen to any speaker, however wise. No mouth is more voluble than that of a characterless man of feeling. III. Herod at last exhausted himself, and then he waited for Christ to speak. But Jesus uttered not a word. The silence lasted till the pause grew awk- Avard and painful, and till Herod grew red and an- gry ; but Jesus would not break it with a single syllable. For one thing, the entire proceedings were irrele- vant. Jesus had been sent to Herod to be tried ; but this had never been touched upon. Had Jesus, indeed, desired to deliver Himself at all hazards, this was a rare opportunity ; because, if He had yielded to Herod's wishes and wrought a miracle for his gratification, no doubt He would have been acquitted and sent back loaded with gifts. But we cannot believe that such an expedient was even a temptation to Him. Never had He wrought a mir- acle for His own behoof, and it is inconceivable that He should have stooped to offer any justification of the estimate of Himself which this man had formed. yo THE TRIAL AND DEATH OE JESUS CHRIST Jesus was Herod's subject ; but it was impossible for Him to look upon him with respect. How could He help feeling disdain for one who thought of Himself so basely and treated this great crisis so frivolously ? To one who knew Herod's history, . how loathsome must it have been to hear religious talk from his lips ! There was no manliness or earn- estness in the man. Religion was a mere diversion to him. To such Christ will always be silent. Herod is the representative of those for whom there is no seriousness in life, but who live only for pleasure. There are many such. Not only has religion, in any high and serious sense, no attraction for them, but they dislike everything like deep thought or earnest work in any sphere. As soon as they are released from the claims of business, they rush off to be excited and amused ; and the one thing they dread is solitude, in which they might have to face themselves. In certain classes of society, where work is not necessary to obtain a livelihood, this spirit is the predominant one : life is all a scene of gaiety ; one amusement follows another ; and the utmost care is taken to avoid any intervals where reflection might come in. Religion itself may be dragged into this circle of dissipation. It is possible to go to church with sub- JESUS AXD HEROD 71 stantially the same object with which one goes to a place of amusement — in the hope of being excited, of having the feelings stirred and the aesthetic sense gratified or, at the least, consuming an hour which might otherwise lie heavy on the hands. With shame be it said, there are churches enough and preachers enough ready to meet this state of mind half-way. With the fireworks of rhetoiic or the witchery of music or the pomp of ritual the per- formance is seasoned up to the due pitch ; and the audience depart with precisely the same kind of feeling with which they might leave a concert or a theatre. Very likely it is accounted a great success ; but Christ has not spoken : He is resolutely mute to those who follow religion in this spirit. Sometimes the same spirit takes another direc. tion ; it becomes speculative and sceptical and, like Herod, " questions in many words." When I have heard some people propounding religious difficul- ties, the answer which has risen to my lips has been, Why should you be able to believe in Christ ? what have you ever done to render yourselves worthy of such a privilege ? 3'ou are thinking of faith as a com- pliment to be paid to Christ ; in reality the power to believe in Him and His words is a great privilege and honour, that requires to be purchased with thought, humility and self-denial. 72 THE TRIAL AND DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST We do not owe an answer to the religious objec- tions of everyone. Religion is, indeed, a subject on which everyone takes the liberty of speaking ; the most unholy and evil-living talk and write of it noth- ing doubting ; but in reality it is a subject on which very few are entitled to be heard. We may know beforehand, from their lives, what the opinions of many must be about it ; and we know what their opinions are worth. It may be thought that Jesus ought to have spoken to Herod — that He missed an opportunity. Ought He not to have appealed to his conscience and at- tempted to rouse him to a sense of his sin ? To this I answer that His silence was itself this appeal. Had there been a spark of conscience left in Herod, those Eyes looking him through and through, and that divine dignity measuring and weighing him, would have caused his sins to rise up out of the grave and overwhelm him. Jesus was silent, that the voice of the dead Baptist might be heard. If we understood it, the silence of Christ is the most eloquent of all appeals. Can you remember when you used to hear Him — when the words of the Book and the preacher used to move you in church, when the singing awoke aspiration, when the Sabbath was holy ground, when the Spirit of God strove with you ? And is that all passed or JESUS A.VD HEROD 73 passing away ? Does Christ speak no more ? If a man is lying ill, and perceives day by day ever3^thing about him becoming silent — his wife avoiding speech, visitors sinking their voices to a whisper, footsteps falling and doors shutting noiselessly — he knows that his illness is becoming critical. When the traveller, battling with the snow-storm, sinks down at last to rest, he feels cold and painful and miser- able ; but, if there steals over him a soft, sweet sense of slumber and silence, then is the moment to rouse himself and fight off his peace, if he is ever to stir again. There is such a spiritual insensibility. It means that the Spirit is ceasing to strive, and Christ to call. If it is creeping over you, it is time to be anxious ; for it is for your life. IV. How far Herod understood the silence of Jesus we cannot tell. It is too likely that he did not wish to understand. At all events he acted as if he did not : he treated it as if it were stupidity. He thought that the reason why Jesus would not work a miracle was because He could not : a pretender's powers generally forsake him when he falls into the hands of the police. Jesus, he thought, was dis- 74 THE TRIAL AND DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST credited ; His Messianic claims were exploded ; even His followers must now be disillusioned. So he thought and so he said ; and the satellites round his throne chimed in ; for there is no place where a great man's word is echoed with more par- rot like precision than in a petty court. And no doubt they considered it a great stroke of wit, well worthy of applause, when Herod, before sending Him back to Pilate, cast over His shoulders a gor- geous robe — probably in imitation of the white robe worn at Rome by candidates for office. The sug- gestion was that Jesus was a candidate for the throne of the country, but one so ridiculous that it would be a mistake to treat Him with anything but con- tempt. Thus amidst peals of laughter was Jesus driven from the presence. CHAPTER VI. BACK TO PILATE 'TT^HE sending of Jesus to Herod had not, as Pilate -^ had hoped, finished the case, and so the Pris- oner was brought back to the imperial palace. Herod had affected to treat Jesus with disdain ; but in reality, as we are now aware, he had himself been tried and exposed. And Jesus returned to do the same thing for Pilate — to make manifest what manner of spirit he was of ; though Pilate had no conception that this was going to happen : he was only annoyed that a case of which he thought he had got rid was thrown on his hands again. He had reluctantly to resume it, and he carried it through to the end ; but, before this point was reached, his character was revealed, down to its very foundations, in the light of Christ. Herod's spirit was that of frivolous worldliness — the worldliness which tries to turn the whole of life into a pastime or a joke ; Pilate's was that of stren- uous worldliness — the worldliness which makes self 76 THE TRIAL AND DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST its aim and subordinates everything to success. Of the two this is perhaps the more common ; and, therefore, it will be both interesting and instructive to watch its self-revelation under the search-light of Christ's proximity, I. Pilate might perhaps have been justified in sus- pending the release of Jesus till after he received Him back from Herod ; because, although he had himself found no fault in Him, his ignorance of Jewish laws and customs might have made him hesi- tate about his own judgment and wish, before abso- lutely settling the case, to obtain the opinion of an expert. When, however, he learned that the opin- ion of Herod coincided with his own, there was no further excuse for delay. Accordingly he plainly informed the Jews* that he had examined the Prisoner and found no fault in Him ; he had also sent Him to Herod with a like result. " Therefore," he continued. Therefore — what? "Therefore," you expect to hear, "I dis- miss Him from the bar acquitted, and I will protect * " On the return of Jesus from Herod, the Sanhedrists do not seem to have been present. Pilate had to call them together, presumably from the temple." — Edersheim. BACK TO PILATE 77 Him, if need be, from all violence." This would have been the only conclusion in accordance with logic and justice. Pilate's conclusion was the ex- traordinary one : " Therefore I will chastise Him and release Him." He would inflict the severe punishment of scourging as a sop to their rage, and then release Him as a tribute to justice. Was a more unjust proposal ever made ? Yet it was thoroughly characteristic of the man who made it as well as of the system which he represented. The spirit of imperial Rome was the spirit of com- promise, manoeuvre and expediency ; as the spirit of government has too often been elsewhere, not only in the State but also in the Church. Pilate had settled scores of cases on the same principle — or no principle ; scores of officials were conducting their administration throughout the vast Roman empire in the same way at that very time. Only to Pilate fell the sinister distinction of putting the base system in operation in the case where its true char- acter was exposed in the light of history. But ought we not to believe that in all other cases, however obscure the victims, the spirit manifested by Pilate has been equally displeasing to God ? In our Lord's picture of the Last Judgment one strik- ing trait is that all are astonished at the reasons as- signed for their destiny. Those on the right hand 78 THE TRIAL AND DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST are credited with feeding Christ when He was hun- gry, giving Him drink when He was thirsty, and so forth ; and they ask in surprise. Lord, when saw we Thee hungry and fed Thee, or thirsty and gave Thee drink ? In like manner those on the left are accused of seeing Christ hungry but neglecting to feed Him, of seeing Him thirsty and lefusing to give Him drink, and so forth ; and they ask. Lord, when saw we Thee hungry or thirsty and ministered not to Thee ? You perhaps think they say so to conceal the sins of which they are conscious ? Not at all. They are really astonished : they think their identity has been mistaken and that they aie about to be punished for sins they have never committed. They are only aware of having neglected a few chil- dren or old women not worth thinking about. But Christ says, Each of these stood for Me, and, when you neglected or injured them, you were doing it unto Me. Thus may all life at the last prove far more high and solemn than we now imagine. Take care how you touch your brother man ; you may be touching the apple of God's eye : take care how you do an injustice even to a child ; you may find out at the last that it is Christ you have been as- sailing. BACK TO PILATE 79 II. Pilate had cut h'mself loose from principle when he declared Jesus to be innocent and yet ordered Him to be chastised. He thought, however, that he could guide his course safely enough to the point at which he aimed. We are to see how completely he failed and at last suffered total shipwreck. Hands were stretched out towards him, as he advanced, some to save him, some to do the reverse ; but the impulse of his own false beginning carried him on to the fatal issue. The first hand stretched out to him was a loving and helpful one : it was the hand of his wife. She sent to tell him of a dream she had had about his Prisoner and to warn him to have nothing to do with " that just man." Difficulties have been made as to how she could know about Christ ; but there is no real difficulty. Probably, while Jesus was away at Herod's, Pilate had entered the palace and told his wife about the singular trial and about the impression which Jesus had made upon his mind. When he left her, she had fallen asleep and dreamed about it ; for, though our version makes her say, " This night I have dreamed about Him," the literal translation is " this 8o THE TRIAL AND DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST day" ; and of course there might be many causes why a lady should fall asleep in the daytime. Her dream had been such as to fill her with a vague sense of alarm, and her message to her husband was the result. This incident has taken a strong hold of the Chris- tian imagination and given rise to all kinds of guesses. Tradition has handed down the name of Pilate's wife as Claudia Procula ; and it is said that she was a proselyte of the Jewish religion ; as high- toned heathen ladies in that age not infrequently became when circumstances brought the Old Testa- ment into their hands. The Greek Church has gone so far as to canonise her, supposing that she became a Christian. Poets and artists have tried to repro- duce her dream. Many will remember the picture of it in the Dore Gallery in London. The dream- ing woman is represented standing in a balcony and looking up an ascending valley, which is crowded with figures. It is the vale of years or centui-ies, and the figures are the generations of the Church of Christ yet to be. Immediately in front of her is the Saviour Himself, bearing His cross ; behind and around Him are His twelve apostles and the crowds of their converts ; behind these the Church of the early centuries, with the great fathers, Polycarp and Tertullian, Athanasius and Gregory, Chrysostom BACK TO PILATE 8 1 and Augustine ; further back the Church of the Middle Ages, with the majestic forms and warlike accoutrements of the Crusaders rising from its midst ; behind these the Church of modern times, with its heroes ; then multitudes upon multitudes that no man can number pressing forward in broad- ening ranks, till far aloft, in the white and shining heavens, lo, tier on tier and circle upon circle, with the angels of God hovering above them and on their flanks ; and in the midst, transfigured to the bright- ness of a star, the cross, which in its rough reality He is bearing wearily below. Of course these are but fancies. In the woman's anxiety that no evil should befall the Innocent we may, with greater certainty, trace the vestiges of the ancient Roman justice as it may have dwelt in the noble matrons, like Volumnia and Cornelia, whose names adorn the pristine annals of her race ; while the wife's solicitude to save her husband from a deed of sin associates her with the still nobler women of all ages who have walked like guardian angels by the side of men immersed in the woild and liable to be coarsened b}' its contact, to warn them of the higher laws and the unseen powers. We can hardly doubt that the hand of God was in this dream, or that it was outstretched to save Pilate from the doom to which he was hastening. 82 THE TRIAL AND DEA TH OE jESUS CHRIST III. Another hand, however, was now stretched out to him ; and he grasped it eagerly, tliinking it was going to save him ; when it suddenly pushed him down towards the abyss. It was the hand of the mob of Jerusalem. Up to this point the actors assembled on the stage of Christ's trial were comparatively few. It had been the express desire of the Jewish authorities to hurry the case through before the populace of the city and the crowds of Passover strangers got wind of it. The proceedings had accordingly gone for- ward all night ; and it was still early morning. As Jesus was led through the streets to Herod and back, accompanied by so many of the principal citi- zens, no doubt a considerable number must have gathered. But now circumstances brought a great multitude on the scene. It was the custom of the Roman governor, on the Passover morning, to release a prisoner to tlie peo- ple. As there were generally plenty of political prisoners on hand, rebels against the detested Roman yoke, but, for that very reason, favourites and heroes of the Jewish populace, this was a privilege not to be forgotten ; and, while the trial of Jesus was pro- ceeding in the open air, the mob of the city came BACK rO PILATE 83 pouring through the palace gates and up the avenue, shouting for their annual gift. For once their demand was welcome to Pilate, for he thought he saw in it a way of escape from his own difficulty. He would offer them Jesus, who had a few days before been the hero of a popular demonstra- tion, and as an aspirant to the Messiahship would, he imagined, be the very person they should want. It was an utterly unjust thing to do ; because, first, it was treating Jesus as if He were already a condemned man, whereas Pilate had himself a few minutes before declared Him innocent ; and, sec- ondly, it was staking the life of an innocent man on a guess, which might be mistaken, as to the fancy of the mob. No doubt, however, Pilate considered it kind, as he felt sure of the disposition of the popu- lace ; and, at all events, the chance of extricating himself was too good to lose. The minds of the mob it turned out, however, were pre-occupied with a favourite of their own. Singularly enough his name also appears to have been Jesus : " Jesus Barabbas" is the name he bears in some of the best manuscripts of the gospel of St. Matthew.* He was " a notable prisoner," who * See Keim's note. Westcott and Hort reject it. Some have fur- ther seen an impressive coincidence in the name Barabbas, inter- preting it " son of the father." Jesus was by no means a rare name. 84 THE TRIAL AA'D DEA Til OE JESUS CHRIST had been guilty of insurrection in the city, in which blood had been spilt, and was now lying in jail with the associates whose ringleader he had been. A bandit, half robber half insurrectionary leader, is a figure which easily lays hold of the popular imagina- tion. They hesitated, however, when Pilate pro- posed Jesus ; and Pilate seems to have sent for the other prisoner, that they might see the two side by side ; for they could not, he thought, hesitate for a moment, if they had the opportunity of observing the contrast. But this brief interval was utilised by the Sanhe- drists to persuade the multitude. It must be re- membered that this was not the Galilean crowd by which Jesus had been brought in triumph into the city a few days before, but the mob of Jerusalem, with whom the ecclesiastical authorities had influ- ence.* The priests and scribes, then, mingled among them and used every artifice they could think of. Probably their most effective argument was to whisper that Jesus was obviously the choice of Pilate, and therefore should not be theirs. If Pilate actually placed the two Jesuses side by side on his platform, what a sight it was ! The * Hence the contrast, common in popular preaching, between the multitude crying " Hosanna" and the same multitude crying " Crucify" is incorrect. BACK TO PILATE 85 political desperado, stained with murder, there ; the Healer and Teacher, who had gone about contin- ually doing good, the Son of man, the Son of God, here. Now which will you have — Jesus or Barab- bas ? And the cry came ringing from ten thousand throats, " Barabbas !" To Jesus what must that have meant ! These were the inhabitants of Jerusalem, whom He had longed to gather as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings ; they were the hearers of His words, the subjects of His miracles, the objects of His love ; and they prefer to Him a murderer and a robber. This scene has often been alleged as the self-con- demnation of democracy. ]^ox J)opuli vox Dei, its flatterers have said ; but look yonder : when the multitude has to choose between Jesus and Barab- bas, it chooses Barabbas. If this be so, the scene is equally decisive against aristocracy. Did the priests, scribes and nobles behave better than the mob ? It was by their advice that the mob chose. It is poor sport, on either side, to pelt opponents with such reproaches. It is better far to learn holy fear from such a scene in reference to ourselves, to our own party and to our country. What are we to admire ? Whom are we to follow ? In what are we to seek salvation ? Certainly there are great ques- 86 THE TRIAL AND DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST tions awaiting the democracy. Wliom will it choose ■ — the revolutionist or the regenerator ? And to what will it trust — cleverness or character? What spirit will it adopt as its own — that of violence or that of love? Which means will it employ — those which work from without inwards, or those which work from within outwards ? What end will it seek — the kingdom of meat and drink, or the kingdom which is righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost ? But such questions are not for the democracy alone. All classes, all parties, every generation and every country have, from time to time, to face them. And so has the individiral. Perhaps all the great choices of life ultimately re- solve themselves into this one — Jesus or Barabbas ? IV. To Pilate the choice of Barabbas must have been not only a surprise, but a staggering blow. " What then," he asked, "shall I do with Jesus?" Prob- ably he expected the answer, Give us Him too ; and there can be little doubt that he would willingly have complied with such a request. But, instead of this, there came, quick as echo, the reply, " Crucify Him !" and it was more a command than a request. He was now made sensible that what he had con- BACK TO r I LATE 87 sidered a loophole of escape was a noose into which he had thrust his head. He might, indeed, have intimated that he had only given them the preroga- tive to save one of the two lives, not to take either of them away. But virtually he had put both pris- oners at their disposal. In this way, at all events, the mob interpreted the situation ; and he did not venture to contradict them. He was, however, deeply moved, and he did a very unusual thing : calling for a basin of water, he washed his hands before them all and said, " I am innocent from the blood of this just Person ; see ye to it." This was an impressive act ; yet its im- pressiveness was too theatrical. He washed his hands when he ought to have exerted them. And blood does not come off so easily. He could not abnegate his responsibility and cast it upon others. Public men frequently think they can do so : they say that they bow to the force of public opinion, but wash their hands of the deed. But if their position, like Pilate's, demands that they should decide for them- selves and take the consequences, the guilt of sinful action clings to them and cannot be transferred. This whole scene, indeed, is a mirror for magis- trates, to show them down what dark paths they may be pushed if they resign themselves to be the mere tools of the popular will. Pilate ought to have 88 THE TRIAL AND DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST opposed the popular will at whatever risk and re- fused to do the deed of which he disapproved. But such a course would have involved loss to himself ; and this was the real reason for his conduct. The populace felt their triumph, and in reply to his solemn dissociation of himself from Christ's death sent back the insulting cry, " His blood be on us and on our children." Pilate was afraid of the guilt, but they w^ere not. Well might the heavens have blackened above them at that word, and the earth shuddered beneath their feet ! Profaner cry was never uttered. But they were mad with rage and reckless of everything but victory in the contest in which they were engaged. Still, their words were not forgotten in the quarter to which they were directed ; and it was not long before the curse which they had invoked descended on their city and their race. Meanwhile they gained their end : the will of Pilate was breaking down before their well- directed persistency. CHAPTER VII. THE CROWN OF THORNS PILATE had failed in his attempt to save Jesus from the hands of His prosecutors, whose rage against their Victim was only intensified by the struggle in which they had engaged ; and there was no course now open to him but to hand Jesus over to the executioners for, at least, the preliminary tor- tures of crucifixion. It is not in accordance with modern Christian sen- timent to dwell very much on the physical sufferings of Christ. Once the feeling on this subject was very different : in old writers, like the mystic Tauler, for example, every detail is enlarged upon and even exaggerated, till the page seems to reek with blood and the mind of the reader grows sick with horror. We rather incline to throw a veil over the ghastly details, or we uncover them only so far as may be necessary in order to understand the condition of His mind, in which we seek His real sufferings. go THE TRIAL AND DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST The sacred body of our Lord was exposed to many shocks and cruelties before the final and complicated horrors of the crucifixion. First, there was His agony in the garden. Then — not to speak of the chains laid on Him when He was arrested — there was the blow on the face from the seivant of the high priest. After His condemnation by the eccle- siastical authorities in the middle of the night they "did spit in His face and buffeted Him;" and others smote Him with the palms of their hands, sa}ang, " Prophesy unto us, Thou Christ. Who is he that smote Thee?" The present is, therefore, the fourth access of physical suffering which He had to endure. First, they scourged Him. This was done by the Roman soldiers by order of their master Pilate, though the governor, in all likelihood, retired from the scene while it was being inflicted. It took place, it would appear, on the platform where the trial had been held, and in the eyes of all. The victim was stripped and stretched against a pillar, or bent over a low post, his hands being tied, so that he had no means of defending himself. The instrument of torture was a sort of knout or cat-o'-nine-tails, with bits of iron or bone attached to the ends of the thongs. Not only did the blows cut the skin and draw blood, but not infrequently the victim died in THE CROWN' OF THORNS f)\ the midst of the operation. Some have supposed that Pilate, out of consideration for Jesus, may have moderated either the number or the severity of the strokes ; but, on the other hand, his plan of releas- ing Him depended on his being able to show the Jews that He had suffered severely. The inability of Jesus to bear His own cross to the place of execu- tion was no doubt chiefly due to the exhaustion pro- duced by this infliction ; and this is a better indica- tion of the degree of severity than mere conjecture. After the scourging the soldiers took Him away with them to their own quarters in the palace and called together the whole band to enjoy the specta- cle. Evidently they thought that He was already condemned to be crucified ; and anyone condemned to crucifixion seems, after being scourged, to have been handed over to the soldiery to be handled as they pleased, just as a hunted creature, when it is caught, is flung to the dogs. And, indeed, this comparison is only too appropriate ; because, as Luther has remarked, in those days men were treated as only brutes are treated now. To us it is incom- prehensible how the whole band should have been called together merely to gloat over the sufferings of a fellow creature and to turn His pain and shame into brutal mockery. This, however, was their pur- pose ; and they enjoyed it as schoolboys enjoy the 92 THE TRIAL AND DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST terror of a tortured animal. It must be remembered that these were men who on the field of battle were inured to bloodshed and at Rome found their chief delight in watching the sports of the arena, where gladiators butchered one another to make a Roman holiday. Their horseplay took the form of a mock corona- tion. They had caught the drift of the trial suffi- ciently to know that the charge against Jesus was that He pretended to be a king ; and lofty preten- sions on the part of one who appears to be mean and poor easily lend themselves to ridicule. Be- sides, in their minds there was perhaps an amused scorn at the thought of a Jew aiming at a sover- eignty above that of Caesar. Foreign soldiers sta- tioned in Palestine cannot have liked the Jews, who hated them so cordially ; and this may have given an edge to their scorn of a Jewish pretender. They treated Him as if they believed Him to be a king. A king must wear the purple. And so they got hold of an old, cast-off officer's cloak of this colour and threw it over His shoulders. Then a king must have a crown. So one of them ran out to the park in which the palace stood and pulled a few twigs from a tree or bush. These happened to be thorny ; but this did not matter, it was all the better ; they were plaited into the rude semblance THE CKOWX OF THORNS 93 of a crown and crushed down on His head. To complete the outfit, -a king must have a sceptre. And this they found without difficulty : a reed, probably used as a walking-stick, being thrust into His right hand. Thus was the mock king dressed up. And then, as on occasions of state they had seen subjects bow the knee to the emperor, saying, " Ave, Ccesar J" so they advanced one after another to Jesus and, bending low, said, " Hail, King of the Jews !" But, after passing with mock solemnity, each turned and, with a burst of laughter, struck Him a blow, using for this purpose the reed which He had dropped. And, though I hardly dare to repeat it, they covered His face with spittle ! What a spectacle ! It might have' been expected that those who were themselves poor and lowly, and therefore subject to the oppression of the power- ful, would have felt sympathy and compassion for one of their own station when crushed by the foot of tyranny. But there is no cruelty like the cruelty of underlings. There is an instinct in all to wish to see others cast down beneath themselves ; and, especially, if one who has aimed high is brought low, there is a sense of personal exultation at his downfall. Such are the base passions which lie at the bottom of men's hearts ; and the dregs of the dregs of human nature were revealed on this occasion. 94 THE TRIAL AXD DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST What must it have been to Jesus to look on it — to have it thrust on His sight and into contact with His very person, so that He could not get away ? What must it have been to Him, with His delicate bodily oiganism and sensitive mind, to be in the hands of those rude and ruthless men ? It was, however, necessary, in order that He might fully accomplish the work which He had come to the world to perform. He had come to redeem human- ity — to go down to the veiy lowest depths to seek and to save the lost ; and, theiefoie. He had to make close acquaintance with human nature in its worst specimens and its extremest degradation. He was to be the Saviour of sinners as bad and degraded as even these Soldiers ; and, therefore, He had to come in contact with them and see what they were. Thus have I passed as lightly as was possible over the details ; nor would my readers wish me to dwell on them furtlier. But it will be profitable to linger on this spot a little longer, in order to learn the les- sons of the scene. First, notice in the conduct of the tormentors of Jesus the abuse of one of the gifts of God. In the conduct of the Roman soldiers from first to last the most striking feature is that at every point they turned their work into horseplay and merriment. THE CROWN OF THORXS 95 Now, laughter is ti gift of God. It is a kind of spice which the Creator lias given to be taken along with the somewhat unpalatable food of ordinary life. It is a kind of sunshine to enliven the landscape, which is otherwise too dull and sombre. The power of seeing the amusing side of things immensely lightens the load of life ; and he who possesses the gift of evoking hearty and innocent mirth may be a true benefactor of his species.* But, while laughter is a gift of God, there is no other gift of His which is more frequently abused and converted from a blessing into a curse. When laughter is directed against sacred things and holy persons ; when it is used to belittle and degrade what is great and reverend ; when it is employed as a weapon with which to torture weakness and cover * A ministerial friend told me that he once, in the hearing of Dr. Andrew Bonar, made reference to some things in the life of St. Paul which seemed to him to betray on the part of the apostie a sense of humour. He was not very sure how Dr. Bonar might take such a remark, and at the close he asked if he agreed with him. "Not only," was the reply, "do I agree with you, but I go further : I think there are distinct traces of humour in the sayings and the conduct of our Lord ;" and he proceeded to quote examples. Everyone is aware how Dr. Bonar himself knew how to combine with the profoundest rev- erence and saintliness a strain of delightful mirth ; and the ab- sence of this is the great defect of his otherwise charming auto- biography. g6 THE TRIAL AXD DEA TH OF JESUS CHRIST innocence with ridicule — then, instead of being the foam on the cup at the banquet of life, it becomes a deadly poison. Laughter guided these soldiers in their inhuman acts ; it concealed from them the true nature of what they were doing ; and it wound ed Christ more deeply than even the scourge of Pilate. A second thing to be noticed is that it was against the kingly office of the Redeemer that the opposi- tion of men was directed on this occasion. It was different on a former occasion, when He was abused at the close of the ecclesiastical trial. Then it was His prophetic office that was turned into ridicule : " when they had blindfolded Him, they struck Him on the face and asked Him, saying. Prophesy w^ho is it that smote thee." Here, on the other hand, the ridicule was directed against Him entirely on the ground of His claiming to be a king. The soldiers considered it an absurdity and a joke that one apparently so mean, friendless and powerless should make any such pretensions. Many a time since then has the same derision been awakened by this claim of Christ. He is the King of nations. But earthly kings and statesmen have ridiculed the idea that His will and His law should control them in their schemes and ambitions. Even where His authority is nominally acknowledged, THE CROIVX OF THORXS 97 both aristocracies and democracies are slow to rec- ognise that their legislation and customs should be regulated by His words. He is King of the Church. Andrew Melville told King James : " There are two kings and two kingdoms in Scotland ; there is King James, the head of this commonwealth, and there is Christ Jesus, the King of the Church, whose subject James VI. is, and of whose kingdom he is not a king, nor a lord, nor a head, but a member." The entile history of the Scottish Church has been one long struggle to maintain this truth ; but the strug- gle has frequently been carried on in the face of op- position almost as scornful as that which assailed Jesus in Pilate's palace. Most vital of all is the ac- knowledgment of Christ's kingship in the realm of the individual life ; but it is here that His will is most resisted. In words we acknowledge allegiance to Him ; but in which of us has the victory over the flesh been so complete that His full claim has been conceded, to have the arrangement of our business and our leisure and to dictate what is to be done with our time, our means and our services ? A third lesson is to recognise that in what Jesus bore on this occasion He was suffering for us. Of all the features of the scene the one that has most impressed the imagination of Christendom is the crown of thorns. It was something unusual, / 98 THE TRIAL AXD DEATH OE JESUS CHRIST and brought out the ingenuity and wantonness of cruelty. Besides, as the wound of a thorn has been felt by everyone, it brings the pain of the Sufferer nearer to us than any other incident. But it is chiefly by its symbolism that it has laid hold of the Christian mind. When Adam and Eve were driven from the garden into the bleak and toilsome world, their doom was that the ground should bring forth to them thorns and thistles. Thorns were the sign of the curse ; that is, of their banishment from God's presence and of all the sad and painful con- sequences following therefrom. And does not the thorn, staring from the naked bough of winter in threatening ugliness, lurking beneath the leaves or flowers of summer to wound the approaching hand, tearing the clothes or the flesh of the traveller who tries to make his way through the thicket, burning in the flesh where it has sunk, fitly stand for that side of life which we associate with sin — the side of care, fret, pain, disappointment, disease and death ? In a word, it symbolises the curse. But it was the mission of Christ to bear the curse ; and, as He lifted it on His own head. He took it off the world. He bore our sins and carried our sorrows. "Why is it that, when we think of the crown of thorns now, it is not only with horror and pity, but with an exultation which cannot be repressed ? Be- THE CROWN OF THORNS 99 cause, cruel as was the soldiers' jest, there was a divine fitness in their act ; and wisdom was, even through their sin, fulfilling her own intention. There are some persons with faces so handsome that the meanest dress, which would excite laughter or dis- gust if worn by others, looks well on them, and the merest shreds of ornament, stuck on them anyhow, are more attractive than the most elaborate toilets of persons less favoured by nature. And so about Christ there was something which converted into ornaments even the things flung at Him as insults. When they called Him the Friend of publicans and sinners, though they did it in derision, they were giving Him a title for which a hundred generations have loved Him ; and so, when they put on His head the crown of thorns, they were unconsciously bestowing the noblest wreath that man could weave Him. Down through the ages Jesus passes, still wearing the crown of thorns ; and His followers and lovers desire for Him no other diadem. Fourthly, this scene teaches the lesson of patience in suffering. I remember a saint whom it was my privilege to visit in the beginning of my life as a minister. Though poor and uneducated, she was a person of very unusual natural powers ; her ideas were sin- gularly original, and she had a charming pleasant- ^'iU'rA lOO THE TRIAL AND DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST ness of wit. Though not very old, she knew that she was doomed to die ; and the disease from which she was suffering was one of the most painful inci- dent to humanity. Often, I remember, she would tell me, that, when the torture was at the worst, she lay thinking of the sufferings of the Saviour, and said to herself that the shooting pains were not so bad as the spikes of the thorns. Christ's sufferings are a rebuke to our softness and self-pleasing. It is not, indeed, wrong to enjoy the comforts and the pleasures of life. God sends these ; and, if we receive them with gratitude, they may lift us nearer to Himself. But we are too ter- rified to be parted from them and too afraid of pain and poverty. Especially ought the sufferings of Christ to brace us up to endure whatever of pain or reproach we may have to encounter for His sake. Many would like to be Christians, but are kept back from decision by dread of the laughter of profane companions or by the prospect of some worldly loss. But we cannot look at the suffering Saviour without being ashamed of such cowardly fears. If the crown of thorns now becomes Christ so well as to be the pride and the song of men and angels, be assured that any twig from that crown which we may have to wear will one day turn out to be our most daz- zling ornament. CHAPTER VIII. THE SHIPWRECK OF PILATE WE have lingered long at the judgment-seat of Pilate. Far too long. Pilate has detained us. He knew perfectly well, the first glance he bestowed on the case, what it was his duty to do. But, instead of acting at once on his conviction, he put off. Of such delay good seldom comes. Pilate gave temptation time to assail him. He resisted it, indeed ; he fought hard and long against it ; but he ought never to have given it the chance. And he miserably succumbed in the end. I. When Pilate delivered Jesus over to be scourged, it looked as if he had surrendered Him to the cross ; and so in all probability the Jews thought, because scourging was the usual preliminary to crucifixion. He, however, had not yet abandoned the hope of saving Jesus : he was still secretly adhering to the proposal he had made, to chastise Him and then let I02 THE TRIAL AXD DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST Him go. Perhaps, if he retired into the palace while the scourging was taking place, his wife may- have urged him to make a further effort on behalf of that Just Man. At all events he came out on the platform, round which the Jews were still standing, and informed them that the case was not finished ; and, as Jesus, whose scourging was now over, came forward, he turned round and, pointing to Him, exclaimed with deep emotion, " Behold the Man." It was an involuntary expression of commisera- tion,* an appeal to the Jews to recognize the unrea- sonableness of proceeding further : Jesus was so obviously not such an one as they had tried to make Him out to be : at all events He had suffered enough. But the Christian mind has in all ages felt in these words a sense deeper than Pilate intended. As Caiaphas was uttering a greater truth than he knew when he said it was expedient that one should * Perhaps also of admiration. Pilate had never before seen so impressive a specimen of humanity ; and the contrast between the sweetness and majesty of His appearance and the indignities which He had suffered drew from him this involuntary exclama- tion. One recalls Shakespeare's words about Brutus : " His life was gentle, and the elements So mixed in him, that nature might stand up And sav to all the world, This was a Man !" THE SHIPWRECK OF PILATE 103 die for the whole people, so in uttering this exclama- tion the governor was an unconscious prophet. Preachers in every subsequent age have adopted his words and, pointing to Jesus, ciied, " Behold the Man !" Painters have chosen this moment, when Jesus came forth, bleeding from the cruel stripes and wearing the purple robe and crown of thorns, as the one in which to portray the Man of Sorrows; and many a priceless canvas beais the title Ecce Homo. From Pilate's lips there fell two words which the world will never forget — the question, " What is truth ?" and this exclamation, " Behold the Man !" And the one may be taken as the answer to the other. When the question, " What is truth ?" is put with deep earnestness, what does it mean but this ? — -Who will make God known to us ? who will clear up the mystery of existence ? who will reveal to man his own destiny ? And to these questions is there any answer but this : " Behold the Man" ? He has shown to the sons of men what they ought to be ; His is the perfect life, after which every hu- man life ought to be fashioned ; He has opened the gates of immortality and revealed the secrets of the other world. And, what is far more important. He has not only shown us what our life here and here- after ought to be, but how the ideal may be real- I04 THE TRIAL AND DEATH OE JESUS CHRIST ised. He is not only the image of perfection but the Saviour from sin. Therefore ought the world to turn to Him and " behold the Man." n. Pilate hoped that the sight of the sufferings of Jesus would move the hard hearts of His perse- cutors, as it had moved his own. But the only re- sponse to his appeal was, " Crucify Him, crucify Him." It is to be noted, however, that these cruel words now came from " the chief priests and offi- cers." Apparently the common people were moved : they might have yielded, if their superiors had al- lowed them. But nothing could move those hard hearts ; indeed, the sight of blood only inflamed them the more ; and they felt certain that by sheer persistence they could break down Pilate's opposi- tion. He was at his wits' end and replied to them angrily, " Take ye Him and crucify Him ; for I find no fault in Him" ; meaning probably, that he was willing to yield the Prisoner up to their will, if they would take the responsibility of executing Him ; if, indeed, he had in his mind any clear meaning and was not merely uttering an exclamation of annoy- ance. THE SHIPWRECK OF PILATE 1 05 They perceived that the critical moment had ar- rived, and at last they let out the true reason for which they desired His death : " We have a law, and by our law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God." This was the ground on which they had con- demned Him themselves, though up to this point they had kept it concealed. They had not men- tioned it, because they thought that Pilate would jeer at it. It had on him, however, a very different effect. All the morning he had been feeling un- easy ; and the more he saw of Jesus the more he disliked the part he was playing. But now at length the mention of His claim to be the Son of God caused his fears to take a definite and alarming shape. It revived in his mind the stories, with which his own pagan religion was rife, of gods or sons of the gods who had sometimes appeared on earth in disguise. It was dangerous to have to do with them ; for any injury inflicted on them, even unconsciously, might be terribly avenged. He had discerned in Jesus something mysterious and inex- plicable : w^hat if He were the son of Jehovah, the native deity of Palestine, as Castor and Pollux were sons of Jupiter ? and might not Jehovah, if He Xvere injured, blast the man who wronged Him with a curse ? Such was the terror that flashed through io6 THE TRIAL AND DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST his mind ; and, taking Jesus once more inside the palace, he asked Him, with a mixture of awe and curiosity, " Whence art Thou ?" Jesus gave him no answer, but again retired into the majestic silence which at three points already had marked His trial. In the whole conduct of the Saviour in His sufferings there is nothing more sub- lime than these pauses ; but it is not easy at every point to gauge the state of mind to which they were due. Why was Jesus silent at this point ? Some have said, because it was impossible to answer the question. He could not have said either Yes or No ; for, if He had said that God was His Father, Pilate would have understood the statement in a grossly pagan sense ; and yet, to avoid this. He could not say that He was not the Son of God. So it was best to say nothing. The true explanation, however, is simpler. Jesus would say nothing about whether He was the Son of God or not, because He did not wish to be re- leased on this ground. Not as a son of God, but as an innocent man, which Pilate had again and again acknowledged Him to be, was He entitled to be set free ; and His silence called upon Pilate to act on this acknowledgment. The judge was more than ever astonished ; and he was irritated a little at being thus treated. *' Speak- THE SHIPWRECK OF PILATE 107 est Thou not unto me?" he asked, flushing; " knowest Thou not that I have power to crucify Thee and have power to release Thee ?" Poor man ! it was to be seen before many minutes had passed how much power he had. And what was this power of which he boasted ? He spoke as if he had arbitrary discretion to do whatever he pleased. No just judge would make such a claim : justice takes from him the power to follow his own inclination if it be unjust. It was of this Jesus reminded him when He now answered with quiet dignity, " Thou couldest have no power at all against Me, unless it were given thee from above." * He reminds him that the power he wields is delegated by Heaven, and therefore not to be used according to his own caprice, but according to the dictates of justice. Yet He added, " Therefore he that delivered Me unto thee hath the greater sin." He acknowledged that Pilate was in a position in which he was com- pelled to try the case : he had not taken it up at his own hand, as the Jewish authorities had done. Thus Jesus recognised all the difficulties of His judge's position and was willing to make for him every allowance. This w'as He whom Pilate had, a * We are much tempted on account of the " therefore" to ex- plain " from above" as referring to the Jewish tribunal. Io8 THE TRIAL AXD DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST few minutes before, given over to torture. Was there ever such sublime and unselfish clemency ? Could there have been a more complete triumph over resentment and irritation ? If the silence of Christ was sublime, no less sublime, when He did speak, were His words. III. Pilate felt the greatness and the magnanimity of his Prisoner, and came forth determined at all haz- ards to set Him free. The Jews saw it in his face. And at length they brought out their last weapon, which they had been keeping in reserv-e and Pilate had been fearing all the time : they threatened to complain against him to the emperor ; for this was the meaning of what they now cried : "If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar's friend : whoso- ever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar." There was nothing which a Roman provincial governor so much dreaded as a complaint lodged against him at Rome. And in Pilate's case such an accusation, for more reasons than one, would have been specially perilous. The imperial throne was occupied at the time by one who was a most suspi- cious master. Tiberius seemed to delight in humili- ating and disgracing his subordinates. Besides, at THE SHIPWRECK OF PILATE 109 this very period he was pecuUarly dangerous. A diseased body, the punishment of vices long in- dulged, had made his mind gloomy and savage ; in fact, he was little better than a madman — morose, suspicious and malicious. Nor was any charge so likely to inflame him as the one which they pro- posed to lay against Pilate. It was well known at Rome that the hope of a Messiah was spread throughout the East ; and any provincial governor supposed to be favouring or even conniving at the claims of such a pretender would certainly be re- called, probably exiled, and possibly executed. Amicus CcFsaris, " Caesar's friend," was one of the most coveted titles of a man in Pilate's position ; and to be accused of acting as no friend of Caesar's could act was the most serious of all dangers. But there was something else which lent point to the threat of the Jewish authorities : Pilate well knew that his administration could not bear the light of an investigation such as would inevitably follow a complaint from his subjects. It is a curi- ous thing that in a secular writer of that age we find an account of another occasion on which this same threat was held over Pilate ; and the writer who mentions it adds : " He was afraid that if a Jewish embassy were sent to Rome, they might discuss the many maladministrations of his government, his ex- no THE TRIAL AND DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST tortious, his unjust decrees, his inhuman punish- ments." * Such had been the character of Pilate's past life ; and now, when he was going to do a humane and righteous act, it stayed his hand. There is nothing which so frustrates good resolu- tions and paralyzes noble efforts as the dead weight of past sins. Those who are acquainted with secret and discreditable chapters of a man's history are able, wielding this knowledge over his head, to say, Thou shalt not do this good act which thou wishest to do, or. Thou shalt do this evil and shameful thing which we bid thee. There are companies in which men cannot utter the fine, high-sounding things they would say elsewhere, because there are present those who know how their lives have contra- dicted them. What is it that mocks the generous thought rising in our minds, that silences the noble word on our lips, that paralyzes the forming energy of our actions ? Is it not the internal whisper. Re- member- how you have failed before ? This is the curse of past sin : it will not let us do the good we would. But, if a man has thus com.mitted himself by an evil past, what is he to do ? What ought Pilate to have done ? There is only one course. It is to summon together the resources of his manhood, * Philo. THE SHIPWRECK OF PILATE defy consequences, and do the right forthwitli, come what may. One step taken in loyalty to con- science, one word of confession spoken, and in a moment the power of the tyranny is broken, and the spellbound man is free to issue forth from the inglorious prison of the past. Alas, Pilate was not equal to any such effort. For the sake of righteousness, for the sake of this impressive and innocent but obscure and friendless Galilean, to face a complaint at Rome and run the risk of exile and poverty — the man of the world's philosophy could not rise to any such height. He belonged to the world, whose fashion and favour, pleasures and comforts were the breath of his nos- trils ; and, when he heard the menace of his sub- jects, he surrendered at discretion. Thus Jewish passion and persistency triumphed. Pilate resisted, but he was forced to yield inch by inch. He wished to do right ; he felt the spell of Jesus ; and it irritated him to have to go against his conscience, but his subjects compelled him to obey their wicked will. Yet the true reason of his failure was in himself — in the shallowness and world- liness of his own character, which this occasion laid bare to the very foundations.* * It is a striking illustration of the irony of history that Pilate 112 THE TRIAL AXD DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST IV. There was little more to do. The mind of Pilate was very savage and his heart very sore. He had been beaten and humiliated ; and he would gladly inflict some humiliation on his opponents, if he could find a way. He ascended the judgment-seat, " in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the He- brew Gabbatha" — an act similar in significance, I suppose, with our judges' habit, before pronouncing a death sentence, of putting on the black cap. Pointing to Jesus, he exclaimed, " Behold your King !" It was as much as to say that he believed this really to be their Messiah — this poor, bleeding, mishandled Man. He was trying to cut them with a taunt. And he succeeded : smarting with pain they shouted, " Awa)' with Him ! away with Him I crucify Him!" " What," he proceeded, "shall I crucify your King?" And, borne away with fury, was overtaken by the very fate to escape which he abandoned Jesus. Soon after the Crucifixion his subjects lodged a complaint against him at Rome. He was recalled from his province and never returned. Ultimately, it is said, he terminated his exist- ence with his own hand, " wearied out with miseries." Many legends in subsequent centuries clustered about his name. Several spots were supposed to be haunted by his restless and despairing spirit, notably a spring in Switzerland on the top of Mount Pilatus, which was thought to have derived its name from him ; but this is more tnan doubtful. THE Sir fP IV RECK OF PILATE 113 they responded, " VVe have no king but Caesar." What a word to come from the representatives of a nation to which pertained " the adoption and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the law and the service of God and the promises !" It was the renouncement of their birthright, the abandon- ment of their destiny. Pilate well knew what it had cost their proud hearts thus to forswear the hopes of their fathers and acknowledge the right of their conqueror ; but to compel them to swallow this bitter draught was some compensation for the cup of humiliation they had compelled him to drink. And he took them at their word. CHAPTER IX. JUDAS ISCA R lOT TO the civil trial of our Lord there is a sad ap- pendix, as we have already had one to the ecclesiastical trial. Christ's great confession in the palace of the high priest was accompanied by the great denial of Peter outside ; and the proceedings in the court of Pontius Pilate were accompanied by the final act of the treachery of Judas. Only in the latter case we are not able with the same accuracy to fix the circumstances of time and place. . I. Judas is one of the darkest riddles of human his- tory. In the Vision of Hell the poet Dante, after traversing the circles of the universe of woe, in which each separate kind of wickedness receives its peculiar punishment, arrives at last, in the company of his guide, at the nethermost circle of all, in the very bottom of the pit, where the worst of all sinners and the basest of all sins JUDAS I SCAR 10 T 1 15 are undergoing retribution. It is a lake not of fire but of ice, beneatli wliose transparent surface are visible, fixed in painful postures, the figures of those who have betrayed their benefactors ; because this, in Dante's estimation, is the worst of sins. In the midst of them stands out, vast and hideous, " the emperor who sways the realm of woe"^ — -Satan himself ; for this was the crime which lost him Paradise. And the next most conspicuous figure is Judas Iscariot. He is in the mouth of Satan, being champed and torn by his teeth as in a ponderous engine. Such was the mediaeval view of this man and his crime. But in modern times opinion has swung round to the qpposite extreme. Ours is an age of toleration, and one of its favourite occupations is the rehabilitation of evil reputations. Men and women who have stood for centuries in the pillory of history are being taken down ; their cases are re- tried ; and they are set up on pedestals of admira- tion. Sometimes this is done with justice, but is other cases it has been carried to absurdity. No- body, it would appear, has ever been very bad ; the criminals and scoundrels have been men whose mo- tives have been misunderstood. Among those on whose behalf the attempt has thus been made to re- verse the verdict of history is Judas Iscariot. Eigh- ii6 THE TRIAL A. YD DEATH OE JESUS CHRIST teen centuiies had agreed to regard him as the meanest of mankind, but in our century he has been transmuted into a kind of hero. The theory is of German origin ; but it was presented to the English public by De Quincey, who adorned it with all the persuasiveness of his meretricious genius. It is held that the motive of Judas was totally dif- ferent from the one hitherto supposed : it was not filthy lucre. The smallness of the price for which he sold his Master — it was less than four pounds of our money, though the value of this sum was much greater then — proves that there must have been an- other motive. The traditional conception is incon- sistent with Christ's choice of him to be a disciple ; and it is irreconcilable with the tragic greatness of his repentance. His view of Christ's enterprise was no doubt of a material cast : he expected Christ to be a king, and hoped to hold a high place in His court : but these ideas were common to all the dis- ciples, who to the very end were waiting to see their Master throw off the cloak of His humble condition and take to Himself His great power and reign ; only they left the time and the means in their Mas- ter's hands, not venturing to criticise His proceed- ings. Judas was not so patient. He was a man of energy and practicality, and he allowed himself to believe that he had discerned a defect in the char- JUDAS I SCAR 10 T acter of his jNIaster. Jesus was too spiritual and un- worldly for the enterprise on which he had em- barked — too much occupied with healing, preaching and speculating. These would be well enough when once the kingdom was established ; but He was losing His opportunities. His delay hatl turned against Him the autlioritative classes. One vast force, indeed, was still on His side — the en- thusiasm of the populace — but even of it He was not taking advantage. When, on Palm Sunday, He was borne into the capital by a crowd throbbing with Messianic expectation, He seemed to have in His hand what Judas supposed to be the object of His life ; but He did nothing, and the crowd dis- persed, disappointed and disheartened. What Jesus required was to be precipitated into a situation where He would be compelled to act. He lacked energy and decision ; but, if He were delivered into the hands of the authorities, who were known to be seeking His life, He could hesitate no longer. When they laid hands on Him, He would of course liberate Himself from them, and His miraculous power would exhibit itself in forms so irresisti- ble as to awaken universal enthusiasm. Thus would His kingdom be set up in magnificence ; and the man whom the king would delight to honour would surely be the humble follower by Il8 THE TRIAL AXD DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST whose shrewdness and audacity the crisis had been brought about. II. Even if this were the true history of Judas, his conduct would not, perhaps, be as innocent as it looks. In the course of His life our Lord had fre- quently to deal with persons who attempted, from what appeared to themselves to be good motives, to interfere with His plans — to precipitate Him into action before His time or to restrain Him when His time had come — and He always resented such inter- ference with indignation. Even His own mother was not spared when she played this part. To do God's will exactly, neither more nor less, neither anticipating it nor lagging behind it, was the inner- most principle of the life of Jesus ; and He treated any interference with it as a suggestion of the Evil One. Still the theory w411 not hold water. The Scrip- tures know nothing of it, and it is inconsistent with the tone of moral repulsion in which they speak of Judas. Besides, they assign a totally different mo- tive. They affirm that Judas was a thief and stole out of the bag from which Jesus gave to the poor and supplied His own wants — a sacrilege which most thieves would have scorned. It is in entire JUDAS I SCAR 10 T. 119 accordance with this that the word with which he approached the Sanhedrim was, " How much will ye give me ?" That he was willing to accept so lit- tle proves how strong his passion was. It is altogether impossible that a character of this kind can have been combined with the generous although mistaken enthusiasm which the theory at- tributes to him.* But, on the other hand, the pas- sion of avarice may easily have been nourished by brooding with disappointment on Messianic visions ; and the theory of De Ouincey may supply impor- tant hints for unravelling the mystery of his career. There can be no doubt that at one time the life of Judas seemed full of promise. Jesus, who was so strict about permitting any to follow Him, would not have chosen him into the apostolic circle unless he had exhibited enthusiasm for His person and His cause. He well knew, indeed, that in his motives there was a selfish alloy ; but this was the case with all His followers ; and fellowship with Himself was the fire in which the alloy was to be purged out. In the other apostles this process actually took place : they were refined by fellowship with Him. Their worldliness, indeed, remained to the end of * Hanna, in The Last Day of Our Lord's Passion, attempts to combine both motives, but without being able really to unite them ; they remain as distinct as oil and water. I20 THE TRIAL AXD DEATH OE JESUS CHRIST His earthly career, but it was growing less and less ; and other ties, stronger than their hopes of earthly glory, were slowly but surely binding them indis- solubly to His cause. In Judas, on the contrary, the reverse process took place : what was good in him giew less and less, and at last the sole bond which lield him to Christ was what he could make out of the connection. When the suspicion first dawned on him that the hope of a Messianic kingdom was not to be fulfilled, the inner man of Judas underwent a critical change. This happened a year before the end, on the occa- sion when Christ resisted the attempt of His follow- ers to take Him by force and make Him a king, and when many of His disciples went back and walked no more with Him. At that time Jesus warned Judas against the evil spirit which he was allowing to take possession of his mind by the strong saying, " Have I not chosen you twelve ? and one of you is a devil." But the disciple did not heed the warn- ing. Perhaps it was at this stage that he com- menced to steal from the bag which he carried. He felt that he must have some tangible reward for following Christ, and he justified his peculation by saying to himself that what he was taking was in- finitely less than he had been led to expect. He regarded himself as an ill-used man. JUDAS I SCAR 10 T 12I Under the practice of this secret sin his character could not but rapidly deteriorate. Jesus dropped a word of warning now and then ; but it had the re- verse of the desired effect. Judas knew that Jesus knew ; and he grew to hate Him. This was by far the worst aspect of the case. The other disciples were becoming more and more attached to their Master, because they felt increasingly how much they owed Him ; but Judas did not feel that he owed Him anything : on the contrary, his feeling was that he had been betrayed. Why should he not betray in turn ? There may even have been an element of scorn in selling Christ for so little. More than one of the Evangelists seem to connect the treachery of Judas directly with the scene at Bethany in which Mary anointed Jesus with costly ointment. Apparently this beautiful act brought all the evil in his heart to such a head that an out- break could no longer be deferred. His spite found vent in the angry contention that the money ought to have been given to the poor. It was a large sum, off which he could have taken an unusually large slice of booty. But probably there was more in the occasion to incense Judas. To him this feasting and anointing, at the moment when the crisis of Christ's fortunes had obviously come, appeared sheer folly ; as a practical man he despised it. It 122 THE TRIAL AND DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST was manifest that the game was up ; a leader loiter- ing and dreaming in this fashion at the crisis of his fate was doomed. It was time to get out of tiie ship, for it was clearly sinking ; but he would do so in such a way as to gratify his resentment, his scorn and his love of money all at once. Thus the master-passion of Judas was nourished from potent springs. But, indeed, avarice in itself is one of the most powerful of motives. In the teaching of the pulpit it may seldom be noticed, but both in Scripture and in history it occupies a promi- nent place. It is questionable if anything else makes so many ill deeds to be dene. Avarice breaks all the commandments. Often has it put the weapon into the hand of the murderer ; in most countries of the world it has in every age made the ordinary business of the market-place a warfare of falsehood ; the bodies of men and the hearts of w^omen have been sold for gold. Why is it that gigantic wrongs flourish from age to age, and prac- tices utterly indefensible are continued with the overwhelming sanction of society ? It is because there is money in them. Avarice is a passion of demonic strength ; but it may help us to keep it out of our hearts to remember that it was the sin of Judas. fUDAS ISC A RIOT 123 III. The repentance of Judas is alleged as the sign of a superior spirit. Certainly it is an indication of the goodness which he once possessed, because it is only by the light of a spark of goodness that the darkness of sin can be perceived ; and the more the conscience has been enlightened the severer is the reaction when it is outraged. Those v/ho have in any degree shared the company of Christ can never afterwards be as if they had not enjoyed this privi- lege ; and religion, if it does not save, will be the cruellest element in the soul's perdition. It is not certain at what point the reaction in the mind of Judas set in.* There were many incidents of the trial well calculated to awaken in him a re- vulsion of feeling. At length, however, T:he retribu- tive powers bf conscience were thoroughly aroused — those powers which in all literature have formed the theme of the deepest tragedy ; which in the Bible are typified by Cain, escaping as a fugitive and a vagabond from the cry of his brother's * If, as St. Matthew seems to indicate, Judas disappeared from the scene long before the end of the trial, this is strongly against the theory of De Quincey, according to which he must have stayed to the last moment, hoping to see Jesus assert Him- self. 124 THE TRIAL AND DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST blood ; which in Greek literature are shadowed forth by the terrible figures of the Eumenides, with gorgon faces and blood-dropping eyes, following si- lently but remorselessly those upon whose track they have been set ; and which in Shakespeare are repre- sented in the soul-curdling scenes of Macbeth and Richard III. He was seized with an uncontrollable desire to undo what he had done. The money, on which his heart had been set, was now like a spec- tre to his excited fanc}'. Every coin seemed to be an eye through which eternal justice was gazing at his crime or to have a tongue crying out for ven- geance. As the murderer is irresistibly drawn back to the spot where his victim lies, he returned to the place where his deed of treachery had been transact- ed and, confronting those by whom he had been employed, handed back the money with the passion- ate confession, "I have betrayed innocent blood." But he had come to miserable comforters. With cynical disdain they asked, "What is that to us? See thou to that." They had been cordial enough to him when he had come before, but now, after the instrument has served their turn, they fling it con- temptuously aside. The miserable man had to turn away from the scorn of the partners of his guilt ; but he could keep the money no longer- -it was burning in his hands — and, before escaping from JL'DAS ISC A RIOT 1 25 the precincts, he flung it down. This is said to have happened in that part of the temple which could be entered only by the priests ; * and he must either have made a rush across the forbidden thresh- old or availed himself of an open door to fling it in. Not only did he desire to be rid of it, but a passion- ate impulse urged hirn to leave with the priests their own share of the guilt. Then he rushed away from the temple. But Vvdiere was he going ? Oh that it had been in him to flee to Christ — -that, bi-eaking through all obsta- cles and rules, he had rushed to Him wherever He was to be found and cast himself at His feet ! What if the soldiers had cut him down ? Then he would have been the martyr of penitence, and that very day he would have been with Christ in Paradise. Judas repented of his sin ; he confessed it ; he cast fiom him the reward of iniquity ; but his penitence lacked the element which is most essential of -all — he did not turn to God. True repentance is not the mere horror and excitement of a terrified con- science : it is the call of God ; it is letting go the evil because the good has prevailed ; it includes faith as vi'ell as fear. * Ev ~Ui vaCi. 126 THE TRIAL AND DEATH OE JESUS CHRIST IV. The manner of his end is also used as an argu- ment in favour of the more honourable view of Judas. The act of suicide is one which has not in- frequently been invested with a glamour of romance, and to go out of life the Roman way, as it is called, has been considered, even by Christians, an evi- dence of unusual strength of mind. The very re- verse is, however, the true character of suicide : ex- cept in those melancholy cases where the reason is impaired, it must be pronounced the most con- temptible act of which a human being is capable. It is an escape from the burdens and responsibili- ties of existence ; but these burdens and responsi- bilities are left to be borne by others, and along with them is left aa intolerable heritage of shame. From a religious point of view it appears in a still worse light. Not only does the suicide, as even heathen writers have argued, desert the post of duty where Providence has placed him, but he virtually denies the character and even the existence of God. He denies His character, for, if he believed in His mercy and love, he would flee to instead of from Him ; and he denies His existence, for no one who believed that he was to meet God on the other side JUDAS ISC A RIOT 127 of the veil would dare in this disorderly v/ay to rush into Ilis presence. The mode of Judas' suicide was chatacteristically base. Hanging does not appear to have been at all usual among the Jews. In the entire Old Testa- ment there is said to occur only a single case ; and, strange to say, it is that of the man who, in the principal act of his life also, was the prototype of Judas. Ahithophel, the counsellor and friend of David, betrayed his master, as Judas betrayed Christ ; and he came to the same ignominious end. It would seem, further, that the hanging of Judas was accompanied with circumstances of unusual horror. This we gather from the account in the be- ginning of Acts.* The terms employed are ob- scure ; but they probably signify that the suicidal act was attended by a clumsy accident, in conse- quence of which the body, being suspended over a precipice and suddenly dropped by the snapping of the rope, was mangled in a shocking manner, which made a profound impression on all who heard of it.f And this sense of his end being accursed was fur- * St. Matthew knows best the beginning, St. Luke the end of the story. f De Quincey's interpretation of the words as a description of mental anguish must be felt by every reader of the brilliant essay to be forced and unnatural. 128 THE TRIAL AXD BE A Til OE JESTS CHRIST ther accentuated in the minds of the early Christians by the circumstance that the money for which he had sold Christ was eventually used for the pur- chase of a graveyard for burying strangers in. The priests, though they picked up the coins from the floor over which Judas had strewn them, did not, scrupulous men, consider them good enough to be put in the sacred treasury ; so they applied them to this purpose. Tlie public wit, heaiing of it, dubbed the place the Field of Blood ; and thus the cemetery became a kind of monument to the traitor, of which he took possession as the first of the outcasts for whom it was designed. The world has agreed to regard Judas as the chief of sinners ; but, in so judging, it has exceeded its prerogative. Man is not competent to judge his brother. The master-passion of Judas was a base one ; Dante may be right in considering treachery the worst of crimes ; and the supreme excellence of Christ affixes an unparalleled stigma to the injury inflicted on Him. But the motives of action are too hidden, and the history of every deed is too complicated, to justify us in saying who is the worst of men. It is not at all likely that those whom human opinion would rank highest in merit or saintliness will be assigned the same positions in the JUDAS ISC A RIOT 1 29 rewards of the last day ; and it is just as unlikely that human estimates are right when they venture to assign the degrees of final condemnation. Two things it is our duty to do in regard to Judas : first, not so to palliate his sin as to blunt the healthy, natural abhorrence of it ; and, secondly, not to think of him as a sinner apart and alone, with a nature so different from our own that to us he can be no example. But for the rest, there is only one verdict which is at once righteous, dignified and safe ; and it is contained in the declaration of St. Peter, that he " went to his own place." CHAPTER X. VIA DOLOROSA WE hav'e finished the first part of our theme — the Trial of Jesus- — ^and turn ucnv to tlie sec- ond ami more solemji part of it — His Death. The trial had been httle better than a mockery of jus- tice : on the part of the ecclesiastical authority it was a foregone conclusion, and on the part of the civil authority it was the suriendcr of a life ac- knowledged to be innocent to the ends of selfishness and policy. But at last it was over, and nothing remained but to carry the unjust sentence into exe- cution. So tlie tribunal t)f Pilate was closed for the day ; the precincts of the palace were deserted by the multitude ; and the procession of death was formed. I. Persons condemned to death in modern times arc allowed a few weeks, or at least days, to prepare for eternity ; but Jesus was crucified the same day on which He was condemned. There was a merciful VIA DOLOROSA 131 law of Rome in existence at the time, ordaining that ten days should intervene between the passing of a capital sentence and its execution ; but either this was not intended for use in the provinces or Jesus was judged to be outside the scope of its mercy, be- cause He had made Himself a king. At all events He was hurried straight from tlie judgment-seat to the place of execution, witliout opportunity for preparation or farewells. Of course the sentence was carried out by the s(j1- diers of Pilate. St. Jcjhn, indeed, speaks as if Pilate had simply surrendered Him into the hands of the Jews, and they had seen to the execution. But this only means that the moral responsibility was theirs. They did everything in their power to identify them- selves with the deed. So intent were they on the death of Jesus, that they could not leave the work to the proper parties, but followed the executioners and superintenfled their operations. The actual work, however, was performed by the hands of Roman soldiers with a centurion at their head. In this country executions are now carried out in private, inside the walls of the prison in which the criminal has been confined. Not many years ago, however, they took place in public ; and not many generations ago the procession of death made a tour of the public streets, that the condemned man might 132 THE TRIAL AXD DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST come under the observation and maledictions of as many of the public as possible. This also was the manner of Christ's death. Both among the Jews and the Romans executions took place outside the gate of the city. The traditional scene of Christ's death, over which the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is built, is inside the present walls, but those who believe in its authenticity maintain that it was out- side the wall of that date. This, however, is ex- tremely doubtful ; and, indeed, it is quite uncertain outside which gate of the city the execution took place. The name Calvary or Golgotha probably indicates that the spot was a skull like knoll ; but there is no reason to think that it was a hill of the size supposed by designating it Mount Calvary. In- deed, there is no hill near any gate corresponding to the image in the popular imagination. In mod- ern Jerusalem there is a street pointed out as the veritable Via Dolorosa along which the procession passed ; but this also is more than doubtful. Like ancient Rome, ancient Jerusalem is buried beneath the rubbish of centuries.* From the scene of the trial to the supposed site of the execution is nearly a raile. And it is quite possible that Jesus may have had to travel as far or farther, while an ever- * Interesting details in Ross's Cradle of Christianity, VIA DOLOROSA 133 increasing multitude of spectators gathered round the advancing procession. One special indignity connected with the punish- ment of crucifixion was that the condemned man had to carry on his back through the streets the cross upon which he was about to suffer. In pic- tures the cross of Jesus is generally represented as a lofty structure, such as a number of men would have been needed to carry ; but the reality was something totally different : it was not much above the height of a man,* and there was just enough of wood to support the body. But the weight was considerable, and to carry it on the back which had been torn with scourging must have been excessively painful. Another source of intense pain was the crown of thorns, if, indeed, He still wore it. We are told that before the procession set out towards Gol- gotha the robes of mockery were taken off and His own garments put on ; but it is not said that the crown of thorns was removed. Most cruel of all, however, was the shame. There was a kind of savage irony in making the man carry the implement on which he was to suffer ; and, in * A soldier was able to reach up to the lips of Christ on the cross with a sponge on a reed. 134 THE TRIAL AND DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST point of fact, throughout classical literature this mode of punishment is a constant theme of savage banter and derision.* There is evidence that the imagination of Jesus had occupied itself specially beforehand with this portion of His sufferings. Long before the end He had predicted the kind of death He should die ; but even before these predictions had commenced He had described the sacrifices which would have to be made by those who became His disciples as cross- bearing — as if this were the last extreme of suffering and indignity. Did He so call it simply because His knowledge of the world informed Him of this as one of the greatest indignities of human life ? or was it the foreknowledge that He Himself was to be one day in this position which coloured His lan- guage ? We can hardly doubt that the latter was the case. And now the hour on which His imagi- nation had dwelt was come, and in weakness and helplessness He had to bear the cross in the sight of thousands who regarded Him with scorn. To a noble spirit there is no trial more severe than shame — to be the object of cruel mirth and insolent tri- umph. Jesus had the lofty and refined self-con- sciousness of one who never once had needed to * See Horace, S. ii. 7, 47 ; E. i. 16, 48. VIA DOLOROSA 135 cringe or stoop. He loved and honoured men too much not to wish to be loved and honoured by them ; He had enjoyed days of unbounded popu- larity, but now His soul was filled with reproach to the uttermost ; apd He could have appropriated the words of the Psalm, " I am a worm and no man ; a reproach of men and despised of the people." The reproach of Christ is all turned into glory now ; and it is very difficult to realise how abject the reality was. Nothing perhaps brings this out so well as the fact that two robbers were sent away to be executed with Him. This has been regarded as a special insult offered to the Jews by Pilate, who wished to show how contemptuously he could treat One whom he affected to believe their king. But more likely it is an indication of how little more Christ was to the Roman officials than any one of the prisoners whom they put through their hands day by day. Pilate, no doubt, had been interested and puzzled more than usual ; but, after all, Jesus was only one of many ; His execution could be made part of the same job with that of the other prisoners on hand. And so the three, bearing their crosses, issued from the gates of the palace together and took the Dolorous Way. 136 THE TRIAL AXD DEA TH OF JESUS CHRIST II. Though He bore His own cross out of the palace of Pilate, He was not able to carry it far. Either He sank beneath it on the road or He was proceeding with such slow and faltering steps that the soldiers, impatient of the delay, recognised that the burden inust be removed from His shoulders. The severity of the scourging was in itself sufficient to account for this breakdown ; but, besides, we are to con- sider the sleepless night through which He had passed, with its anxiety and abuse ; and before it there had been the agony of Gethsemane. No wonder His exhaustion had reached a point at which it was absolutely impossible for Him to proceed far- ther with such a t^urden. One or two of the soldiers might have relieved Him ; but, in the spirit of horseplay and mischief which had characterised their pait of the proceed- ings from the moment when Christ fell into their hands, they lay hold of a casual passer-by and lequisitioned his services for the purpose. He was coming in from the region beyond the gate as they were going out, and they acted under the sanctio-n of military law or custom. To the man it must have been an extreme annoy- ance and indignity. Doubtlfss he was bent on VIA DOLOROSA 137 business of his own, which had to be deferred. His family or his fiiends might be waiting for him, but he was turned the opposite way. To touch the in- strument of death was as revolting to him as it would be to us to handle the hangman's rope ; per- haps more so, because it was Passover time, and this would make him ceremonially unclean. It was a jest of the soldiers, and he was their laughing- stock. As he walked by the side of the robbers, it looked as if he were on the way to execution him- self. This is a lively image of the cross-bearing to which the followers of Chiist are called. We are wont to speak of trouble of any kind as a cross ; and doubtless any kind of trouble may be borne bravely in the name of Christ. But, properly speak- ing, the cross of Christ is what is borne in the act of confessing Him or for the sake of His work. When anyone makes a stand for principle, because he is a Christian, and takes the consequences in the shape of scorn or loss, this is the cross of Christ. The pain you may feel in speaking to another in Christ's name, the sacrifice of comfort or time j^ou may make in engaging in Christian work, the self- denial you exercise in giving of your means that the cause of Christ may spread at home or abroad, the reproach 3'ou may have to bear by identifying your- 138 THE TRIAL AND DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST self with militant causes or with despised persons, because you believe they are on Christ's side — in such conduct lies the cross of Christ. It involves trouble, discomfort and sacrifice. One may fret under it, as Simon did ; one may sink under it, as Jesus did Himself ; it is ugly, painful, shameful often ; but no disciple is without it. Our Master said, " He that taketh not his cross and followeth after Me is not worthy of Me." III. The one thing which makes Simon an imperfect type of the cross-bearer is that we are uncertain whether or not he bore the burden voluntarily. The Roman soldiers forced it on him ; but was it force-work and nothing else ? Some have supposed that he was an adherent of Christ ; but it is extremely improbable that, just at the moment when the soldiers needed someone for their purpose, one of the very few followers of Jesus should have appeared. The tone of the narrative seems rather to indicate that he was one who hap- pened to be there by mere chance and had nothing to do with the proceedings till, against his will, he was made an actor in the drama. He is said by the Evangelist to have been a Cy- VIA DOLOROSA 139 renian, that is, an inhabitant of Cyrene, a city in North Africa. Strangers from this place are men- tioned among those who were present soon after at the Feast of Pentecost, when the Hol}^ Spirit de- scended on the Church in tongues of fire. And the probability is that Simon had, in a similar way, come from his distant home to the Passover.* He had come on pilgrimage. Perhaps he was a devout soul, waiting for the consolation of Israe'. In far Cyrene he may have been praying for the coming of the Messiah and, before setting out on this journey, pleading for a season of unusual bless- ing. God had heard and was going to answer his prayers, but in a way totally different from his ex- pectations. For apparently this rencontre issued in his salva- tion and in the salvation of his house. The Evan- gelist calls him familiarly " the father of Alexander and Rufus." Evidently the two sons were well known to those for wliom St. Mark was writing ; that is, they were members of the Christian circle. * Many Jews, indeed, who had once been inhabitants of Cyrene lived in Jerusalem — old people, probably, who had come to lay their bones in holy ground ; for we learn from an incidental notice in the Acts that they had a synagogue of their own in the city ; and Simon may have been one of these. But the other is the more likely case. I40 THE TRIAL AND DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST And there can be little doubt that the connection of his family with the Church was the result of this in- cident in the father's life. St. Mark wrote his Gos- pel for the Christians of Rome ; and in the Epistle to the Romans one Rufus is mentioned as resident there along with his mother. This may be one of the sons of Simon. And in Acts xiii. i one Simeon ■—the same name as Simon — is mentioned along with a Lucius of Cj'rene as a conspicuous Christian at Antioch : he is called Niger, or Black, a name not surprising for one who had been tanned by the hot sun of Africa. There are Alexanders mentioned elsewhere in the New Testament ; but the name was common, and there is not much probability that any of them is to be identified with Simon's son. Still, putting the details aside, we have sufficiently clear indications that in consequence of this incident Simon became a Christian. Is it not a significant fact, proving that nothing happens by chance ? Had Simon entered the city one hour sooner, or one hour later, his after history might have been entirely different. On the small- est circumstances the greatest results may hinge. A chance meeting may determine the w^eal or woe of a life. Doubtless to Simon this encounter seemed at the moment the most unfortunate incident that could have befallen him — an interruption, an an- r/A DOLOROSA 141 noyance and a humiliation ; yet it turned out to be the gateway of life. Thus do blessings sometimes come in disguise, and out of an apparition, at the sight of which we cry out for fear, may suddenly issue the form of the Son of Man. But it was not Simon's own salvation only that was involved in this singular experience, but that of his family as well. How much may follow when Christ is re- vealed to any human soul ! The salvation of those yet unborn may be involved in it — of children and children's children. But think how blessed to Simon would appear in after days the cross-bearing which was at the time so bitter ! No doubt it became the romance of his life. And to this day who can help envying him for being allowed to give his strength to the fainting Saviour and to remove the burden from that bleed- ing and smarting back ? So for all men there is a day coming when any service they have done to Christ will be the memory of which they will be most proud. It will not be the recollection of the prizes we have won, the pleasures we have enjoyed, the discomforts we have escaped, that will come back to us with delight as we review life from its close ; but, if we have denied ourselves and borne the cross for Christ's sake, the memory of that will be a pillow soft and satisfying for a dying head. 142 THE TRIAL AND DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST In that day we shall wish that the minutes given to Christ's service had been years, and the pence pounds ; and every cup of cold water and every word of sympathy and every act of self denial will be so pleasant to remember that we shall wish they had been multiplied a thousandfold. CHAPTER XL THE DAUGHTERS OF JERUSALEM THERE are many legends clustering round this portion of our Lord's history. It is narrated, for example, that, when the divine Sufferer, burdened with the cross, was creeping along feebly and slowly. He leaned against the door of a house which stood in the way, when the occu- pier, striking a blow, commanded Him to hurry on ; to which the Lord, turning to His assailant, replied, " Thou shalt go on and never stop till I come again ;" and to this day, unable to find either rest or death, the miserable man still posts over the earth, and shall continue doing so until the Lord's return. This is the legend of the Wandering Jew, which assumed many forms in the lore of other days and still plays a somewhat prominent part in litera- ture. It is, I suppose, a fantastic representation, in the person of an individual, of the tragic fate of the Jewish race, which, since the day when it laid vio- lent hands on the Son of God, has had no rest for the sole of its foot. 144 THE TRIAL AXD DEATH OE JESUS CHRIST To another story of the Via Dolorosa as distin- guished a place has been given in art as to the legend of the Wandering Jew in literature. Ver- onica, a lady in Jerusalem, seeing Christ, as He passed by, sinking beneath His burden, came out of her house and with a towel washed away the blood and perspiration from His face. And lo ! when she examined the napkin with which the charitable act had been performed, it bore a perfect likeness of the Man of Sorrows. Some of the greatest painters have reproduced this scene, and it may be under- stood as teaching the lesson that even the commonest things in life, when employed in acts of mercy, are stamped with the image and superscription of Christ. In Roman Catholic churches there may generally be seen round the walls a series of about a dozen pictures, taken from this part of our Lord's life. They are denominated the Stations of the Cross, because the worshippers, going round, stop to look and meditate on the different scenes. In Catholic countries the same idea is sometimes carried out on a more imposing scale. On a knoll or hill in the neighbourhood of a town three lofty crosses stand ; the road to them through the town is called Via Cal- vai'ii, and at intervals along the way the scenes of our Lord's sad journey are represented by large frescoes or bas-reliefs. THE DAUGHTERS OF JERUSALEM 145 But we really know for certain of only two inci- dents of the Via Dolorosa — that in which our Lord was relieved of His cross by Simon the Cyrenian and that, which we are now to consider, of the sympathetic daughters of Jerusalem. I. The reader of the history of our Lord in its last stages is sated with horrors. In some of the scenes through which we have recently accompanied Him we have seemed to be among demons rather than men. The mind longs for something to relieve the monstrous spectacles of fanatic hate and cold-blood- ed cruelty. Hence this scene is most welcome, in which a blink of sunshine falls on the path of woe, and we are assured that we need not lose faith in the human heart. It was, indeed, a surprising demonstration. It would hardly have been credited, had it not there been made manifest, that Jesus had so strong a hold upon any section of the population of Jerusa- lem. In the capital He had always found the soil very unreceptive. Jerusalem was the headquarters of rabbinic learning and priestly arrogance — the home of the Pharisee and the Sadducee, who guid- ed public opinion ; and there, from first to last, He 146 THE TRIAL AXD DEATH OF JESCS CHRIST had made few adherents. It was in the provinces, especially in Galilee, that He had been tlie idol of the populace. It was by the Galilean pilgrims to the Passover that He was convoyed into the capital with shouts of Hosanna ; but the inhabitants of the city stood coldly aloof, and before Pilate's judg- ment-seat the}^ cried out, " Crucify Him, crucify Him !" Yet now it turns out that He has touched the heart of one section at least even of this commu- nity : " There followed Him a great company of people and of women, which* also bewailed and lamented Him." Some have considered this so extraordinary that they have held these women to be Galileans ; but Jesus addressed them as " daugh- ters of Jerusalem." The Galilean men who had surrounded Him in His hour of triumph put in no appearance now in His hour of despair ;* but the> women of Jerusalem broke away from the example of the men and paid the tribute of tears to His youtb^ character and sufferings. It is said that there was a Jewish law forbidding the showing of any sympa- thy to a condemned man ; but, if so, this demon- stration was all the more creditable to those who took part in it. The upwelling of their emotion was * The participle refers to the women alone. THE DAUGHTERS OF JERUSALEM T47 too sincere to be dammed back by barriers of law and custom. It is said there is no instance in the Gospels of a woman being an enemy of Jesus. No woman de- serted or betrayed, persecuted or opposed Him. But women followed Him, they ministered to Him of their substance, they washed His feet with tears, they anointed His head with spikenard ; and now, when their husbands and brothers were hounding Him to death, they accompanied Him with weeping and wailing to the scene of martyrdom.* It is a great testimon}' to the character of Christ on the one hand and to that of woman on the other. Woman's instinct told her, however dimly she at first apprehended the truth, that this was the * " How slow we have been to ask our sister members to help us ! — although we read of deacoaesses in the early Church, and although we do not read of a single woman who was unkind and unfaithful to the Sav'iour while here upon earth. Men were diabolic in their cruelty to Him, but never did a woman betray Him, mock Him, desert Him, nor spit in His face. Man}' of them cheered Him on His way to the Cross, washing His feet with tears before men pierced them with nails, anointing His head with precious perfume in anticipation of the thorns with which men crowned Him. They wept with Him on the way to Calvary, and were true to Him to the very end. And are they not devoted and true to Him still ? Why, then, have we been so long in calling for their services ?" — E. Herbert Evans, D.D. 14'' TflE TA'IAL AXD DEATH OF JESCS CHRIST Deliverer for her. Because, while Christ is the Saviour of all, He has been specially the Saviour of woman. At His advent, her degradation being far deeper than that of men, she needed Him more ; and, wherever His gospel has travelled since then, it has been the signal for her emancipation and re- demption. His presence evokes all the tender and beautiful qualities which are latent in her nature ; and under His influence her character experiences a transfiguration.* It has, indeed, been contended that there was no great depth in the emotion of the daughters of Jerusalem ; and we need not deny the fact. Their emotion was no outburst of faith and repentance, carrying with it i evolutionary effects, as tears may sometimes be. It was an overflow of natural feel- ing, such as might have been caused by any pathetic instance of misfortune. It was not unlike the tears wdiich may be still made to flow from the eyes of the tender-hearted by a moving account of the suf- ferings of Christ ; and we know that such emotions are sometimes far from lasting. Our nature con- sists of several strata, of which emotion is the most superficial ; and it is not enough that religion should operate in this uppermost region : it must be thrust * Brace, Gcsta Christi. THE DAUGHTERS OE JERUSALEM I49 down, through emotion, into the deeper regions, such as the conscience and the will, and catch hold and kindle there, before it can achieve the mastery of the entire being. But this response of womanhood to Christ was a beginning ; and therein lay its significance. It was to Him a foretaste of the splendid devotion which He was yet to receive from the womanhood of the world. It was as welcome to Him in that hour of desertion and reproach as is the sight of a tuft of grass to the thirsty traveller in the desert. The sounds of sympathy flowed over His soul as grate- fully as the gift of Mary's love enveloped His senses when the house was filled with the odour of the ointment. Thus in the Via Dolorosa Jesus experienced two alleviations of His suffering : the strength of a man relieved His body of the burden of the cross, and the pain of His soul was cooled by the sympathy of women. Is it not a parable — a parable of what men and women can do for Him still ? Christ needs the strength of men— the strong arm, the vigorous hand, the shoulders that can bear the bur- den of His cause ; He seeks from men the mind whose originality can plan what needs to be done, the resolute will that pushes the work on in spite of opposition, the liberal hand that gives ungrudgingly 150 THE TRIAL AND DEATH OE JESUS CHRIST what is required for the progress and success of the Christian enterprise. From women lie seeks sym- pathy and tears. They can give tlie sensibility which keeps the heart of the world from harden- ing ; the secret knowledge which finds out the ob- jects of Christian compassion and wins their confi- dence ; the enthusiasm which burns like a fire at the heart of religious work. The influence of women is subtle and remote ; but it is on this account all the more powerful ; for they sit at the very fountains, where the river of human life is springing, and where a touch may determine its entire subsequent course. II. It has been allowed to condemned men in all ages to speak to the crowds assembled to witness their death. The dying speech used in this country to be a regular feature of executions. Even in ages of persecution the martyrs were usually allowed, as they ascended the ladder, to address the multitude ; and these testimonies, some of which were of singu- lar power and beauty, were treasured by the re- ligious section of the community. It is nothing sur- prising, therefore, that Jesus should have addressed those who followed Him or should have been per- mitted to do so. No doubt He was at the last point THE DAUGHTERS OF JERUSALEM 151 of exhaustion, but, when He was relieved of the weight of the cross, He was able to rally strength sufficient for this effort. Pausing in the road and turning to the women, whose weeping and wailing were filling His ears. He addressed Himself to them. His words are, in the first place, a revelation of Himself. They show what was demonstrated again and again during the crucifixion — how completely He could forget His own sufferings in care and anx- iety for others. His sufferings had already been extreme ; His soul had been filled with injustice and insult ; at this very moment His body was quiv- ering with pain and His mind darkened with the approach of still more atrocious agonies. Yet, when He heard behind Him the sobs of the daughters of Jerusalem, there rushed over His soul a wave of compassion in which for the moment His own troubles were submerged. We see in His words, too, the depth and fervour of His patriotism. When He saw the tears of the women, the spectacle raised in His mind an image of the doom impending over the city whose daugh- ters they were. Jerusalem, as has been already said, had always been extremely unresponsive to Him ; she had played to Him an unmotherly part. None the less, however, did He feel for her the love 152 THE TRIAL AXD DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST of a loyal son. He had shown this a few days be- fore, when, in the midst of His triumph, He paused on the brow of Olivet, where the city came into view, and burst into a flood of tears, accompanied with such a lyric cry of affection as has never been addressed to any other city on earth. Subsequent- ly, sitting with His disciples over against the tem- ple. He showed how well He foreknew the terrible fate which hung over the capital of His country, and how poignantly He felt it. The city's doom was nigh at hand : less than half a century distant : and it was to be unparalleled in its horror. The secular historian of it, himself a Jew, says in his narrative : " There has never been a race on earth, and there never will be one, whose sufferings can be matched with those of Jerusalem in the days of the siege." It was the foresight of this which made Jesus now say, " Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your chil- dren." His words, still further, reveal His consideration for women and children. The tears of the women displayed an appreciation and sympathy for Him such as the men were incapable of ; but well did He deserve them, for His words show that He had a comprehension of women and a sympathy with them such as had never before existed in the world. THE DAUGHTERS OF JERUSALEM 153 With the force of the imagination and tlie heart He realised how, in the approaching siege, the heaviest end of the misery would fall on the female portion of the population, and how the mothers would be wounded through their children. In that country, where children were regarded as the crown and glory of womanhood, the currents of nature would be so completely reversed by the madness of hunger and pain that barrenness would be esteemed fortu- nate ; and in a country where length of days had been considered the supreme blessing of life they would long and cry for sudden and early death. So it actually turned out. An outstanding feature of the siege of Jerusalem, according to the secular historian, was the suffering of the women and chil- dren. Besides using every other device of warfare, the Romans deliberately resorted to starvation, and the inhabitants endured the uttermost extremities of hunger. So frenzied did the men become at last that every extra mouth requiring to be filled became an object of delirious suspicion, and the last morsels were snatched from the lips of the women and chil- dren. One is tempted to quote some of the stories of Josephus about this, but they are so awful that it would be scarcely decent to repeat them. This was what the quick sympathy of Jesus en- abled Him to divine ; and His compassion gushed 154 THE TRIAL AND DEA Til OE JESUS CHRIST forth towards those who were to be the chief suffer- ers. Women and children — -how irreverently they have been thought of, how callously and brutally treated, since history began ! Yet they are always the majority of the human race. Praise be to Him who lifted them, and is still lifting them, out of the dust of degradation and ill-usage, and who put in on their behalf the plea of justice and mercy ! Finally, there was in the woids addressed to the daughters of Jerusalem an exhortation to repent- ance. When Jesus said, " Weep for yourselves and for your children," He was referring not merely to the approaching calamities of the city, but to its guilt. This was indicated most clearh' in the clos- ing words of His address to them — " For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry ?" He could speak of Himself as a green tree. He was 5^oung and He was innocent ; to this the tears of the women testified ; there was no reason why He should die ; yet God permitted all these things to happen to Him. The Jewish nation ought also to have been a green tree. God had planted and tended it ; it had enjoyed every advantage ; but, when He came seeking fruit on it, He found none. It was withered ; the sap of virtue and godliness had gone out of it ; it was dry and ready for the THE DAUGHTERS OF JERUSALEM 155 burning ; and, when the enemy came to apply the firebrand, why should God interpose ? Thus did Jesus attempt once more to awaken repentance. He wished to thrust the impressions of the daugh- ters of Jerusalem down from the region of feeling into a deeper place. They had given Him tears of emotion ; He desired, besides these, tears of con- trition ; for in religion nothing is accomplished till impression touches the conscience. Whether any of them responded in earnest we cannot tell. Not many, it is to be feared. Nor can we tell whether by repentance the destruction of the Jewish state might still have been averted. At all events, the fire of invasion soon fell on the dry tree, and it was burnt up. And since then those who would not weep for their sins before the stroke of punishment fell have had to weep without ceasing. Visitors to Jerusalem at the present day are conducted to a spot called the Place of Wailing, where every Friday representatives of the race weep for the destruction of their city and temple.* This has gone on for centuries ; and it is only a symbol of the cup of astonishment, filled to the brim, which has during many centuries been held to the lips of Israel. Sin must be wept for some time — if not before * Striking description in Baring-Gould, The Passion of Jesus, P- 75- 156 THE TRIAL AXD DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST punishment has fallen, then after ; if not in time, then in eternity. This is a lesson for all. And has not that final word of Jesus a meaning for us even more solemn than it had for those to whom it was first addressed — " If these things be done in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry ?" If woe and anguish fell, as they did, even on the Son of God, when He was bearing the sins of the world, what will be the portion of those who have to bear their own ? CHAPTER XII. CALVARY ANYONE writing on the life of our Lord must many a time pause in secret and exclaim to himself, " It is high as heaven, what canst thou do ? deeper than hell, what canst thou know ?" But we have now arrived at the point where this sense of inadequacy falls most oppressively on the heart. To-day we are to see Christ crucified. But who is worthy to look at this sight ? Who is able to speak of it ? " Such knowledge is too wonderful for me ; it is high ; I cannot attain unto it." In the pres- ence of such a subject one feels one's mind to be like some tiny creature at the bottom of the sea — as incapable of comprehending it all as is the crusta- cean of scooping up the Atlantic in its shell. This spot to which we have come is the centre of all things. Here two eternities meet. The streams of ancient history converge here, and here the river of modern history takes its rise. The e3'es of patri- archs and prophets strained forward to Calvary, and now the eyes of all generations and of all races look 158 THE TRIAL AXD DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST back to it. This is the end of all roads. The seeker after truth, who has explored the realms of knowl- edge, comes to Calvary and finds at last that he has reached the centre. The weary heart of man, that has wandered the w^orld over in search of perfect sympathy and love, at last arrives here and finds rest. Think how many souls every Lord's Day, assembled in church and chapel and meeting-house, are thinking of Golgotha ! how many eyes are turned tliither every day from beds of sickness and chambers of death ! " Lord, to whom can we go ? Thou hast the words of eternal life." Though, therefore, the theme is too high for us, yet we will venture forward. It is too high for human thought ; yet nowhere else is the mind so exalted and ennobled. At Calvary poets have sung their sweetest strains, and artists seen their sublim- est visions, and thinkers excogitated their noblest ideas. The crustacean lies at the bottom of the ocean, and the world of waters rolls above it ; it cannot in its tiny shell comprehend these leagues upon leagues of solid translucent vastness ; and yet the ocean fills its shell and causes its little body to throb with perfect happiness. And so, though we cannot take in all the meaning of the scene before which we stand, yet we can fill mind and heart with it to the brim, and, as it sends through our being the CALVARY 159 pulsations of a life divine, rejoice that it has a breadtli and length, a height and depth, which pass understandinor. The long journey through the streets to the place of execution was at length ended, and thereby the weary journeyings of the Sufferer came to a close. The soldiers set about their preparations for the last act. But meanwhile a little incident occurred which the behaviour of Jesus filled with significance. The wealthy ladies of Jerusalem had the practice of providing for those condemned to the awful pun- ishment of crucifixion a soporific draught, composed of wine mixed with some narcotic like gall or myrrh,* to dull the senses and deaden the pain. It was a benevolent custom ; and the cup was offered to all criminals, irrespective of their crimes. It was administered immediately before the frightful work of nailing the culprit to the tree commenced. This draught was handed to Jesus on His arrival at Gol- gotha. Exhausted with fatigue and burning with thirst, He grasped the cup eagerly and lifted it without suspicion to His lips. But, as soon as He * One Evangelist says gall, another myrrh, and on this differ- ence harmonists and their antagonists have spent their time ; but surely it is not worth while. i6o THE TRIAL AXD DEATH OE JESUS CHRIST tasted it and felt the fumes of the stupefying in- gredient, He laid it down and would not drink. It was a simple act, yet full of heroism. He was in that extremity of thirst when a person will drink almost anything ; and He was face to face with out- rageous torture. In subsequent times many of His own faithful martyis, on their way to execution, gladly availed themselves of this merciful provision. But He would not allow His intellect to be clouded. His obedience was not yet complete ; His plan was not fully wrought out ; He would keep His taste for death pure. I have heard of a woman dying of a frightful malady, who, when she was pressed by those witnessing her agony to take an intoxicating draught, refused, saying, " No, I want to die sober." She had caught, I think, the spirit of Christ. This is a very strange place in which to alight on the problem of the use and abuse of those products of nature or art which induce intoxication or stupe- faction. Roots or juices with such properties have been known to nearly all races, the savage as well as the civilised ; and they have played a great part in the life of mankind. Their history is one of the most curious. They are associated with the mys- teries of false religions and with the phenomena of heathen prophecy and witchcraft ; acting on the mind through the senses, they open up in it a region CALVARY i6i of mystery, horror and gloomy magnificence of which the normal man is unconscious. They have always been a favourite resource of the medical art, and in modern times, in such forms as opium and other better-known intoxicants, they hiive created some of the gravest moral problems. On the wide question of the use of such sub- stances as stimulants we need not at present enter ; it is to their use for the opposite purpose of lowering consciousness that this incident draws attention. That in some cases this use is both merciful and permissible will not be denied. The discovery in our own day, by one of our own countrymen, of the use of chloroform is justly regarded as among the greatest benefits ever conferred on the human race. When the unconsciousness thus produced enables the surgeon to perform an operation which might not be possible at all without it, or when in the crisis of a fever the sleep induced by a narcotic gives the exhausted system power to continue the combat and saves the life, we can only be thankful that the science of to-day has such resources in its treasury. On the other hand, however, there are grave off- sets to these advantages. Millions of men and women resort to such substances in order to dull the nerves and cloud the brain during pain and sorrow 1 62 THE TRIAL AND DEATH OE JESUS CHRIST which God intended them to face and bear with sober courage, as Jesus endured His on the cross. On the medical profession rests the responsibility of so using the power placed in their hands as not to destroy the dignity of the most solemn passages of life.* It will for ever remain true that pain and trial are the discipline of the soul ; but to reel through these crises in the drowsy forgetfulness of into.xica- tion is to miss the best chances of moral and spiritual development. Men and women are made perfect through suffering ; but that suffering may do its work it must be felt. There is no greater misfor- tune than to bear too easily the strokes of God. A bereavement, for example, is sent to sanctify a home ; but it may fail of its mission because the household is too busy, or because too many are coming and going, or because tongues, mistakenly kind and garrulous, chatter God's messenger out of doors. It is natural that physicians and kind friends should try to make sufferers forget their grief. But they may be too successful. Though the practice of the ladies of Jerusalem was a benevo- lent one, the gift mixed by their charitable hands * The distinction between the legitimate and the illegitimate use is not very easy to draw ; but there is an obvious difference between destroying pain for an ulterior purpose and destroying l^it merely to save the feeling of the sufferer. CALVARY 163 appeared to our Lord a cup of temptation, and He resolutely put it aside. II All was now ready for the last act, and the soldiers started their ghastly work. It is not my intention to harrow up the feelings of my readers with minute descriptions of the horrors of crucifixion.* Nothing would be easier, for it was an unspeakably awful form of death. Cicero, who was well acquainted with it, says : " It was the most cruel and shameful of all punishments." " Let it never," he adds, " come near the body of a Roman citizen ; nay, not even near his thoughts or eyes or ears." It was the punishment reserved for slaves and for revolutionaries, whose end was intended to be marked by special infamy. The cross was most probably of the form in which it is usually represented — an upright post crossed by a bar near the top. There were other two forms * On the details of crucifixion there is an extremely interesting and learned excursus in Zockler's Das Kreuz Christi (Beilage III.). Cicero's Verrine Orations contain a good deal that is valuable to a student of the Passion, especially in regard to scourging and crucifixion. Crucifixion was an extremely com- mon form of punishment in the ancient world ; but "the cross of the God-Man has put an end to the punishment of the cross.'' 164 THE TRIAL AXD DEATH OE JESUS CHRIST — that of the letter f* and that of the letter X — but, as the accusation of Jesus is said to have been put up over His head, there must have been a projection above the bar on which His arms were outstretched. The arms were probably bound to the cross-beam, as without this the hands would have been torn through by the weight. And for a similar reason there was a piece of wood projecting from the middle of the upright beam, on which the body sat. The feet were either nailed separately or crossed the one over the other, with a nail through both. It is doubtful whether the body was affixed before or after the cross was elevated and planted in the ground. The head hung free, so that the dying man could both see and speak to those about the cross. In modern executions the greatest pains are taken to make death as nearly as possible instantaneous, and any bungling which prolongs the agony excites indignation and horror in the public mind. But the most revolting feature of death by crucifixion was that the torture was deliberately prolonged. The victim usually lingered a whole day, sometimes two or three days, still retaining consciousness ; while the burning of the wounds in the hands and feet, the uneasiness of the unnatural position, the oppression of overcharged veins and, above all, the intolerable thirst were constantly increasing. Jesus CALVARY 165 did not suffer so long ; but He lingered for four or five hours. I will not, however, proceed further in describing the sickening details. How far all these horrors may have been essential elements in His sufferings it would be difficult to say. Apart from the proph- ecies going before which had to be fulfilled, was it a matter of indifference what death He died ? Would it have served equally well if He had been hanged or beheaded or stoned ? We cannot tell. Only, when we know the secret of what His soul suffered, we can discern the fitness of the choice of the most shameful and painful of all forms of death for His body.* The true sufferings of Christ were not physical, but internal. Looking on that Face, we see the shadow of a deeper woe than smarting wounds and raging thirst and a racking frame — the woe of slighted love, of a heart longing for fellowship but overwhelmed with hatred ; the woe of insult and wrong, and of unspeakable sorrow for the fate of those who would not be saved. Nor is even this the deepest shadow. There was then in the heart of the Redeemer a woe to which no human words * Zockler maintains that crucifixion, while the most shameful, was not absolutely the most painful form of death. l66 THE TRIAL AND DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST are adequate. He was dying for the sin of the world. He had taken on Himself the guilt of man- kind, and was now engaged in the final struggle to put it away and annihilate it. On the cross was hanging not only the body of flesh and blood of the Man Christ Jesus, but at the same time His mystical body — that body of which He is the head and His people are the members. Through this body also the nails were driven, and on it death took its re- venge. His people died with Him unto sin, that they might live for evermore. This is the mystery, but it is also the glory of the scene. Till He hung on it, the cross was the sym- bol of slavery and vulgar wickedness ; but He con- verted it into the symbol of heroism, self-sacrifice and salvation. It was only a wretched framework of coarse and blood-clotted beams, which it was a shame to touch ; but since then the world has gloried in it ; it has been carved in every form of beauty and every substance of price ; it has been emblazoned on the flags of nations and engraved on the sceptres and diadems of kings.* The cross was * The appreciation of the significance of the Cross has gone on in two lines^the Artistic and the Doctrinal — both of which are followed out with varied learning in Zockler's Kreuz Christi. The English reader may with great satisfaction trace the artistic development in Mrs. Jameson's History of our Lord as CALFAA'V 167 planted on Golgotha a dry, dead tree ; but lo ! it has blossomed like Aaron's rod ; it has struck its roots deep down to the heart of the world, and sent its exe77ipUfii'd in Works of Art, where the following scheme is given of the varieties of treatment : — " Symbolical, when the abstract personifications of the sun and moon, earth and ocean, are present. " Sacrijicially symbolical, when the Eucharistic cup is seen below the Cross, or the pelican feeding her young is placed above it. " Simply doctrinal, when the Virgin and St. John stand on each side, as solemn witnesses ; or our Lord is drinking the cup, some- times literall)' so represented, given Him of the Father, while the lance opens the sacramental font. " Historically ideal, as when the thieves are joined to the scene, and sorrowing angels throng the air. " Historically devotional, as when the real features of the scene are preserved, and saints and devotees are introduced. ^'Legendary, as when we see the Virgin fainting. " Allegorical and fantastic, as when the tree is made the principal object, with its branches terminating in patriarchs and prophets, virtues and graces. ''Realistic, as when the mere event is rendered as through the eyes of an unenlightened looker-on. " These and many other modes of conception account for the great diversity in the treatment of this subject ; a further variety being given by the combination of two or more of these modes of treatment together ; for instance, the pelican may be seen above the Cross giving her life's blood for her offspring ; angels in attitudes of despair, bewailing the Second Person of the Trinity ; or, in an ideal sacramental sense, catching the blood from His wounds — the Jews below looking on, as they really did, with contemptuous gestures and hardened hearts ; the centurion acknowledging that this was really the .Son of God, while the i68 THE TRIAL AXD DEATH OE JESUS CHRIST branches upwards, till to-day it fills the earth, and the nations rest beneath its shadow and eat of its pleasant fruits.* group of the fainting Virgin, supported by the Marys and St. John, adds legend to symbolism, ideality, and history." In the study of the doctrinal development nothing is so im- portant as the exegesis of the New Testament statements about the Cross ; and this has been done in a masterly way by Dr. Dale in his work on the Atonement. What may be called the Philosophy of the Cross (to borrow a happy phrase of McCheyne Edgar's) came late. It is usually reckoned to have commenced with Anselm ; and since the Reformation every great theologian has added his contribution. Yet the work is by no means com- pleted. Indeed, at the present day there is no greater desider- atum in theology than a philosophy of the Cross which would thoroughly satisfy the religious mind. Shallow theories abound ; but the Church of Christ will never be able to rest in any theory which does not do justice, on the one hand, to the tremendously strong statements of Scripture on the subject and, on the other, to her own consciousness of unique and infinite obligation to the dying Saviour. Perhaps the most satisfactory expression of the Christian consciousness on the subject is to be found in the hymns of the Church, from the Te Deum down through .Scotus Erigena and Fulbert of Chartres to Gerhardt and Toplady. See Schaff's Christ in Song. A third line of development might be traced — the Practical — in martyrology, the history of missions, asceticism, and the like ; and the spokesman of this branch of the truth is a Kempis, who, as Zockler says, teaches his disciples to know poverty and humility as the roots of the tree of the Cross, labour and peni- tence as its bark, righteousness and mercy as its two principal branches, truth and doctrine as its precious leaves, chastity and obedience as its blossoms, temperance and discipline as its fra- grance, and salvation and eternal life as its glorious fruit. * When the Northern nations became Christian they trans- CALVARY 169 III. At length the ghastly preparations were com- pleted ; and in the greedy eyes of Jewish hatred the Saviour, whom they had hunted to death with the ferocity of bloodhounds, was exposed to full view. But the first triumphant glance of priests, Pharisees and populace met with a violent check ; for above the Victim's head they saw something which cut them to the heart. The practice of affixing to the apparatus of execu- tion a description of the crime prevails in some countries to this day. In the Life of Gilmour of Mongolia there is a description of an execution which he witnessed in China ; and in the cart which conveyed the condemned man to the scene of death a board was exhibited describing his misdeeds. The custom was a Roman one ; and, besides, there was generally an official who walked in front of the procession of death and proclaimed the crimes of the condemned. No mention, however, of such a functionary appears in the Gospels ; nor does the ferred to the Cross the nobler ideas embodied in the mystic tree Igdrasil ; and one of the commonest ideas of the mystical writers of the Middle Ages is the identification of the Cross as both the true tree of life and the true tree of knowledge. I70 THE TRIAL AND DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST inscription appear to have been visible to all till it was affixed to the cross. It was fastened to the top of the upiight beam ; and Pilate made use of this opportunity to pay out the Jews for the annoyance they had caused him. He had parted from them in anger, for they had humiliated him ; but he sent after them that which should be a drop of bitterness in their cup of triumph. When they were still at his judgment-seat, his last blow in his encounter with them had been to pretend to be convinced that Jesus really was their king. This insult he now pro- longed by wording the inscription thus : " This is Jesus, the King of the Jews." It was as much as to say, This is what becomes of a Jewish king ; this is what the Romans do with him ; the king of this nation is a slave, a crucified criminal ; and, if such be the king, what must the nation be whose king he is ? So enraged were the Jews that they sent a deputa- tion to the governor to entreat him to alter the words. No doubt he was delighted to see them ; for their coming proved how thoroughly his sar- casm had gone home. He only laughed at their petition and, assuming the grand air of authority which became no man so well as a Roman, dismissed them with the words, " What I have written I have written." CALVARY 171 This looked like strength of will and character ; but it was in realit}^ only a covering for weakness. He had his will about the inscription — a trifle ; but they had their will about the crucifixion. He was strong enough to browbeat them, but he was not strong enough to deny himself. Yet, though the inscription of Pilate was in his own mind little more than a revengeful jest, there was in it a Divine purpose. " What I have written I have written," he said ; but, had he known, he might almost have said, " What I have wtitten God has written." Sometimes and at some places the atmosphere is so charged and electric with the Di- vine that inspiration alights and burns on every- thing ; and never was this more true than at the cross. Pilate had already unconsciously been al- most a prophet when, pointing to Jesus, he said, " Behold the Man" — a word which still preaches to the centuries. And now, after being a speaking prophet, he becomes, as has been quaintly re- marked, a writing one too ; for his pen was guided by a supernatural hand to indite the words, " This is Jesus, the King of the Jews." It added greatly to the significance of the in- scription that it was written in Hebrew and Greek and Latin. What Pilate intended thereby was to heighten the insult ; he wished all the strangers 172 THE TRIAL AND DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST present at the Passover to be able to read the in- scription ; for all of them who could read at all would know one of these three languages. But Providence intended something else. These are the three great languages of the ancient world — the representative languages. Hebrew is the tongue of religion, Greek that of culture, Latin the language of law and government ; and Christ was declared King in them all. On His head are many crowns. He is King in the religious sphere — the King of sal- vation, holiness and love ; He is King in the realm of culture — the treasures of art, of song, of litera- ture, of philosophy belong to Him, and shall yet be all poured at His feet ; He is King in the political sphere — King of kings and Lord of lords, entitled to rule in the social relationships, in trade and com- merce, in all the activities of men. We see not yet, indeed, all things put under Him ; but every day we see them more and more in the process of being put under Him. The name of Jesus is travelling everywhere over the earth ; thousands are learning to pronounce it ; millions are ready to die for it. And thus is the unconscious prophecy of Pilate still being fulfilled. CHAPTER XIII. THE GROUPS ROUND THE CROSS IN the last chapter we saw the Son of Man nailed to the cursed tree. There He hung for hours, exposed, helpless, but conscious, looking out on the sea of faces assembled to behold His end. On the occasion of an execution a crowd gathers outside our jails merely to see the black flag run up which signals that the deed is done ; and in the old days of public executions such an event always attracted an enormous crowd. No doubt it was the same in Jerusalem. When Jesus was put to death, it was Passover time, and the city was filled with multi- tudes of strangers, to whom any excitement was welcome. Besides, the case of Jesus had stirred both the capital and the entire country.* The sight which the crowd had come to see was, we now know, the greatest ever witnessed in the universe. Angels and archangels were absorbed in * Keim strangely surmises that there was no great crowd ; but this is impossible. 174 THE TRIAL AND DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST it ; millions of men and women are looking back to it to-day and every day. But what impressions did it make on those who saw it at the time ? To ascer- tain this, let us look at three characteristic groups near the cross, whose feelings were shared in vary- ing degrees by many around them. I. Look, first, at the group nearest the cross — that of the Roman soldiers. In the Roman army it seems to have been a rule that, when executions were carried out by soldiers, the effects of the criminals fell as perquisites to those who did the work. Though many more sol- diers were probably present on this occasion, the actual details of fixing the beam, handling the ham- mer and nails, hoisting the apparatus, and so forth, in the case of Jesus, fell to a quaternion of them. To these four, therefore, belonged all that was on Him ; and they could at once proceed to divide the spoil, because in crucifixion the victim was stripped before being affixed to the cross — a trait of revolting shame.* A large, loose upper garment, a head- * As, however, the Jews would have objected to this, Eders- heim argues — but not convincingly — that there must have been at least a slight covering. THE GROUPS ROUND THE CROSS 175 dress perhaps, a girdle and a pair of sandals, and, last of all, an under garment, such as Galilean peas- ants were wont to wear, which was all of a piece and had perhaps been knitted for Him by the lov- ing fingers of His mother — these articles became the booty of the soldiers. They formed the entire prop- erty which Jesus had to leave, and the four soldiers were His heirs. Yet this was He who bequeathed the vastest legacy that ever has been left by any human being — a legacy ample enough to enrich the whole world. Only it was a spiritual legacy — of wisdom, of influence, of example. The soldiers, their ghastly task over, sat down at the foot of the cross to divide their booty. They obtained from it not only profit but amusement ; for, after dividing the articles as well as they could, they had to cast lots about the last, which they could not divide. One of them fetched some dice out of his pocket — gambling was a favourite pastime of Roman soldiers — ^and they settled the difficulty by a game. Look at them — chaffering, chattering, laughing ; and, above their heads, not a yard away, that Figure. What a picture ! The Son of God atoning for the sins of the world, whilst angels and glorified spirits crowd the walls of the celestial city to look down at the spectacle ; and, within a yard of His sacred Person, the soldiers, in absolute 176 THE TRIAL A.VD DEATH OE JESUS CHRIST apathy, gambling for these poor shreds of cloth- ing ! So much, and no more, did they perceive of the stupendous drama they were within touch of. For it is not only necessary to have a great sight to make an impression ; quite as necessary is the see- ing eye. There are those to whom this earth is sacred because Jesus Christ has trodden it ; the sky is sacred because it has bent above Him ; history is sacred because His name is inscribed on it ; the daily tasks of life are all sacred because they can be done in His name. But are there not multitudes, even in Christian lands, who live as if Christ had never lived, and to whom the question has never occurred, What difference does it make to us that Jesus died in this world of which we are inhabitants ? II. Look now at a second group, much more numer- ous than the first, consisting of the members of the Sanhedrim. After condemning Jesus in their own court, they had accompanied Him through stage after stage of His civil trial, until at last they secured His con- demnation at the tribunal of Pilate. When at last He was handed over to the executioners, it might have been expected that they would have been tired THE GROUPS ROUND THE CROSS 177 of the lengthy proceedings and glad to escape from the scene. But their passions had been thoroughly aroused, and their thirst for revenge was so deep that they could not allow the soldiers to do their own work, but, forgetful of dignity, accompanied the crowd to the place of execution and stayed to glut their eyes with the spectacle of their Victim's sufferings. Even after He was lifted up on the tree, they could not keep their tongues off Him or give Him the dying man's privilege of peace ; but, los- ing all sense of propriety, they made insulting ges- tures and poured on Him insulting cries. Naturally the crowd followed their example, till not only the soldiers took it up, but even the thieves who were crucified with Him joined in. So that the crowd under His eyes became a sea of scorn, whose angry waves dashed up about His cross. The line taken was to recall all the great names which He had claimed, or which had been applied to Him, and to contrast them with the position in which He now was. " The Son of God," " The Cliosen of God," " The King of Israel," " The Christ,"" " The King of the Jews," " Thou that de- stroyest the temple and buildest it in three days" — with these epithets they pelted Him in every tone of mockery. They challenged Him to come down from the cross and they would believe Him. This lyS THE TRIAL AXD DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST was their most persistent cry — He had saved others, but Himself He could not save. They had always maintained that it was by tlie power of devils He wrought His miracles ; but these evil powers are dangerous to palter with ; they may lend their vir- tue for a time, but at last they appear to demand their price ; at the most critical moment the)" leave him who has trusted them in the lurch. This was what had happened to Jesus ; now at last the wiz- ard's wand was broken and He could charm no mo-re. As they thus poured out the gall which had long been accumulating in their hearts, they did not no- tice that, in the multitude of their words, they were using the very terms attributed in the twenty-second Psalm to the enemies of the holy Sufferer : " He trusted in God ; let Him deliver Him now, if He will have Him ; for He said, I am the Son of God." Cold-blooded historians have doubted whether they could have made such a slip without noticing it ; but, strange to sa)', there is an exact modern paral- lel. When one of the Swiss reformers was pleading before the papal couit, the president interrupted him with the very words of Caiaphas to the San- hedrim : " He hath spoken blasphemy : what fur- ther need have we of witnesses ? What think ye ?" and they all answered, " He is worthy of death" ; THE GROUPS ROUXD THE CROSS 179 without noticing, till he reminded them, that they were quoting Scripture.* Jesus might have answered the cries of His ene- mies"; because to one hanging on the cross it was possible not only to hear and see, but also to speak. However, He answered never a word — " when He was reviled, He reviled not again," " as a sheep be- fore her shearers is dumb, so He opened not His mouth." This was not, however, because He did not feel. More painful than the nails which pierced His bod}' were these missiles of malice shot at His mind. The human heart laid bare its basest and blackest depths under His very eyes ; and all its foul scum was poured over Him. Was it a temptation to Him, one wonders, when so often from every side the invitation was given Him to come down from the cross ? This was sub- stantially the same temptation as was addressed to Him at the opening of His career, when Satan urged Him to cast Himself from the pinnacle of the temple. It had haunted Him in various forms all His life through. And now it assails Him once more at the crisis of His fate. They thought His patience was impotence and His silence a confession of de- feat. Why should He not let His glory blaze forth * Siiskind, Passionsschule, in loc. I So THE TRIAL AXD DEATH OE JESUS CHRIST and confound them ? How easily He could have done it ! Yet no ; He could not. They were quite right when they said, " He saved others, Himself He cannot save." Had He saved Himself, He would not have been the Saviour. Yet the power that kept Him on the cross was a far mightier one than would have been necessary to leave it. It was not by the nails through His hands and feet that He was held, nor by the ropes with which His arms were bound, nor by the soldiers watching Him ; no, but by invisible bands — by the cords of redeeming love and by the constraint of a Divine design. Of this, however, His enemies had no inkling. They were judging Him by the most heathenish standard. They had no idea of power but a mate- rial one, or of glory but a selfish one. The Saviour of their fancy was a political deliverer, not One who could save from sin. And to this day Christ hears the cry from more sides than one, " Come down from the cross, and we will believe Thee." It comes from the spiritually shallow, who have no sense of their own unworthiness or of the majesty and the rights of a holy God. They do not under- stand a theology of sin and punishment, of atone- ment and redemption ; and all the deep significance of His death has to be taken out of Christianity be- fore they will believe it. It comes, too, from the THE GROUPS ROUND THE CROSS morally cowardly and the worldly-minded, who de- sire a religion without the cross. If Christianity were only a creed to believe, or a worship in whose celebration the aesthetic faculty might take delight, or a private path by which a man might pilgrim to heaven unnoticed, they would be delighted to be- lieve it ; but, because it means confessing Christ and bearing His reproach, mingling with His de- spised people and supporting His cause, they will have none of it. None can honour the cross of Christ who have not felt the humiliation of guilt and entered into the secret of humility. HI. Let our attention now be directed to a third group. And again it is a comparatively small one. As the eyes of Jesus wandered to and fro over the sea of faces upturned to His own — faces charged with every form and degree of hatred and contempt — was there no point on which they could linger with satisfaction ? Yes, among the thorns there was one lily. On the outskirts of the crowd there stood a group of His acquaintances and of the women who followed Him from Galilee and minis- tered unto Him. Let us enumerate their honoured names, as far as they have been preserved — " Mary 1 82 THE TRIAL AND DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's children." Their position, " afar off," probably indicates that they were in a state of fear. It was not safe to be too closely identified with One against whom the authorities cherished such implacable feelings ; and they may have been quite right not to make them- selves too conspicuous. Apart from the danger to which they might be exposed, they had a whole tempest of trouble in their hearts. As yet they knew not the Scriptures that He must rise again from the dead ; and this collapse of the cause in which they had embarked their all for time and for eternity was a bewildering calamity. They had trusted that it had been He who should have re- deemed Israel, and that He would live and reign over the redeemed race forever. And there He was, perishing before their eyes in defeat and shame. Their faith was at the very last ebb. Or say, rather, it survived only in the form of love. Bewildered as were their ideas. He had as firm a hold as ever on their hearts. They loved Him ; they suffered with Him ; they could have died for Him. May we not believe that the eyes of Jesus, as long as they were able to see, turned often away from the brutal soldiers beneath His feet, and from the sea of THE GROUPS ROUND THE CROSS 183 distorted faces, to this distant group ? In some re- spects, indeed, their aspect might be more trying to Him than even the hateful faces of His enemies ; for sympathy will sometimes break down a strong heart that is proof against opposition. Yet this neighbourly sympathy and womanly love must, on the whole, have been a profourjd comfort and sup- port. He was sustained all through His sufferings by the thought of the multitudes without number who would benefit from what He was enduring ; but here before His eyes was an earnest of His reward ; and in them He saw of the travail of His soul and was satisfied. In these three groups, then, we see three pre- dominant states of mind — in the soldiers apathy, in the Sanhedrim antipathy, in the Galileans sympa- thy. Has it ever occurred to you to ask in which group you would have been had you been there ? This is a searching question. Of course it is easy now to say which were right and which were wrong. It is always easy to admire the heroes and the causes of bygone days ; but it is possible to do so and yet be apathetic or antipathetic to those of our own. Even the Roman soldiers at the foot of the cross admired Romulus and Cicinnnatus and Brutus, 184 THE TRIAL AA'D DEATH OE JESTS CHRIST though they had no feeling for One at their side greater than these. The Jews who were mock- ing Christ admired Moses and Samuel and Isaiah. Christ is still bearing His cross through the streets of the world, and is hanging exposed to contempt and ill-treatment ; and it is possible to admire the Christ of the Bible and yet be persecuting and op- posing the Christ of our own century. The Christ of to-day signifies the truth, the cause, the princi- ples of Christ, and the men and women in whom these are embodied. We are either helping or hin- dering those movements on which Christ has set His heart ; often, without being aware of it, men choose their sides and plan and speak and act either for or against Christ. This is the Passion of our own day, the Golgotha of our own city. But it comes nearer than this. The living Christ Himself is still in the world : He comes to every door ; Hio Spirit strives with every soul. And He still meets with these three kinds of treatment — apathy, antipathy, sympath}-. As a magnet, pass- ing over a heap of objects, causes those to move and spring out of the heap which are akin to itself, so redeeming love, as revealed in Christ, passing over the surface of mankind century after century, has the power so to move human heaits to the very depths that, kindling with admiration and desire. THE GROUPS ROUND THE CROSS 1S5 they spring up and attach themselves to Him. This response may be called faith, or love, or spirituality, or what you please ; but it is the very test and touchstone of eternity, for it is separating men and women from the mass and making them one forever with the life and the love of God. CHAPTER XIV. THE FIRST WORD FROM THE CROSS* T N the last chapter we saw the impressions made J- by the crucifixion on the different groups round the cross. On the soldiers, who did the deed, it made no impression at all ; they were absolutely blind to the wonder and glory of the scene in which they were taking part. On the members of the Sanhedrim, and the others who thought with them, it had an extraordinary effect : the perfect revela- tion of goodness and spiritual beauty threw them into convulsions of angry opposition. Even the group of the friends of Jesus, standing afar off, saw only a very little way into the meaning of what was taking place before their eyes : the victory of their Master over sin, death and the world appeared to them a tragic defeat. So true is it, as I said, that, when something grand is to be seen, there is re quired not only the object but the seeing eye. The " Father, forgive them ; for they know not what they do." THE FIRST WORD FROM THE CROSS 187 image in a mirror depends not only on the object reflected but on the quality and the configuration of the glass. We wish, however, to see the scene enacted on Calvary in its true shape ; and where shall we look ? There was one mind there in which it was mirrored with perfect fidelity. If we could see the image of the crucifixion in the mind of Jesus Him- self, this would reveal its true meaning. But in what way can we ascertain how it appeared to Him, as from His painful station He looked forth upon the scene ? The answer is to be found in the sentences which he utterell, as He hung, before His senses were stifled by the mists of death. These are like windows through which we can see what was passing in His mind. They are mere frag- ments, of course ; yet they are charged with eternal significance. Words are always photographs, more or less true, of the mind which utters them ; these were the truest words ever uttered, and He who uttered them stamped on them the image of Him- self. They are seven in number, and it will be to our advantage to linger on them ; they are too precious to be taken summarily. The sayings of the dying are always impressive. We never forget the death- bed utterances of a parent or a bosom friend ; the 1 88 THE TRIAL AXD DEA TH OF JESUS CHRIST last words of famous men are treasured for ever. In Scripture Jacob, Joseph, Moses, and other patri- archal men are represented as having risen on their deathbeds far above themselves and spoken in the tones of a higher world ; and in all nations a pro- phetic importance has been attached to the words of the dying. Now, these are the dying words of Christ ; and, as all His words are like gold to sil- ver in comparison with those of other men, so these, in comparison with the rest of His words, are as dia- monds to gold. In the First Word three things are noticeable — the Invocation, the Petition, and the Argument. It was not unusual for crucified persons to speak on the cross ; but their words usually consisted of wild expressions of pain or bootless entreaties for release, curses against God or imprecations on those who had inflicted their sufferings. When Jesus had recovered from the swooning shock occasioned by the driving of the nails into His hands and feet. His first utterance was a prayer, and His first word " Father." Was it not an unintentional condemnation of THE FIRST WORD FROM THE CROSS 189 those who had affixed Him there ? It was in tlie name of religion they had acted and in tlie name of God ; but which of them was thus impregnated through and through with religion ? which of them could pretend to a communion with God so close and habitual ? Evidently it was because prayer was the natural language of Jesus that at this moment it leapt to His lips. It is a suspicious case when in any trial, especially an ecclesiastical one, the con- demned is obviously a better man than the judges. The word " Father," further, proved that the faith of Jesus was unshaken by all through which He had passed and by that which He was now en- during. When righteousness is trampled underfoot and wrong is triumphant, faith is tempted to ask if there is really a God, loving and wise, seated on the throne of the universe, or whether, on the contrary, all is the play of chance. When prosperity is turned suddenly into adversity and the structure of the plans and hopes of a life is tumbled in confusion to the ground, even the child of God is apt to kick against the Divine will. Great saints have been driven, by the pressure of pain and disappointment, to challenge God's righteousness in words which it is not lawful for a man to utter. But, when the for- tunes of Jesus were at the blackest, when He was baited by a raging pack of wolf-like enemies, and 19° THE TRIAL AXD DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST when He was sinking into unplumbed abysses of pain and desertion, He still said " Father." It was the apotheosis of faith, and to all time it will serve as an example ; because it was gloriously vindicated. If ever the hand of the Creator seemed to be withdrawn from the rudder of the universe, and the course of human affairs to be driving down headlong into the gulf of confusion, it was when He who was the embodiment of moral beauty and worth had to die a shameful death as a malefactor. Could good by any possibility rise out of such an abyss of wrong ? The salvation of the world came out of it ; all that is noblest in history came out of it. This is the supreme lesson to God's children never to de- spair. All may be dark ; everything may seem going to rack and ruin ; evil may seem to be en- throned on the seat of God ; yet God liveth ; He sits above the tumult of the present ; and He will bring forth the dawn from the womb of the dark- ness. II. The prayer which followed this invocation was still more remarkable : it was a prayer for the par- don of His enemies. In the foregoing pages we have seen to what kind of treatment He was subjected from the arrest on- THE FIRST WORD FROM THE CROSS 191 wards — how the minions of authority struck and insirlted Him, how the high priests twisted the forms of law to ensnare Him, how Herod disdained Him, how Pilate played fast and loose with His in- terests, how the mob howled at Him. Our hearts have burned with indignation as one depth of base- ness has opened beneath another ; and we have been unable to refrain from using hard language. The comment of Jesus on it all was, " Father, forgive them." Long ago, indeed. He had taught men, " Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which de- spitefully use you and persecute you." But this morality of the Sermon on the Mount had been con- sidered, as the world still inclines to consider it, a beautiful dream. There have been many teachers who have said such beautiful things ; but what a difference there is between preaching and practice ! When you have been delighted with the sentiments of an author, it is frequently well that you know no more about him ; because, if you chance to become acquainted with the facts of his own life, you ex- perience a painful disillusionment. Have not stu- dents even of our own English literature in very recent times learned to be afraid to read the biog- raphies of literary men, lest the beautiful structure 192 THE TRIAL AXD DEATH OE fESi'S CHRIST of sentiments which they have gathered from their writings should be shattered by the truth about themselves ? But Jesus practised what He taught. He is the one teacher of mankind in whom the sen- timent and the act completely coincide. His doc- trine was the very highest : too high it often seems for this world. But how much more practical it ap- pears when we see it in action. He proved that it can be realised on earth when on the cross He prayed, " Father, forgive them." Few of us, perhaps, know what it is to forgive. We have never been deeply wronged ; very likely many of us have not a single enemy in the world. But those who have are aware how difficult it is ; perhaps nothing else is more difficult. Revenge is one of the sweetest satisfactions to the natural heart. The law of the ancient world was, at least in prac- tice, " Thou shalt love thy neighbour and hate thine enemy." Even saints, in the Old Testament, curse those who have persecuted and wronged them in terms of uncompromising severity." Had Jesus fol- lowed these and, as soon as He was able to speak, uttered to His Father a complaint in which the con- duct of His enemies was branded in the terms it de- served, who would have ventured to find fault with Him ? Even in that there might have been a reve- lation of God ; because in the Divine nature there THE FIRST WORD FROM THE CROSS 193 is a fire of wrath against sin. But how poor would such a revelation have been in comparison with the one which He now made. All His life He was re- vealing God ; but now His time was short ; and it was the very highest in God He had to make known. In this word Christ revealed Himself ; but at the same time He revealed the Father. All His life long the Father was in Him, but on the cross the divine life and character flamed in His human na- ture like the fire in the burning bush. It uttered itself in the words, " Father, forgive them" ; and what did it tell ? It told that God is love. III. The expiring Saviour backed up His prayer for the forgiveness of His enemies with the argument — " For they know not what they do." This allows us to see further still into the divine depths of His love. The injured are generally alive only to their own side of the case ; and they see only those circumstances which tend to place the conduct of the opposite party in the worst light. But at the moment when the pain inflicted by His enemies was at the worst Jesus was seeking excuses for their conduct. The question has been raised how far the excuse 194 THE TRIAL AXD DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST which He made on their behalf applied. Could it be said of them all that they knew not what thev were doing ? Did not Judas know ? did not the high priests know ? did not Herod know ? Appar- ently it was primarily to the soldiers who did the actual work of crucifixion that Jesus referred ; be- cause it was in the very midst of their work that the words were uttered, as may be seen in the narrative of St. Luke. The soldiers, the rude uninstructed instruments of the government, were the least guilty among the assailants of Jesus. Next to them, per- haps, came Pilate ; and there were different stages and degrees down, through Herod and the San- hedrim, to the unspeakable baseness of Judas. But St. Peter, in the beginning of Acts, expressly ex- tends the plea of ignorance so far as to cover even the Sanhedrists — " And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers" — and who will believe that the heart of the Saviour was less comprehensive than that of the disciple ? Let us not be putting limits to the divine mercy. It is true of every sinner, in some measure, that he knows not what he does. And to a true penitent, as he approaches the throne of mercy, it is a great consolation to be assured that this plea will be al- lowed. Penitent St. Paul was comforted with it : " God had mercy on me, because I did it ignorantly THE FIRST WORD FROM THE CROSS 195 in unbelief." God knows all our weakness and blindness ; men will not make allowance for it or even understand it ; but He will understand it all, if we come to hide our guilty head in His bosom. Of course this blessed truth may be perverted by an impenitent heart to its own undoing. There is no falser notion than that expressed in the French proverb, Toid comprcudrc est tout pardotuier (To understand everything is to pardon everything), for it means that man is the mere creature of cir- cumstances and has no real responsibility for his actions. How far our Lord was from this way of thinking is shown by the fact that He said, " For- give them." He knew that they needed forgive- ness ; which implies that they were guilty. Indeed, it was His vivid apprehension of the danger to which their guilt exposed them that made Him forget His own sufferings and fling Himself between them and their fate. It has been asked, Was this prayer answered ? were the crucifiers of Jesus forgiven ? To this it may be replied that a prayer for forgiveness cannot be answered without the co operation of those prayed for. Unless they repent and seek pardon for themselves, how can God forgive them ? The prayer of Jesus, therefore, meant that time should 196 THE TRIAL AND DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST be granted them for repentance, and that they should be plied with providences and with preach- ing, to awaken their consciences. To punish so ap- palling a crime as the crucifixion of His Son, God might have caused the earth to open on the spot and swallow the sinners up. But no judgment of the kind took place. As Jesus had predicted, Jeru- salem perished in indescribable throes of agony ; but not till forty years after His death ; and in this interval the pouring out of the Spirit at Pentecost took place, and the apostles began their preaching of the kingdom at Jerusalem, urgently calling the nation to repentance. Nor was their work in vain ; for thousands believed. Even before the scene of the crucifixion terminated, one of the two thieves crucified along with Jesus, who had taken pait in reviling Him, was converted ; and the centurion who superintended the execution confessed Him as the Son of God. After all was over, multitudes who had beheld the sight went away smiting their breasts.* We have no reason to doubt, therefore, that even in this direct sense the prayer received an abundant answer. But this was a prayer of a kind which may also be answered indirectly. Besides the effect which * Luke xxiii. 4S. THE FIRST WORD FROM THE CROSS 197 prayer has in procuring specific petitions, it acts reflexly on the spirit of the person who offers it, calming, sweetening, invigorating. Although some erroneously regard this as the only real answer that prayer can receive, denying that God can be moved by our petitions, yet we, who believe that more things are wrought by prayer, ought not to over- look this. By praying that His enemies might be forgiven, Jesus was enabled to drive back the spirits of anger and revenge which tried to force their way into His bosom, and preserved undisturbed the serenity of His soul. To ask God to forgive them was the triumphant ending of His own effort to for- give ; and it is impossible to forgive without a deli- cious sense of deliverance and peace being shed abroad in the forgiving heart. May we not add that part of the answer to this prayer has been its repetition age after age by the persecuted and wronged ? St. Stephen led the way, in the article of death praying meekly after the fash- ion of his Master, " Lord, lay not this sin to their charge." Hundreds have followed. And day by day this prayer is diminishing the sum of bitterness and increasing the amount of love in the world. CHAPTER XV. THE SECOND WORD FROM THE CROSS* I. IT is not said by whose arrangement it was that Jesus was hung between the two thieves. It may have been done by order of Pilate, who wished in this way to add point to the witticism which he had put into the inscription above the cross ; or the arrangement may have been due to the Jewish offi- cials, who followed their Victim to Golgotha and may have persuaded the soldiers to give Him this place, as an additional insult ; or the soldiers may have done it of their own accord, simply because He was obviously the most notable of their pris- oners. The likelihood is that there was malice in it. Yet there was a divine purpose behind the wrath of man. Again and again one has to remark how, in * "To-day shalt thou be with Me in Paradise." THE SECOXD WORD FROM THE CROSS 199 these last scenes, every shred of action and every random word aimed at Jesus for the purpose of in- juring and dishonouring Him so turned, instead, to honour, that in our eyes, now looking back, it shines on Him like a star. As a fire catches the lump of dirty coal or clot of filth that is flung into it, and converts it into a mass of light, so at this time there was that about Christ which transmuted the very insults hurled at Him into honours and charged even the incidents of His crucifixion which were most trivial in themselves with unspeakable meaning. The crown of thorns, the purple robe, Pilate's Ecce Homo, the inscription on the cross, the savage cries of the passers-by and other similar incidents, full at the time of malice, are now memo- ries treasured by all who love the Saviour. So His position between the thieves was ordained by God as well as by men. It was His right posi- tion. They had called Him long before " a friend of publicans and sinners ;" and now, by crucifying Him between the thieves, they put the same idea into action. As, however, that nickname has be- come a title of everlasting honour, so has this insult- ing deed. Jesus came to the world to identify Him- self with sinners ; their cause was His, and He wrapped up His fate with theirs ; He had lived among them, and it was meet that He should die 200 THE TRIAL AND DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST among them. To this day He is in the midst of them ; and the strange behaviour of the two be- tween whom He hung that day was a prefigurement of what has been happening every day since : some sinners have believed on Him and been saved, while others have believed not : to the one His gospel is a savour of life unto life, to the other it is a savour of death unto death. So it is to be till the end ; and on the great day when the whole history of this world shall be wound up He will still be in the midst ; and the penitent will be on the one hand and the impenitent on the other. But it was not in one way only that the divine wisdom overruled for high ends of its own the humiliating circumstance that Jesus was thus reck- oned with the transgressors. It gave Him an op- portunity of illustrating, at the very last moment, both the magnanimity of His own character and the nature of His mission ; and at the moment when He needed it most it supplied Him with a cup of what had always been to Him the supreme joy of living — the bliss of doing good. As the parable of the Prodigal Son is an epitome of the whole teaching of Christ, so is the salvation of the thief on the cross the life of Christ in miniature. THE SECOND WORD EROM THE CROSS 201 II. Both thieves appear to have joined in taunting Jesus, in imitation of the Sanhedrists. This has, in- deed, been doubted or denied by those, of whom there have been many, who have experienced diffi- culty in understanding how so complete a revolu- tion as the conversion of the penitent thief could take place in so short a time. Two of the Evangel- ists say that those crucified with Him reviled Him ; but it is just possible grammatically to explain this as referring only to one of them ; because some- times an action is attributed to a class, though only one person of the class has done it.* The natural interpretation, however, is that both did it. It is likely enough, indeed, that the one who did not re- pent began it, and that the other joined in, less of his own accord than in imitation of his reckless as- sociate. Very probably this was not the first time that he had been dragged into sin by the same at- traction. His companion may have been his evil genius, who had ruined his life and brought him at last to this shameful end. It was an awful extreme of wickedness to be en- gaged, so near their own end, in hurling opprobri- ous words at a fellow sufferer. Of course, the very * So Augustin and many. 202 THE TRIAL AXD DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST excess of pain made crucified persons reckless ; and to be engaged doing anything, especially anything violent, helped to make them forget their agony. It mattered not who or what was the object of at- tack ; they were reduced to the condition of tor- tured animals ; and the trapped brute bites at any- thing which approaches it. This was the state of the impenitent thief. But the other diew back from his companion with horror. The v^ery excess of sin overleaped itself ; and for the first time he saw how vile a wretch he was. This was brought home to him by the contrast of the patience and peace of Jesus. His brutal companion had hitherto been his ideal ; but now he perceives how base is his ferocious courage in comparison with the strength of Christ's serene endurance. The desire to explain away the suddenness of the conversion has led to all sorts of conjectures as to the possibility of previous meetings between the thief and Christ. It is quite legitimate to dwell on what he had seen of the behaviour of Jesus from the moment when they were brought into contact in the crucifixion. He had heard Him pray for the for- giveness of His enemies ; he had witnessed His demeanour on the way to Calvary and heard His words to the daughters of Jerusalem ; the very cries of His enemies round the cross, when they case in THE SECOXn WORD FROM THE CROSS 203 His teeth the titles which He had claimed or which had been attributed to Him, informed him what w^ere the pretensions of Jesus ; perhaps he may have witnessed and heard the trial before Pilate. But, w'hen we attempt to go further back, we have noth- ing solid to found upon. Had he 'ever heard Jesus preach ? Had he witnessed any of His miracles ? How much did he know of the nature of His King- dom, of which he spoke ? Guesses may be made in answer to such questions, but they cannot be au- thenticated. I should be inclined with more confi- dence to look further back still. He may have come out of a pious home ; he may have been a prodigal led astiay by companions, and especially by the strong companion with whom he was now associ- ated. As there was a weeping mother at the foot of the cross of Jesus, there may have been a heart- broken parent at the foot of that other cross also, whose prayers were yet going to be answered in a way surpassing her v.^ildest hopes. The question of the possibility of sudden conver- sion is generall}^ argued with too much excitement on both sides to allow the facts to be recognised. Among us there may, in one sense, be said to be no such thing. Suppose anyone leading this page, who may know that he has not yet with his whole heart and soul turned to God, were to do so before 204 THE TRIAL AND DEATH OE JESUS CHRIST turning the next leaf, would this be a sudden con- version ? Why, the preparation for it has been going on for years. What has been the intention of all the religious instruction which you have re- ceived from your childhood, of the prayers offered on your behalf, of the appeals which have moved you, of the strivings of God's Spirit, but to lead up to this result ? Though your conversion were to take place this very hour, it would only be the last moment of a process which has gone on for years. Yet in a sense it would be sudden. And why should it not ? What reason is there why your re- turn to God should be further postponed ? There are two experiences in religion which require to be carefull}' distinguished : there is the making of re- ligious impressions on us by others from the outside — through instruction, example, appeal and the like ; and there is the rise of religion within ourselves, when we turn round upon our impressions and make them, our own. The former experience is long and slow, but the latter may be very sudden ; and a very little thing may bring it about. Another way in which it is possible to minimise the greatness of this conversion is by questioning the guilt of the man.* When he is called a thief, * Schleiermacher makes much of this ; and, indeed, does THE SECOXD IVORD FROM THE CROSS 205 the name suggests a very common and degraded sinner ; but it is pointed out that " robber" would be the correct name, and that probably he and his companion may have been revolutionaries, whose opposition to the Roman rule had driven them out- side the pale of society, where, to win a subsistence, they had to resort to the trade of highwaymen ; but in that country, tyrannised over by a despotic for- eign power, those who attempted to raise the stand- ard of revolt were sometimes far from ignoble characters, though the necessities of their position betrayed them into acts of violence. There is truth in this ; and the penitent thief may not have been a sinner above all men. But his own words to his companion, " We receive the due reward of our deeds," point the other way. His memory was stained with acts for which he acknowledged that death was the lawful penalty. In short, there is no reason to doubt either that he was a great sinner or that he was suddenly changed. And therefore his example will always be an encouragement to the worst of sinners when they repent. It is common for penitents to be afraid to come to God, because everything in his power to minimise the moral miracle. The whole sermon is a specimen of his worst manner, when he rides away on some side issue and fails to expound the great central lessons of a subject. 2o6 THE TRIAL AXD DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST their sins have been too great to be forgiven ; but those who are encouraging them can point to cases like Manasseh, and Mary Magdalene, and the thief on the cross, and assure them that the mercy which sufficed for these is sufficient for all : " The blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son, cleanseth us from all sin." The fear of those who endeavour to minimise the wonderfulness of this conversion is lest, if it be allowed that a man of the worst character could undergo so complete a change in so short a time on the very verge of the other world, men may be in- duced to put off their own salvation in the hope of availing themselves of a death-bed repentance. This is a just fear ; and the grace of God has un- doubtedly been sometimes thus abused. But it is an utter abuse. Those who allow themselves to be deceived with this reasoning believe that they can at any moment command penitence and faith, and that all the other feelings of religion will come to them whenever they choose to summon them. But does experience lead us to believe this ? Are not the occasions, on the contrary, very rare when re- ligion really moves irreligious men " We cannot kindle when we will The fire that in the soul resides : The spirit breatheth and is still — In myster\' the soul abides." THE SECOXD WORD FROM THE CROSS 207 Nor is it by any means a uniform experience that the approach of death awakens religious anxiety. The other thief is a solemn warning. Though face to face with death and in such close proximity to Jesus, he was only hardened and rendered more leckless than ever. And this is far more likely to be the fate of anyone who deliberately quenches the Spirit because he is trusting to a death-bed repent- ance. Yet we will not allow the possible abuse of the truth to rob. us of the glorious testimony contained in this incident to the grace of God. We set no limits to the invitation of the Saviour, " Him that cometh unto Me I will in no wise cast out." How- ever late a sinner may be in coming, and however little time he may have in which to come, let him only come and he will not be cast out. There is no more critical test of theologies and theologians than the question what message they have to a dying person whose sins are unforgiven. If the salvation which a preacher has to offer is only a course of moral improvement, what can he have to say in such a place ? We may be sure that our gospel is not the gospel of Him who comforted the penitent thief, unless we are able to offer even to a dying sinner a salvation immediate, joyful and complete. How complete the revolution was in the penitent 2o8 THE TRIAL AXD DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST thief is shown by his own words. St. Paul in one place sums up Christianity in two things — repent- ance 'towards God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. And both of these we see in this penitent's words. His repentance towards God is brought out by what he said to his companion. " Dost thou not fear God ?" he asked. He had himself forgoften God, no doubt, and put Him far away in the sinful past. But now God was near, and in the light of God he saw his own sinfulness. He confessed it, doing so not onh' in his secret mind but audibly. Thus he separated himself from it, as he did also from the companion who had led him astray, when he would not come with him on the path of peni- tence. Not less distinctly do His words to the Sa- viour manifest his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. They are simple and humble : all he dared to ex- pect was that, when Christ came into His kingdom. He would remember him. But they recognised the glory of Christ and expressed trust in Him. At the moment when the religious teachers of the nations thought that they had for ever destroyed Christ's claims, and even His own disciples had forsaken Him, this poor dying sinner believed in Him. " How clear," exclaims Calvin, " was the vision of the eyes which could thus see in death life, in ruin majesty, in shame glory, in defeat victor}^ in slavery THE SECOND WORD FROM THE CROSS 209 royalty. I question if ever since the world began there has been so bright an example of faith." Lu- ther is no less laudatory. "This," says he, "was for Christ a comfort like that supplied to Him by the angel in the garden. God could not allow His Son to be destitute of subjects, and now His Church survived in this one man. Where the faith of St. Peter broke off, the faith of the penitent thief com- menced." And another * asks, "Did ever the new birth take place in so strange a cradle ?" III. It is worth noting that it was not by words that Jesus converted this man. He did not address the penitent thief at all till the thief spoke to Him. The work of conviction was done before He uttered a word. Yet it was His work ; and how did He do it? As St. Peter exhorted godly wives to convert their heathen husbands, when he wrote to them, Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands, that, if any obey not the Word, they also may, without the Word, be won by the conversation {i.e., behaviour) of the wives, while they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear." It * Tholuck. 2IO THE TRIAL AXD DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST was by the impression of His patience, His inno- cence, His peace, and His magnanimity, tliat Jesus converted the man ; and lierein He has left us an example that we should follow in His steps. But His words, when He did speak, added im- mensely to the impression. They were few, but everyone of them expressed the Saviour. The robber was thinking of some date far off when Christ might intervene in his behalf, but Chiist says, " To day." This was a prophecy that he would die that day, and not be allowed to linger for days, as crucified persons often were ; and this was fulfilled. But it was, besides, a promise that as soon as death launched him out of time into eter- nity, Christ would be waiting there to receive him. " To-day thou shalt be with Me." All heaven is in these two last words. What do we really know of heaven, what do we wish to know, except that it is to be " with Christ" ? Yet a little more was added — " in Paradise." Some have thought that in this phrase Christ was stooping to the conceptions of the penitent thief by using a popular expression for some happy place in the other world.* At least the word, which means a garden or park and was ap- * " In Biblical Hebrew the word is used for a choice garden but in the LXX. and the Apocalypse it is already used in oui sense of Paradise." — Edersheim. THE SECOXD IVORD FROM THE CROSS 21 1 plied to the abode of our first parents in Eden, could not but call up in the consciousness of the dying man a scene of beauty, innocence and peace, where, washed clean from the defilement of his past errors, he would begin to exist again as ja. new creature. Even Christians have believed that the utmost that can be expected in the next world by a soul with a history like the robber's is, at least to begin with, to be consigned to the fires of purga- tory. But far different is the grace of Christ : great and perfect is His work, and thei'efore ours is a full salvation. This second word from the cross affords a rare glimpse into the divine glory of the Saviour ; and it is all the more impressive that it is indirect. The thief, in the most solemn circumstances, spoke to Him as to a King and prayed to Him as to a God.* And how did He respond ? Did He say, " Pray not to Me ; I am a man like yourself, and I know as lit- tle of the unknown country into which we are both about to enter as you do" ? This is what He ought to have answered, if He was no more than some make Him out to be. But He accepted the homage of His petitioner ; He spoke of the world unseen as * The word " Lord" in the robber's speech is, however, un- authentic. 2 12 THE TRIAL AXD DEATH OF JESUS' CHRIST of a place native and familiar. He gave him to understand that He possessed as much influence there as he attributed to Him. This great sinner laid on Christ the weight of his soul, the weight of his sins, the weight of his eternity ; and Christ ac- cepted the burden. CHAPTER XVI. THE THIRD WORD FROM THE CROSS* IN the life of our Lord from first to last there is a strange blending of the majestic and the lowly. When a beam of His divine dignity is allowed to shine out and dazzle us, it is never long before there ensues some incident which reminds us that He is bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh ; and, con- trariwise, when He does anything which impressive- ly brings home to us His humanity, there always follows something to remind us that He was greater than the sons of men. Thus at His birth He was laid in a manger ; yet out on the pastures of Bethle- hem angels sang His praise. Long afterwards He was asleep in the end of the boat, and so overcome with fatigue that He needed to be awakened to real- ise His danger ; but immediately He rebuked the winds and the waves, and there was a great calm. When He saw the grief of Martha and Mary, " Jesus * " Woman, behold thy son . . . Behold thy mother." 2 14 THE TRIAL AND DEATH OE JESTS CHRIST wept" ; but only a few minutes afterwards He cried, "Lazarus, come forth," and He was obeyed. So it was to the very last. In studying the Second Word from the cross we saw Him opening the gates of Paradise to the penitent thief ; to-day the Third Word will show Him to us as the Son of a woman, concerned in His dying hour for her bodily suste- nance. I. The eye of Jesus, roving over the multitude whose component parts have been already described, light- ed on His mother standing at the foot of the cross. In the words of the great mediaeval hymn, wliich is known to all by its opening words, Stal>af mater, and from the fact that it has been set to music by such masters as Palestrina, Haydn and Rossini, " Beside the cross in tears The woeful mother stood, Bent 'neath the wdght of years, And viewed His flowing blood ; Her mind with grief was torn, Her strength was ebbing fast, And through her heart forlorn The sword of anguish passed." When she carried her Infant into the temple in the pride of young motherhood, the venerable Simeon foretold that a sword would pierce through her own THE THIRD WORD FROM THE CROSS 215 soul also. Often perhaps had she wondered, in happy days, what this mysterious prediction might mean. But now she knew, for the sword was smit- ing her, stab after stab. It is always hard for a mother to see her son die. She naturally expects him to lay her head in the grave. Especially is this the case with the first- born, the son of her strength. Jesus was only thirty-three, and Mary must have reached the age when a mother most of all leans for support on a strong and loving son. Far worse, however, was the death He was dving — the death of a criminal. Many mothers have had to suffer from the kind of death their chil- dren have died, when it has been in great agony or in otherwise distressing circumstances. But what mother's sufferings were ever equal to Mary's ? There He hung before her eyes ; but she was help- less. His wounds bled, but she dared not stanch them ; His mouth was parched, but she could not moisten it. These outstretched arms used to clasp her neck ; she used to fondle these pierced hands and feet. Ah ! the nails pierced her as well as Him ; the thorns round His brow were a circle of flame about her heart ; the taunts flung at Him wounded her likewise. But there was worse still — the sword cut deeper. 2i6 THE TRIAL AXD DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST Had not the angel told her before His birth, " He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest, and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David ; and He shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever ; and of His king- dom there shall be no end" ? This greatness, this throne, this crown, this kingdom — where were they ? Once she had believed that she really was what the angel had called her — the most blessed of women — v/hen she saw Him 13'ing in her lap in His beautiful infancy, when the Shepherds and the Magi came to adore Him, and when Simeon and Anna recognised Him as the Messiah. After that ensued the long period of His obscurity in Nazareth. He was only the village carpenter ; but she did not weary, for He was with her in their home ; and she was confi- dent that the greatness, the throne, the crown, the kingdom would all come in good time. At last His hour struck ; and, casting down His tools and bid- ding her farewell, He went forth out of the little valley into the great world. It is all coming now, she said. Soon the news arrived of the words of grace and power He was speaking, of the multi- tudes following Him, of the nation being roused, and of the blind, the lame, the diseased, the be- reaved who blessed Him for giving joy back to their lives, and blessed her who had borne Him. It is THE THIRD WORD FROM THE CROSS 217 all coming to pass, she said. But then followed other news — of reaction, of opposition, of persecu- tion. Her heait sank within her. She could not stay where she was. She left Nazareth and went away trembling to see what had happened. And now she stands at the foot of His cross. He is dying ; and the greatness, the glory, and the king- dom have never come. What could it mean ? Had the angel been a de- ceiver, and God's word a lie, and all the wonders of His childhood a dream ? We know the explanation now : Jesus was about to climb a far loftier throne than Mary had ever iniagined-, and the cross was the onl}' road to it. Before many weeks were over Mary was to understand this too ; but meantime it must have been dark as Egypt to her, and her heart must have been sorrowful even unto death. The sword had pierced very deep. 11. There were other women with Mary beneath the cross — two of them Marys, like herself.* As an an- cient father f has said, the weaker sex on this occa- sion proved itself the stronger. When the -apostles * It is not certain whether John xix. 25 describes three women or four. Is the second Salome, John's mother? f Chrysostom. 2i8 THE TRIAL AND DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST had forsaken their Master and fled, these women were true to the last. Perhaps, indeed, their sex protected them. Women can venture into some places where men dare not go ; and this is a talent which many women have used for rendering ser- vices to the Saviour which men could not have per- formed. But there was one there who had not this protec- tion, and who in ventuiing so near must have taken his life in his hand. St. John, I suppose, is included with the rest of the apostles in the sad statement that they all forsook their Master and fled. But, if so, his panic can only have lasted a moment. He was present at the very commencement of the trial ; and heie he still is with his Master at the last — the only one oY all the Twelve. Perhaps, indeed, the acquaintance with the high priest, which availed him to get into the palace where the trial took place, may still have operated in his favour. But it was most of all his greater devotion that brought him to his Master's side. He who had leaned on His breast could not stay away, whatever might be the danger. And he had his reward ; for he was permitted to render a last service to Jesus amidst His agony, and he received from Him a token of confidence which by a heart like his must have been felt to be an unspeakable privilege and honour. THE THIRD WORD FROM THE CROSS 219 III. It is most of all, however, with the impression made by the situation on Jesus Himself that we wish to acquaint ourselves. He looked on His mother ; and it w^as with an un- preoccupied eye, that was able to disengage its attention from every other object by which it was solicited. He was suffering at the time an extrem- ity of pain which might have made Him insensible to everything beyond Himself. Or, if He had com- posure enough to think, a dying man has many things to reflect upon within his own mind. Christ, we know, had a whole world of interests to attend to ; for now He was engaged in a final wrestle with the problem to which His whole life had been de- voted. The prayer on behalf of His enemies does not surprise us so much, for it may be said to have been part of His office to intercede for sinners ; nor His address to the penitent thief, for this also was quite in harmonj' with His work as the Saviour. But we do wonder that in such an hour He had leisure to attend to a domestic detail of ordinary life. Men who have been engaged in philanthropic and reformatory schemes have not infrequently been unmindful of the claims of their own families : and 2 20 THE TRIAL AXD DEA TIT OF JESUS CHRIST \ they have excused themselves, or excuse has been made for them, on the ground that the public inter- est predominated over the rights of their relatives. Now and then Jesus Himself spoke as if He took this view : He would not allow His plans to be in- teifered with even b}' His mother. But now He showed that, though He could not but refuse her unjust interference, He had never for a moment forgotten her just claims or her true interests. In spite of His greatness and in spite of His work, He still remained Mary's Son and bore to her an undy- ing affection The words He spoke were, indeed, few ; but they completely covered the case. Every word He ut- tered in that position was with great pain ; there- fore He could not say much. Besides, their very fewness imparted to them a kind of judicial dig- nity ; as has been said, this was Christ's last will and testament. To His mother He said, " Woman, behold thy son," * indicating St. John with His eyes ; and to the disciple He merely said, " Behold thy mother." It was simple, yet comprehensive ; a plain, almost legal direction, and yet overflowing with love to both Mary and John. * " Woman" may mean sadly (proleptically), "Thou hast no son now." THE TIIIKD WORD FROM THE CROSS 22 1 It is supposed that Jost-ph, the husband of the Virgin, had died before our Lord's public career began, and that in Nazareth the weight of the household had fallen on the shoulders of Jesus. No doubt, during His years of preaching. He would tenderly care for His mother. But now He too was leaving her, and the widow would be without sup- port. It was for this He had to provide. He had no money to leave her ; His earthly all, when He was crucified, consisted of the clothes He wore ; and these fell to the soldiers. But it is one of the privileges of those who, though they may be poor themselves, make man)?- rich with the gifts of truth, that they thereby win friends who are proud and eager to serve them or theirs. In committing His mother to St. John Jesus knew that the charge would be accepted not as a burden but a gift. Why she did not go to the home of one of her other sons it is impossible to say. They were not yet believers, though soon afterwards they became so ; but there may have been other reasons also, to us unknown. At all events, it is easy to see how kind and con- siderate was the selection of St. John for this office. There are indications in the Gospels that St. John was wealthier, or at least more "comfortable in his circumstances, than the rest of the Apostles ; and 2 22 THE TRIAL AXD DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST this may have weighed with Jesus : He would not send His mother where she would feel herself to be a burden. It is highly probable also that St. John was unmarried. But there were deeper reasons. There was no arm on which His mother could lean so confidently as that of him who had leaned on her Son's breast. St. Peter, with his hot temper and rough fisherman's ways, would not have been near- ly so eligible a choice. John and Man,' were kin- dred spiiits. They were especially one in their in- tense affection for Jesus. They would never tire of speaking to one another about Him. He honoured both of them in each other's eyes by giving them to one another in this way. If He gave Mary a great gift in giving her St. John for a son, He gave him no less a gift by giving him such a mother ; for Mary could not but be an ornament to any home. Besides, did He not make St. John in a quite pecul- iar sense His own brother by substituting him in His own stead as the son of Mary ? The Evangelist says that from that hour John took her to his own home. Many have understood this to mean that he at once gently withdrew her from the spot, that she should not be agitated by seeing the death-throes of her Son, though he him- self returned to Calvary. It is said by tradition that they lived together twelve years in Jerusalem, THE THIRD WORD FROM THE CROSS 223 and that he refused to leave the city, even for the purpose of preaching the gospel, as long as Mary- survived. Only after her death did he depart on those missionary travels which landed him in Ephe- sus and its neighbourhood, with which his later his- tory is connected. IV. It is not difficult to read the lesson of this touch- ing scene. From the pulpit of His cross Jesus preaches to all ages a sermon on the fifth command- ment. The heart of the mother of Jesus was pierced with a sword on account of His sufferings. It was a sharp weapon ; but Mary had one thing on which to steady up her soul ; it kept her calm even in the wildest moment of her grief — -she knew He was in- nocent. He had always been pure, noble and good ; she could be proud of Him even when they were crucifying Him. Many a mother's heart is pierced with anguish on account of a son's illness, or misfortunes, or early death ; but she can bear it if she is not pierced with the poisoned sword. What is that ? It is when she has to be ashamed of her child — when he is brought to ruin by his own misdeeds. This is a sorrow far worse than death. How beautiful it is to see a mother wearing as 224 THE TRIAL AXD DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST her chief ornament the good name and the honour- able success of a son ! You who still have a mother or a father, let this be to you both a spur to exer- tion and a talisman against temptation. To some is accorded the rarer privilege of being able to sup- port their parents in old age. And surely there is no sweeter memory in the world than the recollec- tion of having been allowed to do this. " If any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to show piety at home and to requite their parents ; for that is good and acceptable before God. . . . But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel." * But this sermon, delivered from the pulpit of the cross, has a wider range. It informs us that our Saviour has a concern for our temporal as well as for our eternal interests. Even on the cross, where He was expiating the sin of the world, He was thinking of the comfort of His widowed mother. Let the needy and the deserted take courage from this, and cast all their care upon Him, for He careth for them. It is often an astonishment to see how widows especially are helped through. When they are left, with perhaps a number of little children, it * T Tim. V. 6, 8, THE THIRD WORD FROM THE CROSS 225 seems incomprehensible how they can get on. Yet not infrequently their families turn out better than those where the father has been spared. One rea- son is, perhaps, that their children feel from the first that they must take a share of the responsi- bility, and this makes men and women of them. But the chief reason undoubtedly is that God fulfils His own promise to be a Father to the fatherless and a Husband to the widow, and that they have not been forgotten by Him who in the hour of His absorbing agony remembered Mary. CHAPTER XVII. THE FOURTH WORD FROM THE CROSS* THE Seven Words from the Cross may be di- vided into two groups. In the first three — • namely, the prayer for His crucifiers, the word to the penitent thief, and the directions about His mother — our Lord was dealing with the interests of others ; in the last four, to which we now pass, He was absorbed in His own concerns. This division is natural. Many a dying man, after arranging his affairs and saying his farewells, turns his face to the wall, to encounter death and be alone with God. It was highly characteristic of Jesus, however, be- fore turning to His own things, first to mind the things of others. Between these two groups of sayings there seems to have elapsed a long interval. From the sixth hour to the ninth Jesus was silent. And during this interval there was darkness over all the land. Of * " My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?" THE FOURTH WORD FROM THE CROSS 227 what precise nature this atmospheric effect may have been it is impossible at this distance to sa)^ But the Evangelists, three of whom mention it, evi- dently consider it to have indicated in some sense the sympathy of nature with her Lord. It was as if the sun refused to look on such a deed of shame. It may be supposed that by this weird phenomenon the noises round the cross were in some degree hushed. At length the silence was broken by Christ Himself, who, in a loud voice, gave utterance to the Fourth Word fi-om the cross. This was a word of astonishment and agony, yet also of victory. I. Of what nature had been the meditations of our Lord during the three hours of silence ? Had He been in an ecstasy of communion with His heavenly Father ? Not infrequently has this been vouchsafed to dying saints. And it has sometimes enabled them completely to overcome physical suffering. Martyrs have occasionally been so exalted at the last as to be able even to sing in the flames. It is with awe and astonishment we learn that the very opposite of this was the state of mind of Jesus. The word w4th which He burst out of the trance of silence may be taken as the index of what was going 228 THE TRIAL AND DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST on in His mind during the preceding hours ; and it is a cry out of the lowest depths of despair. In- deed, it is the most appalling sound that ever pierced the atmosphere of this earth. Familiar as it is to us, it cannot be heard by a sensitive ear even at this day without causing a cold shudder of ter- ror. In the entire Bible there is no other sentence so difficult to explain. The first thought of a preacher, on coming to it, is to find some excuse for passing it by ; and, after doing his utmost to expound it, he must still confess that it is quite be- yond him. Yet there is a great reward in grappling with such difficult passages ; for never does the truth impress us so profoundly as when we are made to feel that all the length which we are able to go is only into the shallows of the shore, while be- yond our reach lies the great ocean. Even in Christ's own mind the uppermost thought, when He uttered this cry, was one of astonish- ment. In Gethsemane, we are told, " He was sore amazed." And this is obviously the tone of this utterance also. We almost detect an accentuation of the " Thou" like that in the word with which the murdered Caesar fell. All His life Jesus had been accustomed to find Himself forsaken. The mem- bers of His own household early rejected Him. So did His fellow-townsmen in Nazaieth. Ultimately THE FOURTH WORD FROM THE CROSS 229 the nation at lai-ge followed the same course. The multitudes tliat at one time followed Him wherever He went and hung upon His lips eventually took offence and went away. At last, in the crisis of His fate, one of His nearest followers betrayed Him and the rest forsook Him and fled. But in these disap- pointments, though He felt them keenly. He had alwaj's had one resource : He was always able, when rejected of men, to turn away from them and cast Himself with confidence on the breast of God. Disappointed of human love. He drank the more deeply of the love divine. He always knew that what He was doing or suffering was in accord with the will of God ; His feelings kept constant time with the Divine heart ; God's thoughts were His thoughts ; He could clearly discern the divine in- tention leading through all the contradictions of His career to a sublime result. Therefore He could calmly say, even at the Last Supper, with reference to the impending desertion of the Twelve, " Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave Me alone ; and 3'et I am not alone, because the Father is with Me." Now, however, the hour had come ; and was this expectation fulfilled ? They were scat- tered, as He had predicted, and He was left alone ; but was He not alone ? was the Father still with 23° THE TRIAL AXD DEATH OE JESUS CHRIST Him ? His own words supply the answer : " My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me ?" II. Although the state of mind of our Lord on this occasion was so different from what we know to have been His habitual mood, yet it does not stand absolutel)'' isolated in His history. We know of at least two experiences somewhat resembling it, and these may in some degree help us to its explana- tion. The first overtook Him on the occasion of the visit of certain Greeks at the beginning of the last week of His life. They had desired to see Him ; but, when they were introduced b\' Andrew and Philip, Jesus, instead of being exhilarated, as might have been expected, was overcome with a spasm of pain, and groaned, " Now is My soul troubled, and what shall I say ? Father, save Mo from this hour." The sight of these visitors from the outside wor'ld made Him feel how grand and how congenial to Himself would have been a worldwide mission to the heathen, such as He might have undertaken had His life been prolonged ; but this was impossible, because in the flower of His age He was to die. The other occasion was the Agony of Gethsemane. A careful and reverent studv will reveal that this THE FOURTH WORD FROM THE CROSS 231 incident was the effort by which the will of Christ rose into unity with the will of His Father. It be- longs to the very essence of human nature that it must grow from stage to stage ; and the perfection of our Lord, just because it was human, had to real- ise itself on every step of a ladder of development. He was always both perfect on the stage which He had reached, and at the same time rising to a higher stage of perfection. Sometimes the step might be more easy, at other times more difficult ; the step Avhich He had to take in Gethsemane was supremely difficult ; hence the effort and the pain which it cost. It seemed, however, in Gethsemane as if He had finally conquered, and it might have been ex- pected that the mood of weakness and darkness could not come back. Yet it was to be permitted to return once more ; and on the cross the attack was far more violent and prolonged than on either of the preceding occasions. Keeping in mind the light which these two previous accesses of the same mood may cast on this one, let us draw near rever- ently and see how far we may be able to penetrate into the mystery. There can be little doubt that there was a physi- cal element in it. He had now been a considerable time on the cross ; and every minute the agony was increasing. The wounds in His hands and feet, ex- 232 THE TRIAL AXD DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST posed to the atmosphere and the sun, grew barked and hardened ; the blood, impeded in its circula- tion, swelled in heart and brain, till these organs were like to burst ; and the slightest attempt to move the body from the one intolerable posture caused pains to shoot along the quivering nerv^es. Bodily suffering clouds the brain and distorts the images formed on the mirror of the mind. Even the face of God, reflected there, may be turned to a shape of terror by the fumes of physical trouble. The horror of mortal suffering may have been greater to Jesus than to other men, because of the fineness and sensitiveness of His phj'sical organiza- tion. His body had never been coarsened with sin, and therefore death was utterly alien to it. The stream of physical life, which is one of the precious gifts of God, had poured through His frame in abundant and sunny tides. But now it was being withdrawn, and the counterflow had set in. The unity of a perfect nature was being violently torn asunder ; and He felt Himself drifting away from the living world, which to Him had been so full of God's presence and goodness, into the pale, cold regions of inanity.* He did not belong to death ; * Some of the Fathers thought of the separation of the divine from the human nature as taking place now. THE FOURTH WORD FROM THE CROSS 2t,:^ yet He was falling into death's grasp. No angel came to rescue Him ; God interposed with no mira- cle to arrest the issue ; He was abandoned to His fate. There was more, however, it is easy to see, in the agony w^hich prompted this cry than the merely physical. If in Gethsemane we have the effort of the will of Jesus, as it raised itself into unity with the will of the Father, we here see the effort of His mind as, amidst the confusion and contradictions of the cross, it finally rose into unity with the mind of God. This intellectual character of His pain is in- dicated by the word " Why." It is always painful when the creature has to say Why to the Creator. We believe that He is Sovereign of the world and Guide of our destiny, and that He urges forward the course of things in the reins of infinite wisdom and love. But, while this is the habitual and healthy sense of the human mind, especially when it is truly religious, there are crises, both in the great and in the little world, when faith fails. The world is out of joint ; everything appears to have gone wrong ; the reins seem to hav^e slipped out of the hands of God and the chariot to be plunging forward uncontrolled ; the course of things seems no more to be presided over by reason, but by a blind, if not a cruel fate. It is then that the poor 234 THE TRIAL AND DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST human mind cries out Why. The entire book of Job is such a cry. Jeremiah cried Why to God in term.s of startling boldness. In mortal pain, in be- wildering disappointments, in bereavements which empty the heart and empty the world, millions have thus cried Why in every age. It seems an irre- ligious word. When Jeremiah says, " O Lord, Thou hast deceived me and I was deceived," or when Job demands, " Why did I not from the womb ? why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly ?" it sounds like the voice of a blasphemer. But indeed it is into the most ear- nest and delicate souls that this despair is likeliest to slip. The ignorant, the frivolous and the time- serving are safe from it ; for they are well enough satisfied with things as they are. Callous minds learn to be content without explanations. But the more deeply pious a mind is, the more jealous must it be for justice and the glory of God ; the appear- ance of unwisdom in the government of the world shocks it ; to be able to trace the footsteps of God's care is a necessity of its existence. Hence its pain when these evidences disappear. Now, all the con- tradictions and confusions of the world were focussed on Golgotha. Injustice was triumphant ; innocence was scorned and crushed ; everything was exactly the reverse of what it ought to have been. And all THE FOURTH IVORD FROM THE CROSS 235 the millions of Whys which have risen from agonized souls, jealous for the honour of God but perplexed by His providence, were concentrated in the Why of Christ. How near to us He is ! Never perhaps in His whole life did He so completely identify Himself with His poor brethren of mankind. For here He comes down to stand by our side not only when we have to encounter pain and misfortune, bereavement and death, but wlien we are enduring that pain which is beyond all pains, that horror in whose presence the brain reels, and faith and love, the eyes of life, are put out — the horror of a universe without God, a universe which is one hideous, tum- bling, crashing mass of confusion, with no reason to guide and no Ijve to sustain it. Can we advance a etep farther into the mystery ? The deepest question of all is whether the desertion of Jesus was subjective or objective^that is, whether He had only, on account of bodily weakness and a temporary obscuration of the inward vision, a sense of being abandoned, or whether, in any real sense, God had actually forsaken Him. Of course we are certain that God was infinitely well pleased with Him — never moie so, surely, than when He was sac- rificing Himself to the ut^^^ermost on behalf of others. But was there, at the same time, any outflashing 236 THE TRIAL AXD DEATH OE JESUS CHRIST against Him of the reverse side of the Divine nature — the lightning of the Divine wrath ? Calvary was an awful revelation of the human heart, whose enmity was directed straight against the perfect revelation of the love of God in Christ. Theie the sin of man reached its climax and did its worst. What was done there against Christ, and against God in Him, was a kind of embodiment and quin- tessence of the sin of the whole world. And un- doubtedly it was this which was pressing on Jesus ; this was "the travail of His soul." He was look- ing close at sin's utmost hideousness ; He was sick- ened with its contact ; He was crushed with its brutality — crushed to death. Yet this human nature was His own ; He was identified with it — bone of its bone, flesh of its flesh ; and, as in a reprobate family an exquisitely delicate and refined sister may feel the whole weight of the debt and shame of the household to lie on herself,, so He felt the unworthi- ness and hopelessness of the race as if they were His own ; and, like the scapegoat on whose head the sins of the community were laid in the old dis- pensation, He went out into the land of forsaken- ness. Thus far we may proceed, feeling that we have solid ground beneath our feet. But many have ventured farther. Even Luther and Calvin allowed THE FOURTH WORD FROM THE CROSS 237 themselves to say that in the hours which preceded this cry our Lord endured the torments of tlie damned. And Rambach, whose Meditations on the Sufferings ^f Christ have fed the piety of Germany for a hundred years, says : " God was now dealing with Him not as a loving and merciful father with his child, but as an offended and righteous judge with an evildoer. The heavenly Father now re- gards His Son as the greatest sinner to be found beneath the sun, and discharges on Him the whole weight of His wrath." But, if we were to make use of such language, we should be venturing be- yond our depth. Much to be preferred is the mod- est comment of the holy and learned Bengel on our text : "In this fourth word from the cross our Sa- viour not only says that He has been delivered up into the hands of men, but that He has suffered at the hands of God something unutterable." Cer- tainly there is here something unutterable. We have ventured into the mystery as far as we are able ; but we know that we are yet only in the shal- lows near the shore ; the unplumbed ocean lies be- yond. III. It may appear an affectation to speak of this as in any sense a cry of victory. Yet, if what has just 23^ THE TRIAL AND DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST been said be true, this, which was the extreme mo- ment of suffering, was also the supreme moment of achievement. As the flower, by being crushed, yields up its fragrant essence, so He, by taking into His heart the sin of the world, brought salvation to the woild. In point of fact, all history since has shown that it was in this very hour that Christ conquered the heart of mankind. Long before He had said, " I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me." And the correctness of this anticipation is matter of history. Christ oa the cross has ever since then been the most fascinating object in the eyes of mankind. The mind and heart of humanity have been irresistibly attracted to Him, never weary of studying Him. And the utterance of this cry is the culminating moment to which the inquiring mind specially turns. Theology has its centre in the cross. Sometimes, indeed, it has been shy of it, and has divagated from it in wide circles ; but, as soon as it becomes profound and humble again, it always returns. Yes, when it becomes humble ! Penitent souls are drawn to the cross, and the deeper their peni- tence the more are they at home. They stand be- side the dying Saviour and say, This is what we ought to have suffered ; our life was forfeited by THE FOURTH WORD FROM THE CROSS 239 our guilt ; thus our blood deserved to flow ; we might justly have been banished forever into the desert of forsakenness. But, as they thus make confession, their forfeited life is given back to them for Christ's sake, the peace of God is shed abroad in their hearts, and the new life of love and service begins. The supreme Christian rite brings us to this very spot and to this very moment : " This is My blood of the New Testament, shed for many for the remission of sins." It was not, however, merely in this profound sense that this fourth word of the dying Saviour was a cry of victory. It was so, also, because it liberated Him from His depression. It has been said that when, at His encounter with the Greeks, He groaned, " Father, save Me from this hour," He immediately checked Himself with " Father, glorify Thy name" ; likewise that in Gethsemane, when He prayed, " If it be possible, let this cup pass from Me," He hastened to add, " Nevertheless, not My will, but Thine be done" ; but that on this occasion the cry of despair was followed by no word of resignation. This, however, is a mistake. The cry itself, though an utterance of despair, yet involved the strongest faith. See how He lays hold of the Eternal with both hands : " My God, My God !" It is a prayer : a thousand times He had turned to this resource 240 THE TRIAL AND DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST in days of trial ; and He does so in this supreme trouble. To do so cures despair. No one is for- saken who can pray, " My God." As one in deep water, feeling no bottom, makes a despairing plunge forward and lands on solid ground, so Jesus, in the very act of uttering His despair, overcame it. Feel- ing forsaken of God, He lushed into the arms of God ; and these arms closed round Him in loving protection. Accordingly, as the darkness, which had brooded over all the land, disappeared at the ninth hour, so His mind emerged from eclipse ; and, as we shall see, His last words were uttered in His usual mood of serenity. CHAPTER XVIII. THE FIFTH WORD FROM THE CROSS* THE fourth word from the cross we looked upon both as the climax of the struggle which had gone on in the mind of the divine Sufferer during the tliree hours of silence and darkness which pre- ceded its utterance and as the liberation of His mind from that struggle. This view seems to be con- firmed by the terms in which St. John introduces the Fifth Word — " After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished,! that the Scrip- ture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst." The phrase, " that the Scripture might be ful- filled," is usually connected with the words, " I thirst," as if the meaning were that He had said this fifth word in fulfilment of some prediction that He would do so ; and the Old Testament is ran- * " I thirst.' •j- TeTi/iearai — the very word of Jesus Himself — " It is finished—" which may possibly have been fourth. 242 THE TRIAL AXD DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST sacked, without much result, for the prophetic words which may be supposed to be alkided to. It is better, however, to connect the phrase with what goes before — "Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished." It was only w^hen His work, appointed by God and prescribed in Scripture, was completed, that He became sufficiently conscious of His bodily condition to say, "I thirst." Intense mental preoccupation has a tendency to cause the oblivion of bodily w^ants. Even the excitement of reading a fascinating book may keep at a distance for hours the sense of requiring sleep or food ; and it is only when the reader comes out of the trance of absorption tliat he realises how spent he is. During the temptation in the wilderness Jesus was too absorbed to be aware of His bodily necessities ; but, when the spiritual strain w'as removed, He " was afterward an hungered." In the present instance, when He came out of His spiritual trance, it was thirst He became conscious of. I remember once talking wdth a German stu- dent who had served in the Fianco-Prussian War He was wounded in an engagement near Paris, and lay on the field unable to stir. He did not know exactly what was the nature of his w'ound, and he thought that he might be dying. The pain was in- tense ; the wounded and dying were groaning round THE FIFTH WORD FROM THE CROSS 243 about him ; the battle was still raging ; and shots were falling and tearing up the ground in all direc- tions. But after a time one agony, he told me, began to swallow up all the rest, and soon made him forget his wound, his danger and his neigh- bours. It was the agony of thirst. He would have given the world for a draught of water. This was the supreme distress of crucifixion. The agonies of the horrible punishment were of the most excruciat- ing and complicated order ; but, after a time, they all gathered into one central current, in which the}'' were lost and swallowed up — that of devouring thirst ; and it was this that drew from our Lord the fifth word.* * He had by this time been on the cross for four hours or more. The arrest took place about midnight ; the ecclesiastical trial terminated about sunrise ; the proceedings before Pilate occupied perhaps from six to nine, or rather more ; the crucifixion took place towards noon ; from noon till three o'clock darkness prevailed ; and between this and sunset the death and burial took place. See Matt, xxvii. i ; Mark xv. 25, 33, 34, 42. St. John's statement of time, xix. 14, is a difficulty. He appears to reckon from a different starting-point. See Andrews' Life of Our Lord (new edition), pp. 545 ff. In the same passage St. John says, " It was the preparation of the passover"; does this mean the day before the feast commenced, or the day before the Sab- bath of Passover Week ? There are held to be other indications that St. John represents the crucifixion as having taken place the day before the Passover began, whereas the Synoptists place it the day after (especially John xviii. 28, where the question is 244 THE TRIAL AXD DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST I. This was the only cry of physical pain uttered by our Lord on the cross. As was remarked in a pre- vious chapter, it was not uncommon for the'victims of crucifixion, when the ghastly operation of nailing them to the tree began, to writhe and resist, and to indulge either in abject entreaties to be saved from the inevitable or in wild defiance of their fate. But at this stage Jesus uttered never, a word of com- plaint. Afterwards also, in spite of the ever-in- creasing pain. He preserved absolute self-control. He was absorbed either in caring for others or in prayer to God. It is a sublime example of patience. It rebukes our softness and intolerance of pain. How easily we are made to cry out ; how peevish and ill-tem- pered we become under slight annoyances ! A headache, a toothache, a cold, or some other slight affair, is supposed to be a sufficient justification for losing all self-control and making a whole house- hold uncomfortable. Suffering does not always sanctify. It sours some tempers and makes them whether " the passover" means the Paschal Lamb or the Chagi- gah, a portion of the feast belonging to the second day). On this question there is an extensive literature. See Andrews, 452-81, and Keim, vol. vi., pp. 195-219. THE FIFTH WORD FROM THE CROSS 245 selfish and exacting. This is the besetting sin of invalids — to become absorbed in their own miseries and to make all about them the slaves of their ca- prices. But many triumph nobly over their tempta- tion ; and in this they are following the example of the suffering Saviour. There are sick-rooms which it is a privilege to visit. You may know that the place is a scene of excruciating pain ; but on the pil- low there lies a sweet, patient face ; the voice is cheerful and thankful ; and, instead of being self- absorbed, the mind is full of unselfish thoughts for others. I recall the description given by a friend of one such invalid's chamber, which used to be filled with the most beautiful cheerfulness and activity. At a certain time of year you might see in it quite an exhibition of stockings, pinafores, dresses and other pretty things, prepared for the children of a mission-school in India. By thinking of the needs of those children far away the invalid not only kept her own sufferings at bay, but created for herself delightful connections with God's work and God's people. Yet she was one who might easily have asserted the right to do nothing, and have taxed the patience and the services of those by whom she was surrounded. But there is another lesson besides patience in this word of Christ. He only uttered one word of 246 THE TRIAL AND DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST physical pain ; but He did utter one. His self-con- trol was not proud or sullen. There is a silence in suffering that is mere dc\ggedness, when we screw our courage to the stickingplace and resolve that nobody shall hear any complaint from us. We suc- ceed in being silent, but it is with a bad grace : there is no love or patience in our hearts, but only selfish determination. This is especially a tempta- tion when anyone has injured us and we do not wish to let him see how much we have suffered, lest he should be gratified. Jesus was surrounded by those who had wantonly wronged Him ; not only had they inflicted pain, but they had laughed and mocked at His sufferings. He might have resolved not on any account to show His feelings or at least to ask any kindness. It is sometimes more difficult to ask a favour than to grant one ; it requires more of the spirit of forgiveness.* But not only did Jesus ask a favour : He expected to receive it. Shame- fully as He had been treated by those to whom He had to appeal, He believed that there might still be some remains of goodness at the bottom of their hearts. All His life He had been wont to discover more good in the worst than others believed to ex- * " To be in too great a hurry to discharge an obligation is itself a kind of ingratitude." — La Rochefoucauld. THE FIFTH WORD FROM THE CROSS 247 ist, and to the last He remained true to His own faith. The maxim of the world is to take all men for rogues till the reverse has been proved. Especially when people have enemies, they believe the own very worst of them and paint their characters without a single streak of any colour but black. To those from whom we differ in opinion we attribute the basest motives and refuse to hear any good of them. But this is not the w^ay of Christ : He believed there were some drops of the milk of human kindness even in the hard-hearted Roman soldiers ; and He was not disappointed.* II. It is impossible to hear this pathetic cry, so ex- pressiv^e of helplessness and dependence, without recalling other words of our Lord to which it stands in marked contrast. Can this be He who, standing in Jerusalem not long before, suriounded with a great multitude, lifted up His voice and cried, " If any man thirst, let him come unto Me and drink" ? Can it be He who, standing at the well of Jacob * Hoffmann says that Jesus refused the intoxicating draught, before the crucifixion began, that His senses might be kept clear ; and that now He accepted the refreshing draught for the same purpose. 248 THE TRIAL AXD DEATH OF JESTS CHRIST with the Samaiitan woman and pointing to the springing fountain at their feet, said, " Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again ; but who- soever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst ; but the water that I shall give shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life" ? Can He who in words like these offered to quench the thirst of the world be the same who now whispers in mortal exhaustion, " I thirst" ? It is the same ; and this is a contrast which runs through His whole life, the contrast between inward wealth and outward poverty. He was able to en- rich the whole world, yet He had to be supported by the contributions of the women who followed Him ; He could say, " I am the bread of life," yet He sometimes hungered for a meal ; He could promise thrones and nrany mansions to those who believed on Him, yet He said Himself, " Foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests, yet the Son of man hath not where to lay His head." In a materialistic age, when in so many circles money Is the measure of the man, and when people are so excessively concerned about what they shall eat and what they shall drink and wherewithal they shall be clothed, it is worth while to bear this con- trast in mind. Seldom have the noblest specimens of humanity been those who have been able to wal- THE FIFTH WORD FROM THE CROSS 249 low in luxury ; and the men who have enriched the world with the treasures of the mind have not infre- quently been hardly able to procure daily bread. Our older boys may have seen on some of their school-books the name of Heyne. His is an im- mortal name in classical scholarship ; but when he was a student, and even when he was enriching the literature of his country with splendid editions of the ancient writers, he was literally starving, and had sometimes to subsist on skins of apples and other offal picked up from the streets. Our own Samuel Johnson, to whose wisdom the whole globe is now a debtor, when engaged on some of his greatest works, had not shoes in which to go out, and did not know where his dinner was to come from. It would be easy from history to multiply instances of those who, though poor, yet have made many rich. The inference is not, that one must be poor exter- nally if one desires to be inwardly rich. The mate- rially poor are not all spiritually rich by any means; multitudes of them, alas, are as poverty-stricken in mind and character as in physical condition. Per- haps one might even go so far as to say that as a rule the inwardly rich enjoy at least a competent portion of the good things of this life ; for intelli- gence and character have even a market value. 250 THE TRIAL AXD DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST Money, too, can be made subservient to the highest aims of the soul. But what it is essential to remem- ber is, that the inward is the true wealth, and that we must seek and obtain it, even, if necessary, at the sacrifice of the outward. If life is not to be im- poverished and materialised, some in every age must make the choice between the inward and the outward wealth ; and no one is worthy to be the servant of scholarship, art or religion who is not prepared for the choice should it fall to him. It is by the possession of intelligence, generosity and spiritual power that we enter into the higher ranks of manhood ; and the most Christlike trait of all is to have the will and the ability to overflow in influ- ences and activities which sweeten and elevate the lives of others. III. It would appear that some of those round the cross were opposed to granting the request of Jesus. Misunderstanding the fourth word,* they supposed He was calling for Elijah ; and they proposed not to help Him even with a drink of water, in order to see whether or not Elijah would come to the rescue. But in one man the impulse of humanity was too * " Eli, Eli," etc. THE FIFTH WORD FROM THE CROSS 251 strong, and he gave Jesus what He desired. We almost love the man for it, and we envy his office. But the Saviour is still saying, " I thirst." How and where ? Listen ! "I was thirsty, and ye gave Me drink." " Lord, when saw v/e Thee athirst and gave Thee drink ?" " Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye did it unto Me." Wherever the brothers and sisters of Jesus are suffering, sitting in lonely rooms and wishing that somebody would come and visit them, or lying on beds of pain and needing somebody to come and ease the pillow or to reach the cup to the dry lips, there Christ is saying, " I thirst." Perhaps He is saying it in vain. There are mul- titudes of professing Christians who never from end to end of the year visit any poor person. They never thread the obscure streets or ascend the grimy stairs in search of God's hidden ones. They have never acquired the art of cheering a dark home with a flower, or a hj^mn, or a diet, or the touch of a sympathetic hand and the smile of a healthy face. It would completely alter the Christianity of many if they could begin to do these lowly services ; it would put reality into it, and it would bring into the heart a joy and exhilaration hitherto unknown. For Christ sees to it that none who thus serve Him lose their reward. An American friend told me 252 THE TRIAL AXD DEATH OE JESUS CHRIST that once, when travelling on the continent of Eu- rope, he fell in with a fellow-counti yman on board a Rhine steamer. They talked about America and soon confided to each other from which parts of the country they came, with other fragments of per- sonal detail. The}' continued to travel for some days together, and my informant was so over- whelmed with kindness by his companion that at last he ventured to ask the reason. " Well," re- joined the other, " when the War was going on, I was serving in your native state ; and one day our march lay through the town in which you have told me you were born. The march had been very pro- longed ; it was a day of intense heat ; I was utterly fatigued and felt on the point of dying for thirst, when a kind woman came out of one of the houses and gave me a glass of cold water. And I have been trying to repay through you, her fellow-towns- man, the kindness she showed to me." Does it not remind us of the great word of the Son of God, " Whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward" ? But is this not enough ? Does anyone wish to get still nearer to Christ and hold the cup not only to Him in the person of His members but to His own THE FIFTH WORD FROM THE CROSS 253 very lips ? Well, this is possible too. Jesus still says, " I thirst." He thirsts for love. He thirsts for prayer. He thirsts for service. He thirsts for holiness. Whenever the heart of a human being turns to Him with a genuine impulse of penitence, affection or consecration, the Saviour sees of the travail of His soul and is satisfied. CHAPTER XIX. THE SIXTH WORD FROM THE CROSS* LIKE the Fifth, the Sixth Word from the Cross is, in the Greek, literally a single word ; and it has been often affirmed to be the greatest single word ever utteied. It may be said to comprehend in itself the salvation of the world ; and thousands of human souls, in the agony of conviction or in the crisis of death, hav^e laid hold of it as the drowning sailor grasps the life-buoy. Sometimes it has been interpreted as meiely the last sign of ebbing life : as if the meaning were. It is all over ; this long agony of pain and weakness is done at last. But the dying words of Jesus were not spoken in this tone. The Fifth Word, we are expressly told, was uttered with a loud voice ; so was the Seventh ; and, although this is not express- ly stated about the Sixth, the likelihood is that, in * " It is finished." THE SIXTH WORD FROM THE CROSS 255 this respect, it resembled the other two. It was not a cry of defeat, but of victory. Both the suffering of our Lord and His work were finishing together ; and it is natural to suppose that He was referring to both. Suffering and work are the two sides of every life, the one predominating in some cases and the other in others. In the expe- rience of Jesus both were prominent : He had both a great work to accomplish and He suffered greatly in the process of achieving it. *But now both have been brought to a successful close ; and this is what the Sixth Word expresses. It is, therefore, first, the Worker's Cry of Achievement ; and, secondly, the Sufferer's Cry of Relief. I. Christ, when on earth, had a great work on hand, which was now finished. This dying word carries us back to the first word from His lips which has been preserved to us : "Wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business ?" Even at twelve years of age He already knew that there was a business entrusted to Him by His Father in heaven, about which His thoughts had to be occupied. We cannot perhaps say that then already He comprehended it in its whole ex- 256 THE TRIAL AXD DEA . ./ OF JESTS CHRIST tent. It was to grow upon Him with the develop- ment of His mtmhood. In lonely meditations in the fields and pastures of Nazareth it seized and in- spired His mind. As He cultivated the life of pray- er, it became moie and more His settled purpose. The more He became acquainted with human na- ture, and with the character and the needs of His own age, the more clearly did it rise before Him. As He heard and read the Scriptures of the Old Testament, He saw it hinted and foreshadowed in type and symbol, in rite and institution, in law and prophets. There He found the programme of His life sketched out beforehand ; and perhaps one of His uppermost tlioughts, when He said, " It is fin- ished," was that all which had been foretold about Him in the ancient Scriptures had been fulfilled. After His public life commenced, the sense of being charged with a task which He had to fulfil was one of the master-thoughts of His life. It was written on His very face and bodily gait. He never had the easy, indeterminate air of one who does not know what He means to do in the world. " I have a baptism," He would say, "to be baptized with, and how am I straitened till it be accomplished." In a rapt moment, at the well of Sychar, after His interview with the Samaritan woman, when His dis- ciples proffered Him food, He put it away from THE SIXTH WORD FROM THE CROSS 257 Him, saying, " I have meat to eat that ye know not of," and He added, " My meat is to do the will of Him that sent Me and to finish His work." On His last journey to Jerusalem, as He went on in front of His disciples, they were amazed and, as they fol- lowed, they were afraid. His purpose possessed Him ; He was wholly in it, body, soul and spirit. He bestowed on it every scrap of power He pos- sessed, and every moment of His time. Looking back now from the close of life, He has not to re- gret that any talent has been either abused or left unused. All have been husbanded for the one pur- pose and all lavished on the work. What was this work of Christ ? In what terms shall we express it ? At all events it was a greater work than any other son of man has ever attempted. Men have attempted much, and some of them have given themselves to their chosen enterprises with extraordinary devotion and tenacity. The con- queror has devoted himself to his scheme of sub- duing the world ; the patriot to the liberation of his country ; the philosopher to the enlargement of the realm of knowledge ; the inventor has rum- maged with tireless industry among the secrets of nature ; and the discoverer has risked his life in opening up untrodden continents and died with his face to his task. But none ever undertook a task 25S THE TRIAL AXD DEATH OE JESUS CHRIST worthy to be compared with tliat which engrossed the mind of Jesus. It was a work for God witli men, and it was a work for men witli God. The thought that it was a work for God, with which God had charged Him, was often in Christ's mouth, and this consciousness was one of the chief sources of His inspiration. " I must work the work of Him that sent Me while it is day," He would say ; or, " Therefore doth my Father love Me, be- cause I do always those things which please Him." And, at the close of His life-work. He said, in words closely related to those of our text, " I have glori- fied Thee on the earth, I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do." This was His task, to glorify God on the earth — to make known the Father to the children of men. But just as obviously was it a work for men with God. This was stamped on all His words and on the entire tenor of His life. He was bringing men Dack to God, and He had to remove the obstacles which stood in the way. He had to roll away the stone from the sepulchre in which humanity was entombed and call the dead to come forth. He had to press His weight against the huge iron gates of human guilt and doom and force them open. He had done so ; and, as He said, " It is finished," He THE SIXTH WORD FROM THE CROSS 259 was at the same time saying to all mankind, " Be- hold, I have set before 3^011 an open door, and no man can shut it." The more difficult and prolonged any task is, the greater is the satisfaction of finishing it. Everyone knows what it is, after accomplishing anything on which a great deal of labour has been bestowed or the accomplishment of which has been delayed, to be able to say, " There, it is finished at last." In the more signal efforts of human genius and energy there is a satisfaction of final achievement which warms even spectators with sympathy at the dis- tance of hundreds of years. What must it be to the poet, after equipping himself by the labours of a lifetime with the stores of knowledge and the skill in the use of language requisite for the composition of a " Divine Comedy'' or a " Paradise Lost," and after wearing himself lean for many yeais at his task, to be able at last, when the final line has been penned, to write Finis at the bottom of his perform- ance ? What must it have been to Columbus, after he had worn his life out in seeking the patronage necessary for his undertaking and endured the perils of voyaging in stormy seas and among mutinous mariners, to see at last the sunlight on the peak of Darien which informed him that his dream was true and his lifework accomplished ? When we read 26o THE TRIAL AXD DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST how William Wilberfoice, the champion of Slave Emancipation, heard on his deathbed, a few hours before he breathed his last, that the British Legisla- ture had agreed to the expenditure necessary to secure the object to which he had sacrificed his life, what heart can refuse its tribute of sympathetic joy, as it thinks of him expiring with the shouts of eman- cipated millions in his ears ? These are feeble sug- gestions of the triumph with which Christ saw, fallen behind Him, His accomplished task, as He cried, " It is finished." II. If Jesus had during life a vast work on hand which He was able on the cross to say He had fin- ished, He was in quite as exceptional a degree a sufferer ; yet on the cross He was able to say that His suffering also was finished. Suffering is the reverse side of work. It is the shadow that accompanies achievement, as his shadow follows a man. It is due to the resistance offered to the worker by the medium in which he toils. The life of Jesus was one of great suffering, be- cause He had to do His work in an extremely resist- ant medium. His purpose was so beneficent, and His passion for the good of the world so obvious, THE SIXTH WORD FROM THE CROSS 261 that it might have been expected that He would meet with nothing but encouragement and further- ance. He was so religious that all the religious forces might have been expected to second His efforts ; He was so patriotic that it would have been natural if His native country had welcomed Him with open arms ; He was so philanthropic that He ought to have been the idol of the multitude. But at every step He met with opposition. Everything that was influential in His age and country turned against Him. Obstruction became more and more persistent and cruel, till at length on Calvary it reached its climax, when all the powers of earth and hell were combined with the one purpose of crush- ing Him and thrusting Him out of existence. And they succeeded. But the mystery of suffering is very insufficiently explained when it is defined as the reaction of the work on the worker. While a man's work is what he does with the force of his will, suffering is what is done to him against his will. It may be done by the will of opponents and enemies. But this is never the whole explanation. Above this will, which may be thoroughly evil, there is a will which is good and means us good by our suffering. Suffering is the will of God. It is His chief in- strument for fashioning His creatures according to 262 THE TRIAL AND DEATH OE JESUS CHRIST His own plan. While by our work we ought to be seeking to make a bit of the world such as He would have it to be, by our suffering He is seeking to make us such as He would have us to be. He blocks up our pathway by it on this side and on that, in order that we may be kept in the path which He has appointed. He prunes our desires and ambitions ; He humbles us and makes us meek and acquiescent. By our work we help to make a well-ordered world, but by our suffering He makes a sanctified man ; and in His eyes this is by far the greater triumph. Perhaps this is the most difficult half of life to manage. While it is by no means easy to accom- plish the work of life, it is harder still to bear suffer- ing and to benefit by it. Have you ever seen a man to whom nature had given great talents and grace great virtues, so that the possibilities of his life seemed unbounded, while he had imagination enough to expatiate over them : a man who might have been a missionary, opening up dark countries to civilisation and the gospel ; or a statesman, sway- ing a parliament with his eloquence and shaping th(; destinies of millions by his wisdom ; or a thinker, wrestling with the problems of the age, sowing the seeds of light, and raising for himself an imperish- able monument : but who was laid hold of by some THE SIXTH WORD FROM THE CROSS 263 remorseless disease or suddenly crushed by some accident ; so that all at once his schemes were upset and his life narrowed to petty anxieties about his health and shifts to avoid the evil day, which could not, however, be long postponed ? And did it not seem to you, as you watched him, to be far harder for him to accept this destiny with a good grace and with cheerful submission than it would have been to accomplish the career of enterprise and achieve- ment which once seemed to lie before him ? To do nothing is often more difficult than to do the great- est things, and to submit requires more faith than to achieve. The life of Christ was hemmed and crushed in on every hand. Evil men were the proximate cause of this ; but He acknowledged behind them the will of God. He had to accept a career of shame instead of glory, of brief and limited activity instead of far- travelling beneficence, of premature and violent death instead of world-wide and everlasting empire. But He never murmured ; however bitter any sacri- fice might be on other grounds, He made it sweet to Himself by reflecting that it was the will of His Father. When the worst came to the worst, and He was forced to cry, "If it be possible, let this cup pass from Me," He was swift to add, " Never- theless not My will, but Thine, be done." And 264 THE TRIAL AND DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST thus on step after step of the ladder His thoughts were brought into perfect accord with His Father's, and His will with His Father's will. At last on the cross the cup out of which He had drunk so often was put into His hands for the last time. The draught was large, black and bitter as never before. But He did not flinch. He drank it up. As He did so, the last segment of the circle of His own perfection completed itself ; and, while, flinging the cup away after having exhausted the last drop, He cried, " It is finished," the echo came back from heaven from those who saw with wonder and adoration the perfect round of His completed character, " It is finished." Though these two sides of the life of Christ are separable in thought, it is evident that they consti- tute together but one life.* The work He did in- volved the suffering which He bore and lent to it meaning and dignity. On the other hand, the suf- fering perfected the Worker and thus conferred greatness on His work. In His crowning task of atoning for the sin of the world it was as a sufferer that He accomplished the will ot God. And now * Sometimes they are expressed by saying that life is both Mission and a Discipline. THE SIXTH WOED FROM THE CROSS 265 both are finished ; and henceforward the world has a new possession : it has had other perfect things ; but never before and never since has it had a per- fect life. CHAPTER XX. THE SEVENTH WORD FROM THE CROSS* WHILE all the words of dying persons are full of interest, there is special importance at- tached to the last of them. This is the Last Word of Jesus ; and both for this reason and for others it claims particular attention. A noted Englishman is recorded to have said, when on his deathbed, to a nephew, " Come near and see how a Christian can die." Whether or not that was a wise saying, certainly to learn how to die is one of the most indispensable acquirements of mortals ; and nowhere can it be learnt so well as by studying the death of Christ. This Last Word especially teaches us how to die. It will, however, teach us far more, if we have the wit to learn : it contains not only the art of dying but also the art of living. * " Father, into Th\' hands I commend My spirit." THE SEVENTH WORD FROM THE CROSS 267 1. The final word of the dying Saviour was a prayer. Not all the words from the cross were prayers. One was addressed to the penitent thief, another to His mother and His favourite disciple, and a third to the soldiers who were crucifying Him ; but pray- er was distinctly the language of His dying hours. It was not by chance that His very last word was a prayer ; for the currents within Him were all flow- ing Godwards. While prayer is appropriate for all times and sea- sons, there are occasions when it is singularl}^ ap- propriate. At the close of the day, when we are about to enter into the state of sleep, which is an image of death, the most natural of all states of mind is surely prayer. In moments of mortal peril, as on shipboard when a multitude are suddenly con- fronted with death, an irresistible impulse presses men to their kneos. At the communion table, when the brea I and the wine are circulating in silence, every thoughtful person is inevitably occupied with prayer. But on a death-bed it is more in its place than anywhere else. Then we are perforce parting with all that is earthly — with relatives and friends, with business and property, with the comfotts of 2 6S THE TRIAL AXD DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST home and the face of the earth. How natural to lay hold of what alone we can keep hold of ; and this is what prayer does ; for it lays hold of God. It is so natural to pray then that prayer might be supposed to be an invariable element of the last scenes. But it is not always. A death-bed without God is an awful sight ; yet it does occur. The cur- rents of the mind may be flowing so powerfully earthward that even then they cannot be diverted. There are even death-beds where the thought of God is a terror which the dying man keeps away ; and sometimes his friends assist him to keep it away, suffering none to be seen and nothing to be said that could call God to mind. Natural as pray- er is, it is only so to those who have letirned to pray before. It had long been to Jesus the language of life. He had prayed without ceasing — on the moun- tain top and in the bus}' haunts of men, b}' Himself and in company with others — and it was only the bias of the life asserting itself in death when, as He breathed His last, He turned to God. If, then, we would desire our last words to be words of prayer, we should commence to pray at once. If the face of God is to shine on our death- bed, we must now acquaint ourselves with Him and be at peace. If, as we look upon the dying Christ or on the dying saints, we say, " Let me die the death THE SEVENTH WORD EJWM THE CROSS 269 of the righteous, and let my last end be like his," then we must begin now to live the life of the right- eous and to practise its gracious habits. II. . The last word of the dying Saviour was a quota- tion from Scripture. This was not the first time our Lord quoted Scrip- ture on the cross : His great cry, ' ' My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me ?" was likewise borrowed from the Old Testament, and it is possible that there is Scriptural allusion in others of the Seven Words. If prayer is natural to the lips of the dying, so is Scripture. For different seasons and for different uses there is special suitability in different lan- guages and literatures. Latin is the language of law and scholarship, French of conversation and diplomacy, German of philosophy, English of com- merce. But in the most sacred moments and trans- actions of life there is no language like that of the Bible. Especially is this the case in everything connected with death. On a tombstone, for exam- ple, how irrelevant, as a rule, seem all other quota- tions, but how perfect is the fitness of a verse from 270 THE TRIAL AXD DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST Scripture. And on a death-bed there are no words which so well become the dying lips. This is strikingly illustrated by the following ex- tract, guaranteed as authentic, from a private diary : — " I remember, when I was a student, visit- ing a dying man. He had been in the university with me, but a few years ahead ; and, at the close of a brilliant career in college, he was appointed to a professorship of philosophy in a colonial univer- sity. But, after a very few years, he fell into bad health ; and he came home to Scotland to die. It was a summer Sunday afternoon when I called to see him, and it happened that I was able to offer him a drive. His great frame was with difficulty got into the open carriage ; but then he lay back comfortably and was able to enjoy the fresh air. Two other friends were with him that day — college companions, who had come out from the city to visit him. On the way back they dropped into the rear, and I was alone beside him, when he began to talk with appreciation of their friendship and kind- ness. ' But,' he said, ' do you know what they have been doing all day ? ' I could not guess. ' Well,' he said, ' they have been reading to me Sartor Re- sartus ; and oh ! I am awfully tired of it. ' Then, turning on me his large eyes, he began to repeat, ' This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all accepta- THE SEVEN T// WORD EKOM THE CROSS 271 tion, that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief ; ' and then he added with great earnestness, ' There is nothing else of any use to me now.' I had not opened the subject at all : perhaps I was afraid to introduce it to one whom I felt to be so much my superior ; but I need not say how overjoyed I was to obtain such a glimpse into the very depths of a great, true mind." Sartor Rcsartus is one of the best of books ; there are few to be so heartily recommended. Yet there are moments in life — and those immediately before death are among them — when even such a book may be felt to be irrelevant, and, indeed, no book is appropriate except the one which contains the words of eternal life. It is worth noting from which portion of the Old Testament Jesus fetched the word on which He stayed up His soul in this supreme moment. The quotation is from the thirty-first Psalm. The other great word uttered on the cross to which I have already alluded was also taken from one of the Psalms — the twenty-second. This is undoubtedly the most precious of all the books of the Old Testa- ment. It is a book penned as with the life blood of its authors ; it is the record of humanity's profound- est sorrows and sublimest ecstasies ; it is the most perfect expression which has ever been given to ex- 272 THE TRIAL AXD DEATH OF JESTS CHRIST perience ; it has been the vadc-Dicittiii of all the saints ; and to know and love it is one of the best signs of spirituality. Jesus knew where to go in the Bible for the lan- guage that suited Him ; for He had been a diligent student of it all His days. He heard it in the home of His childhood ; He listened to it in the syna- gogue ; probably He got the use of the synagogue rolls and hung over it in secret. He knew it through and through. Therefore, when He be- came a preacher, His language was saturated with it, and in controversy, by the apt use of it. He could put to shame those who were its professional students. But in His private life likewise He em- ployed it in every exigency. He fought with it the enemy in the wilderness and overcame him ; and now, in the supreme need of a dying hour, it stood Ilim in good stead. It is to those who, like Jesus, iiave hidden God's Word in their hearts that it is a present help in every time of need ; and, if we wish to stay ourselves upon it in dying, we ought to make it the man of our counsel in living. It is worth observing in what manner Jesus made this quotation from the Psalter : He added some- thing at the beginning and He omitted something at the close. At the beginning He added, " Fa- ther." This is not in the psalm. It could not have THE SEVENTH IVORD FROM THE CROSS 273 been. In the Old Testament the individual had not begun yet to address God by this name, though God was called the Father of the nation as a whole. The new consciousness of God which Christ intro- duced into the world is embodied in this word, and, by prefixing it to the citation, He gave the verse a new colouring. We may, then, do this with the Old Testamerut : we may put New-Testament mean- ing into it. Indeed, in connection with this very verse we have a still more remarkable illustration of the same treatment. Stephen, the first martyr of Christianity, was in many respects very like his Master, and in his martyrdom closely imitated Him. Thus on the field of death he repeated Christ's prayer for His enemies — " Lord, lay not this sin to their charge." Also, he imitated this final word, but he put it in a new form, " Lord Jesus, receive my spirit ;" that is, he addressed to Christ the dying prayer which Christ Himself addressed to the Father.* The other alteration which Jesus made * The first business of the interpreter of Scripture is to find out precisely what every verse or paragraph meant at the time and place where it was written ; and there is endless profit in the exact determination of this original application. But, whilst the interpreter's task begins, it does not end with this. The Bible is a book for every generation ; and the deduction of the mes- sage which it is intended to convey to the present day is as truly the task of the interpreter. There is a species of exegesis, some- 2 74 THE TRIAL AND DEATH OE JESUS CHRIST was the omission of the words, " for Thou ha^t redeemed me." It would not have been fitting for Him to employ them. But we will not omit them ; and if, like Stephen, we address the prayer to Christ, how much richer and more pathetic are the words to us than they were even to him who first penned them. III. It was about His spirit that the dying Saviour prayed. Dying persons are sometimes much taken up with their bodies. Their pain and trouble may occasion this, and the prescriptions of the physician may re- quire close attention. Some display a peculiar anx- iety even about what is to happen to the body after the life has left it, giving the minutest instructions as to their own obsequies. Not infrequenth' the minds of the dying are painfully occupied with their worldly affairs : they have their property to dispose of, and they are distracted with anxieties about their families. The example of Jesus shows that it is not wrong to bestow attention on these things even on a deathbed ; for His fifth word, " I thirst," times arrogating to itself the sole title to be considered scientific, by which the garden of Scripture is transmuted into an herbarium of withered specimens. THE SEVENTH WORD FROM THE CROSS 275 had reference to His own bodily necessities ; and, whilst hanging on the cross, He made provision for His mother's future comfort. But His supreme concern was His spirit ; to the interests of which He devoted His final prayer. What is the spirit ? It is the finest, highest, sacredest part of our being. In modern and ordi- nary language we call It the soul, when we speak of man as composed of body and soul ; but in the language of Scripture it is distinguished even from the soul as the most lofty and exquisite part of the inner man. It is to the rest of our nature what the flower is to the plant or what the pearl is to the shell. It is that within us which is specially allied to God and eternity. It is also, however, that which sin seeks to corrupt and our spiritual enemies seek to destroy. No doubt these are speciall)^ active in the article of death ; it is their last -chance ; and fain would they seize the spirit as it parts from the body and, dragging it down, rob it of its destiny. Jesus knew that He was launching out into eternity ; and, plucking His spirit away from these hostile hands which were eager to seize it, He placed it in the hands of God. There it was safe. Strong and secure are the hands of the Eternal. They are soft and loving too. With what a passion of tenderness must they have 276 THE TRIAL AND DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST received the spirit of Jesus. " I have covered ihee, " said God to His servant in an ancient proph- ec}', " in the shadow of M}' hand ;" and now Jesus, escaping from all the enemies, visible and invisible, by whom He was beset, sought the fulfilment of this prophecy. This is the art of dying ; but is it not also the art of living ? The spirit of every son of Adam is threatened by dangers at death ; but it is threat- ened with them also in life. As has been said, it is our flower and our pearl ; but the flower may be crushed and the pearl may be lost long before death arrives. "The flesh lusteth against the spirit." So does the world. Temptation assails it, sin de- files it. No better prayer, therefore, could be offered by a living man, morning by morning, than this of the dying Saviour. Happy is he who can say, in reference to his spirit, " I know whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed to Him against that day." IV. This last word of the expiring Saviour revealed His view of death. The word used by Jesus in commending His spirit to God implies that He was giving it away in the THE SEVENTH WORD EROM THE CROSS 277 hope of finding it again. He was making a deposit in a safe place, to which, after the crisis of death was over, He would come and recover it. Such is the force of the word, as is easily seen in the quota- tion just made from St. Paul, where he says that he knows that God will keep that which he has com- mitted to Him — using the same word as Jesus — "against that day."* Which day? Obviously some point in the future when he could appear and claim from God that which he had entrusted to Him. Such a date was also in Christ's eye when He said, " Father, into Thy hands I commend my spirit." Death is a disruption of the parts of which human nature is composed. One part — the spirit — was going away to God ; another was in the hands of men, who were wreaking on it their wicked will ; and it was on its way to the house appointed for all living. But Jesus was looking forward to a reunion of the separated parts, when they would again find each other, and the integrity of the personal life be restored. The most momentous question which the dying can ask, or which the living can ask in the prospect of death, is, " If a man die, shall he live again ?" does he all die ? and does he die forever ? There is a ter- * Christ's word is KapnTiBeiiaL, and St. Paul's, 2 Tim. i. 12, Ti/v ■Kaj)n(Jr'jKi]v //or, according to the best reading. 278 THE TRIAL AND DEA TH OF JESUS CHRIST rible doubt in the human heart that it may be so ; and there have never been wanting teachers who have turned this doubt into a dogma. They hold that mind is only a form or a function of matter, and that, therefore, in the dissolution of the bodily materials, man dissolves and mixes with the mate- rial universe. Others, while holding fast the dis- tinction between mind and matter, have taught that, as the body returns to the dust, the mind re- turns to the ocean of being, in which its personality is lost, as the drop is in the sea, and there can be no reunion. There is, however, something high and sacred within us that rebels against these doctrines ; and the best teachers of the race have encouraged us to hope for something better. Still, their assur- ances have been hesitating and their own faith ob- scure. It is to Christ we have to go : He has the words of eternal life. He spoke on this subject without hesitation or obscurity ; and His dying word proves that He believed for Himself what He taught to others. Not only, however, has He by His teaching brought life and immortality to light : He is Himself the guarantee of the doctrine ; for He is our immortal life. Because we are united to Him we know we can never perish ; nothing, not even death, can separate us from His love ; " Be- cause I live," He has said, " ye shall live also." THE SE VEX TIT WORD FROM THE CROSS 279 It may be that in a very literal sense we have in the study of this sentence been learning the art of dying : these may be our own dying words. They have been the dying words of many. When John Huss was being led to execution, there was stuck on his head a paper cap, scrawled over with pictures of devils, to whom the wretched priests by whom he was surrounded consigned his soul ; but again and again he cried, " Father, into Thy hands I com- mend my spiiit." These were also the last words of Polycarp, of Jerome of Prague, of Luther, of Melanchthon, and of many otheis. Who could wish his spirit to be carried away to God in a more glori- ous vehicle ? But, whether or not we may use this prayer in death, let us diligently make use of it in life. Close not the book without breathing, " Fa- ther, into Thy hands I commend xny spirit." CHAPTER XXI. THE SIGNS THERE are indications that to some of those who took part in the crucifixion of Christ His death presented hardly anything to distinguish it from an ordinary execution ; and there were others who were anxious to believe that it had no features w^hich were extraordinary. But God did not leave His Son altogether without witness. The end of the Saviour's sufferings was accompanied by certain signs, which showed the interest excited by them in the world unseen. I. The first sign was the rending of the veil of the temple This was a heavy cuitain covering the en- trance to the Holy Place or the entrance to the Holy of Holies — most probably the latter. Both entrances were thus protected, and Josephus gives the following description of one of the curtains, THE SIGNS 281 which will probably convey a fair idea of either : five ells high and sixteen broad, of Babylonian text- ure, and wonderfully stitched of blue, white, scarlet and purple — representing the universe in its four elements — scarlet standing for fire and blue for air by their colours, and the white linen for earth and the purple for sea on account of their derivation, the one from the flax of the earth and the other from the shellfish of the sea. The fact that the rent proceeded from top to bot- tom was considered to indicate that it was made by the finger of God ; but whether any physical means may have been employed we cannot tell. Some have -thought of the earthquake, which took place at the same moment, as being connected with it through the loosening of a beam or some similar accident.* At critical moments in history, when the minds of men are charged with excitement, even slight acci- dents may assume remarkable significance.! Such * " May this phenomenon account for the early conversion of so many priests recorded in Acts vi. 7 ?" — Edersheim. f Shakespeare is very fond of describing the portents by which remarkable events are foreshadowed. Thus, Julius drsar, Act I. Scene ii. : — " O Cicero, I have seen tempests, wlien the scolding winds Have rived the knotty oaks ; and I have seen Th' ambitious ocean swell and rage and foam, 282 THE TRIAL AND DEATH OE JESUS CHRIST incidents occur at turning points of the life even of individuals.* They derive their significance from the emotion with which the minds of observers hap- pen at the time to be filled. No doubt the rending of the temple veil might appear to some a pure acci- dent, while in the minds of others it crystallised a hundred surging thoughts. But we must ascribe to it a higher dignity and a divine intention. To be exalted with the threatening clouds ; But never till to-night, never till now Did I go through a tempest dropping fire. A common slave — you know him well by sight — Held up his left hand, which did flame and bum Like twenty torches joined ; and yet his hand. Not sensible of fire, remained unscorched. Besides — I ha' not since put up my sword^ Against the Capitol I met a lion. Who glared upon me and went surly by, Without annoying me. And there were drawn Upon a heap an hundred ghastly women, Transformed with their fear, who swore they saw Men, all in fire, walk up and down the streets. And yesterday the bird of night did sit Even at noonday upon the marketplace. Hooting and shrieking. When these prodigies Do so conjointly meet, let not men say, ' These are their reasons — they are natural,' For I believe they are portentous things Unto the climate that they point upon."' See also Act II., Scene ii., and Act V., Scene i. of the same play ; Macbeth, Act II , Scene ii.; Hamlet, Act I., Scene i. Such impressions are not, however, even in modern times, confined to poetry alone. Historical instances will suggest themselves to every reader. * Some of the most interesting I have read occur in a brief memoir of the founder of the Bagster Publishing Company issued on the centenary of its opening. THE SIGNS 283 Like the pillar of cloud and fire in the wilderness, it had a double face — one of judgment and another of mercy. It betokened the desecration of the shrine and the exodus of the Deity from the temple whose day of opportunity and usefulness was over. And it is curious to note how at the time not only the Chris- tian but even the Jewish mind was big with this thought. There is a Jewish legend in Josephus, which is referred to also by the Roman historian Tacitus, that at the Passover some years after this the east door of the inner court of the temple, which was so heavy that twenty men were required to close it, and was, besides, at the moment strongly locked and barred, suddenly at midnight flew open ; and, the following Pentecost, the priests whose dut}' it was to guard the court by night, heard first a rush- ing noise as of hurrying feet and then a loud cry, as of many voices, saying, " Let us depart from hence." Nor was it only in Palestine that in that age the air was charged with the impression that a turning- point in history had been reached, and that the an- cient world was passing away. Plutarch * heard a singular story of one Epitherses from the rhetoii- * De O/aciiloriiin Defectu, quoted by Heubner in his commen- tary, in loc. 284 THE TRIAL AND DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST cian ^milianus, who had it from the man's father. On a certain occasion this Epitherses happened to be a passenger on board a ship which got becalmed among the Echinades. As it stood near one of the islands, suddenly there came from the shore a voice, loud and clear, calling Thamus, the pilot, an Egyp- tian, by his name. Twice he kept silence ; but, when the call came the third time, he replied ; whereupon the voice cried still louder, " When you come to the Paludes, proclaim that the great Pan is dead." Pan being the god of nature in that an- cient world, all who heard were terrified, and they debated whether or not they should obey the com- mand. At last it was agreed that if, when they came to the Paludes, it was windy, they were not to obey, but, if calm, they would. It turned out to be calm ; and, accordingly, the pilot, standing on the prow of the vessel, shouted out the words ; whereupon the air was filled, not with an echo, but the loud groaning of a great multitude mingled with surprise.* The pilot was called before the Emperor Tiberius, who strictly enquired into the truth of the incident. Such was the meaning of the rending of the veil on its dark side : it denoted that the reign of the * aTEvay/Jor u/ui Oai'/iaa/iu. THE SIGXS 285 gods was over and that Jerusalem was no longer to be the place where men ought to worship. But it had at the same time a bright side ; and this was the side for the sake of which the incident was treasured by the friends of Jesus. It meant, as St. Paul says, that the wail between Jew and Gentile had been broken down. It meant, as is set forth in the noble argument of the Epistle to the Hebrews, that the system of ceremonies and intermediaries by which under the Old Testament the worshipper might approach God and yet was kept at a distance from Him had been swept away. The heart of God is now fully revealed, and it is a heart of love ; and, at the same time, the heart of man, liberated by the sacrifice of Christ from the conscience of sin, as it could never be by the offering of bulls and goats, can joyfully venture into the divine presence and ^o out and in with the freedom of a child. " Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holi- est by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which He hath consecrated for us, through the veil — that is to say. His flesh— and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith." * * Heb. X. 19-22. 286 THE TRIAL AXD DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST 11. The second sign was the resurrection of certain of the dead — " The graves were opened, and many bodies of the saints which slept arose and came out of the graves after His resurrection, and went into the holy city and appeared unto many." Whether or not the rending of the veil in the tem- ple was connected with the earthquake, there is no doubt that this second sign was. The graves in Palestine were caves in the rocks, the mouths of which were closed with great stones. Some of these stones were shaken from their places by the earth- quake ; and the bodies themselves, which lay on shelves or stood upright in niches, may have been disturbed. But in some of them a greater disturb- ance occurred : besides the external shaking there took place within them a motion of the life-giving breath of God. In the minds of many devout scholars this mira- cle has excited suspicion on several accounts. They say it is contrary to the teaching of Scripture else- where, according to which Christ was the firstfruits of them that slept. If these dead bodies were re- animated at the moment of this earthquake, they, and not He, were the firstfruits. To this it is an- THE SIGNS 287 swered that St. Matthew is careful to note that they came out of their graves " after His resurrection" ; so that St. Matthew still agrees with St. Paul in making Christ the first to rise. But, then, it is asked, in what condition were they between their reanimation and their resurrection ? The Evangel- ist appears to state that they rose from death to life at the moment of the earthquake, but did not emerge from the tomb till the third day afterwards, when Christ had risen. Is this credible ? or is it an apocryphal marvel, which has been interpolated in the text of St. Matthew ? The other Evangelists, while, along with St. Matthew, narrating the rend- ing of the veil, do not touch on this incident at all. The whole representation, it is argued, lacks the sobriety which is characteristic of the authentic miracles of the Gospels and broadly separates them from the ecclesiastical miracles, about which there is generally an air of triviality and grotesqueness. On the other hand, there is no indication in the oldest and best manuscripts of St. Matthew that this is an interpolation ; and many of the acutest minds have felt this trait to be thoroughly congru- ous and suitable to its place. If, they contend. He who had just died on Calvary was what He gave Himself out and we believe Him to be, His death must have excited the piofoundest commotion in 2 88 THE TRIAL AXD DEA TH OF JESUS CHRIST the kingdoms of the dead. The world of living men and women was insensible to the character of the event which was taking place before its eyes ; but the world unseen was agitated as it never had been before and never was to be again. It was not unnatural, but the reverse, that some of the dead, in their excitement and eagerness, should even press back over the boundaries of the other world, in order to be in the world where Christ was. The question where they were or what they were doing between their reanimation and resurrection is a triviality not worth considering. At all events, they rose after their Lord ; and was it not appropriate that when, after the forty days. He ascended to heaven, there to be received by rejoicing angels and archangels, He should not only appear in the flesh, but be accompanied by specimens of what His resur- rection power was ultimately to do for all believers 1 If it be asked who the favoured saints were to whom this blessed priority was vouchsafed, we cannot tell. The dust, however, was not far away of many whom the Lord might delight to honour — patriarchs, like Abraham ; kings, like David ; prophets, like Isaiah. But the true significance of this sign is not de- pendent on such speculations. Even if it should ever be discovered, as it is not in the least likely to THE SIGNS 289 be, that this story was interpolated in St. Matthew, and we should be driven to the conclusion that it was invented by the excited fanc}' of the primitive Christians, even then we should have to ask what caused tnem to invent it. And the only possible answer would be, that it was the force of the convic- tion burning within them that by His death and resurrection Christ had opened the gates of death to all the saints. This was the glorious faith which was begotten by the experiences of those never- to- be forgotten days, whether the sight of these resur- rected saints played any part or not in maturing it ; and it is now the faith of the Church and the faith of mankind. This may well be called the rending of another veil. If in the ancient world there was a veil on the face of God, there was a veil likewise on the face of eternity.* The home of the soul was hidden from the children of men. They vaguely surmised it, in- deed ; they could never believe that they were wholly dust. But, apart from Christ, the specula- tions even of the wisest as to the other world are hardly more correct or certain than might be the speculations of infants in the womb as to the condi- * So the ignorance of immortality is expressly called in the beautiful passage, Isa. xxv. 7. 290 THE TRIAL AXD DEA Til OE JESUS CHRIST tion of this world.* Christ, on the contrary, always spoke of the world invisible with the freedom and confidence of one to whom it was native and well known ; and His resurrection and ascension afford the most authentic glimpses into the realm of im- mortality which the world has ever received. In this sign, indeed, it is with tlie death and not with the resurrection that this authentication is con- nected. But the resurrection of Christ is allied in the most intimate manner with His death. It was the public recognition of His righteousness. Since, however. He died not for Himself alone, but as a public person, His mystical body has the same right to resurrection, and in due time it will be made manifest that, He having discharged every claim on their behalf, death has now no right to detain them. III. The first sign was in the physical world ; the sec- ond was in the underworld of the dead ; but the * Sir Thomas Browne, Hydrotaphia, chap, iv.: "A dialogue between two infants in the womb concerning the state of this world might handsomel}' illustrate our ignorance of the next, where, methinks, we still discourse in Plato's den, and are but embryo philosophers." THE STGXS 291 third was in the common world of living men. This was the acknowledgment of Christ by the centurion who superintended His crucifixion. Whether, like the preceding signs, this third one is to be connected with the earthquake is a ques- tion. -Probably the answer ought to be in the affirmative. The sensation produced by an earth- quake is like nothing else in nature ; and its first effect on an unsophisticated mind is to create the sense that God is near. Probably, therefore, the earthquake was felt by the centurion to be the divine Amen to the thoughts which had been rising in his mind, and it gave them a speedy and com- plete delivery in his confession. This confession was, however, the result of his observation of Jesus throughout His whole trial and the subsequent proceedings ; and it is an eloquent tribute to our Lord's behaviour. The centurion may have been at the side of Jesus from the arrest to the end. Through those unparalleled hours he had observed the rage and injustice of His enemies ; and he had marked how patient, unretaliating, gen- tle and magnanimous He had been. He had heard Him praying for His crucifiers, comforting the thief on the cross, providing for His mother, communing with God. More and more his interest was excited and his heart stirred, till at last he was standing op- 292 THE TRIAL AND DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST posite the cross,* drinking in every syllable and de- vouring every movement ; and, when the final prayer vv^as uttered and the earthquake answered it, his ris- ing conviction brimmed over and he could not with- hold his testimony. St. Luke makes him say only, " This was a right- eous man," while the others report, " This was the Son of God." But St. Luke's may include theirs ; because, if the centurion meant to state that the claims of Jesus were just, what were His claims ? At Pilate's judgment-seat he had heard it stated that Jesus claimed to be the Son of God, and per- haps he had heard Him make this claim Himself in reply to Pilate's question. This name, along with others like it, had been hurled at Jesus, in his hear- ing, by those standing round the cross. But what did he mean when he made this acknowl- edgment ? It has been held that all which he, a heathen, could imply was that Jesus was a son of God in the sense in which the Greeks and Romans believed Hercules, Castor and other heroes to be sons of their deities. This may be near the truth ; but his soul was moved, his mind v/as opened ; and, once in the way, he could easily proceed further in the knowledge of Christ. Tradition says that his * WapedT QKitq ff svavriag avrov. THE SIGNS 293 name was Longinus, and that he became bishop of Cappadocia and ultimately died a martyr. Have we not here the rending of a third veil ? There is a veil on the face of God which requires to be removed ; and there is a veil on the face of eter- nity which requires to be removed ; but the most fatal veil is that which is on the heart of the indi- vidual and prevents him from seeing the glory of Christ. It was on the faces of nearly all the multi- tude that day assembled round the cross. It was on the faces of the poor soldiers gambling within a few feet of the dying Saviour ; in their case it was a veil of insensibility. It was on the faces of the ecclesiastics and the mob of Jerusalem ; and in their case it was a thick veil of prejudice. The greatest sight ever witnessed on earth was there beside them ; but they weie stoneblind to it The glory of Christ is still the greatest sight which anyone can see between the cradle and the grave. And it is now as near everyone of us as it was to the ciowd on Calvary. Some see it ; for the veil upon their faces is rent ; and they are transfixed and transformed by the sight. But others are blinded. How near one may be to Jesus, how much mixed up with His cause, how well informed about His life and doctrine, and yet never see His glory or know Him as a personal Saviour ! It is said that people 294 THE TRIAL AXD DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST may spend a lifetime in the midst of perfect scenery and yet never awake to its charm ; but by comes a painter or poet and drinks the beauty in, till he is intoxicated with it and puts it into a ghorious pic- ture or a deathless song. So can some remember a time when Jesus, though in a sense well known, was nothing to them ; but at a certain point a veil seemed to rend and an entire change supervened ; and ever since then the world is full of Him ; His name seems written on the stars and among the flow- ers ; He is their first thought when they wake and their last before they sleep ; He is with them in the house and by the way ; He is their all in all. This is the most critical rending of the veil ; be- cause, when it takes place, the others follow. When we have our eyes opened to see the glory of Christ, we soon know the Father also ; and the darkness passes from the face of eternity, because eternity for us is to be forever with the Lord. CHAPTER XXII. THE DEAD CHRIST IT was not usual to remove bodies from the cross immediately after their death. They were al- lowed to hang, exposed to the weather, till they rotted and fell to pieces ; or they might be torn by birds or beasts ; and at last a fire was perhaps kin- dled beneath the cross to rid the place of the re- mains. Such was the Roman custom ; but among the Jews there was more scrupulosity. In their law there stood this provision : "If a man have com- mitted a sin worthy of death, and he be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree, his body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day (for he that is hanged is accursed of God) ; that thy land be not defiled which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheri- tance." ^- Whether or not the Jews always tried to get this provision observed in executions carried out * Deut. xxi. 22, 2-^. 296 THE TRIAL AXD DEA TH OF JESUS CHRIST in their midst by tb?ir Roman masters, we cannot tell ; but it was natural that they should do so in reference to executions carried out in the neighbour- hood of the holy city and at Passover time. In the present instance there was the additional reason, that the morrow of the execution of Jesus was a high day— it was the Sabbath of the Passover — a 1-ind of double Sabbath, which would have been desecrated by any unclean thing, like an unburied corpse, exposed to view. The Jews were extremely sensitive about such points. At any time they re- garded themselves as unclean if they touched a dead body, and they had to go through a process of purgation before their sense of sanctity was restored. But on the occasion of a Passover Sabbath they would have felt it to be a desecration if any dead thing had even met their eyes or rested uncovered on the soil of their city. Therefore their representa- tives went to the Roman governor and begged that the three crucified men should be put to death by clubbing and their bodies buried before the Sabbath commenced. The suggestion has often been made that, behind this pretended scrupulosity, their real aim was to inflict additional pain and indignity on Jesus. The breaking of the bones of the body, by smashing them with clubs, was a peculiarly horrible form of THE DEAD CHRIST 297 punishment sometimes inflicted by the Romans* It was nearly as cruel and degrading as crucifixion itself ; and it was an independent punishment, not conjoined with crucifixion. But the Jews in this case attempted to get them united, that Jesus, be- sides being crucified, might, so to speak, die yet another death of the most revolting description. The Evangelist, however, throws no doubt on the motive which they put forward — namely, that the Passover Sabbath might be saved from desecration — and, although their insatiable hatred may have made them suggest clubbing as the mode by which His death should be hastened, we need not question that their scruples were genuine. It is an extraor- dinary instance of the game of self-deception which the human conscience can play. Here were people fresh from the greatest crime ever committed — their hands still reeking, one might say, with the blood of the Innocent — and their consciences, while utter- ly untouched with remorse for this crime, arfe anx- ious about the observance of the Sabbath and the ceremonial defilement of the soil. It is the most extraordinary illustration which history records of how zeal for what may be called the body of religion * " Ci-urifragimn, as it was called, consisted in striking the legs of the sufferer with a heavy mallet." — Farrar, Life of Christ, ii., 423. 298 THE TRIAL AXD DEATH OE JESUS CHRIST may be utterly destitute of any connection with its spirit. It is surely a solemn warning to make sure that every outward religious act is accompanied by the genuine outgoing of the heart to God, ^nd a warning that, if we love not our brother, whom we have seen, neither can we be lovers of God, whom we have not seen. Pilate hearkened to the request of the Jews, and orders were given to the soldiers to act accordingly. Then the ghastly work began. They broke the legs of the malefactor on the one side of Jesus, and then those of the other on the opposite side. The peni- tent thief was not spared ; but what a difference his penitence made ! To his companion this was noth- ing but an additional indignity ; to him it was the knocking-off of the fetters, that his spirit might the sooner wing its way to Paradise, where Christ had trysted to meet him. Then came the turn of Jesus. But, when the sol- diers looked at Him, they saw that their work was unnecessary : death had been before them ; the drooping head and pallid frame were those of a dead man. Only, to make assurance doubly sure, one of them thrust his spear into the body, making a wound so large that Jesus, when He was risen, could invite the doubting Thomas to thrust his hand THE DEAD CHRIST 299 into it ; and, as the weapon was drawn forth again, there came out after it blood and water. St. John, who was on the spot and saw all this taking place, seems to have perceived in the scene an unusual importance ; for he adds to his report these words of confirmation, as if he were sealing an official document, " And he that saw it bare record ; and his record is true ; and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe." Why should he interrupt the flow of his narrative to add these words of assurance ? Some have thought that he was moved to do so by a heresy which sprang up in the early Church to the effect that Christ was not really human : His body, it was said, was only a phantom body, and therefore His death was only an apparent death. In opposition to such a notion St. John directs at- tention to the realistic details, which prove so con- clusively that this was a real man and that He died a real death. Of course that ancient heresy has long ceased to trouble ; there are none now who deny that Jesus was a man. Yet it is curious how the tendency ever and anon reappears to evaporate the facts of His life. At the present hour there are eminent Christian teachers in Europe who are treat- ing the resurrection of the Lord in very much the same way as these early Docetae treated His death — 300 THE TRIAL AXD DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST as a kind of figure of speech, not to be understood too literally. Against such the Church must lift up the crude facts of the resurrection as St. John did those of the death of the Saviour.* in our genera- tion teachers of every kind are appealing to Christ and putting Him in the centre of theology ; but we must ask them, What Christ ? Is it the Clirist of the Scriptures : the Christ who in the beginning was with God ; who was incarnated ; who died for the sins of the world ; who was raised from the dead and reigns for evermore ? We must not delude our- selves with words : only the Christ of the Scriptures could have brought us the salvation of the Scrip- tures. What excited the wonder of St. John is supposed by others to have been the fulfilment of two pas- sages of the Old Testament Scripture which he quotes. It appeared to be a matter of mere chance that the soldiers, contrary to the intention of the Jews, refrained from breaking the bones of Jesus ; yet a sacred word, of which they knew nothing, written hundreds of years before, had said, "A bone of Him shall not be broken." It seemed the * The words that follow in this paragraph are a reminiscence of a singularly eloquent and powerful passage in a speech of Dr. Maclaren, of Manchester, delivered last year in Edinburgh. THE DEAD CHRIST most casual circumstance that the soldier plunged the spear into the 'side of Jesus, to make sure that He was dead ; yet an ancient oracle, of which he knew nothing, had said, " They shall look on Him whom they pierced." Thus, by the overruling providence of God, the soldiers, going with rude unconcern about their work, were unconsciously ful- filling the Scriptures ; and those who both saw what they had done and knew the Scriptures recognised the Divine finger pointing out Jesus as the Sent of God. The first of these texts is generally supposed * to be taken from the account in Exodus of the institu- tion of the Passover, and originally it refers to the paschal lamb, which was to be eaten whole, the breaking of its bones being forbidden. St. John's idea is that Christ was to be the paschal lamb of the New Dispensation, and that therefore Providence took care that nothing should be done to destroy His resemblance to the type, as would have hap- pened if His bones had been broken. The Passover was the great event of the year in all the genera- tions of Jewish history. It was intended to carry the minds of God's people back to the wonderful scenes of divine grace and power in which their ex- * Weiss, however, supposes Psalm xxxiv. 20 to be the refer- ence. 302 THE TRIAL AND DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST istence as a nation had begun, when God liberated them from their bondage and led them out of Egypt with a mighty hand. The centre of the solemnity was the slaying and eating of the paschal lamb. This reminded them of how in Egypt the blood of this lamb, sprinkled on the lintels and doorposts of their huts, saved them from the visit of the destroy, ing angel, who was passing through the land ; and how, at the same time, the flesh of the lamb was eaten by the people, with their loins girt and staves in their hands, and supplied them with strength for their adventurous journey. Thus through all. ages it impressed on them two things — that the sins of the past required to be expiated, and that strength had to be obtained from above for the new stage of their history on which at the annual Passover they might be supposed to be entering. In the same way, in the New Dispensation, are our minds ever to revert to the marvellous revelation of the grace and saving power of God in which Christianity orig- inated ; and in the very midst is the Lamb slain, who is both the expiation of the sins that are past and the strength requisite for the conflict and the pilgrimage. " If we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin," THE DEAD CHRIST The other words of prophecy which appeared to St. John to be fulhlled on this occasion were, " They shall look on Him whom they pierced." They are from a passage in Zechariah, which is so remarkable that it may be quoted in full — ■" And I will pour out on the house of David and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem the spirit of grace and of supplications, and they shall look upon Me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for Him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitter- ness for Him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn." Jehovah speaks figuratively of the op- position shown to Himself and His servants as piercing Him with pain, just as we say of an insult that it cuts to the heart. But in the death of Jesus the figure became a fact : against the sacred person of the Son of God the spear was lifted up, and it was driven home without compunction. Evidently St. John thinks of this rather as the act of the Jew- ish people than of the Roman soldier. But the prophecy speaks not only of the people piercing God, but of their looking at their own work with shame and tears. At Pentecost this began to be fulfilled ; and in every age since there have been members of the Jewish race who have acknowledged their guilt in the transaction. The full acknowledg- ment, however, still lingers ; but the conversion of 304 THE TRIAL AXD DEATH OE JESUS' CHRIST God's ancient people, when it comes, must begin with this. Indeed, every human being to whom his own true rekilion to Christ is revealed must make the same acknowledgment. It was the heart not of a few soldiers or of the representatives of a single people, but of the human race, that hardened itself against Him. It was the sin of the world that nailed Him to the tree and shed His blood. Every sinner may therefore feel that he had a hand in it ; and it is only when we see our own sin as aiming at the very existence of God i:i tlie death of His Son that we comprehend it in all its enormity. There have been many who have found the reason for St. Jolin's wonder in the fact that out of the wounded side there flowed blood and water. From a corpse, when it is pierced — at least, if it has been some time dead — it is not usual for any- thing to flow. But whether St. John reflected on this or not we cannot tell. What fascinated him was simply the fact that the piercing of the body of the Saviour made it a fountain out of which sprang this double outflow. When the rock in the wilder- ness was smitten with the rod of Moses, there issued from it a stream which was life to the perishing multitude ; but in the double stream coming from the side of Jesus St. John saw something- better even THE DEAD CHRIST 305 than tlaat ; because to him the blood symbolized the atonement, and the water the Spirit of Christ ; and in these two all our salvation lies.* So we sing in the most precious of all our hymns, — Let the water and the blood From Thy living side which flowed Be of sin the double cure — Cleanse me from its guilt and power. Although, however, St. John did not perhaps speculate on the reason why this double outflow took place from the wounded side, others have occupied themselves with the question. Some f have considered the phenomenon alto- gether abnormal, and endeavoured to explain it from the peculiarity of our Lord's humanity. Though He died. He was not, like other men, to see corruption ; His body was to escape in a few hours, transfigured and glorious, from the grasp of death. This transforming process, which issued in His resurrection, began as soon as He was dead ; and the spear-thrust, breaking in on it, so to speak, revealed something altogether unique in the consti- tution of His body. * " On the symbolism of this phenomenon see the excursus in Westcott's Gospel of St. John, pp. 284-86. I E.g., Lange, characteristically. 3o6 THE TRIAL AXD DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST Others, keeping within the limits of ascertained fact, have given a totally different yet a peculiarly interesting explanation. They have directed atten- tion to the suddenness of Christ's death. It was usual for crucified persons to linger for days ; but He did not survive more than six hours. Yet im- mediately before dying He again and again cried with a loud voice, as if His bodily force were by no means exhausted. Suddenly, however, with a loud cry His life terminated. To what could this be due ? It is said that sometimes, under the pressure of intense mental and physical agony, the heart bursts ; there is a shriek, and of course death is in- stantaneous. We speak of people dying of a bioken heart — using the phrase only figuratively — but some- times it can be used literally : the heart is actually ruptured with grief. Now, it is said that, when this takes place, the blood contained in the heart is poured into a sac by which it is surrounded ; and there it separates into two substances — a clotty sub- stance of the colour of blood and a pure, colourless substance like water. And, if the sac, when in this condition, were pierced by a spear or any other in- strument, there would flow out a large quantity of botn substances, which would by an unscientific spectator be described as blood and water. It was by an English medical man that this theory THE DEAD CHRIST 30? was fiist ptopounded fifty years ago,* and it has been adopted by other medical men, equally famous for their scientific eminence and Christian character, such as the late Professor Begbie and Sir James Simpson. The latter well brings out the point and the pathos of this view of the Saviour's death in these words : f "It has always appeared — to my medical mind at least — that this view of the mode by which death was produced in the human body of Christ intensifies all our tiioughts and ideas regard- ing the immensity of the sacrifice which He made for our sinful race upon the cross. Nothing can be more striking and startling than the passiveness with which, for our sakes, God as man submitted His incarnate body to the horrors and tortures of the crucifixion. But our wonderment at the stupen- dous sacrifice increases when we reflect that, whilst thus enduring for our sins the most cruel and agonis- ing form of corporeal death, He was ultimately slain, not by the effects of the anguish of His cor- poreal frame, but by the effects of the mightier an- guish of His mind ; the fleshly walls of His heart — like the veil, as it were, in the temple of His body ■ — becoming rent and riven, as for us He poured out * Stroud in his treatise On the Physical Cause of the Death of Christ. \ Given in Hanna's The Last Day of our Lord's Passion. 3o8 THE TRIAL AXD DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST His soul unto death — the travail of His soul in that awful hour thus standing out as unspeakably more bitter and dreadful than even the travail of- His body." In this chapter we have been moving somewhat in the region "of speculation and conjecture, and we have not rigi3l\^ ascertained what is logically tenable and what is not. This is a place of rr«ystery, where dim yet imposing meanings peep out on us In what- ever direction we turn. We have called the scene the Dead Christ. But who does not see tiiat the dead Christ is so interesting and wonderful because He is also the living Christ ? He lives ; He is h«re ; He is with us now. Yet the converse is also true — that the living Christ is to us so wonderful and ador- able because He was dead. The fact that He is alive inspires us with Strength and hope ; but it is by the memory of His death that He is commended to the trust of our burdened consciences and the love of our sympathetic hearts. CHAPTER XXIII. THE BURIAL THERE is a hard and shallow philosophy which regards it as a matter of complete indifference what becomes of the body after the soul has left it and affects contempt of all funeral ceremonies. But the instincts of mankind are wiser. In ancient times it was considered one of the worst of misfortunes to miss decent burial ; and, although this sentiment was mixed with superstition, there was beneath it a healthy instinct. There is a dignity of the body as well as of the soul, especially when it is a temple of the Holy Ghost ; and there is a majesty about death which cannot be ignored without loss to the living.* It is with a sense of pain and humiliation, as if a dishonour were being done to human nature, that we see a funeral at which everything betokens hurry, shabbiness and slovenliness. On the contrary, the * The most beautiful thing ever said about the bodies of the dead is in the Shorter Catechism : " And their bodies, being still united to Christ, do rest in their graves till the resurrection." 3IO THE TRIAL AA'D DEATH OE JESCS CHRIST satisfaction is not morbid with which we see a funeral conducted with solemnity and chaste pomp. And, when someone falls whose career has been one of extraordinary achievement and beneficence, and who has become Dn fortune's crowning slope The pillar of a nation's hope. The centre of a world's desire, then, as the remains are borne amidst an empire's lamentation to rest " under the cross of gold that shines over river and city," and the tolling bells and echoing cannon sound over hushed London, and the silent masses line the streets, and the learned and the noble stand uncovered around the open grave, it would be a diseased and churlish mind which did not feel the spell of the pageant. Thus ought the great, the wise and the good to be buried. How then was He buried whom all now agree to call the Greatest, the Wisest and the Best ? I. The three co*-pses were taken down towards even- ing, before the Jewish Sabbath set in, which com- menced at sunset. Probably the two robbers were buried on the spot, crosses and all, or they were hurriedly carried off to some obscure and accursed THE BURIAL 311 ditch, where the remains of criminals were wont to be unceremoniously thrust undei ground. This would have been the fate of Jesus too, had not an unexpected hand interposed. It was the humane custom of the Romans to give the corpses of criminals to their friends, if they chose to ask for them ; and a claimant appeared for the body of Jesus, to whom Pilate was by no means loath to grant it. This is the first time that Josepli of Arimathea ap- pears on the stage of the gospel history ; and of his previous life very little is known. Even the town from which he derives his appellation is not known with certainty. The fact that he owned a garden and burying-place in the environs of Jerusalem does not necessarily indicate that he was a resident there ; for pious Jews had all a desire to be buried in the precincts of the sacred city ; and, indeed, the whole neighbourhood is still honeycombed with tombs. Joseph was a rich man ; and this may have availed him in his application to Pilate. Those who possess wealth or social position or distinguished talents can serve Christ in ways which are not accessible to His humbler followers. Only, before such gifts can be acceptable to Him, those to whom they belong must count them but loss and dung for His sake. Joseph was a councillor. It has been conjectured 312 THE TRIAL AND DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST that the council of which he was a member was that of Arimathea ; but the observation that he " had not consented to the counsel and deed of them," which obviously refers to the Sanhedrim, makes it more than probable that it was of this august body he was a member. No doubt he absented himself deliberately from the meeting at which Jesus was condemned, knowing well beforehand that the pro- ceedings would be utterly painful and revolting to his feelings. For " he was a good man and a just." We are, however, told more about him : "he waited for the kingdom of God." This is a phrase applied elsewhere also in the New Testament to the devout in Palestine at this period ; and it designates in a striking way the peculiarity of their piety. The age was spiritually dead. Religion was repre- sented by the high-and-dry formalism of the Phari- sees on the one hand and the cold and worldly scepticism of the Sadducees on the other. In the synagogues the people asked for bread and were offered a stone. The scribes, instead of letting the pure river of Bible truth flow over the land, choked up its course with the sand of their soulless com- mentary. Yet there are good people even in the worst of times. There were truly pious souls sprin- kled up and dowm Palestine. They were like lights shining here and there, at great intervals, in the THE BURIAL 313 darkness. They could not but feel that they were strangers and foreign2rs in their own age and coun- try, and they lived in the past and the future. The prophets, on whose words they nouiished their souls, foretold a good time corning, when on those who sat in darkness there would burst a great light. For this better time, then, they were waiting. They were waiting to hear the voice of prophecy echoing once more through the land and waking the population from its spiritual slumber. They were waiting, ab )\ i. all, for the Messiah, if they might dare to hop^ that He would come in their days. Such were the souls among which both John and Jesus found their auditors. All such must have welcomed the voices of the Baptist and his Succes- sor as at least those of prophets who were striving earnestly to deal with the evils of the time. But whether Jesus was He that should come or whether they should look for another, some of them stood in doubt. Among these perhaps was Joseph. He was, it is said, a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews. He had faith, but not faith enough to confess Christ and take the consequences. Even during the trial of Jesus he satisfied his con- science by being absent from the meeting of the Sanhedrim, instead of standing up in his place and avowing his convictions. 314 THE TRIAL AXD DEATH OF JESU ^ CHRIST Such he had been up to this point. But now in the face of danger he identified himself with Jesus. It is interesting to note what it was that brought him to decision. It was the excess of wickedness in his fellow-councillors, who at length went to a stage of violence and injustice which allowed him to hesi- tate no longer. Complete religious decision is some- times brought about in this way. Thus, for exam- ple, one who has been halting between two opinions, or, at all events, has never had courage enough openly to confess his convictions, may be some day among his fellow-workmen or shopmen, when re- ligion comes up as a topic of conversation and is re- ceived with ridicule, Christ's people being sneered at. His doctrines denied, and He Himself bias-, phemed. But at last it goes too far the silent, half-convinced disciple can stand it no longer ; he breaks out in indignant protest and stands confessed as a Christian. In some such way as this must the change of sentiment have taken place in the mind of Joseph. He had to defy the entire Sanhedrim ; he was putting himself in imminent peril ; but he could hold in no longer ; and, casting fear behind his back, he went in " boldly" to Pilate and begged the body of Jesus. THE BURIAL 315 II. Boldness in confessing Christ is apt to have two results. On the one hand, it cows adversaries. It is not said that Joseph got himself into trouble by liis action on this occasion, or that the Sanhedrim im- mediately commenced a persecution against him. They were, indeed, in a state of extreme excite- ment, and they were seventy to one. But some- times a single bold man can quell much more numerous opposition than even this. It li, certain that the consciences of many of them were ill at ease, and they were by no means prepared to chal- lenge to argument on the merits of the case a quiet and resolute man with the elevation of whose char- acter they were all acquainted. It is one of the great advantages of those who stand up for Christ that they have the consciences even of their adversa- ries on their side. The other effect of boldness in confessing Christ is that it brings out confession from others who have not had in their own breast enough of fire to make them act, but are heated up to the necessary temperature by example. It seems clear that in this way tlie example of Joseph evoked the loyalty of Nicodemus. 3i6 THE TRIAL AXD DEA TIT OF JESUS CHRIST Nicodemus was of the same rank as Joseph, being a member of the Sanhedrim ; and he was a secret disciple. Tliis is not the first time that he appears on the stage of the Gospel history. At the very commencement of the career of Jesus he had been attracted to Him and had gone so far as to seek a private interview ; the account of which is one of the most precious component parts of the Gospel and has made tens of thousands not only believers in Christ but witnesses for Him. It had not, how- ever, as much effect on the man to whom it was originally vouchsafed, though it ought to have had. Nicodemus ought to have been one of the earliest followers of the Lord ; and his position would have brought weight to the apostolic circle. But he hesi- tated and remained a secret disciple. On one occa- sion, indeed, he spoke out : once, when something intolerably unjust was said against Jesus in the Sanhedrim, he interposed the question, " Doth our law judge any man before it hear him and know what he doeth ?" But with the angry answer, " Art thou also of Galilee ?" he was shouted down ; and he held his peace. Doubtless, like Joseph, he ab- sented himself from the meeting of the Sanhedrim at which Jesus was condemned ; but the injustice done was so flagrant that he was ready to make a public protest against it. He might not, however, THE BURIAL 3^7 have had the courage of his convictions, had not Joseph shown him the way. Yet this must be praised in Nicodemus, that he was a growing and improving man. Though he hung back for a time, he came forward at last ; and better late than never. It was a happy hour for him when he was brought into contact with Joseph. There are many circles of friends where all are in- ternally convinced and leaning to the right side, and, if only one would come boldly out, the others would willingly follow. The hands of Joseph and Nicodemus met and clasped each other round the body of their Redeemer. There is no love, or friendship, or fellowship like that of those who are united to one another through their connection with Him. III. Art has described the burial of our Lord with great fulness of detail, drawing largely on the im- agination. It has divided it into several scenes.* There is, first, the Descent from the Cross, in which, besides Joseph and Nicodemus, St. John at least, and sometimes other men, are represented as * On these and similar details see The Life of our Lord as exemplified in Works of Art, by Mrs. Jameson (completed by Lady Eastlake). 31^ THE TRIAL AXD DEATH OE JESUS CHRIST extracting the nails and lowering the body ; wliile beneath the cross the holy women, among whom the Virgin Mary and Mary Magdalene are prominent, receive the precious burden. Many readers will re- call the most famous of such pictures, that by Ru- bens in the Cathedral at Antwerp — an extremely impressive but too sensuous representation of the scene of busy affection — wherein the corpse is being let down by means of a great white sheet into the hands of the women, who receive it tenderly, one foot resting on the shoulder of the Magdalene. Then there is what is called the Pieta, or the mourning of the women over the dead body. In this scene the holy mother usually holds the head of her Son in her lap, while the Magdalene clasps His feet and others clasp His hands. Next ensues the Procession to the Sepulchre ; and, last of all, there is the Entombment, which is represented in a great variety of forms. On these scenes the great painters have lavished all the resources of art ; but the narrative of the Gospels is brief and unpictorial. The Virgin is not even mentioned ; and, although others of the holy women are said to have been there, it is not sug- gested that they helped in the labour of burial, but only that they followed and marked where He was laid. Joseph and Nicodemus are the prominent THE BURIAL 319 actors, though it is reasonable to suppose that they were assisted by their servants ; and the soldiers may have lent a hand in disentangling the body. It was in a new sepulchre, w'hich Joseph had had hewn out of the rock for himself, in order that after death he might lie in the sacred shadow of the city of God, that the Lord was laid. No corpse had ever been placed in it before. This was a great gift to give to an excommunicated and crucified man ; and it was a most appropriate one ; for it was meet that the pure and stainless One, who bad come to make all things new and, though dead, was not to see corruption, should rest in an undefiled sepul- chre. Similarly appropriate and suggestive was the new linen cloth, which Joseph bought expressly for the purpose of enwinding the body. Nor was Nico- demus behind in affection and sacrifice. He brought " a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight." This may appear an enormous quantity, but custom was very lavish in such gifts ; at the funeral of Herod the Great, for example, the spices were carried by five hundred bearers. The tomb was '^n a garden — another touch of ap- propriateness and beauty. The spot does not seem to have been far from the place of execution ; but whether it was as near as it is represented to have been in the traditional site may well be doubted. 320 THE TRIAL AXD DEATH OE JESL'S CHRIST The Church of the Holy Sepulchre includes within its precincts both the Lord's tomb and the hole in the rock in which stood His cross ; and the two are only thirty yards apart.* But it is highly question- able whether the identification of either is possible. Still, this may be said to be the most famous bit of the entire surface of the globe. Christendom ac- cepted the tradition, which dates from the time of Constantine, and since then pilgrims have flocked to the spot from every land. It was for the posses- sion of this shrine that the Crusades were under- taken, and at the present day the Churches of Christendom fight for a footing in it. We may have no sympathy with the practice of pilgrimages and little interest in the identification of holy places ; but the holy sepulchre cannot but attract the believing heart. It was a practice of the piety of former days to m.cditate among the tombs. The piety of the present day inclines to more cheer- ful and, let us hope, not less healthy exercises. But every m.an with any depth of nature must linger sometimes beside the graves of his loved ones ; every man of any seriousness must think sometimes of his own grave. And in such moments what can be so helpful as to pilgrim in spirit to the tomb of * Many interesting details in Ross's Cradle of Christianity. THE BURIAL llira who said, " I am the resuirectiun and the life" ? In comparison with the great ones of tlie earth Jesus had but a humble funeral ; yet in the char- acter of those who did Him the last honours it could not have been surpassed ; and it was rich in love, which can well take the place of a great deal of cere- mony. So at last, stretched out in the new tomb, wherein man had never lain, enwrapped in an aro- matic bed of spices and breathed round by the fra- grance of flowers, with the white linen round Him and the napkin which hid the wounds of the thorns about His brow, while the great stone v.iiich fv^rmed the door stood between Him and the world, He lay down to rest. It was evening, and the Sabbath drew on ; and the Sabbath of His life had come. His work was completed ; persecution and hatred could not reach Him any more ; He was yvhere the wicked cease from troubling and the weary are at rest. 0F, Stall^ep's ©ool^s. The Life of Jesus Christ. New and revised edition. l2mo. 60 cts. {From the Preface.) "No other book has, as far as the autlior is aware, been written on the plan of this one— to exhibit in the briefest possible space the main features- and the general course of the Life, so as to cause the well-known details to flow together in the reader's niiml anil shape themselves into an easily comprehended whole. "That, alongside of so many voluminous works, there is room for this little one has been amply proved by a large and steady dem md for it up to the present time." The Trial and Death of Jesus Christ 12mo. Cloth, $1 50. " Ever since I wrote, in a contracted form, ''I'he Life of Jesus Christ,' the desire has slumbered in my mind to describe on a much more extended scale the closing pnssages of the Saviour's earthly history; and, although renewed study has deepened my sense of the impossibility of doing these scenes full justice, yet the suiiject has never ceased to attract me. as being beyond all others the most impressive and remunerative. FROM AUTHOR'S PREFACE. 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i don't know
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The Russian 'Crimea Highway' trunk road from Moscow to the Crimea in Ukraine is the M (what)?
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About: M2 highway (Russia)
About: M2 highway (Russia)
An Entity of Type : road , from Named Graph : http://dbpedia.org , within Data Space : dbpedia.org
The Russian route M2 (also known as the Crimea Highway, (Крым шоссе)) is a major trunk road that connects Moscow to the Crimea. It is part of the European route E105. The length is 720 kilometres.Inaugurated in 1950, the highway starts at the junction of the Moscow Ring Road and Varshavskoye Shosse and travels south-west, immediately bypassing the cities of Tula, Oryol, Kursk and Belgorod before terminating at the border with Ukraine. (Due to the accession of Crimea to the Russian Federation, is unknown at this point if the road will extend into Crimea.)
Property
abstract
Die M2 ("Krim") ist eine russische Fernstraße. Die M2 ist Teil der Europastraße 105. Sie führt vom Dobryninplatz am Moskauer Boulevardring über die Warschauer Chaussee in südlicher Richtung, den Moskauer Autobahnring querend aus der Stadt heraus. Sie führt vorbei am Moskauer Vorort Podolsk und Serpuchow (Oblast Moskau) über Tula, Orjol, Kursk und Belgorod zur ukrainischen Grenze bei Oktjabrski. Zwischen dem Moskauer Autobahnring und Plawsk, etwa 60 km hinter Tula, ist sie als Autobahn ausgebaut. Weitere etwa 90 km Autobahn zwischen Mzensk und Trosna (bei Orjol) befinden sich in Bau. Zur Zeit der Sowjetunion führte die M2 in der Ukrainischen Sowjetrepublik weiter über Charkiw, Dnipropetrowsk, Saporischschja und Melitopol nach Simferopol auf der Halbinsel Krim.
(de)
La route Magistrale M2 (appelée également route de Crimée) est une importante voie de circulation en Russie, reliant Moscou à la Crimée au sud de l'Ukraine.
(fr)
ロシア連邦道路 M2（ロシア語: Федеральная автомобильная дорога М-2 «Крым»）または連邦道路クリミアはロシア連邦のモスクワとウクライナ、クリミア連邦管区のヤルタを結ぶロシア連邦道路である。モスクワ州、トゥーラ州、オリョール州、クルスク州、ベルゴロド州を経由し、クリミア共和国に至る。総距離は720km。E105号線の一部。2014年のウクライナ南東部の政情不安（2014年クリミア危機等）により交通量は激減し、ロシアの南北連絡道路としての役割はロシア連邦道路M4などに移っている。
(ja)
De M-2 of Krim (Russisch: М-2 «Крым») is een federale autoweg in Rusland, die Moskou met de Oekraïense grens nabij Charkov verbindt. De naam Krim dateert uit de tijd van de Sovjet-Unie, toen met de M3 het traject van Moskou naar de Krim werd aangeduid. De totale lengte is 720 kilometer. De M-2 begint bij de MKAD, de Moskouse ringweg, en gaat vervolgens de eerste 190 kilometer als autosnelweg door het leven, tot net voorbij Toela. Vanaf Toela gaat de weg verder als tweestrooks hoofdweg, via Orjol, Koersk en Belgorod naar de Oekraïense grens. Rondom de grote steden Mtsensk, Orjol, Koersk en Belgorod liggen rondwegen. Stukje bij beetje wordt het snelwegstuk verder verlengd richting het zuiden. De weg is druk in de zomer, wanneer veel Russen op vakantie gaan naar de Krim en de Zwarte Zee. De weg is in 1950 voor het eerst opengesteld.
(nl)
Droga magistralna M2 «Krym», nazywana także szosą Symferopolską (ros. Федеральная автомобильная дорога М2 «Крым» (Симферопольское шоссе)) jest trasą magistralną na terenie Rosji. Łączy Moskwę z Ukrainą i Krymem.M2 jest częścią trasy europejskiej E105. Zaczyna swój bieg w Moskwie na Placu Dobryńskimm, następnie idąc po Drodze Warszawskiej aż do MKAD. Magistrala przechodzi przez miejscowości: Podolsk i Sierpuchow, Tuła, Orzeł, Kursk i Biełgorod, kończąc swój bieg na granicy z Ukrainą w pobliżu Oktjabrski. Między Moskwą i obwodnicą Plawska obwodnicy, około 60 km od Tula, jest klasyfikowana jako autostrada. Odcinek pomiędzy Mceńskiem i Trosną (ok. 90 km) jest w budowie.W chwili rozpadu Związku Radzieckiego, na terenie Ukraińskiej Socjalistycznej Republiki Radzieckiej M2 biegła rzez Charków, Dniepropietrowsk, a następnie przez Symferopol na półwysep krymski.
(pl)
Федеральная автомобильная дорога М-2 «Крым» — автомобильная дорога федерального значения Москва — Тула — Орёл — Курск — Белгород — государственная граница с Украиной (с подъездами к историко-архитектурному комплексу «Одинцово», Туле, Орлу, Курску, Белгороду). Является составной частью европейского маршрута E 105. Протяжённость автодороги — 720 км. Продолжение трассы на территории Украины — автострада М-20 до Харькова и М-18 Харьков — Ялта. От границы Крыма до Джанкоя имеет обозначение Р20, на участке Симферополь — Ялта обозначается А17.
(ru)
M2聯邦公路，又稱克里米亞公路（Крым）是俄羅斯的一條幹線公路，連接首都莫斯科和烏克蘭克里米亞半島，全長720公里。也是歐洲E105公路的一部分。
(zh)
The Russian route M2 (also known as the Crimea Highway, (Крым шоссе)) is a major trunk road that connects Moscow to the Crimea. It is part of the European route E105. The length is 720 kilometres. Inaugurated in 1950, the highway starts at the junction of the Moscow Ring Road and Varshavskoye Shosse and travels south-west, immediately bypassing the cities of Tula, Oryol, Kursk and Belgorod before terminating at the border with Ukraine. (Due to the accession of Crimea to the Russian Federation, is unknown at this point if the road will extend into Crimea.) West of the border, the road continues through Kharkiv and Zaporizhia to Simferopol and Yalta as the Ukrainian M20 and M18. It is used by Russian summer vacationers who travel to the Black Sea resorts of Crimea.
(en)
La route Magistrale M2 (appelée également route de Crimée) est une importante voie de circulation en Russie, reliant Moscou à la Crimée au sud de l'Ukraine.
(fr)
ロシア連邦道路 M2（ロシア語: Федеральная автомобильная дорога М-2 «Крым»）または連邦道路クリミアはロシア連邦のモスクワとウクライナ、クリミア連邦管区のヤルタを結ぶロシア連邦道路である。モスクワ州、トゥーラ州、オリョール州、クルスク州、ベルゴロド州を経由し、クリミア共和国に至る。総距離は720km。E105号線の一部。2014年のウクライナ南東部の政情不安（2014年クリミア危機等）により交通量は激減し、ロシアの南北連絡道路としての役割はロシア連邦道路M4などに移っている。
(ja)
M2聯邦公路，又稱克里米亞公路（Крым）是俄羅斯的一條幹線公路，連接首都莫斯科和烏克蘭克里米亞半島，全長720公里。也是歐洲E105公路的一部分。
(zh)
Die M2 ("Krim") ist eine russische Fernstraße.Die M2 ist Teil der Europastraße 105. Sie führt vom Dobryninplatz am Moskauer Boulevardring über die Warschauer Chaussee in südlicher Richtung, den Moskauer Autobahnring querend aus der Stadt heraus. Sie führt vorbei am Moskauer Vorort Podolsk und Serpuchow (Oblast Moskau) über Tula, Orjol, Kursk und Belgorod zur ukrainischen Grenze bei Oktjabrski. Zwischen dem Moskauer Autobahnring und Plawsk, etwa 60 km hinter Tula, ist sie als Autobahn ausgebaut. Weitere etwa 90 km Autobahn zwischen Mzensk und Trosna (bei Orjol) befinden sich in Bau.
(de)
The Russian route M2 (also known as the Crimea Highway, (Крым шоссе)) is a major trunk road that connects Moscow to the Crimea. It is part of the European route E105. The length is 720 kilometres.Inaugurated in 1950, the highway starts at the junction of the Moscow Ring Road and Varshavskoye Shosse and travels south-west, immediately bypassing the cities of Tula, Oryol, Kursk and Belgorod before terminating at the border with Ukraine. (Due to the accession of Crimea to the Russian Federation, is unknown at this point if the road will extend into Crimea.)
(en)
De M-2 of Krim (Russisch: М-2 «Крым») is een federale autoweg in Rusland, die Moskou met de Oekraïense grens nabij Charkov verbindt. De naam Krim dateert uit de tijd van de Sovjet-Unie, toen met de M3 het traject van Moskou naar de Krim werd aangeduid. De totale lengte is 720 kilometer.De M-2 begint bij de MKAD, de Moskouse ringweg, en gaat vervolgens de eerste 190 kilometer als autosnelweg door het leven, tot net voorbij Toela. Vanaf Toela gaat de weg verder als tweestrooks hoofdweg, via Orjol, Koersk en Belgorod naar de Oekraïense grens.
(nl)
Федеральная автомобильная дорога М-2 «Крым» — автомобильная дорога федерального значения Москва — Тула — Орёл — Курск — Белгород — государственная граница с Украиной (с подъездами к историко-архитектурному комплексу «Одинцово», Туле, Орлу, Курску, Белгороду). Является составной частью европейского маршрута E 105. Протяжённость автодороги — 720 км. Продолжение трассы на территории Украины — автострада М-20 до Харькова и М-18 Харьков — Ялта.
(ru)
Droga magistralna M2 «Krym», nazywana także szosą Symferopolską (ros. Федеральная автомобильная дорога М2 «Крым» (Симферопольское шоссе)) jest trasą magistralną na terenie Rosji. Łączy Moskwę z Ukrainą i Krymem.M2 jest częścią trasy europejskiej E105. Zaczyna swój bieg w Moskwie na Placu Dobryńskimm, następnie idąc po Drodze Warszawskiej aż do MKAD. Magistrala przechodzi przez miejscowości: Podolsk i Sierpuchow, Tuła, Orzeł, Kursk i Biełgorod, kończąc swój bieg na granicy z Ukrainą w pobliżu Oktjabrski. Między Moskwą i obwodnicą Plawska obwodnicy, około 60 km od Tula, jest klasyfikowana jako autostrada. Odcinek pomiędzy Mceńskiem i Trosną (ok. 90 km) jest w budowie.W chwili rozpadu Związku Radzieckiego, na terenie Ukraińskiej Socjalistycznej Republiki Radzieckiej M2 biegła rzez Charków, Dn
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two
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Pro-Russians storm Ukrainian navy base in Crimea - CNN.com
NEW: "Business as usual is not an option," says NATO secretary general
NEW: He warns of the organization's fear that Russia may move into eastern Ukraine
Ukraine says prepared to evacuate military personnel and family members from Crimea
On visit to Baltic states, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden slams Russian "aggression"
Simferopol, Crimea (CNN) -- A deadline Ukraine's acting President gave Crimea's separatist leaders to release hostages came and went without apparent incident Wednesday, after pro-Russian activists stormed the former Soviet state's navy headquarters in the region.
Amid signs the uneasy standoff between pro-Russian and Ukrainian forces could ignite into bloody conflict -- a day after Moscow claimed Crimea as its own -- almost 300 armed pro-Russian supporters took over the naval base in Sevastopol, said Marina Kanalyuk, assistant to the commander of Ukraine's navy fleet.
"They are everywhere here, they surround us, they threaten us," she said, adding that she was sure that Russian security forces were involved.
Kanalyuk said the 70 or so Ukrainian naval officers at the headquarters had tried to stop the armed men from entering and were negotiating with them. She said that the armed men had replaced Ukrainian flags with Russian standards but that no shots had been fired.
Ukrainian navy chief Sergey Gaiduk was taken away. Russia's official ITAR-Tass news agency, citing the local Kryminform news agency, reported Gaiduk had been passed to the Sevastopol prosecutor's office to be questioned about whether he'd passed on orders from Kiev for Ukrainian soldiers to use their weapons.
Crimea makes Putin more popular
Ukraine cries 'robbery'
SLOVYANSK, UKRAINE: "Welcome to Balaclavistan! This happy chap wouldn't say if he's Crimean, Russian or Ukrainian." - CNN's Christian Streib. Follow Christian on Instagram at instagram.com/christianstreibcnn.
EASTERN UKRAINE: "Ukrainian Police checkpoint north of Donetsk. A rare sight these days in Eastern Ukraine." - CNN's Christian Streib, April 15. Follow Christian on Instagram at instagram.com/christianstreibcnn.
NEAR KIEV, UKRAINE: "Fresh recruits to Ukraine's National Guard Reserves (March 20). All of them are former anti-government militiamen from Kyiv's Maydan. They've all signed up within the last week as part of a mass recruitment program announced by the interim Ukrainian government." - CNN's Ivan Watson. WATCH THE INSTAGRAM VIDEO from Ivan of a curious "hand grenade" simulation exercise performed by new Ukrainian National Guard reserve recruits. Follow Ivan on Instagram at instagram.com/ivancnn.
SIMFEROPOL, CRIMEA: "Early morning departure (March 19) at Simferopol airport where the Russian flag is already firmly in place on the tarmac." - CNN's Dominique Van Heerden. Follow Dominique on Instagram at instagram.com/dominique_vh.
SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE: "Celebrations already well underway here in Lenin Square in Simferopol (March 16)." - CNN's Dominique Van Heerden. Follow Dominique on Instagram at instagram.com/dominique_vh.
KIEV, UKRAINE: "The mood was grim in Kyiv's Maydan (March 16), as a mustachioed Ukrainian Cossack beat a kettle drum during the separatist referendum in Crimea." - CNN's Ivan Watson. WATCH THE INSTAGRAM VIDEO Follow Ivan on Instagram at instagram.com/ivancnn.
SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE: "Voting has started in Crimea (March 16). Steady stream of voters at this polling station in the center of Simferopol." - CNN's Dominique Van Heerden. Follow Dominique on Instagram at instagram.com/dominique_vh.
DONETSK, UKRAINE: Demonstrators wave revolutionary flags at a major pro-Russia rally in Lenin Square in central Donetsk (March 15). Some are calling for independence from Ukraine. Others are calling for union with Russia. Photo by CNN's Kellie Morgan.
SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE: "Pro-Soviet flags being made and handed out in Simferopol on March 14." - CNN's Michael Holmes. Follow Michael on Instagram at instagram.com/holmescnn.
SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE: "You really don't have to wander very far in Simferopol (March 14) to find posters like this one around parliament and Lenin Square." - CNN's Dominique Van Heerden. Follow Dominique on Instagram at instagram.com/dominique_vh
KIEV, UKRAINE: "Protesters outside parliament in Kiev on March 12 call for the release of 34 political prisoners arrested during demonstrations." - CNN's Dominique Van Heereden. Follow Dominique on Instagram at instagram.com/dominique_vh
DONETSK, UKRAINE: "Dominating the main square named after him: Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov, also known as Lenin" - CNN's Christian Streib. Follow Christian on Instagram at instagram.com/christianstreibcnn.
KIEV, UKRAINE: CNN cameraman Scott McWhinnie films volunteers peeling vegetables, preparing meals for protesters still living in tents in Maidan, also known as Independence Square, on March 9. Photo by CNN's Michael Holmes. Follow Michael on Instagram at instagram.com/holmescnn.
SEVASTOPOL, UKRAINE: The Ukranian Navy vessel Slavutych remains blocked by Russian Navy boats inside the Port of Sevastopol on March 10, photographed by CNN's Christian Streib. Follow Christian on Instagram at instagram.com/christianstreibcnn.
SEVASTOPOL, UKRAINE: "CNN's Matthew Chance and team talk to the first officer of the Ukrainian Intelligence Navy ship Slavutych inside the Port of Sevastopol on March 10." - CNN's Christian Streib. Follow Christian on Instagram at instagram.com/christianstreibcnn.
KIEV, UKRAINE: People stream through Independence Square, laying flowers, and lighting candles. like the ones pictured here on March 9. Photo by CNN's Dominique Van Heerden. Follow Dominique on Instagram at instagram.com/dominique_vh
KIEV, UKRAINE: An aerial photo of Independence Square, or Maidan, in Kiev on March 8. Many remain camped out in Independence Square, while others stream through the area to pay tribute to those who were killed. Photo by CNN's Tony Umrani.
KIEV, UKRAINE: A giant EU flag is hung outside the foreign ministry building in Kiev on March 7. Photo by CNN's Dominique Van Heerden. Follow Dominique on Instagram at instagram.com/dominique_vh.
SOUTHERN UKRAINE: Gunmen block monitors from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) who are trying unsuccessfully to negotiate their way into Crimea past pro-Russian border patrols on March 7. Photo by CNN's Christian Streib. Follow Christian on Instagram at instagram.com/christianstreibcnn
KIEV, UKRAINE: CNN's Anderson Cooper reports from Kiev's Independence Square on March 6. Photo by CNN's Khalil Abdallah.
KIEV, UKRAINE: Portraits of people killed during clashes with riot police are left with candles and flowers at Kiev's Independence Square on March 6. Photo by CNN's Michael Holmes. Follow Michael on Instagram at instagram.com/holmescnn.
SEVASTOPOL, UKRAINE: Cameraman Chris Jackson captures the Russian Black Sea fleet in Sevastopol on March 5. Photo by CNN's Ben Wedeman. Follow Ben on Instagram at instagram.com/bcwedeman.
KIEV, UKRAINE: "Cutting wood to keep volunteers warm as they continue to guard Independence Square in Kiev." - CNN's Khalil Abdallah on March 5. Follow Khalil on Instagram at instagram.com/madcameraman.
WASHINGTON, DC: Ukrainian demonstrators rally on March 5 outside the White House against the Russian incursion into Crimea. Photo by CNN's Burke Buckhorn. Follow Burke on Instagram at instagram.com/bbuckhorncnn
SEVASTOPOL, UKRAINE: "A massive statue on a hill overlooking Sevastopol, dedicated to the unity of the Soviety army and navy during World War II. After a brutal 250-day siege by German forces, Sevastopol fell in 1942. The past weighs heavily here, with an intense awareness of history, of identity, of place." - CNN's Ben Wedeman. Follow Ben on Instagram at instagram.com/bcwedeman.
SEVASTOPOL, UKRAINE: "A weary Ukrainian soldier after a five-day standoff at the Belbak air base outside Sevastopol, Crimea, on March 5." - CNN's Ben Wedeman. Follow Ben on Instagram at instagram.com/bcwedeman.
KIEV, UKRAINE: The Shrine of the Fallen on Institutska Street honors the "Heroes" killed in clashes with police. Photo on March 4 by CNN's Dominique Van Heerden. Follow Dominique on Instagram at instagram.com/dominique_vh.
KIEV, UKRAINE: CNN Cameraman Christian Streib sets up for live shots by the barricades on the road to Independence Square on March 4. Photo by CNN's Jon Steward.
KIEV, UKRAINE: "27-year old Bogdan sits on top of his Russian-made soup kitchen in Indepence -- or Maidan -- Square on March 2. He's been sitting there for the last three months serving delicious Ukrainian grechaniy soup. It's made of buckwheat, lentil, coriander and beef. Amazing taste." - CNN's Christian Streib. Follow Christian on Instagram at instagram.com/christianstreibcnn.
PEREVALNOYE BASE, UKRAINE: "Outside Ukrainian base in Crimea (March 2), tight-lipped but obviously Russian marines deploy around perimeter as Ukrainian soldiers inside vow not to surrender." - CNN's Ben Wedeman. Follow Ben on Instagram at instagram.com/bcwedeman.
KIEV, UKAINE: "Perhaps the best solution to end the crisis in Ukraine." - CNN's Christian Streib on March 2. Follow Ben on Instagram at instagram.com/bcwedeman.
KIEV, UKRAINE: "APC in central Kiev (March 1). It appeared the morning after Russian forces moved into the Crimea." -- CNN's Ian Lee. Follow Ian on Instagram at instagram.com/ianjameslee.
KIEV, UKRAINE: A young girl pays tribute to anti-government protesters killed in the clashes with riot police by placing a flower on a makeshift memorial leading to the barricades in central Kiev on February 24. Photo by CNN's Todd Baxter.
KIEV, UKRAINE: A woman mourns at a makeshift memorial (February 23) in homage to anti-government protesters killed in clashes with riot police in Kiev's Independence Square. Photo by CNN's Todd Baxter.
KIEV, UKRAINE: Bullet holes in a power pole at a spot where a protester was killed during clashes with riot police, near Independence Square. Photo by CNN's Todd Baxter on February 23.
KIEV, UKRAINE: Ukrainians are reflected in a puddle as they gather to mourn the dead in Maidan Square on February 23, after protesters succeeded in forcing President Viktor Yanukovich out of office. Photo by CNN's Christian Streib. Follow Christian on Instagram at instagram.com/christianstreibcnn.
KIEV, UKRAINE: "Anti-government demonstrator in makeshift riot gear (February 22), a member of several protection units set up by the organizers of the occupation of Maidan Square." - CNN's Christian Streib. Follow Christian on Instagram at instagram.com/christianstreibcnn.
KIEV, UKRAINE: Defected policemen and anti-government protesters at barricades together in central Kiev on February 21. Photo by CNN's Fred Pleitgen. Follow Fred on Instagram at instagram.com/fpleitgencnn.
KIEV, UKRAINE: Anti-government protesters clash with riot police in central Kiev on February 20. Photo by CNN's Todd Baxter.
KIEV, UKRAINE: Riot police face anti-government protesters during clashes in central Kiev on February 20. Photo by CNN's Todd Baxter.
KIEV, UKRAINE: After the deaths of 25 people during clashes a day earlier, Ukrainian protesters prepare to stand and fight again on February 19. Photo taken by CNN's Andrew Carey on February 19.
KIEV, UKRAINE: "This 17 year old protestor was taken by police as he was watching the clashes (January 23) while taking iPhone photos. He was stripped naked, beaten, stabbed in the thigh and his arm was broken. He faces eight to fifteen years in jail for taking part in a mass demonstration. The government has labeled those taking part in the violence as 'terrorists'." - CNN's Diana Magnay.
KIEV, UKRAINE: Pro-Europe protesters pour into Independence square on December 14. Opposition supporters have been camping since Nov. 21 in Independence Square - in protest against President Yanukovich's last minute refusal to sign an agreement bringing Ukraine closer to the European Union, in favor of Russia. Photo by CNN's Diana Magnay.
KIEV, UKRAINE: Ukrainian riot police storm barricades set up by pro-European Union protesters in Independence Square on December 11. Ukrainian security forces stormed the square, which protesters have occupied for three weeks. The demonstrators defiantly refused to leave and resisted the police in a tense standoff. Photo by CNN's Diana Magnay.
Crisis in Crimea and Ukraine, captured by CNN teams
Crisis in Crimea and Ukraine, captured by CNN teams
Crisis in Crimea and Ukraine, captured by CNN teams
Crisis in Crimea and Ukraine, captured by CNN teams
Crisis in Crimea and Ukraine, captured by CNN teams
Crisis in Crimea and Ukraine, captured by CNN teams
Crisis in Crimea and Ukraine, captured by CNN teams
Crisis in Crimea and Ukraine, captured by CNN teams
Crisis in Crimea and Ukraine, captured by CNN teams
Crisis in Crimea and Ukraine, captured by CNN teams
Crisis in Ukraine, captured by CNN Teams on assignment.
Crisis in Ukraine, captured by CNN Teams on assignment.
Crisis in Ukraine, captured by CNN Teams on assignment.
Crisis in Ukraine, captured by CNN Teams on assignment.
Crisis in Ukraine, captured by CNN Teams on assignment.
Crisis in Ukraine, captured by CNN Teams on assignment.
Crisis in Ukraine, captured by CNN Teams on assignment.
Crisis in Ukraine, captured by CNN Teams on assignment.
Ukraine Crisis captured by CNN Teams
Crisis in Ukraine, captured by CNN Teams on assignment.
Ukraine crisis captured by CNN Teams
Ukraine Crisis captured by CNN Teams
Ukraine Crisis captured by CNN Teams
Ukraine crisis captured by CNN Teams
Ukraine crisis captured by CNN Teams
Ukraine crisis captured by CNN Teams
Ukraine crisis captured by CNN Teams
Ukraine crisis captured by CNN Teams
Ukraine crisis captured by CNN Teams
Ukraine crisis captured by CNN Teams
Ukraine Crisis captured by CNN Teams
Ukraine crisis captured by CNN Teams
Ukraine crisis captured by CNN Teams
Crisis in Ukraine, captured by CNN Teams on assignment.
Crisis in Ukraine, captured by CNN Teams on assignment.
Ukraine crisis captured by CNN Teams
Ukraine crisis captured by CNN Teams
Ukraine crisis captured by CNN Teams
Crisis in Crimea and Ukraine, captured by CNN teams
Crisis in Crimea and Ukraine, captured by CNN teams
Ukraine crisis captured by CNN Teams
Crisis in Crimea and Ukraine, captured by CNN teams
Crisis in Crimea and Ukraine, captured by CNN teams
Crisis in Crimea and Ukraine, captured by CNN teams
HIDE CAPTION
Photos: Crisis in Crimea and Ukraine
Map of Crimea
Map of Crimea
Acting President Oleksandr Turchynov issued a 9 p.m. (3 p.m. ET) deadline for Crimea to release all hostages and stop all provocations, a statement on the presidential website said. That deadline passed with no apparent consequences.
It had warned that if all hostages, including Gaiduk, were not released by then, authorities would take action of "technical and technological character," likely meaning turning off utilities.
Meanwhile in Kiev, officials unveiled a series of new measures against Russia and the "self-proclaimed" authorities in Crimea.
In a televised briefing, Andriy Porubiy, secretary of the national defense and security council, said the measures included a full-scale visa system for Russians and that if the United Nations designates Crimea a "demilitarized zone," Ukraine was prepared to evacuate its military personnel and family members. Ukraine has facilities ready to accommodate 25,000 evacuees.
The country has decided to leave the Commonwealth of Independent States, an organization made up of republics of the former Soviet Union, Porubiy said. Kiev also will estimate the damages caused by the annexation.
NATO: 'Business as usual is not an option'
The incident at the navy headquarters comes a day after one member of the Ukrainian military was killed, another wounded and more captured when masked gunmen seized their base near the Crimean regional capital, Simferopol.
After that fatality -- the first Ukrainian military death since the Crimean crisis erupted about two weeks ago -- Ukraine's Defense Ministry authorized its forces to open fire in self-defense. On the same day, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the annexation of Crimea, after voters in the semi-autonomous territory approved a hastily called weekend referendum on separating from Ukraine.
Speaking in Washington, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen warned of the organization's fear that Russia may move into eastern Ukraine.
"I see Crimea as an element in, in a greater pattern, in a more long-term Russian, or at least Putin, strategy. So, of course, our major concern now is whether he will go beyond Crimea, whether Russia will intervene in the eastern parts (of Ukraine)," he said.
"No one wants to turn away from our cooperation with Russia, but no one can ignore that Russia has violated the very principles upon which that cooperation is built. So business as usual is not an option," Rasmussen said.
Elsewhere, the head of Ukraine's state TV reportedly was assaulted by at least three lawmakers from Ukraine's far-right Svoboda party and forced to resign. In a video posted online, the MPs could be seen arguing with to Oleksandr Panteleymonov, asking him why the station aired a concert from Moscow live. He was then roughed up.
Speaking to CNN by phone from hospital where he said he was being checked for injuries, Panteleymonov called the incident a "quarrel" and confirmed he had to sign a paper.
The U.S. embassy in Kiev condemned the incident.
U.N. chief to visit Russia, Ukraine
As diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis continue, the United Nations said Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon would visit Russia and Ukraine this week "as part of his diplomatic efforts to encourage all parties to resolve the current crisis peacefully."
He will meet Putin and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow on Thursday and Turchynov and Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk on Friday in Kiev.
Speaking at the United Nations on Wednesday, Ukraine's U.N. Ambassador Yuriy Sergeyev called upon "the entire civilized world not to recognize the illegitimately declared independence of Crimea and its violent dismembering from the territory of our country."
He expressed reservations about the referendum, saying that Russian citizens were able to vote and journalists were banned.
"The declaration of independence by the Crimean Republic is a direct consequence of the application of the use of force and threats against Ukraine by the Russian Federation," Sergeyev said.
U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power echoed his comments, stressing that what happened in Crimea cannot be recognized as valid, nor can it be repeated in other parts of Ukraine.
"A thief can steal property, but that does not confer the right of ownership on the thief," she said.
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, dispatched to reassure NATO allies in Eastern Europe and the Baltics, met Wednesday with the presidents of Lithuania and Latvia in Lithuania's capital, Vilnius.
Crimea's Tatars caught in the middle
After Crimea, 'global security finished'
Tweets from https://twitter.com/cnni/ukraine-crisis
He stressed the United States was committed to the defense of its NATO allies and had stern words for Moscow's response to the political upheaval in Ukraine.
"Russia has chosen to respond with military aggression, a referendum rejected by virtually the entire world, illegal efforts to annex Crimea and now reports of armed attacks against Ukrainian military personnel and installations in Crimea," he said.
"I want to make it clear: We stand resolutely with our Baltic allies in support of the Ukrainian people and against Russian aggression."
U.S. officials are keeping a close eye on the growing number of heavily equipped Russian forces near the Ukraine border because of concern the troops could move into Ukraine with little or no warning.
One U.S. official with access to the latest intelligence said the estimate is that in recent days, Russia has assembled up to 20,000 forces in "motorized" units. They are so close to the border that the United States would not have enough time to predict what they might do, but would only see it as it was happening, the official said. One theory the U.S. is considering is that the Russians may plan to establish a "land bridge" into Crimea, the official said. He described it as moving forces to an area they can control, so they have assured access in the future.
Also Wednesday, Ukraine's deputy premier, Vitaly Yarema, and acting Defense Minister Ihor Tenuyh took off from Kiev, planning to fly to Crimea to "resolve all problematic issues," but Crimean authorities would not allow them to land, the statement on the Ukrainian presidential website said.
Escalation fear
Yatsenyuk warned Tuesday the crisis was shifting "from political to the military form, and the blame is on the Russian military."
The weekend's contested referendum has been condemned by the interim Kiev government, the United States and the European Union. But Russia remains steadfastly defiant.
For Ukrainians, 'it's hard to not be concerned'
Russia's Constitutional Court unanimously ruled Wednesday that the agreement between the Russian Federation and Crimea on its accession to Russia was lawful, state news agency RIA Novosti reported.
The step clears the way for the country's lawmakers to vote on ratifying the accession agreement, as well as draft amendments to the Russian Constitution, it said.
The State Duma, or lower house, will hold a special session Thursday to ratify the treaty, ITAR-Tass reported.
Putin made it clear Tuesday, in a speech greeted by enthusiastic applause by Russian lawmakers, that Moscow has no intention of relinquishing its grip on Crimea, a Black Sea peninsula with historical ties to Russia.
"In our hearts, we know Crimea has always been an inalienable part of Russia," he said.
Of those who cast a ballot, 96.7% voted in favor of Crimea leaving Ukraine and joining Russia, according to the Crimean Electoral Commission. But the ballot questions offered no real option for any residents who wanted to remain part of Ukraine.
Putin said Russia had to act because Ukraine's new government, backed by Washington and European powers, was prepared "to seize the state through terror and murders."
But Yatsenyuk called it "a robbery on an international scale," one that Kiev will never accept.
Members of the Russian parliament and the new Crimean legislature met Wednesday morning in Moscow to discuss the details of how the region will join Russia.
Russia's annexation of Crimea opportune or opportunistic?
Rising tensions
Crimean lawmakers have said they now see Ukrainian soldiers as an occupying force and have given them a certain amount of time to leave the peninsula.
The Ukrainian troops have been encircled by pro-Russian forces in their bases for days.
They have also come under pressure from pro-Russian crowds who gather outside and call on those still loyal to Kiev to surrender or defect to Russia's military. CNN teams on the ground have seen Russian forces also show up to reinforce that message.
Putin has denied Russia's military has been used in Crimea, despite what has been stated by international observers and the government of Kiev. The pro-Russian forces seen in Crimea are Crimean "self-defense" forces, he said.
Putin said the 22,000 Russian troops in Crimea did not enter during the current crisis, but "were already there," in accordance with previous international negotiations.
Russian forces were allowed in Crimea under a treaty that allowed the Black Sea fleet to be based in the port of Sevastopol, but their movements within Crimea are supposed to be agreed upon with Kiev.
U.S. and EU officials have imposed sanctions on more than two dozen Russian and Crimean officials and urged Russia to avoid escalating the crisis, but Moscow has ignored those calls.
Putin may be under international pressure over Russia's actions in Crimea, but public opinion is firmly behind him at home.
Cheering crowds celebrated the announcement that Crimea was now part of Russia at some 80 rallies across the country, from Vladivostok to Moscow's Red Square.
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i don't know
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How many unique dominoes are in a standard 'double six' set?
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How many dominoes are in a standard set? | Reference.com
How many dominoes are in a standard set?
A:
Quick Answer
There are a total of 28 dominoes in a standard set where the maximum number is six on each side, called a double-six set. Each domino is called a tile and the dots found on each of the tiles are called pips. For the standard 28-domino set, there are a total of 168 pips or dots.
Full Answer
Alternative names for the tiles are bones, cards, tickets, stones and spinners. Each domino is usually rectangular with a line dividing each side. Dominoes date back to the 13th century or earlier and were mentioned in writings from Chinese author Zhou Mi who mentioned dominoes, or "pupai," being sold by street vendors.
There are many different ways to play dominoes. The blocking game is the most common game for two players using a double-six set. The tiles are shuffled, each player draws seven and one player plays his or her first tile. Each player then extends the line of play with a tile from their hands. The game ends when one player plays all of their tiles or when the game is blocked due to the lack of plays available. If it becomes blocked, the player that blocks it receives all of the player points.
The formula for how many tiles are in a set is ((n+1)(n+2))/2, where n is the highest number found on a tile. A double-nine set of tiles contains a total of 55 tiles, a double-twelve set of tiles contains 91 tiles.
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28
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What number turned on its side (rotated 90 degrees) is the symbol for infinity?
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Double Six Dominoes | eBay
Double Six Dominoes
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607 sold
DOUBLE SIX DOMINOES. Dominoes case measures: 7" x 4.5" x 1". Dominoes Pieces 28. Domino tile measures: 1.77" x 0.9" x 0.23". Ivory tile. CASE COLORS AVAILABLE: BLUE - BLACK- GREEN - RED. neutral or.
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This gorgeous Double 6Professional Domino Tiles in Snap Vinyl Case, Black has the finest details and highest quality you will find anywhere! Double 6 ProfessionalDomino Game Tiles in Snap Vinyl Case, ...
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JUMBO DOUBLE SIX DOMINOES. Double-six dominoes. Dominoes Pieces 28. Domino box measures: 7.5" x 2.5" x 2". Individual domino tile measures: 1.89" x 0.95" x 0.43". PREMIUM QUALITY! neutral or. Convenie...
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This superior set of 28 double six dominoes will add a new dimension to your gaming. This premium set of 28 dominoes is composed of quality plastic and will provide you with hours of fun. Double six...
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MINI DOUBLE SIX DOMINOES. Dominoes case measures: 6" x 3.5" x 0.5". Dominoes Pieces 28. Domino tile measures: 1.5" x 0.75" x 0.19". Ivory color tiles! CASE COLORS AVAILABLE: BLUE - BLACK- GREEN - RED.
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One Double Six Set of Dominoes (28 Tiles with Spinners) in Two Tone White and Red. Tournament Jumbo Size (2" X 1" X 1/2"). Comes in an Elegant Black Velvet Box. Jumbo Tournament Size (2" X 1" X 1/2").
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i don't know
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The Marvel Comics superhero team led by Mr Fantastic was the Fanstastic (what)?
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Reed Richards (Earth-616) | Marvel Database | Fandom powered by Wikia
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History
I learned that the difference between living and dying is managing fear. Not being afraid so afraid of losing the things you love that you hold them too tight. I used to believe in universal contraction. Entropy and the end of all things. Well, I changed my mind. I'm letting go. Because now I believe in expansion. I believe we endure. Don't you see? Everything lives.
-- Mister Fantastic
Main article: Reed Richards (Earth-616)/Expanded History
Early Years
Reed Richards was born in Central City , California the only son of wealthy physicist Nathaniel Richards and his wife Evelyn , was a child prodigy with special aptitude in mathematics, physics, and mechanics. Evelyn died when Reed was seven.[ citation needed ]
Education
Nathaniel encouraged and guided young Reed in his scientific studies, and Reed was taking college-level courses. Reed entered college at fourteen at CalTech (California Institute of Technology) [ citation needed ]. He also attended Harvard University [ citation needed ] and M.I.T. [ citation needed ]. He studied abroad at the University of Vienna in Austria . It is their he met fellow "super-genius"; Alyssa Moy . [4] By the time he was eighteen, had had obtained four degrees in fields such as engineering, math, and physics.[ citation needed ]
It was when he was working on his fifth at at State University in Hegeman , New York , that Reed Richards first met two of the most important individuals in his life. He was assigned to room with a foreign student, a scientific genius named Victor von Doom . The imperious Von Doom, taking an immediate dislike to Richards, decided to take other quarters. Instead, Richards gained as his roommate former high school football star Benjamin J. Grimm , who became Richards’ closest friend. Richards was already intending to build a starship for interstellar travel. When he told his ambitions to Grimm, Grimm jokingly said that he would pilot the starship for Richards someday. [5]
Doom became obsessed with developing a machine that could project the astral form of a being into other dimensions. Reed pointed out a flaw in Doom's calculations, but Doom arrogantly ignored his warning, feeling that Reed was trying to upstage him. The machine exploded, scarring Doom's face. He was soon expelled for conducting unethical experiments. As Doctor Doom, von Doom would later become Richards’ greatest rival and enemy. [6] [5] Doom blamed Reed for his deformities and he continually tried to prove himself superior to Reed, especially intellectually. They battled many times, but Reed almost always emerged triumphantly.[ citation needed ]
Military Service
Reed and Ben later served in the military together. Their time in war increased their trust in each other. [7] Richards also met Nick Fury during World War II . [8] [9]
While attending Columbia University , Richards rented living quarters at the Manhattan boarding house owned by the aunt of a young girl named Susan Storm . Though she was still only a child, no more than twelve years old, Susan fell in love with the older Richards, much to his embarrassment.[ citation needed ]
Three years before Reed Richards tested his starship, his father mysteriously disappeared. In fact, Nathaniel Richards had devised a time machine which he had used to attempt to journey into the future of his own world. However, the machine actually transported him to an alternate Earth with a history considerably different from our own. Reed Richards would be reunited with him while visiting this alternate Earth years later. Before Nathaniel Richards left his own time, he made arrangements that left two billion dollars to his son. Reed Richards spent most of the money on his project to build and launch his starship. This project, based in Central City , California , received further funding from the federal government.[ citation needed ]
Fantastic Four
Richards recruited his old friend Ben Grimm, who had become a successful test pilot and astronaut, to pilot the starship. Richards was joined in California by Susan Storm, who was now an adult. Richards and Storm were dating at the time. [10]
Shortly before the starship was to be launched, Richards used his scientific knowledge to defeat the extraterrestrial being Gormuu , who had intended to conquer Earth. Richards’ encounter with Gormuu strengthened his resolve to finish the starship, which he saw as a first step for mankind to defend itself from extraterrestrial threats. [11]
However, the federal government then threatened to withdraw its funding from the project. Richards decided to take the starship on a test flight himself before the funding was withdrawn. Grimm was opposed to the idea, warning that the starship's shielding might prove inadequate protection from the intense radiation storms. Nevertheless, Grimm was persuaded to serve as pilot, and Susan Storm and her adolescent brother Johnny insisted on accompanying Richards as passengers. The four friends stole onto the launch facility, entered the starship, and blasted off. They intended to travel through hyperspace in the ship to another solar system and back in order to convince the government to reconsider. However, unknown to Richards, a solar flare caused Earth's Van Allen radiation belts to be filled temporarily with unprecedented, ultra-high levels of cosmic radiation . Since the ship was designed to shield against ordinary levels of radiation, the cabin volume was subjected to to intense cosmic ray bombardment which irradiated the four passengers and wrought havoc on the ship's controls. Pilot Grimm was forced to abort the flight and return to Earth.
Once back on Earth, the four passengers discovered that the cosmic radiation had triggered mutagenic changes in their bodies. Reed Richards discovered that his body had become malleable and that he now had the ability to elongate his body at will. Richards convinced the others that the four of them should use their new-found powers for the good of humanity as members of a team he named the Fantastic Four . Richards, who became the team’s leader, named himself Mister Fantastic, while Ben Grimm, Susan Storm, and Johnny Storm named themselves the Thing, the Invisible Girl (later the Invisible Woman), and the Human Torch, respectively. [10] The profits from Richard's patents and royalties funded the team's activities.
Under Richards’ leadership the Fantastic Four has become Earth’s most honored team of superhuman adventurers, and has saved the world from conquest or destruction many times. Richards proposed to [12] and eventually married Susan Storm in a wedding ceremony attended by most of the world's heroes, [13] and they had a son, Franklin . [14]
Franklin proved to be a vastly powerful mutant whose fluctuating abilities have alternately saved or menaced both the Fantastic Four and the world, forcing Reed to take steps to contain Franklin's powers. On one such occasion, Franklin's mind was temporarily shut down. An outraged Sue, already resentful of Reed at this point because she felt that he did not regard her as an equal, left her husband and quit the team. She was replaced in the Fantastic Four for an extended period by Medusa of the Inhumans , but Sue reclaimed her spot on the roster after she and Reed finally reconciled. However, Reed and Sue were separated. [15]
A number of Earth's most powerful heroes -- Mister Fantastic, Doctor Strange, Black Bolt, Professor X, Iron Man, and Namor -- traveled to Skrullos to confront the Skrull King, informing him that the Earth was strictly off-limits. Upon arrival, however, the heroes were captured and experimented upon before they were able to escape. Mr. Fantastic would later blame himself for the Skrulls increased transforming powers. While the meeting predictably turned violent, the experience would provide the basis for the later establishment of the Illuminati . The secretive group of Earth's most influential heroes would meet only a few times, and these, only to tackle events of extraordinary importance. Reed added the viewpoint and perspective of a scientist. [16]
After losing his powers for a time, Reed was imprisoned and impersonated by the Brute , his then-criminally insane counterpart from the High Evolutionary 's Counter-Earth , who ultimately exiled himself to the Negative Zone after finally regaining his senses.
The Fantastic Four even broke up for a while, during which time Doom hypnotized Reed into capturing his former teammates as the Invincible Man. The team regrouped after Reed took a solo space flight into the Van Allen radiation belts, guided by information from colleague Stephen Beckley (later Comet Man ), regaining his powers at amplified levels, and the Fantastic Four foiled Doom's latest world-conquering plot. Later, seeking a more normal family life, Reed and Sue established a household in small town Belle Porte , Connecticut for a while, living quietly in disguise there as the Benjamin family while continuing to serve with the Fantastic Four in their original identities.
After a conflict during which he mercifully spared the life of the planet-eater Galactus , Reed found himself placed on trial in an interstellar court by survivors of the many worlds Galactus had consumed; but Reed was exonerated once the last-minute testimony of Eternity proved to the court that Galactus was a necessary aspect of the cosmos.
On the family front, Sue's second child was stillborn despite Reed's frantic efforts to save their unborn baby; Reed discovered that his own long-lost father Nathaniel was living a new life with a new family on Other Earth; and an embittered Thing quit the Fantastic Four, partly because a well-intentioned Reed had withheld information from him regarding the state of Ben's ability to resume human form, an ability Ben lost due in part to Reed's misinformation. Ben's hand-picked replacement, She-Hulk , served a long stint with the Fantastic Four, but eventually left after Ben finally reconciled with the group and rejoined their ranks.
Seeking a more normal family life again, Reed and Sue retired from the Fantastic Four altogether to concentrate on raising Franklin, leaving Ben in charge of the group. To replace them, Ben recruited his friend Ms. Marvel (Sharon Ventura) and Crystal (who had already served as Sue's substitute during and after Sue's first pregnancy); however, Reed and Sue's retirement was short-lived. After teaming with several Avengers to rescue a captured Franklin during a demonic invasion , Reed and Sue reluctantly agreed to join the Avengers , who were critically short-handed at the time. But Reed was too accustomed to leadership himself to serve smoothly under Captain America for long, so Reed and Sue amicably stepped down from active Avengers membership after only a few missions with the team. They later resigned their Avengers membership altogether after rejoining the Fantastic Four. They remained friends and allies to the Avengers, though.
When Reed and Doom seemingly died [17] as a result of their conflict with the alien Hunger , they were actually spirited away by the space-time-warping Hyperstorm , mad son of an alternate-future Franklin Richards. Hyperstorm kept Doom as a tortured captive and trapped Reed in the distant past for months, during which time the world believed both Reed and Doom to be dead. In Reed's absence, Sue took over leadership of the Fantastic Four and served capably in the role, recruiting Ant-Man as the team's new scientist. However, she refused to believe Reed was truly dead, and she rebuffed romantic advances from Namor . Reed was eventually rescued.
The entire Fantastic Four appeared to die in battle with the psychic monster Onslaught . Instead they (and the Avengers) found themselves on Counter-Earth , in a pocket universe Franklin had created to save them. In a sense, they had been reborn and had to start their lives over. [18] Once the heroes on Counter-Earth realized what had happened, they returned to their original homes. [19]
An even more surprising resurrection unfolded during the team's reality-warping conflict with the cosmic being Abraxas when Franklin revealed he had used his powers to rescue Sue's seemingly stillborn second child years earlier, and that this child had been raised in an alternate future to become the Marvel Girl (Valeria Von Doom) who was now an ally of the present-day Fantastic Four. As a side-effect of Abraxas's defeat, Marvel Girl was restored to her original state, as an unborn child in Sue's womb. This time, Sue's pregnancy resulted in the birth of a healthy baby girl, christened Valeria in memory of Doctor Doom's first love. (Doom had insisted on naming the child in exchange for assisting with the difficult birth.) Later, Doom would exploit his special bond with the child to employ her as a mystical familiar, using sorcery to mount one of his most ruthless and terrifying attacks on the Fantastic Four ever.
In the end, Doom was taken by his own demonic benefactors, but not before he hideously disfigured Reed's face as a petty parting gesture. Physically and emotionally scarred, Reed led the Fantastic Four into Doom's now-leaderless Latveria , where he worked obsessively to dismantle Doom's regime, neutralize his arsenal, erase Doom's legacy and create a better state, becoming increasingly tyrannical himself in the process and ignoring threats of international criminal charges from the United Nations . At the same time, unknown even to his teammates, Reed was secretly plotting to retrieve Doom from Hell and place him in a specially prepared other-dimensional prison from which he could never escape; but this transfer was unwittingly interrupted by the rest of the Fantastic Four, allowing Doom to escape long enough to kill the Thing.
Devastated, the remaining Fantastic Four returned to America, where their standing with the authorities and their reputation with the general public had taken a terrible beating due to the Latverian controversy. The Fantastic Four broke up, Reed and Sue split up, and Reed was even forced to sign over most of his patents to the government as part of a deal to escape prosecution. However, Reed was certain that Ben could be resurrected. He convinced Sue and Johnny to join him in this quest, which ultimately led them to the gates of Heaven itself using a modified model of Doom's old afterlife machine. Persuaded it was not yet his time, Ben agreed to return to the land of the living with his friends-and the Creators allowed it, even healing Reed's facial scars as a parting gift. With the Fantastic Four back together, Reed led them in rebuilding their reputations and their finances. For a time, he also steered the team into taking on more conventional civilian occupations as life experience; but his chief goals continued to be raising a family, protecting humanity and seeking knowledge in all corners of the universe and beyond.
Civil War
During the Civil War , Reed Richards was one of the leading figures, along with Iron Man , on the side favoring the Superhuman Registration Act . Reed's true motive for supporting the registration act was due to his development of a working version of Isaac Asimov's (fictional) Psychohistory concept. His application of this science indicated to him that billions would die in escalating conflicts without the presence of the act. [20] He speculated that this would lead to conflict with his wife, which came true when a clone of Thor , created by him and Iron Man, lost control, killed Goliath and nearly killed all the rest of the Secret Avengers as well until Sue stepped in and saved them. [21]
Soon after, Sue left Reed, along with Johnny, to join the Secret Avengers in hopes that it would drive Reed to end the conflict quickly. In the final battle of the war, Reed was shot by Taskmaster as he was saving Invisible Woman's life. [22] He survived, however, and Sue returned to him in the aftermath of the battle, having been granted amnesty. With their marriage in jeopardy, Reed and Sue agreed to “take a break” from the Fantastic Four to focus on each other. While away on a second honeymoon Reed asked The Black Panther and Storm to take their places on the team. [23]
Betrayed by a Skrull disguised as Hank Pym .
Reed and Sue reunited with the Four when the Hulk returned to Earth seeking revenge on the Illuminati. [24] Reed was defeated and thrown into Madison Square Garden, which had been turned into a gladiatorial arena by the Hulk. Hulk implanted the Illuminati members with obedience discs and forced them to fight each other. However the Hulk spared them from being forced to kill each other, deciding that he had shown them and that he had proved his point to the world. They survived the encounter by Hulk's mercy and the timely intervention of the Sentry , who weakened Hulk enough for Stark to use prototype defense satellites to negate the Hulk's powers.
Future Foundation
Reed and the Future Foundation.
After the Human Torch sacrificed himself to save the Baxter Building from the Annihilus 's Annihilation Wave, the Fantastic Four disbanded. The Future Foundation started acting in its place. [25]
Due the presence of Reed Richards of alternate universes, Mr. Fantastic made an alliance with many villains such as Mad Thinker, AIM, Wizard, Diablo and High Evolutionary to plan how to stop them. Then they lead the battle to High Evolutionary's city where one of the Richards escaped with Doctor Doom and the others two were captured by the Kree army. After returning to Baxter Building , Richards reunited other heroes to fight the Inhumans in Attilan, but at the time they where preparing to go at the rooftop, a Kree invasion started. Reed used Iron Man's armor and Sue's power to create a force field around Manhattan, at the same time the Cult of the Negative Zone opened the portal to the Negative Zone after Spider-Man failed at stop them, the portal revealed a living Johnny Storm with a enslaved Annihilus. [26]
Then Johnny gathered the team drawing with fire the symbolical "4" at the sky above the Baxter Building. Reed, Sue, Ben and Peter boarded one of the Annihilation Wave's ships controlled by Johnny, who used the rest of the ships to battle the Kree army until the Inhumans asked to finish them by their own hand. [27] Meanwhile the other heroes on Earth where dealing with the scraps of the battle which could damage the Earth, Reed and Sue summons Galactus, who destroys completely the Kree army. That moment, the Mad Celestials appeared to destroy this universe. Although the team tried to use the Hub (a weapon of mass destruction created by the Reeds), they couldn't defeat the Mad Celestials. Then, a future version of Franklin and Valeria appeared as part of Nathaniel Richards 's plan. [28] The Future Franklin used his power to heal Galactus and destroy the Mad Celestials, saving the day. [29] Later, the Baxter Building was easily rebuilt, Mr. Fantastic showed a new secondary headquarters called Foundation and new costumes were given to the members of the Future Foundation, as part of the reformation of the Fantastic Four. [30]
Voyagers
Reed's cells begin degenerating.
After finding out that during one of their explorations he developed a sickness which caused the cells of his body to start degenerating, Reed decided to disguise a travel through time and space to find a cure as a family excursion. [31]
They discovered their sickness had been caused by an overload of their powers, as the abilities of an alternate reality version of themselves had them stripped from them when trying to stop Doctor Doom , who had conquered their Earth. [32] After helping their depowered counterparts from that alternate universe defeat Doom the Annihilating Conqueror , the Fantastic Four re-stabilized their powers and returned home. [33]
Time Runs Out
Reed had returned to form part of the Illuminati with the presence of a new threat: the Incursions , [34] events in which universes collided with their respective planet Earths as the focal point, and the only way to prevent the death of one's own Earth was to destroy the colliding one, [35] for which the Illuminati had to prepare themselves to do "the unthinkable," destroy an innocent planet. [36]
Soon after being forced to confront a colliding Earth inhabited by noble heroes , [37] an event after which none of the Illuminati were willing to destroy that Earth, Namor decided to take matters to his hands and do it. [38]
After Captain America discovered the Illuminati's activities regarding the possible destruction of worlds, [39] he decided that the Illuminati's actions shouldn't be tolerated, and disposed the Avengers to hunt them down. [40]
While on the run, the Illuminati attempted to find numerous times a way to solve the problem of Incursions, from trying to create a new Earth with a Cosmic Cube and then with Franklin Richards' powers, to asking for help to the Celestials. However, all of their plans failed. [41] After setting a trap to Steve Rogers and his forces, [42] [43] both parties managed to reach a middle ground [44] and started working together. [45]
Secret Wars
Reed and the Future Foundation began working on vessels capable of surviving the imminent destruction of the Multiverse . [46] When the final incursion took place between Earth-616 and Earth-1610 , Mister Fantastic gathered in the life raft every person he could and deployed its measures. When the vessel approached the central point of the incursion, it suffered a hull breach that led to the death of Reed's family. [47]
The life raft reached its destination, whatever thing which was left of the Multiverse , namely Battleworld , a patchwork planet composed of the remnants of different realities, created by Doctor Doom, who had seized the power of the Beyonders as his own. [48] The raft was found five years after Battleworld's creation by Stephen Strange , the sheriff of this planet and right hand to Doom, who kept it hidden in his sanctuary, the Isle of Agamotto , fearing something of great consequence was inside it, but not knowing it was the bodies in stasis of the few other survivors of Earth-616.
With the public discovery of another similar vessel, which was revealed to contain the survivors of Earth-1610 , the Maker and the Cabal , Strange investigated the one he had found, and freed Mr. Fantastic and the other survivors. After learning about Battleworld, Reed immediately opposed the idea of such a man as Doom governing everything that was left of reality, [49] and began working together with the Maker, Reed's own counterpart from Earth-1610, to bring him down. [50]
When discord arose in Battleworld as a consequence of the Cabal's meddling, Mr. Fantastic and the Maker infiltrated Doom's castle in Doomstadt while the God Emperor was dealing with the marching forces that opposed him. [51] Mr. Fantastic and the Maker came across an alternate version of Sue Storm who was married to Doom and had his children, realizing that Doom had basically stolen his life. The two Reeds soon came across the Molecule Man , the source of Doom's power.
After discovering Richards' meddling, Doom confronted him, but as he wished to make the fight fair, the Molecule Man reduced his powers. During a furious battle, Doom accused Richards of believing he could've done better had he had Doom's power, and when Reed conceded he did, so did Doom. On the grounds that both agreed, Molecule Man gave his power to Reed, destroying Battleworld in the process.
With the power of a god in his hands, Reed rebuilt Earth-616, bringing all of its inhabitants back with no memories of what had occurred. Mr. Fantastic also brought his family back from the dead, and together with their help, began to reconstruct the entire Multiverse . [52]
Personality
Reed is an intellectual who prefers to examine foes and if possible negotiate with them before actually fighting them. He is often intrigued by the scientific implications of a problem, so much so that he almost forgets there is a problem in the first place. As Ben once put it, "...if an alien stubbed his toe, Reed would want to spend ten years studying it." Reed's meticulous, scientific nature can cause him to be cold and distance toward family and friends, but Reed is also an extremely likable fellow who keeps a pleasant smile on his face and deeply cares for those he is close to. However, he does occasionally lapse into depression and self hatred over long-standing unsolved problems, most notably Ben’s inability to return to human form and Franklin’s mysterious potential. Reed is a humanitarian who will try to prevent any intelligent being from suffering. This can lead him to do controversial things that fly in the face of all apparent logic, such as when he once saved Galactus from dying due to exhaustion from his hunger and attacking Earth. Susan once speculated that Reed's eccentric behavior to be a form of autism. [53] It was later confirmed that Reed has a form of autism. [54]
Powers and Abilities
Powers
Gifted superhuman powers by cosmic rays bombarding his body.
Hyper-Intelligence: Mister Fantastic’s natural mental abilities were greatly augmented by the Cosmic Rays that gave him his powers.
Plasticity: Mister Fantastic possesses the ability to convert the mass of his entire body into a highly malleable state at will. How his body's respiration and circulatory systems function at these distorted extremes is as yet unknown. Mister Fantastic can alter his form in a matter of seconds, often much less (depending on the complexity of the shape), and revert to his normal humanoid shape within a similar time. The greater the distance he stretches or the more extended the size of the object he becomes, the weaker his overall strength becomes. Mister Fantastic's transformation to a malleable state is reflexive and nearly instantaneous: if he was at his normal form and taken unaware by machine gun fire, his body would still absorb the bullets' impact through radical deformation. In fact, it was revealed that is was Mr. Fantastic, despite being in a weakened state, who protected all the heroes other than Hulk from the impact of the 150 billion ton mountain falling on them before the Jade Giant caught the mountain, although the strain caused him to pass out. [55] Mister Fantastic's skin is virtually impervious to laceration or punctures unless he willfully relaxes his reflexive control over small areas of his body. In that case, scalpels and ordinary needles can penetrate his skin.
Dense Flesh: Due to the great malleability and elasticity of his molecular structure, Mister Fantastic is able to absorb the impact of any type of man-made ballistic projectile by deforming his body along the path of the projectile's trajectory at the point of initial impact.
Contain Explosions: Mister Fantastic may use his elastic form to contain explosions by enveloping them and allowing their force to expand him. He can enclose and absorb the energy of a large explosive, on the order of 8 to 12 pounds of TNT (excluding exotic, high density explosives). Such shocks to his system are physically exhausting.
Redirect Projectiles: After his body absorbs the kinetic energy of a ballistic projectile's impact, Mister Fantastic can expel the object back along its trajectory by flexing his body like a trampoline if he is adequately braced.
Elongation: Mister Fantastic can extend his limbs, torso, or neck to great distances: the maximum length he can distend before his body segments become painful is about 1,500 feet. (Although he can extend discrete body parts, such as a single finger, an ear, or an eye, he seldom if ever isolates such parts in his elongations.)
Grappling: Mister Fantastic may restrain opponents very efficiently by using his elastic form to entangle them.
Movement: Mister Fantastic can move at great speeds by stretching to his destination.
Shape Changing: Mister Fantastic can stretch, deform, expand, or compress his entire body or parts thereof into any contiguous shape he can imagine for a variety of uses:
Imitation: Mister Fantastic may alter his basic physical features, allowing him to take on the appearance of any other man with similar hair and skin tone. One time, Mister Fantastic actually increased his size and mass density, in effect bulking his body to "Thing"-like proportions while increasing his strength to the same levels as well. The force of his strikes was enough to stagger even Onslaught. [56]
Canopy, Parachute or Sheath: Mister Fantastic can extend his body in two directions, creating a canopy, parachute, or sheath, its thickness determined by the extent of its distention.
Gliding: Mister Fantastic can transform himself into aerodynamic shapes such as parachutes or hang-gliders. In this form he can support an additional 1000 pounds (enough to hold the rest of Fantastic Four, even the Thing).
Cushion: Mister Fantastic may form his elastic form into a trampoline and other cushion-like objects, allowing him to safely catch falling people and objects.
Sling Shot: Mister Fantastic may use his elastic form as a slingshot to hurl objects with great force.
Geometric Shapes: Mister Fantastic has compressed his body into the shape of a solid sphere, a cylinder, a cube, a toroid, and a rectangular prism: he can assume the shape of any solid that he can envision clearly, of a volume no greater than 1.7 cubic feet (a sphere about 18 inches in diameter). He can generate thin-walled shapes that enclose great volumes of space.
Fist Weapons: Mister Fantastic may form his fists into large hammers, maces, etc., which improve his physical effectiveness in hand-to-hand combat.
Bouncing Ball: Mister Fantastic can transform himself into any of a number of resilient shapes, such as balls or springs that allow him to leap or bounce great distances.
Two-Dimensionality: Mister Fantastic can flatten himself to the thickness of an average sheet of typing paper (.0035 inch) or narrow himself to a diameter small enough to pass through the eye of a #10 beading needle (about .045 x .06 inches).
Infiltration: Mister Fantastic can lower his body’s cohesion to such an extent that he can actually flow through minute openings.
Open Locks: Mister Fantastic may form his fingers into various types of keys, allowing him to open most forms of mechanical locks.
Wind Generation: Mister Fantastic may form his hands into fans, allowing him to generate wind by twirling them at great speeds.
Semi-Solid Liquid State: Mister Fantastic can willfully reduce his body into an almost liquid state in order to flow out of small cracks or passages, even through needle-sized holes.
Omnipotence: Reed Richards acts as a vessel to the Molecule Man 's unlimited source of power. He has shown the ability to create together with his son Franklin entire realities. [52]
Abilities
Reed in the Avengers
Super-Genius Intelligence : Dr. Richards is one of the most intelligent beings on the planet. Reed possesses a mastery of electrical, mechanical and aerospace engineering, electronics, chemistry, all levels of physics, and human and alien biology. A visionary theoretician and inspired machine smith, he has made breakthroughs in such varied fields as space travel, time travel, extra-dimensional travel, biochemistry, robotics, computers, synthetic polymers, communications, mutations, transportation, holography, energy generation, spectral analysis and more. He is one of the few people on Earth to be an expert on other dimensions and the methods by which to travel to and through them. Reed’s patents are so valuable that he is able to bankroll the Fantastic Four, Inc., without any undue financial stress. Not only has Reed proven himself to be a genius in virtually every science native to Earth, he has shown himself to be more knowledgeable than even some of the most highly advanced alien civilizations in the known universe as well. [57] He has often be stated to be the smartest man on Earth. [58]
Hypnotism: Mister Fantastic is trained in hypnosis.
Technological Achievements
Strength level
Mister Fantastic possesses the normal human strength and build of a man of his age, height, and build who engages in moderate exercise, but thanks to his malleable body, he can mold himself into stronger, more attack-based forms.
Paraphernalia
Equipment
Although the Fantastic Four have numerous devices, crafts, and weapons, there are some items that Reed Richards carries with him at all times.
Fantasti-Flare
Main article: Fantasti-Flare
Launches a fiery "4" symbol into the sky that is used during combat situations to let other members of the group know their location.
Fantastic Four uniform
Main article: Fantastic Four Uniform
Like all the Fantastic Four's costumes and the rest of Reed's wardrobe, his suit is made of " unstable molecules ". This means that the suit is attuned to his powers, which is why Johnny's costume doesn't burn when he "flames on," Sue's costume turns invisible when she does, and Reed's costume stretches with him. The costume also insulates them from electrical assaults. In addition, the team's uniforms are also, in essence, wearable computers. Their costumes have a complete data processing and telemetry system woven into the material of the uniform on a molecular level. This forms a network with the entire team, providing a constant, real-time uplink of everyone's physical condition as well as their location and current situation. The suit is capable of displaying data and touch-pad controls on the gauntlets. Its sensors can track all of the team's uniforms and provide a picture of their immediate vicinity. The suit has an intricate scanner system which can detect things around the wearer, from how many people are in the next room to what dimension or planet they are on. Reed can also up-link the bodysuit to any computer by stretching his fingertips to filament size and plugging them in to an I/O data-port. With this, Reed can establish a fairly comprehensive database of any computer's cybernetic protocols and encryption algorithms.
Universal translator
Main article: Universal Translator
Reed has a Universal Translator that can decipher and interpret languages, both alien and terrestrial, into the native language of the user. [59]
Former equipment
the Reality Gem
Notes
Along with his penchant for inventing, Dr. Richards is often known to rewrite works of Stephen Hawking and decode alien languages.
Reed Richard is an Atheist , he is well aware that Abstract Entities exist but would in no way worship them, he treats them as are highly evolved lifeforms. [60]
Mr. Fantastic was one of the characters featured in Series A of the Marvel Value Stamps issued in the 1970's.
Marvel Value Stamp #34
Despite the clear and obvious use of Magic in the Marvel Universe, Reed admits to having a poor understanding of magic. Often calling it a form of other dimensional science he doesn't understand..."yet"
Based on the novel "Foundation" by Isaac Asimov, Reed put into practice one of the fictional concepts presented by said book, "Psychohistory:" the ability to use equations to predict future trends by mathematically modeling history. It was the first field ever created by Richards, and with it he can predict social trends to an extremely high degree of accuracy. [20]
Trivia
The powers of all of the Fantastic Four are based on one of the four elements; in Neil Gaiman 's Marvel 1602 , his power is associated with the classical element of water. The association to the element of water was also brought up in Heroes Reborn Fantastic Four , X4: X-Men and Fantastic Four , Ultimate Fantastic Four and in the Marvel Boy mini-series by Grant Morrison .
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Fantastic Four (2005 film) | Marvel Database | Fandom powered by Wikia
Fantastic Four (2005 film)
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MPAA: PG-13 for sequences of intense action, and some suggestive content
Release Date(s)
Von Doom Industries Space Station
Items:
New York Taxi's
Plot
Reed Richards , a brilliant but timid and bankrupt scientist, is desperate to get funding for a space mission to study a cosmic storm, approaches multi-millionaire industrialist Victor Von Doom . Victor agrees to let Reed and his friend Ben Grimm use his facilities, but decides that he and his assistant (also love interest, and former girlfriend of Reed) Susan Storm accompany him, and the mission is piloted by Von Doom astronaut Johnny Storm (Susan's brother and former subordinate of Ben).
On the Von Doom space station, Ben is sent to arrange plants for experiments with the cosmic storm, while Reed monitors its approach. Whilst Ben works, Reed find the storm is accelerating much more than he anticipated, and tries to get Ben back inside before it hits.
When Victor refuses Reed's plea to abort the mission, the station is engulfed by its vast energies. Whilst Victor is seemingly safe behind the station's shields, the others attempt to rescue Ben (who was space-walking at the time) and are exposed to the cloud.
The astronauts make it home intact and are taken to Victor's private hospital to recuperate. There, they begin to experience physical changes. Reed find his body is able to stretch far past normal lengths. Susan finds she is able to turn invisible, and Johnny finds he can engulf his body in flames without being harmed, and has some limited flying ability. Ben, however, is traumatized by his transformation into an orange, rocky creature of superhuman strength. Ben flees the hospital, heading back home.
In New York, Ben contacts his former fiancee, but she is terrified by his new appearance. Dejected, Ben retreats back into the shadows. He finds himself on a bridge, where a man is contemplating suicide. In attempting to help him, Ben inadvertently causes a massive traffic accident. He goes to help, as the rest of the team turn up. Using their new-found powers, Reed, Susan and Johnny help to save everyone involved in the accident, and are hailed as heroes in the media.
Victor, meanwhile, is developing his own powers. The head wound he sustained begins to spread, and reveals a metallic layer underneath the flesh. He also finds an ability to affect electrical equipment and that metallic objects near him begin to vibrate.
The Fantastic Four (although they have yet to adopt this name) all move into Reed's apartment in the Baxter Building , where Reed works to reverse the storm's effects, particularly for Ben. He subjects them all to tests, finding the hottest temperature Johnny can reach (as hot as a supernova, capable of vaporising all life on the planet) and finding the triggers for their powers. (He finds they are caused by emotion: when Susan is annoyed or angry she turns invisible. When Johnny is particularly excited, he can flame-on). However, he cannot work out why Ben is unable to turn his powers on and off. Johnny, tired of being cooped up inside, runs off to participate in a motocross event, exploiting his powers to pull off tricks. As he finishes, the media swarms him, pressing for details of the team. It is now that he gives the team their names- Mr Fantastic, the Invisible Girl, the Human Torch, and The Thing. Ben is particularly put out by this moniker.
Victor is called to a meeting by his stockbrokers, who inform him that due to the disastrous space mission, his company is in serious financial danger, and they are planning on withdrawing their capital. It is a final comment, suggesting Victor returns to his home country of Latveria , which causes Victor to snap and murder the head of the stockbrokers that evening.
Victor decides that Reed is responsible for his problems, and by proxy the rest of the team. He finds Reed has been working on a machine to reverse their powers, but it lacks enough electricity to work. However, that is not a problem Victor has any more. He lures Ben into the machine and powers it himself, turning Ben human again. Victor then kidnaps Reed, and begins to freeze his body, knowing that if rubber is super-cooled it becomes so rigid that it can be shattered. He fires a heat-seeking missile at Johnny, knowing the Human Torch to be the hottest item in the vicinity.
Ben, meanwhile, realizes that if he is to be any use to his friends, he must become The Thing again. He steps into the machine.
Susan tries to stop Victor and save Reed, but on her own she is not powerful enough. Fortunately, Ben, now The Thing again, arrives just in time to initiate the final showdown.
As Johnny appears again, having avoided the missile and caused it to fly into the river by setting fire to a garbage barge and flaming off, the Fantastic Four is united against Doctor Doom (his body now completely metallic, and his face covered by the familiar mask). Reed co-ordinates an attack utilizing all their powers: Johnny flies around Doom, heating up to full supernova ability, whilst Susan holds a force-field around him to contain the heat. As those two members eventually stop, exhausted, a superheated Doom advances on the other two. Ben breaks open a fire hydrant, and Reed shapes his body into a funnel to shoot the water at Doom, cooling him rapidly and freezing his metal body solid.
Ben informs Reed that he has accepted his condition with the help of Alicia Masters, a woman for whom he has developed feelings, and the team decide to embrace their roles as superheroes and unite officially as the Fantastic Four. Reed takes Susan aside and proposes to her, which she accepts.
Von Doom, meanwhile, is last seen loaded into a crate and shipped back to Latveria. The electronics on the ship experience unusual interference, and it appears that Doom is not dead after all.
Cast
Stan Lee as Willie Lumpkin
Cast Notes
As in almost all of the previous Marvel Comics-based films, Fantastic Four co-creator Stan Lee makes a cameo appearance. He is Willie Lumpkin, the mailman who greets the team on their way to the Baxter Building elevator.
A number of other actors and actresses audition for roles in the film. These include:
Paul Walker auditioned for the role of Johnny Storm / The Human Torch but lost the part to Chris Evans at the last moment.
Several actresses tried out for the role of Susan Storm / The Invisible Woman including Rachel McAdams, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Keri Russell, Claire Danes, Julia Stiles and Elizabeth Banks but each were turned down. The role was later given to Jessica Alba. Interestingly, Elizabeth Banks was already an actress in a Marvel Comics film, Spider-Man as Betty Brant.
Kate Bosworth and Elisha Cuthbert both auditioned for the role of Susan Storm / The Invisible Woman as well. Their screen tests can be seen on the special features of the DVD. Also interestingly, Kate Bosworth would later star as Lois Lane in Superman Returns, a DC Comics film.
Brendan Fraser and George Clooney auditioned for the role of Reed Richards / Mr. Fantastic.
James Gandolfini auditioned for the role of Ben Grimm / The Thing.
Crew
Based on a comic-book by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
Music by John Ottman
Edition by William Hoy
Notes
Fantastic Four is a film released July 8th 2005, telling the origin of the superhero group The Fantastic Four, and their first battle against arch-nemesis Dr Doom. Fantastic Four is a 2005 superhero film based on the Marvel Comics comic Fantastic Four. It was directed by Tim Story, and released by 20th Century Fox. This is the second live-action Fantastic Four movie to be filmed. The previous attempt, a B-movie produced by Roger Corman, was never officially released.
The film was released in the United States on July 8, 2005. It was the third superhero film of the year, after Elektra and Batman Begins.
Fantastic Four - 2005 Trailer
Fantastic Four trailer
Reaction
The critical reaction was overwhelmingly negative, scoring only a 26% at Rotten Tomatoes and 40% at Metacritic, both movie review aggregation websites. The movie was criticized for weak storytelling, poor science, and paper-thin characters — especially the bland Doctor Doom , arguably one of the hallmark villains in the Marvel Comics world. In addition, Jessica Alba's performance earned her a Razzie nomination for Worst Actress.
Many critics felt that this movie was widely surpassed by both Batman Begins and Sin City (also starring Jessica Alba), two comic book movies that were released in the same period. A major disappointment with the movie was the choice of casting, as neither Alba or Chris Evans have natural blond hair. Evans' hair was cut to make special effects easier but by doing so he loses the look of Johnny. The Storms while working for Doom were seen as "anti" Richards and Grimm.
Those who did like the film to some degree often praised Michael Chiklis for faithfully depicting his character's difficult adjustment to his transformation in a moving fashion while Chris Evans' character was considered a refreshing change of pace for modern superhero adaptations of a superhero who immediately takes delight in his powers without a resulting tragedy linked to them. However, many fans derided the producers' decision to place Chiklis in a bodysuit rather than using computer-generated effects or by the very least in a convincing body suit and make-up similar to what was seen in the movie version of the comic book Hellboy. Film critic Roger Ebert put this film at number 10 on his list of the top ten worst films of 2005. MSN ranked it #4 in their list of "worst superhero films."
Fantastic Four proved a box office hit on its opening weekend. By September 2005, the film had totaled over $330 million worldwide with a domestic gross of $154 million. In addition the movie also did very well on the DVD Sales.
Deleted scenes
Among the deleted scenes included on the December 2005 DVD release:
There are three slightly modified penultimate scenes concerning the attack on and subsequent defeat of Doctor Doom - one in which Reed uses his body as a funnel to direct a stream of water at Doom, one in which he doesn't, and one in which Doctor Doom's line "Is that the best you can do, a little heat?" is cut short, having the "..a little heat?" portion removed.
After the release of The Incredibles, the ending of the movie was rewritten because it was thought to be too similar.
There are two different versions of a scene which includes Jessica Alba and Ioan Gruffudd as Sue and Reed respectively. One version (the original) features the pair in the Planetarium, in which they communicate their feelings for each other properly without an argumentative tone. This ends in an inevitable kiss. The second version (used in the theatrical release) features the two outside, looking towards the Statue Of Liberty. Similar lines were used, but it ended where Susan turns invisible before Reed can kiss her. A joke was used during the line "a stronger man": Instead of Reed giving himself a square jaw (as he does in the theatrical release), he makes his skin look like the X-Men's Wolverine. Actor Gruffudd breaks the fourth wall and looks directly at the camera as he does this, suggesting the scene might have been filmed as a joke (similar to a practical joke filmed for the first X-Men film, in which stunt coordinator Scott Leva dressed up as Spider-Man and ran onto the set in the middle of a scene).
The novelization of the film contained a number of scenes which did not appear in the final cut; most notably a small number of scenes that drastically developed the character of Alicia Masters.
Sky Movies in the UK actually show a different version of the film to the theatrical or DVD releases. Among the changes, are the song playing in the bar scene not skipping when the Thing takes a step, the planetarium scene being reinstated and the masked Doctor Doom's voice changing from his regular voice to having an effect over the speech. Other parts of the film, such as Thing and Doom's underwater fight, are shortened whereas Reed's involvement in stopping Doom is removed.
Extended Cut
In June 2007 an extended cut was released, incorporating over twenty minutes of deleted scenes.
Sequel
Its financial success has led to the sequel, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer , which debuted in theatres in 2007. It featured The Silver Surfer and Doctor Doom as its central villains, with an appearance by Galactus .
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Japanese haiku poems loosely comprise how many syllables?
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Index-a
Don't Forget To Hit <ESC> before going to a different page.
Let's play a game of 30 questions. No, not that old standard of 20 questions, but one with an extra 10 questions added in and one that uses numeric answers (from 1 to 30). If you get stumped, go on to the next one. Perhaps the answer you need will be one of those left over when you complete all the questions you're sure of.
Each answer is a number.
The answers are the numbers 1-30. Each number appears only once.
(Obviously) the questions are not in the right order..
1. Aside from an extra 385 yards, how many miles is a marathon race?
2. If 27 solid cubes are formed into one big 3x3x3 cube how many individual cubes, at most, are visible from any single angle?
3. In the movie Spinal Tap what number is: "Well, it is one louder.."?
4. 'Via Dolorosa' is the (how many) Stations of the Cross, the Christian ritual tracing the key stages of the death of Jesus, beginning with his condemnation and ending with his being laid in the tomb?
5. How many dots are on a (standard 1-6) die?
6. The Russian 'Crimea Highway' trunk road from Moscow to the Crimea in Ukraine is the M (what)?
7. What number, between two hyphens, is used by journalists, etc., to mark the end of a newspaper or broadcast story?
8. How many unique dominoes are in a standard 'double six' set?
9. What number turned on its side (rotated 90 degrees) is the symbol for infinity?
10. The Marvel Comics superhero team led by Mr Fantastic was the Fanstastic (what)?
11. What is the larger number of the binary system?
12. Japanese haiku poems loosely comprise how many syllables?
13. The Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn are respectively (what number)-and-half degrees north and south of the Equator?
14. What number is Hurricane on the Beaufort Scale?
15. Greek deka, and Latin decem, are what number?
16. Conventionally how many books are in the Bible's New Testament?
17. How many legs (or arms) are most usually on a starfish?
18. A lunar month is an average (how many) days plus 12 hours, 44 minutes and 3 seconds?
19. 'Roaring' refers to what pluralised number in describing a 1900s decade of western world prosperity?
20. Traditionally what number of years anniversary is symbolized by silver?
21. What is generally stated to be the number of major joints in the human body?
22. What number is the French coded slang 'vingt-deux!', which warns that police are coming?
23. What is the only number that equals twice the sum of its digits (digit means numerical symbol)?
24. The early/mid-1900s American vaudeville comedy act was called the (how many) Stooges?
25. Any line of three numbers in the 'magic square' (a 3 x 3 grid of the numbers 1-9) adds up to what?
26. What is the international SPI resin/polymer identification coding system number (typically shown within a recycling triangle symbol) for polystyrene?
27. Traditionally the diameter of the 45rpm gramophone record is (how many) inches?
28. Pure gold is (how many)-carat?
29. The expression 'On cloud (what)' refers to being blissfully happy?
30. Each player begins with (how many) pieces in a game of chess?
Daniel David "Danny" Kirwan (born 13 May 1950) is a British musician whose greatest success came with his role as guitarist, singer and songwriter with the blues-rock band Fleetwood Mac between 1968 and 1972. Kirwan's first recorded work with the band was on the huge instrumental hit single "Albatross". Green later stated that, "I would never have done "Albatross" if it wasn't for Danny. I would never have had a number one hit record." The B-side of the single was Kirwan's first published tune, the instrumental "Jigsaw Puzzle Blues". This was an old clarinet piece, written by Joe Venuti and Adrian Rollini, and recorded by the Joe Venuti / Eddie Lang Blue Five in 1933. Kirwan had adapted the piece for himself and Green to play on guitar, but Green remembered, "I couldn't do it properly... My style wasn't all that satisfactory to Danny, but his style wasn't all that satisfactory to me." So Kirwan played all the guitar parts himself.
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The Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn are respectively (what number)-and-half degrees north and south of the Equator?
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haiku project.docx - Surname 1 Name: Institution: Course: Date: Haiku Project
haiku project.docx
haiku project.docx - Surname 1 Name: Institution: Course:...
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Surname 1 Name: Institution: Course: Date: Haiku Project INTRODUCTION Haiku is a short manifestation of a Japanese poem. In Japan, these lyrics are esteemed for their effortlessness, openness, profundity, and gentility. It uses precisely 17 syllables that are orchestrated in three lines of 5-7-5. Also avoids analogies and allegories and refers to a season of the year. This paper includes: i. The Research of Haiku ii. The poets of Haiku iii. 2 Examples of Haiku poems iv. Research of colors THE RESEARCH OF HAIKU Kiru and Kireji The substance of haiku is "cutting" (kiru). This is frequently spoken to by the juxtaposition of two pictures or thoughts and a kireji ("cutting word") between them,In A kireji fills a part to a degree similar to a caesura in traditional western verse or a Volta in pieces.
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Surname 2 Yoriko (1985) states that contingent upon which cutting word is picked, and its position inside the verse, it might quickly cut the flood of thought, proposing a parallel between the previous and taking after expressions, or it may give a stately closure, finishing up the verse with an increased feeling of closure. The central tasteful nature of both hokku and haiku is that it is inside sufficient, autonomous of setting, and will bear thought as a complete work Syllables or ‘on’ in haiku In correlation with English verse normally described by syllabic meter, Japanese verse considers sound units known "on" or morae. Conventional haiku comprise of 17 on, in three expressions of five, seven and five on individually. Among contemporary lyrics teikei (settled structure) haiku keep on utilizing the 5-7-5 example while jiyuritsu (free structure) haiku don't. One of the samples beneath represents that customary haiku bosses were not obliged by the 5- 7-5 example. In spite of the fact that "on" is some of the time interpreted as "syllable," one on is meant a short syllable, two for a stretched vowel, diphthong, or multiplied consonant, and one for a "n" toward the end of a syllable. In this manner, "haibun," however included as two
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TERM
TEACHING AND LEARNING MATERIALS 1 Name: Institution: Course: Date: Teaching and Learn
teaching and learning materials.docx
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i don't know
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Greek deka, and Latin decem, are what number?
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Deca- | Define Deca- at Dictionary.com
deca-
a combining form meaning “ten,” used in the formation of compound words:
decapod.
Also, especially before a vowel, dec- .
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< Greek deka-, combining form of déka ten ; cognate with Latin decem
Dictionary.com Unabridged
British Dictionary definitions for deca-
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denoting ten: decagon. In conjunction with scientific units the symbol da is used
Word Origin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for deca-
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before a vowel, dec-, word-forming element meaning "ten," from Latinized comb. form of Greek deka "ten" (see ten ). In the metric system, "multiplied by ten;" while deci- means "divided by ten."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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ten
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Conventionally how many books are in the Bible's New Testament?
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vocabularyassignment11 - www
vocabularyassignment11
Name: ________________________________
1. A decade is ten years. This word is built on Greek deka, _________________. [K in a Greek root becomes c in English words.]
2. Decalogue is another word for the _________________ commandments.
3. Boccaccio’s Decameron (published way back in 1353) was so titled because it was composed of stories supposedly told by Florentines whiling away [how many?] _________________ days during a plague.
4. The _________________ of the 1960’s was one of very high employment in America.
5. The _________________ of the 1920;s was one of wild stock population; the _________________ of the thirties, economic depression; the _________________ of the forties, war and prosperity; the _________________ of the fifties, conformity to the establishment; the _________________ of the sixties, nonconformism, riots in the cities, violence on college campuses; the _________________ of the seventies, double-digit inflation.
6. Greek deka is _________________; Greek gonia, as in octagon, is _________________.
7. So, a decagon is a geometric figure of _________________ angles (or sides).
8. Greek penta, five, plus gonia, angle, combine to form the English word pentagon, a geometric figure of _________________ angles (or sides).
9. The famous _________________ that houses the Department of Defense (in the U.S.) is so called because it is a building of five sides.
10. The adjective form of octagon is octagonal. Write the adjective form of pentagon: _________________.
11. Ten is deka in Greek, decem in Latin. Built on Latin decem, December was the _________________ month in the early Roman calendar (before they started fooling with it to include July and August); and the decimal system is based on the number _________________.
12. We know that Latin centum, as in centipede and centennial, means _________________.
13. So if a septuagenarian is in the [use figures for all the blanks in this question] _________________s, an octogenarian in the _________________s, and a nonagenarian in the _________________s, then a centenarian must have reached the golden age of _________________.
14. Octogenarians are no longer very rare; but _________________s are so nearly unique that when they reach that magic age of 100, there is an item in the hometown newspaper plus a picture, and the inevitable questions: “What do you attribute your survival to?”
15. Now to recapitulate the age brackets, people in their 70’s: _________________, 80’s _________________, in their 90’s _________________, and finally, when they reach 100 they are _________________.
16. Podiatrist is built on Greek pod-, _________________.
17. Chiropodist is built on Greek cheir (chiro-), _________________, plus pod-, _________________.
18. Chirography is built on cheir (chiro-), _________________, plus graphein, to _________________.
19. Octopus is built on Greek okto, _________________, plus pous, _________________.
20. Decade is built on Greek deka, _________________
21. Octogenarian is built on Latin octoginta, _________________; septuagenarian on septuaginta, _________________, nonagenarian on nonaginta, _________________.
22. Decagon is built on Greek deka, _________________, plus gonia, _________________.
23. Pentagon is built on Greek penta, _________________, plus gonia, _________________.
24. December and decimal are built on Latin decem, _________________.
25. Centenarian is built on Latin centum, _________________.
SAY THE FOLLOWING WORDS OUT LOUD
THINK WITH THE WORDS!
1. Before 1868 (when the first commercial typewriter was invented), people versed in penmanship, or to use the more elegant term, c_______________, were much in demand.
2. Trouble with ingrown toenails? You should arrange to see a p_______________.
3. What’s a podiatrist? Maybe you call him a c_______________.
4. In Leisure World, a retirement community, some residents are in their 70’s and 80’s – obviously there are more s_______________s and o_______________s in such a place than in a housing tract built for newlyweds.
5. When I met this old graybead of 102, I asked him the usual foolish question: “How does it feel to be c_______________?”
6. This is a musical composition for eight players – or, in a single word, an o_______________.
7. In San Francisco, o_______________ flesh is a seafood delicacy popular with the Chinese and Italians.
8. “What is your goal in life?” an octogenarian was asked. “To become a n_______________” was her answer to this foolish question.
9. When medical doctors could not help relieve his backache, he decided to visit a c_______________.
10. An o_______________ building is shaped like an eight-sided figure.
11. A century is ten d_______________s.
12. This figure has ten sides? Aha, a _______________!
13. The Secretary of Defense, with a kind of pixie humor, decided on a p_______________ swimming pool to match the shape of his office building.
13. Sea creature with eight tentacles o________________________
14. Specialty of the chiropractor c________________________
15. Specialty of the podiatrist p________________________
16. Specialty of the chiropodist c________________________
17. Adjective form of pentagon p________________________
18. Ditto, of octagon o________________________
19. Ditto, of podiatry p________________________
20. Ditto, of chiropractic c________________________
SPACE YOUR LEARNING
Learning goes on in your head. It goes on not only while you are involved with your work, but also after you finish the assignment and put it away. It goes on, even though you are completely unaware of it. Your conscious mind may be taken up with other things, yet your brain, like the computer that it is, is making connections from ideas you have previously made contact with, the cells and nerve endings growing and dying and replacing themselves. Even when you sleep, learning goes on -- For example, do not be surprised if some of the words we are discussing appear in your dreams, perhaps sometimes in symbolic or frightening forms.
And this is why the most efficient learning follows a systematic schedule.
Between periods of contact with new material, your unconscious mind assimilates, digests, analyzes, synthesizes – in short, keeps working.
To take advantage of your unconscious learning power, to exploit it to the fullest, set up a study schedule. Don’t cram, or try to learn something at the last minute.
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How many legs (or arms) are most usually on a starfish?
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10 Facts About Starfish (Sea Stars)
10 Facts About Starfish (Sea Stars)
10 Facts About Starfish (Sea Stars)
Learn About This Popular Echinoderm
By Jennifer Kennedy
Updated April 25, 2016.
Starfish (sea stars) are beautiful animals that can be a variety of colors, shapes and sizes, although all resemble a star. While some appear smooth, they all have spines covering their upper surface and a soft underside. If you gently turn over a live sea star, you'll see its tube feet wiggling back at you. These iconic marine animals are fascinating creatures. Learn more about them below.
Jeff Rotman/The Image Bank/Getty Images
• Sea stars are not fish.
Although sea stars live underwater and are commonly called " starfish ," they are not fish. They do not have gills, scales, or fins like fish do and they move quite differently from fish. While fish propel themselves with their tails, sea stars have tiny tube feet to help them move along (see more on that below).
continue reading below our video
Test Your General Science Knowledge
Starfish and purple sea urchin. Kathi Moore / EyeEm / Getty Images
• Sea stars are Echinoderms.
Sea stars belong to the Phylum Echinodermata . That means they are related to sand dollars (yes, they are a real animal), sea urchins , and sea cucumbers . All echinoderms have five-point radial symmetry , which means that their body plan has five sections (or multiples thereof) arranged around a central disk. Next time you're in a beach-themed store, see if you can find a dried sea star, sand dollar and sea urchin and find the 5 sections in each. More »
Colorful sea star in the Galapagos. Ed Robinson / Getty Images
• There are thousands of sea star species.
There are about 2,000 species of sea stars. Some live in the intertidal zone , some in deep water , some in tropical areas, some in cold water.
Sun star with many arms. Joe Dovala / Getty Images
• Not all sea stars have 5 arms.
While the five-armed varieties of sea star are the most well known, not all sea stars have 5 arms. Some have many more. Take the sun star for instance, which has up to 40 arms!
Sea star regenerating four arms. Daniela Dirscherl / Getty Images
• Sea stars can regenerate a lost arm.
Amazingly, sea stars can regenerate lost arms . This is useful if the sea star is threatened by a predator - it can drop an arm, get away and grow a new arm. Sea stars house most of their vital organs in their arms, so some can even regenerate an entirely new sea star from just one arm and a portion of the star's central disc. It won't happen too quickly, though. It takes about a year for an arm to grow back. More »
Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (Acanthaster planci) on Coral Reef, Phi Phi Islands, Thailand. Borut Furlan / WaterFrame / Getty Images
• Sea stars are protected by armor.
Depending on the species, a sea star's skin may feel leathery, or slightly prickly. Sea stars have a tough covering on their upper side, which is made up of plates of calcium carbonate with tiny spines on their surface. A sea star's spines are used for protection from predators, which include birds, fish and sea otters . One very spiny sea star is the crown-of-thorns starfish, which is shown here. More »
Closeup of the arms of a sea star under a pier, showing its tube feet. Courtesy pfly , Flickr
• Sea stars do not have blood.
Instead of blood, sea stars have a water vascular system , in which the sea star pumps sea water through its sieve plate, or madreporite , into its tube feet to extend them. Muscles within the tube feet retract them.
Tube Feet of Spiny Starfish. Borut Furlan / Getty Images
• Sea stars move using their tube feet.
Sea stars move using hundreds of tube feet, which are located on their underside. The tube feet are filled with sea water, which the sea star brings in through the sieve plate, or madreporite, on its top side. Sea stars can move more quickly than you might expect. If you ever get a chance, try visiting a tide pool or aquarium and take a moment to watch a sea star moving around. The sea star's tube feet also help the sea star hold its prey , which includes bivalves like clams and mussels. More »
Sea star eating a bivalve. Karen Gowlett-Holmes / Getty Images
• Sea stars eat with their stomachs inside-out.
Speaking of prey, sea stars have a rather unique way of eating theirs. A sea star's mouth is on its underside. They prey on bivalves like mussels and clams, as well as small fish, snails, and barnacles. If you've ever tried to pry the shell of a clam or mussel open, you know how difficult it is. Sea stars wrap their arms around the animal's shell and pull it open just enough. And then it does something we could never imagine - it pushes its stomach through its mouth and into the bivalve's shell. It then digests the animal and slides its stomach back into its own body. This unique feeding mechanism allows the sea star to eat larger prey than it would otherwise be able to fit into its tiny mouth.
Common Sea Star (visible eye spots circled). Paul Kay / Getty Images
• Sea stars have eyes.
While they can't see as well as we do, sea stars have an eye spot at the end of each arm. This is a very simple eye that looks like a red spot. The eye doesn't see much detail, but can sense light and dark. More »
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A lunar month is an average (how many) days plus 12 hours, 44 minutes and 3 seconds?
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Ladywildlife's European Star Fish Page
European Starfish
To see pictures of animals click the blue dot..
The European starfish is a brownish orange color and has five tapering limbs that give it its star shape. It is a common seashore sight along the coastline of western Europe. The European starfish, which is all legs and has no real head, seems a strange creature. It uses its suction feet to crawl along the seabed and to grasp its prey. With these suction feet, it can even pry open mussel and clam shells.
Characteristics: The bodies of starfish are very different from those of most other animals. The European starfish has five identical arms radiating from a flat central area, and other starfish have as many as 50 arms. The central area contains the mouth (on the bottom), the anus (on top), and the main stomach organs in between.
Bony plates in the starfish�s body give it support. All over the surface there are tiny pincers that snap shut to defend against creatures that try to settle on the starfish. Sensitive tube feet with suction pads line the bottom of each arm. These podia detect and trap prey. To move forward, the starfish repeatedly extends its tube feet and fixes each to a new spot.
Food and Feeding: Some starfish filter nutritious particles from the water, but most, including the European starfish, are predators. They eat sponges, corals, worms, mollusks, crustaceans, other starfish, and small fish. They use their tube feet to detect prey from chemical signals in the water and to ensnare their victims.
The European starfish is especially fond of bivalve mollusks such as mussels, oysters, and clams. These creatures seal their shells tight when attacked, but the starfish wraps its body around the prey and uses its tube feet to pull the two halves of the shell slightly open. It extends its stomach outward through its mouth and into the shell itself. The starfish releases digestive juices that break down the victim�s tissue. The resulting soupy mixture is absorbed into the extended stomach. A starfish usually moves only when feeding or if the seabed temperature changes.
Breeding: The male and female European starfish look similar. During the spring spawning season, they produce millions of sex cells and release them into the water through special pores. When a female releases sex cells, she triggers neighboring males and females to release theirs, and many of the cells intermingle. A fertilized egg hatches into a floating, bean shaped, symmetrical larva. It grows twelve arms and floats near the surface for several more weeks. Eventually its arms are replaced by three new arms. The larva inverts itself and, using its three arms and a suction foot, anchors itself to the seabed. A star shaped bud grows on the rear of the larva and eventually takes over. After a year it is a mature, but small, adult, measuring four inches across.
Naturewatch: European starfish are often found on mussel beds. Other European species include the cushion star, with stubby arms, and the sunstar, with 10 or more arms. The dry remains on beaches are the animal�s bony plates. The softer parts have usually decomposed or been eaten.
Key Facts:
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i don't know
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'Roaring' refers to what pluralised number in describing a 1900s decade of western world prosperity?
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Index-a
Don't Forget To Hit <ESC> before going to a different page.
Let's play a game of 30 questions. No, not that old standard of 20 questions, but one with an extra 10 questions added in and one that uses numeric answers (from 1 to 30). If you get stumped, go on to the next one. Perhaps the answer you need will be one of those left over when you complete all the questions you're sure of.
Each answer is a number.
The answers are the numbers 1-30. Each number appears only once.
(Obviously) the questions are not in the right order..
1. Aside from an extra 385 yards, how many miles is a marathon race?
2. If 27 solid cubes are formed into one big 3x3x3 cube how many individual cubes, at most, are visible from any single angle?
3. In the movie Spinal Tap what number is: "Well, it is one louder.."?
4. 'Via Dolorosa' is the (how many) Stations of the Cross, the Christian ritual tracing the key stages of the death of Jesus, beginning with his condemnation and ending with his being laid in the tomb?
5. How many dots are on a (standard 1-6) die?
6. The Russian 'Crimea Highway' trunk road from Moscow to the Crimea in Ukraine is the M (what)?
7. What number, between two hyphens, is used by journalists, etc., to mark the end of a newspaper or broadcast story?
8. How many unique dominoes are in a standard 'double six' set?
9. What number turned on its side (rotated 90 degrees) is the symbol for infinity?
10. The Marvel Comics superhero team led by Mr Fantastic was the Fanstastic (what)?
11. What is the larger number of the binary system?
12. Japanese haiku poems loosely comprise how many syllables?
13. The Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn are respectively (what number)-and-half degrees north and south of the Equator?
14. What number is Hurricane on the Beaufort Scale?
15. Greek deka, and Latin decem, are what number?
16. Conventionally how many books are in the Bible's New Testament?
17. How many legs (or arms) are most usually on a starfish?
18. A lunar month is an average (how many) days plus 12 hours, 44 minutes and 3 seconds?
19. 'Roaring' refers to what pluralised number in describing a 1900s decade of western world prosperity?
20. Traditionally what number of years anniversary is symbolized by silver?
21. What is generally stated to be the number of major joints in the human body?
22. What number is the French coded slang 'vingt-deux!', which warns that police are coming?
23. What is the only number that equals twice the sum of its digits (digit means numerical symbol)?
24. The early/mid-1900s American vaudeville comedy act was called the (how many) Stooges?
25. Any line of three numbers in the 'magic square' (a 3 x 3 grid of the numbers 1-9) adds up to what?
26. What is the international SPI resin/polymer identification coding system number (typically shown within a recycling triangle symbol) for polystyrene?
27. Traditionally the diameter of the 45rpm gramophone record is (how many) inches?
28. Pure gold is (how many)-carat?
29. The expression 'On cloud (what)' refers to being blissfully happy?
30. Each player begins with (how many) pieces in a game of chess?
Daniel David "Danny" Kirwan (born 13 May 1950) is a British musician whose greatest success came with his role as guitarist, singer and songwriter with the blues-rock band Fleetwood Mac between 1968 and 1972. Kirwan's first recorded work with the band was on the huge instrumental hit single "Albatross". Green later stated that, "I would never have done "Albatross" if it wasn't for Danny. I would never have had a number one hit record." The B-side of the single was Kirwan's first published tune, the instrumental "Jigsaw Puzzle Blues". This was an old clarinet piece, written by Joe Venuti and Adrian Rollini, and recorded by the Joe Venuti / Eddie Lang Blue Five in 1933. Kirwan had adapted the piece for himself and Green to play on guitar, but Green remembered, "I couldn't do it properly... My style wasn't all that satisfactory to Danny, but his style wasn't all that satisfactory to me." So Kirwan played all the guitar parts himself.
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20
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Traditionally what number of years anniversary is symbolized by silver?
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Roaring Twenties to the Great Depression, 1920–1932
Next Chapter
Chapter 6 Roaring Twenties to the Great Depression, 1920–1932
The 1920s were a period of economic growth and transition. Real wages for most workers increased, while stock prices advanced as much during the 1920s as they had in the previous three decades. The US census of 1920 revealed that, for the first time, a majority of Americans lived in cities and towns with at least 2,500 residents. The 1920s also boasted a uniquely modern culture that celebrated the fast pace of cosmopolitan life. Yet in many ways, the United States was still mired in the past. Progressive reformers sought to publicize the tragedy of preventable diseases and child mortality among the poor. However, it was not until after the discovery that millions of draftees in World War I were malnourished and medically unfit for military service that these reformers had the attention of the federal government. Despite recent advances in medicine, childbirth remained the second-leading cause of death among women.
The emergence of modern medicine permitted child mortality rates to decline significantly among the wealthy, but few other Americans enjoyed regular access to physicians. For the urban poor and many rural dwellers, an average of one in three children died before their fifth birthday. Progressives attempted to counter these trends through federal action. However, conservatives perceived these attempts as symptomatic of the excessive growth of government during the previous two decades. The contest regarding federal support for health care programs for women and infants personifies the transition from Progressivism to more conservative ways of thought regarding the role of government. This transition from Progressivism to conservatism was one of the leading dynamics of the 1920s.
Although the middle and late 1920s saw a resurgence of conservative thought, Progressive ideas about reform would continue into the early 1920s. Grassroots campaigns by the newly formed League of Women Voters, along with a variety of other women’s clubs and Progressive organizations, seized the message of military preparedness. They sought to convince voters that prenatal care and other health programs were vital to the nation’s well-being. Even conservative groups such as the Daughters of the American Revolution joined the chorus of voices calling for federal intervention to improve prenatal and early childhood care. In response, Congress approved the Sheppard-Towner Act The first federally funded program encouraging social welfare, the Sheppard-Towner Act provided matching grants for communities to develop women’s health clinics and other programs designed to reduce infant mortality. in 1921. The Sheppard-Towner Act was based on a bill introduced by Montana congresswoman Jeanette Rankin in 1919. The law provided federal matching grants for state-operated women’s health clinics and other programs designed to safeguard the health of women and infants. The Sheppard-Towner Act was the first federally funded program in the nation’s history designed to promote social welfare. The law was hardly radical, however, as it provided only modest funding through matching grants to states and communities. These entities were required to provide at least 50 percent of the funding for the health clinics and prenatal programs. They were also responsible for administration and operation of these programs. The availability of federal subsidies spurred the construction of several thousand health clinics in cities and small towns. The greatest impact may have occurred in isolated rural areas served by traveling nurses and distance-learning programs that trained community midwives.
The Sheppard-Towner Act suggested a new partnership between government, technology, and privately owned hospitals and medical practices. It also reflected growing expectations by citizens toward the federal government. In 1920s America, nearly all federal revenue was dedicated to national defense and repayment of wartime loans. Social welfare was regarded as an obligation of state and local government. Sensing the possibility that success of the Sheppard-Towner Act might lead to more government intervention in their industry, the American Medical Association (AMA) attacked the federally subsidized women’s clinics as “socialized medicine.”
The AMA launched a campaign against the growth of the federal government into the private sector. The AMA also attempted to cut off funding for the clinics and eliminate further government subsidies for medical services, even those for women and infants. Attorneys representing the AMA pointed out that the Tenth Amendment designated all powers not specifically enumerated in the Constitution to the states. As a result, they argued, providing federal funds for women’s clinics was unconstitutional. When the US Supreme Court rejected this argument, the AMA continued its attack against “Socialism” in the private sector of medicine.
The AMA continued to lobby against the Sheppard-Towner Act throughout the 1920s. Meanwhile, the political climate continued its drift away from the liberalism of the Progressives and towards more conservative views regarding the proper role of government. As a result, Congress eliminated federal appropriations for the clinics in 1929. Although the law had been popular, many began to view its provisions as undue interference within the private sector. Later that same year, a financial crisis led many Americans to reconsider the need for federal government activism. Ironically, the federal government was called upon to intervene on behalf of the private sector as the health of the nation’s financial system was on the verge of collapse.
6.1 Prosperity and Its Limits
Learning Objectives
Summarize the major issues of the Harding administration. Explain why Harding was able to enjoy considerable public support during his lifetime but would later be regarded by many as one of the least effective presidents in US history.
Explain the ways that industry and labor changed in the 1920s. Explain why union membership declined even as the nation experienced an increase in the number of jobs.
Describe the growth of the consumer culture during the 1920s. Explain how consumerism affected the United States during this decade.
A Probusiness Orientation and Scandals in Washington
The federal government intervened on behalf of business throughout the nineteenth century, especially in matters of promoting infrastructure and development. At the same time, the federal government sought to regulate business to prevent monopoly and exploitation of consumers. Many observers argued that the government’s track record in this regard was mixed at best. Following the wartime partnership between government and industry, and the anti-Socialist hysteria of the Red Scare, the Republican administration of Warren Harding The twenty-ninth president of the United States, Harding was a conservative publisher from Ohio whose administration is best known for a series of scandals involving several of his cabinet members. adopted an unapologetically probusiness orientation. Most government officials agreed with Harding’s Vice President Calvin Coolidge, who reputedly declared that “the business of America was business.” The attempted trust-busting of the Progressive Era gave way to toleration of oligarchy—a term that in this context refers to control of an entire industry by a handful of large corporations.
Progressives continued to compile statistics showing how US Steel, Standard Oil, General Electric, and other firms dominated their respective industries and used their positions to control workers and prices. For many Americans, the prosperity of the era seemed out of place with such an indictment of corporate America. Unemployment was at historical lows, wages were at historic highs, and it seemed that scarcity was becoming a problem of the past as Wall Street and Main Street appeared to be prospering together. Equally important, Wall Street was losing its pejorative image as investment firms hired traveling brokers that peddled investments door to door and coast to coast. For the first time, significant numbers of middle-class Americans were purchasing stocks. As a result, statistics about the wild profits of these corporations were just as likely to stimulate investment as indignation.
Figure 6.1
In reference to the Teapot Dome Scandal, the US Capitol is presented as a boiling teapot. The leasing of Wyoming oil reserves had a tremendous impact on the development of the mountainous West, while the revelation of cash bribes greatly reduced the public’s trust in the federal government.
The new probusiness climate facilitated the rise of trade associations and professional organizations that represented the interests of particular industries and professions. In the past, corporate executives traveled directly to Washington to advocate their interests. By the 1920s, some of these new organizations established offices near the nation’s capital and were able to employ specialists who dedicated themselves to advocacy among lawmakers on the behalf of their clients. Some Americans complained that the power and influence of these lobbyists constituted a nefarious “fourth branch” of government. Others argued that lobbyists circumvented the concept of democracy and introduced new opportunities for corruption. After all, they argued, these advocacy groups provided funding for congressional campaigns that appeared to many as bribes. In some cases, cash was distributed directly to the lawmakers themselves.
Several dishonest legislators were exposed in the early 1920s, and some of the biggest scandals were tied to the Harding administration itself. The first scandal was the discovery that the head of the Veterans Bureau was accepting kickbacks from government contractors and even looting medical supplies that were supposed to be used for injured veterans. Harding’s attorney general was later indicted for fraud regarding “irregularities” with the disposition of German assets that had been seized during World War I. He was also accused of receiving kickbacks from bootleggers.
The biggest scandal of the 1920s involved Secretary of the Interior Albert Fall who was believed to have accepted $400,000 in bribes. In exchange, Fall permitted private oil companies to drill on public land in Wyoming. These oil reserves, such as the massive Teapot Dome reserve, were supposed to be left undeveloped as an emergency resource for the military so that the United States would never be dependent on foreign oil during war. The incident was soon labeled the Teapot Dome Scandal Erupted when news that Secretary of the Interior Albert Fall had arranged to lease the US Navy’s Oil Reserves at Teapot Dome, Wyoming, to a private oil company. Fall had received hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes to permit drilling on publicly owned lands containing oil that had been reserved for use by the navy., a phrase that became synonymous with government corruption throughout the next generation. The public was even more enraged when Albert Fall was only ordered to pay a $100,000 fine and serve one year in jail.
Harding was not directly connected to any of these scandals and remained a popular president prior to his sudden death in August 1923. Calvin Coolidge replaced Harding as president and continued the probusiness policies favored by Harding and the Republican Party. Both of these presidents typified the profile of what many Americans expected of their presidents: a dignified leader and a model citizen. Later revelations would demonstrate that despite their images as devout Christians and family men, neither was above the temptations that ensnared many other men of wealth and power. More damaging, at least to the reputation of the late President Harding, was the revelation that he likely knew many of the details about the scandals within his administration but had failed to prevent them. Though he knew them to be incompetent or unethical, Harding delegated authority to several cabinet officials because they supported his administration and/or were personal friends from his days in Ohio politics. Known as the “Ohio Gang,” even though many of the members of Harding’s cabal were not from the Buckeye State, these Republican leaders became infamous for corruption. Many also were known to be gamblers and had numerous extramarital affairs that conflicted with their public image and espoused Christian living.
Despite the revelations of corruption, most of the legislation that was favorable to business interests during the early 1920s also promoted economic growth that provided some benefits to the nation’s overall welfare. For example, the automotive and oil industries lobbied Congress to approve the Federal Highway Act of 1921. This law provided matching grants for states to build highways and bridges. Although the interstate system would not be developed until after World War II, this program required recipients to coordinate their efforts with neighboring states to create a nationwide grid of roads.
Figure 6.2
Andrew Mellon placing a wreath at the foot of a statue honoring Alexander Hamilton. Mellon was an influential Secretary of the Treasury who supported many of the conservative views of Hamilton, a Founding Father and the first Secretary of the Treasury. Mellon was also a wealthy philanthropist who donated millions to the University of Pittsburgh, his alma mater.
Secretary of the Treasury Andrew Mellon was staunchly conservative and supported the era’s deep tax cuts for the wealthy. He also resurrected one of the Progressive goals by creating the General Accounting Office, which audited the government’s budgets and expense reports. Mellon advocated low taxes for corporations and the wealthy—a condition he believed was a prerequisite for economic expansion. Harding also appointed four conservative and probusiness appointees to the Supreme Court. Bolstered by the inclusion of these conservatives, the Supreme Court repealed federal child labor laws and upheld numerous injunctions ordering unions to halt strikes and return to work.
The Republican-controlled Congress and White House of the 1920s approved three policies that favored business interests, wealthy individuals, and some members of the middle class. Fearful that a European recovery would result in US businesses once again being forced to compete with foreign goods, Congress raised tariffs. These taxes helped to protect US businesses by making foreign goods more expensive, but the law also kept consumer prices artificially high. Second, Congress enacted a series of laws that reduced the tax rate for the wealthiest Americans from over 70 percent to just over 20 percent. Congress also raised the exemption level, which meant that a larger number of middle and upper-middle-class families were no longer required to pay any federal tax. Congress also reduced estate taxes that were assessed on large fortunes passed down to the next generation. Lastly, Congress approved reductions in government spending that resulted in balanced budgets but also led to reduced enforcement of the already-lax regulations on businesses and financiers.
Wealthy individuals and corporations benefitted from each of these decisions, at least in the short run. The tariffs led to increased profits for manufacturers, while the tax reductions permitted entrepreneurs to finance new businesses. Because some of these profits were reinvested in ways that led to job creation, a portion of the economic benefits of lower taxes for businesses and the wealthy likely benefitted the rest of the nation. It would later be apparent, however, that the majority of Americans were not earning enough money to sustain the economic rally of the 1920s, which had been built largely on consumer spending.
The tariffs made it difficult for European nations to repay their debts, and Congress was forced to permit a series of extensions on loans that would eventually default. Progressives argued that the tax reductions Andrew Mellon recommended led to concentrated wealth in the hands of the few. These individuals would later claim that the stock market crash was the result of the wealthy using their revenues to speculate in real estate and the stock market rather than invest in new businesses. By this perspective, lowering the tax rates for the wealthy might reduce stability rather than spur productive investment and job creation.
Prohibition and Enforcement
After the 1916 Congressional election, two-thirds of the House and Senate were pledged supporters of prohibition. However, many of these lawmakers were not yet convinced that a Constitutional amendment banning the production and sale of alcohol was an appropriate measure for the federal government to take up. World events and local campaigns in support of a prohibition amendment eventually overcame this reservation.
The importance of preserving grain as war gripped Europe combined with the moralistic tenor of the nation and a growing hostility to all things German. Prohibition supporters argued that the “Hun’s” brewing tradition was dangerously un-American and threatened to weaken the moral fiber of the nation. Over time, politics and religiosity mixed in ways that turned support for prohibition into a litmus test of one’s patriotism. In such a political environment, few in Congress wanted to oppose the Eighteenth Amendment A Constitutional Amendment that outlawed the manufacture, transport, and sale of intoxicating liquors. The Eighteenth Amendment would later be repealed by the Twenty-First Amendment in 1933.. The amendment outlawed the manufacture, transport, and sale of intoxicating liquors. Congress approved the measure in December 1917, and the states quickly ratified the amendment, which took effect in January 1919.
State laws had proven ineffective in preventing the manufacture and consumption of liquor, and many critics believed the Eighteenth Amendment would prove equally ineffective. These kinds of laws, critics argued, attempted to legislate morality and impose religious views about alcohol that many Americans rejected. In their failure, these critics added, prohibition laws did little more than inspire disregard for the laws of man. Despite the passage of the Volstead Act which provided federal enforcement for the new Constitutional amendment, enforcement was lax. Bootleggers and speakeasies became more and more abundant as people looked for alternate sources of alcohol.
Figure 6.3
New York policemen watch as hundreds of gallons of whiskey are poured into the sewers. Raids such as this failed to halt the flow of alcohol during the 1920s but did create new opportunities for bootleggers and others willing to risk the consequences of breaking prohibition laws.
The resilience of the saloon was partially due to its importance as a cultural space that was important to various subcommunities throughout both rural and urban America. The saloon was where men gathered for political meetings, and local pubs usually doubled as the headquarters of a variety of fraternal organizations. Through these connections, men found that fellowship meant access to information and markets as well as references for jobs. Men who did not drink soon formed their own fraternal organizations and lodges to provide a similar space for meetings and fellowship. The same was true of women. The turn of the century saw the greatest proliferation of women’s clubs, both as separate organizations led by women and as auxiliaries of fraternal organizations for men. For most Americans, membership in these groups and local churches provided opportunities for fellowship and recreation and served as their connection to the larger world.
The Eighteenth Amendment empowered Congress to pass laws banning the production, transportation, and sale of alcoholic beverages. Congress passed the Volstead Act in the fall of 1919 over outgoing President Wilson’s veto. The law outlawed the production of any beverage with an alcohol content higher than 0.5 percent, although it was later amended to permit the production of wine for home use. The law left enforcement largely to states and local police for most of the 1920s. Penalties for violators of the Volstead Act were usually fines that did little to discourage those willing to break the law from doing so.
State and local ordinances that permitted doctors to prescribe “medicine” containing alcohol, including whiskey and other spirits, also continued. Historians estimate that 1 million gallons of whiskey, among other forms of alcohol, were prescribed each year. Disregard for the law reached all the way to the White House, which maintained an impressive selection of liquor for entertaining official guests. The rest of the nation simply purchased spirits from local bootleggers.
The Volstead Act did little to end the production, sale, or consumption of alcohol, but it did add significantly to the cost of alcohol for consumers. Although it was not the intent of reformers to merely reduce alcohol consumption, the obstacles one had to overcome to obtain alcohol at inflated prices ended the practice of daily consumption for many working class Americans. At the same time, the toleration of those who violated the law and the rarity of severe punishment led many Americans to lower their regard for law enforcement. Before long, criminal groups began making outrageous profits by supplying alcohol. Some of these groups became crime syndicates, using their liquor revenue to purchase weapons while seeking to control other vice trades such as gambling, narcotics, and prostitution.
“Organized crime” expanded significantly during the Prohibition Era. Crime bosses such as Chicago’s Al Capone created their own underground empires by committing robberies, selling illicit goods, and using fraud and intimidation to force local businesses to pay “tribute” for protection. Capone directed some of these funds to charitable groups, leading many Chicagoans to obstruct police efforts. Other police officers found Capone’s bountiful offerings of cash bribes even more persuasive.
Before Prohibition, organized crime relied more heavily upon the sale of illicit drugs and prostitution. Although these activities continued, the popular image was that Capone and others were making their wealth by providing alcohol to a thirsty nation. As a result, some Americans sympathized with Capone’s claims that he was merely providing a service that people wanted. However, Capone’s dealings with rival gangs and the police were notoriously violent. Capone and others were careful to conceal the source of their income by laundering their revenue through dozens of businesses. This made it difficult for the FBI to provide clear evidence of what everyone knew was the source of Capone’s income. Eventually, the FBI decided to try a different tactic, focusing on the front businesses that were laundering Capone’s profits but had neglected to pay taxes.
Figure 6.4
The signed verdict convicting Chicago’s Al Capone of tax evasion.
Prohibition revealed the different standards of law enforcement for the wealthy and the poor. Wealthy Americans reveled in their private cocktail parties, which were seldom disrupted by police. Those with money could avoid dealing with gangsters and purchase their spirits from pharmacies or other sources. When a group of reformers sought to close this loophole by at least limiting the quantity of whiskey a physician might prescribe, the American Medical Association lobbied in opposition. While most doctors questioned the health benefits of “medicinal whisky,” they opposed any law that might open the door for other government regulations of what doctors could prescribe for their patients. Critics countered that the AMA was simply hoping to continue a lucrative practice that accounted for tremendous profits among some of its members.
Technology and Innovation
Radio technology had proven its value in wartime and would revolutionize communications during the early 1920s. By the end of the decade, the first commercial radio networks were born, leading to the syndication of popular programs that could be heard across the nation. The aviation industry also demonstrated the potential of fixed-wing aircraft during the war. US companies quickly expanded from producing a few hundred airplanes each year to 5,000 per year by the end of the decade. By the late 1920s, dozens of major cities were connected by a network of locally owned passenger lines that began offering scheduled flights. Few Americans were able to take advantage of this new mode of air transportation. By the end of the decade, however, one in five Americans owned an automobile. The proliferation of the automobile heralded the beginning of a veritable revolution from public to private transportation. The utility of the automobile was limited in the first years of the new century by prohibitive costs and the lack of roads that were suitable for cars. Once considered the plaything of the super rich, by the late 1920s the automobile became the symbol of middle-class life. Personal ownership of automobiles also altered the way city people thought about urban spaces. With the proliferation of the automobile, cities were planned and constructed around modes of transportation rather than the other way around. The automobile also allowed for the expansion of suburbs beyond the reach of streetcar lines.
Henry Ford Entrepreneur who founded Ford Motor Company, which applied assembly line techniques to the production of automobiles. Ford was hostile to unions and a difficult taskmaster, yet he paid his employees more than prevailing wages, intending to command their loyalty and create more consumers for his products. did not invent the automobile or the assembly line. Instead, he was the most successful at marrying these two technologies together in ways that increased efficiency and reduced costs. Small household goods were manufactured on assembly lines and canned meats were made by stripping meat from carcasses on “disassembly” lines. Prior to the early 1900s, automobile chassis were placed on blocks, and workers brought the parts to the cars to be assembled one at a time. In 1901, Ransom E. Olds of Lansing had shown that the assembly line could be made to work for automotive production, despite the size and weight of the product. However, the Oldsmobile factory burned to the ground, and Henry Ford invested in a much larger factory that built upon Olds’ methods. Ford’s heavy steel rails and conveyer belts moved a car’s chassis down a line. As a result, workers could stand in one place and complete one simple task, such as securing a specific bolt or adding a headlamp as cars moved along the line.
Ford’s newest assembly line, complete with its massive moving belts, was up and running in 1913. Ford produced 250,000 Model T automobiles that year. This was thirty times as many cars as Ford had produced a few years prior; it was also more cars than Oldsmobile and over eighty other competing automakers based primarily out of Ohio, Michigan, and Illinois had ever made. A decade later, Ford was producing 2 million Model Ts, which were nearly identical to the earlier models except for the price. Ford was able to take advantage of economies of scale through mass production; consequently, the price of the Model T dropped from over $800 to under $300. Other automakers produced more diverse offerings, and many competing automakers produced better or cheaper cars. However, in 1913 no one could match the quality of the Model T for the price Ford was charging. As for the monotony of mass production, Ford quipped that his customers could have his vehicle in any color they chose so long as that color was black.
Figure 6.5
Ford automobiles being produced on a Detroit assembly line in 1923.
The work was routine and could be completed by anyone with minimal training. As a result, Ford no longer needed to hire workers with mechanical expertise. Instead, he hired unskilled workers but offered better wages than they might make on other assembly lines. Ford famously introduced the Five Dollar Plan, a daily wage that was roughly double the $2–$3 pay rate that was typical for factory work. Ford employees were required to submit to investigations by Ford’s Social Department. Ford desired only sober workers who shunned cigarettes and fast lifestyles. By the mid-1920s, the investigators no longer made home visits to determine whether factory workers drank alcohol or engaged in other behaviors their paternalistic boss considered a vice. Instead, they were more likely to investigate a worker’s political beliefs. Anyone who embraced Socialism or even considered starting a union would be terminated.
The high wages Ford workers earned permitted most employees to purchase their own automobile. These workers were required to make that purchase a Ford automobile or else they would share the fate of those who attempted to start a union in a Ford plant. Given the high wages Ford offered, most workers tolerated Ford’s demands and shunned unionization as Socialistic or even un-American. Ford himself wrapped his techniques of mass production, low prices, and high wages in the language of Americana. The 23 million automobiles on the road in 1929 satisfied Ford that he had democratized the automobile by bringing car ownership to the masses.
Ford’s assembly line methods were studied by the emerging business colleges and perfected to maximize efficiency of movement. Older methods of production that required skilled craftsmen largely disappeared, as did the level of job satisfaction workers expressed once they no longer felt connected to the products they produced. Instead of seeing a finished product or working closely with a team, workers stood in one place and performed repetitive tasks. The system was tremendously efficient, and it did provide the opportunity for more jobs among nonskilled workers. Worker productivity in most industrial fields increased by about 50 percent while real wages for the average factory worker also increased. However, these wages usually grew by no more than 10 percent over the decade. The average workweek declined to just over forty hours in some fields—a long goal of the labor movement. However, the typical workweek for industrial workers remained six days of forty-eight hours of labor. In addition, upward mobility was hindered by the elimination of most skilled positions, and a new generation of factory worker was even more disconnected from his labor than in the past.
Figure 6.6 Real Average Weekly or Daily Earnings for Selected Occupations, 1920–1930
Previous generations of farmers and craftsmen had been able to see tangible evidence of their labor. The only workers in factories with assembly lines who even saw the finished product were those who worked on loading docks, and they usually did not participate in the production of goods. Factory work had always featured monotony, a contest between one’s will and the time clock. But workers could at least identify the products they had made before the adoption of the assembly line. Consequently, workers no longer identified themselves in terms of their jobs, as farmers and craftsmen had in the past. No celebration of the harvest took place; no trade or skill provided a sense of identity and union. Unskilled workers were much more likely to change employers and industries many times throughout their lives. As a result, the urban worker sought satisfaction and meaning outside of their jobs in ways that led to the proliferation of recreational activities and the celebration of consumption rather than production.
Labor and the Limits of Prosperity
The labor movement’s postwar gains were quickly neutralized within the climate of the Red Scare. The conservative orientation of the federal government throughout the three Republican administrations of the 1920s likewise created an environment that was hostile toward organized labor. Employers rallied around a strategy they branded the American Plan The name coined by antiunion industrialists who pledged to never negotiate with union leaders. The American Plan sought to create the image that the “open shop” was synonymous with freedom and other American values, while the “closed shop” forced workers to join unions. Critics argued that this was simply a devious method of spinning antiunion activities that harmed workers., a series of ideas and tactics that sought to challenge the legitimacy of unions and outlaw provisions that required workers to join unions.
As the name indicates, the American Plan sought to portray any provision requiring a worker to join a union as contrary to “American” principles, such as freedom of choice. Some manufacturers even placed American flags on products that had been made by nonunion labor in hopes of branding organized labor as something that was foreign to the ideals and values of the nation. Central to this tactic were attempts to casually equate unions with Socialism. Because both organized labor and Socialist parties were growing in popularity throughout Europe, supporters of the American Plan simply had to create the impression that these two trends were intrinsically connected.
Businesses lobbied government officials to outlaw collective bargaining throughout the 1920s. They based their argument on the idea that individual workers should be completely free to contract independently rather than be bound by a single contract negotiated on their behalf. Labor leaders contended that the intent of the American Plan was simply to reduce the collective power of unions. They argued that employers were disingenuous in claiming that they were motivated by a desire to liberate workers from union contracts. Reminding the public of the violence used against workers who tried to start unions in the past, union leaders sarcastically asked what had suddenly made modern corporations so very concerned with the freedoms of their workers.
Figure 6.7
In August 1921, these West Virginia miners clashed with federal troops in the Battle of Blair Mountain. As many as fifteen thousand miners marched to southern West Virginia to rescue men who had been imprisoned for trying to form labor unions. After a million rounds were fired by both sides, federal troops and even a bomber squadron forced the men to return to their own mining camps. Union leaders were arrested while mine owners enlisted the paranoia surrounding the Red Scare to attack the culture of union activism as “un-American.”
Labor leaders also sought to explain the difference between collective bargaining and the collective ownership of Socialism. However, without the access to the media and the financial resources enjoyed by many industrialists, labor leaders found themselves on the outside and on the defensive. The conservative political climate that followed in the wake of the Red Scare and the continued notion that unionization was a gateway to Socialism plagued the labor movement throughout the 1920s. Despite the growth of industry and creation of millions of new jobs, union membership declined from 5 million to below 3.5 million by the late 1920s.
The overall percentage of workers who were members of unions also declined from 18 percent to 10 percent in the 1920s. Part of the reason for organized labor’s trouble was the slight decrease in the percentage of workers employed in blue-collar jobs due to technology and automation. The emergence of the modern corporation created tens of thousands of new jobs in clerical fields, but these usually remained impervious to organization. Despite the decline in percentages and overall numbers of union workers, labor strikes remained the most potent weapon in the arsenal of labor activism. One of the largest and most radical strikes occurred in a location that had been least welcoming to unions in the past—the South. Northern textile mills had moved to the South in previous decades for precisely this reason. During the 1920s, some of these southern mills were paying workers less than $10 per week at a time when the national average wage for such work exceeded $20. In addition, southern textile mills in the 1920s were the first to experiment with the “stretch-out”—a technique where employers simply fired a large number of workers and required those who remained to make up the slack by working faster. The stretch-out and low pay led to strikes in Tennessee, the Carolinas, and even in a handful of textile mills in the Deep South.
A biracial union backed by the Communist Party emerged in Gastonia, North Carolina, in the late 1920s. This new Southern radicalism threatened to build and maintain worker solidarity across the racial divide by focusing on social class rather than race. In 1929, the union led its white and black workers to the picket lines in protest of wages that failed to provide even the basic necessities of life. Area mills recognized the potential threat of class consciousness in a region where black and white workers had been played against one another for generations. With the support of competing mills, management brought in replacement workers and sought to divide the white and black strikers.
The specter of Communism and “racial amalgamation” led to increased tensions throughout Gastonia until a gun battle left the chief of police and at least one union supporter dead. Seven workers were given extended prison sentences for their possible roles in the death of the police chief. There was barely any investigation into the death of the black union supporter. Shortly thereafter, a female strike leader was shot and killed by mill guards. Together with increased police harassment of the unions and their leaders, populist appeals to racism, and the replacement of striking workers, interracial union activism was only a temporary feature in the South during the 1920s.
Contrary to the Communist propaganda that spread throughout the textile mills, business owners did not always personify the caricature of the greedy Capitalist. In fact, many industrialists tested new ideas from a common belief that humane treatment of workers would lead to increased productivity. “Welfare Capitalism” became the new buzzword in the emerging business colleges and throughout Wall Street. Some business leaders hoped to forestall labor militancy by offering certain perquisites such as profit sharing, pensions, and paid vacations. These kinds of benefits would still be rare for at least another generation, yet more employers than ever before provided limited funding for workers’ recreation and social clubs. In each case, the goal was to reduce turnover and labor activism. However, some employers convinced themselves that they were beloved by their workers who completely trusted their well-being to the care of their benevolent employer.
Figure 6.8
Supporters of the Gastonia, North Carolina, strike called on all mill workers to stand together in solidarity behind fellow workers that had been charged with murder. However, those workers who supported the strike were evicted from their homes, which were owned by the mill. Together with economic pressure and armed guards who shot and killed a female strike leader, the 1929 strike was broken.
Workers took advantage of these services but remained suspicious of welfare Capitalism, largely due to repeated failure of management to live up to its own lofty rhetoric. Some of these employer-sponsored organizations were designed to replace unions or eliminate working men’s fraternal organizations. Employers continued to intentionally mix and then separate workers of various ethnicities and regional identities in hopes of keeping them divided and suspicious of one another. With the exception of nonwhite workers who continued to experience discrimination, efforts to exploit Old World animosities became less effective as the twentieth century progressed. For example, descendants of Irish and English immigrants were less likely to view one another as natural enemies than their parents had been. New immigrants from regions such as Northern and Southern Italy found that when they arrived in America, they were simply considered “Italians.” Because they faced the same discrimination and prejudice, immigrants put aside their regional rivalries and began to see themselves as Italian-Americans rather than Romans, Neapolitans, Venetians, or Sicilians. Over time, US factories would encourage assimilation and the creation of a common “white” identity among immigrants and old-stock Americans alike.
Other companies experimented with procedures for soliciting workers’ concerns in ways that were similar to unions, but they did not charge membership fees. These groups had little power beyond what management allowed but often secured modest reforms or one-time bonuses. Management often used these “company unions” to discredit actual unions by agreeing to negotiate only with the representatives of the company union. For example, if the steelworker’s union pressed for a pay raise, the company might grant a one-time bonus to forestall a possible strike. Just to make sure the union did not receive credit for the increase, the company would announce the bonus through the representatives of the company-controlled union. As a result, they hoped workers would perceive the company union as more effective than the independent union that deducted fees from their paychecks.
The decline of labor activism during the 1920s was the result of two leading factors: the conservative political climate of the decade and the general prosperity that led to low unemployment and slightly higher wages. Conservative legislatures continued to vote down anti–child labor laws, and the Supreme Court reversed a handful of provisions that would have limited the number of children in the workforce. Farm and business lobbies became so powerful during the 1920s that a proposed Constitutional amendment banning child labor was approved by only six state legislatures. Unions lobbied on behalf of the amendment but were overwhelmed by the resources of industry. In addition, unemployment dropped to below 5 percent during the mid-1920s, which eliminated some of the financial threat that children’s labor posed to working men and women. Similar to periods of low unemployment in the past, however, workers could expect their jobs to be eliminated if the economy began to slow.
Culture of Consumption and Popular Entertainment
Sell them their dreams. Sell them what they longed for and hoped for and almost despised of having.…Sell them dreams—dreams of country clubs and proms and visions of what might happen if only. After all, people don’t buy things to have things. They buy things to work for them. They buy hope—hope of what your merchandise will do for them. Sell them this hope and you won’t have to worry about selling them goods.
—Advice to participants in a 1923 convention of marketers
The increased production of consumer goods following World War I required an equal commitment to consumption. Manufacturers and merchants rose to the challenge by embracing the burgeoning field of marketing to convince potential customers that they needed the new products that were pouring off US assembly lines. More than previous generations, marketers in the 1920s sought to manipulate the emotions of prospective customers by convincing them that the good life and a life of goods went hand in hand.
To succeed, it was not enough for advertisers to simply sell products as they had in the past. Instead, the new marketing courses taught advertisers how to sell a vision of what a product might do for the customer. Before the turn of the century, the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania was nearly alone in its professional training programs in the field of business. Soon, colleges across the country created professional business degree programs to attract students as well as to meet political demands of business leaders and conservative lawmakers who began questioning the value of liberal arts degrees. By the end of the decade, advocates of traditional fields of learning were on the defensive as the United States spent more money on marketing than on education.
Figure 6.9
Storefront displays were studied by marketers who sought to manipulate a shopper’s emotions and create the image that a product would confer status and enhance a customer’s life beyond that product’s explicit utility.
In the burgeoning fields of finance and marketing, “making money” was far removed from making products. The beauty industry was created by marketing, convincing women that they might be beautiful if only they purchased a particular product. A generation prior, women seldom looked at themselves in the mirror more than a couple times a day. By 1920, women began carrying purses that contained an arsenal of beauty products, some of which actually had mirrors built into their carrying cases. Marketers labored to eliminate the negative stigma of make-up, which had once been a calling card of the streetwalker.
Soon it was not enough simply to sell a few facial cosmetic products. “The average American woman has sixteen square feet of skin,” a promoter of the beauty industry remarked during the 1930s. As a result, he was confident that the $2 billion spent on cosmetics was only a fraction of the possibility if women could be convinced that they needed lotions, perfumes, and accessories to accompany seasonal wardrobes and other invented fashions. Accompanying each of these products was a new science designed to examine the effectiveness of storefront displays, interior designs, and the use of light and space to direct a shopper’s attention and manipulate emotions.
What was true of emerging fields such as the beauty industry was doubly true in established markets of consumer goods. The agrarian producer culture of the nineteenth century was giving way to a more transient urban culture where work was valued primarily as a means of providing income. Shopping had been both a masculine venture and a community event, a rare break from work on the farm and a time when men traveled to nearby towns to conduct business among other men they knew personally. By the 1920s, shopping was transforming into an individual task usually performed by married women on behalf of their families and in the company of strangers. Urban shopping districts emerged as feminized spaces in downtown districts that had previously not even included public restrooms for women. And for those who could afford it, shopping was becoming a pleasurable experience in a culture that increasingly glorified consumption.
Figure 6.10
Although athletes such as boxers had achieved international fame, Babe Ruth emerged as the first global icon of team sports during the 1920s.
If notions of autonomy and material security through land ownership no longer defined the American Dream, the rising standard of living did. Pleasure and acquisition came to be viewed as the reason for labor, and both were achieved by shopping. Through the calculated actions of business leaders and the willing acquiescence of the middle-class consumer, a new culture was formed that prized consumption as the ultimate expression of happiness and success. Little noticed at the time, the democratization of desire had encouraged many to value luxury over security. Well over half of the automobiles that were purchased at this time were bought with credit. Perhaps even more revealing, a small number were making impulse purchases with something new called a “personal line of credit.” For most workers, these purchases were made under the assumption that their future earnings would increase. What they did not realize was that consumer credit was a response by business leaders who were becoming increasingly aware that the number of consumers who could afford to buy their products with cash was beginning to peak.
Eventually, even the supply of consumers who could buy merchandise on credit would also begin to crest. In the meantime, more and more Americans enjoyed slightly higher wages and a workweek that had declined from over fifty hours per week to just over forty-five hours. The entertainment industry emerged in response to the increase in disposable income and time more workers enjoyed during the 1920s. These diversions also sought to fill a void left by the disconnect between employees and their jobs. Workers might not find their time on the factory floor or at their desks meaningful and satisfying, but they could use their time away from work to pursue pleasure.
By the late 1920s, motion pictures had advanced from the novelty of nickelodeons and scratchy silent pictures to feature films with synchronized sound. Spectator sports proliferated to include tennis, golf, and professional football, alongside perennial favorites such as college football, boxing, and horseracing. However, baseball remained the American pastime and defined American popular culture as nothing else had. Athletes such as Babe Ruth Arguably the greatest hitter in Major League Baseball, Ruth was a pitcher for the Boston Red Sox prior to a controversial trade to the archrival New York Yankees. Ruth was the cultural icon of his day, famous for both his legendary swing and his fast lifestyle that for many was emblematic of the excesses of the 1920s. transcended sport and celebrity to become an international symbol of the United States. One of only two survivors out of seven children, Ruth was raised by the streets of Baltimore and the Sisters of St. Mary’s. Undeniably talented yet susceptible to vice, Ruth possessed more than his share of that uniquely American gregariousness that horrified and charmed at the same time. Because of his talent, Ruth became baseball during the era when baseball was America.
History and Memory
Jack Trice became the first African American football player at the college now known as Iowa State University. He was more known for his desire to study animal husbandry than his football skills, and his desire to share his knowledge with Southern black farmers reminded his classmates of the famous African American botanist and Iowa State alum George Washington Carver. Trice played his first and only game on October 6, 1923, breaking his collarbone on the second play of the game. Trice insisted he was uninjured and returned to the game where some believe opposing players intentionally sought to reinjure him because of his race. Trice was taken to the emergency room and released, only to die two days later of internal injuries. Trice’s service to the team was memorialized throughout 1923, after which he was forgotten until a local history project coincided with a new football stadium in 1973. ISU students were active in the civil rights movement and demanded that the new stadium be named after Trice. Administration and alumni opposed the plan, pointing out that Trice had only played one game. A decade later, students finally won the right to name the field after Trice, but many were not satisfied and raised funds to build a statue to commemorate Trice. In 1997, after a quarter century of petitions and letters by students, a new generation of alumni and administrators consented. Iowa State now plays all of its home games at Jack Trice Stadium.
Consider the ways that history and memory change over time as reflected by this story.
Baseball as America
By October 1928, the question of the color line in towns like Baltimore had seemingly been answered. The schools were segregated by law, while churches, theaters, and neighborhoods were segregated by custom. Black and white residents ate at different restaurants, slept in different hotels, and even visited their loved ones in separate hospitals. Children played at segregated YMCA branches. Adults attended social and political functions of segregated clubs. But at least one event during that month demonstrates that race relations were never quite as simple as they may appear. That month, the Baltimore Black Sox of the Eastern Colored League defeated an all-white All-Star team composed of some of the best players in the major leagues. Ten thousand fans witnessed the game, and there were no reports of racial violence. Despite efforts to prevent black fans from attending by raising gate prices throughout the day, several thousand black fans witnessed their team prevail.
Figure 6.11
The Negro National League was the first commercially successful African American baseball league. In 1924, the champion of this league, the Kansas City Monarchs, defeated the champion of the Eastern Colored League, Pennsylvania’s Hilldale club and claimed the title as the champion of what became known as the “Colored World Series.”
The victory of the Black Sox was not an uncommon scene throughout the 1920s. In fact, Negro League teams had a winning record against the all-white major leaguers that challenged them. The record was ironically aided by organized baseball’s attempt to prevent these games from happening. Following a series of victories by teams like the St. Louis Stars, New York Black Yankees, and Homestead Grays of Pennsylvania over their local major league teams, Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis ruled that major league clubs could no longer challenge black teams. However, these contests were the most popular exposition games of the season, and they sold tickets and filled ballparks. As a result, white major leaguers simply assembled their own teams of “all stars” composed of players from area teams. Given the desire of players to maximize their share of the gate receipts, these all-star teams often lacked the depth of regular season pitching rosters. As a result, Landis’s ruling increased the tendency of the Negro League teams to prevail over whites.
One must be careful not to exaggerate these symbolic victories over Jim Crow. Placed in a larger context, these baseball games pale in comparison with the progress that was forged in classrooms and courtrooms. Yet for the thousands who attended these games, especially those laboring behind the color line, these victories had profound meaning. For example, in 1925, an all-black, semipro team in Wichita, Kansas, defeated a team representing the local Ku Klux Klan. The schools of Wichita remained segregated the next morning, but surely those who witnessed the game thought about the larger meaning of the afternoon’s events.
From a sociological point of view, the Monarchs have done more than any other single agent in Kansas City to break down the damnable outrage of color prejudice that exists in the city…[When]…both races sit side by side and root for their particular favorite and think nothing of it, then after a while the same relation may be carried to the workshop, and the ball grounds may be the means of causing someone to be employed where he would not otherwise have been considered, just because “he sat next to me out at the ball park Sunday—he’s a pretty good fellow.”
—Kansas City Call (African American newspaper), October 27, 1922
As a touring exhibit demonstrated nearly a century later, baseball was America in the 1920s. The national pastime mirrored the diversity of the nation and any town with more than a few hundred residents sponsored a team that was the pride of the community. On any given Sunday afternoon, nearly as many Americans could be found at the local ballpark as had attended church in the morning. The teams mirrored the diversity of the congregants. German immigrants in North Dakota and Jewish immigrants in New York City commemorated each Fourth of July by playing the American game, a celebration of their new nation and a proud display of their ethnic unity as they challenged teams from other immigrant groups.
Women’s teams had been competing since Vassar College’s first team took the field in 1866, most famously as part of the touring “Bloomer Girls” teams of the turn of the century. Native American teams toured as well, blurring the lines of sport, showmanship, and accommodation to the expected stereotypes of the white audiences. Japanese American teams like the Fresno Athletics defeated the best college and semipro teams on the West Coast. When not playing for the Yankees, Babe Ruth toured the nation throughout the 1920s as his team of all-stars took on all of these diverse local players. “Organized baseball” consisting of the Major League and its Minor League affiliates had drawn the color line since the late nineteenth century, but barnstorming teams such as Ruth’s were more concerned about revenue than the regulations of their commissioner. As a result, Ruth welcomed the competition of African American baseball greats such as Josh Gibson Sometimes referred to as the “black Babe Ruth,” Gibson compiled the most impressive career statistics in the history of the sport, leading some scholars of the Negro Leagues to argue that Ruth should be called the “white Josh Gibson.” Gibson played among many of the greatest ballplayers of all races in the United States, the Caribbean, and Latin America, but owing to race he was excluded from the Major Leagues., who many believe was the greatest slugger of the era. Ruth also played alongside Japanese American stars such as Kenichi Zenimura, the founder of the Fresno Athletics.
Figure 6.12
Asian Americans on the West Coast formed competitive baseball teams. This 1913 poster advertises a touring team composed of Asian Americans who lived in Hawaii and played against college teams throughout the American West.
In addition, thousands of white and black players from the Major Leagues and Negro Leagues played in Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and various Caribbean and Latin American countries each summer. These tours resulted in the discovery of hundreds of great Latino ballplayers, many of whom traveled and played in the United States on international touring teams or as players on Negro League teams. These ballplayers were role models, ambassadors, leading men in their community, and some of the first and most visible activists against segregation as they traveled through the nation.
The celebrity status of a team might erode racial barriers. At other times, black players confronted segregation directly by demanding respect and equal accommodations. However, one must remember that these men were ballplayers, managers, and owners above all else. Team members were most concerned with their ability to play the game they loved, and owners had a vested interest in minimizing racial conflict. They could not afford to take chances with alienating white spectators or demand equal accommodations at the risk of being placed in jail during an important road trip. As a result, the teams worked to avoid confrontation by planning their trips along familiar routes, patronizing black-owned businesses, and staying with black families in small towns without black-owned restaurants and hotels.
A handful of African American teams sought refuge from America’s binary color line by choosing names such as the Cuban Stars, thereby blurring the line between Afro-Caribbean and Afro-American. About fifty Latino players with light complexions and surnames that reflected the European Spanish heritage of many Caribbean islanders were even deemed “racially eligible” to play for Major League teams. The inclusion of foreign and American-born players of Latino heritage further demonstrated the middle ground between black and white. The complexion of most Caribbean islanders was usually too dark to pass as “Castilian” or any of the other creative euphemisms managers sought to apply to a talented ballplayer they wanted to convince the rest of the world was a descendent of European conquistadors. The existence of these charades, as well as several attempts to “pass” a black player as Native American, demonstrated that race was a social construction rather than a scientifically identifiable category.
Review and Critical Thinking
How does the Sheppard-Towner Act reflect the political environment of the 1920s and government expectations at that time? Why might the AMA choose to oppose such measures, and why would this organization present social welfare programs for women and children as analogous to Socialism?
Ford became infamous for his negative views of the working class. Why might someone with such views voluntarily pay such high wages?
Why did labor union membership decline during the 1920s? What were the arguments for and against union membership during this era?
How did the emerging field of marketing affect the United States during the 1920s? What were the goals of marketers, and how were their tactics different from the ways goods were promoted in previous generations?
How did baseball reflect American life and culture during the 1920s? How do the Negro Leagues and the experiences of racial and ethnic minorities in sport demonstrate the opportunities and challenges faced by nonwhites at this time?
6.2 Immigration and Closing the Golden Door
Learning Objectives
Analyze the significance of the rebirth of the Ku Klux Klan during the 1920s. Explain why the Klan was able to attract a mainstream following only to lose its members by the end of the decade.
Evaluate the influence of nativism on America’s immigration policy during the 1920s.
Explain the way that immigrant groups were discriminated against by Americans and how many Americans could deny that the conditions recent immigrants and nonwhite Americans faced were inspired by prejudice.
The Second Klan
The Ku Klux Klan (KKK) reemerged in 1915 as a nativist organization based on white supremacy. Similar to the original Klan that emerged during Reconstruction, the new Klan sought to return African Americans to a condition resembling slavery. The new Klan also sought to prevent the immigration of nonwhite and non-Protestant families to the US. The emergence of the new Klan coincided with the release of D. W. Griffith’s Birth of a Nation, a film that debuted in 1915 and presented the late nineteenth-century Klan in a heroic light. The next year, the eugenicist Madison Grant’s The Passing of the Great Race warned white Americans that new immigration from Southern and Eastern Europe threatened to fill the United States with inferior races. Influenced by this and other eugenicist works that blended racism with pseudoscience, some Klan members even believed that nonwhites should be sterilized.
The new Klan officially shunned violence and attracted a mainstream following, even if Klan beliefs often led to acts of violence against minority communities. The new Klan emerged during a period of anti-immigrant and antiblack hysteria, as evidenced by the Red Summer of 1919. In that year, mob violence was perpetrated against black communities in both the North and South. The same year, whites on the West Coast attacked Chinese neighborhoods, Midwesterners participated in riots that destroyed black and Hispanic neighborhoods, and whites on the East Coast sought to halt Jewish migration altogether.
Figure 6.13
The new Klan of the 1920s did much more than march in hoods and sheets to spread their message. This Beaumont, Texas, chapter produced a play titled “The Awakening,” which sought to present US history as part of an Aryan struggle against inferior races.
The new KKK grew rapidly during the 1920s, spreading a message that nonwhites and non-Protestants were not “100 percent Americans.” The new Klan attracted a large number of followers, many of whom paraded openly without masks. Leading public figures usually hid their identity when participating in Klan rallies, but it was hardly a secret that a substantial number of the members of state legislatures in Colorado, Indiana, Texas, Oklahoma, and Oregon were also members of the secret order. Oregon lawmakers sanctioned a referendum that voters approved, outlawing private schools—a blatantly unconstitutional attack on the Catholic Church. Klan members held rallies in neighboring Washington State that were attended by 20,000 to 70,000 participants. More sinister indications of West Coast Klan activity were the violent intimidation campaigns against Japanese Americans from the Yakima Valley of Washington to San Diego.
The Klan was especially powerful in Indiana, with an estimated membership of 350,000. The Klan soon became so influential throughout the Midwest that journalist William Allen White of Emporia, Kansas, entered the 1924 race for the governorship and made opposition to the Klan the leading issue of his platform. White became a national figure during the 1890s with his conservative attack on the Populists he feared were creating an antibusiness climate in his beloved state. That White and most other conservatives would speak so forcefully against the Klan was an important factor in the Klan’s decline.
Many historians have been tempted to discount the Second Ku Klux Klan Formed in 1915, the Second Klan was less secretive than its predecessor had been, and the majority of its estimated 4 million members lived in the Midwest and Border South. The Second Klan believed that the United States was in danger of losing its white and Protestant heritage due to the influence of Jews and Catholics, along with the growing presence of nonwhite immigrants from Europe, Latin America, and Asia. Klansmen were also threatened by the growing African American population of the North. of the 1920s as a reactionary element of lower-class whites alienated by the growth, prosperity, and increasing acceptance of nonwhite and non-Protestant Americans. However, the Klan had more than 4 million members at its peak in 1925 and attracted middle-class men and women as equally as it attracted other groups. The Klan was also a fraternal organization complete with a women’s auxiliary that gave many members a sense of identity and belonging with its social gatherings, rituals, and honorary titles. Its rallies were steeped in hypernationalistic worship of the flag and celebration of a mythical past where old-time religion and family values guided America.
Because it did not need to unify its members behind a specific platform or policy, the Klan could represent many things to its members. The Klan could be mainstream and extremist. It could be reactionary and hateful at one moment, only to warmly embrace tradition and family values the next. The hollowness of its rhetoric and the willingness of its members to surrender critical thinking allowed its leaders to express hatred toward unions, impoverished strikebreakers, and big business in the same sitting. It could speak to legitimate social concerns such as crime and government corruption. It could even advocate progressive causes before scapegoating the nation’s problems on a particular ethnic or religious group. Most importantly, the Klan’s restrictive membership meant that venomous accusations against immigrants, Jews, Catholics, minorities, Socialists, or any other group that fell short of their 100 percent Americanism reminded its members of the commonalities they shared.
The Klan grew in membership because of this sense of brotherhood and sisterhood. Equally important, most whites in the 1920s shared some of the basic assumptions of the Klan even if they recoiled from the ways Klansmen expressed their intolerance. Mainstream religious leaders called for Protestant solidarity, while most native-born whites demonstrated assumptions of racial superiority, intolerance for immigrants, distrust of government, and suspicion regarding the loyalties of Jews and Catholics. Klansmen spoke the language of the disaffected and those who felt their way of life was under attack. They also spoke to religious communities by appealing to the preservation of traditional family values. The Klan also demonstrated the ease with which reactionary politics could enter mainstream society during a time of anxiety about rapid social change and the growth of a nonwhite and non-Protestant population.
The significant growth of the Klan’s female auxiliary, the Women of the Ku Klux Klan (WKKK), challenges the notions of many historians who suggest, at least by implication, that reactionary politics was an exclusively male domain. In states such as Indiana, women were equally attracted to the Klan’s message and joined in roughly equal numbers. One historian estimates that as many as one-third of native-born, white Indiana women joined the WKKK. For these women, the WKKK provided a source of community that was ideologically consistent with many of their political and social beliefs. Many of these women had been active in relatively progressive organizations such as the Young Women’s Christian Association. Others were veterans of the fight for women’s suffrage. Because the Klan taught that the rights of white Americans were under assault by foreigners, Jews, and nonwhites, Klan activism was viewed by these women as a continuation of their earlier efforts promoting the welfare of the disaffected.
The WKKK often acted like any other women’s organization, organizing charitable fundraisers for schools, hosting picnics, and joining parades. However, the WKKK also organized boycotts of Jewish businesses, ran attorneys who defended minorities out of town, and devised strategies to unseat school board members who supported integration. Some women even joined secret organizations such as the Queens of the Golden Mask, which conducted some of the Klan’s dirty work. The Indiana Klan leader David Stephenson referred to these women as his “poison squad” and counted on them to spread malicious falsehoods against the families of anyone who dared oppose him or the Klan. However, the WKKK was not merely an adjunct to male leadership. Despite the tendency of Klansmen to celebrate their “protection” of white women, women and men in the Klan sustained female suffrage as a weapon that could help them restore and preserve the values they espoused.
Figure 6.14
“The Watcher on the Tower” was one of the monthly publications of the Washington State Ku Klux Klan. Uncle Sam is pictured wearing a Klan robe. During the conservative political environment of the 1920s, few leading politicians or presidents dared to publicly criticize the Klan, which grew to include as many as four million members.
The Klan’s blatant celebration of white supremacy might have led to official condemnation from presidents, but these men generally avoided any action that could leave them open to criticism by white voters. Warren Harding was an avowed segregationist, at least when speaking to white Southerners. Calvin Coolidge argued that the federal government should not interfere with “local issues” involving race and religion. He did little to support antilynching legislation and tolerated the continued segregation of federal government employees. Herbert Hoover spoke out against lynching but did little to support antilynching legislation. Instead, he supported the creation of an all-white Republican Party in the South. By preventing black membership, some members of the Republican Party hoped that they could finally end the association between their party and memories of emancipation and Reconstruction. Although he had spoken in opposition to racial segregation while a politician in Wisconsin, even progressive Republicans such as Robert La Follete avoided addressing racial issues once they became candidates for national office.
The Klan declined quickly in 1925 due to three factors. First and most importantly, mainstream conservatives and local officials began to join liberals in denouncing the Klan and its bigotry as un-American by 1923. Second, the hollowness and negativity of their message led many members to lose enthusiasm over time. Finally, local and national Klan leaders became the target of investigations that revealed irregularities regarding the tens of millions of dollars Klan members donated to the organization. The secrecy of the Klan allowed leaders to embezzle its untraceable funds for several years. The result was that many individual klaverns were near bankruptcy, while a coterie of Klan leaders began to display their newfound wealth in ways that aroused suspicion and jealousy among other members.
A series of national scandals in the mid-1920s also led many to question the Klan’s espoused support for Christianity, chivalrous protection of white women, and Protestant family values. Indiana Klan leader David Stephenson was convicted in 1925 of embezzlement and second-degree murder after his secretary, whom he had previously raped and assaulted, was found dead. The Indiana Klan had been the largest in the nation with 350,000 members. By the end of 1926, Klan membership in the Hoosier State plummeted to 15,000. Meanwhile, two leading Southern Klansmen were found together in a hotel bedroom with no clothing or women in sight. These and countless other allegations and indictments against Klan leaders made many members question whether they had been deceived by demagogues. The negative attitudes toward non-Protestants and nonwhites remained through the late 1920s and 1930s. However, the downfall of the Klan led many to question these beliefs. Others simply expressed them in more cautious ways.
Quotas and Unwelcome Americans
The rebirth of the Klan also led to greater activism among Jewish organizations, the NAACP, and immigrant rights groups. For example, NAACP chapters across the nation secured injunctions against the Birth of a Nation, an action that energized local chapters. Civil rights groups that defended the rights of immigrants also expanded in response to anti-Klan sentiment. However, because 24 million immigrants entered the United States between 1880 and 1920, many began to fear that the nation was growing too fast. By way of comparison, the total US population at the turn of the century was only 76 million. Many of these newcomers were treated poorly because of their ethnic background. Their reception only grew more hostile as the postwar recession accelerated through 1921. Unemployment soared to nearly 9 percent, and many out-of-work individuals blamed recent immigrants for their misfortune.
Congress responded by passing the Emergency Quota Law of 1921. As the name suggests, the law was meant to enact temporary restrictions on immigration to curb the number of newcomers that might compete for jobs. However, immigration was always a sensitive topic in the US. After all, nearly all Americans were immigrants or the descendants of people who came to America through coercion or free will. As a result, America wrestled with both the heightened nativist impulse of the era and the desire to create a fair law that did not discriminate against any particular ethnicity.
The 1921 law limited the number of immigrants who could be admitted into the United States from any particular country to a number no greater than 3 percent of the total number from that country who were living in the United States in 1910. For example, if there were 1 million Irish living in the United States in 1910, up to 30,000 might legally enter the United States each year. On its face, the law appeared to be racially and ethnically neutral. However, the bulk of the US population in 1910 was from Britain and Western Europe, and most of the migrants who were trying to enter the United States were from nations in Southern and Eastern Europe. These migrants tended to be Jewish, as well as Polish, Italian, Slavic, Greek, and other groups that were severely discriminated against.
Figure 6.15
Native Americans and immigrants faced continued discrimination during the early twentieth century. This photo was taken in South Dakota, which was home to a number of Native Americans, some of whom were economically distressed and coping with alcoholism. While some believed that signs like this were evidence of trying to “protect” natives, the negative assumption that all natives were alcoholics and undesirable patrons is also apparent.
The economy recovered in the next few years, but nativist sentiment remained a strong political force. With support of groups ranging from the Klan to mainstream labor unions, Congress approved the National Origins Act of 1924 A law that attempted to curtail immigration from central and southern Europe by creating quotas based on the national origins of immigrants listed in the 1890 census. Because most American immigrants were “white” Europeans from Western Europe in 1890, the law effectively limited immigration of Jews, Italians, Czechs, Poles, Russians, and other groups. The law also implicitly banned immigration of Asians by its provision against any group who was ineligible for citizenship. with only a handful of dissenting votes. This law was clearly intended to restrict migrants from Southern and Central Europe, but it cunningly obscured this objective by issuing quotas that made no mention of race, nationality, or ethnicity. Instead, the National Origins Act created quotas that were based on the 1890 census. Although three more recent census records were available, 1890 was the most recent census taken prior to the arrival of large numbers of Jews and Southern Europeans.
The law established a quota limiting the number of immigrants from a particular nation to no more than 2 percent of the total number of immigrants who were living in the US prior to 1890. As a result, the law limited the new immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe to a few thousand per year while permitting far more “white” Europeans from Britain, France, and Germany than actually desired to migrate to the United States. The law was even less subtle regarding those from India and Asia who were excluded entirely by a provision barring the immigration of persons who were ineligible for citizenship. At this time, a variety of laws prohibited anyone of Asian origin from becoming a citizen, while many localities had passed other discriminatory laws that applied specifically to Chinese immigrants.
President Coolidge expressed the view held by many Anglo-Americans that associated whiteness as one of the defining characteristics of what it meant to be an American. “America must be kept American,” Coolidge exclaimed upon signing the 1924 act into law. Others such as New York congressman Fiorello LaGuardia argued that the law and the sentiment it produced were contrary to the best interests and finest traditions of the United States.
LaGuardia was the son of an Italian father and Jewish mother. As such, he and his family represented precisely the kind of “un-American” amalgamation the 1924 law sought to prevent. LaGuardia spoke at rallies sponsored by his constituents from the racially and ethnically diverse melting pot of East Harlem. LaGuardia joined tens of thousands of New Yorkers and millions of immigrants across the nation in declaring that they would not be treated as strangers in their own land. Similar protests were held on the West Coast, including legal challenges to California’s Alien Land Law of 1920, which prohibited Asian Americans from owning land. Although the California law was framed as a law intending to limit foreign ownership of the nation, the intent was to prevent Californians of Asian descent, who by law could not be citizens, from being anything but landless peasant laborers.
Figure 6.16
New York congressman Fiorello LaGuardia pictured with Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who is seated in his car. LaGuardia defended the rights of immigrants in Congress along with fellow New Yorker Emanuel Celler.
Congressman Emanuel Celler sought to remove the façade of racial neutrality these laws constructed. He also sought to present immigration as a positive good for the nation, challenging his opponents to explain why the eight states with the highest numbers of recent immigrants were also the states that featured the greatest economic growth. Celler represented New York City in Congress for five decades and sponsored a bill that abolished these quotas in 1965.
Despite the protests of many nativists, neither the 1921 nor the 1924 law established quotas or restrictions against immigrants from the Western Hemisphere. Officially, the US government permitted immigration from these nations as part of its commitment to stewardship of the Western Hemisphere, as expressed in the Monroe Doctrine. In actuality, the unrestricted legal immigration from Mexico and other nations was a political compromise demanded by congressmen who represented industry and agribusiness in Texas and the rest of the Southwest. World War I and the subsequent restrictions against migration resulted in Western and Midwestern farms and industries depending on Mexican immigration. Hundreds of thousands of Mexican nationals would enter the nation legally each year until the start of the Great Depression, paying $18 in taxes and fees to receive a visa and work permit. Some of this revenue offset the expense of the US Border Patrol that was also established in 1924. However, at this time, the Border Patrol was one of the smallest federal agencies, and little political pressure existed to prevent those who crossed the border without obtaining legal documentation.
In 1924, the federal government also passed a law permitting Native Americans to become citizens. The law included the federal territory of Alaska where natives had long been fighting for the right to become citizens. For example, the Alaska Native Brotherhood and the Alaska Native Sisterhood had been advocating for citizenship for over a decade before the law was passed. In 1915, the Alaskan government approved a law opening the door for citizenship for natives. However, this process required five whites to testify that an applicant had renounced all traditional ways and was fully assimilated. Much like the Jim Crow South, Alaskan establishments displayed signs indicating that no natives would be served in restaurants. Similar messages appeared in advertisements for laborers specifying that only “white” workers need apply.In the late 1920s, the Brotherhood and Sisterhood joined together using both moral suasion and other more direct methods to protest establishments that discriminated against Alaskan natives. The campaign for civil rights in Alaska peaked during World War II when natives were forcibly removed and arrested for violating the policies of segregated theaters. Efforts of activist Elizabeth Peratrovich and many others would ultimately lead to the passage of an Alaskan law banning segregation in 1945. However, both formal and informal segregation within establishments would persist until statehood, especially in areas where natives lacked economic power precisely because of their exclusion from employment opportunities.
Nativism and National Security
Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti were arrested in May 1920 following an attempted robbery of a Massachusetts factory that had left two men dead. Although very little evidence linked them to the crime, both men were radicals who had expressed support for anarchist violence in the past. And they were also Italians, part of the despised group of “new immigrants” whose desperate conditions in Southern Europe had led them to the United States. Convicted in 1921 of both robbery and murder, Sacco and Vanzetti’s case attracted the attention of Italian American groups such as the Order Sons of Italy in America who sought to publicize what they believed had been a miscarriage of justice.
Each of these immigrant groups had grown increasingly concerned by the reactionary climate of the 1920s. They sought to demonstrate how the convictions of these two men demonstrated the injustice of the criminal justice system for immigrants and radicals. Over the next six years, these groups filed a number of appeals that raised serious doubts about the guilt of the two men but failed to reverse their death sentences. Several witnesses described the burglars in ways that conflicted with the appearance of both Sacco and Vanzetti. In addition, police could not link either man’s fingerprints to the crime, and neither was found in possession of the $15,000 that had been stolen.
However, these appeals and subsequent trials publicized the extremism of some of Sacco and Vanzetti’s political beliefs. Both men were supporters of Italian anarchists who advocated anti-Capitalist revolution through violent tactics such as bombings and assassinations. Equally important, the two men had ties to known anarchists who were atop the Department of Justice’s most-wanted list for several attempted assassinations. The trials also demonstrated the unlikelihood that either man would have been convicted of the original burglary had it not been for their radical beliefs.
Despite international protest ranging from Buenos Aires to Rome, both men were executed on August 23, 1927. Most “white” Americans believed the two men were either guilty of this crime or likely to commit another because of their radical beliefs. Most recent immigrants from central and southern Europe, along with other minority groups who were no strangers to police discrimination, were less likely to sustain the decision of the court. As a result, the Sacco-Vanzetti Trials A highly publicized series of trials and appeals seeking to overturn the execution of two Italian immigrants who had been arrested in connection with a robbery and murder. Although little evidence connected the two men to the crime they were eventually executed for, both were known to support radical anarchists who advocated the use of violence. demonstrated that the Red Scare extended throughout the 1920s and also revealed that Americans of different racial and ethnic backgrounds perceived the same events quite differently. It also renewed questions about whether the US justice system tried defendants for their actions or their political beliefs and background.
Election of 1924
Figure 6.17
The 1924 election featured a solidly Democratic South. La Follette carried only his home state of Wisconsin and the Republican Calvin Coolidge easily won a second term.
Calvin Coolidge A conservative Republican attorney who was selected as Warren Harding’s running mate, Coolidge was elevated to the office of president in August 1923 when Harding died. became president following the death of Warren G. Harding in 1923. Coolidge was perhaps the most enigmatic leader of the early twentieth century. Many conservatives spoke out against the growing power and size of government yet sought to expand certain aspects of government authority. However, Coolidge was consistent in believing the federal government should defer to the states. He also demonstrated deference to the Supreme Court and Congress, believing that a president should not be too involved in the day-to-day business of government. At other times, Coolidge demonstrated support for progressive goals. For example, Coolidge outlined a broad legislative agenda full of specific goals, such as child-labor laws, improvements in health care, and environmental protection during one of his addresses to Congress.
Figure 6.18
As a three-term senator through the early 1900s, Robert La Follette led the Progressive wing of the Republican Party. He was governor of Wisconsin and would later poll nearly 5 million votes as a third-party candidate for the presidency in 1924.
Most other times, Coolidge lived up to his nickname of “Silent Cal.” As president, Coolidge rarely dominated a conversation and delivered speeches that often lasted only a few minutes. And yet it was Coolidge and not Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) who was the first to use regular radio addresses to the nation, even if FDR would later be credited with originating the idea. Coolidge would also decline running for reelection in 1928, despite the near certainty of victory. A leading biographer suggests that Coolidge may have suffered from clinical depression. Although it is tempting to apply this explanation to his decision to leave public life as well as his insistence on sleeping twelve hours per day while president, no one really understood what drove Coolidge to abandon the hard work and ambition of his earlier years.
Coolidge conducted most of his 1924 reelection campaign from the White House through correspondence. His vice presidential candidate, Charles Dawes, was an enthusiastic campaigner and attacked the third-party candidacy of Robert La Follette A Republican politician from Wisconsin who was deeply influenced by the Progressive Movement of the early 1900s, La Follette enacted a number of reforms as governor of Wisconsin; these laws were aimed at increasing the power of government to regulate corporations. La Follette ran for president in 1924 as a third-party candidate and received one in six votes, despite the fact he had little chance of winning the general election. As a result, La Follete’s candidacy demonstrates that Progressive ideas continued to influence government into the 1920s. as promoting socialism. The Democrats nominated a corporate attorney named John W. Davis after several days of balloting. Southern conservatives and northern progressives vied for control of the Democratic Party in ways that ensured a Republican victory short of some major scandal or economic disaster. The Democrats of the North tended to be urban, recent immigrants, Catholic or Jewish, supporters of progressivism, and opponents of Prohibition. The Democrats of the South were white Protestants, old-stock Americans opposed to immigration, and supporters of Prohibition. As long as Coolidge stayed in the White House and the economy did not implode, the election had already been decided unless the Democrats could find a way to unite.
Instead, Northern Democrats were angered by the party’s compromise selection of Davis, who might have been mistaken for a Republican in most states beyond his native West Virginia. Meanwhile, La Follette entered the race under the banner of the Progressive Party. His platform demonstrated that Progressive ideas about governmental reform had not been forgotten during the relative prosperity of the 1920s. Ironically, the conservative Coolidge may have gained from La Follete’s more liberal campaign, as the Progressive Party likely took more votes away from Davis than Coolidge. Yet even if every one of the nearly 5 million supporters of La Follete had joined with the Democrats, Coolidge would still have won the election of 1924 in a landslide.
Review and Critical Thinking
How was the Klan of the 1920s similar and different from its Reconstruction-era predecessor? What accounts for the rapid growth and equally rapid demise of the Klan during the 1920s?
Explain how nativism influenced US immigration policy during the 1920s. Why might immigration restrictions have been controversial despite the widespread nature of nativist impulses?
How did the trial of two Italian immigrants galvanize America during the 1920s? Who were Sacco and Vanzetti? How did their political beliefs affect the trial and challenge the impartiality of the judicial system? Are there any other instances in US history where an individual’s political beliefs were placed on trial?
Consider the connection between US anxiety regarding anarchists in the 1920s with the Cold War’s efforts against Communists in later decades. Or could it be that US concern with anarchism in the 1920s was more similar to that of terrorism in modern times? In what ways are such comparisons valid, and in what ways might they oversimplify or distort the past?
Why did Calvin Coolidge win reelection so easily in 1924? What issues divided the Democratic Party? How might these divisions be overcome in future elections?
6.3 Popular Culture and a Renaissance in Harlem
Learning Objectives
Explain the ways that popular culture influenced ideas about gender and the lives of young women during the 1920s. Also describe the way culture, religion, and science intersected during these years.
Evaluate the ways that the rise of the Garvey Movement and the Harlem Renaissance reflected African American culture and life.
Describe the popular culture of the 1920s. Analyze the impact of consumerism upon this culture, and describe the ways the United States was becoming more secular.
A More Secular Culture
The failure of Prohibition led to greater toleration for lawbreakers and demonstrated that American culture was moving away from traditional views. The rise of consumerism had an even greater influence on the culture of the 1920s with its celebration of worldly values such as acquisition and consumption. Americans had always longed for material security and even a few luxuries; the difference was that during the 1920s, the balance between luxury and security had become skewed. Generations of farmers and artisans had viewed credit as a necessary evil, a partial surrender of one’s independence that was permissible only in the acquisition of productive property such as land and equipment. The use of credit for any other purpose, especially luxury items such as appliances and automobiles, was nearly unthinkable. By the 1920s, credit was no longer viewed as a surrender of one’s liberty but rather as a vehicle by which to enjoy the fruits of modernity. For some, creditworthiness was next to godliness—a symbol that one had been judged as successful and trustworthy.
Figure 6.19
Alice Joyce was a leading actress of the 1920s. Her dress in this image demonstrates the use of straight lines among flappers. The term “flapper” was originally pejorative and based on a gendered perception of a pitiable young bird that tried to show its independence from its mother and nest as it flapped its wings.
For others, credit appeared to offer the promise of liberation from a life of living paycheck to paycheck. Mass production meant that goods once regarded as luxury items became more readily available at much more favorable prices. Most urban families by the end of the 1920s owned an automobile. Nearly everyone could afford a radio, and those who could not could at least purchase a homemade radio kit that permitted one to receive signals. Mass marketing spurred mass consumption, democratized desire, and convinced more and more Americans that a life of more goods was indeed the good life. As a result, Americans’ suspicion of the wealthy declined during the 1920s, and money increasingly became the principal measure of value in a more secular society. As consumer culture replaced traditional mores in the economic realm, a faster and more secular culture even began to alter notions of gender and sexual morality.
Although changes in gender relations and sexual expression during the 1920s seems modest when viewed from the perspective of the twenty-first century, contemporaries perceived these changes as revolutionary. The increasing agency expressed by women and the changing fashions of the era were certainly not new, as Victorian modes of behavior had always been challenged. Young men and young women had long engaged in sexual exploration, short of and including intercourse. What was new about the 1920s is that “respectable” young women were no longer willing to pretend as if these behaviors and the desires behind them did not exist. New words such as “petting” entered polite society, even if the behaviors they described had long existed behind a veil of Victorian discretion.
For most women, gendered notions of modesty remained the highest expression of their virtue. The difference was that the 1920s were host to public acknowledgment that a mutually satisfying sexual connection was a sign of a healthy relationship rather than a warning sign of female insatiability. At the same time, modern attitudes regarding sex cohabited with antiquated notions about hymeneal purity in ways that continued to reinforce misogynistic attitudes and practices.
The fashions of the 1920s were also a continuation of earlier trends toward simpler and more practical attire. This process was accelerated by the need for metal during the war, which led patriotic women to donate their corsets just as they had in the Civil War. Apparently, these metal and leather contraptions were not missed by many women in the 1920s, and corset sales never recovered. By the 1920s, popular dresses were still quite modest, extending just below the knee. What was novel about the style of the “ flapper Intended as a condescending label for the young women who embraced the new fashions and lifestyles of 1920s popular culture, “flappers” were women who sought to express their independence from Victorian notions of gender. Known for wearing slightly shorter and looser dresses, applying darker shades of makeup, and engaging in behaviors previously considered “unfeminine,” such as smoking, flappers also sought to embrace their views about sexuality rather than simply being the object of male lust.” was that these women adhered to a new standard of beauty based around straight lines and shorter hair. Flappers enjoyed new dance moves that encouraged movement and a few sparks of flirtatious suggestion. Whereas the dresses worn by the idealized Gibson Girl of the turn of the century emphasized the female form, the flapper’s gown minimized her hips. Some flappers even attempted to minimize their bust with tightly woven fabric.
Young women were increasingly likely to leave home and experience at least a few years of independence at college prior to marriage. Only 2 percent of young adults attended college at the turn of the century, but only two decades later, that number increased to 7 percent. Colleges doubled in size and then doubled again in this short time, creating virtual cities of youths complete with dormitories and a rapid proliferation of fraternities and sororities. A quarter of students belonged to one of these Greek organizations.
While it was socially acceptable for young men to live alone or with their peers, young women were expected to room with a respectable married family who would also become their chaperones and surrogate parents. By 1920, young women were attending college in nearly equal numbers as young men, leading to a shortage of boarding opportunities for young women. In response, many of the first dormitories were reserved for women. College dormitories provided a home for unmarried female students known as “coeds.” Colleges employed older women to live in the dormitories and serve as surrogate mothers for these coeds, each enforcing a strict set of rules and curfews. The perceived need for these “dorm mothers” was spread by contemporary novels such as Flaming Youth, which created the stereotype of college life as a time of rebellion and sexual adventure. However, most college students in the 1920s rejected styles of “fast living” that college would later be associated with.
Figure 6.20
The University of Kentucky women’s basketball team was one of the best in the nation during the early 1920s. The team in this photo enjoyed an undefeated season. In 1924, however, the University followed the trend of disbanding their women’s teams believing that competitive team sports was not appropriate for women.
For most college women of the 1920s, the fashionable lifestyle of the flapper was exciting but little more than a temporary diversion from their goal of marriage and motherhood. A flapper could express her independence through wearing makeup, smoking, drinking, and other behaviors once considered “unladylike.” Each of these behaviors might have appeared as a minor scandal among a college-aged woman’s middle-class family, but they were not the most enduring symbol of gender liberation.
Flappers and the newly independent generation of college women lived in a space between the patriarchy of their father’s home and the domestic realm they would create with her future husbands. These women were even known to go out at night with other women, eschewing the once-obligatory male chaperone. These formative years of at least temporary liberation from the constant “supervision” of men was perhaps the most obvious assertion of female independence. This independence was more than a rite of passage for future generations. Women’s experiences in college encouraged greater assertiveness among well-educated women and demonstrated that the new “independent woman” of the era was compatible with middle-class respectability.
At the same time, the 1920s and colleges were conservative institutions that reflected the political and economic orthodoxy of the era. Women were steered toward a handful of majors and discouraged from direct competition with men in the classroom or in extracurricular activities. By the mid-1920s, women were even discouraged from competition with one another. Intercollegiate women’s athletics had grown from the 1880s to the 1920s, and audiences rivaled men’s sports outside of football. By the mid-1920s, reformers argued that strenuous athletic activity was both unfeminine and dangerous to reproductive health. Women’s competitive leagues were disbanded and replaced with “play days” where women from various colleges participated in noncompetitive games. The participants were even barred from forming teams that represented their institutions. Instead, the women were divided evenly among other schools to prevent an “unfeminine” spirit of aggressive competition.
Culture War and the Scopes Trial
A trial in the heart of Tennessee came to represent the changing culture of the 1920s, as well as those who sought to preserve traditional views. John Scopes, a recent graduate of the University of Kentucky, was teaching biology in Dayton, Tennessee, when he was found in violation of a state law that prohibited the teaching of Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution. Darwin’s theories were taught throughout the United States at the time, but they raised the ire of conservatives and evangelicals who believed that evolution ran counter to deeply held religious beliefs about the divine creation of man. In 1925, leading public figures such as William Jennings Bryan arose to defend the state law of Tennessee. Clarence Darrow agreed to defend Scopes’s right to academic freedom. The resulting trial, known as the Scopes Monkey Trial A highly publicized trial of high school teacher John Scopes who violated a Tennessee law that forbade the teaching of evolution. The trial would become emblematic of the culture wars of the early twentieth century between conservative Christian fundamentalists and modernists who tended to be more secular and liberal., quickly descended into a media circus. As news reporters covered the trial’s proceedings via live radio, Americans everywhere tuned in to listen as the academics squared off against the defenders of tradition and old-time religion.
One of the reasons Bryan agreed to defend the Tennessee law was that Darwin’s theories about evolution were also being used to support eugenicists who advocated sterilization of minorities, which Bryan felt was un-American. However, the bulk of Bryan’s argument was based on the idea that the teaching of evolution and the increasingly secular nature of public education threatened the values of rural America. The actual violation of the state law itself was hardly denied, and the trial soon became more of cultural debate than an investigation of the validity of the Tennessee law. Scopes himself was found guilty and fined $100, although he was never required to pay upon appeal.
The notoriety surrounding the trial led most Americans to hold their own debates about the separation of church and state. Most urban reporters believed that the brilliant attorney Clarence Darrow humiliated the devoutly religious Bryan. However, for many Americans, Bryan’s declared belief in the literal translation of the Bible was nothing to be ashamed of. Even if the trial resulted in a moral victory for the forces of modern science and secular education, rural Americans, especially rural Southerners, often relished lost causes. For them, the attack upon a law they believed defended their children from heretical theories represented the way urban America, liberals, the federal government, and an increasingly worldly culture threatened their way of life. For the rest of the nation, liberal condescension toward evangelicals and rural Southerners appeared inconsistent with values such as toleration for others that supposedly guided American liberalism.
Although the trial was portrayed as a battle of reason and science versus religion and city versus the countryside, most Americans did not draw lines quite so cleanly. Most Americans believed in both evolution and creationism. Many rural Americans feared that banning evolution for religious reasons violated principles that were supposed to separate the church from the government. In addition, many academics rose to defend traditional views and ways of life against the superficiality of modern culture.
In 1930, a dozen Southern historians published an edited collection of articles called I’ll Take My Stand: The South and the Agrarian Tradition. The historians sought to defend both the South and rural conservatism. They argued that an agricultural economy was naturally disposed toward more humane, egalitarian, and leisurely societies than that of urban industry. The book mixed an impassioned defense of community, the satisfaction of hard work, and a longing for an Edenic paradise lost. However, these white Southerners also demonstrated some of the most disturbing features of the white South when discussing race. Demonstrating their own misguided ideas about Africa as a land of savagery, several chose to include a nonhistorical defense of slavery as a positive good for the enslaved.
Pan-Africanism and Marcus Garvey
Figure 6.21
This 1923 photo of Marcus Garvey demonstrates his flair for drama but also the pride that Garvey and his followers took in their movement. UNIA chapters included various ranks and positions which gave members a feeling of importance and belonging.
Black scholars responded to the racial bigotry found within I’ll Take My Stand by celebrating black life and history in ways that reflected a new attitude of self-awareness and self-assertiveness. Scholar Alain Locke referred to this orientation as “The New Negro,” an expression that came to embody the 1920s, even if the phrase itself had been used for over a generation. An African American journalist writing for the Cleveland Gazette may have coined this phrase in 1895. Five years later, Booker T. Washington used the phrase for the title of his book A New Negro for a New Century. However, the phrase took on a new meaning beyond self-help when Locke began to use it in the 1920s. The “New Negro” he described demanded respect and fair treatment. The “New Negro” might be an artist, an intellectual, a professional, or a common laborer. What they had in common was the refusal to kowtow to those who failed to recognize the dignity of their person or their labor.
W. E. B. Du Bois demonstrated this new spirit of willful confrontation to white supremacy by publishing essays that exposed white power organizations. These reports were based on the investigations of the biracial and blue-eyed Walter White who infiltrated these groups. White’s “passing” was in this instance a daring expression of the new militancy among some African Americans. At the same time, it was a reminder that some other black women and men were still fleeing from their true racial identity.
Du Bois and the NAACP also demonstrated the spirit of the “New Negro” by supporting dozens of civil rights lawsuits and demanding an end to the colonization of Africa. Du Bois believed that the second-class citizenship of African Americans reflected this colonial orientation and remained the prominent voice of the NAACP and black intelligentsia throughout the 1920s. However, Du Bois and the NAACP were overshadowed during the early 1920s by a Jamaican named Marcus Garvey A Jamaican advocate of Pan-African unity, Garvey created the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) in New York. The goal of the UNIA was to promote black pride and economic self-sufficiency in the near term while working toward creating independent black republics in Africa, Latin America, or the Caribbean. who advocated a different brand of Pan-Africanism.
Garvey came to America in 1916 and toured Tuskegee Institute, an Alabama teacher’s college which was founded by the late Booker T. Washington. While there, he accepted an invitation to tour Harlem and was particularly impressed with the new attitude of self-reliance he saw in hundreds of small businesses throughout the predominantly black New York neighborhood. For Garvey, these economic enterprises that were independent of white money and white control represented the key to racial advancement. Garvey believed that lawsuits demanding integration were wrongheaded because he did not believe that white Americans would ever consent to sharing economic and political control with blacks. Furthermore, Garvey thought that the NAACP was foolish to launch civil rights lawsuits to force white businesses to treat black customers the same as white customers when the result would only mean more business for the white proprietor. He also did not approve of what he perceived as a cringing attitude among some black leaders who “begged” white government leaders to permit them to vote without fear of lynching or to sit in a white-owned theater among other whites.
Instead, Garvey believed the goal was to create black-owned theaters that showed films made by and for black people. He wanted black-owned restaurants and stores that would provide jobs for black employees and outlets for the products made by black artisans. He also wanted black voters to select black candidates, but doubted this would ever happen in the predominantly white political world. As a result, Garvey called for people of African descent to create independent black nations in the Caribbean, South America, and Africa where equality of rights would be recognized in law and deed.
In support of this goal, Marcus Garvey created the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) Created by Marcus Garvey in 1917, the UNIA was a fraternal organization that sought to promote pride, economic independence, and a common identity among people of African descent. The UNIA’s newspaper The Negro World had a circulation that reached millions, while individual UNIA chapters started many successful cooperative economic ventures. The economic ventures of Garvey, however, proved to be epic failures, and the UNIA declined after its national leader was arrested and deported. in Jamaica in 1914. Garvey established the first UNIA branch in the United States three years later, which was aimed at promoting racial pride and developing black-owned businesses; he hoped this would ultimately lead to black economic and political independence, which formed the foundation of his Pan-African vision. Although Illinois’s Oscar De Priest would win election to the US Congress in 1928, those who subscribed to the ideal of black nationalism would point out that De Priest was placed on the ballot to secure black support for the lily-white machine politicians that controlled Chicago. De Priest himself advocated civil rights causes, but those who supported black nationalism would also point out that he was the only black American elected to Congress since the late nineteenth century.
Figure 6.22
Illinois congressman Oscar De Priest was born to former slaves in Alabama. His family were Exodusters who moved to Ohio in the late 1870s. De Priest eventually settled in Chicago where he was a local politician before winning election to Congress.
Garvey’s charisma and message of economic independence resonated with the masses of black Americans. His supporters resented the way their labor was exploited by white bosses while their earnings enriched white store owners and landlords who were often disrespectful. Garvey was unrivaled as a promoter, and he established dozens of businesses that produced products black men and women could be proud of, such as black dolls for children and uniforms for black nurses. Independent UNIA chapters launched dozens of economic cooperatives—stores run by black consumers who pooled their money to purchase goods directly and share profits equally. Together, black Americans rallied under Garvey’s goal of “Negro producers, Negro distributors, Negro consumers,” which he promised would end the neocolonial power structure that turned black labor into white profit.
Garvey’s newspaper The Negro World was produced in several languages and had a circulation of nearly 200,000 around the world. The paper included uncompromising editorials about the white power structure and the need for a Pan-African independence movement. It also called for an end to colonialism, in both Africa and the United States. Garvey’s militancy attracted the attention of federal agents who feared the charismatic leader of the UNIA might encourage a revolution among black Americans. The federal government tracked Garvey’s movements and sought out complaints among his investors in hopes of deporting Garvey back to Jamaica. By 1923, they had enough evidence to imprison the black leader for fraud.
Garvey’s most ambitious project was an international passenger and freight company called the Black Star Line. The purpose of this company was to promote trade and travel with Africa. Garvey received hundreds of thousands of stock subscriptions and purchased several large but aging ships that turned out to be poorly suited for international travel. For example, the first ship Garvey purchased ended up being worth only a fraction of its price. A touring ship Garvey purchased called the SS Shadyside had a leak in the side of its hull and sank. The irony of this disaster did little to improve the financial condition of the Black Star Line. After several voyages, most of the ships were in disrepair, and nearly every black leader had turned against Garvey for the loss of nearly every dollar entrusted to him by working-class men and women.
Black leaders were also angered by Garvey’s calculating effort to solicit donations from the Ku Klux Klan to further his plans to create an independent black republic. Garvey hoped the Klan’s desire to eliminate nonwhites would lead to financial assistance for his dream of creating an independent black republic outside of the United States. In the end, it was the failure of the Black Star Line and several duplicitous promises to his investors that destroyed Garvey’s movement. After serving a brief jail sentence for investment fraud, Garvey was deported back to Jamaica in late 1927. Despite the poor management of his shipping company, the Garvey movement encouraged black pride. It also facilitated a number of local collective and economic ventures that fared much better than Garvey’s ambitious but poorly operated shipping line. At the same time, Garvey’s failures also drained precious financial resources from the black community and discouraged investment among those who purchased stock in Garvey’s Black Star Line.
The Harlem Renaissance
The African American poet Langston Hughes An African American writer and poet who was raised in the Midwest but lived most of his adult life in Harlem. Hughes’s poetry became a vehicle for assailing racism while communicating the dignity of African American life and culture. personified the militancy and diversity of the New Negro. His mother had defeated segregation in Topeka, Kansas, five decades before the famous Brown v. Board decision that originated in this Midwestern state capitol. The agreement she secured permitted Hughes to attend the school nearest his home. His treatment in this school and the “integrated” schools of nearby Lawrence would leave a lasting impression on the young Hughes about the shortcomings of integration in the North. Langston Hughes’s grandfather had been among the martyrs of John Brown’s raid in West Virginia. His grandmother kept the bullet-ridden shawl her late husband wore when he was killed at Harper’s Ferry and told young Langston stories about his family’s long fight for justice. His grandmother was the first black woman to attend Oberlin College in Ohio. His granduncle had been a US congressman representing Virginia. The Hughes ancestry also included Native Americans and people of European descent. His distant relatives even included leading men such as Senator Henry Clay.
Hughes attended Columbia University in 1921, but his real education took place in the adjacent community of Harlem. Hughes immediately recognized that the spirit of his poetry was alive in this mecca of independent black art and culture. In 1926, Hughes and several notable writers, such Zora Neale Hurston A controversial figure in her own lifetime for her use of black vernacular in her work, Hurston’s prose is renowned today for its drama and authenticity. Hurston’s work described the conditions many Southern blacks faced and dealt candidly with controversial topics affecting black communities. and Countee Cullen, teamed with artist and fellow Kansan Aaron Douglas to create a literary magazine called Fire!! This journal was not well received by the mainstream black press. Few middle and upper-class black readers were prepared for the journal’s honest depiction of black life and were deeply troubled by its inclusion of a piece about homosexuality. In fact, the reviewer from the Baltimore Afro-American declared that the journal deserved to be thrown into the fireplace. Ironically, a warehouse fire would later destroy many of the unsold copies. Surviving copies of the journal and the work of its contributors and hundreds of other writers and artists demonstrate that the Harlem Renaissance A cultural movement centered around the black neighborhood of Harlem that produced a wealth of uniquely American art, literature, poetry, music, and plays. While previous generations of African Americans had usually sought to mirror European culture, black artists from around the country joined those in Harlem in creating uniquely American and African American styles of cultural expression. represented a new attitude among black intellectuals. We “intend to express our individual dark-skinned selves without fear or shame,” Hughes exclaimed. “If the white people are pleased, we are glad. If they are not, it doesn’t matter. We know we are beautiful, and ugly too.”
Figure 6.23
Langston Hughes was one of the most prolific writers of the Harlem Renaissance.
This new spirit contrasted sharply with the work of most African American artists, musicians, and writers who, prior to the 1920s, mirrored European styles. Because most white Americans also sought to produce art and literature that reflected European standards, the Harlem Renaissance would inspire the creation of uniquely American art, music, and literature in future generations. Zora Neale Hurston would later become one of the most well-known writers of the era, although her most famous novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God, was not published until 1937. Hurston’s work acknowledged the poverty and conditions faced by rural blacks and celebrated black dialogue. Her style set Hurston apart during an era when many black newspapers scolded the masses for speaking too informally and too loudly on trains because it created a negative impression in the minds of white passengers. Hurston’s work was seldom appreciated in its own time, however, and most artists that participated in the Harlem Renaissance still wrote from the perspective of the black middle class.
Figure 6.24
Like many Harlem Renaissance artists, Hale Woodruff was born in the Midwest. He left his hometown of Cairo, Illinois, studied art at Harvard, and taught at Atlanta University as well as Spellman College and Morehouse. His art depicted a variety of topics, including a series of famous murals depicting the slave revolt aboard the Amistad.
Despite its middle-class pedigree, the work of the Harlem Renaissance was still daring and uniquely American. Its poetry, prose, music, and art reflected the unique struggles of those who achieved a high level of education and economic security yet were denied the respectability granted to others whose journeys were less burdened. Hughes wrote poems inspired from his own life. For example, he wrote about the loneliness of being the only black student in an “integrated” school and being ridiculed by teachers when he expressed his ambitions to become a writer. No matter how successful one rose to be, even those whites that called themselves friends of the race acted differently among other whites, Hughes explained. Others practiced segregation with little regard for its consequences upon the self-perception of black children. “They send me to eat in the kitchen when company comes,” Hughes wrote in his poem I Too Sing America, “but I laugh, and eat well, and grow strong.” The poem If We Must Die by Claude McKay was more direct, counseling violent resistance to the violence of racism in the midst of the race riots of 1919.
The independence of black writers was reflected by the works of black musicians in Harlem and throughout the United States in the 1920s. No longer content to mirror the styles of European classical music or the sedate melodies of the era’s Big Bands that excluded them, black musicians created a new style of music that reflected the highs and lows of life in black enclaves like New Orleans. Jazz featured an up-tempo beat with improvised solos bound together by a bolder rhythm and harmony than could be found anywhere else. A phalanx of traveling musicians transferred different styles of music, such as blues with its unique chords and “blue” notes. None of these styles and forms of music was invented by any one person, although W. C. Handy is often known as “the Father of the Blues” for his role in capturing the rhythms he observed throughout black America and transferring them to sheet music.
On any given night in 1920s America, one might go in search of the blues as it moved from its birthplace in the Mississippi Delta north to Chicago and all points east and west. If one knew where to look, they might even find it in the factory towns of New England and the mining camps of Appalachia. However, if a musical style could ever be said to have an address, during the 1920s, the home of jazz was Harlem. The machine politics of Kansas City’s Tom Pendergast and other city bosses permitted the growth of tenderloin districts where liquor and jazz flowed. However, none of these compared to Harlem’s Savoy Ballroom or Apollo Theater, a melting pot where the Chicago style of Louis Armstrong mixed with the St. Louis Blues and Charlie “Bird” Parker’s Kansas City Jazz.
Wealthy and middle-class whites seldom visited Harlem’s jazz clubs, despite the rising popularity of jazz and blues worldwide. Most whites preferred the “plantation atmosphere” of Manhattan’s Cotton Club, where black musicians performed but were never allowed to partake. At hundreds of similar venues throughout the nation, black musicians, light-skinned dancing girls, and white-gloved waiters offered a taste of black culture to a white America that was not yet ready for the New Negro of Harlem. Despite its hypocrisy in drawing the color line against black patrons, The Cotton Club provided an authentic portrait of US culture and all its contradictions. Scholar Alain Locke wrote that before the Harlem Renaissance, black Americans were expected to follow a formula created by white Americans of the “good negro” who was docile and childlike, hardworking but incapable of independent thought.
…there would be no lynching, if it did not start in the schoolroom. Why not exploit, enslave, or exterminate a class that everybody is taught to regard as inferior?
—Historian Carter G. Woodson explaining the importance of teaching the culture, language, perspectives, and history of diverse peoples
As evidenced by Locke and many other scholars, such as historian Carter G. Woodson Known as the “Father of Black History,” Woodson was an educator in West Virginia who earned a PhD from Harvard and founded what eventually became African American History Month. Equally important, Woodson studied topics such as the history of slavery from the perspective of black Americans during an era when academic studies of slavery were dominated by Southern whites., the 1920s also saw a renaissance in black scholarship. Woodson rose from the coal mines and segregated schools of West Virginia to become the second African American to receive a PhD from Harvard University. Woodson started what became black history month. More impressively, Woodson transformed black history from a branch of Southern history practiced by Southern whites to its own scholarly discipline. Woodson’s life work was the inclusion of black perspectives and the incorporation of African American history within the larger narrative of US history.
Woodson lived in a time when scholars accepted slavery as a positive good for the slave with a few unfortunate exceptions and a few unkind masters. The standard work on the subject, American Negro Slavery (1918) by U. B. Phillips claimed that slaves “were by racial quality submissive rather than defiant, light-hearted instead of gloomy, amiable and ingratiating instead of sullen, and whose very defects invited paternalism rather than repression.” Woodson discovered hundreds of firsthand accounts of slavery from the perspective of the slave that forever altered America’s perception of American slavery and antebellum history. Woodson also explained how the miseducated views of these historians justified and perpetuated racist ideas in the minds of both white and black Americans.
The New Woman of the 1920s
Leaders of the suffrage movement began to speak of a “New Woman” who, like the “New Negro,” was better educated and more assertive. During the 1920s, one in four Americans in the paid workforce were women. One in twenty married women was engaged in paid employment outside of the home at the turn of the century, but by the 1920s, that number had increased to one in ten. The increase in the number of women in the workforce alone was not evidence of advancement for women, however, since 90 percent of women were employed in only one of ten “female” jobs that featured routine work, low status, and low pay.
The emergence of nursing, and especially teaching, opened new positions for educated women. The teaching field grew exponentially during the early decades of the twentieth century as mandatory school attendance laws finally began to be enforced nationwide. Entering this field was an army of well-trained women, as female high school graduates outnumbered their male counterparts, and 47 percent of college students were women. Men and women were also graduating college in equal numbers during the 1920s. A glass ceiling remained for educators, however, as 80 percent of teachers were women, while only a handful of women had been appointed as principals.
Figure 6.25
Unappreciated by most Americans during her life, many of Zora Neale Hurston’s books are among the best-selling novels. Her most famous novel is semi-autobiographical, detailing life in the all-black town of Eatonville, Florida.
Echoing this imbalance, only a handful of college faculty positions were held by women beyond a few dozen women’s colleges that were usually led by male administrators. The discrepancy was not the result of a lack of female candidates, as one in six PhD degrees was awarded to a woman during the 1920s. Owing to the vast number of well-qualified women, the academy began its reluctant march toward gender equality. In many ways, universities were more progressive than the rest of the professions in this regard. Women during the 1920s were also more likely to achieve professional degrees, even if their opportunities to practice law and medicine were even more severely limited than academia. In addition, nine women served in the US Congress during the late 1920s, and thousands of women were appointed or elected to positions in state and local governments nationwide.
The battle for the right to vote had at least partially unified women of diverse backgrounds. With suffrage achieved, the already tenuous cooperation of these groups was threatened. Absent a common cause, the lines of race, ethnicity, region, and social class once again threatened to divide women. The potential threat of disintegration was manifest at the first convention of the National Women’s Party (NWP) in 1921. A group of black women rose to address the convention regarding the refusal of some Southern states to recognize their right to vote. NWP leader Alice Paul argued that this was a racial and regional issue best handled by Southern black women separately. African American delegate and NAACP field secretary Addie Hunton protested that this was precisely the kind of issue the NWP must address. “No women are free,” Hunton explained, “until all women are free.” Paul and other leading white women had a long history of being more liberal in their support of racial equality than the general population. However, it was clear to the black delegates that their interests were secondary concerns to Paul and most whites within the NWP. From Paul’s perspective, support for black voting rights would likely split the NWP along racial and regional lines in ways that would derail the women’s movement.
Instead, Paul hoped to capitalize on the inertia of that movement and use the voting power of women to pass a law that would forever outlaw gender discrimination. To this end, Paul and the National Women’s Party introduced the Equal Rights Amendment in 1923. The amendment was elegant in its simplicity, prohibiting any legal distinctions regarding gender. Paul believed that the amendment would require equal employment and educational opportunities. It would also open new opportunities for entrepreneurial women who needed equal access to bank loans. However, most restrictions upon women in business and the professions were by custom rather than law and would therefore be more difficult to challenge.
Many women outside the NWP argued that the Equal Rights Amendment threatened to invalidate a number of state laws that women had lobbied for in the past. This included “protective” legislation limiting the number of hours a woman could be required to work and the kinds of physical labor she could be compelled to perform. Other states had created welfare programs known as mother’s pensions that provided limited benefits for mothers and widows. In addition, the Sheppard-Towner Act specifically provided funding for women’s health clinics. As a result, many women’s groups expressed opposition to the Equal Rights Amendment throughout the 1920s for fear that these laws might be invalidated. This division among women would become especially pronounced during the 1970s when the Equal Rights Amendment passed Congress and was sent to the states for ratification.
Review and Critical Thinking
Explain the ways that college life reflected the cultural changes of the 1920s. In what ways were the 1920s a more liberal decade, and in what ways was the decade more conservative?
What was the significance of the Scopes trial? How does the trial reflect the cultural divides of US life in the 1920s?
What was the Harlem Renaissance? How was the message of black America as expressed by artists and writers in the 1920s relevant to all Americans? Why might few history surveys written prior to the 1970s include any mention of the Harlem Renaissance?
What was the significance of the work of historian Carter G. Woodson? Might his argument about the danger of miseducation be applied to other fields of inquiry?
What was new about the “new woman” of the 1920s? In what ways did life for American women change during this decade?
6.4 The Crash: From Decadence to Depression
Learning Objectives
Explain the various causes of the Great Depression. Analyze the reasons for the stock market’s decline, the banking crisis, and the decline of consumer demand.
Evaluate the response of the Hoover administration to the growing economic turmoil of the early 1930s. Explain how customs of limited government restrained this response, while at the same time exploring the ways that Hoover sought to expand the role of government to meet the crisis in new ways.
Summarize the issues of the election of 1932. Explain how Roosevelt was able to win by a landslide while previous Democrats had been defeated by Republicans by equally large margins in previous elections.
Election of 1928 and the Stock Market Crash
In 1928, Republican presidential candidate Herbert Hoover declared that the United States was “nearer to the final triumph over poverty” than any nation in the history of the world. This kind of rhetoric was expected from presidents and would later be used to make it appear as though Hoover had not anticipated the challenges of the next four years. The criticism is only partially valid. Hoover, more than most political leaders of his day, understood that some of the era’s affluence was based on speculation. As secretary of commerce under Harding and Coolidge, Hoover understood these challenges as well as most Americans and had long cautioned about the dangers of stock market speculation.
As a candidate in the 1928 presidential election, however, Hoover’s strategy was to connect his leadership of the Commerce Department with the decade’s prosperity. The strategy paid dividends as Hoover easily defeated Democrat Al Smith with the support of 21 million voters to Smith’s 15 million supporters. The only consolation for the Democrats was that they were successful in mobilizing immigrant voters, although a large part of this growth was simply a reaction to the nativist rhetoric of many within the Republican Party. Smith was the first Catholic to secure the nomination of any major political party. Although the Klan and others who subscribed to anti-Catholic sentiment had declined, Smith’s campaign was still tormented by nativist detractors. These efforts backfired, at least in the long term because they brought Catholic voters into the Democratic fold. These two groups—Catholics and immigrants—would prove essential components of the future Democratic coalition that would provide large majorities for their party in future elections.
Part of Hoover’s appeal in the 1928 election was the connection in voters’ minds between the prosperity of recent years and the Republican Party. His cabinet was composed of business leaders and reflected the confidence of years of financial success. The stock market had been encouraged by nearly a decade of increasingly positive earnings results. There were certainly signs of decline within major industries and real estate, but this was true even during the most robust periods of economic growth. Some of the positive signs were unique to the US. For example, American finance and industry had gained globally in the wake of World War I. US banks and the federal government were receiving millions each year in interest payments from loans made to their Western allies during and after World War I. The United States also enjoyed a favorable balance of trade and a domestic market that was the envy of the rest of the world.
Figure 6.26
The stock market crash of October 1929 led to bank failures that caused many Americans to lose their life savings as well as their jobs. State and private charities had cared for individuals in the past, but these entities were quickly overwhelmed by the magnitude of the Great Depression.
In retrospect, at least, the global signs of economic decline were obvious. Germany was saved from delinquency in its reparation payments only by a series of temporary reprieves that delayed repayment. US banks had invested heavily in Germany both before and after the war. Had it not been for US money that was still flowing to Germany, German banks would have defaulted on their obligations to Western Europe long ago. Even worse, Western Europe’s interest payments to US banks and the federal government were dependent upon the receipt of German payments. In other words, America’s leading position in world affairs obscured the fact that it stood atop a delicate house of cards that depended on US capital to shuffle the deck. If US banks were unable to provide continued loans to their international creditors, these foreign governments and banks might default. This could start a cycle of defaults that would leave US banks to face their own precarious liquidity issues at home.
These US banks had invested their own depositor’s money, loaning money to corporations that were also low on cash reserves. Domestic consumer purchases of homes, automobiles, and appliances were declining for two important reasons. First, consumers who could afford these items had already purchased them, while others had purchased them on credit. Neither group could be expected to make the same level of discretionary purchases indefinitely. Second, the distribution of wealth in the nation was dangerously uneven. Corporations had borrowed billions to produce factories that could churn out consumer goods, but there simply were not enough middle-class consumers who could afford their products. The wealthiest 1 percent of Americans controlled over a third of the nation’s wealth, and the bottom 50 percent had almost no personal savings whatsoever. The middle class had grown slightly wealthier, but few people could truly be considered middle class. This group of consumers was simply not large enough to sustain the new economy, which was based largely upon consumer spending.
The most obvious sign of financial crisis came in October 1929 when the average valuation of every publicly traded US company dropped by nearly 40 percent. Although this decline merely returned most stocks to the prices of the mid-1920s, the Stock Market Crash of 1929 Refers to a series of days in October 1929 when the aggregate value of publicly traded companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange declined by as much as 10 percent. Although similar panics had led to declines like this over the course of a few days, the stock market crash saw multiple trading sessions in a row, where prices declined rapidly despite the efforts of leading bankers to bolster the market. Because many investors had bought stock with borrowed money, these declines led many individuals, banks, and corporations to go bankrupt. By 1933, the stock market was down by over 80 percent. was not merely a setback. Hundreds of millions of shares had been purchased with borrowed money with only the stock itself as collateral. When these stock prices fell, the loans could not be repaid. As a result, thousands of banks failed, and millions of depositors lost their life savings.
Even banks that had not made risky loans or speculated in the stock market were punished because depositors did not want to take chances that their bank would be the next to fail. At this time, it is important to remember, the US government did not provide insurance for bank deposits. The result was that banks no longer had money to lend to individuals or businesses to keep the economy going. To make matters worse, banks also began to call in their loans early, which forced businesses to sell their own stock, lay off workers, or simply declare bankruptcy.
This incredibly risky strategy of buying stock with borrowed money was known as “buying on margin.” The practice remains legal in the modern era, although it is more heavily regulated. Buying on margin allowed individuals to “leverage” their money to buy more stock than they normally could by using existing stock as collateral. For example, someone with 500 shares of General Electric valued at $100 per share would have an investment valued at $50,000. The use of leverage and margin could permit the investor to use those shares as collateral for a loan of another $200,000, which he would use to purchase another 2,000 shares of GE stock. If GE stock increases in value, the individual stands to make a substantial profit. However, if the stock declines by 40 percent, as most stocks did, the individual’s 2,500 shares at $60 each would be worth only $150,000. Because he still owes the bank $200,000 and has only $150,000 in stock to pay it back, he and the bank might be in serious trouble. During the 1920s, many private citizens, corporations, investment firms, and even banks found themselves in precisely this situation. Had the investor simply bought the 500 shares with money he owned, he would still have $30,000 worth of stock even after the 40 percent decline.
It may be easy in hindsight to see the folly of such an investment strategy, but the stock market’s unprecedented rise during the 1920s enticed many investors to become gamblers. The era’s prosperity had led to dramatic increases in stock prices, partially due to genuine corporate profits but also because many other speculators were also buying stock with money they did not actually have. Eventually, there were not enough new investors to keep buying stocks, and the prices began to decline.
However, these stock price declines were not the only cause of the Great Depression. Stock prices had doubled in the final two years of the 1920s and were overdue for a correction. The greatest significance of the stock market was its effect upon the banking system. The economy’s decline had actually begun sector by sector in the mid- to late 1920s in response to declining consumer demand. It was only after the crash of Wall Street that investors started paying attention to the years of declining consumer demand. Prior to the crash of October 1929, investors were happy to purchase stock at inflated prices. Afterwards, the realization that corporate profits lagged behind stock prices led to three consecutive years of stock market declines.
These declines erased the wealth of many potential entrepreneurs and led to the near-collapse of the banking system. It also shook the confidence of credit markets in ways that would prevent economic recovery. Recovery was also prevented by the unequal distribution of wealth in an economy based on consumer spending. When consumers could no longer afford to act as consumers are expected to act, sales declined, and the downward pressure on all financial markets continued. Between bank failures, the stock market crash, massive unemployment, and the complete erosion of consumer demand, it became increasingly clear that the economy would not recover on its own as quickly as it had in the past.
Hoover’s Response
Hoover recognized that the economy risked slowing due to overproduction that had produced glutted markets, especially in agriculture. Hoover believed the solution was higher tariffs for imports and a cooperative effort between businesses and government to expand into foreign markets. The Smoot-Hawley Tariff of 1930 Placed taxes on imported goods during the Depression. The tariff was intended to spur domestic production by limiting foreign imports. However, the tariff encouraged foreign countries to place reciprocal tariffs on US exports, leading many historians to argue that the tariff was counterproductive. increased tariffs to record highs in hopes of limiting foreign imports to the United States. Economists predicted that the tariffs would backfire by leading foreign governments to raise tariffs on US products sold abroad. Because the United States was a net exporter of both manufactured goods and agricultural products, the danger of damaging the export trade was greater than the possible benefit of reducing imports. Unfortunately for farmers and industry, the tariff took effect just as a global depression led other nations to place similar tariffs on foreign goods, and international trade fell by two-thirds by 1932. Many in government recognized that raising the tariff was a poor long-term strategy, yet by 1930, most politicians were simply hoping to provide a quick boost to the domestic economy.
The stock market crash led to tighter credit and a suspension of loans from US banks abroad. As a result, only a controversial deal brokered by Hoover granting a one-year suspension of payments on wartime loans prevented an immediate collapse of the international banking system. However, the instability and unlikelihood that European banks could resume payments to the United States when this temporary moratorium ended led private citizens and companies to withdraw their money from European banks. The panic soon spread to the United States where bank runs led to the failure of a few thousand banks between 1931 and 1933. Because US banks had loaned the money that had been deposited to US businesses, real estate developers, and international banks, none of whom could immediately pay back their loans, there was no money to repay all of the depositors who were presenting themselves by the hundreds at the door of US banks.
The years 1932 and 1933 were the worst of the Great Depression A period of high unemployment and low economic development between the Wall Street Crash of 1929 and US entry into World War II. The Depression was not limited to the United States, as Europe and the rest of the industrialized world experienced severe declines in their material well-being., as bank failures wiped out life savings and discouraged those who still had money from spending or investing it. One-fourth to one-third of Americans who sought jobs were unemployed at any given moment. Private charities that had been somewhat effective at caring for America’s poor in years past found themselves in the unenviable position of trying to determine who was in the greatest danger of starvation. Diseases associated with malnutrition that had not surfaced since the leanest years of the Civil War began to reemerge. Several million families were evicted from their homes and lived in the growing shanties that surrounded most cities. That many Americans called these clusters of makeshift shelters “Hoovervilles” indicated that Americans’ expectations of the federal government had changed since the crises of the 1870s and 1890s. During those years, most Americans turned to state and local governments for assistance. However, the magnitude of the crisis appeared to be beyond the ability of these institutions and private charity to mitigate.
Instead of Coxey’s Army, which had demanded federal jobs during the crisis of the 1890s, more than 15,000 veterans converged on Washington in the summer of 1932. These former World War I soldiers requested early payment of their retirement bonus. Congress and President Hoover debated the matter, but determined that it was more important to maintain a balanced budget. Few of the veterans left the city after their measure was defeated. For many of these men and their families, obtaining an early payment of their bonus was their last best hope. Calling themselves the Bonus Army, these men and their families established their own Hoovervilles throughout the city and resolved to stay until the federal government reconsidered.
On July 28, an enraged President Hoover ordered the military to prevent these men from continuing their protest in front of the White House or US Capitol. Not for the last time in his career, General Douglas MacArthur exceeded a president’s orders. He sought to evict the veterans and their families from the nation’s capitol by force if necessary. Hoover likely did not fully understand the tactics that the military used on these veterans’ families, believing that he had preserved law and order from a trespassing “mob” as he called the men. The media told a different story complete with pictures of tanks under the command of MacArthur and perhaps the last cavalry charge in US military history led by a major named George S. Patton. The troops used poisonous gas that led to the death of an infant, while local police ordered the shacks set on fire. Among the dozens of injured veterans was a former private from Camden, New Jersey, who had been decorated for valor in saving Patton’s life during World War I.
Figure 6.27
The US Capitol appears in the backdrop of burning shacks, the temporary home of veterans who were part of the Bonus Army. These men had traveled to Washington, DC, in hopes of convincing Congress and President Hoover to pay World War I enlistment bonuses early due to the hardships of the Depression. As the photo indicates, that request was denied.
Following the government’s response to the Bonus Army, the public perceived Hoover as remarkably insensitive to the plight of ordinary Americans. It helped little that Hoover believed that keeping up the regal appearances of the White House might help to demonstrate his confidence in recovery. Hoover had never relished the trappings of office in the first place and might have been better served by communicating a bit of his own history instead of being photographed with white-gloved White House waiters. Hoover rose from poverty as an orphan to become a wealthy engineer. Actually, Hoover had succeeded at nearly everything he tried. He had also demonstrated a capacity for helping others in times of dire need as the head of an international agency that provided relief for Belgians during World War I. Hoover had also coordinated America’s remarkably successful humanitarian efforts throughout Europe at the war’s conclusion.
However, Hoover also viewed the creation of a large and powerful central government as the first step toward the tyranny that led to World War I. He and most other leading men of his era had come to believe that economic fluctuations were simply part of the business cycle and should be endured with stoic resolve. Hoover also believed in the importance of balanced budgets and ensuring a strong dollar based on the gold standard. While some of his critics suggested that printing more money would help to alleviate the credit crisis, limit bank failures, and perhaps encourage investment, Hoover followed orthodox economists who believed intentionally causing inflation was heresy. Hoover’s economic advisers also rejected new ideas such as raising money by selling government bonds to fund public works projects that would provide jobs. In fact, Hoover vetoed a law sponsored by his Democratic opponents that would have done this as the 1930 congressional elections approached.
Election of 1932
It is easy in hindsight to blame Congress for its failure to effectively regulate banks and financial markets. It is also tempting to blame Hoover for not embracing deficit spending, public works projects, and deliberate inflation to try to spur the economy. However, the total federal budget for non–defense-related expenditures was barely more than what some of the larger states spent each year. The expectations of the federal government were limited, and previous recessions and depressions had been dealt with by allowing the business cycle to right itself. From the perspective of history and Treasury Secretary Andrew Mellon, the role of the federal government was to stoically permit the natural workings of the market to “purge the rottenness out of the system.”
The Democrats believed that this depression was different, and they began their attack on Hoover and Republican members of Congress during the Congressional elections of 1930. Many of their allegations were less than objective and even unfair. However, partisan attacks against the party in power during times of economic decline was a time-honored strategy among both parties. Democrats used the science of marketing to brand the president and the Republicans as the architects of ruin. The empty pockets of an unemployed worker turned inside out were labeled “Hoover flags,” and the newspaper that covered him at night was referred to as a “Hoover blanket” by the Democrats.
After the Democrats gained over fifty seats in the House of Representatives during the 1930 elections, Hoover belatedly agreed to fund some public works projects. He also agreed to provide unprecedented loans to keep banks and other financial firms from going bankrupt. Despite Hoover’s activism, sincerity of purpose, and a work schedule that allowed him only a few hours for sleep, the economy continued to decline throughout the election year of 1932. The Democrats successfully branded the federal bailouts of banks—a strategy they had actually recommended to the president—as evidence to support their claims that Hoover cared more about the bankers who allegedly caused the Depression than the people who were suffering from it.
The perception was both unfair and inaccurate, as Hoover had agreed to numerous bipartisan relief efforts that would alleviate conditions in the next few years. For example, the Emergency Relief Act of July 1932 authorized up to $2 billion in loans to states to finance direct relief to those most in need and public works projects to provide jobs. These loans would pale in comparison to the massive federal programs of the next few years. However, these loans and other programs also initiated the process of using the federal government and monetary policy to steer the economy. They also provided funding for the first federal welfare program beyond the Sheppard-Towner Act which had offered limited subsidies for women’s health clinics.
In politics, as in most other fields, perception is reality and Hoover was continually branded as insensitive and unwilling to help those in need. Despite Hoover’s belated acceptance of what would later be known as Keynesian economics, he would be remembered as a president that did nothing in the face of crisis. He would also be portrayed as someone who believed in “trickle-down” theories of economic growth and recovery. This theory argues the best way to aid the economy is to secure the fortunes of the wealthy and the solvency of banks. Historians have recently argued that this comparison is inaccurate, especially when considered within the context of 1920s America. These times were about to change quickly, however, as Hoover’s successor used a variety of new strategies on such a massive scale that most Americans would forget Hoover’s limited attempts to use the power of the federal government to address the crisis.
Figure 6.28
As this map indicates, the Democratic candidate Franklin Delano Roosevelt easily prevailed over the incumbent Herbert Hoover in the 1932 presidential election.
That man was Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) A New York governor who became the 32nd president of the United States, Roosevelt would be elected to an unprecedented four terms between 1932 and his death in 1945. Although born and raised in affluence, Roosevelt communicated empathy for those Americans struggling through the Great Depression. As president, Roosevelt used his political power to create a number of federal programs that would later be known as the New Deal. He also sought to intervene on behalf of the Western Allies prior to the official US declaration of war against Japan and Germany in December 1941., a man of privilege who was born into an affluent family and used his connections to become governor of New York. Roosevelt was a lifelong politician who had been crippled by polio in 1921. With the aid of steel braces and his own indomitable will, he managed to “walk” by throwing his weight forward and bracing himself on the arm of a sturdy companion. For the rest of his life, that companion was his wife Eleanor. Also from a prominent family, the talented and well-educated Eleanor Roosevelt became his public face while her desk-bound husband dispatched armies of letters that kept him connected to the political world.
In the same year that New York’s Al Smith lost in a landslide to Hoover, Smith had convinced Roosevelt to enter the gubernatorial race in New York. Roosevelt’s victory and rising influence within the Democratic Party in the next four years ironically led to his selection over Al Smith during the 1932 Democratic convention. Hoover was nominated by a dispirited Republican Party but did not campaign in an election that many believed had already been decided by the state of the economy. Roosevelt spent most of 1932 campaigning for office by attempting to reconcile the various elements of his party rather than attempting to confront Hoover. By November 1932, industrial production had declined by 50 percent, and even business interests were abandoning Hoover and the Republicans. Everyone in America knew that whoever won the Democratic nomination had effectively won the presidency by default. What Roosevelt might do to halt the Depression and spur recovery, however, remained anyone’s guess.
Review and Critical Thinking
How did speculation and debt lead to the stock market crash? Did the stock market crash cause the Great Depression? If you believe it did, why would the market partially recover in 1930?
Explain the role of the stock market, banking, international affairs, and declining consumer demand in causing the Great Depression.
Most Americans were angered by the Hoover administration and blamed the president for the state of the economy by the time of the 1932 election. Was this criticism fair? Answer this question in context of both the causes of the Depression and the traditions of limited government up to this time.
Did Roosevelt unite the various competing factions of the Democratic Party in 1932, or was his landslide more a reflection of another factor?
Socialists argued that the Depression revealed the true nature of Capitalism and its insatiable drive for maximizing profit that led to instability. What do you think? Did the Great Depression show the need for government intervention to prevent the downfall of the Capitalist system?
6.5 Conclusion
The 1920s saw dramatic economic growth as factories churned out consumer goods that were marketed and distributed throughout the nation. Local economic control gave way to a national consumer market as business mergers consolidated industries and fueled a meteoric rise in the stock market. Americans were increasingly likely to wear the same clothing and listen to the same radio programs, even drink the same beer and eat the same processed meats. Technology spurred the popularity of the new and uniquely American jazz music, while the burgeoning US film and fashion industry spread the uniquely American image of the “flapper.” Americans were increasingly likely to celebrate their new identities as consumers, especially those wealthy enough to enjoy the prosperity of the decade. Popular books such as the Great Gatsby protested the hollowness of material wealth but seldom converted its readers to disdain their quest for it. By the end of the decade, the Depression reminded Americans that material goods might bring temporary pleasure, but material security was simply too important to leverage.
Prohibition symbolized the contradictions of the decade: a conservative power structure reflected in the affairs of business and government and a rebellious popular culture that flourished behind this façade. The ease with which the affluent flouted laws meant to curb their power reflected the selective enforcement of Prohibition laws, which created one system of justice for the rich and one for the poor. Women and minorities were allowed a rare glimpse of these power structures as they labored in the background of resorts, largely unnoticed and undisturbed as long as they kept their “place.” For the men of the middle class and a fortunate few laborers, there were the speakeasies with their mixture of jazz, liquor, and the promise of fast times and faster women. Jazz was not invented in these resorts or hidden haunts, but these places offered a sample of the era’s celebration of sexual liberation and its fusion of black and white musical traditions. This culture arose from the collective experiences of people who traveled the nation in search of work, and its improvised music reflecting the improvised lives of its creators.
6.6 Further Reading
Blee, Kathleen. Women of the Klan: Racism and Gender in the 1920s (1992).
Chapman, Erin D. Prove It On Me: New Negroes, Sex, and Popular Culture in the 1920s (2012).
Chauncey, George. Gay New York: Gender, Urban Culture, and the Making of the Gay Male World, 1890–1940 (1994).
Foglesong, David S. America’s Secret War against Bolshevism: US Intervention in the Russian Civil War, 1917–1920 (2001).
Foley, Neil. The White Scourge: Mexicans, Blacks, and Poor Whites in Texas Cotton Culture (1999).
Frystak, Shannon. Our Minds on Freedom: Women and the Struggle for Black Equality in Louisiana, 1924–1967 (2009).
Hewitt, Nancy A. Southern Discomfort: Women’s Activism in Tampa, Florida, 1880s–1920s (2001).
Lears, Jackson. Fables of Abundance: A Cultural History of Advertising in America (1994).
Moran, Jeffrey. The Scopes Trial: A Brief History with Documents (2010).
Payne, Phillip G. Dead Last: The Public Memory of Warren G. Harding’s Scandalous Legacy (2008).
Rolinson, Mary G. Grassroots Garveyism: The Universal Negro Improvement Association in the Rural South, 1920–1927 (2007).
Simmons, Christina. Making Marriage Modern: Women’s Sexuality from the Progressive Era to World War II (2009).
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i don't know
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What number is the French coded slang 'vingt-deux!', which warns that police are coming?
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Index-a
Don't Forget To Hit <ESC> before going to a different page.
Let's play a game of 30 questions. No, not that old standard of 20 questions, but one with an extra 10 questions added in and one that uses numeric answers (from 1 to 30). If you get stumped, go on to the next one. Perhaps the answer you need will be one of those left over when you complete all the questions you're sure of.
Each answer is a number.
The answers are the numbers 1-30. Each number appears only once.
(Obviously) the questions are not in the right order..
1. Aside from an extra 385 yards, how many miles is a marathon race?
2. If 27 solid cubes are formed into one big 3x3x3 cube how many individual cubes, at most, are visible from any single angle?
3. In the movie Spinal Tap what number is: "Well, it is one louder.."?
4. 'Via Dolorosa' is the (how many) Stations of the Cross, the Christian ritual tracing the key stages of the death of Jesus, beginning with his condemnation and ending with his being laid in the tomb?
5. How many dots are on a (standard 1-6) die?
6. The Russian 'Crimea Highway' trunk road from Moscow to the Crimea in Ukraine is the M (what)?
7. What number, between two hyphens, is used by journalists, etc., to mark the end of a newspaper or broadcast story?
8. How many unique dominoes are in a standard 'double six' set?
9. What number turned on its side (rotated 90 degrees) is the symbol for infinity?
10. The Marvel Comics superhero team led by Mr Fantastic was the Fanstastic (what)?
11. What is the larger number of the binary system?
12. Japanese haiku poems loosely comprise how many syllables?
13. The Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn are respectively (what number)-and-half degrees north and south of the Equator?
14. What number is Hurricane on the Beaufort Scale?
15. Greek deka, and Latin decem, are what number?
16. Conventionally how many books are in the Bible's New Testament?
17. How many legs (or arms) are most usually on a starfish?
18. A lunar month is an average (how many) days plus 12 hours, 44 minutes and 3 seconds?
19. 'Roaring' refers to what pluralised number in describing a 1900s decade of western world prosperity?
20. Traditionally what number of years anniversary is symbolized by silver?
21. What is generally stated to be the number of major joints in the human body?
22. What number is the French coded slang 'vingt-deux!', which warns that police are coming?
23. What is the only number that equals twice the sum of its digits (digit means numerical symbol)?
24. The early/mid-1900s American vaudeville comedy act was called the (how many) Stooges?
25. Any line of three numbers in the 'magic square' (a 3 x 3 grid of the numbers 1-9) adds up to what?
26. What is the international SPI resin/polymer identification coding system number (typically shown within a recycling triangle symbol) for polystyrene?
27. Traditionally the diameter of the 45rpm gramophone record is (how many) inches?
28. Pure gold is (how many)-carat?
29. The expression 'On cloud (what)' refers to being blissfully happy?
30. Each player begins with (how many) pieces in a game of chess?
Daniel David "Danny" Kirwan (born 13 May 1950) is a British musician whose greatest success came with his role as guitarist, singer and songwriter with the blues-rock band Fleetwood Mac between 1968 and 1972. Kirwan's first recorded work with the band was on the huge instrumental hit single "Albatross". Green later stated that, "I would never have done "Albatross" if it wasn't for Danny. I would never have had a number one hit record." The B-side of the single was Kirwan's first published tune, the instrumental "Jigsaw Puzzle Blues". This was an old clarinet piece, written by Joe Venuti and Adrian Rollini, and recorded by the Joe Venuti / Eddie Lang Blue Five in 1933. Kirwan had adapted the piece for himself and Green to play on guitar, but Green remembered, "I couldn't do it properly... My style wasn't all that satisfactory to Danny, but his style wasn't all that satisfactory to me." So Kirwan played all the guitar parts himself.
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twenty two
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What is the only number that equals twice the sum of its digits (digit means numerical symbol)?
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Railway Lexicon
Railway Lexicon
Introduction
This lexicon was originally produced by the Railway Systems Group at the University of Sheffield in cooperation with Railtrack (now Network Rail) and other organisations. Staff at the University of Sheffield and the team of The Railway Consultancy update the Lexicon on a regular basis. In general, the UK term "railway" is used rather than the US term "railroad". Obsolete Railtrack terminology is shown in brackets where known. The tags at the end of phrases "RT" and "UoS" signify that Railtrack or the University of Sheffield, respectively, contributed the definition. Where definitions vary between sources or additional information is provided two definitions are provided. Comments and feedback are welcomed by: [email protected]
Further information is available at:
A...
Abnormal Heavy Road Load
Any road load which falls outside the scope of the Construction and Use Regulations because of its weight or weight distribution.RT
Abnormal Road Load Indemnity
A form of indemnity submitted to Network Rail by a road haulier as prescribed in the Motor Vehicles (Authorisation of Special Types) General Order 1979 (as amended).RT
Abnormal Road Load Notification
A notice submitted to Network Rail by a haulier which gives loading details of a proposed abnormal road load movement, its proposed date and time of travel, and its proposed route.RT
Absolute Block
A railway signalling system which is based on the principle of dividing a railway line into a sequence of individual sections or blocks, allied to the principle of never having more than one train on the same line in the same section at the same time. The acceptance of a train by the signaller at the signal box in advance is necessary before a train is allowed to proceed into the Absolute Block Section.RT
Abstract of Particulars
A subsection of the contract conditions which contains routine details relevant to that specific contract.RT
Acceptable Quality Level
A value which limits the number of contract checks which are permitted to fail within a predetermined sample (e.g. an AQL of 1.0 indicates that no more than 1.0% of the checks will be permitted to produce a fail without a tightening of the inspection regime.)RT
Acceptance (of rolling stock)
Final part of the process to introduce new types of rolling stock, onboard systems or infrastructure components to the railway network managed by Network Rail.UoS
Acceptance Manager
The Network Rail manager assigned by the RSAB Group Manager, having responsibility for managing the process for a route acceptance request. The Acceptance Manager will be the Network Rail principal point of contact on noncommercial matters to the applicant.RT
Acceptance Plan
A Network Rail project plan defining Network Rail activities in support of a Route Acceptance Request.RT
Accepting
UK railway signalling term, 'accepting' refers to the permission given by a signaller for a train to enter the section of line which he or she controls. UoS
Access Agreement
An agreement regulated under the Railways Act 1993 setting out the terms and conditions under which companies/operators obtain access to railway track, stations and certain types of depots.RT
Access Charge
The charge paid by railway operators for access to rail facilities which are the subject of an access agreement.RT
Access Planning Software
Access planning software system for the planning of track access for both permanent and shortterm train schedules. It replaced PROTIM.RT
Accident
An unexpected, unplanned occurrence which results in physical harm (injury or disease) to an individual, damage to property, a near miss, a loss, or any combination of these effects. (See also Incident.)RT+UoS
Accommodation Bridge
A bridge connecting two areas of land which were under common ownership but separated when the railway was built.RT
Account Executive
The manager responsible for commercial dealings with the Train Operators.RT
Accounts Payable
A team of people within the finance function responsible for the correct payment of authorised supplier invoices.RT
Account Receivable
A team of people within finance responsible for the dispatch and credit control of properly authorised invoices to customers.RT
Activity Based Costing
The process of identifying the costs associated with particular daytoday activities or specific tasks and projects.RT
Actual Costs
The term used to encompass both costs paid over to suppliers and accruals.RT
Actual Cost of Work Performed
An assessment of the physical progress on a scheme and its financial value. This will include costs for invoices paid and accruals to repeat bills not yet presented for the actual progress achieved.RT
Add Value Machines
Used in some automatic fare collection systems to allow passengers to increase the residual value of a stored value ticket.UoS
Adhesion Coefficient (μ)
The ratio of the tangential and normal forces that exist between the wheel and the rail at standstill and during motion. The adhesion coefficient for rolling motion is usually referred to as μ. Generally taken as 0.3 to 0.4 for dry rail, but can be as low as 0.01 for icy and greasy rail.UoS
Adjustment Switch
A device which allows longitudinal rail movement to dissipate thermal forces when CWR is adjacent to jointed track or other features not designed to withstand thermal forces. Adjustment switches are also used when thermal forces, additional to those in CWR, may be encountered such as at long underbridges which are themselves subject to expansion and contraction. (US term: Breather Switch.) RT
Advanced Passenger Train
High speed tilting train, abandoned in the early 1980s.RT
Air Rights Development
Property exceeding existing building height constructed on and above land owned by Network Rail.RT
Airless Spraying
The process of atomisation of paint by forcing it hydraulically through an orifice at high pressureRT
Alignment
The horizontal (line) and vertical (top) position of a railway track, described by curved track of horizontal radius R, tangent track where R = ¥ , vertical radius and gradient.UoS
Alley (US)
A clear track in a switching yard. (UK: marshalling yard.)UoS
Anchor Length
The length of CWR track that is left clipped down during the stressing operation to ensure that no movement occurs at the fixed ends of the length being stressed.RT
Ancillary Movement
Movements of locomotives and rolling stock directly in association with normal daytoday train services.RT
Annual Renewal Plan
Plan identifying those assets which were to be renewed by Railtrack in the forthcoming contract year..RT
AntiCreeper (US)
A device firmly attached to the base of a rail and bearing against a crosstie (sleeper), to keep the rail from moving longitudinally under traffic. (UK: Rail Anchor.)UoS
Approved In Principle
Approval in principle signifies that a professionally competent person or body is satisfied that:
a scheme chosen to bring about a change to the infrastructure will meet the requirements of the remit; RT
appropriate standards and/or design criteria have been proposed for the design/checking phase.RT
Area Delivery Group
A zonal team charged with meeting the minutes delay targets by identifying, testing and implementing performance improvements.RT
Arm Repeater
An electrical indicator which shows the position of a semaphore signal arm to the controlling signalman.RT
Articulation
The core feature of a rolling stock design where two adjacent railway vehicle ends are mounted on a common bogie. Nowadays much favoured by tramcar or light rail vehicle designers. Also used for some European highspeed train designs, namely, TGV and Eurostar carriages. It has the benefit of reducing the number of bogies required for a train. Generally only suitable for lighter weight vehicles since the load on each axle is proportionately increased. Usually requires that special lifting systems or bogie drop pits are provided in maintenance workshops. UoS
Aspect
The visual indication of a colour light (or mechanical) signal as displayed to the driver.RT
Asset Maintenance Plan
A plan of remedial maintenance work outstanding from the BR maintenance programme prior to creation of Railtrack.RT
Asset Maintenance Plan Provision
The funding provision provided to Railtrack on company formation to complete the works identified in the AMP.RT
Asset Management Work Team
The team which led a detailed review of Railtrack’s approach to asset management with the key objective of optimising maintenance and renewal costs.RT
Asset Related Expenditure
Any expenditure relating to the enhancement or renewal and, for certain asset categories, maintenance of the railway infrastructure and any other assets as per the Capital Accounting Rules. This will include expenditure relating to Capital Enhancement and Renewal Projects, Asset Maintenance Plan and Station Regeneration Programme. Refer to the Railtrack Investment Regulations, Capital Accounting Rules and SRP Financial Guidelines for further information. RT
Asset Renewal
Replacement by Network Rail of an existing asset whose maintenance is within the scope of the RT1A contract.RT
Asset Replacement
Renewal of an asset undertaken by the contractor at no additional cost to the employer.RT
Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen
Union, popularly known as ASLEF, which represents many train drivers.RT
Authority to Recruit
The approval, by a person with delegated authority, for the recruitment of permanent or agency staff.RT
Automatic Block Signal (ABS)
A train control subsystem based on a series of consecutive blocks governed by block signals which are controlled by the movement of trains and certain other conditions (e.g., detection of level crossing closure) rather than by a signaller or train describer driven route setting system. The installation includes automatic line side signals, cab signals or both, actuated by a train or light engine by means of axle counters or track circuits. This is a very basic form of automatic route setting (ARS).UoS
Automatic Cab Signal System (ACS) (US)
A system that automatically operates a display of signal aspects in the cab of a train as well as the cab warning whistle.UoS
Automatic Code Insertion
The means by which, when a train terminates, the next working of its stock is automatically picked up by the signalling in IECC areas.RT
Automatic Coupler
An automatic coupler allows two vehicles to be attached to each other merely by pushing the two vehicles together. There are various types and systems in use, which range from a simple automatic mechanical coupler (like the 'buckeye coupler' of US origin) to one which is remotely controlled and can connect and secure air and electrical connections in one operation. In Europe only used for Multiple Unit trains and specialised types of rolling stock. The proposed UIC autocoupler was shelved in the 1970s due to cost but Germany and France are currently carrying out trials of a traction only autocoupler.UoS
Automatic Dropping Device
Mechanism which causes a damaged or displaced pantograph to drop automatically to limit (further) damage to the overhead line equipment.RT
Automatic Fare Collection (AFC)
A revenue collection system common on metros and urban railways which requires the passenger to buy a ticket and use it to release an entrance and / or exit gate to permit access to or exit from the railway. AFC reduces the need for ticket checking staff and reduces fraud by passengers and staff. UoS
Automatic Level Crossing
Includes AHB, ABCL, AOCL and AOCR level crossings plus those protected by miniature red/green warning lights. RT
Automatic Open Crossing (remotely monitored)
Now only one left on the Network Rail system (in Scotland.)RT
Automatic Railway Inquiry Systems
In Europe a prototype system to provide passenger timetable information.RT
Automatic Route Setting (System) (ARS)
Electronic or relay based system which sets routes using information from a train describer and the timetable without the need for intervention by a signaller.UoS
Automatic Signal
A colour light signal which operates automatically as trains travel onto and off track circuits ahead.RT
Automatic Stop Arm (US)
See Automatic Train Stop (UK) .UoS
Automatic Systems
The hierarchy of the components of automatic assistance to the operation of trains is not clearcut. Different authors advocate different structures. The structure presented in the figure below is based on PhD work by D.Woodland.
Automatic Train Control (ATC)
The system for automatically controlling train movements and directing train operations. ATC requires automatic train operation (ATO) and automatic train protection (ATP) subsystems and has features which enhance operational safety, e.g., through the separation of trains by implementing a conflict free timetable, train detection and interlocking of routes. ATC allows the automatic control of trains throughout a railway network, obviating the need for train drivers. The Docklands Light Railway in London provides a good example of this type of operation. (Australians use this acronym to describe automatic train protection.)UoS
Automatic Train Monitoring (ATM)
Subsystem to monitor the train service by means of train describers, track circuit occupation or balise based data collection. ATM is normally a subsystem of automatic train supervision (ATS) and is sometimes also referred to as train service monitoring.UoS
Automatic Train Operation (ATO)
The subsystem within the automatic train control (ATC) system which performs functions otherwise assigned to the train operator (driver). ATO is not generally considered to be safety critical since interlockings and automatic train protection (ATP) ensure that trains’ routes and movements cannot conflict. Driverless operation of trains requires the transmission of control data using track circuits, inductive loops, balises or radio signals. Radio signals can be diffused by broadcast or leaky cable feeders.UoS
Automatic Train Protection (ATP)
The subsystem within the overall train control system which automatically ensures compliance with or observation of some or all speed restrictions or movement authorities’. Normally, the term ATP refers to the provision of failsafe protection against collisions, excessive speed, and other hazardous conditions which may arise during train movements by preventing trains from ignoring control commands. This definition covers what could be described as ‘Comprehensive ATP’ (see below). Less effective systems (such as TPWS, AWS and Trainstops) are sometimes also classified as ATP. As a result, the following hierarchy of functionality is proposed, with ATP as the ‘global’ term: Warning Systems ‘systems assisting observation of movement authorities, based upon manual activation’, e.g., the Driver Reminder Appliance (DRA); Automatic Warning Systems ‘systems automatically assisting observation of movement authorities’, e.g. the standard British AWS system; Automatic Train Stop ‘a system automatically enforcing compliance with the limits of movement authorities’; Partial ATP ‘a system automatically enforcing compliance with speed restrictions and movement authorities at some locations or for some vehicles’; Comprehensive ATP ‘a system automatically enforcing compliance with all speed restrictions and movement authorities (for all vehicles) within a given area’. This type of system is often divided into two subcategories, Intermittent ATP and Continuous ATP. There are many different types of implementation but all require the transmission of control data using track circuits, inductive loops, balises or radio signals. Radio signals can be diffused by broadcast or leaky cable feeders.UoS
Automatic Train Regulation (ATR)
Subsystem to ensure that the train service returns to timetabled operation or to regular, fixed headways, following disruption. ATR subsystems adjust the performance of individual trains to maintain schedules. ATR is normally a subsystem of automatic train supervision (ATS).UoS
Automatic Train Reporting
Electronic system for reporting train movements based on the passing of train identities using a signal panel train describer.RT+UoS
Automatic Train Stop
A wayside system that works in conjunction with equipment installed on the vehicle to apply the brakes at designated speed restrictions, block signals or on a dispatcher’s signal, should the driver not respond. Once actuated, the brakes are applied until the train has been brought to stop. See Train Stop .UoS
Automatic Train Supervision (ATS)
The toplevel system in real time train control which regulates performance levels, monitors the trains in service and which provides data to controllers to adjust the service to minimise the inconvenience otherwise caused by irregularities. The ATS subsystem also typically includes automatic train regulation functions which are implemented through an automatic routing system (ARS). ATS requires automatic train monitoring (ATM) and service monitoring to be able to adjust the timings of trains appropriately. ATS supports automatic train control by managing the routes or network.UoS
Automatic Vehicle Identification
Semiautomatic mechanism for reporting of train movements based on the location of freight rolling stock and subsequent translation to actual train identities/activities reported to TOPS (generally limited to electricity coal services).RT
Automatic Vehicle Identification (AVI)
Transponder based system to identify the number and other useful information of any vehicle in a train using a trackside interrogating unit. The passive UIC standard system is lowcost (about US$40 per unit for the hardware). AVI components are also being used for lowcost ATP applications. UoS
Automatic Warning System
Used to give advance warning to drivers of a signal aspect, a temporary speed restriction or a permanent speed restriction at least 30% slower than the previous limit.RT
Automatic Warning System (AWS)
British system for alerting the driver to a signal aspect which requires action (horn for danger) or indicating a clear signal ahead (bell for green). Based on a trackmounted permanent magnet with an electromagnet to cancel the warning.UoS
Autonomous Traction
A form of traction where the power source is contained wholly on the vehicle (Diesel, gas turbines, battery, flywheel, coal, wood) allowing the vehicle to travel a design range between refuelling. UoS
Auxiliary Wayside System
A backup or secondary train control system, capable of providing full or partial automatic train protection for trains not equipped with train borne CBTC equipment, and/or trains with partially or totally inoperative train borne CBTC equipment. The auxiliary wayside system generally includes train borne equipment and may also provide broken rail detection.UoS
Auxiliary Wire
See Compound Catenary.UoS
Availability
The ratio between the time during which a piece of equipment (or a human being) is available for operation (whether or not being used) and the total period during which it is needed. Scheduled maintenance, for example, reduces the availability of rolling stock unless carried out during nonservice hours.UoS
Axle
The part of a wheelset which links the two wheels. Normally, wheels are pressed onto shoulders machined onto the axle. Axles normally have outside bearings which sit in axleboxes. Inside bearings are more difficult to install and maintain but reduce the unsprung mass acting on the track.UoS
Axle Arrangement
The way in which powered and nonpowered axles are arranged under a vehicle. The most commonly used description distinguishes between powered and nonpowered axles where the letter "A" stands for a single powered axle, "B" for two, etc. while numbers stand for the nonpowered axles:
A1AA1A is the axle arrangement of a locomotive with two bogies, each of which has two powered axles with an nonpowered axle in between;
C0C0 or CoCo is the axle arrangement of a locomotive with two bogies with three powered axles.
Other wellknown arrangements are B0B0B0 (BoBoBo) for heavy locomotives and 1AA1 for EMU cars.UoS
Axle Counter
Track mounted equipment which counts the number of axles entering and leaving a track section at each extremity; a calculation is performed to determine whether the track is occupied or clear.RT
B...
Back Drive
Mechanical arrangement to provide an actuation force away from the tip of a set of points, used to ensure that the switchblades are correctly positioned throughout their length.UoS
Balancing Segment
An accounting function defined so that the general ledger will not allow unbalanced journal entries to be posted. For example, if your business unit segment is a balancing segment, general ledger ensures that, within every journal entry, the total debits to unit 01 equal the total credits to unit 01. RT
Balise
Track mounted device for communicating with passing trains. Most are mounted on a sleeper in the middle of the track (4 foot). We distinguish inductive and radio based balises, active and passive balises and intelligent and dumb balises. All balises transmit or transmit and receive information in the form of telegrams, e.g., one of the ERTMS standards allows the transmission of up to 512 bits of information three times while a train is passing at up to 250km/h.
inductive balises operate at low frequencies and use inductive coupling between a fixed coil (antenna) and a moving coil on board the vehicle;
radio based balises operate at several hundred MHz and use aerials embedded in the balise and suspended underneath the front end of the vehicle;
passive balises must be powered up by the passing train, usually using a 100kHz signal coupled inductively. The balise detects the presence of a train and automatically transmits the stored data. This is the most common type of balise;
active balises use an external supply to transmit data and are often used to power track loops (EUROLOOP) where data is transmitted continuously;
dumb balises simply transmit fixed information such as the balise number, number and position of the next balise(s), gradients and speed restrictions etc.;
intelligent balises transmit a combination of fixed and variable information such as the aspects of signals associated with the balise. In some cases they can also receive and process information from the train.
It is possible to have most combinations of the types, e.g., active intelligent inductive balises.UoS
Ballast
Selected material placed on the sub grade (US: roadbed) to support and hold the track with respect to its alignment within the bounds of specified top (vertical) and line (horizontal). Ballast preferably consists of accurately graded hard particles, normally stone, easily handled in tamping, which distribute the load, provide elasticity, drain well and resist plant growth. Generally, ballast must consist of broken stones. Granite is a very suitable material thanks to its toughness.UoS
Ballast
The graded stone used for drainage and support of the track. The advantage over slabtrack is that it is easy to move for maintenance work.RT
Ballast Cleaning
The process of separating dirt (fines and crushed ballast) from the ballast by shaking followed by grading of the stone and by depositing the stone which is still usable back onto the track.UoS
Ballast Cleaning
The removal of existing ballast using a machine which grades the excavated ballast, returns good stone to the track and takes fine stone and spoil for disposal.RT
Ballast Mat
A 50 to 70mm thick elastomer mat placed under the normal track ballast on top of a rigid slab or on top of the sub grade to absorb vibration and to assist drainage. Normally, the ballast mat is placed on an intermediate layer of sand.UoS
Ballast Section
The cross section of a track around and under the sleepers (crossties) and between and above the toes of the ballast slopes. This section may include subballast.UoS
Ballast Shoulder
The portion of ballast between the end of the sleeper (tie) and the toe of the ballast slope. It distributes the traffic load over a greater width of sub grade and helps hold the track in lateral alignment.UoS
Ballast Tamper
A power operated machine for compacting ballast under sleepers (crossties) using strong tynes which are pushed into the ballast on either side of the sleeper.UoS
Ballast Tamping
Compacting ballast under the sleepers to maintain the line and top (US: surface) of track.UoS
Banner Repeater
A signal whose function is to repeat the indication shown by another signal when the driver cannot see the latter.RT
Barrow Crossing
A level crossing at the end of a station platform for use by (or under the supervision of) rail staff only.RT
Base Station Controller (BSC)
Electronic unit controlling the transmissions from several radio antennas in a radio block system.UoS
Baseplate
A metal casting which supports and holds a flat bottom rail on a sleeper.RT
Batter
(1) Deformation of the surface of the railhead due to wheel impact (P1 and P2 forces), usually close to the joints (ends of rails) or (2) Receding (sloped) wall as encountered in cuttings and on ledges.UoS
Bay Line
A dead end line adjacent to a platform.RT
Bearer
Timber (or concrete) transverse sleeper supporting the rails in switch and crossings. RT
Bearing Platform
The top surface of an abutment or pier upon which the superstructure span is placed and supported. For an abutment it is the surface forming the support for the superstructure and from which the hackwall (US) rises. For a pier it is the entire top surface. (US: Bridge Seat.)UoS
Bell Crank
L-shaped casting or fabrication pivoted in the centre to change the direction of an actuation force (usually used in switch drives, e.g., to create a backdrive.)UoS
Berth
Name occasionally used for a track circuit.RT
Berth Offset
The difference between the time a train actually occupies a track circuit and the time recorded in TRUST for the event.RT
BiDirectional Lines
Rail Lines which are fully signalled to take trains in both directions.RT
BiDirectional Signalling
Allows trains to run in either direction over the same section of track under the control of an interlocking (builtin safety system) which prevents collisions. Bidirectional signalling is very useful in releasing for maintenance a single track of a twotrack railway but it is more complex and expensive to install than single direction signalling. Singletrack lines always have bidirectional signalling. (Swiss Term: banalised track.)UoS
Blanketing
A layer under the ballast to stop clay and soil seeping through.RT
Blast Cleaning
The preparation of a surface by impingement of a stream of abrasive of high kinetic energy particles ("shot"). RT+UoS
Block (Section)
A length of track of defined limits onto which one train only is usually allowed at any one time (exceptions include the joining of trains, split platforms and breakdown recovery). The access to and use of the block section is governed by verbal instruction, track warrant, token or track circuit controlled block (section) signals or by some other type of signalling. Older type block signalling requires the presence of block instruments to communicate with adjoining signal boxes.UoS
Block Bells
These provide a unique manual system of communication between signal boxes. Using an electric single stroke tapper, messages can be passed between boxes in the form of bell codes.RT
Block Controls
Enhancements to the basic block instruments used in an Absolute Block area. RT
Block Indicator
Electrical system which allows communication between two adjacent block posts and which indicates the state of the line between the signal boxes. The system uses a simple twowire link and relies on bellcodes in Britain and polarities in the link between the posts elsewhere.UoS
Block Instrument (see Block Indicator)
Block Section The section of line between the section signal of one signal box and the Home signal of the next signal box ahead.RT
Block Signal
A fixed signal at the entrance to a block section, to govern trains and light running locomotives entering and using the block.UoS
Block Station
A place at which block signals are located and from where they may be operated.UoS
Block System
Maintains an interval of space between trains (see also Absolute Block).RT
Block System, Automatic
A series of consecutive blocks governed by automatic block signals actuated by a train or engine or by certain conditions affecting the use of the block.UoS
Blyth & Tyne
The freightonly route to the east of the ECML between Newcastle and Morpeth, originally built by the Blyth & Tyne Railway Company.RT
Board
Traditional slang for a signalman (The original signalmen were actually Railway Police Officers.)RT
Bogie (UK)
A four or sixwheeled frame, normally used in pairs under longbodied railway vehicles and on locomotives or individually inbetween two sections of an articulated vehicle. The bogie has a central pivot point, which allows it to turn as the track curves and it thus guides the vehicle into the curve. The pivot point can be real or it can be created by links and flexibility in the suspension. There are almost as many bogie designs as there are bogies. Allwelded boxframe bogies with some steering capability are currently the fashion in Europe. Good design is crucial to achieve a good ride quality, although track condition is also very important in assuring this. See also Articulation. (US: Truck.)UoS
Bolted Rail Crossing
A rail crossing or "frog" assembled from mill rolled and machined rail of bolted construction, as distinguished from solid cast crossing frogs.UoS
Bond
Cable or braid used to create the same electrical potential in two places, e.g. to link a signal mast to the rail (earthbond) or a part of the electrification system to another part. Red bonds are used on 25kV electrifycation. (See also Impedance Bond.)UoS
Bond
A financial transaction where the contractor deposits a defined sum of money with a third party (usually a bank) that is held in bond until the defined tasks have been satisfactorily completed.RT
Bonding
The technique or action of creating the same electrical potential in two different places.UoS
Bowmac
A Concrete Panel Which Forms Part Of The Road Surface Over The Track At A Level Crossing. RT
Boxing (US)
See Hunting (UK).UoS
Brace, Rail
A device used points (switches or turnouts), movable crossings (frogs) etc., in combination with point bearer plates, for ensuring the correct distance between rails. Also used on rails in sharp curves to maintain the gauge & prevent overturning of the rail.UoS
Braking Distance
The distance a train needs in which to stop (or to reduce speed) from travelling at a given speed.RT
Branch (Line)
Track carrying trains from the mainline to destinations on lower priority routes than the mainline.UoS
Bridge Assessment File
The file containing or referring to all relevant records resulting from the assessments carried out on a bridge.RT
Bridge, Ballast Deck
A bridge with a solid floor provided with drains and covered with ballast, to provide normal and uniform support for track which conforms generally to the standard construction used for the tracks where they are constructed on sub grade (roadbed). Requires more height than a bridge with slabtrack or where the sleepers rest directly on the structure.UoS
Bridge Bash
(see Bridge Strike).UoS
Bridge, Ibeam
A stringer type bridge in which the stringers are steel Ibeams that directly support the track or ballast section.UoS
Bridge Strike
A generic term to describe an incident where a road vehicle has hit the overhead structure of a rail bridge. This is a common reason for train delays as the line often cannot be reopened until the bridge is inspected by a suitablyqualified railway employee.RT
Bridge Strike Nominee
A person who has been certified as competent to implement the procedures for reopening lines at 5 mph, as contained in the Rule Book Appendix ‘Bridges Struck by Road Vehicles’.RT
Bridge, Through Span
A bridge in which the track is carried between girders or trusses. Girder and pony truss (US) bridges (trusses without overhead braces) are called halfthrough spans; truss bridges with overhead bracing are called through spans.UoS
Bridge Tie (US)
A sawed sleeper or tie usually preframed and of the size and length required for track on a bridge, directly resting on the structure of the bridge. Usually made from hardwood.UoS
Britdoc
Name of the company which runs a mailing system using the DX (document exchange) network. RT
British Rail Incident Monitoring System
Computer database which provides statistical information on accidents and safetyrelated incidents.RT
British Rail International
The former arm of BR responsible for running overseas offices and selling tickets to continental destinations. Now trading under SNCF ownership as Rail Europe.RT
British Rail Staff Association
A national association for the benefit of all membersRT
British Standard
A standard published by the British Standards Institution. Its alphanumeric identity is prefixed by BS. Most British Standards are being superseded by ISO standards. RT+UoS
Broad Gauge
Line a track wider than the standard gauge of 4 ft 8½ in (1435mm).UoS
Bruff
A company which built a type of vehicle capable of running on both road and rail; normally used to travel by road to aid a derailed rail vehicle or to travel to the nearest road access for a remote work site.RT
Buckle
Failure of a rail by an inelastic change in alignment (usually as a result of compression due to elevated temperature). To lose line of track by bulging.UoS
Bull Head Rail
An obsolete UK rail profile still in wide use whose top and bottom profiles are mirror images of each other. The rail is symmetrical with respect to the web centreline and is theoretically reversible to extend its life. The designer’s intention was that one could transpose the rails between right and left and then turn them upside down for a further two uses. Corrosion and stresses in the effective foot make this reversal impossible. See also Rail and Flat Bottom Rail.UoS+RT
Bump Stop
Hard rubber suspension component which stops a movement close to the end of the spring travel of a lateral or vertical suspension.UoS
Business Management Information System
A suite of custom and offtheshelf software being developed to manage Railtrack finance, procurement and project management, formerly known as FBMIS or FBIS.RT
Business Risk Assessment
An assessment of the (nonsafety) business risks implicit in a change proposal and associated investment plans.RT
Business Route Selection
commerciallybased unit of route measurement which enables costs and income to be measured for defined sections of route, based on volume and type of customer usage.RT
Butt Weld
A weld joining two abutting surfaces by depositing weld metal within an intervening space or by melting both rail ends and then pushing them together. This weld serves to unite the abutting surfaces of the elements of a member or to join members by their elements abutting upon or against each other. Butt rail welding of one rail to another can be accomplished inplant or on site by electric resistance fusion (Flash Butt Welding) or by an aluminothermic process in the field. UoS
C...
C Change
A major business initiative launched in June 1996 to rationalise, clarify and standardise Railtrack processes and procedures. The primary focus was to make significant improvements in customer service and control of key activities. RT
Cab
The space in the power unit or driving unit of the train containing the operating controls and providing shelter and seats for the driver or engine crew.
Cab Signal
A signal installed in the driving cab of the train repeating or in lieu of lineside signals.RT
Cadbury Code
Defines the accountabilities of the board, chairman, and nonexecutive directors of a company, in respect of corporate governance, internal control and financial reporting.RT
Cant
The term used to denote the raising of the outer rail with respect to the inner rail on curved track to allow higher speeds than if the two rails were level. Cant assists in creating the force necessary to accelerate the train laterally to traverse a curve. If a track was canted to the level required to generate the full curving force (equilibrium cant) for the maximum speed of the fastest train, a slower train could topple over. A compromise value of cant is therefore used, leading to ‘cant deficiency’ at higher speeds. Cant is what stops your coffee spilling when you go round a curve (US and Continent: SuperElevation).UoS+RT
Cant Deficiency
The theoretical amount by which the outer rail would need to be raised to reinstate equilibrium for a train travelling through a curve faster than the equilibrium speed. The existence of cant deficiency will result in pushing your coffee to the outside of your cup.RT+UoS
Cant Excess
For a train travelling slower than the equilibrium speed on a curve, the theoretical dimension by which the outer rail would need to be lowered to reinstate equilibrium.RT
Cant Rail
The part of a vehicle or traction unit at which the profile between the bodyside and roof changes.RT
Cantilever
A type of overhead line support, consisting of a mast to one side of the track with supports for contact wire and catenary wire.RT+UoS
Capex
Capital expenditure (see also OPEX). Funds spent on fixed assets (e.g., the Heathrow Express infrastructure) which are not charged against company profit.RT
Capital Project
A project resulting in the production of a physical asset for a company.RT
Car (UK)
Only exists in combination, e.g., railcar. (US: any nonpowered rail vehicle). Car, Hand a four wheeled, hand operated works vehicle for transporting staff and tools. (UK: Trolley)UoS
Car, Motor
A motordriven works or inspection vehicle. (UK: Powered Trolley).UoS
Carriage (UK)
Passenger carrying rail vehicle, also referred to as Coaching Stock. (US: Coach)UoS
Carriage Line
A line used to move empty rolling stock / carriages only.RT
Carrier Drain
An impervious drain designed to carry water from place to place instead of collecting water from the surface or surrounding soil directly.RT
Catastrophic Risks
Events with a potential for multiple casualties.RT
Catch Point
Point leading to a very short dead end or simply used to derail rolling stock attempting an unauthorised movement.UoS
Catch Points
A pair of sprung trailing points usually located in gradients steeper than 1 in 260. Their purpose is to derail any train running back without authority or out of control. These were a requirement before all vehicles had automatic brakes. Now they are being progressively removed. Sometimes they are worked from a signal box rather than being spring operated.RT
Catenary
(1) The catenary wire or cable (also known as the messenger wire) carries the contact wire by means of dropper wires . The term was chosen because the catenary wire assumes more or less the shape of the curve adopted by a suspended chain or wire. (2) Generic term used for a power supply arrangement incorporating at least a contact wire and a catenary wire connected by droppers. See Overhead Line.UoS
Catenary System
Generalised term used to describe the whole overhead line equipment UoS.
Cat’s Eyes
Slang term for a position light shunting or subsidiary signal.RT
Cattle Guard (grid)
A rail high panel of material difficult for hoofed animals to traverse, used to continue a stock fence across a railway line. See Stock Guard.UoS
Central Door Locking
A secondary locking system retrofitted to certain slam door trains and controlled by the guard which prevents passengers from opening the doors while the train is moving.RT
Centralised Traffic Control (CTC)
Remotely controlled system of signals and points under which train movements are authorised by station and block signals whose indications determine the precedence of trains. The manipulation of automatic and/or cab signals and poweroperated turnouts is effected from a central location where indications on panels or displays indicate the position of trains and the state of signals and points. (UK: Power Box or Integrated Electronic Control Centre IECC)UoS
Centre Siding
A length of track laid between two running lines for the purpose of reversing trains, usually beyond a station. It allows a train to reverse direction without crossing a track carrying through trains. Sometimes referred to as a "reversing siding". (US: pocket track or turnback track). UoS
Certificate of Acceptance
A certificate that is issued in accordance with GO/RT/3270 Route Acceptance, which requires a Certificate of Conformance to be issued for the locomotive design, construction, testing, examination and maintenance.RT
Certificate of Authority to Operate
A formal certificate signed and issued by the RSAB documenting the conditions under which a T&RS Route Acceptance Request has been accepted. This certificate specifies the equipment, the equipment configuration, operational requirements and limitations, route constraints and network factors within which approval has been granted for network operations.RT
Certificate of Technical Acceptance
The formal signed certificate issued by the RSAB confirming that a technical design proposal conforms to Network Rail technical standards for route acceptance and represents a suitable basis for development for network applications. This certificate specifies the equipment, the equipment configuration, limitations, route constraints and network factors within which approval has been granted.RT
Cess (UK)
The area either side of the railway immediately off the ballast shoulder. This usually provides a safe area for authorised workers to stand when trains approach.RT+ UoS
Chain (UK)
Unit of length common on UK railways (80 chains to a mile, 22 yards per chain and 1 chain = 66 feet.)RT+ UoS
Chair
The cast steel fixture on a sleeper , which secures rail (particularly bullhead rail) in the correct position. Depending on the design, of which there are many, the rail is secured to the chair by a form of clip, key or spike. UoS
Chargehand (or Chargeman)
An obsolete job title for a train operator or infrastructure owner employee who has a supervisory role on a station platform.RT
Check Rail
(1) A rail laid parallel to and inside a running rail to prevent wheels from being derailed or to hold wheels in their proper alignment while crossing the stock rail. Check rails prevent wheels from striking the blades of points and the tips of crossings.
(2) An additional pair of rails laid parallel to and between the running rails on bridges, bridge approaches, and in other critical locations, to keep derailed wheels on the sleepers and near the running rails. (US: Guard Rail.)UoS
Check Rail Clamp
A device consisting of a yoke and fastening devices fixing the relative positions of the running rail and guard rail. Not all checkrails have clamps.UoS
Chisel, track
A handheld tool to be struck by a sledge hammer, for cutting rail by scoring the base and web until breakage occurs, or for similar cutting. A rail cutter.UoS
Circuit, Track
See Track CircuitUoS
Claims Allocation and Handling Agreement
An agreement between railway operators which empowers Railway Claims Ltd to act on behalf of the industry and its contractors for an accident or incident where a third party claim affects a number of organisations.RT
Clamp
A device used to secure the closed switch of a pair of points to the stock rail. Sometimes known as a clip.RT
Clamp Lock, or Clamplock
A point operating mechanism which locks the points by directly clamping the closed switch rail to the stock rail. Normally operated hydraulically.RT+UoS
Clamp Lock Heater
A cartridge type heater fitted to a clamp lock mechanism operating the points blades.RT
Class of Train
Class 0 Light locomotive (locomotive running on its own; Class 1 Express passenger trains, mail trains and some emergency trains; Class 2 Stopping passenger trains; Class 3 Express parcel trains; Class 4 Express freight trains 75mph maximum speed; Class 5 Empty coaching stock trains (passenger vehicles running empty); Class 6 Express freight trains 60mph maximum speed; Class 7 Freight trains with 45mph maximum speed; Class 8 Freight trains with 35mph maximum speed; Class 9 Eurostar trains. RT + UoS
Clearing House Accounts Payable
A system for financial settlements between Network Rail and between TOCs.RT
Clip
Often called a "clamp", that is used to secure the closed switch of a pair of points to the stock rail, to prevent unauthorised or unintentional movement of the points.RT
Clip, Switch
The device by which the switch rod is joined to the switch rail. It is usually united with the switch rail by bolts or rivets. It sometimes has staggered bolt holes or similar devices in the horizontal leg for making detailed adjustments in the positions of the switch rails.UoS
Clip, Transit (switch)
A switch rod clip drilled with several holes in a line diagonal to the axis of the switch rod, for effecting adjustments in the throw of the switch.UoS
Clockface Timetable
A timetable where trains run at regular intervals (e.g., every 10 minutes.)RT
Closed Circuit Television
Often used for station security and monitoring level crossings.RT
Closure Rail (US)
The lead rails connecting the heels of a switch with the toe ends of a frog. UoS
Coach
A type of railway carriage, usually with a centre aisle and two rows of seats.UoS
Coasting
Allowing a train to freewheel (on the flat or downhill) to minimise energy use. Of the 50 non stop electrified miles between London and Brighton, 29 miles can be run with the train coasting. UoS
Coasting Allowance
Additional time in a schedule to allow trains to coast part of the journey.UoS
Code of Practice
A statement of best practice whose use is not made mandatory by the issuing authority.RT
Collector Drain
See surface water drain.RT
Communications Based Train Control (CBTC)
A continuous automatic train control system characterised by: (i) high resolution train location measurement, independent of track circuits; (ii) continuous, high capacity, bidirectional traintotrack RF data communications; and (iii) trainborne and wayside vital processors capable of implementing vital functions. In the UK it is known as Transmission Based Signalling (TBS). In Europe it is ETRMS Level 3. UoS
Communications Engineer
An engineer, acting for or on behalf of Network Rail, who is competent in railway communications and who is appointed in accordance with section 2 of RT/E/P/30022.RT
Compound Catenary
An overhead line arrangement which includes a catenary wire , auxiliary wire and contact wire linked by droppers. All three wires share the traction element (UK MK 1OLE).UoS
Compromise Bars (US)
Specially machined rails to connect rails of different section in such a way that the gauge sides and the top of the head and running surfaces are held in line. Also called offset bars.UoS
Condition of Track
This is a reason for a restriction below normal speed which ensures that trains pass at a safe speed over a track or a bridge or an embankment which is not currently fit for line speed.RT
Conductor Rail
An additional rail (or rails) provided on those electric railways where power is transmitted to trains from the track. Often referred to as the 'third rail' or 'current rail', it is normally at positive potential and is mounted on insulators to the outside of and slightly higher than the running rails. The return of the circuit is via the running rails. The current is collected by the train through 'shoes', attached to the bogies, which slide on top, along or under the rail. The continuity of conductor rails must be broken at junctions in the track to allow continuity of the running rails. Such 'gaps' may cause momentary loss of power to the train. There are cases from time to time of trains becoming 'gapped' at complex junctions, i.e. they stall over a gap and have to be rescued by another train. London Underground has a fourth rail (negative) for a completely insulated circuit. This is known as a fourrail system and the running rails are at an offset potential between the contact rails. Modern 3rd rail systems are under – pinning to allow the installation of protective (insulating) covers.UoS
Confederation of British Industry
Network Rail is a corporate member, therefore any designated manager is eligible to attend members’ meetings.RT
Conicity
The taper profiled onto the surface of a railway wheel that assists guidance around curves. Usually 1:20 or 1:20 with part at 1:40.UoS
Consist
Train formation, e.g., 'This vehicle was in the ’consist'. The sum of all vehicles in a train (for all train types). UoS
Construction Work
Maintenance, renewal, new work and commissioning in relation to the following:
civil engineering, signalling, electrification, telecommunications, plant and electrical distribution and related computer systems;
demolition and dismantling operations;
waste removal resulting from demolition or dismantling.RT
Contact Patch
The contact area between the wheel and the rail. Normally said to be about 1cm2 in size and experiencing very high pressures. See also rolling contact fatigue.UoS
Contact (Trolley) Wire
The overhead wire, sometimes referred to as trolley wire, which the pantograph of an electric locomotive, rides against (contacts) to collect its electrical current (source of power) and which is carried by the catenary or messenger wire.UoS
Contact Wire
Harddrawn copper, silver or (in Russia) aluminium wire, which is normally suspended from a catenary wire by droppers and is swept by the stainless steel contact strip (Japan) or aluminium contact piece (France DC electrified lines) of the pantograph.UoS
Contact Wire
The overhead wire touched by an electric train’s pantograph in order to draw power.RT
Contenary
Special type of overhead wire used where clearances are tight. The term is a contraction of ‘contact’ wire and ‘catenary’. RT
Continuous Welded Rail
Comprises rails welded together to form a single rail length over 36m (120ft), or 55m (180ft) in tunnels with a limited temperature range.RT
Continuously Welded Rail
A number of lengths of rail welded together to stretches of 300m or longer in a factory or permanent way yard and then welded together in a seamless manner. Expansion joints are fitted to prevent buckling.UoS
Contract Approval Group
A committee, chaired by the Head of Procurement, that reviews and approves proposed contract strategies, and contract awards over £5m.RT
Contract Check
An activity which assesses the extent to which a contractor’s work, procedures or systems meet his contractual obligations. This includes systems, technical and safety checks, and inspections of the contractor’s activitiesRT
Contract Check Plan
A plan indicating activities, timescales and Network Rail sections responsible for undertaking individual verification of elements of all maintenance contract work coordinated and managed by the Senior Contracts Manager.RT
Contract Instruction
An instruction by the Employer to the Contractor relating to an activity which is included in the terms of the contract and which does not vary the contract.RT
Contract Strategy
The precise way in which an individual contract is organised, planned, and implemented. It will include a timetable for preparation, invitation to tender, and award of contract, with the necessary approval stages involved. It will also include key criteria for the conditions of contract, the approach to the market, the way in which available competition will be exploited, and the tender evaluation criteria.RT
Contract Strategy Report
A report prepared by the Procurement Manager in advance of an invitation to tender to define the strategic approach when entering the supply market and the proposed structure of the intended contract.RT
Contractor
A generic term used to describe a company, consultant, partnership or individual supplying works, goods or services to Network Rail.RT
Contractor Check Plan
The infrastructure maintenance contractor’s plan for internal checking of their end productRT
Contractor’s Assurance Case
A document specific to a particular maintenance or renewals contract in which a contractor sets out to demonstrate his intention, competence, capability, organisation, risk assessment, and safety management system to undertake the contract work or service requirements in a safe manner, formerly known as Contractors Railway Safety Case.RT+UoS
Contractor’s Core Safety Case
A set of documents specified by and provided by the contractor to demonstrate that he has the resources, skill, experience and ability to safely carry out all tasks in pursuance of his undertaking. These documents are neither project nor contract specific.RT
Contractor’s Core Safety Case Review Panel
A panel of no more than four members set up by the Director Line Safety and composed of representatives from both the process and technical functions. Members may be chosen from Zone, Property, Project Delivery and Engineering and Production management units, as well as professional heads, engineers and specialists for resourcing the panel.RT
Control Centre of the Future
Computerised enhancements to the facilities available in control rooms, an AEA Technology Rail project.RT
Control Duty Manager
The person in charge of the shift in Network Rail zone control.RT
Controllable Income and Expenditure
Income and expenditure able to be regulated/controlled by the cost centre budget holder.RT
Controlled Copy
Copy of an important document whose recipients receive updates whenever the document changes.UoS
Controlled Document
A document specifying key safety, environmental, procedural or technical aspects of the work of Network Rail staff which must be made available to post holders on a controlled basis in order to allow them to carry out their duties.RT
Conventional Interoperability Directive
A European Union Directive which requires that national railways technical and operational standards are gradually unified.UoS
Corrugated Rail
Railhead with regularly spaced ridges and valleys at 900 to the direction of travel which can have a variety of causes, not yet fully explained. UoS
Cost Centre
A unique identifier in the set of accounts used to collect the costs relating to the specific activities of a manager within the budget approved.RT
Crane, track (also called maintenance crane)
A poweroperated crane used principally for positioning rails during track renewal, but having many similar uses in maintenance work.UoS
Creep Force
The force generated due to creepage.UoS
Creepage
The ratio of the tangential velocity of the wheel, to the actual velocity of the train.UoS
Crib
(1) The ballast or the open space between two adjacent crossties.
(2) A crisscross structure of logs, timber, concrete or other members, used to retain a fill or as a bridge support.UoS
Cripple Line
Track used for storing failed rolling stock.UoS
Crippled Rail
A rail that has been locally bent by mishandling, derailment or other impact.RT
Criterion Based Interviewing
A technique used by suitably trained persons to select staff for appointment and posts (often used in conjunction with psychometric tests.)RT
Critical End Product
An end product that, in consideration of importance ranking and loss contribution, is assigned a value which is above W.RT
Critical Rail Temperature
The rail temperature to which continuously welded rail may be allowed to heat up before measures to protect traffic must be taken. The CRT will depend on the stressfree temperature of the rail and the quantity and degree of consolidation of the ballast.RT
Critical Speed
Speed at which hunting continues without dying away. Above this speed hunting increases and derailment can occur.UoS
Cross Level
Difference in height of the railhead surfaces of the two rails in tangent (straight) track.UoS
Crossing (UK)
Location in a point (turnout) or diamond crossing where the wheel crosses the rail which is not leading in its direction of travel. This can be cast, fabricated or made using a combination of technologies. Requires a flange way for the wheel flange to pass through. High speed and heavy haul railways use swing nose crossings (moving frogs). (US: Frog)UoS
Crossing Protection
An arrangement of signs or electric signalling devices designed to prevent accidents at grade crossings. May include short arm gates or full gates.UoS
Crossing, Grade (Xing)
A crossing or intersection of a railway line and a highway at the same level or grade. (UK term is "level crossing").UoS
Cross Level
The distance one rail is above or below another. This quality measurement should not be confused with superelevation or cant in curves.UoS
Crossover
A track providing a connection between two parallel tracks using two turnouts (sets of points . A scissors crossover provides two connections, one in each direction, with a crossing in the middle. In the UK, trailing crossovers are preferred over facing crossovers since they are perceived to be safer. A facing crossover allows a train to change to a parallel track without having to reverse.UoS
Crossover
Connection between two tracks which allows trains to pass from one to the other.RT
CrossSpan Wire
A wire stretched across tracks holding the OLE in its desired position.RT
Cross Tie (US)
The transverse member of the track structure to which the rails are spiked or otherwise fastened to provide proper gauge and to cushion, distribute, and transmit the stresses of traffic through the ballast to the roadbed. Also see Tie (US) or Sleeper (UK).UoS
Culvert
Small bridge or pipe carrying a stream under a railway or road.RT
Curve, Compound
A curve composed of two or more simple curves which join on common tangent points or common transition curves and which lead in the same general direction, i.e., to left or right, but each with a different radius.UoS
Curve, Easement
See: Transition Curve. UoS
Curve, Reverse
A curve composed of two simple curves which join at a common tangent point or by a short tangent track or a reverse transition curve, and bear in opposite directions, i.e., to left and right or vice versa. (US: DogLeg)UoS
Curve, Simple
A curve in the form of an arc of a circle usually described as to its degree of curvature.UoS
Curve, Vertical
A curve in the profile of a track to connect intersecting grade lines and to permit safe and smooth operation of trains over summits and across sags.UoS
Curved Lead
The rail from the heel of the point to the toe of the crossing.UoS
Cut (US)
Uncoupling part of a Train. (UK) referred to the sections into which a train was broken when passing over a hump in a marshalling yard (now obsolete). UoS
D...
Dabbing InEnthusiasts’ jargon for trespassing on the network to take photographs of trains.RT
Datatrak
Semiautomatic mechanism for reporting of train movements based on the location of multipleunit rolling stock and subsequent translation to actual train identities/activities based on the GEMINI vehicle control system.RT
Deadhead
A locomotive hauling another. In addition, a nonrevenue (nonpassenger) train movement. Deadheading is a US term for empty train or light engine running. The movement of surplus personnel, usually drivers, without them performing their duties.UoS
Deadman Device
A pressure or activity actuated alertness device to detect inattention or disability of a train driver (operator). UoS
Deenergised Apparently Dead
Electric apparatus, such as overhead wires, third rail, transformers, switches, motors, etc., is deenergised when disconnected from the normal power source, but such apparatus is deemed dangerous to life until it is known to be properly grounded.UoS
Degree of Curvature
A measure of the sharpness of a simple curve in which a 1deg. Curve is taken as the central angle subtended by a chord or arc of 100 feet and for which the radius is taken as 5,730 feet. Railways in the US use the chord definition highways the arc definition.UoS
Delegated Authority
The authority, usually expressed in financial terms, that an individual post in the organisation has to enter into the specific transaction to which the authority relates.RT
Delegated Budget Authority
The authority to commit expenditure within approved budgets in running the business.RT
Delegated Procurement Authority
The authority to act on behalf of the Head of Procurement to commit Network Rail contractually to third party suppliers of works, goods and services.RT
Deliverer
The management team engaged by the Sponsor to manage the day to day delivery of a project to a scope and purpose consistent with the business case provided by the Sponsor (see Sponsor).RT
Departmental Advice (Blue)
Used for publishing the Sandite programmes worked by TASC units (see TASC).RT
Depreciation
The charge reflected in the financial accounts for the use and replacement of fixed assets.RT+UoS
Depth, Ballast
The depth from the bottom of the sleeper or tie to the top of the subballast or sub grade. The ballast between the ties (in the cribs) is a part of the ballast section but its depth is not a part of the specified ballast depth.UoS
Derail
A track safety device to guide nonauthorised train movements off the rails at a selected spot, as a means of protection against collisions or other accidents. Modern day equivalent for catchpoints in areas with slow moving traffic. Usually linked to a point giving access to a main line or through track.UoS
Derailment
Anytime the wheels of a rail vehicle are off the head of the rail and on the ground. Caused by collisions, mechanical failure, gauge spreading or flange climb.UoS
Detection
Proof that points are correctly set (and usually locked) in the "Normal" or "Reverse" position. Correct detection must be obtained before the protecting signal can be cleared.RT
Detonator
A small disc shaped warning device, designed to be placed on the railhead for protection and emergency purposes. It explodes when a train passes over, thus alerting the driver. Detonators are being phased out. Correctly known as a fog signal.RT+UoS
Diagram
The planned movements for a set of rolling stock (e.g., a train, a multiple unit) for a day or any other period and involving several journeys, generally with different service (train) numbers.UoS
Diamond Crossing
Arrangement of a line where one track crosses another, without connection, at an angle of less than 90º, at grade. Named after the pattern formed by the rails.UoS
Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU)
See Multiple Unit UoS
Differential Global Positioning by Satellite (DGPS)
Navigation based on signals received from four or five satellites with a correction factor received from a fixed position reference transmitter via terrestrial FM.UoS
Direct Fixation Track
A system to attach rails directly to a solid, nonballasted surface. (UK: Slab Track). UoS
Direct Rail Services
Originally, the freight operating organisation of British Nuclear Fuels. Now a medium sized freight operating company, active in coal traffic and infrastructure maintenance supplies.RT+UoS
Direct Traffic Control(DTC)
System of traffic control with sections of track identified with clear boundaries, where permission to proceed is granted remotely by a dispatcher. Ordinarily, only one train may occupy a DTC block at a time. Similar to train warrant control (TWC) except that the section entry timings are fixed by timetable rather than granted case by case. DTC may be used in conjunction with track signalling in APB, ABS, or over "dark territory". UoS
Disability Discrimination Act (DDA)
Legislation requiring providers of services that are made available to the general public take into account the needs of people with disabilities. Part 3 of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) came into force on 1st October 2004 and requires every business, large or small, from the local shop to restaurants, health clubs, dentists and supermarkets, to become more userfriendly for Britain’s 10 million disabled people. The law means that businesses will need to make reasonable changes, such as adapting premises, removing physical barriers or providing the service another way, so that disabled people can use the service. Failure to act can result in legal action. This legal requirement has been anticipated by the railway industry and has caused substantial cost increases. UoS
Disaggregation
The splitting of plans and expenditure into different headings and activities.RT+UoS
Displaced Asset
An asset owned but no longer in use.RT
Distant Signal (AU, CH, D etc.)
Hixed signal which indicates the state of the main signal on the approach to a block signal, station entry or exit signal etc. It will not convey information as to conditions affecting the use of the track between the distant signal and main signal. Distant signals are necessary where a train driver can not react fast enough once he or she sees the main signal. Often combined with the previous main signal.UoS
Distant Signal (UK)
Fixed signal outside of a block system, used to indicate the state of the main signal on the approach to a block signal, interlocking signal or switch point indicator. It does not convey information as to conditions affecting the use of the track between the distant signal and block signal, interlocking signal or switch point indicator with which it is associated. The distant signal does therefore not include a red or stop aspect. When "on" it is a warning that the next aspect could be red. Distant signals are necessary where a train driver cannot react fast enough once he or she sees the main signal. It is identified by a "D" marker (UK). UoS+ RT
Division Point (US)
One of a number of sections of a large railway, run as an independent entity to the extent of having its own fleet of locomotives, engines, repair shops, officials, and clerical and operating personnel. Sometimes only refers to the management of part of the infrastructure. (UK: Area)UoS
Document Control Point
A nominated location where the person in charge will receive controlled documents, allocate controlled copy numbers, register them, acknowledge receipt and pass them to each addressee. The person in charge will also register outgoing documents, and ensure receipts are received from each addressee.RT
Dog Leg (US)
Railway parlance for a sharp reverse curve in the track. The term's basis is the comparable crooked appearance of a dog's hind legs. (UK: reverse curve)UoS
Dolly
Slang term for a shunting signal in ex LNER terminology. Sometimes also known as a "Dod" or "Tommy Dodd". Rt
Dolly, Rail or Timber (US)
A device consisting of one or more wide rollers mounted in a frame, used as a platform and as a truck for moving rail, long heavy timbers, and other items. (UK: Trolley)UoS
Double End Electrical Section
A section of conductor rail or overhead line fed from two points.UoS
Double Yellow Aspect
A preliminary cautionary signal in four aspect signalled teritory, informing the driver to expect the next running signal to be at single yellow.RT
DoubleEnder (US)
A locomotive able to run in either direction. Most European locomotives are of this type , unlike US ones which often run in back to back pairs.UoS
Down Line
Rail line taking trains away from London or another major city (generally). However, there are exceptions, for example, Up to Cleethorpes and Up to Hull from Seamer West.RT
Drill, Track
A machine designed to operate horizontally to drill holes through the webs of rails, especially for track bolts. It may be a oneman ratchet drill or a geared drill machine with a frame, rail clamps, feed screw, highspeed steel bit and chuck.UoS
Driver’s Safety Device
Device on traction rolling stock that will stop the train if the driver becomes incapacitated. Popularly known as the "Deadmans Pedal" or Deadman’s Handle".RT
Driving Van Trailer
An unpowered van fitted with a driving cab from which a locomotive at the other end of the train can be controlled, thus enabling pushpull working.RT
Dropper
Stainless steel or galvanised steel wire supporting the contact wire from the < size="2">catenary wire < size="2">and linking the two electrically. Fixed to the contact wire with clips.UoS
Dual Gate
Electronic means of monitoring two selected regions of the timebase of an ultrasonic flaw detector.RT
Dual Voltage Locomotive (Train)
Locomotive or multiple unit train designed to operate over lines having two different electric traction power supply systems. Locomotives have been designed to operate with up to four different voltages covering both AC and DC systems. Some trains can operate on lines with either overhead or third rail current collection, as in the case of Eurostar Trains and UK Class 92 Channel Tunnel locomotives and some North East Corridor trains in New York. Eurostar trains can handle 750Vdc (England) 1500Vdc (Holland + France), 3000Vdc (Belgium) and 25kVac (Belgium and France).UoS
Dummy
Slang term for a shunting signal, ex LMS terminology.RT
Dwell Time
The time a vehicle or train spends at a station or stop to allow passengers to board and alight, measured as the interval between time of stopping and starting.UoS
Dynamic Braking
A train braking system using the traction motors of the power vehicle(s) to act as generators with the energy dissipated in brake resistors (rheostatic braking) or supplied to other trains via the supply system (regenerative braking).UoS
Dynamic Track Stabiliser
A self propelled ontrack machine for consolidating track ballast by inducing high frequency vibration into the ballast through the rails and sleepers. This treatment allows resumption of operations at line speed after a maintenance intervention (tamping etc.).RT+UoS
E...
Early Rationalisation of Signalling Railtrack’s accelerated programme of closing small signal boxes and concentrating work at fewer, larger signal boxes.RT
Easement Curve
See Transition Curve.)UoS
Economical Facing Point Lock
A mechanism that enables the movement of points and the facing point lock plunger to be operated by the same lever.RT
Egret
A performance management information system with downloaded information from PHIS.RT
Elastomer
A material made substantially from natural or synthetic rubbers.RT
Electric Multiple Unit (EMU)
The generic term for an electrically powered suburban or train where a separate locomotive is not required because the traction drive and control system is contained under or in the roof space of various cars in the train (see also multiple unit . UoS
Electrical Control Room
Responsible for control of current in the overhead lines. On the LNE zone, located at Hornsey and Doncaster, with Cathcart controlling Alnmouth Berwick.RT
Electrical Control Room Operator
The person in charge of a shift in the Electrical Control Room.RT
Electrification
A term used to describe the installation of overhead wire or third (or 4th) rail power distribution facilities to enable operation of EMU trains or trains hauled by electric locomotives.UoS
Electrified Territory
That portion of the railway consisting of main tracks, secondary tracks, sidings, yards and industrial tracks equipped for electric train operation by overhead line system or by third rail and necessary substations, transmission and signal power lines located above or adjacent to the tracks.UoS
Electro Magnetic Interference
Interference in the signalling system caused by inductive coupling with traction motors, transformer stray fields, radio waves being generated by electronic equipment etc.UoS
Electromagnetic Compatibility
The ability of electronic devices to function satisfactorily in the presence of magnetic and electric fields.RT
Electronic Data Interchange
A computer network enabling suppliers and customers to pass orders, invoices, and payments electronically.RT
Electronic Train Recording
Computer equipment installed in signalboxes where automatic TRUST reporting is not operative, to allow the signalman to record train passing times. Now known as Simplified Direct Recording (SDR).RT
Electronic Train Register Book
Being installed in manual signalboxes to replace the old manual train register. A PC based system.RT
Elevation (US)
Height of outer rail in a curve: See Superelevation.UoS
Emergency Restriction of Speed
A reduction of normal speed which has to be applied in an emergency.RT
Encapsulation
The bonding of insulating material to a metallic fishplate core under workshop conditions prior to the manufacture of a joint.RT
End Post
Block of insulating material in the shape of the rail crosssection used to separate, electrically, rail ends from each other (also known as ‘biscuit’ in Scotland).UoS
End post
The piece of an insulating rail joint which separates the rail ends.UoS
Energised Live (Dangerous to Life)
Electric apparatus, such as overhead wires, third rail, transformers, switches, motors, etc., that is energised when connected to the normal power source. All systems are considered to be energised until a qualified individual establishes that the circuit has been deenergised and has applied a secure link to earth.UoS
Engine Burn (US)
Destruction of railhead metal caused by spinning locomotive wheels. Engine Burn Fracture is a rail break caused by an engine burn.UoS
Engineering Safety Management System
The management system that was employed by Railtrack EE&CS to ensure best current safety management practice.RT
English, Welsh and Scottish Railway Ltd
The company formed when the three heavy haul rail freight companies (Loadhaul, Mainline and Transrail) together with Rail Express Systems, were taken over by Wisconsin Central Railroad Company.RT+UoS
Environment
Surroundings in which an organisation operates including air, water, land, natural resources, flora, fauna, humans, and their interrelation. Note: surroundings in this context extend from within an organisation to the whole system.RT
Environmental Impact
Any change to the environment, whether adverse or beneficial, wholly or partly resulting from an organisation’s activities, products or services. RT
Environmental Impact Assessment
The ongoing identification of environmental factors to determine the past, current and potential impact (positive or negative) of an organisation’s activities on the environment. This process includes the identification of the potential regulatory, legal and business exposure, as well as health and safety impacts and environmental risk assessment.RT
Environmental Management System
The part of the overall management system that includes organisational structure, planning activities, responsibilities, practices, procedures, processes and resources for developing, implementing, achieving, reviewing and maintaining the environmental policy.RT
Environmental Policy
A public statement of the intentions and principles of action of an organisation regarding its environmental aspects, giving rise to its objectives and targets.RT
Environmental Statement
A document setting out the results of an environmental impact assessment. It consists of three parts:
main study findings;
nontechnical summary.RT
Equilibrium Speed
The speed of a train travelling through a curve where the passeger experiences no lateral force, whether to the inside or outside of the curve, the speed at which there is neither cant deficiency nor cant excess. RT
Equivalent Fatalities
All fatalities and injuries expressed in terms of fatalities where 10 major injuries equals 1 fatality and 200 minor injuries equals 1 fatality.RT
Equivalent Million Gross Tons Per Annum
A measure of the damage effect on the track caused by different types of trains running at different speeds and with different axle loads.RT
EROS
(1) Emergency Restriction of Speed: a reduction of normal speed which has to be applied in an emergency or (2a) Efficiency by the Rationalisation of Signalboxes and (2b) Early Rationalisation of Signalling, Railtrack’s accelerated programme of closing small signal boxes and concentrating work at fewer, larger signal boxes.RT+UoS
ETH Index
The Electric Train Heating Index states the power which a headend power unit must supply to a railway carriage for "hotelpurposes", that is, heating and air conditioning etc. Also, the capacity of the headend unit to supply this power.UoS
Ethernet
A high density polyethylene modified by the addition of vinyl acetate.RT
European Integrated Railways Radio Enhanced Network (EIRENE)
PanEuropean development project for a train radio system suitable for transmitting the information required by ERTMS. Uses GSM in the 900MHz band allocated to railways.UoS
European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS)
High level set of standards to allow interoperability and effective management of Trans European railway operations. Previously, there was no distinction between the management aspects and the technical solution, European Train Control System (ETCS).UoS
European Train Control System (ETCS)
The signalling equipment aspect of ERTMS with its three levels of train control. The Level 1 is effectively a standardised ATP system with line side signals. Levels 2 and 3 require output from project EIRENE to assure transmission of movement authority by radio.UoS
EuroSPIN European Seamless Passenger Information Network
An EC funded project led by W S Atkins to develop an intelligent system which provides uptodate, multimodal passenger transport information to the public.RT
Examining Engineer
A person who is competent in the examination, assessment and maintenance of bridges to the satisfaction of the Zonal Civil Engineer.RT
Executive Grade
Old style executive job grading system.RT
Expansion Joint
A joint provided in CWR to allow rails to expand and contract as the temperature changes without buckling or rail breaks occurring. UoS
Expansion Shim (rail)
Spacer inserted between ends of abutting rails while track is being laid to provide allowance for the expansion of the rail steel when the temperature changes.UoS
F...
Facing Point
Lock a device to ensure that points that allow trains to change route without reversing are locked in position.RT+UoS
Facing Points
Points where two routes diverge in the direction of travel [compare with trailing points].RT
Fail Safe
Design philosophy which results in any expected malfunction or failure maintaining or placing the equipment in a safe state.RT+UoS
Faregate (US)
Part of an automatic fare collection (AFC) system where the device is placed at station entrances and exits to regulate access by reading a ticket inserted by the passenger and restricting access if the ticket is not correct. Various types are in use around the world to prevent passenger fraud and to permit the handling of large numbers of passengers with a minimum of staff. (UK: Ticket Barrier / Ticket Gate)UoS
Fares Incentive Adjustment Payment
A modification to the fare cap to take into account the punctuality and reliability achieved by the TOC.RT
Fares Increase Regulatory Mechanism
A computerised system commissioned by OPRAF to check TOC compliance with the fare capping regime. RT
Fastener, TiePlate
A special tieplate long enough to support the bases of a guard rail and the adjacent running rail and with a rail brace riveted to it for supporting the guard rail.UoS
Fastenings, Auxiliary Track Spring
Washers, tie plates, rail braces, rail anchors and other accessories.UoS
Fastenings, Track
A term commonly applied to splice bars, bolts, clips and spikes.UoS
Fault Reporting and Monitoring of Equipment System
Allows operators in Fault Control to record Signals & Telecommunications faults.RT
Feasibility
A structured process that identifies the engineering options and their implications including environmental issues. It culminates in a feasibility report and a design development proposal.RT
Feasibility Study
A structured process that identifies the engineering options and their implications including environmental issues. It culminates in a feasibility report and a design development (and, sometimes, implementation) proposal.RT
Feather
Slang term for the row of five white lights mounted at an angle above a (cleared) colour light signal to give an indication of the route set.RT
Feeder Station
A building or compound containing electrical switch gear and equipment to which main supplies from an electricity company are brought and from which the OLE or third rail is supplied.RT
Field Reporting Procedures
The instructions issued on how to report to TOPS for any particular location.RT
Finance and Business Information System
A homonym of FBMIS and which is now known as BMIS.RT
First Filament Failure
This refers to a failure in a signal lamp, which has more than one filament for enhanced availability. The bulb must be replaced, but the signal still works normally and cautioning of trains is not necessary.RT
Fish Plate
Device to secure the ends of two rails together (in jointed track).RT
Fish Plate
Shaped and drilled (4 or more holes) steel plate used to link two rails. Fishplates are bolted to the rail ends by using the space in the web of the rail of jointed track. UoS+RT
Fishing Space (US)
Space between head and base of a rail occupied by a splice bar (angle bar, joint bar).UoS
Fishing Surfaces
Inclined surfaces under the railhead and above the rail foot that allow the fishplate to perform its function of aligning the adjacent pieces of rail.UoS
Fixed Asset
An item by the use of which the company generates income. This may be a tangible asset or an intangible asset, such as software.RT
Fixed Distant Signal
A distant signal that is only capable of displaying a caution.RT
Fixed (Signal)
(1) A signal which is incapable (permanently or temporarily) of being cleared.
(2) A lineside signal which is always there as opposed to a (portable) hand signal.RT
Flagman (US)
The rear brakeman. The great country music singer Jimmie Rodgers used to brag about being a flagman. Reason? Because flagmen had to know how to read so they could understand train orders.UoS
Flaking
One of the consequences of rolling contact fatigue, resulting from the propagation of cracks underneath and parallel to the surface of the rail head or running surface of the wheel. The phenomenon is more pronounced on rails where the traffic is predominantly in one direction. Railhead damage takes the form of pieces of the rail or tread surface becoming detached or being torn off. The severity of the damage caused by flaking is generally felt to be less than that associated with shelling and spalling. However, this is a largely qualitative form of differentiation. UoS
Flange
Raised part of the rolling surface of the wheel used for guidance in tight curves and when travelling through the crossing parts of turnouts (points) without a moving frog (see also wheelset )UoS
Flange Way
Space in the crossing of a turnout (points) or diamond crossing that allows the flange of the wheel to cross the stock rail. Space between the running rail and guard rail or the decking (timber or proprietary design) in road crossings to provide clearance for the passage of wheel flanges. UoS
Flare Opening (US)
Horizontal distance between the gauge line of the running rail and the side of the head of a guard rail or crossing wing rail at the widest part of its flared end.UoS
Flat
The railway equivalent to a puncture. Damage caused to the surface of a wheel, normally the result of sliding or skidding; can only be corrected by using a wheel lathe to restore the correct shape.RT
Flat Bottom Rail
Rail which is used in all modern track relaying.RT
Flexibility Premium
A percentage allowance paid to Relief Signalmen and Crossing Keepers to compensate for their travelling to and from places of work and the unpredictability of shifts.RT
Floating Slab Track
A track system using a concrete base mounted on rubber pads or resilient mats to reduce noise and vibration transmission to adjacent properties. Some systems use steel and rubber spring suspended floating slabs to facilitate later changes. UoS
Flow of Metal (rail)
Rolling out of steel on the crown of a rail toward sides of the head. More common on the low side of a canted curve, located where trains travel frequently at less than balancing speed. (UK: Lipping)UoS
Flow Separation
Loss of continuity of airflow along parts of the train’s outer surface.UoS
Fog Signal
See Detonator.RT
Formation
Material provided between the ballast and the subgrade to either increase or reduce the stiffness of the subgrade, or to prevent overstressing the subgrade. Some use the term to describe embankments and similar structures which are not part of the preexisting ground.RT+UoS
Four Foot (UK)
The space between the running rails measured from the edge of the baseplates underneath the rails (rail chairs). The most dangerous place to be on a railway.UoS
Four Rail System
A now almost unique current collection system used by London Underground which has separate positive and negative current rails. The same system was used by the LNWR and the Mersey Railway at one time. The usual 3rail method of conducting the return current via the running rails is replaced by a fully insulated system using separate positive and negative rails. Originally used to reduce the risk of stray currents causing damage to nearby utilities and structures through electrolysis. The system has the disadvantage of requiring special fault detection as earth faults do not cause current to switch off automatically (see also: conductor rail ).UoS
FRA
The Federal Railroad Administration. An agency of the U.S. Department of Transportation with jurisdiction over matters of railway safety and research.UoS
Fracture, Detail
A progressive transverse fracture originating in the head of a rail, caused by inclusions in the original metal. Cleaner steels means this flaw is on the decline. (UK: Tache Oval)UoS
Franchise
An agreement between the Franchising Director and a train operator to run particular passenger services for a defined period.RT
Franchise Director
Officer appointed under the Railway Act 1993 to franchise passenger services.RT
Fredy
A device for detecting trains approaching level crossings without the use of a treadle. Unfortunately, vulnerable to leaf contamination, and so being replaced by treadles.RT
Freight Upgrade
An initiative to secure future freight revenue and to protect passenger revenue, through infrastructure gauge improvements and routing strategy, particularly on the WCML. RT
Frog (US)
A track structure used at the intersection of two running rails to provide support for wheels and passageways for their flanges, thus permitting wheels on either rail to cross the other. (UK: Crossing)UoS
Frog Angle (US)
Angle formed by intersecting gauge lines of the rails, or by tangents to the gauge lines at their point of intersection when the frog is curved. (UK: Crossing Angle)UoS
Frog Number (US)
Onehalf the cotangent of onehalf the frog angle, or the number of units of centreline length in which the spread is one unit. The rate of spread of the gauge lines at the frog. The number of units of length for a spread of one unit.UoS
Frozen Joint
A joint so tight that the rails cannot move as temperature varies. UoS
Fuel Oil
Diesel and other similar hydrocarbon based oils used as a fuel for train motive power.RT
G...
Gain Amplification [especially of a signal].RT
Gangway
Flexible structure provided at vehicle ends where necessary to provide access from one vehicle to another. The gangway is divided between the two adjacent vehicles and is normally closed off when the vehicles are uncoupled.UoS
GasTurbine Electric Locomotive
A power unit in which a gas turbine drives electric power, normally alternators supplying current to electric traction motors on the axles.UoS
Gauge
The distance between the inner running faces (gauge lines) of the two rails, on the same track. Also used to describe the "envelope" through which trains’ profiles must fit this is the structure gauge (US spelling "gage".RT+UoS
Overview of Common Track Gauges:
Broad gauge (Spain):
Gauge Line
A line five eighths of an inch, about 15mm below the running surface of a rail on the side of the head nearest the track centre; the line from which measurements of gauge are made. Gauge, narrow (see Narrow Gauge.)UoS
Gauging (of track)
Bringing two opposite rails into their correct relative positions as regards to their distance apart.UoS
Gemini
A system for resource control of multipleunit trains.RT
Gemini for Non Integrated Unit Stock
A Windows frontend facility for Resource Controllers to manage the day to day operation of their fleets. Adopted by Virgin Trains. Users of GENIUS withdraw from TOPS/POIS/EDTA.RT
General Purpose Radio System (GPRS)
Implementation of PSS using mobile radio communications.UoS
General Utility Van
A type of parcels van, some of which were converted by Railtrack for leaf fall track clearance.RT
Geographic and Infrastructure Systems (GEOGIS)
A major database of railway infrastructure assets containing information on the physical location of track, buildings and structures.RT
Geographic Information System (GIS)
High quality database for assets using exact geographic information for object location, in most cases referenced to a national grid system. May include full mapping information. Generally of a relational type and based on a standard software such as ORACLE or ARCINFO.UoS
Global Positioning by Satellite (GPS)
Navigation based on measuring time delays of signals received from four or five satellites. See also DGPS.UoS
Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM)
Internationally agreed standard and protocols for mobile radio (telephone type) communications using cellular arrangements to maximise use of the frequency spectrum. European standard. UoS
Global System for Mobile Communications for Railways (GSMR)
Specialised GSM cellular Personal Mobile Radio (PMR) implementation for railways using the 900MHz band and with a higher level of reliability and safety and more features than GSM.UoS
Goods Line
A line which has not been signalled to the standards required for running passenger trains.RT
Grade US
Term for sloping track. UK terms are gradient or "bank". "At grade" means level track. UoS
Grade Crossing (US)
(1) The line of a profile representing topofrail elevations of the track.
(2) A series of staked elevations transferring this line to the ground or roadbed.UoS
Grade Rail
The rail first surfaced to track elevation; the line rail on tangent track, the inner or low rail on curves.UoS
Grade Separation
A term applied to the use of a bridge structure and its approaches to divide or separate the crossing movement of vehicular, pedestrian or other traffic, by confining portions thereof to different elevations. See Flyover and Dive under.UoS
Green Zone
An area of protection for workers, which separates work on the railway line from train movements. The simplest way of arranging such a zone is to stop movements of all trains on all lines at the location concerned. Fencing off the work area may be an accceptable alternative but requires reduced speed operation. .RT
Gricer
Slang term for a train enthusiast.RT
Gricex
Slang term for a special train, often a steam special. The word is derived from ‘gricer’ and ‘x’ meaning excursion.RT
Gross Project Code
Records the full amount of income invoiced by a business unit to a customer prior to allocating income to the interunit account code of the appropriate business unit.RT
Ground Disk
Small shunting signal at low level (often called a "dolly" or a "dummy").RT
Ground Frame
A small lever frame to operate points and signals, usually mounted at ground level. Sometimes a small switch panel which works little used connections at locations remote from a signal box.RT
Ground Position Light
A low level shunting signal displaying lights rather than a disc.RT
Group Standard
A document published by the Safety and Standards Group of Railway Safety as a Railway Group Standard or a Railway Group Code of Practice.RT
Guard
Senior Conductor, Conductor or Train(wo)man.RT
Guard Rail (US)
See also: Check Rail. Guideway (UK) Running surface with mechanical or electrical guidance function for nonrail guided transport. (US) Supporting structure for a rail track. UoS
H...
The section of wall rising from the surface of an abutment.UoS
Hand Points
Turnout (points) which is worked manually by an adjacent independent lever.RT
Handite Hand Held Sandite Applicator
(a trade name used by Chipman Rail).RT
Harm
Means harm to the health of living organisms or other interference with the ecological systems of which they form part. Also, in the case of man, includes offence caused to any of his senses or harm to his property. Harmless has a corresponding meaning.RT
Hazard
Situation with potential to cause harm or loss.RT
Hazpak
Training course for drivers of vehicles carrying dangerous substances in packages.RT
Head Block (switch) (US)
A pair of ties (or, in old types of turnouts, a single tie) used to support the switch points operating mechanism and the switch stand.UoS
Head Code
An obsolete term for the Train Reporting Number. The headcode is a unique code to identify each train; it is made up from the Class of train, followed by its destination; and finally its number designated by track access (eg. 1A30 = a Class One express train, travelling towards London, No. 30). The range of letters used in the train reporting numbers are too detailed to list here.RT
Head Rod (US)
The switch rod nearest the toe of a switch, usually placed between the two head block ties.UoS
Head End Power
A system of furnishing domestic electric power (hotel power) for a complete railway train from a single generating plant in the power unit, excluding traction power.UoS
Headspan Wire
A wire suspended across the tracks and from which the OLE is suspended.RT
Headway
The time interval between the passing of the front ends of successive multiple units or trains moving along the same lane or track in the same direction. UoS
Heater, switch
A device for melting snow at switches by means of steam, an electric current, gas jets, or oil.UoS
Heat Treated Rail
Rail subjected to accelerated cooling or other heat treatment after rolling with the intention of achieving specified mechanical properties.RT
Heavy Haul Railway
large capacity train haulage of bulk commodities. Normally uses unit train format.UoS
Heavy rail transit
A mode of rail rapid transit generally characterised by high passenger carrying capacity , fully gradeseparated construction, operating on exclusive rights of way, and station platforms at the floor level of the vehicles.UoS
Heavy rail vehicle
A vehicle operating on a heavy rail transit system. Typically, electrically propelled, bidirectional, capable of operating in multiple unit, and designed for rapid, highlevel boarding and discharging of passengers.UoS
Heel Block (switch)
A block which spans joints and fills the space between adjacent rails at the heel of a switch, joined with outside splice bars by continuous bolts to form a unit joint. Also serves as a foot guard.UoS
Hertzian Contact
The pressure distribution in the contact patch.UoS
High Speed Interoperability
Requirement placed on highspeed rolling stock and operational practice to allow cross border operation without locomotive and new changes. UoS
High Street Environment
A worksite outside the area of an Infrastructure Manager’s (Network Rail’s in Britain) Controlled Infrastructure and which may not impinge upon railway operationsRT
Highway Crossing Protection (US)
An arrangement of one or more highway crossing signals, with or without gates, to protect highway traffic. (UK: level crossing protection)UoS
Hollow Bearer bearer (Sleeper)
, fabricated from steel or cast, with space internally to accommodate switch drive mechanisms and detection devices. Can also be used to route cables across a track.UoS
Home Signal
The first stop signal on the approach to a (non Track Circuit Block) signalbox. See Track Circuit Block. RT+UoS
Hot Axle Box Detector / or Detected
This is a trackside temperature detector, which warns a signal box of an overheated bearing; as it counts the passing wheels and indicates which axle is faulty, if one axle or wheel is hotter than the others on the train.RT
Hotel Power
That part of a train’s power consumption which is needed to power air conditioning, lighting, heating and kitchen facilities on a train. Often greater than 1020% of the total energy requirement. UoS
House Track (US)
A track alongside of or entering a freight house; used for cars receiving or delivering freight at the house. (UK: industrial sidings)UoS
Human Resources System
A computer system replacing NPS and PEARLS.RT
Hunting (UK)
The sinusoidal oscillation of a bogie or wheelset at speed caused by wheelset conicity and yaw stiffness and initiated by irregularities in the track or wheels. Different designs "hunt" in different ways and under different conditions. Below a critical speed, the oscillations decay away. Above the critical speed the oscillations increase, and this can have a damaging effect on rails or may lead to the train being derailed. Suspension design often affects ride as much as anything and the whole science of bogie design can be a bit of a black art. (US: boxing) UoS
I...
System Monitor a facility for reporting errors to the Integrated Electronic Control Centre.RT
Impact Coefficient
An enhanced loading designed to simulate occasional exceptional or accidental loads to which a sleeper may be subjected in serviceRT
Impedance bond
An electrical circuit at installed at points on the track where track circuit frequencies or codes change in electric traction areas to separate signal and traction current. (See also: Bond)UoS
Implementation
The undertaking of physical works to deliver the detailed design.RT
Improved Manufacturing Performance Through Active Change and Training
A Westinghouse partnership initiative.RT
Ahead of in the (normal) direction of travel.RT
In Rear Of
Behind in the (normal) direction of travel.RT
Incident
An unplanned event which, under different circumstances, could have resulted in:
physical harm, injury or disease to an individual;
damage to property;
or any combination of these effects.RT
Insulated switch
A switch in which the fixtures, principally the gauge plates and the switch rods connecting one rail to the other, are provided with insulation so that electric currents will not be shunted. Also, the turnout rail must contain an insulating joint.UoS
Insulating rail joint
Sometimes called Insulated Joint. A rail joint designed to stop the conduction of electric current between two lengths of rail, as at the end of a track circuit. Normally consists of insulated fishplates, end post and insulating sleeves for the rail bolts.UoS
Integrated Electronic Control Centre (IECC)
Train control centre (power signal box) with responsibility for a hundred or more route km where all data displays and most safety interlocking are computer controlled. Many functions are carried out automatically using train describers and automatic route setting (ARS) based on TRUST Train Ids. Operators are only involved in situations where there is disruption. IECCs exist at London Liverpool St., Merseyside, Tyneside, York and elsewhere. UoS+RT
Interfrigo
An operator of privately owned wagons. RT
Interlocking
In signalling, a system to prevent the setting up of conflicting routes by logically linking points and signal operation. At first interlocking of actions was achieved mechanically through the locking frame, then electromechanically by relays in the signal box. Now, interlockings are largely computerised using a two in three voting system, diverse hardware and software or protocols. Also note the term SSI (solid state interlocking). Computer hardware and software must be safety approved. In the US, the term Interlocking refers to an area where junctions and signals are under the control of a signal cabin or "Tower". UoS+RT
Intermediate Block Home (IBH)
Signal stop signal controlling one exit from the section in the rear into the block section ahead, originally at an intermediate section signal box.RT+UoS
Intermediate Block Section
A track circuited section of line between the section signal and the Intermediate Block Home Signal, both of which are worked from the same (Absolute Block) signal box.RT
Intermittent ATP (IATP)
System of automatic train protection where trains receive information from the trackside at regular intervals. In between these fixed locations, trains cannot receive any updates.UoS
Intermodal Car
A rail wagon designed specifically for handling piggyback trailers or containers, or both.UoS
Intermodal Traffic
Freight moving via at least two different modes of transport, e.g., trucktorail.UoS
Interval
The actual difference in time between trains.RT
Invitation To Tender
A collection of documents issued to one or more potential suppliers or contractors to invite commercial bids to undertake specified tasks.RT
Iris
A test coach operated on the railway to test the strength of radio signals received via the National Railway Network Radio system.RT
J...
Jerk
The rate of change of acceleration with time. Units are mass per time cubed. Passenger comfort criterion. Maximum level allowed in the UK is 0.7m.s3. UoS
Joint
The junction of two rails or of like materials in bridge members. UoS
Joint bar (US)
A steel angle bar or other shape used to fasten together the ends of rails in a track. They are used in pairs, and are designed to fit the space between head and flange (fishing space) closely. They are held in place by track bolts. Also, called angle bar, rail joint bar, and splice bar. (UK: fishplates)UoS
Joint Industry Cost
Costs incurred by Network Rail on behalf of customers and "passed through" to them.RT
Joint Line
Any route where the line was formerly owned by two or more companies.RTWP
Joint Line
The route from Doncaster to Peterborough via Lincoln and Spalding; its title when built was the Great Northern and Great Eastern Joint Railway.RT
Jointed Rail or Track
A method for joining lengths of rails with steel members (fish plates) designed to unite the abutting ends of contiguous rails. Normal length of 60 ft but can be 45 or 30 ft lengths.UoS+RT
Journal Entry
Debit or credit to a general ledger account with a balancing debit or credit to another general ledger account.RT
K...
Key Performance Indicators
These are financial or other indicators used to monitor how well the business is doing in terms of satisfying its Critical Success Factors (order qualifying and order winning criteria.)RT
Kinematic Envelope
The volume of space swept through by a train in motion. It takes account of overhang on curves, tilting, etc thus differing from the static loading gauge The kinematic envelope must be smaller than the structure gauge.RT+UoS
L...
A track connecting successively the tracks of a yard. UoS
Lateral Track Force
Sideways force on the track generated by a vehicle on a curve.UoS
Lead Business Unit
The business unit responsible for sending an invoice for all services to a TOC, regardless of which business unit will ultimately recognise the income. RT
Lead track
An extended track connecting either end of a yard with the main track. UoS
Leeds Northern
Slang title given to the line between Northallerton and Eaglescliffe. This line ran from Wortley Junction through Horsforth, Harrogate, Ripon, Northallerton, Eaglescliffe, Stockton, Hartlepool and Sunderland to Newcastle. It was owned and operated by the "Leeds Northern Railway" from 1847 until 1854, when it was taken over by North Eastern Railway (NER) but (surprisingly) Leeds Northern title lives on in everyday railwayman’s language.RT
Level Crossing (UK)
The point where a railway line and a motor vehicle road intersect at the same level. Protection levels include (i) signage, (ii) road traffic signals, (iii) flashing lights, (iv) automatic half barriers, (v) automatic full barriers, (vi) manually operated barriers. Level crossings may be monitored locally or remotely using CCTV etc. (US: Grade Crossing).UoS
Lever Collar
A device, often of carved wood, placed over a signal lever or other control to remind the operator of it being restricted or out of use.RTWP See also Reminder Appliance.RT
Licensed Operator
A company or organisation who is granted a licence by the Rail Regulator to operate rail services, and to operate vehicles on the track, under terms and conditions defined by the Rail Regulator.RT
Light Loco
Term used to describe a locomotive running on its own without a train (usually to or from a depot for maintenance etc. (sometimes called a Light Diesel or Light Electric, according to type)RT
Light Rail Transit
A mode of rail transit characterised by its lower passenger carrying capacity and the ability to operate on its’ own rightofway (reservation, side or central) or to share road space with other traffic. Nowadays light rail vehicles (LRVs) are much favoured as an alternative to full blown subway or underground (heavy metro) lines for urban rail systems due to their reduced construction costs. Passengers may board or alight from track level or using vehicle floor level platforms.UoS
Light Rail Vehicle (LRV)
Modern generic term for tram or streetcar. An electrically powered rail vehicle using rails embedded in the roadway (operating in mixed traffic ) or using dedicated rail tracks, or a combination of the two as in Manchester, Sheffield, and many other European and US cities. Modern LRV design concentrates on low floor construction to make access easier for passengers and to reduce the height of platforms at stations. Much innovation is appearing in the industry as a result. Apart from recent developments in Germany, LRVs are electrically powered , generally from overhead supplies. UoS
Light Steam
Sufficient steam pressure to work injectors, lubricators and brakes but not more than 75% of maximum boiler pressure.RT
Like For Like Renewal
The removal and restoration or refurbishment of an item where the work does not require any fundamental design change to the Infrastructure. This may involve restoring or refurbishment of the original item or replacing it with an operationally equivalent new item.RT
Limit of Movement Authority (LMA)
The instantaneous distance that a train can travel before encountering a stop signal. UoS
Line Capacity
The maximum possible number of trains capable of being operated over a line in one direction. Usually expressed as trains per hour. The theoretical (maximum) capacity will depend on the trains running speed and braking capacity and on how the signalling is arranged. UoS
Line Light
An indicator on the drivers desk of an electric train that current is being drawn from the overhead wires. When the line light is lost (and cannot be reset) it is an indication that there may be a fault with the pantograph or overhead wires; this requires immediate attention to avoid serious damage.RT
Line Rail
The rail on which the lateral track alignment is based; the east rail of tangent track running north and south, the north rail of tangent track running east and west, the outer rail on curves, or the outside rails in multiple track territory (US definition).UoS
Line Standard
See Network Rail Line Standard.RT
Lining Track
Shifting the track laterally to conform to established alignment. Maintenance lining is ordinarily done during repairs; general lining is done to make the track conform throughout to predetermined alignment.UoS
Link Up
The independent organisation which administers the Railway Qualification System and QLink on behalf of Network Rail.RT
Lipping
Situation where the rail surface experiences excessive lateral forces or, in the case of a rail joint, longitudinal forces. This results in the rail steel being pushed and extruded over the edge of a surface.UoS
Liquidated Damages
Financial compensation from a contractor for loss incurred as a result of his default.RT
Loading Gauge
The dimensions of height and width which must not be exceeded by a rail vehicle or its load, so as not to foul lineside fixtures or structured. Similarly, the dimensions in respect to the rails which must not be infringed by such structures (structure gauge). See also Kinematic EnvelopeRT
Local Procurement Agent
The individual employee in most departments throughout Network Rail who has delegated procurement authority for a range of low value purchases.RT
Locking Bar
Metal bar connecting the switch blades to the point locking mechanism to prevent the points from moving as a train passes through the turnout. The locking bar is usually connected to a cammechanism.UoS
Locomotive
A self-propelled, nonrevenue rail vehicle designed to convert electrical or mechanical energy into tractive effort to haul trains of nonpowered carriages and freight cars.UoS
Long Welded Rail
Usually delivered to renewal sites in 300ft or 600ft lengths (also known as CWR continuously welded rail.)RT
Long Welded Rail Train
The vehicle used to deliver LWR to the work site. RT
Longitudinal Timber
Large cross section baulk of timber used on some bridges and positioned under each rail longitudinally. It acts as a beam and is the securing point for baseplates. Also used to support rails along the edges of pits in depots.
Loop
A siding with a connection to the running line at each end, used to enable a locomotive to run round a train or to allow a slower train to be overtaken by a faster train.RT
Lubrication, Flange
One of the critical areas of wear on railways occurs at the point of contact between wheel flange and railhead in curves. This wear reduces the flange profile and, if allowed to develop, can cause derailment. It also damages the inside edge of the rail head, potentially leading to gauge corner cracking. The wear can be reduced by lubrication of the contact area. The lubrication system may consist of flangeactuated track mounted lubricators at the entrance to curves or trains may be fitted with onboard flange lubrication. The Paris Metro, for example, used a train-mounted lubricator which was actuated by links on the bogie which detected the change in angle as it turned onto a curve and injected a small amount of oil onto the wheel.The risk with flange lubrication is over application. This will leave lubricant on the wheel tread or railhead and results in sliding during braking. One such celebrated occasion occurred on London's Victoria Line some years ago, which resulted in 35% of the trains being unserviceable due to out of round wheels damaged by sliding. UoS
M...
Maglev
Magnetically levitated vehicle or train of vehicles with guidance and propulsion provided by magnetic forces. Support can be provided by either an electrodynamic system (EDS) whereby a moving vehicle is lifted by magnetic forces induced in the guideway, or an electromagnetic system (EMS) where the magnetic lifting forces are created by actively energising magnets in the guideway.UoS
Main Aspect
The red, yellow, double yellow, flashing yellow, flashing double yellow or green aspect of a colour light signal.RT
Main Line
The (any) running lines in two track section.RT
Main Line (UK+US)
The principal line or lines of a railway as opposed to branch lines (UK: also known as trunk route). Sometimes used to refer to the fastest line(s) in a multiple track area. UoS
Main Track (M.T.) (US)
A track extending through yards and between stations upon which trains are operated by timetable or train order or both, or the use of which is governed by block signals. (UK: Main Line)UoS
Maintainability
A measure for the ease with which a piece of equipment or a system can be brought back to the fully operational state after an inservice failure or when being serviced. Indicators can include Time To Repair and Time To Replace (TTR).UoS
Maintenance
The activity of returning an asset to a condition where it can safely and reliably perform its function. See also Preventative Maintenance Reactive Maintenance, Reliability Centred Maintenance and Remote Condition Monitoring.UoS
Margin Book
A reference book defining the characteristics of each TRUST reporting point on the zone in relation to data accuracy requirements.RT
Mark 1
The original British Railways passenger vehicle design of the 1950s which was constructed using an underframe and a relatively light superstructure. Now only RES parcels vans, some charter sets and some electric multiple units operated by South West Trains, South Central and Connex are of the Mk1 type. The "Mark" no. refers to the basic type of stock.RT
Mark 2
Integral body shell design passenger coaching stock which was built in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Virgin Cross Country, Great Western, Anglia and West Coast use such rolling stock for locohauled trains only. The "Mark" no. refers to the basic type of stock. RT
Mark 3
Integral body shell design passenger coach and HST trailer cars. The "Mark" no. refers to the basic type of stock. RT
Mark 4
Describes the type of coaching stock used for the InterCity East Coast electric trains which had originally been built for tilting operation but was not fitted with the necessary mechanism. The "Mark" no. refers to the basic type of stock. RT+UoS
Marker Board
A doublesided yellow board with two vertical redyellow flashing lights on one side and two yellow flashing lights on the other used to indicate a work site (possession). From August 1999 there have been two types: i) Possession (red lights); ii) Work Site (yellow lights). Possession and work site are not necessary the same. RT
Marshalling Yard (UK)
A number of sidings in a particular arrangement which are used to split and reform freight trains. Trains arrive in reception sidings and the individual wagons are distributed into classification sidings using a hump or shunting. Reformed trains are moved to departure sidings where they are collected for onward movement. Very common in US and some continental European countries but not in UK. (US: Switching Yard)UoS
May
A word used in procedural documents to express a permitted practice or action. Compare with shall, should, must, will.RT
Measured Shovel Packing
A track maintenance procedure where gravel is placed underneath individual sleepers to restore track top without disturbing the underlying ballast. Stoneblowing is the mechanised form of this method of treatment.UoS
Mechanical Points
Points (turnouts) which are operated without any form of power operation.RT
Mentor
(1) Property management and accounting system, holding a database of property related information and providing a full range of financial and management accounting functions or (2) an overhead line test coach operated by AEATRail at Derby.RT
Merry Go Round
Coal supply train from colliery or other bulk loading point to a power station, always in the same configuration. RT+UoS
Messenger Wire
See Catenary. UoS
Metro
The term used to denote an urban railway running exclusively on its own right of way, often partly or wholly underground, carrying large numbers of passengers on trains at close headways . In the US synonymous with the term "subway". The word is a diminution of the Metropolitan Railway of London, the first urban underground railway in the world. It has since been adopted by many transport authorities to give a catchy name to their system, even if not strictly correct.UoS
Mill Heat Treated Rail
Rail subjected to accelerated cooling or other heat treatment after rolling, with the intention of achieving specified mechanical properties.RT
Mini Marpas Maintenance and Renewal
Planning System used by BR Research to derive track usage rates for new vehicle types as they are introduced onto the network.RT
Minutes Average Performance
A database of train delay costs. RT
Motor Bogie
A powered bogie. The term is usually confined to multiple unit trains so as to distinguish them from trailer (unpowered) bogies. Some railways operate trains with all bogies motored. See also "bogie". UoS
Motor Car
A passenger vehicle in a multiple unit train which is provided with traction power equipment. UoS
Moving Block Train Control
The provision of a full braking distance between trains, based on the line speed rather than the speed of individual trains, limits track capacity. A first approach to increasing the capacity of a railway line is to provide a braking distance based on the current speed of a train and not that given by the line characteristics. This is described as moving block signalling . See also Relative Braking Distance.UoS
Multilingual Automatic Inquiry System
A project proposal to provide passenger timetable information in the local language.RT
Multiple Unit (MU)
A term referring to the practice of distributing traction power to units along the length of the train and for coupling two or more power units. MUs can be EMU (electrical) or DMU (diesel). UoS
Multi SPAD
Signal a signal that has been passed at danger (as defined in category A) more than once in 12 months or three or more times in any three year period.RT
Must
A word used in procedural documents where compliance with legislative or regulatory requirements is obligatory. Compare with shall, should, will, may.RT
M...
Work on the reprofiling of farm crossings to improve adverse gradient profiles and associated work.RT
Narrow Gauge
A gauge narrower than standard gauge. A gauge of 24 inches or less is commonly employed for industrial railways. Meter gauge is often used in territories at some time under the influence of Germany and France while UK influenced areas would be dominated by 3ft6in tracks (1067mm).UoS
National Railway Academy (NRA)
Superseded concept for a national organisation to offer, deliver and validate railway oriented training and education.UoS
National (Railway) Radio Network (NRN) VHF (200 MHz)
General purpose cellular radio type network (nonsecure). Used for RETB with a secure protocol.UoS
Network Rail
The not-for-profit company that maintains and enhances most railway (not Metro) wayside infrastructure in UK, created when Railtrack was put into financial administration. Network Rail bought the assets of Railtrack in spring 2003. Some harbour railways are responsible for their own track.UoS
Network Rail Energy Database
A bespoke computer system operating on a Microsoft Access database. Each Network Rail zone operates the system in the Finance department, and HQ Procurement operate a master system with an aggregate of data of all Zone and HQ departments.RT+UoS
Network Rail Line Standard
A standard published by a directorate of Network Rail as a Network Rail Line specification, Network Rail Line procedure or a Network Rail Line code of practice,. Its alphanumeric identity is prefixed by RT/, followed by a letter designating its directorate.RT+UoS
Neutral Section
A short insulated section of the overhead line to separate electrically one part of an electrified railway line from another part, e.g., to change from one supply authority to another. Isolation has to be maintained during the passing of the pantograph. Also used in power supply management and fault mitigation. UoS+RT
New Line
A term sometimes used for the Hertford loop, which is newer than the main line via Welwyn.RT Also used for the DC electrified lines between Euston and Watford.RTWP
Nexus
The trading name for the Tyne & Wear Passenger Transport Executive (which is no longer a transport operator in its own right.)RT
Northern City Line
The line from Drayton Park to Moorgate which is the only DC electrified line on the Eastern zone.RT
Number, turnout
The number corresponding to the angle of the crossing used in a turnout. In the UK frogs are lettered from A (steepest) to G (shallowest).UoS
O...
Occupation Bridge
A bridge carrying a private road which pre-existed the railway. User rights for the bridge are generally as for the road it carriesRT
Occupation Crossing
A level crossing which does not carry a public road, but one which leads to a farm, factory etc..RT
Off
Term used when a signal is in the cleared position (e.g., the Distant is "off".)RT
Office of Passenger Rail Franchising
The organisation which funds unprofitable passenger services and allocates franchises to TOCs.RT
Old Road
The line between Rotherham and Chesterfield bypassing Sheffield, so called because it was built before the latter line.RT
On
Term used when a signal is displaying its most restrictive indication (e.g., the distant signal is "on".)RT
Oncost
Total project cost less design and implementation cost.RT
One Train Working (OTW)
Of signalling on a single line, with or without a train staff, where only one train at a time is permitted.RT
Open Access
The process by which new train operators may gain access to the railway infrastructure, provided they meet specified safety and other standards. RT
Operationally Equivalent
A replacement item which is functionally identical to the item it replaces, albeit with physical or cosmetic differences.RT
Orcats
The computer system used to divide revenue from ticket sales between train operators.RT
Originating Unit
The business unit responsible for posting an interunit journal entry to move income or cost from one business unit to another in order to match income with costs. RT
Outfall
Place at which one drainage system discharges into another drainage system or watercourse.RT
Outline Project Specifications
A document listing the principal elements of proposed signalling works. RT
Output
Based Contract a contract where the outputs and the price are defined, not the means to achieve the end result. RT
Outside Party
An organisation or legal entity other than Network Rail.RT
Overbridge
A bridge crossing over the railway (Network Rail property). This includes bridges for roads, footpaths, services or industrial use.RT+UoS
Overhead
Generic term (as in "the overhead") referring to electric traction supply wires suspended over the track for current collection by trains. Also known as "overhead line, OLE or OHLE (overhead line equipment) or catenary after the contact wire suspension system. Current is collected by a pantograph on the roof of the train or locomotive, although trolley poles are still used on some tramways (e.g., Melbourne, AU). UoS
Overlap
The section of line in advance of a stop signal which must be cleared by the preceding train before the next signal in rear of the stop signal can display a proceed aspect. Practically, a short (about 200m) additional braking distance beyond a signal, provided in case the train fails to stop at the signal when it is showing a danger aspect. On metros using the equiblock system, the overlap is usually a full block section long. RT+UoS
P...
P1 and P2 forces
Vertical impact forces occurring at dipped rail joints. Maximum P1 force permitted in the UK is 350kN.UoS
P11D Generation System
A PC based facility for preparing P11D returns for the Inland Revenue and the individual forms for distribution to employees.RT
Packet Switch System (PSS)
Transmission of information (voice, data etc) over one or several routes, using short packages, each with a unique identifier, which are combined by the receiver to make up the full message.UoS
Paladin
A database used to store train running information captured by the TRUST system Paladin is available to all rail industry users.RT
PALADIN Extract and Reporting System
A versatile train performance measurement facility, producing analysis reports focusing on train performance and delay attribution.RT
Pantograph
The device on the roof of an electric locomotive or multiple unit through which electric power is drawn from the overhead wires.RT
Pantograph, variable height
Traction current collection device mounted on the roof of a railway vehicle fed from an overhead supply system, usually featuring a carbon contract strip. Nowadays, pantographs are sophisticated aerodynamically designed devices which can operate at high speeds and on tilting trains without loss of contact and with builtin safety devices which reduce the risk of damage to overhead wires in the event of a fault. Under certain circumstances (high winds etc.) a pantograph may rise above the wire and can pull it down for considerable distances before this is noticed by the train crew and the train can be stopped. Modern pantographs are fitted with automatic detection and dropping devices (ADD), such a device can be created by using a hollow carbon collector strip on the pantograph. This is connected to a pneumatic circuit which will trigger a switch if the air escapes when the contact strip fractures due to an impact. Alternatively, the horns (curved ends) of the pantograph may be equipped with frangible pneumatic sensors which, if broken by a wire support, cause the detector system to lower the pantograph. UoS
Parent Track (US)
A track from which a turnout is constructed. A main track is the parent track as opposed to a passing track or spur, a ladder track is the parent track with respect to the yard tracks. Parental Guarantee a document signed by the holding company which owns the subsidiary company entering into a contractual agreement with Network Rail, where the holding company underwrites all potential liabilities of the subsidiary.RT
Parkway Station
A railway station with a large car park and easy road access.RT
Passenger Service Requirement Compliance Yardstick
A computerised system commissioned by OPRAF to check whether TOCs are meeting their Passenger Service Requirement.RT
Passenger Track Access Billing System
Which calculates track access charges for each passenger TOC, based on the tariffs for each service group and the record of all train movement details.RT
Passenger Transport Authority (PTA)
Committee of elected councillors which supervise public transport provision in a PTE area. UoS
Passenger Transport Executive (PTE)
Professional management of public transport provision in a PTA area (e.g., Lothian, Greater Manchester, Merseyside, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, West Midlands). UoS
Passenger Trespasser
A person either travelling or intending to travel who is in a place on the operational railway where they are not authorised to be. RT
Passing Loop (UK)
A parallel length of secondary track provided in places where trains pass or overtake each other. This may be provided in conjunction with a station.UoS
Pee Wee
A warning device for use by personnel on or near the line.RT
Perform
A BR Business Systems data extraction and analysis system that uses PALADIN data.RT
Performance Historical Information System
An older TRUST performance database, available via TRUST to authorised users.RT
Periodical Operating Notice
A Bimonthly publication which contains all current amendments to the books of Rules and Regulations and certain miscellaneous notices.RT
Permanent Way
Generic term for the structure of the railway track, referring to the rails, sleepers (ties in US), ballast, any blanketing material (including geotextiles) and associated drainage. The term "permanent" arose to distinguish it from the temporary track laid during the construction of the railway.UoS+RT
Permanent Way Component
A constituent part of the structure of the track including assembly tools and fixtures (but excluding permanent signalling equipment other than stretcher bars of turnouts or points), track ballast and subballast material or drainage.RT
Permissive Working
Permits more than one train to be in the same signal section on the same line at the same time; can apply to some platforms. Refer to Absolute Block as a contrast.RT
Person in Charge of Works
Responsible for ensuring the safety of staff working on the track or nearby.RT
Personal Track Safety (PTS)
A Network Rail certificate of competence which must be obtained to be allowed access to the Network Rail controlled infrastructure (trackside). The certificate requires attendance at a two day course and passing of a test.RT+UoS
Personnel Enquiries and Administration Recording
Local System used to maintain data about employees.RT
Phase 0
In NR WCML terms, period of interim and full running of ATT (active tilting train) on the WCML at existing line speeds.RT
Phase 1
In NR WCML terms, period of full running of ATT (active tilting train) on the WCML up to speeds of 200 km/h (125 mph) between 2002 & 2005.RT
Phase 2
In NR WCML terms, full service of ATT (active tilting train) on the WCML after April 2005 up to speeds of 225 km/h (140 mph).RT
Phase Break
A location where overhead wires are sectioned (see Neutral Section) to provide an insulated section between different sources of electric power.UoS
Physical Needs Break
A guaranteed break in a Driver’s turn of duty when he/she is free from duty.RT
Piggyback
The conveying of unaccompanied lorry trailers by train.RT
Pilotman
A device used to move the switches (points blades).RT
Point of Switch, theoretical
The point where the gauge line of the switch rail, if produced, would intersect the gauge line of the stock rail. Also called vertex.UoS
Points
UK term used in the same way as the term turnout, denoting the sum of the infrastructure components (e.g., S&C) required to allow trains to change tracks. Colloquial term for the switch rails in a turnout. See page 52 for an illustration.UoS
Points and Crossings
An alternative abbreviation for S&C.RT
Points, Run Through
A movement which runs through a trailing set of points which are not set in the correct position for the train movement.RT
Portable Data Terminal
Used inter alia by signallers to input data to TRUST by attachment to a BRT telephone line.RT
Portal
Entrance to a tunnel or a type of overhead line support.RT
Possession
When a section of track is required for maintenance, repair or renewal and when trains cannot run, it is handed over by the operators to the engineers, who take "possession". Special protective measures are used to prevent access by unauthorised trains. The Engineer may run his own trains within the limits of the possession but no other trains are allowed to run within it and comprehensive safety regulations ensure that these conditions are maintained. When the track is returned to the operators, the engineers "give up possession". UoS+RT
Power Box (UK)
Signal box controlling a large area using remote control systems to set routes in interlockings at remote locations (US: CTC).RT
Power Operated Doors
Doors on a train where the opening and closing is controlled by the Guard (or Driver in the case of a DOO(P)) train.RT
Power Operated Points
Points operated by a means other than mechanical (eg. electric motor, hydraulics or compressed air).RT
Power Unit
A self-propelled vehicle, running on rails and having one or more electric motors that drive the wheels and thereby propel the consist to which it belongs, on an electric power unit. The motors obtain electrical energy either from a rail laid near to, but insulated from, the running rails, or from a wire suspended above the track. Contact with the wire is made by a pantograph mounted on top of the unit.UoS
Preventative Maintenance
Describes the activity of performing scheduled maintenance on the basis of experience with the objective of minimising the potential for inservice failures.UoS
Primary Authority
The authority granted by the Network Rail plc Board directly to named individuals or bodies to act on behalf of the Board.RT
Priority On Managing Performance Trends
A Railtrack initiative announced in early 1998.RT
Procedure
A document that specifies or describes how an activity is performed. It also identifies the what, when, where and who of the activity described.RT
Process for Performance Improvement
Performance management based on principle of delay budgeting. RT
Profile
(1) A longitudinal section through a track that shows elevation and depression. Also, a drawing showing grade line of a railway, usually obtained from levels taken on top of the rail.
(2) Cross sectional shape of the wheel tread. In the UK there are a number of profiles, the P8 profile is most common on UK vehicles. UoS
Project
A collection of activities resulting in a change of state of the infrastructure including design, construction, installation, modification, maintenance, renewal and disposal activities.RT
Project Management Control System
The computer application which was by Railtrack for controlling time and cost elements of projects. RT
Project Manager
Person responsible for managing all aspects of an infrastructure project as defined by the Project Manager’s remit in accordance with the specification and terms agreed with the supplier at contract award.RT
Project Release
A short term initiative to spread awareness of Railtrack standards.RT
Project Resolve
A long term initiative inaugurated in 1998 to classify, review and rationalise Railtrack standards.RT
Project Safety Case
A set of documents which specify how a project is to be safely designed, constructed, commissioned, operated, maintained and decommissioned.RT
Project Safety Strategy
A document that describes the safety policy and arrangements for a single project or group of similar projectsRT
Projex
A national performance improvement initiative, commencing 1998.RT
Propelling
Moving a train using a locomotive at its rear.RT
Property Action Line
A formerRailtrack Property national telephone help desk for customers to report faults and provide feedback. RT
Protection
In a specialised sense, used for the rules governing the protection given to a train which stops in an unusual location or becomes derailed, to stop another train hitting it.RT
Protim
A computer based system for train timing and pathing. Train planners enter details of calling stations for a proposed train service and journey timings are produced as timetables in a variety of formats. To be replaced by APLAN.RT
PUG1
WCML infrastructure enhancements upto May 2002 to improve capacity, journey times and to secure additional revenue.RT
PUG2
Additional WCML infrastructure enhancements upto 2005 to improve capacity, journey times and to secure additional revenue.RT
PUMPS
A computer system which extracts performance data from PALADIN, adds in data from FRAME and converts it to an excel spreadsheet. For the PROMPT initiative. RT
Push Pull
A method of locomotivehauled train working in which the locomotive is permanently attached at one end of the train and when at the rear, is remotely controlled from a drivers cab built into the leading vehicle (see DVT). Its advantage is that runround moves or turnover locomotives are unnecessary.RT
Q...
Q Link
The database run by Linkup which holds information relating to prequalification of suppliers to the railway industry.RT
Q Trains
just one tool in the rail industry’s campaign to stamp out trespass and vandalism.
Q Trains
Travel through trouble spots with the British Transport Police onboard. If they see trespassers, the train stops so they can be apprehended. Named after World War II warships that masqueraded as merchant ships.RT
Quadrant Analysis
A way of presenting information to highlight and explain trends.RT
Qualifying Expenditure
Expenditure recoverable from TOCs using major stations.RT
R...
Radio Block Centre (RBC)
Nerve centre of any moving block system where the status of the infrastructure and the locations of all trains is known and where limits of movement authority can therefore be issued to all the trains within the control area.UoS
Radio Electronic Token Block (RETB)
Radio based block system where a coded message is sent to a particular train. This message is acknowledged in a secure manner to the signal box or control centre and allows the driver to move from a station onto a single track section of railway. Particularly suited to low traffic routes. May include ATP and radio controlled points.UoS
Radius of Curvature
A measure of the severity of a curve in a track layout based on the length of the radius of a circle that would be formed if the curve were continued.UoS
Rail
A rolled steel shape designed to be laid endtoend in two parallel lines on sleepers (US: ties), to form a track for railway rolling stock, travelling cranes and the like. There are two main types of rail in use in the UK. Flatbottom rail is the most common, while Bullhead rail is still in use in sidings and on branch lines. Network Rail has adopted UIC60 rail (which weighs 60 kg/m or 125 lb/yd) as its standard for high speed lines. The previous standard, which is still being installed, is equivalent to the UIC 54 rail, and weighs about 113 lbs/yd or 54 kg/m
Rail Bond
A device used to transfer an electric circuit at a rail joint.UoS
Rail Creeping
intermittent longitudinal sliding movement of rails in track under traffic or because of temperature changes. The effect of rail creeping is resisted by anticreepers or rail anchors.UoS
RAIL DATA
Records of broken and defective rails, meeting the requirements of Network Rail’s Group Standards organisation.RT
Rail Fastenings
The flat bottomed part of the rail, held down by the fastenings.UoS
Rail Head
The top portion of the rail that the wheels run on.UoS
Rail Incident Officer
Normally a Network Rail employee who takes control at the scene of a rail incident or accident.RT
Rail Industry Safety
Strategy Committee a body set up in 1998 and composed of representatives of railway industry parties affected by changes to Railway Group Standards. Their remit is to provide advice concerning high level or strategic issues affecting Group Standards to Railway Safety and Standards Board when requested.RT
Rail Joint, Insulated
A rail joint which arrests the flow of electric current from rail to rail, as at the end of a track circuit, by means of nonconductors separating rail ends and other metal parts.UoS
Rail Regulator
An officer appointed by the Government to regulate the railway industry.RT
Rail Seat
Those areas on the upper face of a sleeper normally between 400mm and 660mm from each end where the rail or chair sits.RT
Rail Section
The pattern or dimensional details of rail, such as width of base, height of rail, thickness of web, width and thickness of head, angle of head, and angle of base. Each particular pattern is identified by a brand name or symbol such as ASCE, AREA, ARA, PRR, UIC and others in addition to its weight per yard.UoS
Rail Tensors
Hydraulic devices for extending CWR during rail stressing.RT
Rail Users Consultative Committees
Replaced the old Transport Users’ Consultative Committee.RT
Rail Web (UK)
(see Rail Data).UoS
RAILNET
A project to update and expand the transport of mail by train; involved Railtrack, Royal Mail and Rail Express System (RES).RT
Railtrack
The privately owned company (plc) that bought the railway infrastructure at the time of privatisation. Railtrack was put into Railway Administration by the UK government in autumn 2001, partly as a result of the Hatfield railway accident.UoS
Railtrack Corporate Manual
The suite of documents that fully defined the standing orders for the governance of the whole of Railtrack as instructed by the Board of Railtrack plc.RT
Railtrack Energy Database
A bespoke computer system that operated on a Microsoft Access database. Each Railtrack zone operated the system in the Finance department, and HQ Procurement operated a master system with the aggregate of data of all Zone and HQ departments.RT
Railtrack Financial Asset Records
System which was used by Railtrack to record the purchase cost and the current book value of assets.RT
Network Rail Crossing Risk Model
A software package designed to calculate risk levels at automatic level crossings.RT
Railtrack Line
That part of the Railtrack organisation that was the ultimate responsibility of the Chief Executive.RT
Railway Group
comprises Network Rail, the duty holders of railway safety cases accepted by Her Majesty’s Railway Inspectorate (HMRI), and the British Railways Board while it was owner of train operators.RT
Railway Group Standard
(see Group Standard).
Railway Safety Case
A set of documents submitted to and accepted by the Health and Safety Executive pursuant to the Railway (Safety Case) Regulations 2000, based on advice from HMRI, Railway Safety and Network Rail. RT+UoS
Railway Safety and Standards Board
Railway industry group owned notforprofit company in charge of setting Group Standards, auditing performance and pushing forward the safety agenda through research and development. UoS
Railway Skills Council
An organisation owned by all the members of the railway group charged with promoting quality education and training for all railway staff. RT+UoS
RAMS Reliability, Availability, Maintainability and Safety
An omnipresent set of terms when talking about safety and performance on railways. See individual terms for details. UoS
Rapid Response Procedure
(1) the means of calling the contractor to incidents by Zone Duty Contracts Managers or Contractors Infrastructure Fault Control or (2) the means defined in Railway Group Standard GA/RT/6001 for quick implementation of amendment to a Group Standard.RT
RCM2
combination of RCM(1) and RCM(2) to optimise infrastructure maintenance. UoS
Reactionary Delay
The delay to trains resulting from an earlier train delay.RT
Reactive Maintenance
Maintenance performed in reaction to the results of an inspection or an alert by a user of an asset or by a third party. Opposite of Preventative Maintenance.UoS
Refuge
A dead end siding allowing trains to be shunted off the running lines; also a place of safety in tunnels and alongside high speed lines where employees can stand in safety.RT
Regenerative Braking
A form of dynamic braking using the traction motors as generators, the power produced is returned to the supply system.UoS
Registration Arm
Shaped Steel or aluminium arm used to position the contact wire of the OLE (OHLE) accurately with respect to the portals or other support structures of the catenary system. Plastic or porcelain insulators are used to mount the registration arm from support structure. UoS
Regulate
(1) signallers can regulate the train service by giving priority to one train over another, (2) In maintenance terms this means levelling the ballast (see also "Tamping").RT
Regulated Income
income regulated by the Office of the Railway Regulator (ORR). Regulated Income is also described as franchised income.RT
Regulation (1)
The order in which trains are run in practice so as to minimise delay (2) statutory statement.RT
Relative Braking Distance
The provision of a relative braking distance between trains is based on the assumption that the train in front cannot stop instantaneously and that the train behind can therefore follow with a very small gap. Essentially based on the reaction time to start braking when the train in front is starting to decelerate. The railway industry has never accepted this as a viable proposition because there have been instances where trains stopped dead, e.g., as the result of a collision with another train.UoS
Relay
An electromechanical switching device used in many types of signalling systems; it "relays" instructions to signals and points. The device contains motors or magnets, which, when energised, cause electrical circuits to open and / or close Relays are now being superseded by Solid State Interlocking (SSI), in particular in areas controlled by IECC signal boxes.RT+UoS
Relay
To replace worn out or damaged track.RT
Reliability
A measure for the probability that a piece of equipment is working normally or for the ratio between the time during which a piece of equipment is functioning correctly and the total period during which it is needed.UoS
Reliability Centred Maintenance (RCM1)
an approach to maintaining fixed and movable assets with the objective of achieving a target reliability by tuning both periodicity and scope of maintenance activities in line with the demands placed on the particular piece of equipment by its operational role.UoS
Relief Line
A Great Western term for the slower line in a multiple track area usually known as the Slow Line elsewhere.RT
Reminder Appliance
A device of control used to remind a Signalman that a particular lever, button or switch must not be operated in the normal manner (eg. a lever collar.)RT
Remit
A document that defines the scope of the project, the authority of the project manager, the deliverables and any other relevant information.RT
Remote Condition Monitoring (RCM2)
describes the use of telemetry and complex algorithms to assess the state of railway infrastructure remotely, with the objective of managing maintenance effort so that assets cannot deteriorate beyond the point where they would affect safety and reliability.UoS
Resources
includes: information, funding, personnel, plant and equipment, time.RT
Retarder
A braking device, usually poweroperated, built into a railway track to reduce the speed of vehicles by means of brake shoes which, when set in position, press against the sides of the wheel flanges.UoS
RETB Radio Electronic Token Block
A system for signalling trains on single lines by a combination of computer control and radio messages. There is no physical token but the software issues messages allowing trains to proceed on the single line. RT
Return On Capital Employed
This is a ratio used to assess the return that the company is producing for the shareholders. It is expressed as the profit made in a year as a percentage of the assets.RT
REV (rev)
found on international registered wagons to denote date of overhaul.RT
Revenue Project
Non routine activities that do not result in a capital asset yet still deliver a measurable output. Revenue projects are funded through the profit and loss account and may be either technical support, research & development, standards development etc.RT
Rheostatic Braking
A form of dynamic braking using the traction motors as generators, the power produced is dissipated in resistors. This is the only form of dynamic braking that can be used with autonomous traction.UoS
Ribbon Rail (US)
continuously welded rail free of joints or with very few joints over long stretches.UoS
Right of Way
land or water rights used for the railways roadbed and its Structures and kept clear for operations.UoS
Right Side Failure
Something which fails but does not fail to an unsafe condition, e.g., a green light going to red. (See also the opposite Wrongside Failure)RT
Risk
The combination of the severity of a hazard and the likelihood of its occurrence.RT
Risk Log
A continually updated record of identified hazards together with their associated level of risk and control measures necessary.RT
Road
Railway jargon for railway line.RT
Road Railer
Road trailer which can be converted to rail operation by adding a rail bogie between two trailers.UoS
Road Rail Vehicle
A vehicle capable of running on both road and rail. Normally used to travel by road to the nearest point for accessing a work site by rail. May have a builtin turntable to change direction.UoS
Rod, Operating
A rod attached to a point blade, derailment device or other moving component, moving it from one position to another.UoS
Rolling Contact Fatigue (RCF)
The process whereby the high forces in the contact patch cause the development of cracks that penetrate into the rail head or into the tread surface. The cracks can grow just underneath the surface, causing flaking and spalling or they can ‘turn down’ and lead to rail breaks or severe railhead and wheel damage.UoS
Rolling Stock Pages
The original main type of maintenance contract between Railtrack and the IMUs (see also IMC).RT
RT27
The Railtrack contract for rapid response to structure damage and flooding.RT
RT60
Network Rail Group Standard for the UIC60 based rail system, including associated switch & crossing work (S&C). Features are: design for 30 tonne axle load, suitable for 140mph tilting trains, reduced impact forces, improved ride quality, inclined rails through S&C, optimisation of design for mixed traffic.UoS
RTIS
The Railtrack companywide information systems service organisation which, in June 1995, brought into one team the company’s full time Information Services people.RT
Rule Book
A book which incorporates most of the rules to be observed by general railway staff for the safe operation of the network. This book is now published in 14 volumes, each one "personalised" by job type, e.g., No.3 Signalman, No.4 Train Driver etc.RT+UoS
Rules of the Plan
Rules which are applied to bids from train operators for scheduling train paths on Network Rail’s network.RT
Rules of the Route
An agreement between Network Rail and train operators which states when lines can be temporarily closed, or speed restricted for maintenance and renewal work.RT
Running Rail
The rail or surface on which the wheel bears, as distinguished from a check rail, guard rail or wing rail.UoS
Running Round
Transferring a locomotive from one end of a train to the other by means of a loop.RT
S...
S&C Layout
A crossover, turnout, double junction, etc made up of a number of subassemblies complete with all bearers and other components except point motors.RT
S&C Unit
Half or full set of switches, a crossing, check rail, expansion switch, cast crossing or other subassembly machined or shaped for a use as part of S&C.RT
S&K
The line between Milford, Ferrybridge and Swinton, so called because it was built by the Swinton & Knottingley Joint Railway.RT
Safety Advisory Panel
The body responsible for type approval and for providing recommendations when requested by train operators and train builders. RT
Safety Authority
The person or persons accountable for safety.RT
Safety Case
A formal presentation of evidence, arguments and assumptions aimed at providing assurance that the design and implementation of a system complies with the safety objectives.RT
Safety Critical Defect
A defect which, on assessment, is an immediate threat to the safety of trains or the public or Network Rail staff and warrants trains being stopped or cautioned until remedial action is undertaken.RT
Safety Critical Work
Defined in the Railway (Safety Critical Work) Regulations, 1994 as maintenance, repair, renewal or alteration of:
permanent way or other means of guiding or supporting vehicles
signals or other means of controlling the movement of vehicles
any means of supply of electricity to vehicles or to the means of supporting vehicles which could affect the health and safety of personnel on a transport system RT
Safety Management System
A proven system which, when followed, enables a company to perform tasks safely, at all levels of the organisation. The system to achieve this blends personnel, resources, policies and procedures together. Such a system must also recognise instances when it is inadequate to requirements and generates change to the system to correct the deficiencies.RT
Safety Review Group
The Zone management group responsible for approving any change (except T&RS change) that has a potential impact on safety.RT
Safety Risk Assessment
A risk study for a specific safety issue identified within the risk log.RT
Safety Validation Document
Documentation prepared in support of safety validation of an organisational or SMS change, including relevant sections of the Network Rail Railway Safety Case, safety policy statements and safety arrangements.RT
Sanding
A method for assisting adhesion between driving wheel and rail. The sand is carried on board the vehicle in a sandbox and is ejected, normally under air pressure, onto rails immediately in front of the driving or braking wheels to assist adhesion. It is usually operated by a push button in the driving cab or automatically by wheelslip equipment. UoS
Sandite
A mixture of sand and antifreeze, used for assisting traction adhesion during extreme weather. Sandite S4 also contains steel shot to assist track circuit operation.RT
SBI Gauge
loading gauge in Britain which permits operation of roadrail swap body vehicles.RT
Schedule 3
Part of a contract or Track Access agreement, between a Freight Operating Company and Network Rail, defining the basic conditions of operation.RT
Schedule 8
The section of a Track Access Contract governing performance payments.RT
Scotch
A lump of wood either placed in an open switch of points to prevent movement, or on a rail under a wheel to prevent a vehicle from being moved.RT
Section Signal
(often called the "starter") the stop signal which controls the entrance to the Block Section (or intermediate block section) ahead.RT
Security Incident Tracking System
log and reporting tool for security incidents affecting information systems.RT
Security Rules
Used to prevent business units from accessing other business units’ data.RT
Semaphore Signals
Such signals are usually worked mechanically by wire from a signal box lever frame, but can be electrically operated. They use mechanical arms rather than coloured lights to display aspects. Traditional types are "upper quadrant and lower quadrant" position where the "clear" positions are at approximately 45o to the horizontal.RT+UoS
Sequential Locking
A refinement of "Route Interlocking" which ensures that signals are operated only if particular processes occur in a certain order (e.g., occupying & clearing of the overlap track circuit).RT+UoS
Service Life
(1) the period of effective functional activity of equipment or (2) the equivalent millions of gross tonnes of rail traffic that a track component is expected to carry from new before requiring renewal.RT
Set
A complete train, including loco and carriages or a multiple unit train.RT
Shaft
An opening between a tunnel and ground level above, usually provided to ventilate, to relieve aerodynamic pressure from trains or to give access during construction or afterwards.RT
Shall
A word used in procedural documents to express a mandatory requirement. Compare with should, must, will, may.RT
Shared Services
A team set up to provide an all encompassing support structure, to ensure that the Business Management Information System (BMIS) is available to be used as and when required.RT
Shelling
One of the consequences of rolling contact fatigue, resulting from the propagation of cracks underneath and parallel to the surface of the rail head or running surface of the wheel. The phenomenon is more pronounced on rails where the traffic is predominantly in one direction. Railhead damage takes the form of pieces of the rail or tread surface becoming detached or being torn off. The severity of the damage caused by shelling is somewhere between that associated with flaking and spalling. However, this is largely a qualitative differentiation. UoS
Shoe
Term used as a shortened version of "collector shoe" to denote a third rail current collection device mounted on the bogie of a direct current electric train. Shoes are normally distributed along the train and connected by a power train line cable to avoid loss of power at gaps in the current rail (see also: Conductor Rail and Gapping . Different types of shoes are required for top, side and underrunning.UoS
Shop Made Joint
An insulated rail joint prepared and assembled in controlled workshop conditions, i.e. not outside or on site.RT
Short Term Planning
One off bids for train paths. (see also Sport Bids)RT
Should
A word used in procedural documents to express a recommendation or advice. Compare with shall, must, will, may.RT
Shoulder Peak Services
Train service timetable immediately before or after the peak period.RT
Shoulder, Ballast
The portion of ballast between the end of the tie and the toe of the ballast slope. It distributes the traffic load over a greater width of roadway and helps hold the track in alignment.UoS
Shunting Signal
A signal which is provided for shunting purposes only.RT
Shuttle
In railway terminology, a shuttle usually means a service operating back and forth between two stations without an intermediate stop. The Channel Tunnel service is called Le Shuttle and many cities operate shuttle services between airports and city centres. The Gatwick Express, which operates in the UK between Gatwick Airport and London (Victoria) is one such. Sometimes also erroneously used to refer to short distance, regular interval services with intermediate stops.UoS
Side Track (C.T.)
A track used to temporarily store cars. (UK: carriage line)UoS
Side Wear
The reduction in rail head width due to wear caused by wheel flanges coming into contact with the rails as trains run on curved track. Flange contact is prevented by maintaining good wheel and rail profiles and by keeping to the speed range for which the track is canted.RT
Siding (US)
A track auxiliary to a main or secondary track for the meeting or passing of trains. (UK: Centre Siding, a Reversing Siding).UoS
Signal and Telegraph
An obsolete term still commonly used to refer to the people and the companies who maintain signalling equipment.RT
(Signal) 'Box (UK)
Railway term for a signal box or signal cabin. In mechanical signal boxes there is generally a first floor with the mechanical levers and the block instrument while the space underneath is taken up by the interlocking mechanism and associated relays. (US: Tower).UoS
Signal, Highway, Electric (US)
A highway crossing signal which is actuated automatically by the approach of a train and which then displays one or any combination of several features such as red lights (flashing or nonflashing) horizontally swinging disk, crossing gates, or warning bell. All are designed to warn motorists of the approach of a train.UoS
Signaller
UK term for person employed to operate or supervise the control of signals. Traditionally accommodated in a signal box , more recently a control room, where the signalling levers or controls are located. Formerly identified as "Signalman".UoS
Signalling, Automatic Block
A system of signals of fixed location, each located at the entrance to a block, to govern trains and engines entering and using that block. Such signals govern movements over a series of consecutive blocks. They are actuated by a train or engine or by other conditions affecting the use of the block, such as a broken rail, switch not properly lined, car standing on a turnout foul of a main track or other track obstruction.UoS
Signalling Equipment Technical Agent
The organisation responsible for supporting and managing the product qualification and configuration control process on behalf of the asset owner.RT
Signalling Incident System
(wrongside fault reporting) – records and forwards details of the more serious wrongside faults to infrastructure maintenance engineers, to allow for prompt analysis of the event.RT
Signalling Restructuring Initiative
Achieved after the 1994 strikes. Inter alia, allows signallers to operate computer equipment not directly part of their signalling duties, and thus to operate Electronic Train Reporting (ETR).RT+UoS
Signalman (UK)
Politically incorrect term for "signaller". Not to be confused with the same term used in the US for a signal maintenance person or signal maintainer.UoS
Signal Monitoring and Reporting of Trains system
– provides information automatically on actual train running.RT
Signal Passed at Danger (SPAD)
Situation where a train driver fails to bring the train to a complete stop at a red signal. In 1999 there were over 800 SPADS on Railtrack lines. Most are only by a few metres, caused by variable adhesion or poor driver control. They usually cause no collision thanks to the provision of the overlap after the signal. UoS
Signals Passed At Danger Management Information System
– supplied to safety management across the industry and the basis of reports to the Health & Safety Executive.RT
Silverlink Train Services
Trading name adopted by North London Railways in 1997. "Silverlink Metro" is used for the EustonWatford and North London Line services, and " Silverlink County" for the EustonNorthamptonBirmingham trains.RT
Simplified BiDirectional Signalling
Signalling provided to allow trains to run in the "wrong" direction during engineering work, line blockages, etc without resorting to pilotmen.RT
Simplified Direct Reporting
Manual reporting of train times to TRUST using a computer terminal and standard TRUST screens. This includes signalbox terminals formerly known as ETR.RT
Site Instruction
An instruction by the employer to the contractor relating to an activity which is included in the terms of the contract and which does not vary the contract.RT
Six Foot (UK)
The space between adjacent running lines of a two track railway. Where there are more than two tracks, the distance between pairs of lines is usually greater than six feet.UoS
Six Foot
Space between two sets of tracks (which may be more than six foot.) (Also see Ten Foot and Interval.)t
Sixty Foot
60ft is the standard length of single rail.RT
Slab Track
A form of railway track comprising a concrete base to which the base plates carrying the rails are secured. It eliminates the need for individual "sleepers" (q.v.).UoS
Sleeper
Wood, concrete or steel object which holds the rails apart and supports the track on the ballast.RT
Sleeper (UK)
in the US known as "ties", short for "crossties". The transverse members of trackwork, made of wood, concrete or steel, or even plastic composite, which are used to secure the rails at the correct gauge. Cast steel chairs fixed to the sleepers hold the rails in place by means of clips or keys. UoS
Slide fence
A warning device connected to signals which warn trains of rock or landslides when fence wire is broken by rock fall.UoS
Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Français
French national railways. RT
Solid State Interlocking (SSI)
Any interlocking using electronic components and software to carry out the safety critical interlocking actions. Often refers to standard UK system.UoS
Solid State Interlocking
A processor based system for controlling the interlocking between points and signals, as well as communication with lineside signalling functions. SSI is based on a central interlocking unit which has serial communication with trackside functioned modules (TFMs) which control signals and points. RT+UoS
Sound Exposure Level
The level of sound accumulated over a given time interval or event. Technically, the sound exposure level is the level of the timeintegrated mean square Aweighted sound for a stated time interval or event, with a reference time of one second. Also written as SEL.UoS
SPAD Investigator
A person identified by the Zonal Safety and Standards Manager as having the necessary skills required for investigating the cause(s) of a signal passed at danger.RT
Spalling
One of the consequences of rolling contact fatigue, resulting from the propagation of cracks underneath and parallel to the surface of the rail head or running surface of the wheel. The phenomenon is more pronounced on rails where the traffic is predominantly in one direction. Railhead damage takes the form of pieces of the rail or tread surface becoming detached or being torn off. The severity of the damage caused by spalling is generally felt to be greater than that associated with shelling. However, this is largely a qualitative differentiation. UoS
Spate
Early removal or non imposition of a temporary speed restriction. RT
Special Conditions of Contract
Documents which amend a specific set of industry standard conditions. They also include supplementary clauses covering issues specific to the railway environment or reflecting corporate policy.RT
Special Track Work
Switches, points, crossovers or other line intersections.UoS
Specification
A contract document setting out mandatory requirements.RT
Specifier
The Network Rail person or persons or organisation appointed to produce a contract specification or technical workscope associated with any individual contract.RT
Spiked Switch US)
A turnout with one or both switch rails held in fixed positions by spikes (or clips and clamp), usually to prevent a disconnected or damaged switch from being thrown through error, or to prevent trains from using a track that has been taken out of service. see clipped switch (UK).UoS
Splice Bar
A joint bar. (UK: Fishplate)UoS
Sponsor
The Network Rail person having responsibilities for progressing all aspects of the scheme in accordance with Network Rail Investment Regulations, etc and who will also normally represent the client.RT
Spot Bids
bids for train paths for inclusion in the permanent timetable after it has been published; spot bids have no contractual right to get into the GBPRT. (see also STP – Short Term Planning)RT
Squat
Designation of rail surface damage caused by powered wheels slipping on the rail and causing localised heating of the railhead. UoS
Stabling
Parking of trains which are not in use for a period (e.g., overnight).RT
Stagger
in Overhead Line Equipment, the lateral deviation of the contact wire from the centre line of the track. The wire is staggered from side to side of this line, within fixed limits, to even out wear on the pantographs of trains.RT
Standard
(1) document established by consensus and approved by a recognised body that provides, for common and repeated use, rules, guidelines or characteristics for activities or their results, aimed at achieving the optimum degree of order in a given context; or (2) Railway Group Standard or Network Rail Line Standard. RT
Standard Infrastructure Performance System
civil engineering equivalent of PEARS.RT
Standard Risk Activities
Those activities assessed by risk assessment not to be high priority risks, based on the likelihood/consequence risk matrix. These works, may be regularly occurring works which can be assessed by generic method statements for the varying processes rather than by writing a detailed site specific method statements. RT
Standards Management Group
A forum that was envisaged by C Change for review of changes to Railtrack standards but which was replaced in 1998 by alternative processes.RT
Standards Portfolio
The complete suite of published Network Rail standards.RT
Standards Review Manager
A manager within the Network Rail Line Safety Directorate responsible for ensuring that the portfolio of Network Rail Line Standards is managed according to the due process.RT
Station Limits
The portion of line between the Home Signal and the Section Signal for the same line worked from the same signalbox. (NB: this term applies irrespective of whether or not there is a station open for passenger or freight use. It does not apply on a Track Circuit Block line.RT
Statistical Journal Entry
A journal entry in which nonfinancial information is entered, such as headcount, production units and sales units.RT
Steps
freight access charging system, generating rates for freight services.RT
Stewardship Report
A report prepared by the RT1A contractor to comply with the Railtrack Line Specification on Stewardship Reports providing an overview of the safety issues relating to the works on each contract including infrastructure performance. Each report covers a specified threemonth period.RT
Stock rail
The fixed rail on each side of the points, against which the switch rail rests. On standard points, one stock rail is straight and the other curved to carry trains on deviation.UoS
Stock rail bend
The bend or set which must be given the stock rail at the vertex of a switch to allow it to follow the gage line on the turnout. Usually, only one stock rail of a switch is bent. The opposite one is straight.UoS
Stop Block
Any main signal which can display a stop aspect or indication.RT
Stop, Car (US)
A device for stopping a car by engaging the wheels, as distinguished from a buffer, which engages the coupler of a car or the front buffer beam of a locomotive.UoS
Strategic Materials
Restricted availability components with a potentially critical impact on operating performance and which must be freely transferable between contractors, and as defined in the Strategic Materials Catalogue.RT
Strategic Rail Authority
A body proposed by the Parliamentary Select Committee for Transport report in March 1998 and implemented as the Shadow SRA in 1999. Became a legal authority at the beginning of 2001.UoS
Stress Restoration
The process of stretching CWR so that the SFT of the rails is the same as it was before the CWR was disturbed for maintenance and other purposes.RT
Stress Transition Length
The length of track at each end of a length of CWR between the point of zero stress (the adjustment switch) and the point of full stress (i.e. stress free at 27ºC). Note: a stress transition length may be used as an anchor for stressing purposes but must not contain any S&C even if these are strengthened for use in CWR.RT
StressFree Temperature
The rail temperature at which the rail is the same length as it would be in an unrestrained state and at which, therefore, there is no thermal extension or compression force present. Generally used when discussing continuously welded rail (CWR).RT+UoS
Stressing
The process of stretching CWR so that the stressfree temperature of the rails is within the required range (21 to 27ºC).RT
Stressing Naturally
The clipping down of the rail without tensors (stretching equipment) being used, when the rail temperature is between 21 and 27ºC.RT
Stretcher Bar
Metal bar that connects the two switch blades in a turnout in one or more places and allowing adjustment of the relative position of the switch rails.UoS
Strike in Point
The position on the approach to an automatic level crossing at which a train initiates the operating (closing) sequence.RT
String lining (US)
A method for determining the corrections to be made in the alignment of a curve, by measuring ordinates to the outer rail and without the use of surveying instruments.UoS
Structure
A construction such as a bridge (rail, road, foot or equestrian), viaduct, retaining wall, tunnel or similar, signal or electrification post or gantry, station construction such as a platform wall, track drainage manhole or cable pit, and any other construction on Network Rail controlled infrastructure.RT
Stub
Track section with access from only one end.UoS
Stub End
A section of conductor rail fed from one point only.RT
Subballast
Any material of superior character, which can be spread on the finished subgrade of the roadbed, to provide better drainage, prevent upheaval by frost and better distribute the load over the roadbed.UoS
Subgrade
The prepared surface of the natural ground or upper surface of fill material.RT
Subsidiary Signal
A miniature semaphore arm positioned under a main semaphore arm, or a position light aspect positioned below a main aspect, which when cleared, authorises a Driver to pass the main arm or aspect at Danger and to proceed cautiously.RT
Substation
A location where power is received at high voltage and changed to required voltages and characteristics for distribution to the catenary system, third rail, and other electric apparatus. It may contain transformers, rotating machinery, circuit breakers, sectionalising switches, rectifiers, etc.UoS
Substructure
The track substructure includes the formation, ballast and any geotextile, geogrid, blanket.RT
Superelevation
The height the outer rail is raised above the inner or grade rail, on curves, to reduce the lateral acceleration of moving trains. This should not be confused with crosslevel, on tangent (straight) track. (UK: Cant)UoS
Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition System (SCADA)
centralised control of routine and emergency operation of a large technical system using data links to remote components and databases for managing and monitoring their performance.UoS
Supervisory Control Centre (SCC)
Traffic control centre for a railway using modern forms of train control (US term).UoS
SUPPER
A module within PROCSYS for recording supplier performance information.RT
Supplier
A generic term used to describe a company, contractor, consultant or partnership supplying works, goods or services.RT
Supplier Qualification
A process whereby all potential suppliers or contractors are subject to scrutiny on a range of topics to ensure that each supplier or contractor is appropriately qualified to be invited to tender for a Network Rail contract.RT
Surface Water Drain
A drain designed to collect water from the surface and/or from the surrounding ground continuously along its length.RT
Surface, running (tread)
The top surface of the railhead on which the wheel tread rides or runs.UoS
Surfacing, out of face
Raising the entire track to a new grade.UoS
Sustrans
An organisation primarily concerned with the creation of cycle paths throughout the UK. Their name is a contraction of sustainable transport.RT
Swap Body
A system for conveying road freight vehicle bodies on rail vehicles without throadrunning gear.RT
Swing Nose Crossing
A point in which the flangeway at the nose is arranged to open or close according to which way the points are set so as to provide a smooth passage for the train wheels.RT
Switch (US)
A track structure used to allow rolling stock to move from one track to another. A pair of movable point blades, together with their fastenings and operating rods, provides a connection with variable geometry (2 pcs). See also turnout. UoS
Switches and Crossings (S&C)
The specially designed rail components allowing trains to change tracks. Any track elements which are not plain line. UoS
Switch Fixtures
The connecting and bearing parts for the rails of a split switch.UoS
Switch Guard
A structure, usually of manganese steel, secured outside the running rail at the point of switch, with suitable flares to engage with the tread rim of wheels and guide them past the switch point without blow or undue wear.UoS
Switch Heel
blunt end of a switchblade that is connected to the closure rail.UoS
Switch Heater
A device for melting snow with heat generated by an electric current, or by gas or oil; used for movable parts of switches, etc.UoS
Switch Lock
Mechanical device attached to both the switch rail and stock rail to ensure that the switch rail remains fixed for the passage of a train. In many countries, they are a legal requirement where passenger trains are operated. The turnout is also electrically locked by the control system (interlocking) and by track circuits occupied by a train passing over them (see also Detection). UoS
Switch Lock
A fastener, usually a spring padlock, used to secure the switch or derail stand in place and thus to maintain the correct position of these components. A switch lock is used in situations where a switch rail or derail is only operated rarely.UoS
Switch Plate
A special metal tie plate for use on switch ties, each plate being long enough to extend not only under the stock rail and its supporting braces, but also under the switch rail in open position. Switch plates are furnished in sets to correspond with switch length. There are two plates to each tie; however, at point of switch, the two may be replaced by a gage plate which carries both switch rails.UoS
Switch Rail
The moving portion of rail on each side of a set of points. Also known as Point Blades. RT&UoS
Switch Rod, adjustable
A switch rod with an attachment for altering its length to keep the switch rails in their proper positions. Adjustment is usually effected through staggering holes in the clips which connect switch rod and switch rail.UoS
Switch, Staggered point
A switch in which the toe of one switch rail is placed in advance of the other, as in a turnout from inside a curve.UoS
Switch Target
A visual day signal fixed on the spindle of a switch stand, or the circular flaring collar fitted around the switchlamp lens, and painted a distinctive colour to indicate the position of the switch.UoS
Switch, Throw of
The distance, measured along the centre line of the rod nearest the point connecting the two switch rails, through which switch points are moved sidewise to bring either point against the stock rail; standardised at 43/4 inches.UoS
Switching Yard (US
The pointed end of a switchblade that rests against the stock rail.UoS
System Review Panel
Specialist body with responsibility to consider specific system and safety issues.RT
Systems Management Framework Design
An RTIS project to identify, document and implement IT processes, initially in the Operations and Technical Services area. R
T...
T2 X, D, H, T (Blockage)
Arranging protection on line when Tiii Possession is not required (see Tiii Possession.RT
Tache Ovale
A rail fault consisting of a void within the rail, with nothing visible on the surface of the rail. It can be detected with ultrasonic scanning equipment.RT
Tail Lamp
A lamp carried on the rear of every train (it may be built into the vehicle) to indicate that the train has arrived complete and no vehicles have become detached. If a signaller sees a train pass without a lit tail lamp he must stop the train.RT
Tamping
Process that pushes ballast under sleepers (see also Regulate) to fill voids so as to maintain the correct geometry of the track. Can damage the ballast and may not be effective due to "ballast memory", that is the tendency for ballast to return to the mutual positions existing before tamping (see stone blowing).UoS
Tangent Track
Track without curvature.UoS
Tardis
Time and Relative Dimensions In Space. Even more improbably, it can stand for Ancillary Retrospective Data Information Service. (see also TOPS)RT
Target 90
An initiative aimed at ensuring that 90% of WCML passenger trains arrive at their destination within ten minutes of their scheduled arrival time.RT
Task Specification Form
A document defining scope and criteria to be adopted, particularly with respect to PMCS software changes.RT
Team track
A track on which freight is transferred directly between railway cars and highway vehicles.UoS
Technical Approval
Technical approval signifies that, based on a systematic review, a professionally competent person or body is satisfied that:
the requirements of the remit have been established and met;
the appropriate standards and/or design criteria are proposed for the design/checking phaseRT
competent persons have used reasonable professional care in designing and executing the scheme;
the safety of railway operations and safe interworking have not been compromisedRT
Technical Contractor
A consultant, contractor or supplier engaged (by Network Rail) to supply a technical service.RT
Technical Review Group
An ad hoc temporary panel established under remit to consider specified technical issues.RT
Technical Support
Staff charged with the investigation into existing technologies and working practices (of Network Rail) to resolve technical issues arising.RT+UoS
Technical Support Group
Network Rail HQ Civil Engineering Technical Support Group.RT
Technical Workscope
The section of a contract document which, includes all projectspecific information and details the technical specification, implementation standards and assurance requirements.RT
Tell Tales
Marks made on each rail in a line with a suitable reference mark on an adjacent unclipped sleeper, in order to monitor the effectiveness of the anchor length. A tell tale is required at each end of each anchor length. That adjoining the free rail is the inner tell tale (which must be unclipped); the other is the outer tell tale (which must remain clipped).RT
Ten Foot (UK)
10ft is the central space between adjacent pairs of running lines on a four track railway. Beware, this may actually be less than the six foot. UoS+RT
Terminal
An assemblage of facilities provided by a railway at a terminus or at an intermediate point for the handling of passengers or freight and the receiving, classifying, assembling and dispatching of trains.UoS
Tesco Technical Services Company
, provides engineering services associated with traction and rolling stock maintenance.RT
TETRA
High integrity mobile communications system developed specifically or emergency services and police use, originally intended for railway use.UoS
Thameslink 2000
The project by which the existing crossLondon Thameslink route is modernised.RT
Thimble
The cylindrical pieces of an insulating joint which surround portions of the bolts.UoS
Third Rail
An additional rail beside the two running rails which carries electric current for trains which operate on this electrical system.RT
Third Rail System
Traction current supply system which uses an additional rail to transmit the electrical supply from where it is collected by collector shoes attached to the train. See fourth rail system and conductor rail . UoS Through Ticketing The ability, in one transaction, to purchase a ticket for a journey using the services of more than one operator.RT
Tie (US)
A transverse support to which rails are fastened to keep them in line, gage and grade. Usually wooden or concrete. See Cross tie. (UK: Sleeper)UoS
Tiii Possession
When an engineer takes absolute possession of a section of track or line.RT&UoS
Tie Plate (US)
A metal plate at least 6 inches wide and long enough to provide a safe bearing area on the tie, with a shoulder to restrain outward movement of the rail. (UK: base plate or chair)UoS
Tie Plate, canted (US)
A tie plate tapered in thickness, usually on a slope of 1 in 20, for the purpose of inclining the rail toward the centre of track for easier maintenance of gage, more uniform wear of head, and central loading of rail.UoS
Tie Plate, twin (US
) a tie plate in two parts which mate to form a combined width equal to that of the stand tie plate, for use back of the heel of switch to the point where standard tie plates may be applied without their ends infringing.UoS
Timbers
balks of wood supporting switches and crossings; can extend to two or more lines and be up to 20ft in length.RT
Time Division Multiplex
An electronic data transmission system that has two distinct railway applications – in power signalling installations and in remote control of a locomotive for pushpull working.RT
Time Table Data Base
A Journey Planner facility which allows the public to view timetable information remotely through the internet or VDUs at stations.RT
Token (or tablet)
A device carried by a Driver as his authority to run over a single line worked by the Electric Token Block System.RT
Top And Tail Working
Running trains with an engine at each end, usually during disrupted working to avoid timeconsuming runninground movements.RT
Top Ballast
Any material of a superior character spread over a subballast to support the track structure, distribute the load to the subballast, and provide a good initial drainage.UoS
TOPS Total Operations Processing System
, a prime source of train movement information for other systems. TOPS. RT
Total Operations Processing System (TOPS)
computer based system used to record information from train describers, signal boxes, and track circuits at junctions. TOPS provides a comprehensive system for monitoring a train’s complete movement cycle from workshop and maintenance through to service, safety restrictions, train schedules and performance. Is used to monitor railway operations and rolling stock usage and for the management of maintenance. Now described as TRUST.UoS
Track
An assembly of rail, fastenings and sleepers over which railway carriages, wagons, locomotives and trains are moved. The track is usually defined as the area covered by the rails, rail fastenings and sleeper hardware and the roadbed. UoS
Track Access Notice
The means of publishing short term additions and alterations to the train plan.R
Track, Body (US)
Each of the parallel tracks of a yard, on which cars are switched or stored.UoS
Track Circuit
Means by which the passage of trains is detected and the information used to control signals provided for train safety and control. This method of train detection (train location) uses a voltage which is applied at one end of a track section and detected at the other end. An electric current must flow in the rails of the track which therefore requires insulation of the rails with respect to each other. Rail joints between track circuit sections must be specially bonded at rail joints used by the signalling system. When a vehicle enters the track circuit section the detection occurs when its wheelsets (wheels and axles) shortcircuit the rails and interrupt the flow of electricity to the receiver. Track circuits can be based on High voltage, Pulse, DC, Audio Frequency signals etc. The simplest track circuit consists of a relay energised by a low voltage circuit fed through the running rails of a section of track.UoS
Track Circuit Actuator
A device fitted to some vehicles, notably lightweight discbraked diesel railcars, which cannot be relied upon to activate track circuits when leaf mush is on the line or the rails are rusty. It does not work if the lead mush is dry.RT
Track Circuit Activator (TCA)
Equipment provided on certain lightweight trains to improve their operation of track circuits.RT
Track Circuit Actuator Interference Detector
A lineside device which detects the radio waves caused by a Track Circuit Actuator on a passing train, thus giving an indication of the train’s presence even if the actuator fails to operate the Track Circuit. It does not fail safe however.RT
Track Circuit Block
A modification of the Absolute Block System, employing track circuiting throughout. As soon as the line is clear, a train may proceed to the next stop signal plus the required overlap beyond that signal. RT
Track Circuit Operating Devices
A special device which can be placed on a TCB line to provide protection, by operating TCB (Track Circuit Block).RT
Track Crossing
A cast or fabricated crossing assembly, used where one track crosses another at grade, and consisting of four connected crossings.UoS
Track Fastenings
The term commonly applied to baseplates, rail clips, screws and spikes.UoS
Track Fastenings
Auxiliary the term commonly applied to spring washers, tie plates, rail braces, anticreepers and gauge rods.UoS
Track Identifier
A rail fault consisting of a void within the rail, with nothing visible on the exterior. It can be detected with ultrasonic scanning equipment.RT
Track Irregularity
Civil Engineer’s track identifier: generally a subset of Engineer’s Line Reference (ELR).RT
Track Level
A board with a spirit level attached, to level the rails of a track usually equipped with a series of steps to set superelevation on the outside rail of curves.UoS
Track Quality
An integral part of railway track recording systems. Mounted on a track recording vehicle, it gives a comprehensive assessment of the condition of the track over which it runs. The quality of the track is monitored to Railway Safety and Standards Board Group Standards’ requirements.RT+UoS
Track, Repair or Rip (US)
One of the body tracks in a car repair yard or shed, on which repairs are made to rolling stock.UoS
Track Sectioning Cabin
A building containing electrical switchgear and equipment which is arranged to connect together a number of sections of OLE.RT
Track, Spur (US)
A track connected with the parent track at one end only.UoS
Track, Storage (US)
One of the body tracks in a storage yard, or a track used for storage purposes.UoS
TrackLaying machine
A machine designed to minimise the manual labour of placing rails, fastenings, ties and other materials.UoS
Trackside Functional Module (TFM)
failsafe electronic unit of the SSI system which is able to control a multiple aspect signal or points and which transmits its status to the SSI central processor in the control room.UoS
Trackwork
Railway track or permanent way including buffer stops and level crossings in the immediate vicinity of the tracks. The term includes longitudinal pit timbers but excludes the pits themselves.RT
Traction Current
Term used for electric power supply used on electric railways for trains. Normally supplied by overhead wire or third rail and collected by a pantograph on the roof of the train in the former case or by shoes attached to the bogies in the latter.UoS
Traction Motor
Electric motor used to provide the driving or braking torque to a locomotive or multiple unit axle. Used in dieselelectric and electric systems. The traction motor is mounted close to the axle and transmits power through a reduction a final drive gearbox or final drive.UoS
Tractive Effort
A term for the force applied by traction equipment to accelerate a train.UoS
Trailing Points
Where lines converge in the direction of travel (also see Facing Points)RT
Train
A consist of one or more basic operating units.UoS
Train Control System (US)
American designed software tool for managing train operations. English, Welsh and Scottish railways intended to use TCS to control its freight operations as a successor of TOPS.UoS
Train Describer
The set of equipment which (except in IECC areas) ensures that the identity of each train is displayed on the signalbox panel together with the indication of that train’s presence. In these areas the Train Describer circuitry also generates TRUST report data. Once a train ID has been entered, it is automatically updated in displays when the train entres a new section.RT+UoS
Train Id
Train identifications are displayed electronically to a signaller to supply him or her with the description of approaching trains. Modern describers use the Four Character Train Identification system (reporting number) such as 1A23. (see also Head Codes for fuller description)RT+UoS
Train Operated Route Release
A method of releasing a route after passage of a train without further action from the signalman.RT
Train Operated Warning System
Audible warning system, provided over the lineside in locations listed in the sectional Appendix. When switched on it gives warning of the approach of a train.RT
Train Operator
An organisation authorised and licensed to operate trains over the Network Rail network infrastructure that holds an accepted Railway Operator’s Safety Case and a Rail Operator’s Licence.RT
TrainPlan
Part of the integrated operational planning system of Network Rail, produced by Vossloh System Technik Ltd. (formerly: VST Comreco Rail Ltd.), used for developing train paths which are loaded into the timetable system database (TSDB). see RailPlan. RT+UoS
Train Protection and Warning System (TPWS)
Train protection system which, can be fitted on trains which, are wired for AWS. Coils in the track transmit signal clear / at danger / stop commands but do not provide an uninterrupted beacon sequence. A first beacon can be used to trigger a timer which stops the train if it is still running when the second beacon is encountered. UoS
Train Register
A book kept by signallers to record the passage of trains, transmission of bell signals and any exceptional circumstances.RT
Train Running System
Another name for TOPS, the computer system which records details of train running as compared with schedule. Its offshoot TRUSTDA is the system for recording the size and reason for delays recorded by TRUST.RT
Train Services Database
Holding all available data about planned train services which have been agreed with Railtrack zones throughout the country, ensuring reliable running of the railway network.RT
Train Set
A group of coupled cars including at least one power unit.UoS
Train Staff
A labelled and distinctive piece of wood or metal which must be carried by the driver of a train on a one train working (with train staff) line to ensure no second train can possibly be admitted to the section of line concerned.RT
Train Stop (1)
A train signalling and control system designed to mitigate the consequences of a SPAD by enforced braking and speed control.RT
Train Stop (2)
Mechanical arm located on the wayside, in conjunction with a wayside signal, which causes an emergency brake application when a train passes the signal at danger and the arm is in tripping position. (Also see Tripcock ) UoS+RT
Train Stop (3)
Magnetic equivalent of the mechanical train stop using an arm located on the wayside. The German INDUSI (installed on the Tyne and Wear metro) and the Swiss SIGNUM system are both train stop systems with enhanced capability. The onboard system may be able to discriminate two or more states of the signalling system thanks to the transmission of different frequencies or polarities.UoS+RT
Transition Curve (UK)
A curve of continuously changing radius and cant to provide a gradual transition between tangent track and a simple curve or between two simple curves. The curve shape is normally defined by a mathematical expression such as a spiral or a parabola etc. Transition curves are necessary to reduce jerk to a level acceptable to passengers, to guide the wheelsets into the curve and to minimise track forces. Transition curves are also necessary to change from level to inclined track. (US: Easement Curve, Spiral Easement, Transition Spiral)UoS
Transitional Curve
The designed parabolic curve linking a straight rail to a full curve.RT
Transmission Based Signalling (TBS)
A system in which the driver is authorised to proceed by radio and, usually, a cab display rather than by observing lineside signals.RT&UoS
Transmission Based Train Control (TBTC)
Generic term for the combination of technologies required to provide a high integrity system of train protection and control which is free of trackside signals. ETCS level 2 and 3 and West Coast TCS are particular implementation of TBTC.UoS
Transponder
Track based device to transmit information to a train and, in some cases, to receive information from the train. See also BaliseUoS.
Transport Operations Rapid Update System
A Racal system giving information on location of public transport vehicles using GPS and TRACE.RT
Transport Radio Asset Control Equipment
A Racal system for monitoring the locations of public transport vehicles to provide input to TORUS.RT
Trap Points
A pair of worked facing switches located at the exit from sidings, goods lines or loops; their purpose being to derail a train leaving without authority and thereby to protect trains on adjacent lines.RT
Traxcavation
Removal of ballast with heavy excavation machinery.RT
Treadle
An electrical switch operated by the train wheels.RT
Tribometer
A device for measuring the adhesion between wheel and rail.RT
Tripcock
A mechanical device mounted on the train that is connected to the emergency braking system. It is activated by a trainstop if a train passes a signal showing a danger aspect. If activated, it causes an irretreivable emergency brake application on the train.
Truck
The complete assembly of parts including wheels, axles, bearings, side frames, bolster, brake rigging, springs and all associated connecting components, the function of which is to provide support, mobility and guidance to a railway car or locomotive. ((UK) Bogie).UoS
TRUST
The train reporting system based on the TOPS hardware and software.UoS
TRUST
Delay Attribution the system for recording the size and reason for delays recorded by TRUST.RT
Tunnel
A structure provided to allow a railway line to pass under higher ground, and which has been excavated without disturbing the surface of that ground.RT
Turbo Class 165 and 166
Diesel multiple units operated by Thames Trains and Chiltern Railway.RT
Turbostar Class 170 and 171
Diesel multiple units operated by Central Trains, Midland Mainline Scotrail and Southern Railway.UoS
Turbostar Bombardier (formerly Adtranz)
built diesel mechanical multiple units used nationwide.RT
Turnout (UK)
The trackwork element where a track divides into two. A turnout normally has two positions, normal and reverse. The rails are specially shaped to allow a smooth transition from the main track to the diverging track. The switch rails of the turnout are operated by the point motor or machine and guide the wheels to the reverse or normal direction. The crossing (US: frog) allows the wheels to cross the stock rails (US: switch). See page 52 for an illustration.UoS+
RT Turnout Number
See Number, Turnout.RT
Turnover Locomotive
A locomotive which waits at a terminal station to take an incoming train away in the opposite direction, where the incoming loco cannot run round the train. The loco which brought the train in then becomes the new turnover locomotive.RT
Twin Block Reinforced Sleeper
A sleeper which consists of two reinforced concrete blocks connected by a steel bar or angle iron. This features higher longitudinal and lateral resistance to movement than a standard concrete sleeper.UoS
Tyne
Part of a tamping machine which is pushed (in pairs) into the ballast either side of a sleeper.UoS
U...
UIC Union Internationale des Chemins de Fer, or International Union of Railways. The European railway regulating body which sets engineering and operating standards for railways. Equivalent to the AAR in the United States.UoS
Underbridge
A bridge crossing under Network Rail property, that is, a bridge which supports the railway. This includes bridges for roads, footpaths, services, watercourses or industrial use. Such a bridge will normally support operational tracks.UoS
Underline Bridge
A structure of at least one span of 1.8 metres or more whose main purpose is to carry rail traffic over an obstruction or gap.RT
Unsafe Track Condition
A track irregularity or track condition of such magnitude so as to be specified as requiring immediate action.RT
Up Line
Rail line generally taking trains towards London or the main regional destination, e.g. Manchester or Glasgow.UoS
Up Relief Line
The Great Western term for the Up Slow Line.RT
V
Variation Instruction
A record of alteration to dimensions or scope of the contract authorised by the customer’s representative and identifying consequences of alteration.RT
Variation Order
A synonym of variation instruction.RT
Vehicle Change Procedure
One of the Schedules, which form part of the templates for the Track Access Contracts. It relates to what services the TOC wants to run over what routes, detailing the equipment to be used; a procedure exists to apply for a change to these details.RT
Very Short Term Planning
The processing of track access bids received by Operational Planning up to two days before possession.RT
Viaduct
A multispan bridge structure; e.g. Ribblehead.RT
Vital Processor Interlocking (VPI)
Approach to interlocking design, pioneered by General Railway Signal of the USA, involving a single microprocessor which uses mathematical methods to ensure the integrity of the system.UoS
W...
W6W12 Gauge
Loading gauges for standard freight vehicles. Dimensions are given in the table below for the loading gauges on a range of typical intermodal routes.RT
Unit Type
Table of Loading Gauges applicable to the British Railway Network (NR, 2002)
Waterproofing System
A material or combination of material, including a membrane and where applicable a protective layer, laid to form an impervious barrier to protect the bridge deck from the ingress of water and fuel oil.RT
Wayside
Everything along the rail line except the operating rail equipment. UoS
Weave
Type of possession established by forcing train services to use alternately different tracks of a multiple track railway (two or more tracks).RT+UoS
Web of Rail (UK)
Space between head and base of a rail occupied by the fish plate at rail joints.UoS
Weekly Operating Notice
contains the engineering work for the forthcoming week and any other information traincrews may require.RT
Wheelskate
A device used in the case of a locomotive or vehicle having a wheel which is seized and will not rotate freely, to enable it to be moved clear of a running line. RT
Wheeltimber
(see Longitudinal Timber.) RT
Welded Vee
Two pieces of rail with parts of the head and foot removed by machining placed either side of a filler plate so as to form a weld preparation, welded using the electroslag welding process and subsequently machined to the drawing requirements.RT
Welwyn Control
A device which must be operated by a signaller before he can clear a section signal when he cannot be give "line clear" from the box in advance. The object is to make it something he cannot do without thinking. First introduced after a serious accident at Welwyn Garden City.RT
West Line
The line from Newcastle to Hexham and Carlisle.RT
Wheel Flat
A localised flat area on a steel wheel of a rail vehicle, usually caused by skidding on steel rails, causing a discontinuity in the wheel radius. UoS
Wheel Impact Load Detector
A device which measures the force exerted on the rail by each wheel of a train as it passes and activates an alarm if any are excessive.RT
Wheel Set
A fixed formation of an axle with two wheels set at the correct gauge for the track. The wheels are pressed onto the axle and rotate with it as a unit. It is mounted into the bogie (or vehicle) frame with using axle boxes. UoS
Wheel Slide
Synonymous with skidding and usually caused by over braking during poor adhesive conditions. It is a common cause of wheel damage, as it produces a flat spot (called a "flat") on the wheel where the skid occurred. Severe flats have been known to derail a train. Modern rolling stock is equipped with various systems to assist with the elimination of wheel slide. These include load control, automatic brake "dumping" if a slide is detected, cosmetic rail applications like Sandite to improve adhesion and attention to maintenance of correct mechanical brake settings. See also our brakes section .UoS
Wheel Slide Protection
A system fitted to most modern passenger rolling stock and traction units which acts in a similar way to ABS, automatically reducing braking effort when wheels start to lockup, thus aiding drivers in conditions where adhesion is poor.RT
Wheel Slip
The phenomenon caused on a locomotive or power vehicle by over application of power to the drive system relative to the available adhesion. It can cause damage to electric motors and is normally automatically detected to immediately eliminate or reduce the power being applied. A modern system recently developed using microprocessors is known as creep control and permits a certain degree of slip as this has been proven to improve torque transmission efficiency. UoS
Wheel Slip Protection
A system fitted to most powered passenger rolling stock and traction units which limits tractive effort in conditions where adhesion is poor.RT
Wheel Squeal
The noise produced by wheelrail interaction, particularly on a curve where the radius of curvature is smaller than allowed by the separation of the axles in a wheel set.UoS
Wheelskate
A device which is used in the case of a loco or vehicle which has a wheel which is seized and will not rotate freely, to enable it to be moved clear of a running line.RT
Wheeltimber
(see longitudinal timber.)RT
Whistle Board
A lineside board which indicates to train drivers where they should sound their horns on the approach to a fixed potential hazard.RT
Wicket
A small gate sometimes provided for pedestrians at a level crossing.RT
Will
A word used in procedural documents to express a requirement to comply with a provision or service. Compare with shall, should, must, may.RT
Witnessing Officer
A member of managerial or professional staff who is not involved in the evaluation, negotiation or contract award process for that particular tender.RT
Working Time Patterns
The framework of working time that is defined by documented rules governing the preparation of rosters.RT
Wrong Side Failure (WSF)
A failure which could cause an unsafe condition, eg. a red light turning to green (see also the opposite Right Side Failure). Where a train leaves a station at an earlier than published time, potentially causing passengers to miss the service.RT
Wye (US)
A triangular arrangement of tracks on which locomotives, cars and trains may be turned.UoS
Y...
Yard
A system of tracks within defined limits provided for making up trains, storing cars, and other purposes, over which movements not authorised by time table or by trainorder may be made, subject to prescribed signals and rules, or special instructions.UoS
Yard Track (US)
A track within a yard used to receive cars for classification for rerouting. UoS
Yellow
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i don't know
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What is the international SPI resin/polymer identification coding system number (typically shown within a recycling triangle symbol) for polystyrene?
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Index-a
Don't Forget To Hit <ESC> before going to a different page.
Let's play a game of 30 questions. No, not that old standard of 20 questions, but one with an extra 10 questions added in and one that uses numeric answers (from 1 to 30). If you get stumped, go on to the next one. Perhaps the answer you need will be one of those left over when you complete all the questions you're sure of.
Each answer is a number.
The answers are the numbers 1-30. Each number appears only once.
(Obviously) the questions are not in the right order..
1. Aside from an extra 385 yards, how many miles is a marathon race?
2. If 27 solid cubes are formed into one big 3x3x3 cube how many individual cubes, at most, are visible from any single angle?
3. In the movie Spinal Tap what number is: "Well, it is one louder.."?
4. 'Via Dolorosa' is the (how many) Stations of the Cross, the Christian ritual tracing the key stages of the death of Jesus, beginning with his condemnation and ending with his being laid in the tomb?
5. How many dots are on a (standard 1-6) die?
6. The Russian 'Crimea Highway' trunk road from Moscow to the Crimea in Ukraine is the M (what)?
7. What number, between two hyphens, is used by journalists, etc., to mark the end of a newspaper or broadcast story?
8. How many unique dominoes are in a standard 'double six' set?
9. What number turned on its side (rotated 90 degrees) is the symbol for infinity?
10. The Marvel Comics superhero team led by Mr Fantastic was the Fanstastic (what)?
11. What is the larger number of the binary system?
12. Japanese haiku poems loosely comprise how many syllables?
13. The Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn are respectively (what number)-and-half degrees north and south of the Equator?
14. What number is Hurricane on the Beaufort Scale?
15. Greek deka, and Latin decem, are what number?
16. Conventionally how many books are in the Bible's New Testament?
17. How many legs (or arms) are most usually on a starfish?
18. A lunar month is an average (how many) days plus 12 hours, 44 minutes and 3 seconds?
19. 'Roaring' refers to what pluralised number in describing a 1900s decade of western world prosperity?
20. Traditionally what number of years anniversary is symbolized by silver?
21. What is generally stated to be the number of major joints in the human body?
22. What number is the French coded slang 'vingt-deux!', which warns that police are coming?
23. What is the only number that equals twice the sum of its digits (digit means numerical symbol)?
24. The early/mid-1900s American vaudeville comedy act was called the (how many) Stooges?
25. Any line of three numbers in the 'magic square' (a 3 x 3 grid of the numbers 1-9) adds up to what?
26. What is the international SPI resin/polymer identification coding system number (typically shown within a recycling triangle symbol) for polystyrene?
27. Traditionally the diameter of the 45rpm gramophone record is (how many) inches?
28. Pure gold is (how many)-carat?
29. The expression 'On cloud (what)' refers to being blissfully happy?
30. Each player begins with (how many) pieces in a game of chess?
Daniel David "Danny" Kirwan (born 13 May 1950) is a British musician whose greatest success came with his role as guitarist, singer and songwriter with the blues-rock band Fleetwood Mac between 1968 and 1972. Kirwan's first recorded work with the band was on the huge instrumental hit single "Albatross". Green later stated that, "I would never have done "Albatross" if it wasn't for Danny. I would never have had a number one hit record." The B-side of the single was Kirwan's first published tune, the instrumental "Jigsaw Puzzle Blues". This was an old clarinet piece, written by Joe Venuti and Adrian Rollini, and recorded by the Joe Venuti / Eddie Lang Blue Five in 1933. Kirwan had adapted the piece for himself and Green to play on guitar, but Green remembered, "I couldn't do it properly... My style wasn't all that satisfactory to Danny, but his style wasn't all that satisfactory to me." So Kirwan played all the guitar parts himself.
.
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6
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Traditionally the diameter of the 45rpm gramophone record is (how many) inches?
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21.84 · University of Florida
Abstract
Over the last several decades, the process of recycling polymer waste has been attracting the attention of many scientists working on this issue. Polymer recycling is very important for at least two main reasons: firstly, to reduce the ever increasing volumes of polymer waste coming from many sources: from daily life packaging materials and disposables and secondly, to generate value-added materials from low cost sources by converting them into valuable materials similar, to some extent, to virgin materials. Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) occupies the top of the list of polymers to be recycled due to its easy recycling by different ways, which, in accordance, give variable products that can be introduced as starting ingredients for the synthesis of many other polymers. PET can by recycled by hydrolysis, acidolysis, alkalolysis, aminolysis, alcoholysis and glycolysis. Glycolysis is the breakdown of the ester linkages by a glycol, resulting in oligomers or oligoester diols/polyols with hydroxyl terminal groups. Oligoesters coming from the glycolysis of PET waste have been well known for a number of decades to be utilized as a starting material in the manufacture of polyurethanes, unsaturated polyesters and saturated polyester plasticizers. But, as a current motivation, we are reporting on a new application for these oligoester diols/polyols by converting the hydroxyl terminals into acrylate/methacrylate groups. These new acrylated/methacrylated oligoesters have been tested as UV curable monomers and gave promising results from the point of view of their curability by UV and their mechanical properties. The new motivations open the potential for the market to apply the depolymerization products of PET waste for UV curable coatings, useful for wood surfaces, paints and other applications.
Discover the world's research
New Motivation for the Depolymerization Products
Derived from Poly(Ethylene Terephthalate) (PET)
Waste: a Review
David E. Nikles, Medhat S. Farahat*
a
University of Alabama, Center for Materials for Information Technology, Box 870209, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35487-0209, USA
E-mail: [email protected]
Received: July 21, 2004; Revised: October 22, 2004; Accepted: November 8, 2004; DOI: 10.1002/mame.200400186
Keywords: acrylated oligoesters; glycolysis; methacrylated oligoesters; polyesters; poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET); recycling
1. Introduction
Recycling of plastics that used to end up only at city landfills
or incinerators is increasing around the world. As with any
technological trend, the engineering profession plays an
important role. Discarded plastic products and packaging
make up a growing portion of Municipal Solid Waste
(MSW).
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
estimates that plastic waste accounts for about one-fifth of
all waste in the waste stream. Over the past two decades,
recycling of plastics has dramatically increased. After years
of predictions that plastics recycling would never be wide-
spread because processes were inefficient, too expensive or
not practical, the tide of waste headed to the landfill is
slowly being turned. In 1997, the NAFTA countries (USA,
Canada and Mexico) consumed approximately 4 billion
pounds of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) resin.
[3]
consumption is expected to rise to 8 billion pounds by 2004.
New applications include the distribution of beer in PET
bottles.
In 1997, 649 million pounds of waste PET bottles
were recycled in the USA. The recyclers only get about 8 to
11 cents per pound.
The price of clear PET regrind is
about 30 ¢ lb
PET can be completely depolymerized
by base to give terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol.
[7]
National Institute of Materials and Chemical Research
Summary: Over the last several decades, the process of
recycling polymer waste has been attracting the attention of
many scientists working on this issue. Polymer recycling is
very important for at least two main reasons: firstly, to reduce
the ever increasing volumes of polymer waste coming from
many sources: from daily life packaging materials and
disposables and secondly, to generate value-added materials
from low cost sources by converting them into valuable ma-
terials similar, to some extent, to virgin materials. Poly-
(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) occupies the top of the list of
polymers to be recycled due to its easy recycling by different
ways, which, in accordance, give variable products that can
be introduced as starting ingredients for the synthesis of many
other polymers. PET can by recycled by hydrolysis, acidoly-
sis, alkalolysis, aminolysis, alcoholysis and glycolysis. Gly-
colysis is the breakdown of the ester linkages by a glycol,
resulting in oligomers or oligoester diols/polyols with hydro-
xyl terminal groups. Oligoesters coming from the glycolysis
of PET waste have been well known for a number of decades
to be utilized as a starting material in the manufacture of
polyurethanes, unsaturated polyesters and saturated polye-
ster plasticizers. But, as a current motivation, we are reporting
on a new application for these oligoester diols/polyols by
converting the hydroxyl terminals into acrylate/methacrylate
groups. These new acrylated/methacrylated oligoesters have
been tested as UV curable monomers and gave promising
results from the point of view of their curability by UV and
their mechanical properties. The new motivations open the
potential for the market to apply the depolymerization pro-
ducts of PET waste for UV curable coatings, useful for wood
surfaces, paints and other applications.
Recycling of PET polymer by different chemical routes.
Macromol. Mater. Eng. 2005,290, 13–30 DOI: 10.1002/mame.200400186 ß2005 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim
Review 13
P.O. Box 9, Imbaba, post code 12411, Giza, Egypt.
(Tsukuba, Japan) has developed a PET recycling process
that uses supercritical methanol to depolymerize PET
to dimethyl terephthalate.
The price of virgin PET is only
60 ¢ lb
. Clearly if the waste PET could be processed into
high value-added products, there would be a greater
economic incentive for recycling PET.
2. Recycling Processes
Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) is one of the most ex-
tensively recycled polymeric materials. The main motiva-
tion for the widespread recycling of PET is its extensiveuse
in plastic packaging applications, especially in the beverage
industry. M. Rogers and T. E. Long
[10]
hensively the details of the depolymerization and recycling
of PET. Zhang et al.
[11]
studied the biodegradability of PET
fibers and diethylene glycol terephthalate by microbes and
lipase. The authors also described the method and estimated
the percentage of degradation and the rate order.
There are three distinct approaches to the recycling of
post-consumer plastic packaging materials. The packaging
may: (1) be reused directly; (2) undergo physical reproces-
sing, for example grinding, melting and reforming; or (3) be
subjected to chemical treatment whereby its components
are isolated and reprocessed for use in manufacture. The
EPA has adopted a new widespread nomenclature that
refers to physical reprocessing as secondary recycling (28)
and chemical processing as tertiary recycling (38). Primary
recycling (18) refers to use of pre-consumer industrial scrap
and salvage to form new packaging, a common occurrence
in industry. The EPA considers ‘‘recycling’’ to be the pro-
cessing of waste to make new articles. Although the EPA
does not consider reuse to be a recycling process, using the
18,28and 38conventions above, it could be considered
‘‘zero order’’ recycling. In simple rescue, the package
remains intact and is reused in its original form. In 28and 38
recycling, the original package is destroyed and new pack-
aging is formed from the remains.
2.1. Reuse
Plastic bottles are more likely than glass to absorb conta-
minants that could be released back into food when the
bottle is refilled. Analytical protocols may need to be
developed to demonstrate that, after cleaning, contaminant
levels are sufficiently low such that the contents of the
refilled bottle would not be adulterated. Reusable contain-
ers, unlike those intended for recycling, would be returned
directly to the store by the consumer or collected at the
home by the distributor, thereby adding a measure of
control over the source.
David E. Nikles occupies the position of Associate Professor in Inorganic/Materials Chemistry at The
Center for Materials For Information Technology. He got his B.Sc. in 1977 from The University of Akron;
Ph.D. in 1982 from the Case Western Reserve University. He was appointed as a Staff Chemist during
1982– 1990 at Hoechst Celanese Research Division. Dr. Nikles research interests lie in the area of
materials for information technology. Materials are designed at the molecular level so that the desired
materials properties are achieved by tailoring the structure. In turn, the materials properties determine
the ability of the material to carry out the desired function. The theme of this research is a fundamental
understanding of the relationship between structure, properties and function. The scope of this research
encompasses the synthesis of organic, polymeric, organometallic, and inorganic coordination
compounds; characterization of materials properties, determination of how the materials would be
used in information storage devices. Specific areas of interest include new concepts for optical data
storage, photochemical hole-burning for optical data storage, holography, electrophotography, near-
infrared chromophores, porphyrin photochemistry, new magnetic nanoparticles for magnetic tape, new
binders for magnetic tape, new processes for magnetic tape manufacture, pollution prevention in the
magnetic tape industry and the reliability of archival data storage media.
Medhat S. Farahat got his B.Sc. in Chemistry, in May 1988, Cairo University. He pursued his graduate
studies and finished his M.Sc. dissertation in the area of synthesis and curing of unsaturated polyesters
for large composites in May 1992, Cairo University. He was offered the Ph.D. degree from Ain-Shams
University in June 1996, where the scope of the study was on the synthesis of different saturated polyester
plasticizers for PVC while studying also the kinetics of polyesterification reactions, rheological
behaviors and plasticization efficiency of these polyesters. Dr. Medhat received an offer to pursue his
postdoctoral research work with Prof. David E. Nikles group since January 2000, at the Center for
Materials for Information Technology, the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA. His
current interest is focused on the depolymerization of PET and converting the products into new value-
added products that are valuable from the practical and economical standpoint.
14 D. E. Nikles, M. S. Farahat
Macromol. Mater. Eng. 2005,290, 13– 30 www.mme-journal.de ß2005 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim
2.2. Pre-consumer Scrap: Primary Recycling (18)
It is the recycling of clean, uncontaminated single-type
waste which remains the most popular, as it ensures simp-
licity and low cost, especially when done ‘‘in-plant’’ and
feeding with scrap of controlled history.
[12]
scrap or waste is either mixed with virgin material to assure
product quality or used as second grade material.
[13]
Primary recycling of industrial scrap produced during the
manufacture of food-contact articles is not expected to pose
a hazard to the consumer.
2.3. Physical Reprocessing: Secondary Recycling (28)
Physical reprocessing involves grinding, melting, and refor-
ming of plastic packaging material. The basic polymer is
not altered during the process. During the grinding or
melting phases, the reprocessed material may be blended
with virgin polymer. A secondary recycling process pre-
sents some unique problems that may cause it to be
inappropriate for the production of food-contact articles,
particularly if the recycler had little or no control over the
waste stream entering the recycling facility.
[14– 16]
2.4. Chemical Reprocessing: Tertiary Recycling (38)
Chemical reprocessing may involve depolymerization of
the used packaging material with subsequent regeneration
and purification of resulting monomers (or oligomers). The
monomers are then re-polymerized and the regenerated or
reconstituted polymer is formed into new packaging.
Regenerated monomer, polymer, or both may be blended
with virgin materials. The regeneration process may in-
volve a variety of monomer/polymer purification steps in
addition to different purification processes such as distilla-
tion, crystallization, and additional chemical reaction.
2.5. Quaternary Recycling (48)
A fourth operation for plastic waste management is the
recovery of its energy content. Incineration (combustion),
aimed at the recovery of energy, is currently the most
effective way to reduce the volumeof organic material, that,
owing to a lack of other recycling possibilities, may then
end up disposed of in landfills. Plastics, either thermo-
plastic or thermosetting, are actually high-yielding energy
sources. One liter of heating oil has a net calorific value of
10 200 kcal, whereas 1 kg of plastics releases 11 000 kcal
worth of energy. For comparison, it is mentioned that 1 kg of
charcoal briquettes has a net calorific value of 4 800 kcal. It
is estimated that by burning 1 ton of waste, approximately
250 liters of heating oil could be saved.
[17]
ation of municipal solid waste is widely accepted in
countries like Sweden and Germany (50% of total MSW),
Denmark (65%), Switzerland (80%), and Japan (70%).
[18]
Although there are very stringent emission regulations,
more than 50 refuse incineration units are working in
Germany.
3. Plastic Identification and Recycling Code
When working with plastics, there is often a need to identify
which particular plastic material has been used for a given
product. Most consumers recognize the types of plastics by
the numerical coding system created by the Society of the
Plastics Industry (SPI) in the late 1980s. The type of plastic
that the container is made out of is clearly stamped onto it.
The symbol of a triangle formed by three chasing arrows is
commonplace in today’s society; there is also a number
inside and a letter code underneath. These are shown in
Figure 1.
3.1. Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PETE or PET)
PETE or PET is the main material for beverage soda bottles,
water containers and some waterproof packaging. Carpet
companies can often use 100% recycled resin to manu-
facture polyester carpets in a variety of colors and textures.
PET is also spun like cotton candy to make fiber filling for
pillows, quilts and jackets. PET can also be rolled into clear
sheets or ribbon for VCR and audiocassettes. In addition, a
substantial quantity goes back into the bottle market.
3.2. High Density Polyethylene (HDPE)
Toys, plastic bags, and milk, detergent and oil bottles cons-
titute the main market for this polymer. HDPE is called
natural since it is in natural color, and it is the most valuable
because it can be made into any color when it is recycled.
Some end uses for recycled HDPE are plastic pipes, lumber,
flowerpots, trashcans, or it is formed back into non-food
application bottles.
This polymer is mainly used in food wrap, vegetable oil
bottles and blister packages.
3.4. Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE)
LDPE is mainly consumed in plastic bags, shrink-wrap, and
garment bags. It is chemically similar to HDPE, but it is less
Figure 1. Coding system for the identification of plastics
developed by the Society of the Plastics Industry in the late 1980s.
New Motivation for the Depolymerization Products Derived from Poly(Ethylene Terephthalate) (PET) Waste: a Review 15
Macromol. Mater. Eng. 2005,290, 13– 30 www.mme-journal.de ß2005 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim
dense and more flexible. Most poly(ethylene) films are
made from LDPE, which you often see as plastic bags and
grocery sacks.
Refrigerated containers, some bags, most bottle tops and
caps, some carpets and some food wrap represent most of
the PP market.
Throwaway utensils, meat packing and protective packing
are made from this polymer. The symbols in Figure 1 are
meant to indicate the type of plastic, not its feasibility to
recycling. Common plastics poly(carbonate) (PC) and
acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) do not have recycl-
ing numbers. Chemical engineers will say that there are
many more types and uses for polymers. Most debates in
recycling, however, focus on these seven categories.
3.7. Uncoded Plastics
Plastic consumer goods not identified by code numbers are
not usually collected. Plastic tarps, pipes, toys, computer
keyboards, and a multitude of other products simply do not
fit into the numbering system that identifies plastics used in
consumer containers.
4. Recycling of PET, a Promising Endeavor
PET is a semi-crystalline, thermoplastic polyester of
characteristic high strength, transparency and safety. Its
chemical structure is shown in Figure 2. PET is produced in
considerable amounts since it finds applications in the
textile industry, high strength fibers, photographic films and
soft drinks bottles, replacing poly(vinyl chloride) and glass
bottles. However, because it is difficult to dispose of PET
bottles into the environment, and highlighted by the green
revolution movement that started in the 1980s, the disposal
of the huge amounts of PET bottles caused serious en-
vironmental pollution. Another huge source of PET waste is
that from PET spinning, from material that is not suitable
for a second drawing. One possible approach to their reuse
is their transformation into oligoester polyols by alcoholy-
tic destruction.
In 1987, the mass of PET consumed in
the beverage industry alone was more than 700 million
pounds, corresponding to 3 billion bottles.
[22]
burden of waste disposal, it is critical that PET polymer is
recycled. PET waste can be used in molded or extruded
articles after being re-pelletized.
ing might degrade the polymer, adversely affecting its
properties. Blending of the high molecular weight waste
with virgin polymer adversely affects the color and melt
viscosity of the polymer.
PET is polyester with functional ester groups that can be
cleaved by reagents, such as water (hydrolysis), alcohols
(alcoholysis), amines (aminolysis), acids (acidolysis) and
glycols (glycolysis). Scheme 1 shows the different chemical
routes for recycling PET polymer. According to the reagent
used for the waste processing of PET (in fact, it is the
destruction of the macromolecule), different products are
obtained.
Methanolysis has been evaluated as a me-
thod for recycling photographic and X-ray films, with more
than 158 10
dation transesterification of PET scraps by 2-ethyl-1-
hexanol for the purpose of synthesizing dioctyl terephtha-
late (DOTP) plasticizers for flexible PVC. DOTP produced
by this method was equivalent to commercial grades in its
plasticization efficiency for PVC. The yield and economy of
the process revealed that cost savings in the range of 7 ¢ to
29 ¢ per kg could be achieved. The alkaline hydrolysis
of PET and the possibility of obtaining monomeric
terephthalate units by glycolysis in xylene were recently
studied.
Alternatively, the polymer can be recycled to
virgin monomers.
The utilization of PET waste gen-
erates value-added products such as unsaturated polyester
resins, polyester plasticizers and polyurethane.
4.1. Recycling of PET by the Glycolysis Reaction
The glycolysis reaction is the molecular degradation of PET
polymer by glycols, in the presence of trans-esterification
catalysts, mainly metal acetates, where ester linkages are
broken and replaced with hydroxyl terminals. PET waste
can be depolymerized by glycolysis to obtain oligomeric
diols and polyols, or glycolyzed into its monomeric units,
bis(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalate (BHET) or dimethyl
terephthalate.
Scheme 2 represents the possible
mechanism of the glycolysis reaction of PET polymer by
diethylene glycol (DEG).
factorial experimental model has been designed to study
the effect of the three parameters: glycolysis time, gly-
colysis temperature and catalyst concentration.
[43]
Figure 2. Chemical structure of PET.
16 D. E. Nikles, M. S. Farahat
Macromol. Mater. Eng. 2005,290, 13– 30 www.mme-journal.de ß2005 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim
C.-H. Chen et al.
found that the sequence of the
main effects on the glycolysis conversion of recycled PET is
in the following descending order: catalyst concentra-
tion >glycolysis temperature >glycolysis time. Baliga and
coworkers
studied extensively the efficiency of different
metal acetate catalysts on the rate of the glycolysis of PET
waste bottles. Among the four metal acetates studied were
Pb, Zn, Co and Mn-acetates and the Zn-acetate was the best
in terms of the amount depolymerization products. In our
recent publication,
we have shown that changing the
glycol concentration while keeping the time, temperature
and the catalyst concentration constant, the produced
glycolysis products were significantly different in their
functionality and molecular weights. Troev et al.
[44]
duced a novel catalyst for the glycolysis of PET. This
catalyst was synthesized by the reaction of TiCl
4
) P(O). It was found that the de-
polymerization of PET fibers proceeds faster in the pres-
ence of titanium (IV) phosphate compared with traditional
metal acetate salts known in this area.
C.-H. Chen
studied the factors affecting the glycolysis
reaction in detail. These include time, temperature and the
amount of Mn-acetate catalyst used. The best glycolysis
condition to reach 100% conversion would be conducted at
temperature of 190 8C, time t¼1.5 h, and a catalyst
concentration of 0.025 mol per 100 kg of PET. The author
also derived a prediction equation of glycolysis and des-
cribed the effect strength of these parameters on the course
of the glycolysis reaction. Mishra and Goje studied the
kinetics of the glycolysis of PET waste powder with ethy-
lene glycol under variable conditions covering the effect of
the external pressure,
time and catalyst type and concentration.
[47]
proposed a kinetic model and estimated the values of the
rate constant and the reaction activation energy.
4.2. Applications of the Glycolysis
Products of PET Waste
The oligoesters can be further reacted with aliphatic diacids
to form polyester polyols that can be used as a starting
material in the polyurethane industry.
[48– 58]
urethane foams prepared from the product of PET degra-
dation with triethanolamine can be considered as insulation
materials.
Glycolyzed PET oligoesters can be reacted
directly as a polyol component with diisocyanate com-
pounds to build up a urethane group. Scheme 3 shows the
formation of the polyurethane group from glycolyzed PET
oligoesters that can be further tailored according to the
manufacturer to form rigid or flexible polyurethane.
Scheme 1. Recycling of PET polymer by different chemical routes.
Scheme 2. Glycolysis mechanism of PET with DEG.
New Motivation for the Depolymerization Products Derived from Poly(Ethylene Terephthalate) (PET) Waste: a Review 17
Macromol. Mater. Eng. 2005,290, 13– 30 www.mme-journal.de ß2005 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim
Recently, Akar et al.
has synthesized new urethane oil
varnishes from glycolyzed PET waste. In this article, the
depolymerization products of PET by ethylene glycol,
diethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol-200 and glycerin
were transesterified with the glycolyzed products of soy
bean oil with glycerin. The product of this step linked
together with toluene diisocyanate to yield urethane varnish
oil that was diluted with white spirit to about 60% solid.
Different glycolysis products were obtained by glycolyzing
PET with different diol compounds and hence the urethane
varnish oils finally obtained showed a broad spectrum of
physical properties that are matching and, in some instan-
ces, are better than those of commercial grades.
As a new motivation, PET waste was depolymerized with
a number of special diols and used for the synthesis of novel
block copolymers.
through redox polymerization of the monomers by using
appropriate polymeric diols as reducing agents and Ce(IV)
as the oxidant in an aqueous medium. Oligoester diols
coming from depolymerizing PET waste were introduced as
reducing agents in these redox polymerization reactions,
where the resulting polymers were suggested to have chain
ends of the corresponding reducing agent moiety and hence
affected the final physical properties of the resulting copoly-
mers. The process is commercially important, first because
it converts a waste material to a value-added product, and
second, because it gives polyester polyols that have
terephthalate-repeating units, which overcomes the pro-
blem of sublimation arising from direct use of terephthalic
acid as a starting material in the polyol synthesis.
Saravari
has recently synthesized urethane oils from
waste PET that showed good hardness and adhesion, ex-
cellent water and acid resistance but only fair alkali
resistance. However, the newly synthesized urethane oils
had lower flexibility and poorer wear resistance compared
to those of commercial ones.
4.2.2. Unsaturated Polyesters
Unsaturated polyester (UP) resins are used extensively as a
matrix for fiber-reinforced composites that replace conven-
tional structural materials like steel and wood in a variety of
engineering applications. Fiber-reinforced plastics, termed
FRP, are composed mainly of cross-linkable polymeric
materials and reinforcing fibers. These cross-linkable poly-
meric materials are most commonly unsaturated polyesters
or epoxy resins. The reinforcing fibers are mainly carbon,
glass, aramid, ultra-high molecular-weight polyethylene
(UHMWPE), boron, quartz, or ceramic and hybrid combi-
nations.
These high-performance composites offer ex-
cellent chemical resistance, weather-ability, high strength
to weight ratio and ease of fabrication. UP can be syn-
thesized for this purpose from virgin material
[65– 68]
recycled products of PET waste.
[69– 76]
PET waste is also appl ied in making polymer concretes and
polymer mortars
and was more recently applied for
synthesizing modified UP with improved curing thermal
profiles
studied the synthesis and curing characteristic be-
havior of unsaturated polyester resins from post-consumer
PET bottles. The author studied the effect of the glycol type
on both uncured and cured polyester resins.
4.2.3. Acrylate/Methacrylate-Terminated Oligoesters
With increasing regulatory pressure to reduce solvent
emissions, many coating processes have adopted radiation
curing, using either UV or elect ron beam (EB) irradiation.
Radiation cured formulations can be made using liquid
monomers that polymerize upon UVor EB irradiation. Such
coating processes are intrinsically green, since they do not
use any volatile organic solvents that would give rise to air
pollution. Specific application areas include printing inks,
and metal and wood coatings. Acrylates are the most com-
monly used monomers and irradiation initiated free radical
processes lead to curing. These formulations typically
include an acrylate terminated urethane oligomer, a multi-
functional acrylate for cross-linking and mono-acrylate
reactive diluents. Sartomer is one of the main suppliers of
acrylates for radiation curing. They supply both aliphatic
and aromatic urethane acrylate oligomers. The price is
about $4.50 per pound.
This provides an opportunity, if
PET waste can be processed to give radiation curable
Scheme 3. Formation of polyurethane group from glycolyzed PET oligoesters.
18 D. E. Nikles, M. S. Farahat
Macromol. Mater. Eng. 2005,290, 13– 30 www.mme-journal.de ß2005 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim
oligomers, of opening the potential for new applications in a
high value-added market.
4.3. Modification of PET, the Polymer
and the De-Polymerization Products
Thermal and oxygen barrier properties of PET can be
enhanced by the incorporation of bisester diamides during
the synthesis of PET copolymers.
[89]
of PET polymer by making blends and copolyesters of PET
with poly(ethylene 2,6-naphthalene dicarboxylate) (PEN)
via melt processing. Melt processing of PET with PEN
resulted in trans-esterification reactions. The blend pro-
perties are controlled by the kinetics of these reactions.
The critical trans-esterification temperature was found to be
dependent on the equilibrium melting point of the miscible
blend and the nature of the PET and PEN resins used for
preparing the blend. These blends of PET/PEN have shown
promising results in high performance container applica-
tions. A critical composition of 10% PEN by weight was
required to show any improvement in the melt viscosity or
any depression in the thermal and thermal-oxidative
degradation. Investigations of the injection molding and
orientation characteristics of PET and PET/PEN blends
were carried out to produce pre-forms with good optical
clarity. The difference between the processing temperature
and the equilibrium melting point of the materials, their
crystallizability and their level of trans-esterification are
the major factors controlling the optical clarity in the
pre-forms.
studied the modification of the
thermal properties and crystallization behavior of PET by
co-polymerization. It is well known that the crystallization
of PET can be hindered by means of co-polymerization or
reactive blending. The incorporation of co-monomeric
units into the polymer backbone leads to irregular chain
structure and thereby inhibits regular chain packing for
crystallization. Finally, the authors managed to modify the
glass-transition and melting temperatures, the crystallinity
and the crystallization rate of PET.
The motivation of Moad et al.
[100]
barrier PET, useful for making monolayer beverage con-
tainers via controlled synthesis of block polyesters by
reactive extrusion. In this study, the authors synthesized
block polyesters by combining trans-esterification resistant
oligoesters with PET. The process was discussed with
reference to poly(neopentyl isophthalate) as a representa-
tive trans-esterification resistant oligoester.
modification of PET with a variety of compounds contain-
ing reactive glycidyl group(s) in the melt phase. It was
found that modifiers containing tertiary N atoms in their
epoxide structure play the role of an in-built catalyst for
their reaction with the end groups of PET. The results
showed an increase in the melt viscosity and insoluble
content, whereas an overall decrease in the carboxyl content
took place. Xanthos et al.
[102]
ment of the properties of recycled PET by the incorporation
of carbonate and bicarbonate salts (alkali, alkaline-earth
and other metals) with different thermal stabilities, as
nucleating agents, under the range of processing temper-
atures of PET. It was found that sodium salts were the most
effective nucleating agents for recycled PET crystallization
with a concomitant relatively small reduction in molecular
weight.
The challenge for Robin et al.
[103]
was to treat the thermal
and hydrolytic degradation that takes place during the
processing of recycled PET. This degradation in turn leads
to reduction in the molecular weight, intrinsic viscosity
New Motivation for the Depolymerization Products Derived from Poly(Ethylene Terephthalate) (PET) Waste: a Review 19
Macromol. Mater. Eng. 2005,290, 13– 30 www.mme-journal.de ß2005 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim
and mechanical properties of the recycled materials. The
authors modified both virgin and recycled PET chemically
by adding chain extenders during the course of processing.
It was found that diisocynates are more reactive towards the
end groups of virgin PET than are bisoxazol ines or epoxides
under the conditions of their study. Modifications lead to
a rise in the intrinsic viscosity, molecular weight and
improved mechanical properties.
The work of Garbassi et al.
[104]
acting the degradation phenomena that takes place during
the process of recycling of PET, by the incorporation of 2,20-
bis(2-oxazoline) as a chain extender during processing in a
twin-screw extruder. The same experiments were per-
formed on fiber-grade PET for comparison purposes.
Rheological characterization showed that, while the melt
viscosity of fiber-grade PET at constant temperature and
shear rate is quite constant with time, that of recycled PET
decreased dramatically. By the addition of oxazoline, an
increase in the melt viscosity occurs for fiber-grade PET,
whereas for recycled PET, only thermal and hydrolytic
degradation effects were partially compensated. Results
showed also that the use of oxazoline resulted in higher
molecular weights and lower COOH concentrations at
equal residence times, with no change in polydispersity.
The motivation of the work of Friedrich et al.
[105]
modification of recycled PET waste was to manufacture
micro-fibrillar reinforced composites (MFC) comprising of
an isotropic matrix from a lower melting polymer, rein-
forced by micro-fibrils of a higher melting polymer. Low
density polyethylene (LDPE) (matrix) and recycled PET
(reinforced material) from bottles were melt blended in
different ratios and extruded, followed by continuous
drawing, palletizing and injection molding. Experimental
studies showed that the extruded blend was isotropic but
becomes highly oriented after drawing, being converted
into a polymer-polymer composite upon injection molding
at temperatures below the melting temperature of PET. An
isotropic LDPE matrix reinforced by randomly distributed
PET micro-fibrils characterized this MFC. The mechanical
properties of these MFCs showed impressive results, re-
garding tensile elongation and impact strength. The authors
concluded that: (i) the MFC approach can be applied in the
industrially relevant conditions using various blend para-
meters and (ii) the MFC represents an attractive alternative
for recycling of PET as well as other polymers.
Yu and coworkers
toughening and the notched Izod impact strength of the
recycled PET by the addition maleic anhydride grafted
polystyrene-block-(polyethylene/polybutylene)-block-
polystyrene triblock copolymer (SEBS-g-MA). The study
showed that with 30 wt.% of SEBS-g-MA, the notched Izod
impact strength of the recycled PET was improved more
than 10 fold. The impact strength properties of PET were
improved very significantly through the melt blending of
PET and a polyolefinic elastomer (POE).
Chaudhari and Kale
investigated the melt blending of
PET/POE and Engage TM8150 in a co-rotating twin-screw
extruder having initial distributive mixing, followed by high
shearing/stretching. Blends, containing POE up to 10%
with and without poly[ethylene-co-(acrylic acid)] as a
compatibilizer, were characterized for mechanical, ther-
mal, rheological and morphological characteristics. It was
shown that the motivation led to significant improvement.
Oromiehie and Mamizadeh
of recycled PET, virgin PET and their mixtures with
poly(propylene) functionalized with maleic anhydride (PP-
g-MA). The results showed that the intrinsic viscosity and
molecular weight decreased as the ratio of recycled PET in
the blend increased. Nevertheless, the properties of the
functionalized blends were improved. This behavior was
attributed to a series of chemical and physicochemical
interactions taking place between the two components.
Modification of PET via chain extension by a reactive
extrusion process was proven to be a valuable route for
improving the intrinsic viscosity, molecular weight and
mechanical properties of recycled PET. Daver et al.
[109]
investigated the addition of pyromellitic dianhydride
(PMDA) as a chain extender to PET during reactive
extrusion and the results showed that up to a PMDA con-
centration of 0.3 wt.%, the intrinsic viscosity ([Z]) increased
and the carboxyl content decreased, relative to recycled
PET processed under a normal extrusion system. Concen-
trations of PMDA above 0.3 wt.% produced chemical,
thermal and hydrodynamic instabilities in the system,
causing cross-linking reactions and gel formation.
Ma
vessel. Foaming experiments on modified virgin or recycled
PET did not form any closed-cell structures, leading to an
early collapse as a result of insufficient elongational
resistance.
4.4. Novel Motivation for Recycled Products
Depolymerization products obtained from the glycolysis of
PET are well defined as oligoesters with mainly terminal
and minor internal hydroxyl groups.
[21]
modification of these glycolysis products, coming from
recycling PET waste, is based on converting the hydroxyl
groups into UV or EB irradiation curable acrylate or meth-
acrylate groups by acrylation or methacrylation reactions.
Acrylation or methacrylation of hydroxyl groups can be
conducted by a direct esterification reaction with acrylic
20 D. E. Nikles, M. S. Farahat
Macromol. Mater. Eng. 2005,290, 13– 30 www.mme-journal.de ß2005 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim
acid or methacrylic acid in the presence of methanesulfonic
acid
or p-toluenesulfonic acid as esterification cata-
lysts.
The values of Mnof the acrylated or meth-
acrylated products by these methods were reported to be
slightly lower than that of the starting oligomers, indicating
the occurrence of an acidic degradation reaction, which
does not affect the acrylic functionality.
[111– 113]
or methacrylation of hydroxyl groups can be achieved in a
better way by reacting the hydroxyl functional groups with
acryloyl chloride or methacryloyl chloride in the presence
of pyridine or triethylamine as HCl scavengers or accep-
tors.
Scheme 4 shows the schematic representation
of the chemical reactions involved in the current study.
5. Experimental Part
Materials: Diethylene glycol (DEG), manganese acetate,
acryloyol chloride, methacryloyol chloride, triethyl amine, 2-
benzyl-2-dimethylamino-1-(4-morphlinophenyl)-1-buta-
none (BDMB), diethylene glycol diacrylate (DEGDA) and
diethylene glycol dimethacrylate (DEGDMA) were all
obtained from Aldrich Chemical Co., and were used without
purification.
5.1. Synthesis of Oligoester Polyols
DEG, a transesterification catalyst, Mn-acetate, and PET
waste obtained from beverage bottles are the only ingredients
involved in this step. Two different glycolysates, i.e.,
glycolyzed products of PET, GLY1 and GLY2, were prepared,
by applying two different molar ratios of PET:DEG, namely
1:2.15 and 1:1.03. Calculations were based on the molecular
weights of DEG and that of the repeating unit of PET.
[116,117]
The detailed experimental work has been published in our
previous work.
5.2. Characterization of the Glycolyzed Products
5.2.1 Molecular Weight Determination
The number average molecular weights, Mn, of the obtained
GLY1 and GLY2 were calculated according to the end group
analysis by determining the acid numbers (A) and hydroxyl
values (B) (mg KOH (g sample)
1
introduced by the method of end group analysis is represented
by Equation (1)
where ‘2’ in the numerator refers to the
number of hydroxyl terminal groups/molecule.
Mn¼ð256:11000Þ=ðAþBÞð1Þ
5.2.2. Molecular Weight Determination by
Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC)
GPC analyses were performed on SEC Inst., using THF as a
solvent at ambient temperature. For making measurements, 20
mL sample was injected at a flow rate 1 mL min
1
Waters 5/5 HPLC pump. Two successive columns (PSS SDV
linear XL 5 m,8600 mm) and (PSS SDV 100 8A5m,8600
mm) were applied. Detection with a Waters 410 Differential
Refractometer, using a linear UVIS-205 absorbance detector.
5.2.3.
Mass spectrometry was performed on GLY1 and GLY2 using a
VG Autospec high-resolution mass spectrometer controlled by
a VAX station 3100-30 ‘‘super micro’’ computer, with an EBE
geometry. It was operated using an accelerating voltage of 8
kV. Fast atom bombardment (FAB) and electron impact (EI) at
70 eV, with the probe temperature kept at 25 8C, were used as
the ionization techniques. FAB is a softer technique for
ionization that enables the experimenter to see the molecular
ions of higher molecular weights that could not be seen with EI.
With FAB, a cesium gun is used for ionization and magic bullet
was the matrix for the ionization process.
5.3. Synthesis and UV Curing of the Acrylated
and Methacrylated Oligoesters
The purified oligoesters obtained from the glycolysis of PET
were subjected to an esterification reaction with acryloyl
chloride or methacryloyl chloride, where the estimated
hydroxyl values (B) were applied in the calculation of the
equivalent molar ratio of either acryloyl chloride or meth-
acryloyl chloride as required. This experimental part has been
fully described in our previous work.
[40,41]
sters were coded as GLY1-A and GLY2-A. The methacrylated
oligoesters were coded as GLY1-M and GLY2-M. The
modified oligoesters GLY1-A, GLY2-A, GLY1-M and
Scheme 4. Schematic representation for the chemical reactions
involved in the current investigation.
New Motivation for the Depolymerization Products Derived from Poly(Ethylene Terephthalate) (PET) Waste: a Review 21
Macromol. Mater. Eng. 2005,290, 13– 30 www.mme-journal.de ß2005 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim
GLY2-M were cured by the addition of 2 wt.-% of BDMB and
UV irradiation at l¼254 nm at the output intensity of 400
Winch
5.4. Applications and Mechanical Testing of the
Novel Acrylated/Methacrylated Oligoesters
The newly synthesized acrylated and methacrylated oligo-
esters GLY1-A, GLY2-A, GLY1-M and GLY2-M were tested
as UV curable monomers alone and as mixtures with other
commercially known acrylate or methacrylate monomers. The
full details of this experimental part and the obtained results is
explained in our latest work.
[40,41]
In this article we will reveal
some of the results of the mechanical properties of the cured
films. The mechanical properties of twelve different UV cured
formulations were measured according the ASTM.
[124]
mechanical properties of these cured binder films are
represented by their tensile strength (MPa) and Young’s
modulus of elongation (GPa). Table 1 shows the mechanical
properties and compositions of the different UV cured
formulations.
properties for a broad spectrum of commercially available
radiation curable formulations. The mechanical properties
obtained for these commercial monomers lie in the range 12–
35 MPa for the break strength and 0.1–0.9 GPa for Young’s
modulus of elongation. Comparing these values with those
shown in Table 1, it is worthy to note that formulations based on
the novel acrylated or methacrylated oligoesters offer higher
values of Young’s modulus and comparable values of the break
strength. This conclusion shows the success of the novel idea
from both the practical and, in turn, the economical point of
view.
6.1. Elucidation of the Chemical Structure of the
Glycolyzed Products by Spectroscopic Methods
Many workers have considered the glycolysis of PET over
the last few decades,
but most of the literatures
published in this area dealt with the glycolyzed products as
mixtures of bishydroxyethyl terephthalate (BHET) and
oligomers containing terephthalate repeating units ended
with two terminals hydroxyl groups.
[19,20,22,42,43,48,49,69–
GLY1 and GLY2 that Equation (1) is no longer appropriate
for determining Mnof the PET glycolyzed products and it is
necessary that it is modified to Equation (2) in order to
reconsider the value of nthat estimates the number of (OH)
groups per oligomer molecule.
Mass spectroscopy of GLY1 and GLY2 was performed
using both FAB and EI as the ionization techniques.
Table 1. Formulations and mechanical properties of the UV cured films.
Sample code Methacrylated oligoesters code Co-reactant (50 wt.-%) Elongation Break strength Young’s modulus
% MPa GPa
1 GLY1-A None 31.7 4.6 0.974
2 DEGDA 2.9 40.7 1.690
3 DEGDMA 1.1 18.7 1.607
4 GLY1-M None 26.5 5.1 0.90
5 DEGDA 1.6 34.6 2.38
6 DEGDMA 1.1 17.6 1.90
7 GLY2-A None 2.5 44.7 1.932
8 DEGDA 2.6 42.2 2.025
9 DEGDMA 1.2 21.5 1.833
10 GLY2-M None 3.5 40.8 1.99
11 DEGDA 2.2 42.9 2.36
12 DEGDMA 0.7 21.2 3.03
22 D. E. Nikles, M. S. Farahat
Macromol. Mater. Eng. 2005,290, 13– 30 www.mme-journal.de ß2005 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim
Figure 5a, 5b, 6a and 6b show the mass spectroscopy
analyses for GLY1 and GLY2 performed with FAB and
EI techniques. Scheme 5 shows the possible mechanism
for the fragmentation of molecular ions that account for the
ion peaks in Figure 5a, 5b, 6a and 6b. Mechanism I in
Scheme 5 explains the molecular ion fragmentations due to
ionization of structures that do not have a secondary (OH)
group adjacent to terephthalate group, whilst those resulting
due to mechanism II are based on the ionization of the
secondary (OH) group existing adjacent to terephthalate
group.
The common aspect in all the figures showing mass
spectrometry results is that the parent mass peak is located
at 237, suggesting that the chemical structure is represented
by mechanism I in Scheme 5. Table 3 summarizes the values
of the molecular ion masses and their relative abundances
for GYL1 and GLY2, performed by FAB and EI.
The results obtained from the mass spectroscopy analysis
reflect a picture of the molecular species present in GLY1
and GLY2. Higher molecular ion species appeared when
FAB was applied as the technique for ionization, showing
the existence of oligomers with repeating units up to n¼4
for GLY2 and n¼3 for GLY1.
Considering mechanism I in Scheme 5 and the relative
intensities of molecular ions obtained with FAB mass
spectroscopy, it is obvious that GLY2 contains 35.8% of
molecular species with repeating units n¼4, 37.1% with
n¼2 and 40.0% with n¼1. In the case of GLY1, these values
are as follows: 10.9%molecular species withn¼3, and a sum
of 69.1% for molecular ions at 472 and 473, representing
repeating units n¼2 and 20.3% with n¼1. Molecular ions
appearing at 385 and 429 represent some other dimeric
structures that exist at 22.8% and 16.3% in the case of GLY1
and 18.0% and 29.3% in case of GLY2, respectively.
Mechanism II in Scheme 5 attributes the molecular ions
formed as a result of the existence of secondary –OH group.
This also confirms in another sense the suggested mechan-
ism of the glycolysis shown in Scheme 2. As a conclusion,
drawn from GPC measurements of the molecular weights,
1
PET and the synthesis of unsaturated polyesters and poly-
urethane products from the glycolysis products. These
authors based all their work on the assumption that the
glycolysis products are straight-structured oligomers with
only two terminal (OH) groups and did not think of
the possibility of the formation of internal (OH) groups.
These authors also characterized the glycolysis products by
the determination of hydroxyl values and free glycol only.
Firstly, the free glycol experiment is a process in which
glycolysis products are extracted with boiling water for a
prolonged time and this may lead to further degradation or
some change in the chemical structures of the products.
Besides, this experiment is primitive and not applicable in
all cases because the physical properties and solubility of
the glycolysis products varies with the structure of glycol
applied in the glycolysis process. Separation and purifica-
tion of the glycolysis products is better established by
solvent-non-solvent extraction
reacted glycol and low molecular weight glycolysis
products are separated out into the aqueous phase. Vaidya
and Nadkarni determined the number average molecular
weight by Equation (1) and this is erroneous in the sense of
estimating the molecular weights and also the stoichio-
metric ratios of the ingredients to be further reacted with the
glycolyzed products. They also subjected these oligoesters
to a polyesterification reaction at elevated temperatures
such as 200 8C. This activates the secondary (OH) groups,
which are less active than the terminal primary ones,
leading to the formation of a three-dimensional polymer-
ization, hence forming cross-linked and gel structures.
Abdel-Azim et al.
based his work on the con-
clusions arrived by Vaidya and Nadkarni and based all the
experimental calculations on the same fallacious facts.
Abdel-Azim in his earlier publications
[83,135]
glycol systems in the glycolysis step and built his calcu-
lations on the weight-to-weight ratios of the glycol-PET
system instead of the molar ratios. As can be concluded
from the current work, it is the molar ratio and not the
weight ratio of the glycol system that constitutes the
essential role in determining the chemical structures and
the molecular weights of the glycolyzed products. This
author also did not take into account the formation of
secondary (OH) groups in the chemical structures of the
glycolyzed products. This is a serious point, especially in
synthesizing unsaturated polyesters from the glycolysis
products of PET waste . Abdel-Azim et al.
[83,84,135]
all of his publications that only 4–6 wt.% of the glycol is
consumed during the process of glycolysis, referring to the
results obtained from the free glycol experiment and this is
an erroneous conclusion.
As a numerical example and a quantitative analysis for
the percentage of the glycol consumption during the course
of glycolysis, one can consider a glycolysis experiment in
this current experimental part where a PET polymer with
initial Mn20 000 was subjected to glycolysis with two
different molar ratios of diethylene glycol (DEG) and the
depolymerized products were GLY1 (Mn478), depoly-
merized at molar ratio of PET:DEG ¼2.15 and GLY2
(Mn551), depolymerized at molar ratio of PET:DEG ¼
Figure 4. Characteristic peaks of
13
C NMR spectrum for GLY1 and GLY2.
24 D. E. Nikles, M. S. Farahat
Macromol. Mater. Eng. 2005,290, 13– 30 www.mme-journal.de ß2005 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim
1:1.03. The molar ratio was calculated on the assumption
that for each 1 mole of PET polymer repeating units i.e.
(192 g), 2.15 or 1.03 mole of DEG was added as a gly-
colyzing material. PET polymer has a repeating unit with
molecular weight 192, the degree of polymerization (DP)of
the initial polymer was 104 (Mn/DP ¼20 000/192). The
end products GLY1 and GLY2 were oligomers with
DP 2.49 and 2.87, respectively. Thus, on the average,
there were about 40 ester linkage s per polymer chain broken
down during the glycolysis reaction. Referring to the
mechanism shown by Scheme 2, it became clear that there is
one glycol molecule being consumed, to break each ester
linkage. One can say also that there were 40 glycol molec-
ules being consumed during the depolymerization reaction
of each polymer chain. Since 1.0 mole PET (192 g) contains
Avogadro’s number (N
) of repeating units and each chain
contains about 104 repeating units, 1.0 mole of PET
contains N
/104 or simply 0.01 N
A
about 40 molecules of glycol are depolymerizing each
macro-chain, N
macro-chains will consume about 40 N
A
Figure 5. Mass spectroscopy of GLY1 performed by FAB (a) and by EI (b).
New Motivation for the Depolymerization Products Derived from Poly(Ethylene Terephthalate) (PET) Waste: a Review 25
Macromol. Mater. Eng. 2005,290, 13– 30 www.mme-journal.de ß2005 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim
of glycol molecules during the glycolysis reaction, or
0.01 N
of PET macro-chains will need about 0.4 N
A
0.4 moles of glycol molecules to be depolymerized, to give
finally GLY1 and GLY2. Finally, one can state that each
1.0 mol of PET consumes about 0.4 mole of glycol during
the glycolysis reaction. By applying this conclusion to the
cases of GLY1 and GLY2 and subtracting the minimum
percentage of glycol consumed from the initial concentra-
tion, it can be estimated that about 18.6% and 38.8% of the
glycol was consumed during the glycolysis reaction of
GLY1 and GLY2 respectively.
Considering the equilibrium reaction shown below by
Equation (3), it is shown that the role of the excess glycol is
to enhance the forward reaction in the reversible depoly-
merization reaction, leading to a faster and higher yield of
depolymerization products.
Many authors studied the kinetics of the glycolysis
reaction of PET
glycol concentration was found to play the essential role in
enhancing the rate of the glycolysis reaction. Finally, the
conclusion based on the concept that only a percentage of
4–6 wt.-% of the glycol is consumed over the whole course
of glycolysis reaction is scientifically erroneous and totally
unacceptable.
Figure 6. Mass spectroscopy of GLY2 performed by FAB (a) and by EI (b).
26 D. E. Nikles, M. S. Farahat
Macromol. Mater. Eng. 2005,290, 13– 30 www.mme-journal.de ß2005 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim
7. Conclusions
1. The common equation for determining the number-
average molecular weight from the values of hydroxyl and
acid numbers should be modified to reconsider the number
nof (OH) groups per molecule.
2. Further evidence for the formation of secondary (OH)
groups duringthe course of the glycolysis reaction is suggest-
ed from the results of mass spectroscopy that in turn sustains
thepreviouslyproposedmechanismfor the glycolysisofPET.
3. It has been found that the UV curability and the
mechanical properties of the cured formulations, based on
Scheme 5. Mechanism of molecular ion fragmentations of GLY1 and GLY2.
New Motivation for the Depolymerization Products Derived from Poly(Ethylene Terephthalate) (PET) Waste: a Review 27
Macromol. Mater. Eng. 2005,290, 13– 30 www.mme-journal.de ß2005 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim
the newly synthesized acrylated and methacrylated oligo-
esters (GLY1-A, GLY2-A, GLY1-M and GLY2-M), are
much higher than the mechanical properties that can be
obtained from any commercially available acrylate mono-
mers and oligomers.
4. The novel idea presented in the current investigation
opens the potential for many new applications for the
oligoesters obtained by glycolysis of PET waste.
Acknowledgements: This project was funded by the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency under grants R826728 and
R827121. The contents do not necessarily reflect the views and
policies of the U.S. EPA nor does the mention of trade names or
commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation
for use. The authors also wish to thank Dr. Sharon F. Webb,
Department of Chemistry, University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa,
for the mass spectroscopic measurements.
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Table 3. Characteristic molecular ion peaks and their relative
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104 29.92 65.19 – 42.49
105 17.84 58.80 14.73 42.81
149 49.30 72.96 48.89 81.34
193 42.43 52.95 52.56 82.56
237 100 100.00 100 100.00
281 20.31 49.19 40.03 31.51
385 22.83 15.25 18.04 24.70
429 16.34 12.49 29.29 23.56
472 56.59 – – –
473 12.55 12.96 37.11 19.45
665 10.89 – – 8.14
28 D. E. Nikles, M. S. Farahat
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CitationsCitations94
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Pure gold is (how many)-carat?
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All The World's Gold Facts
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<a href="http://www.numbersleuth.org/worlds-gold/"><img src="http://www.numbersleuth.org/worlds-gold/gold.jpg" alt="All The World's Gold" width="500" border="0" /></a><br />From: <a href="http://www.numbersleuth.org">Number Sleuth</a>
All The World's Gold
We here at NumberSleuth are all about exploring the world of numbers, and with this infographic we decided to take a look at the numbers behind the entire amount of gold in the world as well as other facts about gold. Below are a series of questions that we began with and the answers we discovered in our research. We believe that this is the most thorough and in-depth resource with facts about the world's gold on the Internet and we hope you have as much fun reading through the information as we did in putting it all together.
1. How much above-ground gold (gold that has been mined) is there in all the world?
The best estimate at the end of 2011 is that around 165,000 metric tons (or tonnes) have been mined in all of human history. That’s about 181,881 ordinary tons or 363,762,732 pounds, or 5,820,203,717 ordinary ounces. Gold typically is measured in what are known as troy ounces, which are a little bigger than ordinary ounces (a troy ounce is 31.1034768 grams whereas an ordinary ounce is 28.3495231 grams). There are 32.1507466 troy ounces in a kilogram or 32,150.7466 troy ounces in a metric ton.
“More than half of all humanity’s gold has been extracted in the past 50 years. Now the world’s richest deposits are fast being depleted, and new discoveries are rare. Gone are the hundred-mile-long gold reefs in South Africa or cherry-size nuggets in California. Most of the gold left to mine exists as traces buried in remote and fragile corners of the globe. It's an invitation to destruction. But there is no shortage of miners, big and small, who are willing to accept.” [QUOTE SOURCE: http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/print/2009/01/gold/larmer-text .]
**Cumulative average thru November 22, 2011, http://www.kitco.com/scripts/hist_charts/yearly_graphs.plx .
SOURCE: This table thru 2009 appears here: http://minerals.usgs.gov/ds/2005/140/gold.pdf .
3. But didn’t the Spanish get lots and lots of gold from the New World, especially from the Aztecs and Incas?
In fact, the Spanish got much more silver than gold from the New World. In the 16th century, when production was in full swing, the Spanish only got 154 metric tons of gold, whereas they got 7440 metric tons of silver. Gold production in the new world for the entire the 16thcentury was thus less than half of what it was worldwide in 1900. Here is a comparison, decade by decade, of Spanish gold and silver production in the New World in the 16th century:
Year
SOURCE: http://mygeologypage.ucdavis.edu/cowen/~GEL115/115ch8.html
4. How much gold, really, is 165,000 metric tons (the total mined throughout human history) and 2,500 metric tons (the total that’s currently mined annually)?
An Olympic swimming pool is 50 by 25 by 2 meters. It therefore contains 2,500 cubic meters of water. Each cubic meter of water is one metric ton. Gold is 19.3 times as dense as water. Therefore an Olympic swimming pool would contain 48,250 metric tons of gold. It follows that 3.42 Olympic-sized swimming pools could contain all the gold that’s ever been mined. Another way to imagine this is to think of all the gold in the world ever mined as a single cube. That would be a cube with each side just over 20 meters, or 67 feet, in length. Given that about 2,500 metric tons of gold is mined each year, this annual production of gold would fit in a cube whose sides were 5 meters, or 16.6 feet, in length. All the production of gold in the world for a given year would thus fit in a 20 by 30 foot room with an 8 foot ceiling.
5. Given 165,000 metric tons as an upper bound on available gold, how much does that leave to each human on the planet?
Humanity has just hit the 7 billion mark. That leaves just under 24 grams of gold to each person on planet earth, or .76 troy ounces or .83 ordinary ounces per person. In an ordinary male gold wedding band at 18-karat purity, there are about 5 grams of pure gold. That means every person on planet earth could own about 5 gold rings. At the current price of $1,750.00 per troy ounce of gold, that leaves $1,326.00 in gold for each person on planet earth. “Gold production has increased by a factor of 2.1 from 1959 to 2010. At the same time, the world population has been multiplied by a factor 2.2. Thus we produced more or less the same amount of gold per inhabitant as in 1959.” [QUOTE SOURCE: http://news.goldseek.com/Dani/1309290922.php )
6. How does the gold that’s mined get used?
52 percent gets used for jewelry, 18 percent constitute official holdings (as in central banks of nations), 16 percent take the form of investments, 12 percent find industrial uses, leaving 2 percent unaccounted for.
7. Which nations consume the most gold?
Since jewelry is the most common use of gold, gold consumption worldwide is most easily gauged by gold jewelry consumption. India is in this respect far and away the biggest consumer of gold. Here are the data for 2009 and 2010 of gold jewelry consumption by country in metric tons:
Country
Here’s what’s happened with gold in the last year (2011):
SOURCE: http://www.kitco.com .
10. Who’s got the gold that’s used for monetary and investment purposes and how much of this type of gold is out there?
In 2011, about 2,100 metric tons of gold appeared in what are known as exchange-traded funds (ETFs). The lion’s share was in one fund: 1,240 metric tons in SPDR Gold Shares ( http://www.spdrgoldshares.com ). As of 2009, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) held 3,217 metric tons of gold. In 2010, the central banks of nations held a total of 28,398 metric tons of gold. Here is the breakdown:
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The expression 'On cloud (what)' refers to being blissfully happy?
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All The World's Gold Facts
Share this infographic on your site!
<a href="http://www.numbersleuth.org/worlds-gold/"><img src="http://www.numbersleuth.org/worlds-gold/gold.jpg" alt="All The World's Gold" width="500" border="0" /></a><br />From: <a href="http://www.numbersleuth.org">Number Sleuth</a>
Embed this infographic on your site!
<a href="http://www.numbersleuth.org/worlds-gold/"><img src="http://www.numbersleuth.org/worlds-gold/gold.jpg" alt="All The World's Gold" width="500" border="0" /></a><br />From: <a href="http://www.numbersleuth.org">Number Sleuth</a>
All The World's Gold
We here at NumberSleuth are all about exploring the world of numbers, and with this infographic we decided to take a look at the numbers behind the entire amount of gold in the world as well as other facts about gold. Below are a series of questions that we began with and the answers we discovered in our research. We believe that this is the most thorough and in-depth resource with facts about the world's gold on the Internet and we hope you have as much fun reading through the information as we did in putting it all together.
1. How much above-ground gold (gold that has been mined) is there in all the world?
The best estimate at the end of 2011 is that around 165,000 metric tons (or tonnes) have been mined in all of human history. That’s about 181,881 ordinary tons or 363,762,732 pounds, or 5,820,203,717 ordinary ounces. Gold typically is measured in what are known as troy ounces, which are a little bigger than ordinary ounces (a troy ounce is 31.1034768 grams whereas an ordinary ounce is 28.3495231 grams). There are 32.1507466 troy ounces in a kilogram or 32,150.7466 troy ounces in a metric ton.
“More than half of all humanity’s gold has been extracted in the past 50 years. Now the world’s richest deposits are fast being depleted, and new discoveries are rare. Gone are the hundred-mile-long gold reefs in South Africa or cherry-size nuggets in California. Most of the gold left to mine exists as traces buried in remote and fragile corners of the globe. It's an invitation to destruction. But there is no shortage of miners, big and small, who are willing to accept.” [QUOTE SOURCE: http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/print/2009/01/gold/larmer-text .]
**Cumulative average thru November 22, 2011, http://www.kitco.com/scripts/hist_charts/yearly_graphs.plx .
SOURCE: This table thru 2009 appears here: http://minerals.usgs.gov/ds/2005/140/gold.pdf .
3. But didn’t the Spanish get lots and lots of gold from the New World, especially from the Aztecs and Incas?
In fact, the Spanish got much more silver than gold from the New World. In the 16th century, when production was in full swing, the Spanish only got 154 metric tons of gold, whereas they got 7440 metric tons of silver. Gold production in the new world for the entire the 16thcentury was thus less than half of what it was worldwide in 1900. Here is a comparison, decade by decade, of Spanish gold and silver production in the New World in the 16th century:
Year
SOURCE: http://mygeologypage.ucdavis.edu/cowen/~GEL115/115ch8.html
4. How much gold, really, is 165,000 metric tons (the total mined throughout human history) and 2,500 metric tons (the total that’s currently mined annually)?
An Olympic swimming pool is 50 by 25 by 2 meters. It therefore contains 2,500 cubic meters of water. Each cubic meter of water is one metric ton. Gold is 19.3 times as dense as water. Therefore an Olympic swimming pool would contain 48,250 metric tons of gold. It follows that 3.42 Olympic-sized swimming pools could contain all the gold that’s ever been mined. Another way to imagine this is to think of all the gold in the world ever mined as a single cube. That would be a cube with each side just over 20 meters, or 67 feet, in length. Given that about 2,500 metric tons of gold is mined each year, this annual production of gold would fit in a cube whose sides were 5 meters, or 16.6 feet, in length. All the production of gold in the world for a given year would thus fit in a 20 by 30 foot room with an 8 foot ceiling.
5. Given 165,000 metric tons as an upper bound on available gold, how much does that leave to each human on the planet?
Humanity has just hit the 7 billion mark. That leaves just under 24 grams of gold to each person on planet earth, or .76 troy ounces or .83 ordinary ounces per person. In an ordinary male gold wedding band at 18-karat purity, there are about 5 grams of pure gold. That means every person on planet earth could own about 5 gold rings. At the current price of $1,750.00 per troy ounce of gold, that leaves $1,326.00 in gold for each person on planet earth. “Gold production has increased by a factor of 2.1 from 1959 to 2010. At the same time, the world population has been multiplied by a factor 2.2. Thus we produced more or less the same amount of gold per inhabitant as in 1959.” [QUOTE SOURCE: http://news.goldseek.com/Dani/1309290922.php )
6. How does the gold that’s mined get used?
52 percent gets used for jewelry, 18 percent constitute official holdings (as in central banks of nations), 16 percent take the form of investments, 12 percent find industrial uses, leaving 2 percent unaccounted for.
7. Which nations consume the most gold?
Since jewelry is the most common use of gold, gold consumption worldwide is most easily gauged by gold jewelry consumption. India is in this respect far and away the biggest consumer of gold. Here are the data for 2009 and 2010 of gold jewelry consumption by country in metric tons:
Country
Here’s what’s happened with gold in the last year (2011):
SOURCE: http://www.kitco.com .
10. Who’s got the gold that’s used for monetary and investment purposes and how much of this type of gold is out there?
In 2011, about 2,100 metric tons of gold appeared in what are known as exchange-traded funds (ETFs). The lion’s share was in one fund: 1,240 metric tons in SPDR Gold Shares ( http://www.spdrgoldshares.com ). As of 2009, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) held 3,217 metric tons of gold. In 2010, the central banks of nations held a total of 28,398 metric tons of gold. Here is the breakdown:
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i don't know
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Each player begins with (how many) pieces in a game of chess?
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How to Play Chess: Rules and Basics - Chess.com
Chess.com
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Learn to Play Chess
It's never too late to learn how to play chess - the most popular game in the world! If you are totally new to the game or even want to learn all of the rules and strategies, read on!
Getting Better at Chess
History of Chess
The origins of chess are not exactly clear, though most believe it evolved from earlier chess-like games played in India almost two thousand years ago.The game of chess we know today has been around since the 15th century where it became popular in Europe.
The Goal of Chess
Chess is a game played between two opponents on opposite sides of a board containing 64 squares of alternating colors. Each player has 16 pieces: 1 king, 1 queen, 2 rooks, 2 bishops, 2 knights, and 8 pawns. The goal of the game is to checkmate the other king. Checkmate happens when the king is in a position to be captured (in check) and cannot escape from capture.
Starting a Game
At the beginning of the game the chessboard is laid out so that each player has the white (or light) color square in the bottom right-hand side. The chess pieces are then arranged the same way each time. The second row (or rank) is filled with pawns. The rooks go in the corners, then the knights next to them, followed by the bishops, and finally the queen, who always goes on her own matching color (white queen on white, black queen on black), and the king on the remaining square.
The player with the white pieces always moves first. Therefore, players generally decide who will get to be white by chance or luck such as flipping a coin or having one player guess the color of the hidden pawn in the other player's hand. White then makes a move, followed by black, then white again, then black and so on until the end of the game.
How the Pieces Move
Each of the 6 different kinds of pieces moves differently. Pieces cannot move through other pieces (though the knight can jump over other pieces), and can never move onto a square with one of their own pieces. However, they can be moved to take the place of an opponent's piece which is then captured. Pieces are generally moved into positions where they can capture other pieces (by landing on their square and then replacing them), defend their own pieces in case of capture, or control important squares in the game.
The King
The king is the most important piece, but is one of the weakest. The king can only move one square in any direction - up, down, to the sides, and diagonally. Click on the '>' button in the diagram below to see how the king can move around the board. The king may never move himself into check (where he could be captured).
The Queen
The queen is the most powerful piece. She can move in any one straight direction - forward, backward, sideways, or diagonally - as far as possible as long as she does not move through any of her own pieces. And, like with all pieces, if the queen captures an opponent's piece her move is over. Click through the diagram below to see how the queens move. Notice how the white queen captures the black queen and then the black king is forced to move.
The Rook
The rook may move as far as it wants, but only forward, backward, and to the sides. The rooks are particularly powerful pieces when they are protecting each other and working together!
The Bishop
The bishop may move as far as it wants, but only diagonally. Each bishop starts on one color (light or dark) and must always stay on that color. Bishops work well together because they cover up each other’s weaknesses.
The Knight
Knights move in a very different way from the other pieces – going two squares in one direction, and then one more move at a 90 degree angle, just like the shape of an “L”. Knights are also the only pieces that can move over other pieces.
The Pawn
Pawns are unusual because they move and capture in different ways: they move forward, but capture diagonally. Pawns can only move forward one square at a time, except for their very first move where they can move forward two squares. Pawns can only capture one square diagonally in front of them. They can never move or capture backwards. If there is another piece directly in front of a pawn he cannot move past or capture that piece.
Promotion
Pawns have another special ability and that is that if a pawn reaches the other side of the board it can become any other chess piece (called promotion). A pawn may be promoted to any piece. [NOTE: A common misconception is that pawns may only be exchanged for a piece that has been captured. That is NOT true.] A pawn is usually promoted to a queen. Only pawns may be promoted.
En Passant
The last rule about pawns is called “en passant,” which is French for “in passing”. If a pawn moves out two squares on its first move, and by doing so lands to the side of an opponent’s pawn (effectively jumping past the other pawn’s ability to capture it), that other pawn has the option of capturing the first pawn as it passes by. This special move must be done immediately after the first pawn has moved past, otherwise the option to capture it is no longer available. Click through the example below to better understand this odd, but important rule.
Castling
One other special rule is called castling. This move allows you to do two important things all in one move: get your king to safety (hopefully), and get your rook out of the corner and into the game. On a player’s turn he may move his king two squares over to one side and then move the rook from that side’s corner to right next to the king on the opposite side. (See the example below.) However, in order to castle, the following conditions must be met:
it must be that king’s very first move
it must be that rook’s very first move
there cannot be any pieces between the king and rook to move
the king may not be in check or pass through check
Notice that when you castle one direction the king is closer to the side of the board. That is called castling kingside. Castling to the other side, through where the queen sat, is called castling queenside. Regardless of which side, the king always moves only two squares when castling.
Check & Checkmate
As stated before, the purpose of the game is to checkmate the opponent’s king. This happens when the king is put into check and cannot get out of check. There are only three ways a king can get out of check: move out of the way (though he cannot castle!), block the check with another piece, or capture the piece threatening the king. If a king cannot escape checkmate then the game is over. Customarily the king is not captured or removed from the board, the game is simply declared over.
Draws
Occasionally chess games do not end with a winner, but with a draw. There are 5 reasons why a chess game may end in a draw:
The position reaches a stalemate where it is one player’s turn to move, but his king is NOT in check and yet he does not have another legal move
The players may simply agree to a draw and stop playing
There are not enough pieces on the board to force a checkmate (example: a king and a bishop vs.a king)
A player declares a draw if the same exact position is repeated three times (though not necessarily three times in a row)
Fifty consecutive moves have been played where neither player has moved a pawn or captured a piece
Chess 960
Chess960 follows all the rules of standard chess, except for the starting position of pieces on the back rank, which are placed randomly in one of 960 possible positions. Castling is done just like in standard chess, with the King and Rook landing on their normal castled squares (g1 and f1, or c1 and d1). 960 plays just like standard chess, but with more variety in the opening.
Some Tournament Rules
Many tournaments follow a set of common, similar rules. These rules do not necessarily apply to play at home or online
Touch-move
If a player touches one of their own pieces they must move that piece as long as it is a legal move. If a player touches an opponent’s piece, they must capture that piece. A player who wishes to touch a piece only to adjust it on the board must first announce the intention, usually by saying “adjust”.
Introduction to Clocks and Timers
Most tournaments use timers to regulate the time spent on each game, not on each move. Each player gets the same amount of time to use for their entire game and can decide how to spend that time. Once a player makes a move they then touch a button or hit a lever to start the opponent’s clock. If a player runs out of time and the opponent calls the time, then the player who ran out of time loses the game (unless the opponent does not have enough pieces to checkmate, in which case it is a draw).
Basic Strategy
There are four simple things that every chess player should know:
#1 Protect your king
Get your king to the corner of the board where he is usually safer. Don’t put off castling. You should usually castle as quickly as possible. Remember, it doesn’t matter how close you are to checkmating your opponent if your own king is checkmated first!
#2 Don’t give pieces away
Don’t carelessly lose your pieces! Each piece is valuable and you can’t win a game without pieces to checkmate. There is an easy system that most players use to keep track of the relative value of each chess piece:
A pawn is worth 1
A knight is worth 3
A bishop is worth 3
A rook is worth 5
A queen is worth 9
The king is infinitely valuable
At the end of the game these points don’t mean anything – it is simply a system you can use to make decisions while playing, helping you know when to capture, exchange, or make other moves.
#3 Control the center
You should try and control the center of the board with your pieces and pawns. If you control the center, you will have more room to move your pieces and will make it harder for your opponent to find good squares for his pieces. In the example above white makes good moves to control the center while black plays bad moves.
#4 Use all of your pieces
In the example above white got all of his pieces in the game! Your pieces don’t do any good when they are sitting back on the first row. Try and develop all of your pieces so that you have more to use when you attack the king. Using one or two pieces to attack will not work against any decent opponent.
Getting Better at Chess
Knowing the rules and basic strategies is only the beginning - there is so much to learn in chess that you can never learn it all in a lifetime! To improve you need to do three things:
#1 – Play
Just keep playing! Play as much as possible. You should learn from each game – those you win and those you lose.
#2 – Study
If you really want to improve quickly then pick up a recommended chess book. There are many resources on Chess.com to help you study and improve.
#3 - Have fun
Don’t get discouraged if you don’t win all of your games right away. Everyone loses – even world champions. As long as you continue to have fun and learn from the games you lose then you can enjoy chess forever!
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What is the state capital and largest city of Victoria, Australia?
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The United States Chess Federation - Ten Tips To Winning Chess
The United States Chess Federation
Ten Tips To Winning Chess
February 4, 2009
by International Grandmaster Arthur Bisguier
Getting Started
Chess is a game of strategy and tactics. Each player commands an army of 16 chessmen --- pawns and other pieces (the king, queen, bishops, knights, and rooks).
A well-played chess game has three stages. In the opening, the players bring out their forces in preparation for combat. The middlegame begins as the players maneuver for position and carry out attacks and counterattacks. The final stage is the endgame when, with fewer pawns and pieces left on the board, it is safer for the kings to come out and join the final battle.
As play proceeds, each player will capture some of the opponent's men; often, the capturing pieces are immediately recaptured. As long as the piece a player gives up is generally equal to the piece he gets in return, we say the players are exchanging. If you unintentionally place a piece where it can be captured without getting a piece of equal value in return, we say that you put that piece en prise. (This is a French term that literally means "in take.") Sometimes a player may place a piece en prise in order to trick an opponent. If the opponent captures the offered man, it may leave him open to attack.
You're Ready to Go!
It's time for you to take a look at these ten tips to help you learn some simple ways to win more games:
Look at your opponent's move.
Make the best possible move.
Have a plan.
Know when to trade pieces.
Think about the endgame.
Always be alert.
Don't rush. Take your time and be sure to study the examples carefully. Then go out and practice - and have some fun!
1. Look at your opponent's move!
Every time your opponent makes a move, you should stop and think: Why was that move chosen? Is a piece in danger? Are there any other threats I should watch out for? What sort of plan does my opponent have in mind?
Only by defending against your opponent's threats will you be able to successfully carry out your own strategies. Once you figure out what your opponent is attempting to do, you can play to nip those plans in the bud.
Example A
Black to move
Pretend you're playing black in this position. White has just moved his queen to f3. What's the threat? How should you move to meet his threat?
2. Make the best possible move.
When you are considering a move, ask yourself these questions:
Will the piece I'm moving go to a better square than the one it's on now?
Can I improve my position even more by increasing the effectiveness of a different piece?
Does this move help to defend against my opponent's threats?
Will the piece I move be safe on its new square?
If it's a pawn, consider: Can I keep it protected from attack?
If it's another piece, consider: Can the enemy drive itaway, thus making me lose valuable time?
Even if your intended move has good points, it may not be the best move at that moment. Emanuel Lasker, a former world champion, said: "When you see a good move, wait---look for a better one!" Following this advice is bound to improve your chess.
Example B
White to move
You're white in this position. Black has just played cxd4 and is temporarily a pawn ahead. What's the best move you can make? Don't be too hasty!
Answer
3. Have a plan.
If you threaten something here in one move, something over there in the next move, and so forth, your opponent will have an easy time defending. Your pieces have to work together to be effective. Just imagine each instrument in an orchestra playing a different tune!
When you develop a plan, your men can work in harmony. For example, you might plan to attack your opponent's king; one piece alone probably wouldn't be able to do much, but the combined strength of several pieces makes a powerful attacking force. Another plan could be taking control of all the squares in a particular area of the board.
The chess men are your "team"; to be a good "coach," you have to use all of their strengths together.
Example C
White to move
Look at this position carefully. What would be a good plan for white? What moves would be involved in carrying out this plan?
Answer
4. Know what the pieces are worth.
When you are considering giving up some of your pieces for some of your opponent's, you should think about the values of the men, and not just how many each player possesses. The player whose men add up to a greater value will usually have the advantage. So a crucial step in making decisions is to add up the material, or value, of each player's men.
The pawn is the least valuable piece, so it is a convenient unit of measure. It moves slowly, and can never go backward.
Knights and bishops are approximately equal, worth about three pawns each. The knight is the only piece that can jump over other men. The bishops are speedier, but each one can reach only half the squares.
A rook moves quickly and can reach every square; its value is five pawns. A combination of two minor pieces (knights and bishops) can often subdue a rook.
A queen is worth nine pawns, almost as much as two rooks. It can move to the greatest number of squares in most positions.
The king can be a valuable fighter, too, but we do not evaluate its strength because it cannot be traded.
Example D
Black to move
Here's a harder problem that requires you to use several of the tips you've read about so far. Pretend you're playing black in this position. First of all, what is white's threat? Second, what move should you make to meet this threat? Finally, if white went ahead with his "threat" even after you move, what would be the result?
Answer
Example E
We know that a knight and a bishop are usually worth about the same. Which would you say is stronger in this position?
Example F
White to move
White is about to make a move here. Is the black knight strong or weak? Would it be better or worse to have a bishop on that square?
Answer
5. Develop quickly and well.
Time is a very important element of chess. The player whose men are ready for action sooner will be able to control the course of the game. If you want to be that player, you have to develop your men efficiently to powerful posts.
Many inexperienced players like to move a lot of pawns at the beginning of the game to control space on the chessboard. But you can't win with pawns alone! Since knights, bishops, rooks, and queens can move farther than pawns and threaten more distant targets, it's a good idea to bring them out soon, after you've moved enough pawns to guarantee that your stronger pieces won't be chased back by your opponent's pawns. After all the other pieces are developed, it's easier to see what pawns you should move to fit in with your plans.
It's tempting to bring the queen out very early, because it's the most powerful piece. But your opponent can chase your queen back by threatening it with less valuable pieces. Look at Example A: after 1. . . . Nf6, black threatens to drive the white queen away with either 2. . . . Nd4 or 2. . . . d6 and 3. . . . Bg4.
Instead of just moving pieces out, try to determine the best square for each piece and bring it there in as few moves as possible. This may save you from wasting moves later in the game.
6. Control the center.
In many cases, the person who controls the four squares at the center of the board will have the better game. There are simple reasons for this.
First, a piece in the center controls more of the board than one that is somewhere else. As an example, place one knight on a center square and another in one of the corners of the board. The knight in the center can move to eight different squares, while the "cornered" one only has two possible moves!
Second, control of the center provides an avenue for your pieces to travel from one side of the board to the other. To move a piece across the board, you will often have to take it through the center. If your pieces can get to the other side faster than your opponent's pieces, you will often be able to mount a successful attack there before he can bring over enough pieces to defend.
Example G
Each player has moved two knights and two pawns. Which side has better control of the center?
Answer
7. Keep your king safe.
Everyone knows that the object of the game is to checkmate the opponent's king. But sometimes a player thinks about his own plans so much that he forgets that his opponent is also king hunting!
It's generally a good idea to place your king in a safe place by castling early in the game. Once you've castled, you should be very careful about advancing the pawns near your king. They are like bodyguards; the farther away they go, the easier it is for your opponent's pieces to get close to your king. (For this reason, it's often good to try to force your opponent to move the pawns near his king.)
Example I
We've learned many important objectives: advantage in material, better development, control of the center, and now king safety. Which of these is the most important?
Answer
8. Know when to trade pieces.
The best time to trade men is when you can capture men worth more than the ones you will be giving up, which is called "winning material"But the opportunity to do this may not arise if your opponent is very careful.
Since you will probably have many chances to exchange men on an "even" basis, it's useful to know when you should or shouldn't do this. There are several important considerations.
As a general rule, if you have the initiative (your pieces are better developed, and you're controlling the game), try not to exchange men unless it increases your advantage in some clear way. The fewer men each player has, the weaker the attacking player's threats become, and the easier it is for the defending side to meet these threats.
Another time not to trade pieces is when your opponent has a cramped position with little space for the pieces to maneuver. It's tough to move a lot of pieces around in a cramped position, but easier to move just a few.
One sort of advantage you can often gain by trading pieces is a weakening of your opponent's pawn structure. If, for example, you can capture with a piece that your opponent can only recapture in a way that will give him doubled pawns it will often be to your advantage to make that trade.
The player who is ahead in material will usually benefit from trades. It's sort of like basketball or soccer; five players will sometimes have trouble scoring against four opposing players, but take away three from each side and the stronger team will find it easier to score with two players against one.
So, to summarize: It's usually good to trade pieces if your opponent has the initiative, if you have a cramped position, if you can weaken your opponent's pawn structure, or if you are ahead in material. There are exceptions, of course, but following these rules should bring you considerable success.
9. Think about the endgame.
From the time the game begins, you should remember that every move you make may affect your chances in the endgame. For instance, in the earlier parts of the game, a knight and a bishop are about equally powerful. Toward the end of the game, though, when there are fewer men in the way, the bishop can exert its influence in all parts of the board at once, while the knight still takes a long time to get anywhere. So before you trade a bishop for a knight, think not just about the next few moves but also about the endgame.
Pawn structure is crucial in the endgame. When you capture one of your opponent's men with a pawn, you'll often create an open file that will help your rooks and queen to reach your opponent's side of the board, but you may also get doubled pawns. Since doubled pawns cannot defend each other, they are liability in the endgame. If your opponent survives the middlegame, you may have an uphill fight later.
Concentrate on your immediate plans, as well as your opponent's---but always keep the endgame in mind!
Example J
From the very first moves of the game, it's important to have a good pawn formation. How would you assess white's pawn structure in this position?
Answer
Example K
In the endgame, it's common to see a pawn run to the end of the board and promoted to a queen. So, pawns are a great thing to hang on to. Study this diagram. Who has the "healthier" pawns, white or black?
Answer
10. Always be alert.
There is a tendency for people to relax once they have reached a good position or to give up hope if their position is very bad. These attitudes are natural, but both lead to bad results.
Many players---even world champions---have achieved winning positions, only to lose because they relaxed too soon. Even the best position won't win by itself; you have to give it some help! In almost any position, the "losing" player will still be able to make threats. The "winning" player has to be alert enough to prevent these positions.
Advice: If you have a better position, watch out! One careless move could throw away your hard-won advantage. Even as you're carrying out your winning plans, you must watch out for your opponent's threats.
Conversely, if you have a worse position, don't give up! Keep making strong moves, and try to complicate the position as much as possible. If your opponent slips, you may get the chance to make a comeback. Remember: Where there's life, there's hope.
So be alert all the time, no matter what the position is like. A little bit of extra care can pay off in a big way.
Example L
Black to move
Pretend that you're the general of the black army in the position shown above. You have, as you can see, an easily won game---since you are four pawns ahead. But white has just moved his knight to e5. This looks like a silly move, since you could capture this knight with your own knight or with your queen.
But look again. Don't relax because you're winning too easily! If you captured white's knight with your knight, what would be his best (and surprising) move?
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i don't know
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What is the traditional name for a women's shoe held in place by a strap behind the ankle above the heel?
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Glossary of Terms - Clarks® Shoes Official Site
Glossary of Terms
Desert Boot History
Glossary of Terms
Shoes designed specifically for athletic activities, such as walking, running, hiking, and more.
Aglet
The closure at the end of a shoelace, typically constructed from metal or plastic in the form of a sheath.
Air circulation system
A Clarks-exclusive technology, the air circulation system pulls in fresh air from outside the shoe while interior air channels draw away warm, moist air from the foot.
Ankle Boot
A boot with a height no taller than the wearer's ankle.
Ankle strap
A strap on a shoe that spans across the wearer's ankle.
APMA
Acronym indicating the American Podiatric Medical Association, an organization promoting foot and ankle health.
Apron front
A decorative piece for the front of a shoe that features distinctive stitches, edging, or similar ornamental features.
Arch
The section of a foot's sole that is high and curved, situated between the ball and heel; or the section of a shoe (typically part of the insole) that provides support to the arch portion of the foot.
A vertical seam spanning the center of the back of a shoe or boot.
Ball
The padded section of the foot between the big toe and the arch.
Ballet flat
A flat shoe designed in the style of a ballet slipper.
Balmoral shoe
A shoe style featuring laces across a V-shape panel on the upper.
Berber
A textile used for shoe and boot linings featuring a fluffy, soft pile, favored for its warm insulating properties.
Biker boot
Designed for protection from the elements during motorcycle rides, biker boots feature thick and durable leather, a low heel, and shaft height ranging from 10 to 14 inches.
Blucher
A shoe whose vamp and tongue are constructed from one piece of material, laced with overlapping side flaps across the instep.
Boat shoe
A moccasin-style shoe featuring a rubber sole that prevents slipping or skidding.
Bootie
A shoe that's styled like a boot but lacks a boot's height.
Boot
Full-coverage footwear that extends to the ankle at minimum, and may go as high as the wearer's thigh.
Brannock device
A foot measuring device that determines a foot's overall size, incorporating length and width specifications.
Brogue
A shoe designed in an oxford style with perforation and pinking details.
Brush-off leather
Leather that has been treated to create an antique finish.
Buckle
A clasp situated at one end of a strap, made of a rectangular or curved rim with a movable tongue, which fastens to the other end of the same strap or to a corresponding strap.
Buffed leather
A shoe featuring an upper stitched to a sole wrap and the insole, wrapped around a soft midsole, then bonded to a thin outsole.
Canvas
A heavy-weight cloth made from cotton, hemp, or linen.
Cap toe
Also known as a tip, an extra piece of leather used to cover the toe of a shoe.
Cement construction
Construction featuring the upper directly adhered to the outsole via a bonding agent.
Center seam
A stitched seam running from the toe of the shoe to the tongue (see Clarks Desert Trek).
Chukka boot
A lace-up ankle-height boot with a plain toe and minimal adornment.
Circumference
A boot measurement taken at the widest section near the top of the shaft.
Clarks Active Air
A Clarks-exclusive technology, Active Air is an interior shoe air chamber and channel system that enables air to move under and around the foot, absorbs shock, and conserves energy.
Clarks Active Air Vent
A Clarks-exclusive technology, Active Air Vent features an inner-shoe air circulation system that replaces all air in the shoe with every 10 steps.
Clarks Plus™
A Clarks-exclusive technology, Clarks Plus™ features intelligent underfoot cushioning to help restore and support natural foot positioning.
Clarks Originals®
Building off historic designs from Lance and Nathan Clark, Clarks Originals® feature classic shoes and boots such as the Desert Boot, Wallabee, and other timeless styles.
Clarks Unstructured®
A Clarks-exclusive collection, Unstructured® shoes combine four key elements: softness, flexibility, lightness and climate control.
Clarks WAVEWALK™
A Clarks-exclusive collection, WAVEWALK™ shoes enhance walking with curved soles to encourage forward motion, all while reducing shock impact.
Clog
A shoe with a thick platform sole, open back, and closed toe.
Cobblers Collection
Premium leather Bostonian classic dress shoes made in Italy.
Collar
Also known as a rim or top line, the area of the shoe that is furthest away from the outsole; the place where the foot enters the shoe.
Combination last
A last where the ball and heel are different widths, with the heel typically narrower than a standard last.
Contour footbed
A shoe featuring an insole that conforms to the shape of the wearer's foot.
Cordovan
A fine-grade leather typically made from horsehide.
Corner stitch construction
Construction where the upper is attached directly to the outsole at its edges.
Counter
The back of the shoe, above the sole, that cradles the wearer's heel.
Crepe rubber
Designed by Nathan Clark, the iconic Desert Boot features an ankle height, a crepe sole, and top-quality leathers, suedes, or textiles in a variety of colors.
Desert Trek
A classic Clarks design featuring a stitched center seam, a crepe outsole, and top-performance leathers, suedes, or textiles in a variety of colors and finishes.
Direct inject construction
Construction where the sole is fused directly to the upper at the point in the manufacturing process when polyurethane is in a molten state.
Distressed leather
Leather that has been treated to have a weathered/broken-in look, while still maintaining quality material standards.
Distressed suede
Suede that has been treated to have a weathered/broken-in look, while still maintaining quality material standards.
Driliex
A fabric hybrid of nylon and polyester polymers engineered to reduce moisture within a shoe and maintain dry, comfortable feet.
Driving moccasin
A flexible moccasin or slip-on shoe with a pedal-grip sole and wrap-around heel, ideal for driving or light activities.
Synthetic material constructed to resemble real fur.
Faux suede
Synthetic material constructed to resemble real suede.
Fisherman sandal
A closed-toe men's sandal featuring straps woven both horizontally and vertically.
Flat
A shoe with a flat heel or no heel.
Flex grooves
Indentations or grooves on the outsole of a shoe that enable the shoe to bend with the foot.
Flip-flop
A thong-style sandal featuring a band between the big- and second toe.
Footbed
Also known as an insole, a part of the shoe's interior designed to provide a layer of cushioning and to absorb moisture away from the foot.
Forefoot
The portion of the foot between the ball and toes.
Foxing bands
Rubber strips that unite the upper and sole of a shoe, typically part of athletic shoe construction.
Full grained leather
Boot-style waterproof shoes, traditionally made out of rubber, that protect the feet from wet weather.
Gladiator
A flat sandal with several straps across the vamp holding the sole to the foot, as well as a circular strap around the ankle.
Gore
Elastic panel stitched into the side of a shoe's vamp for easy on/off.
GORE-TEX®
A polytetrafluoroethylene-based waterproof and breathable material often used in outdoor shoes and boots.
Grain leather
Leather in its original state with the grain being intact; see also "full grained leather".
Gusset
A small piece of material, usually triangular in shape, inserted into a shoe to improve overall fit.
The cords or string placed through a shoe's eyelets for closure and tightening over the foot.
Lace-up
A shoe featuring laces for closure.
Lambskin
Leather derived from the skins of young sheep.
Last
The wood or plastic foot form over which a shoe is made, used to determine shape, size, silhouette, width, and fit.
Leather
The hide of an animal prepped for use through hair removal, tanning, and preservation techniques.
Leather upper
A shoe where all parts stitched to the sole are constructed from leather.
Lift
A layer of leather or leatherboard used to construct a shoe's heel.
Lining
A buffer between the foot and inner seams of the shoe, typically made from leather, which also wicks away moisture.
Loafer
A slip-on shoe, similar to a moccasin, constructed without closures.
Lug outsole
Designed for durability, this outsole is constructed out of rubber, features treads, and tends to be heavy in weight.
Lycra
A low-heeled or flat shoe with a strap across the instep.
Mesh
An open-texture knit or woven fabric.
Metallic leather
Leather finished in a metallic hue, such as gold, silver, bronze, and similar tones.
Metatarsal arch
The top section of the foot covering the metatarsal bones.
Metatarsal bones
The five long bones between the foot's instep and toes used to propel the body forward when walking or running.
Microfiber
A thin, yet strong, synthetic fiber used in textiles.
Microsuede
A nonsolvent polyester microfiber manufactured to resemble suede.
Mid-calf boot
A boot with a height no taller than the middle of the wearer's calf.
Midsole
The thin layer of material between the outsole and insole, designed to absorb shock and ease the walking motion.
Moc toe
A shoe featuring a toe that resembles the toe in a standard moccasin.
Moccasin
A slip-on shoe where the sole is formed from one piece of leather stitched around a last.
Moccasin construction
Construction featuring one piece of smooth leather, wrapped under the foot and stitched to a leather plug on the vamp, with its outsole stitched or cemented to the upper.
Monk strap
A blucher-style shoe with a wide strap across the instep featuring a buckle at the exterior side.
Mudguard
A piece of material affixed to the upper of a shoe to protect against water, mud, and other weather elements.
Mule
Leather that has been finished to a hard, glossy surface, then coated with varnish or enamel.
Pebbled grain
Leather that has been embossed to resemble a pebbly surface.
Peep-toe sandal
A sandal with a partially closed front, typically with a cut out revealing two or more toes.
Penny loafer
A slip-on shoe featuring a strip of material over the instep; the material typically features a slot, where pennies traditionally are placed for good luck.
Perforation
Small holes, used for decorative or air circulation purposes, patterned across a shoe's trim.
Pile
Fabric yarns that stand out or up from the textile's weave.
Piping
A strip of decorative material that traces the seam around the sole.
Pitch
The angle of the rear part of the heel where it meets the sole.
Plain toe
Shoes without any design or ornamentation on the toe.
Plantation crepe
Frequently used in Clarks Originals® footwear, plantation crepe refers to lightweight, durable natural rubber often used to construct soles.
Platform
A style with a thick sole at the front of the shoe and a high heel to compensate for the additional front sole height.
Polished leather
Leather that has been processed to create a high shine; see also "glazed leather".
Polyurethane (PU)
A thermoplastic polymer used for padding and insulation.
Printed leather
Leather that has been mechanically textured to enhance the surface appearance.
Pump
Boots made of weatherproof materials, ideal for wear on inclement days.
Riding boot
An equestrian-style boot, typically knee-high, with buckle detailing and a minimal heel.
Rim
Also known as a collar or top line, the area of the shoe that is furthest away from the outsole; the place where the foot enters the shoe.
Rocker
A rounded-heel shoe with a thicker-than-average sole.
Rubber
A natural material derived from rubber trees, commonly used in constructing shoe soles.
Ruched leather
Leather that has been pleated or gathered for decorative purposes.
Run-off blucher
A parallel seam running over the shoe's toe, similar to a bike toe.
Run-off toe
An oxford shoe with a saddle-style material across the vamp, usually in a different color from the rest of the shoe.
Sandal
An open-toed, open-back shoe, ideal for warm climates, held to the foot with a thong or straps.
Shaft
A boot measurement taken from mid-arch, up the interior of the boot, to the top of the boot shaft.
Shank
Designed to support the arch and provide stability, the shank is typically made from a thin strip of steel or polycarbonate and placed between the outsole and midsole.
Shearling leather
Typically used as a liner for cold-weather shoes and boots, shearling leather is sheepskin or lambskin with the wool still attached.
Sheepskin
Material made from the hide of a sheep.
Shoe horn
A curved device, inserted at the heel, that makes it easier to put a shoe on a foot.
Shoelaces
A string or cord, strung through eyelets, used to fasten a shoe.
Shoes
The external coverings or apparel for human feet constructed of a sole and an upper that extends to the ankle.
Shootie
The hybrid style between shoe and bootie, featuring traditional boot styling with height lower than the ankle.
Sipes
The pattern in the outsoles of outdoor shoes that prevents water retention and slipping.
Skimmer
Shoes made in the style of a ballet flat, with a very flat heel and short vamp.
Slide
An open-toed, open-back shoe with a band across the toe.
Slingback
A shoe held to the foot with a strap behind the heel, typically fastened with a buckle.
Slip last
A construction method which stitches the upper of the shoe that is slipped onto a last, closing the upper with stitches down the center, under the foot, before gluing it to the midsole.
Slip-on
A shoe that's worn by sliding the foot into it, without any need for closures or fasteners to adjust the fit.
Slipper
A shoe intended primarily for indoor wear and lined for warmth.
Snuffed leather
The inner sole of a shoe (usually removable).
Sole
The bottom portion of a shoe, excluding the heel.
Split leather
Leather made from the lower layers of a given hide that have been split away from the other layers or grain.
Stacked heel
A heel constructed of leather or leawood covering designed to resemble wood.
Stitchdown construction
Construction where the upper is stitched directly to an insole board, which is then cemented to the outsole.
Strobel construction
Construction featuring the upper attached to a sock liner which is then applied to the outsole.
Suede
Leather that has been buffed on its flesh side to raise the nap.
Synthetic materials
The process of turning raw animal hides into finished leathers.
Tap
A partial sole (typically leather or metal) attached over a shoe's existing sole.
Tassel
Ornamentation constructed from a knot and cascading cords, strands, or threads.
Thermo plastic rubber
A material constructed from a mixture of rubber and plastic.
Thong
A sandal held to the foot primarily via a V-shaped leather or fabric that rests between the big and second toe, attached to the shoe near the instep or ankle.
Throat
The primary opening of a shoe, usually placed between the vamp and ankle.
Tip
Also known as a cap, an extra piece of leather used to cover the toe of a shoe.
Toggle laces
Elastic laces featuring a slide toggle, often used in athletic/outdoor slip-on styles.
Tongue
Traditionally made from leather, the tongue is attached at the vamp, extending upward under the lacing to buffer the instep.
Tread
Designed by Lance Clark, this Clarks Originals® moccasin originated in the 1960s and features a nature-formed last and plantation crepe outsole.
Wallabee boot
A boot version of the popular Wallabee, this Clarks Originals® style also features moccasin styling, a nature-formed last, and plantation crepe outsole.
Waterproof
Shoes and boots constructed out of impermeable materials that allow feet to stay dry and protected from the elements.
Waxy leather
Leather where a surface treatment is used to develop a broken-in, well-worn appearance.
Wedge
A heel extending from the ball of the shoe to the rear of the shoe, following the natural contour of the wearer's foot.
Wellington
A particular style of pull-on rain boot, usually made of rubber, ideal for wet-weather wear.
Welt
A piece of leather placed between the outsole and insole for ornamentation or to improve the shoe's strength.
Wide width
A shoe with a wider volume by a pre-determined increase in ball girth measurement (e.g., men's shoes are 7/16" for wide width, 13/16" for extra-wide width).
Width
A shoe measurement taken from the ball of the foot, determined in 1/6" increments.
Wing tip
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Slingback
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'Light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation' is better known by what modern word?
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Clogs Sandals - Shop for Clogs Sandals on Polyvore
clogs sandals
$945 marissacollections.com
506
90MM Patterned Wood Clog5" Clog Heel With Rounded Toe And Brocade StrapRhinestone Floral Detail Ankle Wrap Strap With Rhinestone Floral Buckle ClosureLeather And Fabric Upper, Insole And SoleMade In Italy With European SizingAvailable In Maiolica
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$120 zappos.com
2
The Ledella Meg is part of the Clarks Artisan Collection. Clarks really hit the nail on the head when they created this beauty of a clog! Leather upper with nail-head accents and braided leather detail for added appeal. Easy slip-on design. Soft synthetic lining. Clarks CushionPlus with suede-covered OrthoLite footbed adds comfort to every step. Flexible, wood-grain platform. Durable PU outsole. Imported. Measurements: Heel Height: 3 in Weight: 13 oz Platform Height: 1 1 4 in Product measurements were taken using size 8.5, width B - Medium. Please note that measurements may vary by size.
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$263 $377 matchesfashion.com
318
The looks in Proenza Schouler's Pre-AW16 presentation were elevated on wooden heels. Tap the look with these clog-inspired slides. The foot is delicately held in place by a studded front strap made of black suede, and elevated by a coordinating tonal block heel. Watch them expertly act as anchor to refined yet relaxed looks.
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$338 $450 bloomingdales.com
453
True blues in rich suede channel vintage vibes in Sigerson Morrison's wooden platform sandals, finished with antiqued studs for an artful finish.
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$188 zappos.com
2
Start your day off feeling great in these extraordinary platform sandals! Genuine top grain leather upper features stitching detail at toe. Single ankle strap with buckle closure. Closed toe silhouette. Lining and insole made of leather. Wooden platform and heel. Rubber sole. Imported. Measurements: Heel Height: 3 1 2 in Weight: 13 oz Platform Height: 1 1 4 in Product measurements were taken using size 40 (US Women's 9), width M. Please note that measurements may vary by size.
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$285 neimanmarcus.com
4
See by Chloe frayed denim sandal. 4.5 cork wedge heel. 2 platform; 2.5 equiv. Crisscross vamp strap. Rubber outsole. Slide-on style. Curnved is imported.
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$120 zappos.com
4
The Ledella Meg is part of the Clarks Artisan Collection. Clarks really hit the nail on the head when they created this beauty of a clog! Leather upper with nail-head accents and braided leather detail for added appeal. Easy slip-on design. Soft synthetic lining. Clarks CushionPlus with suede-covered OrthoLite footbed adds comfort to every step. Flexible, wood-grain platform. Durable PU outsole. Imported. Measurements: Heel Height: 3 in Weight: 13 oz Platform Height: 1 1 4 in Product measurements were taken using size 8.5, width B - Medium. Please note that measurements may vary by size.
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$179 $449 stylebop.com
775
The perfect pairing partner for '70s-inspired looks, Dsquared2's clog bottom platforms feature wear everywhere black leather. We're teaming them with everything from peasant dresses to directional denim * Black leather, buckled back strap, studded clog construction * Wooden platform sole unit, traction sole * Pair with wide leg culottes and an embroidered peasant blouse
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$495 barneys.com
2
Alexander Wang's black smooth leather Maya clog sandals are styled at the vamp with a silvertone oversized buckle. 2.00\"/50mm heel, 1.25\"/30mm platform (approximately). Open toe. Wooden platform and chunky heel. Polished silvertone hardware. Slips on. Ergonomic wooden footbed. Rubber sole. Available in Black. Made in Spain.
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$345 bergdorfgoodman.com
1
See by Chloe frayed canvas clog sandal. 3.5 notched wedge heel. 2.5 platform; 1 equiv. Crisscross vamp straps. Adjustable leather ankle strap. Adele is imported.
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1
Free shipping on all orders over $100
Rachel Comey brings a '70s retro aesthetic to this open-toe sandal cut from patent leather and topped with a quarter strap. A wooden platform and chunky heel make it a versatile choice for your summer wardrobe. 3 1/2 (88mm) heel; 1 3/4 platform (size 8.5). Adjustable strap with buckle closure. Leather upper and lining/rubber sole
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$435 selfridges.com
1
French fashion designer Isabel Marant has made a name for herself when it comes to footwear thanks to her innate understanding of nonchalance. Bohemian yet effortlessly so, the Zipla suede clog sandals display the aesthetic with a natural wooden platform sole and interweaving crisscross panels in leather trimmed suede. Silver toned studs add definition to the leather outline for a pair that’s destined to be your summer go to. Isabel Marant suede clog sandalsSlip onOpen toe, wooden platform wedge. studded metallic silver leather trim, crisscross straps and cutoutsSuede and leather upper, leather lining, natural wooden platform, rubber soleHeel height 3"Made in Italy Size: EUR 37 / 4 UK WOMEN. Color: Black. Gender: Female. Age Group: Adult.
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$135 snobswap.com
1
Size: 8.5color: beige,gold,orange,made in: perufabric content: upper: leather; insole: leather; outsole: synthetic, wooditem specifics & details: retails for $380. A spring and summer staple, ""dekalb""features a round toe, a buckled ankle strap, and a wooden block heel and platform.measurements*:insole length: 10""insole width: 3""outsole length: approx. 10.5""outsole width: approx. 2.75""platform height: 1""heel height: 4.5""*please refer to measurements above as the item may have been alteredcondition: new in box. Please note this item comes to you directly from a high-end boutique. Authenticity guaranteed. This item is in great condition. No visible signs of trying on.sku: 205887
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$475 saksfifthavenue.com
3
Leather ankle-strap platform clog with oversized studs. Wooden clog wedge heel, 4" (100mm). Wooden platform, 2" (50mm). Compares to a 2" heel (50mm). Leather upper. Peep toe. Snap ankle strap. Leather lining. Rubber sole. Made in Italy. - Hester Leather Ankle-Strap Wedge Clog Sandals
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$135 snobswap.com
1
Size: 10color: beige,gold,orange,made in: perufabric content: upper: leather; insole: leather; outsole: synthetic, wooditem specifics & details: retails for $380. A spring and summer staple, ""dekalb""features a round toe, a buckled ankle strap, and a wooden block heel and platform.measurements*:insole length: 10""insole width: 3""outsole length: approx. 11""outsole width: approx. 3""platform height: 1""heel height: 4.5""*please refer to measurements above as the item may have been alteredcondition: new in box. Please note this item comes to you directly from a high-end boutique. Authenticity guaranteed. This item is in great condition. Faint scratches throughout uppers. No other visible signs of trying on.sku: 205891
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$158 lordandtaylor.com
75
Retro design with studded accents and ankle climbing straps.Wooden heel height, 4.5".Platform height, 2".Compares to a 2.5" heel.Leather upper.Ankle buckle closure.Rubber sole.Imported. - Sigerson Morrison Quella Wooden Platform Leather Clog Sandals
amazon.com
8
Free Express Shipping + Returns
Buffed leather clog-style slip-on sandals in black. Open square toe. Pin-buckle accent at strap. Tonal wood midsole. Tonal rubber sole. Silver-tone hardware. Tonal stitching. Approx. 2 heel, 1.25 platform.
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$795 1stdibs.com
11
Versace Turn Heads On Vacation In These Iconic Barocco High-Heeled Clog Sandals.Leather Sole.Leather: Calfskin.Made In Italy.Measurements:Heel: 5.5 In / 140 MmPlatform: 2 In / 50 Mm It Size 37.5 - Us 7.5Made In ItalyNew
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$130 onlineshoes.com
1
Sweeping crossed straps at the vamp lend a vintage look to the charming Dansko Jacinda clog sandal. Featuring an upper of durable full grain leather with a contrast heel strap for a pop of color and a snug fit, this women's clog has a leather lining for interior comfort, as well as a foot-conforming memory foam footbed with a leather covering for comfort and support.
amazon.com
$130 shoes.com
1
Sweeping crossed straps at the vamp lend a vintage look to the charming Dansko Jacinda clog sandal. Featuring an upper of durable full grain leather with a contrast heel strap for a pop of color and a snug fit, this women's clog has a leather lining for interior comfort, as well as a foot-conforming memory foam footbed with a leather covering for comfort and support.
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$395 therealreal.com
1
In Stores Now. Black leather Saint Laurent clog sandals with crossover top straps featuring silver-tone stud embellishments, wooden heels and rubber soles.
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$115 shoebuy.com
19
This Herringbone design features a stapled construction on high 3 inch heel on a lightweight wooden foot bed, earth friendly non-slip rubber bottom. They will give any outfit a springtime punch up.
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$69 currentboutique.com
1
Size 8.5 M Gold Slip On Clog Sandals Rubber soles Very light wear on outsoles Leather upper Some minor scratches on leather upper Leather lining Some discoloration on leather lining Gold studs Platform Height 1.25" Heel Height 2.25"Shoe designer Stuart Weitzmanstrademarkuse of unique materials (e.g.corkvinyllucitewallpaper and 24-karatgold) and his attention to detail garnered him and his company a global following. His shoes are sold in over 70 countries. These shoes are for those looking to make a statement and spruce up any outfit.
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$249 zappos.com
1
Secure your chic style with this '70s-inspired Swedish Hasbeens clog! Natural grained leather upper. Ankle strap with adjustable buckle closure. Synthetic insole. Lime tree wooden platform and heel. Rubber sole. Made in Sweden. Measurements: Heel Height: 3 1 2 in Weight: 10 oz Platform Height: 1 in Product measurements were taken using size 39 (US Women's 9), width B - Medium. Please note that measurements may vary by size.
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$120 onlineshoes.com
1
Comfort takes on feminine polish in the Dansko Sophie clog sandal, part of the Dansko Sausalito collection. This women's slide sandal boasts a full grain leather or patent leather upper with dual instep straps and adjustable buckle closures for a customized fit. Featuring perforated arch support, the leather-covered footbed sits atop shock-absorbing latex foam and an EVA insert for lasting comfort; midsole coring lightens the weight. The Dri-Lex lining creates a healthy, breathable environment. A steel shank provides support, while a beveled heel enhances stability. The Dansko Sophie sandal has a polyurethane sole with forefoot flex grooves and a curved forepart for push-off and momentum.
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$130 shoes.com
1
Sweeping crossed straps at the vamp lend a vintage look to the charming Dansko Jacinda clog sandal. Featuring an upper of durable full grain leather with a contrast heel strap for a pop of color and a snug fit, this women's clog has a leather lining for interior comfort, as well as a foot-conforming memory foam footbed with a leather covering for comfort and support.
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$360 $890 saksoff5th.com
1
A naturalistic, wooden midsole grounds this chunky 70's-inspired sandal, balancing the graphic contrast between its soft, wide-set suede straps and its graphic python-wrapped heel. Python-covered heel, 5" (125mm). Covered platform, 1.25" (30mm). Compares to a 3.75" heel (95mm). Suede and python upper. Adjustable ankle strap. Leather lining and sole. Padded insole. Made in Brazil. - Peggy Suede & Python Platform Clog Sandals
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$345 bergdorfgoodman.com
3
See by Chloe frayed canvas clog sandal. 3.5 notched wedge heel. 2.5 platform; 1 equiv. Crisscross vamp straps. Adjustable leather ankle strap. Adele is imported.
amazon.com
$560 barneys.com
8
Crafted of dark brown suede, Isabel Marant's Zipla clog sandals are styled with a wooden platform wedge trimmed with studded metallic bronze leather. 3\"/75mm heel, 2\"/50mm platform (approximately). Open toe. Crisscross straps and cutouts at vamp. Natural wooden platform wedge. Bronze metallic leather trim. Silvertone studs. Slides on. Lined with leather. Leather footbed. Rubber crepe sole. Available in Dark Brown/Bronze. Imported.
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$249 $830 saksfifthavenue.com
37
Tie-back suede sandal on wood sole and wrapped heel. Suede-covered block heel, 4" (100mm). Wooden platform, 1" (25mm). Compareas to a 3" heel (75mm). Suede upper. Peep toe. Back tie. Leather lining. Leather and wooden sole. Padded insole. Made in Italy. - Suede Tie-Back Clog Sandals
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$130 onlineshoes.com
1
An undulating rocker sole gives a graceful shape and effortless stride to the Dansko Jessie clog sandal. Featuring an upper of full-grain leather with adjustable instep and vamp straps for a snug fit, this women's clog has a breathable leather lining for interior comfort, while the lightweight polyurethane sole offers stable support and efficient movement.
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$130 shoes.com
1
Sweeping crossed straps at the vamp lend a vintage look to the charming Dansko Jacinda clog sandal. Featuring an upper of durable full grain leather with a contrast heel strap for a pop of color and a snug fit, this women's clog has a leather lining for interior comfort, as well as a foot-conforming memory foam footbed with a leather covering for comfort and support.
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$75 $150 abercrombie.com
1
Introducing one of Our Favorite Brands, Swedish Hasbeens, creating cool and quirky clogs with effortless 70s style. Featuring a low and comfy sole and pretty ankle strap, the Debutant Sandal adds a flirty and feminine finishing touch to any outfit. 7 cm/ 2.8 inches
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$360 $840 saksoff5th.com
1
A naturalistic, wooden midsole grounds this chunky 70's-inspired sandal, balancing the richly textural contrast between its soft, wide-set suede straps and its watersnake-wrapped heel. Watersnake-covered heel, 5" (125mm). Covered platform, 1.25" (30mm). Compares to a 3.75" heel (95mm). Suede and watersnake upper. Adjustable ankle strap. Leather lining and sole. Padded insole. Made in Brazil. - Peggy Suede & Watersnake Platform Clog Sandals
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$175 orchardmile.com
4
We're have a thing for clogs. These slides have major 70s vibes with a wooden platform and heel, luxe suede body and evenly placed studs on the edges. Clink-and-clonk on. Leather UpperRubber Sole3.5" heelImported
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$995 neimanmarcus.com
15
Alexander McQueen clog sandal in floral-embroidered suede with nailhead detail. Stacked wedge heel with rocker platform. Slingback with square buckle.
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$2,000 1stdibs.com
4
These Are A New Pair Of Collectible Louis Vuitton Runway 2010 Rosa Sandal In Grained Calf Leather With Fringe And Purple Metal Heel With Louis Vuitton Engraved. Made In ItalySize 38 1/2 Height: 4″This Clog-Sandal In Grained Calf Leather Features A High Metallic Heel, Golden Brass Rivets And Swinging Tassels. Never Worn, Tried On, Walked Around And Put On The Shelf.
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$120 onlineshoes.com
1
You'll always come out on top in the Dansko Sam clog sandal. This women's closed-toe sandal boasts a supple, full grain leather upper with an adjustable buckle closure on the ankle strap for a customized fit. Featuring perforated arch support, the leather-covered footbed sits atop shock-absorbing latex foam and an EVA insert for lasting comfort; midsole coring lightens the weight. The Dri-Lex lining creates a healthy, breathable environment. The Dansko Sam open-back clog has is finished with a rocker bottom for forward motion and a slip-resistant polyurethane sole for traction to keep you on the go and looking your best.
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$120 shoes.com
1
Comfort takes on feminine polish in the Dansko Sophie clog sandal, part of the Dansko Sausalito collection. This women's slide sandal boasts a full grain leather or patent leather upper with dual instep straps and adjustable buckle closures for a customized fit. Featuring perforated arch support, the leather-covered footbed sits atop shock-absorbing latex foam and an EVA insert for lasting comfort; midsole coring lightens the weight. The Dri-Lex lining creates a healthy, breathable environment. A steel shank provides support, while a beveled heel enhances stability. The Dansko Sophie sandal has a polyurethane sole with forefoot flex grooves and a curved forepart for push-off and momentum.
More info
$249 zappos.com
1
Secure your chic style with this '70s-inspired Swedish Hasbeens clog! Natural grained leather upper. Ankle strap with adjustable buckle closure. Synthetic insole. Lime tree wooden platform and heel. Rubber sole. Made in Sweden. Measurements: Heel Height: 3 1 2 in Weight: 10 oz Platform Height: 1 in Product measurements were taken using size 39 (US Women's 9), width B - Medium. Please note that measurements may vary by size.
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$195 orchardmile.com
4
Yup, clogs. These feel a little more city girl, a little less milkmaid with a luxe suede body, silver studs, grommets and a silver buckle. Clink-and-clonk on. Oiled Suede Leather Upper Rubber Sole Wood Heel 2" Heel Imported
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$120 onlineshoes.com
1
You'll always come out on top in the Dansko Sam clog sandal. This women's closed-toe sandal boasts a supple, full grain leather upper with an adjustable buckle closure on the ankle strap for a customized fit. Featuring perforated arch support, the leather-covered footbed sits atop shock-absorbing latex foam and an EVA insert for lasting comfort; midsole coring lightens the weight. The Dri-Lex lining creates a healthy, breathable environment. The Dansko Sam open-back clog has is finished with a rocker bottom for forward motion and a slip-resistant polyurethane sole for traction to keep you on the go and looking your best.
More info
$130 shoes.com
1
Sweeping crossed straps at the vamp lend a vintage look to the charming Dansko Jacinda clog sandal. Featuring an upper of durable full grain leather with a contrast heel strap for a pop of color and a snug fit, this women's clog has a leather lining for interior comfort, as well as a foot-conforming memory foam footbed with a leather covering for comfort and support.
More info
$140 backcountry.com
32
Discover fine art museums and visit historical sites in the Birkenstock Women's Boston Soft Footbed Narrow Sandal. As the signature slip-on clog from Birkenstock, the Boston features a simple, yet sophisticated design. An adjustable strap lets you customize the clog's fit to your foot. The contoured cork footbed has an extra layer of soft foam cushioning to keep your feet comfortable whether you're wandering the Freedom Trail or relaxing in the park.
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$120 onlineshoes.com
1
Comfort takes on feminine polish in the Dansko Sophie clog sandal, part of the Dansko Sausalito collection. This women's slide sandal boasts a full grain leather or patent leather upper with dual instep straps and adjustable buckle closures for a customized fit. Featuring perforated arch support, the leather-covered footbed sits atop shock-absorbing latex foam and an EVA insert for lasting comfort; midsole coring lightens the weight. The Dri-Lex lining creates a healthy, breathable environment. A steel shank provides support, while a beveled heel enhances stability. The Dansko Sophie sandal has a polyurethane sole with forefoot flex grooves and a curved forepart for push-off and momentum.
More info
$130 shoes.com
1
An undulating rocker sole gives a graceful shape and effortless stride to the Dansko Jessie clog sandal. Featuring an upper of full-grain leather with adjustable instep and vamp straps for a snug fit, this women's clog has a breathable leather lining for interior comfort, while the lightweight polyurethane sole offers stable support and efficient movement.
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$119 $228 revolve.com
58
Into the Patchwork Cow Hair Clog Leather, suede, and dyed cow hair upper with rubber sole. Fur Origin: Spain. Wrap ankle with tie closure. Patchwork detail. Heel measures approx 4" H. Platform measures approx 1.5" H.
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$114 $229 azaleasf.com
5
Leather cross vamp wooden clog sandals. Vegetable tanned leather. Handcrafted. Adjustable ankle strap with metal buckle fastening. - 9cm Heel- Cow Leather- Made in France
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$175 orchardmile.com
3
We're have a thing for clogs. These slides have major 70s vibes with a wooden platform and heel, luxe suede body and evenly placed studs on the edges. Clink-and-clonk on. Leather UpperRubber Sole3.5" heelImported
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$130 onlineshoes.com
1
Sweeping crossed straps at the vamp lend a vintage look to the charming Dansko Jacinda clog sandal. Featuring an upper of durable full grain leather with a contrast heel strap for a pop of color and a snug fit, this women's clog has a leather lining for interior comfort, as well as a foot-conforming memory foam footbed with a leather covering for comfort and support.
More info
$120 shoes.com
1
Comfort takes on feminine polish in the Dansko Sophie clog sandal, part of the Dansko Sausalito collection. This women's slide sandal boasts a full grain leather or patent leather upper with dual instep straps and adjustable buckle closures for a customized fit. Featuring perforated arch support, the leather-covered footbed sits atop shock-absorbing latex foam and an EVA insert for lasting comfort; midsole coring lightens the weight. The Dri-Lex lining creates a healthy, breathable environment. A steel shank provides support, while a beveled heel enhances stability. The Dansko Sophie sandal has a polyurethane sole with forefoot flex grooves and a curved forepart for push-off and momentum.
More info
$130 onlineshoes.com
1
An undulating rocker sole gives a graceful shape and effortless stride to the Dansko Jessie clog sandal. Featuring an upper of full-grain leather with adjustable instep and vamp straps for a snug fit, this women's clog has a breathable leather lining for interior comfort, while the lightweight polyurethane sole offers stable support and efficient movement.
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$185 tradesy.com
2
Jimmy Choo tan suede buckle front and ankle strap platform clog sandals - Excellent condition - 4" wood cone-shaped platform heels with 1/2" front platform
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$130 shoes.com
1
An undulating rocker sole gives a graceful shape and effortless stride to the Dansko Jessie clog sandal. Featuring an upper of full-grain leather with adjustable instep and vamp straps for a snug fit, this women's clog has a breathable leather lining for interior comfort, while the lightweight polyurethane sole offers stable support and efficient movement.
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$29 asos.com
76
""Sandals by Call It Spring, Faux-leather upper, Open toe, Stud detail, Pin buckle fastening, High block heel, Remove marks with a damp sponge, 100% Polyurethane, Heel height: 10cm/4"".
amazon.com
$154 amazon.com
1
Antiqued studs trim the smooth leather straps on these two-tone Derek Lam 10 Crosby clogs. Buckle closure with inset elastic. Lightly padded footbed. Chunky wooden platform. Rubber sole.
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$80 knittedbelle.com
3
Gleaming studs connect this funky retro sandal to its on-trend heeled platform. Bold topstitching and a rocker sole complete the 70s vibe.2 1/2 heel (size 39).1 1/2 platform.Adjustable ankle strap with buckle closure.Lightly padded footbed.Leather upper/leather and synthetic lining/synthetic sole.By Topshop; made in Italy.BP. Shoes.
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$130 onlineshoes.com
1
Sweeping crossed straps at the vamp lend a vintage look to the charming Dansko Jacinda clog sandal. Featuring an upper of durable full grain leather with a contrast heel strap for a pop of color and a snug fit, this women's clog has a leather lining for interior comfort, as well as a foot-conforming memory foam footbed with a leather covering for comfort and support.
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$29 lordandtaylor.com
3
Vintage-chic clog style with leather straps. Wooden heel, 3". Platform, 1". Compares to a 2" heel. Leather upper. Open toe. Synthetic lining and sole. Imported. - Latigo Larry Clog Sandals
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$120 shoes.com
1
You'll always come out on top in the Dansko Sam clog sandal. This women's closed-toe sandal boasts a supple, full grain leather upper with an adjustable buckle closure on the ankle strap for a customized fit. Featuring perforated arch support, the leather-covered footbed sits atop shock-absorbing latex foam and an EVA insert for lasting comfort; midsole coring lightens the weight. The Dri-Lex lining creates a healthy, breathable environment. The Dansko Sam open-back clog has is finished with a rocker bottom for forward motion and a slip-resistant polyurethane sole for traction to keep you on the go and looking your best.
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$98 zappos.com
2
With every pair of shoes you purchase, TOMS will give a new pair of shoes to a child in need. One for One. Dress up any look this season with the TOMS Majorca Mule Sandal and its perfect mix of casual sophistication. Suede or nubuck leather upper. Material is listed in the color name. Leather and textile lining. Cushioned leather footbed for added comfort. Stacked heel. Durable synthetic outsole. Imported. Measurements: Heel Height: 3 in Weight: 11 oz Product measurements were taken using size 8.5, width B - Medium. Please note that measurements may vary by size.
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$110 therealreal.com
1
Brown scamosciato Miu Miu square-toe sandals with cutout accents at vamps, at gold-tone studs, wooden heels and gold-tone buckle closures at ankles. Includes dust bag.
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$225 barneys.com
5
Crafted of black smooth leather, Barneys New York's clog-inspired slide sandals are styled with a wooden platform-wedge heel and embellished with goldtone studs. 2.50\"/65mm heel, 1.25\"/30mm platform (approximately). Open toe. Wooden platform-wedge heel. Polished goldtone hardware. Lined with leather. Wooden footbed. Rubber crepe sole. Available in Black. Imported.
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$130 onlineshoes.com
1
Sweeping crossed straps at the vamp lend a vintage look to the charming Dansko Jacinda clog sandal. Featuring an upper of durable full grain leather with a contrast heel strap for a pop of color and a snug fit, this women's clog has a leather lining for interior comfort, as well as a foot-conforming memory foam footbed with a leather covering for comfort and support.
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$120 shoes.com
1
You'll always come out on top in the Dansko Sam clog sandal. This women's closed-toe sandal boasts a supple, full grain leather upper with an adjustable buckle closure on the ankle strap for a customized fit. Featuring perforated arch support, the leather-covered footbed sits atop shock-absorbing latex foam and an EVA insert for lasting comfort; midsole coring lightens the weight. The Dri-Lex lining creates a healthy, breathable environment. The Dansko Sam open-back clog has is finished with a rocker bottom for forward motion and a slip-resistant polyurethane sole for traction to keep you on the go and looking your best.
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$242 tradesy.com
1
High heels with wooden clog feel that makes them super comfortable but look still of a stiletto. Zips in back of heel with yellow leather to give it a versatility .
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$245 yoogiscloset.com
3
These chic Balenciaga clog sandals are summertime perfection. Featuring brown leather uppers with a front-tie detail that are secured by silvertone studs to the contrasting double platform. Perfect for dressing up or down, you will love how these complement almost any outfit. Retail price is $805.
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$322 $495 forwardbyelysewalker.com
6
Embroidered Leather Nerimah Clogs Embroidered leather upper with rubber sole. Made in Peru. Approx 25mm/ 1 inch platform. Approx 50mm/ 2 inch wooden heel. Antique rivet trim.
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$248 orchardmile.com
3
Add a 70s feel to any look with our Caia clogs in leather featuring a slip-on silhouette, peep toe, braided detailing and a 3" wooden heel. When choosing your size, we recommend sizing up a 1/2 size. *Online Exclusive. 100% Leather Heel Height: 3" Imported, China
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$89 shoebuy.com
2
The Log Cabin Clog Sandal is a retro-cool wooden platform sandal with rivets and a chunky block heel. Synthetic insole Rubber outsole Slingback strap with buckle closure Studded accents Wooden heel.
amazon.com
$110 $168 revolve.com
24
Walk This Way Clog Leather and snake embossed suede upper with man made sole. Ankle strap with buckle closure. Heel measures approx 4" H.
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$345 neimanmarcus.com
2
See by Chloe frayed canvas clog sandal. 3.5 notched wedge heel. 2.5 platform; 1 equiv. Crisscross vamp straps. Adjustable leather ankle strap. Adele is imported.
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$120 shoes.com
2
You'll always come out on top in the Dansko Sam clog sandal. This women's closed-toe sandal boasts a supple, full grain leather upper with an adjustable buckle closure on the ankle strap for a customized fit. Featuring perforated arch support, the leather-covered footbed sits atop shock-absorbing latex foam and an EVA insert for lasting comfort; midsole coring lightens the weight. The Dri-Lex lining creates a healthy, breathable environment. The Dansko Sam open-back clog has is finished with a rocker bottom for forward motion and a slip-resistant polyurethane sole for traction to keep you on the go and looking your best.
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$99 knittedbelle.com
2
Contrast topstitchingoutlines a bold, strappyplatform sandal set on a chunky, lugged wooden heel.3 heel; 1 1/4 platform (size 39 EU).Adjustable ankle strap with buckle closure.Leather upper/leather and wood lining/rubber sole.By MIA; made in Sweden.BP. Shoes.
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$25 $60 kohls.com
13
Channel your inner flower child when you rock these women's clogs from Dolce by Mojo Moxy.Sandal Features Flower accents Studded trim Sandal Construction Synthetic upper Manmade lining & outsole Sandal Details Open toe Slip-on Padded footbed 4.4-in. heel 1.5-in. platform Size: Medium (6). Color: Brown Oth. Gender: Female. Age Group: Adult. Pattern: Floral. Material: Synthetic Upper.
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$694 $1,389 stylebop.com
33
Pitch black suede and thick studs partner to make these tall clog sandals a statement choice from Alexander McQueen. Let them lend the brand's rebellious and eccentric attitude to understated looks * Black suede, silver-tone studs, round open toe, buckle fastening ankle strap, leather insole and sole * Tall platform and clog wooden heel * Pair with a maxi skirt and urban sweatshirt
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$125 zappos.com
2
Please be advised that the Birkenstock Narrow width accommodates both traditional narrow and medium widths. for more information about Birkenstock's widths. This style is part of the Papillio Collection by Birkenstock. Make every step a memorable one with the Debby peep toe! Smooth leather upper. Easy slip-on style clog with an open toe. Leather lined contoured footbed molds to the shape of your foot creating a custom footbed that supports and cradles you each and every step. Anatomically correct cork footbed and wedge provide comfort, support and arch support. Neutral heel profile and deep heel cup keeps the natural padding of your foot where it belongs, under the heel, distributing your body weight more evenly. Crafted from cork that is 100% renewable and sustainable, encourages foot health. Flexible EVA outsole offers lightweight, shock absorbing support with lasting durability. Imported. Measurements: Heel Height: 1 3 4 in Weight: 7 oz Platform Height: 3 4 in Product measurements were taken using size 36 (US Women's 5-5.5), width Narrow. Please note that measurements may vary by size.
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$69 ninewest.com
2
Kiltie fringe and polished bits of hardware add just the right amount of vintage sophistication to our Davies clog-inspired slide sandals.Man-made materials. High. Open Toe. Imported.
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$139 tradesy.com
1
Pair of brown embossed leather snake like print open toe sandal clog mule. Awesome pair of shoes. Brand new never been worn. Shoes have detailed studding as seen in pics. Fabulous shoes!
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$249 $830 orchardmile.com
6
Tie-back suede sandal on wood sole and wrapped heelSuede-covered block heel, 4" (100mm)Wooden platform, 1" (25mm)Compareas to a 3" heel (75mm)Suede upperPeep toeBack tieLeather liningLeather and wooden solePadded insoleMade in Italy
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$85 therealreal.com
1
Cognac leather Stuart Weitzman peep-toe clogs sandals with tonal stitching throughout, gold-tone circular accent at uppers and wooden heels.
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$209 zappos.com
1
You'll do some major damage at work with these vintage-inspired Swedish Hasbeens sandals! Natural grained leather upper. Ankle strap with adjustable buckle closure. Synthetic insole. Lime tree wooden platform and heel. Rubber sole. Made in Sweden. Measurements: Heel Height: 2 1 2 in Weight: 10 oz Platform Height: 1 in Product measurements were taken using size 38 (US Women's 8), width B - Medium. Please note that measurements may vary by size.
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$20 jcpenney.com
3
With unique patchwork upper and nailhead detail, our Hippie clog sandals are easy to wear as well as super on-trend. soft faux-suede synthetic upper mid heel height slip-on construction synthetic rubber outsole
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$255 6pm.com
1
The Santa Fe-S features the Finn Comfort Soft footbed which provides a cloud-like feel. The Santa Fe-S is the perfect combination of dressy and relaxed for those busy days when you need both. Premium leather uppers feature an adjustable instep strap for a personalized fit. Leather lining ensures an abrasion-free environment for all-day wear. Removable footbed is constructed to provide contoured support for your feet. Anatomic shape evenly distributes your body weight. Resilient cork and latex base reduces foot fatigue. PU outsole provides flexibility and maximum shock absorption. Made in Germany. Measurements: Heel Height: 1 3 4 in Weight: 11 oz Platform Height: 3 4 in Product measurements were taken using size 40 (US Women's 9-9.5), width Medium. Please note that measurements may vary by size.
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$895 neimanmarcus.com
3
Saint Laurent leather clog sandal. 4.8 wooden heel; 1.8 platform; 3 equiv. Open toe. Logo stud on side. Crisscross vamp. Slip-on style. Smooth sole. Made in Italy.
amazon.com
$80 knittedbelle.com
2
Gleaming studs connect this funky retro sandal to its on-trend heeled platform. Bold topstitching and a rocker sole complete the 70s vibe.2 1/2 heel (size 39).1 1/2 platform.Adjustable ankle strap with buckle closure.Lightly padded footbed.Leather upper/leather and synthetic lining/synthetic sole.By Topshop; made in Italy.BP. Shoes.
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$209 zappos.com
1
You'll do some major damage at work with these vintage-inspired Swedish Hasbeens sandals! Natural grained leather upper. Ankle strap with adjustable buckle closure. Synthetic insole. Lime tree wooden platform and heel. Rubber sole. Made in Sweden. Measurements: Heel Height: 2 1 2 in Weight: 10 oz Platform Height: 1 in Product measurements were taken using size 38 (US Women's 8), width B - Medium. Please note that measurements may vary by size.
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$69 ninewest.com
1
Kiltie fringe and polished bits of hardware add just the right amount of vintage sophistication to our Davies clog-inspired slide sandals.Man-made materials. High. Open Toe. Imported.
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1
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Fashioned from smooth leather, these retro-chic sandals feature T-straps and polished studs while a wooden platform and chunky heel make these a versatile choice for your warm-weather wardrobe.Sizing: Whole sizes only, for 1/2 sizes; order next size up. Open toe. Nubuck leather vamp straps. Studded midsole detail. Slip-on. Approx. 3 heel; 1 platform. Imported
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$59 dorothyperkins.com
18
Leather 2 part wooden heeled sandal clog with stud detail 100% Leather. Heel heigh approximately 2.5 inches.
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$175 therealreal.com
50
Ivory and multcolor leather Sophia Webster Bobbi twist clog platform sandals with suede trim, rose gold-tone hardware, block heels and buckle closures at ankles. Includes box and dust bag.
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24
AW16 Sale Now Up To 60% Off!
Black suede peep toe clog sandals from Proenza Schouler featuring a back tie fastening, silver-tone stud detailing, a chunky high heel and a wooden sole. Color: Black. Gender: Female. Material: Suede/Leather/Wood.
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$99 knittedbelle.com
2
Contrast topstitchingoutlines a bold, strappyplatform sandal set on a chunky, lugged wooden heel.3 heel; 1 1/4 platform (size 39 EU).Adjustable ankle strap with buckle closure.Leather upper/leather and wood lining/rubber sole.By MIA; made in Sweden.BP. Shoes.
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$140 englinsfinefootwear.com
14
Imitated by many, the original classic clog is versatile and going strong after 30 years. This clog is a wardrobe basic year round for men and women. Enjoy the closed-toe comfort and support. Features an adjustable strap for fit. Upper material: Thick and supple leathers without additional dyes to keep the leather breathable, durable and comfortable. Soft footbed: A foam layer is inserted between the cork layer and the suede liner of the original Birkenstock footbed. Millions of microscopic air bubbles cushion your feet while providing moderate arch support. Sole material: EVA - Flexible, lightweight, durable and shock absorbing.
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$34 asos.com
34
""Platform shoes by ASOS Collection, Faux-leather upper, Snakeskin print, Cross-over straps, Pin buckle fastening, Chunky platform sole, High block heel, Wipe with a soft cloth, Heel height: 9. 5cm/4"".
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$100 $158 madewell.com
32
Suede sandals with a decided '70s vibe—just check out the chunky wooden heels and rugged nailhead details. Made to be worn all day, these clogs have soft-lined straps and a comfy padded footbed. When you select your size, "H" equals a half size. Leather upper and lining. 3 7/10" heel. Rubber sole. Import.
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$399 $990 barneyswarehouse.com
4
Prada black smooth leather ankle-strap clog sandals styled with a zebra-print calf hair band, natural wooden platform, and heel. 4.75\"/120mm heel, 1.50\"/40mm platform (approximately). Open toe. Wide calf hair toe band. Buckle ankle strap. Slingback strap. Wooden platform and thick heel. Polished silvertone hardware. Buckle closure. Leather footbed. Rubber sole. Available in Black/White. Made in Italy. Dyed calf hair country of origin: New Zealand.
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Inyo/LA Long Term Water Agreement
Inyo/LA Long Term Water Agreement
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Inyo/LA Long Term Water Agreement
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Agreement Between the County of Inyo and the City of Los Angeles and Its Department of Water and Power on a Long Term Groundwater Management Plan for Owens Valley and Inyo County
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CITY OF LOS ANGELES; DEPARTMENT CASE NO. 12908
STIPULATION AND ORDER FOR JUDGMENT
DEPARTMENT OF WATER AND POWER OF THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES,
Plaintiffs,
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE
COUNTY OF INYO; THE COUNTY OF
INYO; JOHN K. SMITH, COUNTY
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER; INYO
Defendants.
__________________________________________
It is hereby ordered by this Court, and stipulated by and between Plaintiff, CITY OF LOS ANGELES (Los Angeles) and DEPARTMENT OF WATER AND POWER OF THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES (Department) by and through JAMES K. HAHN, City Attorney; EDWARD C. FARRELL, Chief Assistant City Attorney for Water and Power; by EDWARD A. SCHLOTMAN, Assistant City Attorney; and defendants COUNTY OF INYO (County) by and through PAUL N. BRUCE, County Counsel; GREGORY L. JAMES, Special Counsel; and ANTONIO ROSSMANN, Special Counsel; as follows:
SECTION I
History and Preliminary Statement
In 1913, the City of Los Angeles completed an aqueduct from Owens Valley to the City. The aqueduct had a capacity of 480 cubic feet per second (cfs). In 1970, a second aqueduct with a capacity of 300 cfs was completed and began operating, bringing the total capacity of the aqueduct system to about 780 cfs. Los Angeles’ operations to supply the second aqueduct, including the pumping of groundwater in Owens Valley led to litigation by Inyo County against Los Angeles.
In a suit filed in 1972, Inyo County claimed that increased groundwater pumping was harming the environment of Owens Valley and that the practice should be analyzed in an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) in accordance with the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). In 1973, the Court of Appeal for the Third Appellate District ruled that Los Angeles must prepare an EIR (32 Cal. App. 3d 795). Since 1973, Los Angeles has prepared two EIR’s, one in 1976 and another in 1979, but the Appellate Court found both to be legally inadequate.
In 1980, the Inyo County Board of Supervisors drafted, and the Inyo County voters passed, a groundwater ordinance to regulate groundwater pumping in the Valley through a groundwater management plan. The plan was to be implemented by a groundwater pumping permit procedure. The ordinance created a County Water Department and a County Water Commission.
As a result of litigation commenced against the County by the City of Los Angeles and its Department, the County was directed in May 1981, by order of this Court in case number 12883, not to implement the Ordinance until a legally sufficient environmental impact report had been prepared and adopted by the County. A Final EIR was prepared, but the Final EIR was not adopted by the County.
In July 1983, as a result of litigation commenced by the City of Los Angeles and the Department, this Court in case number 12908 ruled said Ordinance unconstitutional, invalid, and preempted by law, and that the implementation of the Ordinance should be enjoined. Pursuant to stipulation of the parties, entry of an injunction and final judgment have not been entered by this Court.
In 1983, following the Superior Court’s decision invalidating Inyo County’s groundwater ordinance, Inyo County and Los Angeles began an attempt to develop a groundwater management plan that would settle the litigation between the parties. In April 1984, the governing bodies of Inyo County and Los Angeles approved a five (5) year interim agreement. In this interim agreement, the two parties agreed to:
settle then existing property tax litigation between Inyo County and Los Angeles;
temporarily suspend Inyo County’s appeal of the Court’s decision invalidating its groundwater ordinance;
temporarily suspend litigation on Inyo County’s environmental suit and Court-imposed pumping restrictions by substituting jointly developed annual pumping programs;
lease Owens Valley town water systems to Inyo County, which would result in a reduction in water rates;
conduct cooperative studies, together with impartial third parties, including the United States Geological Survey (USGS);
implement certain enhancement/mitigation projects;
provide financial assistance to Inyo County from Los Angeles to cover costs of various studies and the County’s water-related activities;
negotiate a long term groundwater management plan;
resume the CEQA litigation and litigation over the groundwater ordinance’s validity if the parties did not develop and adopt a long term joint groundwater management plan for Owens Valley.
In December 1984, the Court of Appeal modified the Writ of Mandate that it had originally issued in 1973, to approve the five-year agreement of the parties. The Court specifically explained that the modification did not imply that a joint long term groundwater management plan would be a new project. The project was would remain as it was — a program increasing the average rate of groundwater pumping and use (both for export and in-valley use), above a baseline rate reasonably representing the average of groundwater pumping and use (both for export and in-valley use) preceding the operation of the second aqueduct. However, the Court did allow that the command of its Writ to prepare an EIR could be met if the EIR were to be presented in conjunction with a joint long term groundwater management plan. In January 1985, this Court approved the interim agreement.
In May 1988, as a result of a joint application by Inyo County and the Department, a sixteen (16) month extension by the Court (from February 1989 to June 30, 1990) was granted to the Department for the purpose of completing studies necessary for development of a joint long term groundwater management plan and EIR. In June 1990, Los Angeles and Inyo County requested a further twelve (12) month extension to September 30, 1991. In July 1990, the Court also granted this extension. In August 1991, the Court granted a further extension to October 21, 1991.
Since 1984, certain studies budgeted at approximately five million dollars ($5,000,000.00) have been undertaken by Inyo County, Los Angeles, and USGS to learn more about the relationship between groundwater pumping and its impact on native vegetation. As part of these studies, Inyo County and the Department developed extensive information on the geohydrology, water budget, soils, and vegetation of Owens Valley. USGS compiled and analyzed the information and summarized its independent findings in a series of technical reports. These USGS reports, together with other cooperative study materials, became the technical foundation for the joint long term groundwater management plan that has been developed by the parties.
Under the joint five-year interim agreement, the two parties cooperatively developed and implemented numerous projects. These enhancement/mitigation projects range in scope from the revegetation and irrigation of certain areas to enhancement of wildlife habitats and recreation areas.
After two years of negotiations, Inyo County and Los Angeles reached a preliminary agreement on a joint long term groundwater management plan on August 1, 1989. The joint long term management plan is set forth in this Stipulation and Order. An EIR, as required of Los Angeles by the Court of Appeal’s writ was presented to that Court in conjunction with the joint long term groundwater management plan. The EIR has been approved by that Court and its Writ of Mandate has been discharged
SECTION II
AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COUNTY OF INYO
AND THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES AND
ITS DEPARTMENT OF WATER AND POWER
ON A LONG TERM GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
FOR OWENS VALLEY AND INYO COUNTY
Goals and Principles for Groundwater Management
The goals and principles of this Stipulation and Order shall apply primarily within Owens Valley, but shall be applied as appropriate to activities of the Department within Inyo County.
The Inyo County/Los Angeles Standing Committee and the Inyo/Los Angeles Technical Group formed pursuant to a Memorandum of Understanding between the parties, dated September 2, 1982, will continue in existence to represent the parties in implementing these goals and principles.
As agreed by the parties, the Department representatives on the Standing Committee shall include at least one (1) member of the Los Angeles City Council, the Administrative Officer of the City of Los Angeles, two (2) members of the Board of Water and Power Commissioners, and three (3) staff members. The County representatives on the Standing Committee shall be at least one (1) member of the Inyo County Board of Supervisors, two (2) Inyo County Water Commissioners, and three (3) staff members. The Technical Group shall be comprised of not more than five (5) representatives selected by the County and five (5) by the Department.
Neither the Technical Group nor the Standing Committee shall make any determination or recommendation as called for in this Stipulation and Order, the Green Book, or the EIR without first obtaining agreement among the Department’s representatives and the County’s representatives. Regardless of the number of representatives from either party in attendance at a Standing Committee or Technical Group meeting, Inyo County shall have only one (1) vote, and Los Angeles shall have only one (1) vote.
I. MANAGEMENT AREAS
A. Each well field area has been included in a designated management area. The boundaries of each management area have been established so as to contain all vegetation that could be impacted as a result of groundwater pumping from the well field area during “worst case” conditions(multiple dry years along with heavy pumping). Each management area contains several monitoring sites. Each Department well in a management area is linked to a monitoring site for management purposes.
B. The vegetation and groundwater conditions within the management areas will be carefully monitored by the Technical Group to assure that the goals and principles of this groundwater management plan are met.
C. If a new well is constructed outside of a designated management area, or if, outside of a designated management area, groundwater pumping is found through monitoring or other means, to cause or to have the potential to cause a significant decrease or change in vegetation or a significant effect on the environment, or if the Department commences water gathering activities outside of the Owens Valley, the Technical Group shall expand the management area as necessary, or shall designate a new management area along with appropriate monitoring requirements. The appropriate vegetation classifications for management shall be established by the Technical Group within the new area and each new management area shall be managed in accordance with these goals and principles.
D. It is recognized that vegetation composition and density varies for reasons other than groundwater pumping, from period to period, depending upon weather, precipitation, surface water spreading, and other factors.
II. MANAGEMENT MAPS
Color coded management maps have been prepared (reduced copies attached as Exhibit A ) which show Owens Valley vegetation classified by management type, management areas, monitoring sites, and wells. The Department’s vegetation inventories that were conducted between 1984 and 1987, were used in compiling these maps. Approximately 227,000 acres of vegetation on the valley floor have been classified as follows:
A. TYPE A CLASSIFICATION. This classification is comprised of vegetation communities with evapotranspiration approximately equal to average annual precipitation. This classification is shown as white on the management maps and includes approximately 150,347 acres.
B. TYPE B CLASSIFICATION. This classification is comprised of scrub dominated communities, including rabbitbrush and Nevada saltbush communities with evapotranspiration greater than precipitation. This classification is shown as yellow on the management maps and includes approximately 10,390 acres.
C. TYPE C CLASSIFICATION. This classification is comprised of grasslands/meadow vegetation communities with evapotrans- piration greater than precipitation. The communities comprising this classification exist because of high groundwater conditions, natural surface water drainage, and/or surface water management practices in the area, i.e., conveyance facilities, wet year water spreading, etc. This classification is shown as green on the management maps and includes approximately 42,013 acres.
D. TYPE D CLASSIFICATION. This classification is comprised of riparian/marshland vegetation communities with evapotranspiration greater than precipitation. The communities comprising this classification exist because of high groundwater conditions, natural surface water drainage, and/or surface water management practices in the area, i.e., conveyance facilities, wet year spreading, etc. This classification is shown as red on the management maps and includes approximately 5,580 acres.
E. TYPE E CLASSIFICATION. This classification is comprised of areas where water is provided to City-owned lands for alfalfa production, pasture, recreation uses, wildlife habitats, livestock, and enhancement/mitigation projects. This classification is shown as blue on the management maps and includes approximately 18,830 acres.
III. MANAGEMENT STRATEGY
A. OVERALL GOAL
The overall goal of managing the water resources within Inyo County is to avoid certain described decreases and changes in vegetation and to cause no significant effect on the environment which cannot be acceptably mitigated while providing a reliable supply of water for export to Los Angeles and for use in Inyo County.
B. GROUNDWATER MINING
The goal is to avoid long term groundwater mining from aquifers of Inyo County. This goal will be met by managing annual groundwater pumping so that the total pumping from any well field area over a 20 year period (the then current year plus the 19 previous years) does not exceed the total recharge to the same well field area over the same 20 year period. The Technical Group may increase the annual pumping from a well field area above this amount if a recharge program for that area is implemented or for other relevant reasons that are consistent with these goals and principles. The average annual recharge to each well field area over the 20 year period shall be determined by the Technical Group using information developed by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and other relevant information, including an analysis of water levels in each well field area.
C. DEFINITIONS
Unless otherwise specifically defined in these goals and principles, the terms “mitigation” and “feasible” are to be defined as under the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) as of July 1, 1989. The definition of these terms as set forth in CEQA and the Guidelines for Implementation of CEQA on July 1, 1989 are:
Mitigation:
1. Avoiding the impact altogether by not taking a certain action or parts of an action,
2. Minimizing impacts by limiting the degree or magnitude of the action and its implementation,
3. Rectifying the impact by repairing, rehabilitating, or restoring the impacted environment,
4. Reducing or eliminating the impact over time by preservation and maintenance operations during the life of the action,
5. Compensating for the impact by replacing or providing substitute resources or environments.
(Guidelines for Implementation of the California Environmental Quality Act – Section 15370)
Feasible:
1. “Feasible” means capable of being accomplished in a successful manner within a reasonable period of time, taking into account economic, environmental, legal, social, and technological factors.
(California Environmental Quality Act – California Public Resource Code – Section 21061.1)
D. MONITORING
Vegetation monitoring sites and water table monitoring wells have been and shall be established inside and outside each management area and Owens Valley town as determined feasible and necessary by the Technical Group. The type of monitoring that will be conducted at each site and at each monitoring well will vary as determined necessary by the Technical Group. Monitoring could include, but is not limited to, measurement of retained soil water, water levels in deep and shallow wells, analysis of vegetation, and the use of photographic monitoring. All monitoring, analysis and interpretation of results shall be done by the Technical Group. The Department shall fund the installation of the necessary monitoring sites and monitoring wells. The Department shall perform such maintenance on the monitoring wells as is necessary. The Department and the County shall jointly maintain the vegetation monitoring sites.
E. GREEN BOOK
The location of each management area, vegetation monitoring site, and each monitoring well, the wells linked to each vegetation monitoring site, the method for locating additional monitoring sites and monitoring wells, the type of monitoring to be conducted at each site, the standardized procedures for analysis and interpretation of monitoring results, including the determination of available soil water and the amount of soil water required by vegetation, are set forth in a technical document called a “Green Book.” The “Green Book” is attached as a technical appendix to this Stipulation and Order and to the EIR. (Click here for a PDF or Word format of the entire Green Book.)
F. MITIGATION
In addition to the mitigation measures described below, any significant effect on the environment of Inyo County attributable to groundwater pumping or to Department surface water management practices, shall be mitigated as soon as a reasonable and feasible mitigation plan is developed. Implementation of this plan shall be commenced within twelve (12) months of a determination by the Technical Group or by dispute resolution that a significant effect on the environment has occurred.
G. PRIVATE WELLS
New wells will be sited and groundwater pumping shall be managed to avoid causing significant adverse effects on water quality or water levels in non-department-owned wells in the Owens Valley that are attributable to groundwater pumping by the Department. Any such significant adverse effects shall be promptly mitigated by the Department. The determination of significant adverse effects shall be made by the Technical Group as provided in section IV.B below. Although this provision is intended to protect owners of wells who are not parties to this Stipulation and Order from impacts attributable to groundwater pumping by the Department, this provision is not a limitation of the legal rights of such non-parties or the parties, nor does it create a binding administrative remedy that must be pursued and exhausted prior to the exercise of any legal right by such a non-party.
H. INDIAN LANDS
These goals and principles and the other provisions of this Stipulation and Order will not alter in any way the Department’s existing commitments to supply water to Indian lands in the Owens Valley, or cause a significant adverse effect on such lands.
I. RARE AND ENDANGERED SPECIES
Groundwater pumping and surface water management practices will be managed in a manner that is consistent with state and federal laws pertaining to rare and endangered species.
J. BISHOP CREEK WATER ASSOCIATION
These goals and principles and the other provisions of this Stipulation and Order shall not alter in any way the powers and duties of the Bishop Creek Water Association.
IV. VEGETATION MANAGEMENT GOALS AND PRINCIPLES
The management goals and principles for each vegetation management type are described below.
A. VEGETATION MANAGEMENT
Type A Vegetation Classification
This zone, composed of vegetation with a calculated evapotranspiration rate approximately equal to precipitation, is not affected by groundwater pumping or by changes in surface water management practices since such vegetation survives on available precipitation.
Type B, C, and D Vegetation Classifications
The goal is to manage groundwater pumping and surface water management practices so as to avoid causing significant decreases in live vegetation cover, and to avoid causing a significant amount of vegetation comprising either the Type B, C, or D classification to change to vegetation in a classification type which precedes it alphabetically (for example, Type D changing to either Type C, B, or A vegetation).
Methods that will be used to achieve this goal include an extensive monitoring program, discretion vested in the Technical Group and/or Standing Committee to take appropriate action, provisions for automatic turning off of wells (see section V), provisions for determining whether significant decreases or changes in vegetation have occurred (see section IV.B), provisions for mitigation, and provisions for dispute resolution.
Type B, C, and D classifications are each comprised of several vegetation communities defined in the “Land Classification and Natural Community Descriptions for the Owens Valley” (1987). It is recognized that a change in vegetation from one of these communities to another, as long as the change is not to a community that would fall outside the same classification will not be considered significant. A decrease in live salt cedar cover in the Type D classification generally will not be considered significant.
Notwithstanding the fact that wells may have been turned off due to insufficient soil moisture, any decreases or changes in vegetation that are determined to be significant by the Technical Group shall be mitigated as soon as a reasonable and feasible mitigation plan is developed by the Technical Group and implemented by the Department. In developing this mitigation plan, the Technical Group shall consider the potential environmental and water supply effects of any proposed plan. Implementation of this plan shall be commenced by the Department within twelve (12) months of a determination by the Technical Group or by dispute resolution that a significant decrease or change has occurred.
A mitigation plan developed by the Technical Group could include restoring perennial vegetation cover in an area where there has been a significant decrease in live perennial vegetation cover, and/or restoring vegetation in an affected area to a vegetation community that falls within the classification shown on the relevant vegetation management map as soon as it can be reasonably restored. Mitigation activities could include, but are not limited to, surface water application or reduction in groundwater pumping (if groundwater pumping has not already been terminated in the affected area in accordance with the provisions of section V).
The Department shall continue to operate canals in accordance with its practices from 1970 (past practices have included taking canals out of service for maintenance and for operational purposes). However, any permanent change in canal operations, compared to past practices, shall be subject to prior Standing Committee approval. The Department will continue to determine and implement maintenance activities to control aquatic weeds and ditch bank vegetation in order to maintain canals in a clean and efficient manner.
Type E Vegetation Classification
(Lands supplied with water.) These lands will be supplied with water and will be managed to avoid causing significant decreases and changes in vegetation from vegetation conditions which existed on such lands during the 1981-82 runoff year. Significant decreases and changes in vegetation will be determined as set forth in the management goals for the Type B, C, and D vegetation; however, conversion of cultivated land by the Department or its lessee to other irrigated uses shall not be considered a significant decrease or change. Another primary goal is to avoid significant decreases in recreational uses and wildlife habitats that in the past have been dependent on water supplied by the Department.
The Department shall continue to provide water for Los Angeles-owned lands in Inyo County in an amount sufficient so that the water related uses of such lands that were made during the 1981-82 runoff year can continue to be made. The Department shall continue to provide water to Los Angeles-owned lands in the Olancha/Cartago area such that the lands that have received water in the past will continue to receive water. Additionally, the Department shall provide water to any enhancement/mitigation projects added since 1981-1982, unless the Inyo County Board of Supervisors and the Department agree to reduce or eliminate such water supply.
It is recognized that successive dry years could result in insufficient water to meet all needs. During periods of dry year water shortages, the Technical Group will evaluate existing conditions. A program providing for reasonable reductions in irrigation water supply for Los Angeles-owned lands in the Owens Valley and for enhancement/mitigation projects may be implemented if such a program is approved by the Inyo County Board of Supervisors and the Department, acting through the Standing Committee.
B. DETERMINATION OF “SIGNIFICANT” AND “SIGNIFICANT EFFECT ON THE ENVIRONMENT”
In determining (1) whether a decrease in live vegetation cover is “significant,” or (2) whether a change in vegetation from one vegetation classification to another is “significant,” or (3) whether a “significant effect on the environment” has occurred, it is recognized that it is infeasible to develop definitions of these terms for use in all areas and under all conditions. Therefore, a determination of what is a significant decrease or change in vegetation and of what is a significant effect on the environment will be made by a case by case analysis.
The first step in this case by case analysis is to determine whether the decrease or change can be measurably demonstrated. If so, it must then be determined by the Technical Group if the decrease or change, or if a potential significant effect on the environment, is or is not attributable to groundwater pumping and/or to surface water management practices.
Decreases and changes in vegetation and other environmental effects shall be considered “attributable to groundwater pumping, or to a change in surface water management practices,” if the decrease, change, or effect would not have occurred but for groundwater pumping and/or a change in past surface water management practices. This shall be determined by an analysis of all relevant factors, including a comparison of the affected area with an area of similar vegetation, soils, rainfall, and other relevant conditions where such a decrease, change, or effect has not occurred, or has not occurred to the same degree.
If the decrease, change, or effect is determined to be attributable to groundwater pumping or to changes in past surface water management practices, the Technical Group then shall determine whether the decrease, change, or effect is significant. In making this determination, the factors to be considered by the Technical Group shall include, but are not limited to:
– The size, location, and use of the affected area;
– The degree of the decrease, change or effect within the affected area;
– The permanency of the decrease, change, or effect;
– Whether the decrease, change, or effect causes a violation of air quality standards;
– Whether the decrease, change, or effect affects human health;
– Available factual and scientific data;
– Whether effects of the decrease, change, or effect are limited, but the incremental effects are substantial when viewed in connection with decreases or changes in other areas that are attributable to groundwater pumping or to changes in surface water management practices by the Department;
– Enhancement and mitigation projects that have been implemented by the Department.
V. GROUNDWATER PUMPING PROGRAM
A. WATER BALANCE PROJECTIONS
By the first of each month the Technical Group shall project the “water balance” for each monitoring site. These monthly projections will be made unless the Technical Group determines that monthly projections are unnecessary because of high soil water conditions. In making these water balance projections, the Technical Group shall compare the estimated amount of soil moisture available to vegetation with the estimated required water needs of the vegetation for the growing season (or appropriate portion thereof) at each monitoring site. These projections shall be made in accordance with procedures contained in the Green Book.
The growing season used when water balance projections are made between January 1st and September 1st, shall be the growing season (or appropriate portion thereof) during that calendar year, and no precipitation shall be included in such water balance projections. The growing season used when water balance projections are made between September 1st through December 31st shall be the growing season during the following calendar year. One-half of the average annual precipitation at the monitoring site between October 1st and September 30th shall be included in the October 1st water balance projection. This will be reduced to 40 percent of the annual average precipitation if the average of the actual runoff for the previous runoff year and the forecasted runoff for the then current runoff year is less than 70 percent of average, and to 30 percent of the average annual precipitation if the average of the actual runoff for the two previous runoff years and the forecasted runoff for the then current runoff year is less than 75 percent of average. No precipitation shall be included in the November 1st and December 1st water balance projections.
B. WELL TURN OFF PROVISIONS
If as of July 1st or October 1st, the projected amount of available soil water at a monitoring site is less than the estimated water needs of the vegetation for the growing season (or appropriate portion thereof), the Department’s wells linked to that monitoring site shall be immediately turned off. In addition to this provision requiring the automatic turn-off of wells, the Technical Group and/or the Standing Committee may at any time turn off such wells as deemed necessary, or take such other action as appropriate, to achieve the goals of this Stipulation and Order.
C. WELL TURN ON PROVISIONS
In the event that wells are turned off in any area as a result of the provisions of paragraph B, the Technical Group shall periodically evaluate existing vegetation conditions in that area and determine whether any wells could be turned on. Only those wells whose operation will not contribute to the causation of a significant decrease or change in vegetation could be turned on. Wells that have been turned off could also be turned on if the Technical Group determines that the implementation of mitigation warrants such action.
If the Technical Group does not agree to turn on wells in an area, the Department shall leave such wells off until the soil water in the area of the monitoring site has recovered to the estimated water needs of the vegetation as of the time the wells were turned off. Once the soil water in the area of the monitoring site has recovered to the level where the amount available to vegetation is equal to the estimated water needs of the vegetation as of the time that the wells were turned off (as determined by the monthly water balance projections), the Department may turn on the wells that are linked to that monitoring site. The Technical Group, based upon an evaluation of the existing vegetation conditions and other relevant factors, may revise the required level of soil water recovery in a monitoring site area if such a revision is consistent with these goals and principles.
These provisions do not prohibit the Department from unilaterally implementing such mitigation consistent with these goals and principles as may be necessary to cause an increase in the soil water in the area of a monitoring site prior to, or after the occurrence of a projected soil water deficit. This means that a well that has been turned off, may be turned on to supply water for mitigation in the area of the monitoring site to which it is linked. The area of the monitoring site within which the soil water must recover to the required level will be determined by the Technical Group.
A disagreement over whether wells are to be turned on will be subject to dispute resolution. Certain town supply wells, irrigation supply wells, fish hatchery supply wells, enhancement/mitigation project supply wells, and other wells not affecting areas with groundwater dependent vegetation may be designated by the Technical Group as exempt from automatic turn-off.
D. ANNUAL OPERATIONS PLAN
By April 20th of each year, the Department shall prepare and submit to the Inyo County Technical Group a proposed operations plan and pumping program for the twelve (12) month period beginning on April 1st. (In the event of two consecutive dry years when actual and forecasted Owens Valley runoff for the April to September period is below normal and averages less than 75 percent of normal, the Department shall prepare a proposed plan for the six (6) month period beginning on April 1st and October 1st, and submit such plans by April 20th and October 20th.) The proposed plan and pumping program and any subsequent modifications to it shall be consistent with these goals and principles.
1. A proposed plan shall include, but is not limited to, the following:
– Owens Valley Runoff estimate (annual)
– Projected groundwater production by well field (monthly)
– Projected total aqueduct reservoir storage levels (monthly)
– Projected aqueduct deliveries to Los Angeles (monthly)
– Projected water uses in the Owens Valley (monthly)
– Water balance projections at each monitoring site
2. The County through its Technical Group representatives shall review the Department’s proposed plan of operations and provide comments to the Department within ten (10) days of receipt of the plan.
3. The Department shall meet with the County’s Technical Group representatives within ten (10) days of the receipt of the County’s comments, and attempt to resolve concerns of the County relating to the proposed pumping program.
4. The Department shall determine appropriate revisions to the plan, provide the revised plan to the County within ten (10) days after the meeting, and implement the plan.
5. The April 1st pumping program may be modified by the Department during the period covered by the plan to meet changing conditions. The Department shall notify the County’s Technical Group representatives in advance of any planned significant modifications. The County shall have the opportunity to comment on any such modifications.
6. Information and records pertaining to the Department’s operations and runoff conditions shall be reported to the County’s Technical Group representatives throughout the year.
VI. NEW WELLS AND PRODUCTION CAPACITY
The Department’s current groundwater pumping capacity may be increased to provide increased operational flexibility and to facilitate rotational pumping. The Department may replace existing wells and construct new wells in areas where hydrogeologic conditions are favorable, and where the operation of that well will not cause a change in vegetation that would be inconsistent with these goals and principles.
Prior to the Department’s construction of new wells, the location of each well shall be jointly evaluated by the Technical Group as to the potential impact of its operation on the valley’s vegetation and environment. The evaluation shall include the drilling of one or more test holes, if needed, to develop information on the hydrogeologic conditions at the site, an inventory and classification of vegetation that could be affected by the operation of the well, and the assessment of any other potential significant effects on the environment.
Each new well will generally reflect optimum design parameters considering location, economics, and current practice in the industry. The Department will schedule and contract for construction of the well.
An aquifer test of up to seventy-two (72) hours duration shall be conducted on each new well. One existing or new monitoring well with appropriate perforations is necessary for the aquifer test. The Technical Group shall determine the location of this monitoring well and the need for any additional monitoring wells and the length of the aquifer test.
All data generated from the well construction process shall promptly be made available to the County. The County shall make application for and obtain any well construction permits required by the County or any subdivision thereof.
It is recognized that this new well program may result in a change in the areas that would be affected by pumping from existing wells. Therefore, additional monitoring of groundwater tables and vegetation shall be implemented as necessary outside of existing management areas and monitoring requirements shall be altered or created as necessary. The Technical Group shall designate a management area and monitoring site requirements for each new well. The siting and the operation of the well shall be consistent with these goals and principles.
Only one well initially shall be constructed and operated in any new area. No additional well(s) shall be installed in the area until the initial well has been operated for at least six (6) months at full intended operational capacity in order to gain information on the area and to minimize the potential for adverse impacts.
During this initial period of operation, the Technical group shall monitor water levels and vegetation conditions
in accordance with a jointly developed monitoring program. Additional wells may be installed by the Department in the area if operation of the initial well indicates no impacts that would be inconsistent with these goals and principles. Monitoring wells shall be installed as necessary to evaluate any potential effects of the operation of the new well or wells on wells not owned by the Department.
A current program of replacing twelve (12) production wells with perforations only in a lower zone may be continued. (Six (6) replacement wells have been drilled and six (6) wells are scheduled to be drilled during the 1990-91 fiscal year.)
Any production wells that are to be permanently removed from service shall be converted into properly sealed monitoring wells or shall be abandoned in accordance with state water well standards. The sealing of a monitoring well shall be designed to prevent cross flow between aquifers.
The EIR describes the impacts of the construction and operation of fifteen (15) new wells. The construction and operation of any new wells not described in the EIR will be the subject of a subsequent CEQA review.
The Technical Group may agree that some existing wells that now supply enhancement/mitigation projects be converted to Department production wells. Wells that are the only source of supply for an enhancement/mitigation project shall not be converted. Water for the enhancement/mitigation project formerly supplied by a converted well will be supplied as necessary from Department production wells. Any enhancement/mitigation well converted to a production well could later be reverted to an enhancement/mitigation well if agreed to by the Technical Group.
VII. GROUNDWATER PUMPING ON THE BISHOP CONE
A. Any groundwater pumping by the Department on the “Bishop Cone” (Cone) shall be in strict adherence to the provisions of the Stipulation and Order filed on the 26th day of August, 1940, in Inyo County Superior Court in the case of Hillside Water Company, a corporation, et al. vs. The City of Los Angeles, a Municipal Corporation, et al., (“Hillside Decree”).
Before the Department may increase groundwater pumping above present levels, or construct any new wells on the Cone, the Technical Group must agree on a method for determining the exact amount of water annually used on Los Angeles-owned lands on the Cone. The agreed upon method shall be based on a jointly conducted audit of such water uses.
The Department’s annual groundwater extractions from the Cone shall be limited to an amount not greater than the total amount of water used on Los Angeles-owned lands on the Cone during that year. Annual groundwater extractions by the Department shall be the total of all groundwater pumped by the Department on the Cone, plus the amount of artesian water that flowed out of the casing of uncapped wells on the Cone during the year. Water used on Los Angeles-owned lands on the Cone, shall be the quantity of water supplied to such lands, including conveyance losses, less any return flow to the aqueduct system.
B. The overall management goals and principles and the specific goals and principles for each vegetation classification of this Stipulation and Order apply to vegetation on the Cone.
VIII. GROUNDWATER RECHARGE FACILITIES
It is recognized that development of new groundwater storage, and the implementation and operation of feasible groundwater banking and recharge facilities in the Owens Valley and in the Rose Valley that will not cause significant effects on the environment may be beneficial. The development of any such facilities in the Owens Valley and in Rose Valley are subject to agreement of the Inyo County Board of Supervisors and the Department, acting through the Standing Committee. The Inyo County Board of Supervisors shall not unreasonably refuse to agree to a feasible groundwater banking facility that will not cause significant decrease or change in vegetation or a significant effect on the environment. The EIR describes the implementation of selected groundwater recharge facilities. The operation of such facilities shall be consistent with these goals and principles. The development of any future groundwater recharge and extraction facilities not covered by the EIR will be the subject of a subsequent “CEQA” review.
IX. COOPERATIVE STUDIES
It is recognized that additional cooperative studies related to the effects of groundwater pumping on the environment of the Owens Valley are necessary. The reasonable costs of studies implemented under the Stipulation and Order or the Green Book shall be funded by the Department. If necessary, such funding will be in addition to funds provided under section XIV below.
Projects and Other Provisions
X. ENHANCEMENT/MITIGATION PROJECTS
All existing enhancement/mitigation projects will continue unless the Inyo County Board of Supervisors and the Department, acting through the Standing Committee agree to modify or discontinue a project. Periodic evaluations of the projects shall be made by the Technical Group. Subject to the provisions of section VI, enhancement/mitigation projects shall continue to be supplied by enhancement/mitigation wells as necessary. New enhancement projects will be implemented if such projects are approved by the Inyo County Board of Supervisors and the Department, acting through the Standing Committee.
XI. TOWN WATER SYSTEMS
Los Angeles shall transfer ownership of the water systems in the towns of Lone Pine, Independence, and Laws to the County or to another Owens Valley public entity or entities. The transfer of ownership will be for a price of one dollar ($1.00) per water system. The method of transfer will be a lease purchase agreement wherein the transfer of the ownership of each system will be complete at the end of five (5) years from the date of entry of this Stipulation and Order.
Prior to the transfer of the water systems, the County and the Department will jointly select and will have an independent engineering firm inspect each of the systems for compliance with all applicable requirements (including water quality) of the California Department of Health Services and other agencies, and perform a structural assessment of the Independence Reservoir including its ability to withstand seismic events. The costs of this inspection shall be funded by the Department. Prior to the transfer of the systems, the Department will make any repairs or alterations necessary to bring each distribution system into compliance with all such applicable requirements.
During the five (5) year lease period, Los Angeles shall be responsible for the operation and maintenance of the wells, pumps, reservoirs and chlorination equipment supplying the water systems of the three towns. Treated water shall be supplied by the Department as needed to each of the three town water systems at no cost up to the annual amounts set forth below:
The County (or other public entity operating the water system) shall pay the Department for water used in excess of these totals in an amount that would reflect the actual incremental cost to the Department of operating and maintaining the wells and reservoirs to provide the excess amount.
Also during the five (5) year lease period, the Department will improve the Independence town reservoir, if needed, to provide a facility with an expected service life of at least fifteen (15) years with routine maintenance and that meets all applicable Department of Health Services requirements. Further, the Department, at its option, shall either upgrade the reservoir as needed to meet seismic requirements as agreed upon by the Inyo County Board of Supervisors and the Department, or shall fully repair any damage to the reservoir caused by earthquake during a fifteen (15) year period following the transfer of the water system. The Lone Pine reservoir shall be replaced by the Department with a new reservoir with a five hundred thousand (500,000) gallon capacity. (Once a replacement well and the new reservoir are in service, groundwater shall no longer be exported via the Los Angeles aqueduct from the wells supplying the Lone Pine Water System.)
During the five (5) year lease period, the County or the public entity or entities shall set the water rates for the three town water systems, operate and maintain all components of the water systems (except the wells, pumps, chlorination equipment, and reservoirs), begin the transition for operating and maintaining the chlorination equipment, handle all billing and related matters, and establish a capital reserve fund for replacement of components of the systems in the event of emergency or deterioration.
At the end of the five (5) year lease period, the County or other public entity or entities shall assume total ownership and operation of each town water system, except that the Department shall continue to own and operate the wells. The Department shall supply untreated water to each water system at no cost up to the annual amounts described above. The County (or other public entity) operating each water system shall pay the Department for water used in excess of these totals in an amount that reflects the actual incremental costs of supplying water in excess of these totals.
It is recognized that Los Angeles has leased the town water system in Big Pine to the Big Pine Community Services District. It also is recognized that the lease requires certain considerations favorable to the District in the event of a permanent transfer of the town water systems in the other Owens Valley towns as part of an overall settlement of litigation. In view of this, the same benefits and opportunities will be provided to the Big Pine water system as are available to the three other Owens Valley water systems. This includes providing untreated water to the system without charge up to five hundred (500) acre feet per year.
XII. LOWER OWENS RIVER
The parties, together with the California Department of Fish and Game will complete a management plan that is now in preparation for the Lower Owens River by June 1, 1992. The County and the Department shall actively seek to secure funding for the construction and operation of the Lower Owens River project from the State of California and from other funding sources. Construction of the project shall be commenced by the Department within three (3) years after Court approval of this Stipulation and Order unless otherwise agreed by the Inyo County Board of Supervisors and the Department. Prior to implementation, the project will be the subject of a CEQA review separate from the EIR which describes this Stipulation and Order.
The project plan will include the construction of a pumpback station from the river near Keeler Bridge to the Los Angeles aqueduct. The pumpback system will be capable of pumping up to fifty cubic feet per second (50 cfs) from the river to the aqueduct. Due to seasonal fluctuation in the flow of the river, the average annual pumping in any year will not exceed approximately thirty-five cubic feet per second (35 cfs). The plan will also provide that water releases would be made to the river above Blackrock Gate on the Los Angeles aqueduct (but below the aqueduct intake), that the existence of off-river lakes and ponds now supplied by the existing project will be continued, and for a water release from the pumpback station to supply the southern end of the river and the Delta. It is recognized that the release to the southern end of the river and the Delta may be constrained by the legal requirements concerning the Department’s release of water to Owens Lake.
In addition to the above, the management plan will provide for, but not be limited to, the following:
– The water flow and schedules needed to maintain a healthy and productive warm water fishery in the lower Owens River and in the off-river lakes and ponds.
– The specific water diversion and release points to supply the project.
– The locations of ponds and pools in and adjacent to the Lower Owens River, and the proposed methods to manage these to produce and maintain a viable fishery.
– The requirements for channel maintenance.
– The plans for fish stocking.
– The plans for tule and other plant control in the river and the off stream ponds and lakes.
The Department shall construct, operate, and maintain the pumpback system. The total cost of the construction of the pumpback system, new release structures, channel modifications, and other necessary work for initial operation of the project is estimated by the Department to be approximately seven and one-half million dollars ($7,500,000.00). The Department shall fund the initial construction costs of the project and the State of California, the County or other sources shall contribute fifty percent of actual costs up to three million seven hundred fifty thousand dollars ($3,750,000.00) to the Department. The Department shall pay for the annual cost of operating the pumpback system less any funds received from other non-County sources. Once the project has been constructed and completed, the Department and the County would jointly operate and fund the non-pumpback portions of the project.
In the event that Inyo County is required to fund any portion (up to $3.75 million) of the costs of constructing the Owens River pumpback system, Los Angeles shall loan Inyo County the amount of the County’s share of such costs. The County shall repay such loan without interest and shall make annual payments in the amount of three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000.00) until the loan is fully repaid.
XIII. HAIWEE RESERVOIRS
The Department shall conduct and finance seismic studies required by the California State Department of Water Resources to determine if South Haiwee Dam can be safely operated at reduced storage levels. If such operations are allowed, the Department and the County shall develop a recreation plan for South Haiwee reservoir, and the Department shall open this facility to public recreation pursuant to the plan. The recreation plan will be implemented and operated by the County or by a concessionaire.
In the event that the continued operation of South Haiwee is not allowed, the parties shall jointly develop a recreation plan for North Haiwee Reservoir and such plan will be implemented if it is feasible to do so. Any plan must take into consideration Los Angeles’ operating and security needs. The plan must also take into consideration the fluctuations of water levels and the requirements for water treatment.
XIV. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
A. SALT CEDAR CONTROL
The Department shall provide funding to the County for an initial three (3) year salt cedar control effort and for an annual maintenance and control effort in the Owens Valley area. This effort shall be conducted by Inyo County. The salt cedar control effort will be commenced as soon as feasible following entry of this Stipulation and Order.
The initial salt cedar control effort will be focused on those acres on the valley floor identified in Technical Group’s “Salt Cedar Control Study Report” as having a high density of salt cedar composition. The following is the priority for implementation of control:
1. Lower Owens River channel
2. Tinemaha Reservoir and Owens Valley north of Tinemaha Reservoir
3. Perennial streams, canals, and ditches
4. Springs and seep areas
5. High water table meadows
6. Spreading areas that normally receive water
7. Spreading areas that receive water only in very high runoff years
The annual control program will be based on the same control priorities as described above. The funding of the initial three (3) year program shall be three hundred fifty thousand dollars ($350,000.00) for the first year and two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000.00) for the second and third years. A three hundred fifty thousand dollar ($350,000.00) payment shall be made by the Department to the County within sixty (60) days of entry of this Stipulation and Order. Thereafter, the second and the third year payments shall be made by twelve (12) months and twenty-four (24) months after the first payment, respectively.
The first annual maintenance and control effort payment shall be made to the County by July 10th following the making of the last payment of the initial three (3) year program. This payment shall be in the amount of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000.00). Thereafter, each annual payment shall be made by July 10th, and the amount of each payment shall be the previous year’s payment adjusted upward or downward each year in accordance with the Los Angeles – Anaheim – Riverside All Urban Consumers Price Index or its successor. The maximum adjustment shall not exceed five (5) percent in any year. The annual payment shall be placed in trust by the County and will be used only for the purposes of salt cedar control. If, at anytime, one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000.00) or more is accumulated in the trust, the Department shall not be required to make an additional payment until such time as the funds in the trust are less than fifty thousand dollars ($50,000.00) on June 30th of any year. The annual funding for salt cedar would continue unless the Inyo County Board of Supervisors and the Department, through the Standing Committee, agree that the salt cedar control program is to be reduced in scale or terminated. It is recognized that even with an initial and an annual control effort, salt cedar may not be fully controlled in the Owens Valley.
B. PARK REHABILITATION, DEVELOPMENT, AND MAINTENANCE
The Department shall provide funding as provided herein to the County for rehabilitation of existing County parks and campgrounds, development of new County campgrounds, parks, and recreational facilities and programs, and for the annual operation and maintenance of existing and new facilities and programs. These facilities are now, and will be, located on lands owned by the City of Los Angeles.
During the ten (10) years following entry of this Stipulation and Order, the County will rehabilitate certain existing parks and campgrounds and develop certain new parks, campgrounds, recreational facilities and programs. These facilities will be developed in accordance with a master plan now being prepared by the County, or in accordance with any future plans developed by the County.
Among the first facilities considered for rehabilitation will be the Pleasant Valley Campground, the Baker Creek Campground, Dehy Park, and Diaz Lake. Among the first new facilities and programs considered for development will be certain campgrounds along the Owens River from Pleasant Valley Reservoir to the Owens River Delta, and a recreational use and management plan for that reach of the Owens River. The construction of new facilities and any significant changes in existing facilities will be subject to a CEQA review.
During this ten (10) year period, the Department shall provide up to two million dollars ($2,000,000.00) to the County for the above purposes. The amount of funds provided in any year shall be based upon the work to be undertaken on such activities by the County during that year. The funds provided may only be used by the County for the purposes described in the above text.
To financially assist the County in the operation and maintenance of existing and new parks, recreational facilities and programs operated by the County on lands owned by the City of Los Angeles, the Department shall make an annual payment to the County. The initial payment shall be made within sixty (60) days of entry of this Stipulation and Order. If the entry of this Stipulation and Order occurs during the month of July, the payment would be one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00). If entry of this Stipulation and Order occurs between August 1st and June 30th, the payment shall be the sum of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00) prorated. The proration shall be based upon the month of the July-June fiscal year when entry of this Stipulation and Order occurs. For example, if entry of this Stipulation and Order occurs in either January or June, the payment would be five twelfths of one hundred thousand dollars (5/12 of $100,000.00), or one twelfth of one hundred thousand dollars (1/12 of $100,000.00), respectively.
After the initial payment, an annual payment shall be made by July 10th of each year, and the amount of the payment for the first full fiscal year following final approval shall be one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00). Each year thereafter, the amount of the annual payment shall be the previous year’s payment adjusted upward or downward each year in accordance with the Los Angeles – Anaheim – Riverside All Urban Consumers Price Index or its successor. The maximum adjustment shall not exceed five (5) percent in any year. The annual funding shall be placed in trust by the County and shall be used only for the purposes of operation and maintenance of existing and new parks, recreational facilities and programs. If at anytime three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000.00) or more were to be accumulated in the trust, the Department shall not be required to make an additional annual payment until such time as the funds in the trust are less than one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00) as of June 30th of any year. This annual funding shall continue unless the Inyo County Board of Supervisors and the Department agree that the operation and maintenance program is to be reduced in scale or terminated.
C. WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVITIES
The Department shall assist the County in funding water and environmentally related activities by making an annual payment to the County. The first payment shall be made within sixty (60) days of approval of this Stipulation and Order by both the County and Los Angeles. The amount of the first payment shall be the sum of eight hundred twenty thousand five hundred eighty dollars ($820,580.00) minus the amount of any previous payments made by the Department to the County for these activities during the 1991-92 fiscal year.
After the initial payment, an annual payment shall be made by July 10th of each subsequent year. The amount of the first such payment shall be eight hundred twenty thousand five hundred eighty dollars ($820,580.00) adjusted upward or downward in accordance with the Los Angeles – Anaheim – Riverside All Urban Consumers Price Index or its successor. Each year thereafter, the amount of the annual payment shall be the amount of the previous year’s payment adjusted in accordance with said consumer’s price index. The maximum adjustment shall not exceed five (5) percent in any year. Annual funding shall be placed in trust by the County and shall be used only for purposes of operation and maintenance of water and environmentally related activities. If at anytime one million five hundred thousand dollars ($1,500,000.00) or more is accumulated in the trust, the Department shall not be required to make an additional annual payment until the funds in the trust are less than eight hundred twenty thousand five hundred eighty dollars ($820,580.00) as of June 30th of any year.
This annual funding will be discontinued as of the date of a final decision by a court to disapprove this Stipulation and Order. This annual funding shall continue unless the Inyo County Board of Supervisors and the Department agree that the program is to be reduced in scale or terminated.
D. GENERAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO THE COUNTY
To assist the County in providing services to its citizens, the Department shall make an annual contribution to the County. The first contribution shall be made within sixty (60) days of approval of this Stipulation and Order by both the County and Los Angeles. The amount of the first payment shall be the sum of one million two hundred twenty-one thousand six hundred eighty-five dollars ($1,221,685.00) minus the amount of any previous contributions made by the Department to the County for these services during the 1991-92 fiscal year.
After the initial contribution, an annual contribution payment shall be made by July 10th of each subsequent year. The amount of the first annual contribution payment shall be one million two hundred twenty-one thousand six hundred eighty-five dollars ($1,221,685.00) adjusted in accordance with the formula for assessment of Los Angeles-owned property as set forth in present Article XIII, Section 11 of the California Constitution. Each year thereafter, the amount of the annual contribution payment shall be the amount of the previous year’s payment adjusted in accordance with said formula.
In the event that Los Angeles’ existing geothermal leases in the Coso Geothermal area of Inyo County are developed in such a manner that the County receives possessory interest taxes on such leases, such taxes received by the County shall be credited to the Department for up to one-half of the total annual general financial contribution to the County. Such credit shall only be made if the possessory interest taxes received are not subject to a claim for refund, legal challenges, or to refund for other reasons.
These annual contribution payments will be discontinued as of the date of a final decision by a court to disapprove this Stipulation and Order.
E. BIG PINE DITCH SYSTEM
The Department shall provide up to one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00) for reconstruction and upgrading of the ditch system and for construction of additional ditches to supply additional properties in the town of Big Pine. The ditch system must be planned, constructed, operated, and maintained by a Big Pine entity or organization separate from the Department or the County, except for existing ditches on Los Angeles-owned land which will continue to be maintained by the Department. This entity or organization must obtain all necessary rights of way prior to construction.
The Department shall make a flow of up to six (6) cfs available to supply the ditch system with water. This is in addition to water now diverted for use by Big Pine Water Association members. Water to replace any water used by this project will come from a new well, which will be constructed by the Department west of Big Pine. This well may also supply water to the Big Pine Water System.
The stockholders of the Big Pine Water Association must approve the use of existing ditches. The Department (a stockholder) shall not unreasonably refuse such approval, or unreasonably refuse the right to use or modify existing ditches on Los Angeles-owned property. Water rights of all stockholders must be protected and current water delivery rates maintained.
Provisions will be made to insure that the project funds will only be made available to an appropriate entity or organization and only will be made available as construction of the Big Pine ditch system or other approved projects progresses. Any costs of constructing the ditch system in excess of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00), must be secured prior to commencement of funding of the construction of the ditch system. Project funds would only be made available if substantial construction of the ditch system is commenced within two (2) years of the entry of this Stipulation and Order. If such construction is not commenced within this two year period, unless otherwise agreed by the Inyo County Board of Supervisors and the Department, through the Standing Committee, the funds shall be used for a project other than a ditch system. If less than $100,000 is expended on the ditch system, or if no ditch system is constructed, the unexpended difference may be used by the Big Pine entity or organization on other projects in Big Pine that have been approved in advance by the Department and the Inyo County Board of Supervisors, acting through the Standing Committee.
F. PARK AND ENVIRONMENTAL ASSISTANCE TO CITY OF BISHOP
To financially assist the City of Bishop in the operation and maintenance of its park and other environmentally related activities, the Department shall make an annual payment to the City of Bishop. The first annual payment shall be made within sixty (60) days of entry of this Stipulation and Order. If entry of this Stipulation and Order occurs in the month of July, the payment will be one hundred twenty-five thousand dollars ($125,000.00). If entry of this Stipulation and Order occurs between August 1st and June 30th, the payment shall be the sum of one hundred twenty-five thousand dollars ($125,000.00) prorated as set forth in paragraph B above. Thereafter, the annual payment shall be made by July 10th of each year, and the amount of each payment shall be the previous year’s payment adjusted upward or downward each year in accordance with the Los Angeles – Anaheim – Riverside All Urban Consumers Price Index or its successor. The maximum adjustment will not exceed five (5) percent in any year. Except as provided below, Inyo County shall make an annual payment to the City of Bishop in an amount equal to the payment made by the Department during that year; provided however, in any given year this obligation of the County shall be completely satisfied by its payment to the City of Bishop pursuant to Inyo County Code Section 3.40.010 et seq. (transaction and use tax) regardless of the amount of such payment.
XV. RELEASE OF CITY OWNED LANDS
A. INYO COUNTY
Inyo County, in order to provide for the future orderly development of towns within the County, has requested Los Angeles to offer for sale seventy-five (75) acres of Los Angeles-owned land within the general areas designated by the boundaries noted on the maps attached as Exhibit B . In order to cooperate with the County’s request, Los Angeles agrees to offer for sale, either at public auction or to the County for public purposes, said seventy-five (75) acres, consistent with the requirements of the Los Angeles City Charter for the sale of real property. To ensure that any sales of the seventy-five (75) acres furthers the County efforts for the orderly development of the towns within Inyo County, the parties further agree to jointly confer on the location of, and the schedule for, the sale of each parcel pursuant to this paragraph. As part of such orderly development, the parties further agree that prior to the sale of any such parcels, there must be available a public water system to serve such property after its sale.
Because the location of the proposed sale of the seventy-five (75) acres is sufficiently determined in this Stipulation and Order, by its approval of this document, Los Angeles City Council grants approval, as required by the Los Angeles City Charter, for the Board of Water and Power Commissioners to subsequently engage in the actual sale of individual parcels. The terms of each sale will be subject to approval by the Los Angeles City Council.
The area of any property that is undeveloped as of the date of entry of this Stipulation and Order, located within the designated release areas, and sold by Los Angeles after entry of this Stipulation and Order will be credited against the seventy-five (75) acre total. Each such sale is subject to a CEQA review.
B. CITY OF BISHOP
In addition to the sales described above, Los Angeles will sell at public auction, or sell directly to the City of Bishop or the Bishop Community Redevelopment Agency, properties within the Bishop City limits totaling twenty-six (26) acres of surplus Los Angeles-owned land. Such sales are subject to the Los Angeles City Charter. The location of each property and the schedule for sale must be agreed upon by the City of Bishop and Los Angeles. Each parcel sold must be located within general areas designated by boundaries on the attached map. Authorization to sell up to twenty-six (26) acres of surplus properties within designated release areas is granted by the Los Angeles City Council by its approval of this Stipulation and Order. By this approval, the Department’s Board of Water and Power Commissioners is authorized to act on behalf of the City in approving and conducting such sales. However, the terms of each sale will be subject to approval by the Los Angeles City Council. Each sale is subject to a CEQA review. Nothing in these concepts precludes the City of Los Angeles and the City of Bishop from reaching an agreement for the sale of all or part of the twenty-six (26) acres prior to entry of this Stipulation and Order. Any land so sold will be credited against the twenty-six (26) acre total.
C. ADDITIONAL SALES
In addition to the above described sales, upon request of the Inyo County Board of Supervisors or the Bishop City Council, Los Angeles shall negotiate in good faith for the sale at public auction of additional surplus Los Angeles-owned land in or near valley towns for specific identified needs. Any such sales shall occur subsequent to those described above. A precondition of a sale would be that a public water system must be available to serve each property after its sale. Each such sale would be subject to a CEQA review. It is recognized that such sales at public auction may take considerable time, and that such sales require approval of the Department’s Board and the Los Angeles City Council, and must be in compliance with the Los Angeles City Charter. Decisions on this matter by the Department’s Board of Commissioners and the Los Angeles City Council shall not be subject to dispute resolution.
D. LANDS FOR PUBLIC PURPOSES
Los Angeles shall negotiate in good faith for the sale or lease to the County of any Los Angeles-owned land requested by the County for use as a public park or for other public purposes. Any sale of land shall be at fair market value and any land sold must be within or adjacent to valley towns.
E. WITHDRAWN LANDS
Because of the above provisions for land releases, Inyo County will support passage of withdrawn land legislation pertaining to federally owned lands in Inyo County. Such legislation is to be in substantially the same form as the draft of such legislation discussed by the parties in the fall of 1987, except that the proposed legislation will be modified to allow lands in Rose Valley which might be used in conjunction with a groundwater storage program to remain in withdrawn status. The County will support such legislation even though the status of such withdrawn lands is under review by the Federal Bureau of Land Management as part of the new Bishop Resources Area Management Plan.
XVI. LEGISLATIVE COORDINATION
Except as provided below, the County and Los Angeles shall refrain from seeking or supporting any legislation, administrative regulation, or litigation that would weaken or strengthen local or state authority to regulate groundwater or that would affect any provision of this Stipulation and Order.
A. Neither the County nor Los Angeles may sponsor, take a support position, or seek to amend any legislation or administrative regulation or initiate any litigation that would directly affect any provision of this Stipulation and Order or that would weaken or strengthen local authority to regulate groundwater unless such sponsorship, support, amended position or litigation is first approved by the other party.
B. Neither the County nor Los Angeles may take a position in opposition to any legislation or administrative regulation that could directly affect any provision of this Stipulation and Order or that would weaken or strengthen local authority to regulate groundwater without first notifying the other party and attempting to reach concurrence on the proposed course of action. Failure to reach agreement on the proposed course of action will not preclude either party from opposing such legislation.
XVII. EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION AND ACCESS
The County and the Department shall make any data or information in its possession that reasonably pertains to purposes of this Stipulation and Order available to the other party on reasonable notice. The County and the Department recognize that such a free exchange of data and information is essential to the purposes of this Stipulation and Order.
The County and the Department shall provide to the other party reasonable access to its wells, water conveyance, metering devices, control structures, etc. for the purpose of such independent monitoring and inspection as is necessary to carry out the implementation of this Stipulation and Order.
XVIII. HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE PROJECTS
Any project implemented pursuant to California Health and Safety Code section 42316 is not a part of this Stipulation and Order.
XIX. LEASE CHARGES
Los Angeles or its Department shall have the right to seek and use funding from a lessee if a new enhancement/mitigation project is developed on lands leased by the lessee from Los Angeles and the project will increase the value of the lease. Such funding may be obtained through normal Department ranch leasing practices.
Except as provided above, lease charges and/or charges for water supplied by Los Angeles and its Department to its Owens Valley lessees may not be increased or decreased, or altered in any way, as a result of any provision of this Stipulation and Order. This provision is not to be construed as preventing rent increases which the City may determine to implement in the ordinary course of business following its usually applicable practices and principles in the determination of the need for rent increases, capitalization of improvements, or land reclassification.
XX. HOLD HARMLESS
The County and the Department and the City of Los Angeles shall keep and hold each other free and harmless from any and all cost, liability, damage, or expense including cost of suit or expense for legal service claimed by anyone by reason of injury or damage to person or properties sustained in or on or about any enhancement/mitigation project, mitigation measure, or monitoring site as proximate result of acts or omissions of a party, its agents, servants or employees, or arising out of any condition of the property occupied by an enhancement/mitigation project, mitigation measure or monitoring site or arising out of the operation of the parties upon, about or above the property occupied by an enhancement/mitigation project, mitigation measure or monitoring site.
Except as may be provided above, this provision does not, and shall not be construed to require the County of Inyo, its employees, agents, or consultants to keep and hold harmless the City of Los Angeles, its Department, or any of their employees, agents, or consultants, from any cost, liability or damage, or other relief claimed or sought by anyone, or any organization or entity, that arises out of the Department’s water gathering activities in Owens Valley, including its groundwater pumping and its surface water management, or that arises out of the management of its lands by the City of Los Angeles.
XXI. NO EFFECT ON NON-PARTY LEGAL RIGHTS
This stipulation and Order is not a limitation of the legal rights of any person, organization, or entity that is not a party to this Stipulation and Order, nor does it create a binding administrative remedy that must be pursued and exhausted prior to the exercise of any legal right by such non-parties to this Stipulation and Order.
XXII. NO EFFECT ON EXISTING WATER RIGHTS
Any water right of either the County or of Los Angeles or of any other person existing prior to the entry of this Stipulation and Order will not be adversely affected, directly of indirectly, by this Stipulation and Order. No water right of any kind, including but not limited to prescriptive water rights, nor any claim thereto, shall arise or be created in favor of or against any party or other person, directly or indirectly, as a result of this Stipulation and Order.
XXIII. FUTURE AQUEDUCT CAPACITY
Los Angeles and its Department shall not construct a third aqueduct to carry water from Inyo County or enlarge the capacity of the two existing aqueducts above the maximum flow in each aqueduct that occurred before July 1, 1989. The maximum flow for each aqueduct is set forth in the Department’s Daily Flow Records.
XXIV. ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF WATER SUPPLY UNCERTAINTIES
Los Angeles and the County acknowledge that there are certain risks in maintaining current and projected water supplies to Los Angeles. These foreseeable risks are a possible reduction in diversions by Los Angeles from the Mono Basin, contamination of the San Fernando Valley Groundwater Basin, uncertainty in the amount of water exports from the Sacramento/San Joaquin Delta, a reduction in now available Colorado River supplies to Southern California and reasonably foreseeable population growth in Los Angeles and California. Such foreseeable risks shall not be a basis for a future request to a court to terminate this Stipulation and Order absent agreement by the Inyo County Board of Supervisors, the Department, and the City of Los Angeles.
XXV. MODIFICATIONS
If, as a result of information gained from ongoing research or cooperative studies, or for other reasons as may be necessary to better achieve the goals of this Stipulation and Order, or for purposes of improving the monitoring and evaluation activities, the Department and the Inyo County Board of Supervisors, by agreement, may modify: 1) any provision of the Green Book, including its provisions for monitoring sites, the type of monitoring, and the interpretation of monitoring results; 2) the Management Areas (section I); 3) the Management Maps (section II); and 4) the soil moisture “triggering mechanism” for turning off wells (sections V.A, B, and C), including a substitution of an entirely new “triggering mechanism.” A disagreement over such a modification shall be subject to dispute resolution. The remaining provisions of this Stipulation and Order, other than those identified above, may be modified by agreement between the Department and the Inyo County Board of Supervisors, and approval of such modification by the Court. Approval by the Court shall be upon written noticed motion. Notice shall be given in accordance with California Civil Procedure Section 1005, and published in Los Angeles and Inyo counties in accordance with Government Code Section 6062a.
XXVI. DISPUTE RESOLUTION
A. SUBJECT MATTER
Subjects of dispute resolution include, but are not limited to:
1. Whether a decrease or change in vegetation or a potential significant effect on the environment is attributable to groundwater pumping or a change in surface water management practices.
2. Whether a significant decrease or change in vegetation or a significant effect on the environment has occurred.
3. A reclassification of vegetation inside or outside a management area.
4. The location of monitoring sites or monitoring wells, the type of monitoring to be conducted at a site, or the interpretation of monitoring results.
5. A change in the contents of the “Green Book.”
6. The need for mitigation or type of mitigation.
7. The linkage of wells to monitoring sites and the area of the monitoring site where soil water must recover.
8. A disagreement over whether or not the “triggering mechanism” based on soil moisture should be modified or changed to a different triggering concept.
9. Whether a well turned off under the provisions of section V should be turned on.
10. Consistency of a proposed pumping program with the goals and principals of this Stipulation and Order.
11. Disagreements over additional cooperative studies.
12. Whether water quality or water levels in a well not owned by the Department has been significantly adversely affected by groundwater pumping by the Department.
13. Any other matter covered by or arising out of the Stipulation and Order or the Green Book.
B. TECHNICAL GROUP AND STANDING COMMITTEE
Disputes between the parties arising out of this Stipulation and Order or the Green Book shall be submitted to the Technical Group and the Standing Committee for resolution as follows:
1. Technical Group Requirements
Within fourteen (14) calendar days of the receipt of a written request from either party, the Technical Group shall convene for the purpose of attempting to resolve a disagreement over a matter which is to be decided by the Technical Group, or upon which the Technical Group is required to make a recommendation to the Standing Committee. If the Technical Group agrees on a resolution, that agreement shall be submitted to the Standing Committee for consideration and implementation if concurred with by the Standing Committee. In the event that the Technical Group is unable to resolve a matter, or is unable to make a unanimous recommendation to the Standing Committee, the Technical Group shall make a written report to the Standing committee explaining the areas of agreement, if any, the subject or subjects of disagreement, and each party’s argument in favor of its position along with supporting data and background. This report shall be made within seven (7) calendar days after the Technical Group meeting, unless the Technical Group by unanimous vote, agrees to a longer time period.
2. Standing Committee Requirements
Within fourteen (14) calendar days of the receipt of such a written report of disagreement from the Technical Group, the Standing Committee shall convene concerning the subject of the report. Additionally, within fourteen (14) days of receipt of a written request from either party, the Standing Committee shall convene for the purpose of hearing any matter which is to be determined by the Standing Committee, or a disagreement between the parties.
C. MEDIATION/TEMPORARY ARBITRATION
If the Standing Committee is unable to resolve a dispute or claim within twenty-one (21) days of the receipt of a Technical Group report or a written request to meet, either party may submit the disputes or claims for mediation/temporary arbitration. Such a submittal shall be made by so notifying the Standing Committee in writing.
Mediation/temporary arbitration shall be conducted by three (3) mediators unless a single mediator is agreed upon by the Standing Committee. One (1) mediator shall be selected by Inyo County and one (1) mediator shall be selected by the Department. The two (2) mediators selected by the parties shall select a third mediator.
In the event of mediation, each party will pay their own costs and one-half of the costs of the mediation. If, by the forty-fifth (45th) day after a party has invoked mediation, there is no mediated resolution, the mediators shall present written findings to the Standing Committee. These findings shall be submitted to the Standing Committee not later than the sixtieth (60th) day after mediation was invoked by a party. Unless otherwise agreed by the Standing Committee, the County and the Department shall immediately implement and follow the findings of the mediators. Any recommendation or finding of the mediators must be based upon the “goals” and “principles” and other provisions of this Stipulation and Order, the Green Book, or the EIR.
D. SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE
If a dispute or claim has not been resolved through mediation/temporary arbitration, a party may submit that dispute or claim for resolution to the Superior Court Judge then assigned to Inyo County Superior Court Case No. 12908, by filing with the Judge, and serving upon the other party, a memorandum which sets forth the disagreement, the party’s contentions, its argument in favor of its position, and any supporting evidence and points and authorities. The memorandum shall be filed and served within fifteen (15) calendar days after the issuance of written findings by the mediators unless both parties agree in writing to a longer time period. The other party may file a responsive memorandum that sets forth its view of the disagreement, its contentions, its arguments in favor of its position, and any supporting evidence and points and authorities. Such a memorandum shall be filed and served upon the other party within fifteen (15) days of the service of the initiating papers.
Not later than fifteen (15) calendar days after service of any responsive memorandum, or of the date for serving such a memorandum if none is filed, the parties shall file with the Judge a joint memorandum setting forth all the relevant factual and legal issues upon which they agree, and all the factual and legal issues to be resolved, together with any additional supporting or rebutting evidence and any additional points and authorities. The Judge will set the matter for hearing, ordinarily within fifteen (15) calendar days after the date of filing the joint memorandum. The Judge shall endeavor to issue a decision on the unresolved factual and legal issues as soon as possible, ordinarily within twenty (20) days after the hearing.
Failure of a party to file the initiating memorandum with the Court within fifteen (15) calendar days, precludes a submission of the particular dispute or claim to the Judge.
In the event that the present Superior Court Judge presiding over Inyo County Superior Court Case No. 12908 ceases to act, the Chair of the Judicial Counsel shall be requested to assign a successor judge from a neutral County. The parties shall have the right of challenge pursuant to the California Code of Civil Procedure. The parties will at the time of the request attempt to nominate to the Chair of the Judicial Council a neutral judge or judges to serve as the successor judge.
E. EFFECT OF COURT RESOLUTION
The decision of the Judge shall be binding on the parties. No appeal of the Judge’s decision may be made, except as provided in California Code of Civil Procedure, section 1284, and sections 1285 through 1294.2, provided that the time limit to serve and file a petition to confirm pursuant to section 1288 shall be reduced to one hundred eighty (180) days.
XXVII. INYO SUPERIOR COURT CASE NO. 12883
Nothing in this Stipulation and Order shall affect Inyo County Superior Court Case No. 12883 (the EIR case brought by Los Angeles concerning Inyo County’s Groundwater Ordinance).
XXVIII. INYO SUPERIOR COURT CASE NO. 12908
A final order in Inyo County Superior Court Case No. 12908 on this Court’s ruling on Inyo County’s Groundwater Ordinance shall not be entered or filed. Additionally, during the term of this Stipulation and Order, the County, its agents, servants, officers and employees, and all other persons acting in concert with the County, are enjoined from applying, implementing, or enforcing in any manner whatsoever, the County of Inyo Owens Valley Groundwater Management Ordinance, enrolled as Chapter 7.01 of the Inyo County Code, and Inyo County Ordinance No. 395; provided however, that the Inyo County Water Department and Inyo County Water Commission may remain in existence to carry out the provisions of this Stipulation and Order. Further, during the term of this Stipulation and Order, the County will not seek any appellate review of the ruling, decision, or injunction of this Court in Inyo County Superior Court Case Number 12908.
XXIX. ENTRY OF JUDGMENT
Judgment implementing this Stipulation may be entered in accordance herewith without further notice to the parties.
XXX. PARAGRAPH HEADINGS
The paragraph titles herein are for convenience only and do not define, limit, or construe the contents of such paragraphs.
XXXI. NOTICES
Any notices hereunder from the County to the City and its Department shall be in writing and may be personally delivered or sent by certified mail to the following addresses:
Assistant General Manager – Water
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In 2011 the US National Research Council suggested a clean-up of what exponentially increasing debris problem, using magnets, nets, and giant umbrellas?
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Intellectual arithmetic, or, An analysis of the science of numbers, with especial reference to mental training and development. By Charles Davies, LL.D.
Intellectual arithmetic, or, An analysis of the science of numbers, with especial reference to mental training and development. By Charles Davies, LL.D.
Davies, Charles, 1798-1876.
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Page I INTELLECTUAL A RTHM _ETIC OI, AN ANXLYSIS OF TIlE SCIENCE OF NUMIBERSS WITH ESPECIAL RE FERENCE TO MENTAI. TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT BY CHARLES DAVIES, LL.D., LU'JTHOR OF A SERIES OF ARITHMETICS, ELEMENTARY ALGEBRt, ELEMENTS OF SURVEYING, ELEMENTS OF DESCRIPTIVE GEOMETRY. SHADES, SHADOWS, AND PERSPECTIVE, ANALYTICAL GEOMETRY, AND DIFFERENTIAL AND INTEGRAL CALCULUS. 1 O3 NEW YORK: PUBLISHED BY A. S. BARNES & CO, tlTI JM(LRE: J. WV. BOND & 0.-CINCINNATI: 11. W. DERBY. —HICAGo(... OOK & CO.-sBT. LOUIS: L. & A. CARR.-NEW ORLEANS: W. F'LDEMM'ING.-MOBILE: RANDALL & WILLIAMS.
Page II SUGGESTIONS. Tugs work is designed both for primary and advanced classes The first part is adapted to beginners, while the latter part is peculiarly fitted to give to the more advanced student that tiho rough mental drilling, in the Analysis of NVumbers, which fur nishes the true basis of all mathematical knowledge.'It is suggested that classes in Higher Arithmetic, and even in Algebra, not familiar with works of this kind, will be greatly benefited by a thorough exercise in this most important branch of mathematical science. The Teacher should require the class to dispense with their books at the time of recitation, He should read each example, and then call upon some member of the class to solve it. The pupil should rise and repeat the example in the same language used by the teacher, and should then proceed to analyze it. The analysis will be found to consist of three parts; two pro positions and a conclusion; thus: What will 4 barrels of cider cost at 3 dollars a barrel? 1ST PROPOSITION: Four barrels will cost 4 times as much as 1 barrel. 2D PROPOSITION: If I barrel costs 3 dollars, 4 barrels will cost 4 times 3 dollars, which-are 12 dollars: CONCLUSION: Therefore, 4 barrels of cider at 3 dollars a barrel, will cost 12 dollars. The pupil should never be allowed to omit either of the steps; and he should be required alwavs to adhere strictly to a correct and uniform phraseology in the analysis. The forms of analysis are thought to be of great service bot!: to the teacher and pupil. It is also suggested, that the pupil be thoroughly drilled is Lessons III. and IV., Sect. VII., ls bhey afford very valuable mental exercises and a great t:iOeti if Arithmetical processes Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year One Thousand Eiglt Hundred and Fifty-four, BY CHARLES DAVIES. In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the Southern District of New York.
Page III INTRODUCTION. EVERY book of instruction should have a specific object to which the entire work, both in matter and method, should strictly conform. It is the object of this book to train and develop the mind by means of the science of numbers. Numbers are the instruments here employed to, strengthen the mnemnory, to cultivate the faculty of abstraction and to give force and vigor to the reasoning powers. All our ideas of numbers are either of unity or of multiplicity —unity being the elementary idea from which all others are derived. A true analysis must conform to the nature of the subject analyzed. It must separate all the ideas and principles into their primary elements, and then explain and make manifest the laws by which these elements are connected with each other. Hence, the analysis of numbers must begin with the unit 1, —for this is the foundation, and the science is but the development of the various processes by which all other numbers are derived from 1, as a base, and a comparison of the base 1, with the numbers so derived. Every number has what we call a base: that is, "number being a collection of things* of the same kind," one of these things is the base of the number; and this thing, is called a unit. If we have the numl.
Page IV iV INTRODUCTION. her 3 hundred, we may consider it in several points of view: I st. It is one hundred taken 3 times, and if we regard one hundred as the base, then, the base is taken 3 tinmes to make up the number; and 100 is the unit. 2nrd. We may consider the number as made up cf 30 tens, and if we regard 10 as the base, then the base is taken 30 times; and 10 is the unit. 3rd. We may also consider the number as made up of 300 ones, in which, the base is 1, and the unit of the nuinmber 1. Again, if we analyze the number, cwt. qr. lb. oz. dr. 13 2 20 12 4 We see, that lcwt. is the base of 13cwt.; qgr. the base of 2qr.; llb. the base of 2016.; loz. the base of 12oz.; and ldr. the base of 4dr4.; and all these bases may be referred to 1 dram as a primary base; hence, as in simple numbers, every base may be referred to the unit 1: therefore, in every entire number, 1 is the primnary base. Let us see if the same be true in fractional numbers. If we have the fraction I it denotes: 1st. That something regarded as a whole has been divided into 8 equal parts: and, 2nd. That 7 of these parts are taken. In this collection of 7 things, (each of which is -), i is the base of the fiactional number; butt it is not the primary base; for 8 implies, either 8 of 1 or - of solme collection of l's; if a collection of l's we call tnat collection unity, which may be referred to the primary base 1: hlence, every number, either integral or fractional, has the Ztnit 1 for a primary base. A fractional number, therefore, is merely a collee
Page V INTRODUCTION. V tion of the equal parts of unity, and to one of these parts we give the name of fractional unil. The unlit which is divided is called the unit of the friaction, and may be a collection of units, (as what is 2 of 40?) or it may be the unit 1. The term UNITY, in mathematical science, is applied -to any number or quantity regarded as a whole: the term unit, in arithmetic, to any number which is used as the base of a collection. Thus, 10 is a unit of the second order, being the base for the collection of 10's 100 is a unit of the third order, being the base for the collection of hundreds, and similarly for other bases. Thus, also, in the fraction 7, 1 is the fractional unit, being the fractional base, while the primary base is the unit 1. Every arithmetical process, therefore, has a direct reference to the unit I; and with this view of the subject before him, the pupil always has the means of making a correct analysis. Addition is the process of finding a number which shall contain as many units, and no more, as are found in all the numbers added. Multiplication is taking one number, called the multiplioand, as many times as there are units in another number, called the multiplier, and the number which shows the result of such taking, is called the product: and similarly foer all other arithmetical processes. A clear conception of elementary principles, by which we mean, those principles that result from a final analysis, lies at the foundation of all knowledge. It is not till we get such conceptions, and have learned the laws by which they are connected, that we have acquired any thing deserving the name of science.
Page VI VI INTRODUCTION. To learn one thing at a time-to leain that thing thoroughly-and to learn its connections with other things are the golden steps that leadlo the temple of knowledge. It will be seen, in Lessons XVI. and XVII., Section VII., that UNITY has been em2loyed to denote any nlumber entering into an arithmetical question. This use of unity affords a powerful means of solving most questions which otherwise present great difficulties; uald is, it is believed, a link of closer connection between the subjects of arithmetic and algebra, than has before been used. It has been the author's aim, in the present work, to treat the subject of number in accordance with these principles, and to give to the whole a scientific form, ald logical development. That he might not fail in so difficult and delicate an undertaking, he has defined all tile termls, and given a full analysis of every process employed. The work is complete in itself. It is a mental analysis of the science of numbers, designed to be accessible to the youngest pupils because of its simple gradations, and useful to the advanced pupil because of its scientific arrangement, its logical connections and its higher analysis of the properties and relations of niumbers. In the preparation of this work, many valuable suggestions and methods have been furnished by practical teachers. They were cheerfully offered and thanklfully adopted. ELSHnKILL LANDING, Februaly, 1854.
Page 7 INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. SECT-ION FIRST. LESSON I. Counting. One, * O........ Two,........ o o.. Three,..... Four,.. - Five,........... -;.. * * Six, Seven,...-.. Eight,..... -,... -..: Nine,....... -. Ten,............. * * * *- i Eleven,.... e * - -9-i -~- - ~ Twelve,.... Thirteen,.... e.... ~ 3 ~ ~ > ~ Fourteen,.... ~ ~. _.~ ~ ~ Fifteen, -..... -.- Sixteen,....... - - -,Seventeen,. - Eighteen,. E,. "' ~ 8 i. ~ 9. Nineteen,, " 01+, 4-: Twenty,q.. - ~ D,- D, X.:,,' SUGGESTIONs.-There is but one simple idea in Arithmetic-it is the idea of the unit ONE,. Any collection of units is a number. Hence, every number is derived from one, and consequently has one for a base. Countmg is merely naming numbers. In this lesson, the names of nulmbers are written opposite the collection. How many units in four a In six apples, whaet is the, unit t What is the unit in seven pears? How many units in twelve peaches? What is the unit that is counted in the lesson? Eow nany stars in the 4th line? How many in the 14th? Fronm what are all numbers derived? What is the base of ivery number I
Page 8 8 INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. [SECo. LESSON II. Pigures front One to Twenty..................... 7.............. 14....... a 13............. *14.......~..~, -,- - 15.r, s a i4..........@c- ~ c> ~:~ > W -~s ~ ~-~ — YY~. 17.... 20 g. -. Which figure stands for two? Which figure stands for four? Which figure stands for nine? Which stands for eight? What stands for ten? What stands for twelve? What stands for fourteen? What stands for sixteen? What stands for eighteen? What stands for twenty? What stands fr seven. teen? What stands for fifteen? What stands for nineteen? WThat stands for thirteen? SuGeEsTIoNs.-This lesson is intended to teach that numhber may be expressed by figures, as well as by words. The teacher Should explain to the pupil that the figure 2 and the word two, have the same meaning, and similarly for every fig-ire and its corresponding word. Either the figure or the word, denotes m many units as its name points out.
Page 9 LES. III] INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. 9 LESSON III. Figures from One to One Hundred. Naught. 0 Thirty-four. 34 Sixty-eight. 68 One... 1 Thirty-five. 35 Sixty-nine. 69 Two.... 2 Thirty-six. 36 Seventy.. 70 Three... 3 Thirty-seven 37 Seventy-one. 71 Four... 4 Thirty-eight. 38 Seventy-two. 72 Five.. 5 Thirty-nine. 39 Seventy-three 73 Six.... 6 Forty... 40 Seventy-four 74 Seven... 7 Forty-one. 41 Seventy-five. 75 Eight.. 8 Forty-two. 42 Seventy-six. 76 Nine... 9 Forty-three. 43 Seventy-seven 77 Ten... 10 Forty-four. 44 Seventy-eight 78 Eleven.. 11 Forty-five. 45 Seventy-nine 79 Twelve.. 12 Forty-six.. 46 Eighty.. 80 Thirteen.. 13 Forty-seven. 47 Eighty-one. 81 Fourteen.. 14 Forty-eight. 48 Eighty-two. 82 Fifteen.. 15 Forty-nine. 49 Eighty-three 83 Sixteen.. 16 Fifty... 50 Eighty-four. 84 Seventeen. 17 Fifty-one.. 51 Eighty-five. 85 Eighteen..18 Fifty-two. 52 Eighty-six. 86 Nineteen.. 19 Fifty-three. 53 Eighty-seven 87 Twenty.. 20 Fifty-four. 54 Eighty-eight 88 Twenty-one. 21 Fifty-five. 55 Eighty-nine. 89 Twenty-two. 22 Fifty-six.. 56 Ninety.. 90 Twenty-three 23 Fifty-seven. 57 Ninety-one. 91 Twenty-four. 24 Fifty-eight. 58 Ninety-two. 92 Twenty-five. 25 Fifty-nine. 59 Ninety-three 93 Twenty-six. 26 Sixty... 60 Ninety-fiur. 94 Twenty-seven 27 Sixty-one. 61 Ninety-five. 95 Twenty-eight 28 Sixty-two. 62 Ninety-six. 96 Twenty-nine 29 Sixty-three. 63 Ninety-seven 97 Thirty.. 30 Sixty-four. 64 Ninety-eight 98 Thirty-one. 31 Sixty-five. 65 Ninety-nine. 99 Thirty-two. 32 Sixty-six. 6. 6 One hundred 100 Thirty-three. 33 Sixty-seven. 67 Two hundred200 SvUGGSTIom.-This lesson is intended to teach that the words nd. the figures are simply two forms of language.
Page 10 10 INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. [BEC. I. LESSON IV. Roman Table. I.. ~ ~ One XX.. Twenty II... Two XXI. Twenty-one II[... Three XXX. Thirty IV... Four XL.. Fortv V.. Five L.. Fifty VI.. Six LX.. Sixty VII... Seven LXX. Seventy VIII... Eight LXXX. Eighty IX... Nine XC. Ninety X.. Ten C.. One hundred XI...Eleven CC. Two hundred XII.. Twelve CCC.. Three hundred XIII... Thirteen CCCC. Four hundred XIV.. Fourteen D.. Five hnndred XV.. Fifteen DC S. ix hundred XVI.. Sixteen DCC. Seven hundred XVII. Seventeen DCCC. Eight hundred XVIII.. Eighteen DCCCC Nine hundred XIX.. Nineteen 1.. One thousand This table is read, one I, one; two I's, two; three I's, three; IV, four, &c. Whant stands for two? What stands for four? What stands for five? What stands for eight? What stands for ten? What stands for twenty? What stands f)r thirty What stands for forty? -What stands for fifty? What stands for sixty? What stands for seventy? What stands for eighty? What stands for ninety? What stands for one hun. dred? Whht stands for five hundred WThtt for one tho-usatnd? S, GGES'TON.-This- lesson is mntended to teach that nutmbers mlay lbe expressed by the Roman character's, as well as by worlde and by figures. Hence, there are thlee ways of explessing nulubers, viz,: by words, by figures, and by letters.
Page 11 rW vl.] INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. i LESSON V. Additior Table from 1 to 3 inclusive 1. One and one, are how many* 2. 2. One and two, are how imanyy? 3. One and three, are how many? 4. One and four, are how many? 5. One and five, are how many? 6. One and six, are how many? 7. One and seven, are how many? 8. One and.eight, are how many? 9. One and nine, are how many? 10. One and ten, are how many? 11. Two and one, are how many? 12. Two and two, are how many? 13. Two and three, are how many? 14. Two and four, are how many? 15. Two and five, are how many? 16. Two and six, are how many? 17. Two and seven, are how many? 18. Two and eight, are how maily? 19. Two and nines are how many? 20.' Two and ten, are how many.? 21. Three and one, are how many? 22. Three and two, are how many? 23. Three and three, are how many? 24. Three and four, are how many? 25. Three and five, are how many? 26. Three and six, are how many? 27. Three and seven, are how many? 28. Three and eight, are how many? 29. Three and nine, are how many? 30. Three and ten, are how many?'e SUGGESTIONS. —The sum of two or more numbers contains ne many units as there are in the numbers added. Thus, 2 is the sumn of 1 and 1; 4 the sum of 2 and 2, or of I and 3. ADDIrION is the process of finding the sum of two or more numbers. The sign + (plus,) placed between two numbers signifies that they are to be added.
Page 12 12 INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. [SEC. I. QUESTIONS. 1. HIow many fingers have you on one hand, not counting the thumb? How many on both hands? 2. Countingg the thumb, how many have you on each hand 3 HIow many on both? 3. One and four are how many?. One and five? One and nine? One and tenll 4. James has one apple and buys five: how many will he then have? 5. John has six apples and buys one: how many will he then'have? 6. Charles has nine marbles and John gives him one: how many will he then have? 7. How many are 2 and 2. How many are 2 and 4? 2and- S3 2 and 6? 8. l;vw many are 2 and 7? How many are 2 and 8? How many are 2 and 9? 9. James has two tops and buys four: how many will he then have? Two and four are how many? 10. John has two apples and William gives him six: how many will he then have? 11. Bought two quills for two cents, and four quills for four. cents: how many quills did I buy? 12. James bought 2 apples for two cents and 8 inore for eight cents: how many did he buy in all Three and six are how many? 13. If you buy two peaches for two cents and 9 peaches for nine cents, how many peaches do you buy H? tow much do you pay for them? 14. How many are' 3 and 3? How many are 3 and 4? 15. John has three nuts in one halid and five in the other: how, many in both? 3 and 8 nre Ihow many!, 10. James has three pencils and John five hlow ntany have both? 3 and six are how 11 many m
Page 13 LoS. VI.1 INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETiC. 13 LESSON VI. Additiorn Table from 4 to 6 inclusti 1. Four and one are how many? 2. Four and two are how many? 3. Four and three are how many? 4. Four and four are how many? 5. Four and five are how many? 6. Four and six are how many? 7. Four and seven are how many? 8. Four and eight are how many? 9. Four and nine are how many? 10. Four and ten are how many? 11. Five and one are how many? 12. Five and two are how many? 13. Five and three and how many? 14. Five and four are how many? 15. Five and five are how many? 16. Five and six are how many? 17. Five and seven are how many? 18. Five and eight are how many? 19. Five and nine are how miiahy? 20. Five and ten are how many? 21. Six and one are how many'? 22. Six and two are how many'? 23.: Six and three are how many? 24. Six and four are how many? 25. Six -and five are how many? 26. Six and six are how many? 27. Six and seven are how many' 28. Six and eight are how many 2 29. Six and nine are how many? 30, Six and ten are how many? QUESTIONS. 1. JAiohrnhas four tops and Charles one: how umany ha -e both"? 2
Page 14 14 INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. [S0Ct I 2. William has four apples and James three: how many have both 2 3. How many are 4 and 4?1 How many are 4 ard 5? 4. John has four chestnuts in one hand and three r: the other: how many has he in both 2 5. Charles has four quills and John seven: how lnany have both 2 Four and 7 are how many? 6. John and James have each four tops: how niany have bot-h? Four and 9 are how many 2 7. William has four birds in one cage and seven in another: how many in both? 8. Jane has four pins in her cushion and puts in six more: how many will she then have 2 9. Mary has four needles and buys eight: how many will she then have?: 4 and 10 are how many I 10. John buys three pears for four cents and six pears for eight cents: how many pears does he buy? 11. How many are 5 and 1? How many are 6 and 3? 5 and 8? 5 and 9? 5 and 102 1'2. John has five marbles in one hand and eight in the other: how many in both? 13. Charles has five cents and his father gives him seven: how many: has he then? 14. John has five apples and Reuben gives him nine: how many has he then? 15. Isaac buys five sheets of paper for five cents, alld ten sheets more for ten cents: how many sheets does he buy 16. If I buy five oranges for five cents, and six oranges for six cents, how many do I blly 2 Five and 5 are how many? 17. How many are 6 and 1? How many are e and 2? G and 6? 6 and 8? 6 and 10 7
Page 15 LaS. VII.] INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. 15 18. I-ow many are 6 and 6? How many are 6 and S? 6 and 9? 6 and 2? 6 and 10? 19. William carries six apples to school in his basket and HIenry four: how many in both baskets? 20. John has six apples, and hi.; sister Jane gives him five: how many has he then? 21. Charles has six apples and wins eight from John: how many has he then? 22. ~Williamn buys three tops for six celnts and eight tops for tell cents: how many tops does he buy I 23. James buys six eggs for sx cents and eight eggs for nine cents: how many egg; does he buy? 24. Jane has 6 apples and Mary gives her 9: how many will she then have LES SON VII. Additionz Table from 7 to 9 inclusive. 1. Seven and one are how many? 2. Seven and two are how many? 3. Seven and three are how rnany? 4. Seven an-d four are how nianyy? 5. Seven and five are how many? 6. Seven and six are how many? 7. Seven and seven are how many? S. Seven and eight are how many? 9. Seven and nine are how many? 10. Seven and ten are how many? 11. Eight and one are how manv? 12. Eight and two are how many? 13. Eight and three are how many? 14. Eight and four are how many? 15. Eight and five are how many? 1G. Eight and six are how many?
Page 16 16 INTELLECTUAL ARITEMETIC. SEC. L 17. Eight and seven are how many? 18. Eight and eight are how many? 19. Eight and nine are how many 3 20. Eight and ten are how many 3 21. Nine and one are how many? 22. Nine and two are how many? 23. Nine and three are how many? 24. Nine and four are how many? 25. Nine and five are how many? 26. Nine and six are how many 3 27. Nine and seven are how many? 28. Nine and eight are how many 3 29. Nine and nine are how many? 30. Nine and ten are how mdny. QUESTIONS. 1. Iow many are 7 and 1? How many are 7 and 2? 7 and 5? 7 and 4? 7 and 6? 2. James has seven oranges in one basket and six hi another: how many in both? 3. William has seven apples and John gives hinm nine: how many has he then? 4. A father has two sons and gives seven cents tv each: how many cents does he give to both? 5. If Henry buys seven apples, and lary gives him nine: how many will he then have 3 6. If George buys seven quills at one time and 8 at another: how many does he buy in all? 7. William has 5 marbles and Henry gives him 8: how many will he then have? 8. How many are 8 and 2? How many are 8 and 4? 8 and 6 8 and 5? 8 and 9? 9. A boy has eight marbles and gains five: how1 many has he then 8 and 10 are how many? 10. If he has eight and gains nine, how many wil he have? 6 and 4 and 5, are how many?
Page 17 aES. VIz.1 INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. I 11. If George buys eight marbles for three cents and eight more for four cents, how many will he buy in all a 12. John has eight marbles and Charles gives him nine: how many has he then? 13. Eight and four are how many? Eight and seven how many? Eight and 6 are how many? 14. How many are 9 and 2? How many are 9'3 and 4 1 and 3 and 6, are how many 15. Charles has nine apples and buys five more: how many has he then? 9 and 9, are how Imany? 16. If he has nine and buys eight, how many, will he have? 4 and 5 and 6, are how many? 17. Nine and seven are how many? 8 and 7? 18. If James buys nine oranges for nine cents and eight more for 9 cents, how many will he buy in all? 9. Six sheets of paper cost nine cents and 2 pencils cost ore cent: what do the paper and pencils cost? 6 and 7 alnd 8, are how many? 20. How. many are 10 and 2? -How many arle 1I and 3 10and9? 8and 7and 6? 21. James has ten pencils and then buys eight: how many has he thenr? 9 and 4 and 3, are how many? 22. John gives ten chestnuts to Henry and nine to William: how many does he give to both? 23. James spends six cents for candy, four cents for gingerbread, and eight cents for nuts: how mnuch eioes he spend in all? I and 2 and 4 and 10, are hlo' Ianfy'F 24. Nancy has ten pins on her cushion, and sticks nine more there: how many will she then have? 25. Jane has ten needles and Lucy gives her seven: how many will she then have? 26. Oliver buys ten oranges for twelve cents and ten more for eight cents: how many does he buy? 2*
Page 18 18 INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. LSEC. L LESSON VIII. Numbers added with reference to Ten. 1, Five and'5 are how miany? 4 and 6? 3 and 7? 2 and 8 land 9 2. Ten and 10 are how many? 15 and 5 are how nany? 16 and4? 17 and 3? 18 and 2? 19-and? 14 and 6? 13 an 12 and7? 12? a8 nd9 3. Twenty and ten are how many? 25 and 5. 26 and 4? 27 and 3' 28 and 2? 29 and 1 24 ),nd 6? 23 and 7? 22 and 8? 21 and 9? 4. Thirty and 10 are how many? 35 and 5? 30 and4? 37 and3? 38 and2? 39 andl 1 34and 6? 33 and7? 3and 8 31 and 9 9? 5. Forty and 10 are how many 45 and 5? 46 and 4? 47 and3 3? 4Sand2? 9 and I 44 and 6? 43 and 7? 42 and 8 I 41 and 9? 6. Fifty and 10 ale how many? 55 and 5? 56 and4? 57 and3? 58 and 2? 593 and 1? 54 and 6? 53 and7?:52and 8? 51 andg9? 7. Sixty and 10 are how many?. 65 and 5? 60( and 4? 67 and 3? 68 and 2? 69 and 1? 64 and 6? 63 and 7? 62 and 8? 61 andl 9? 8. Seventy and 10 are how many? 75 and 5.? 76 a-ld 4? 77 and 3? 78 and 2? 79 andl 1? 9. Eighty and 10 are how many? 85 and 5?'. 81 and 1? 87 and 3 2 4 and 86? 2 and 88? 6 and 84? 7 and 83? 9 and 81? 8 and 82? 10. Ninety and ten are how.many? 99 a.d 11 92 and 8? 7 and 93? 3 and 97? 5 and 95? 6 and 94? 9 and'31? 98 and 2?'4 and t9 *SucGEsrrsoNs. —The first part of this lesson points out to tho pupil the mu.:thod' of adding, by considerinlg what nlunbels maoke exact tenm. This is very impolrtant, and should be inueh dws1e. -;,i: The secoud part shows that the first figure of a snun is Mllway derived firomi the units. The questions of the lesson should first be put in the orde2 iv which they %re.written, and then promiscuously, until: thoro' ty learned.
Page 19 LES. IX.] INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. 1-1. Two and two are how many? 12 and'2?. 22 and 2? 32 and.2? 42 and 2? 52 and2? 62 and2? 72 and 2? 82 and2? 92 and 2? 94 and 2? 96 and 2? 98 and 2? 12. Three and 3 are how many? 13 and'-) 23 fand 3? 33 and 3?- 43 and3? 53 and 3? 63 and 3?' 73 and 3? 83 and 3? 93 and 3? 96 and 4?:13. Four and 4 are how rnmany? 4 and 14? 24 and 4? 34 and 4 44and4? 54and4? 64and 4? 74 and4? 84 and-4? 94 and4? 98 and2? 14. Five and 5 are how many? 15 and, 5? 25 and 5? 85 and 5? 45 and 5? 55 and 5. 65 and 5? 75 and 5? 85 and 5?. 95 and 5? 15. Six and 6 are how many? 16 and 6? 26 and 6?. 36 and 6? 46 and 6? 66 and 6? 76 and 6? 86 and 6? 96 and 6? 16. Seven and 7 are how many? 17 and 7? 27 and 7? 37 and7? 47 alnd 7? 57 and 7? 67 and 7?. 77 and 7? 87 and 7? 97 and 7? 17. Eight and8 are how many? 18 and 8? 28 ad 8? 38 and 8? 48 and 8? 58 and 8? 68 and eight? 78 and 8? 88 and 8? 98 and 8? 18. Nine and 9 are how many? 19 and 9? 29 and 9? 39 and9? 49and9? 59 and 9? 69 and 9 79 and 9. 89 and 9? 99 and 9? LESS ON IX Showing the formation, of Nruni2bers fromn 11 to 100. I. Eleven and 1 are hoNq many? Eleven and 219 Eleven and 3? Eleven and 4? Eleven and 5 lEleven and 6? Eleven ancd 7? Eleven and 8?. Elevei and 9 2 Eleven and 10 Eleven and 11." *M SutOc i:sIo.-This lesson indicntes hoTw all the numbers inay be.foi.trcd from 11 to include one hundred and nine. After the questionls have been put in the orderC in which they are writtel ihey should be put promiscuously.
Page 20 ARITHMETIICAL ARITHME'IC. L[SEC. L 2 Twenty-two and 1 are how many? Twentytwo and 2? Twenty-two and 3? Twenty-two and 4? Tw1venty-two and 5? Twenty-two and 6? Twentv-two and 7? Twenty-two and 8 2 Twenty-two and 9? Twenty-two and 10? Twenty-two and iI? 1. Thirty-three and 1 are how many? Thirty. three and 2? Thirty-three and 3 Thirty-three and 4? Thirty-three and 5 Thirty-three and 6? Thirty. three and 7? Thirty-three and 8? Thirty-three and 9? Thirty-three and 10? Thirty-three and 1 1. 4. Forty-four and 1 are how many? Forty-four and 2? Forty-four and 3? [Forty-four and 4? Forty-four and 52 Forty-four and 6? Forty-four and 7? Forty-four and 8? Forty-four and 9? Fortyfour and 10? Forty-four and 11? 5. Fifty-five and 1 are how many? Fifty-five and 2? Fifty-five and 3? Fifty-five and 4? Fifty-five and 5? Fifty-five and 6? Fifty-five and 7? Fiftylive and 8? Fifty-five and 9? Fifty-five and 107 Fifty-five and 11? 6. Sixty-six and 1 are how many? Sixty-six and 2? Sixty-six and 3? Sixty-six and 4? Sixty-six and 5? Sixty-six and 6? Sixty-six and 7? Sixtysix and 8? Sixty-six and 9? Sixty-six and 10? Sixty-six and 11 7. Seventy-seven and 1 are how many? Seventyseven and 2? Seventy-seven and 3? Seventy-seven and 4? Seventy-seven and 5? Seventy-seven and 6? Seventy-seven and 7? Seventy-seven and 8? Seventy-seve and 9? Seventy-seven and 10? Sev enty-seven and 11 8. Eighty-eight and 1 are how many? EigNtyeight and 2? Eighty-eight and 3? Eighty-eight and 4? Eighty-eight and 5? Eighty-eight and 6? Eighty-eight and 7? Eighty-eight and 8 Eighty
Page 21 LES X.J. INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. 21 eight and 92 Eighty-eight,and. 10? Eighty-eigbt and 11? 9. Ninety-nine and I are how many? Ninetynine and 2? Ninety-nine and 3? Ninety-nine and 4? Ninety-nineand 5? Ninety-nine and 6? Ninety-nine and 7? Ninety-nine and 8? Ninety-nli and 9? Ninety-nine and 10? LESSON X. Practical Questions. 1. Let each of the following combinations be giveu as a separate example. HI-ow many are 10 and 20 and 4? 40 and 50 and 6? 10 and 30 and 9? 6 and 12 and 30? 10i and 40 and 6? 7 and 15 and 70? 10 and 50 anCd 3? 9 and 14 and 60? 20 and 30 and - 13 and 7 and 14? 15 and 20 ind 46? 19 and 11 and 16? 25 and? 15 and 4 21 and 9 and 13?. 35 alcl 12 and 3? 30 and 40 and 10? 40 and 60 and 9? 36 and 4 and 19. 8 and 20 and 10 38 and 12 and 16? 2, Jane has 13 pins in her cushion and Mary 27: how many pins have both? 3. John has a number of pears: he gives 8 et William, 12 to Charles, 9 to James atid has 1 lefthow Iany had he at first? 4. There are 4 bags of coffee: the first contains 16 pounds, the second 14 pounds, the third 7 pounds, an d the fourth 3 pounds: how manv pounds in all t.h-e cbags? 5. A farmner has 4 pastures containing sheep. In the first there are 3 sheep, in the second there are 6, in
Page 22 INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. [$EO. L the shird there are 7, and in the fourth there are 8: hovw many are there in the four pastures? 6. James gave 18 cents for a squirrel, 82 cents foi a cage, and 115 cents for nuts: how many cents did he pay in all:7. A man bou a.eow for 25 dollars, a calf for 5 dollars, 3 lambs for- 8 dollars, and a pig for 2 dollars i what did he pay for all? S. ]-low many are 1 and 2 and 4 and 14: and 9? 9. How many:~ are:ga ~:andi 4 and 16 a:.niwd 5 atrd 4 and 5? 10. IHow many're 4 and- 14 and 16 and 6- and 7 and 8? 11. How many are- 15 and 13 and 12 and4 and 9?' 12. How many are 9 and 11 and 14 and 16 and 17? 13. How many are 1 and 2 and 4 and 3 and 6? 14. Hlow many are 2 and 2 and 4 and 3 and 5? 15. Howv many are 6 and 4 and 4 and 3 and 3? 16. How many are 6 and 4 and 3 annd 6 and 5? 17. How many are 7 and 7 and 4 and- 2 and 6? 18. How many are 9 and 2 and 8 and 7 and 5 nd 87 19. A lady bought some tape for 10 cents, some pins fcr 18 cents, a comb fbr 22 cents, and a pair of scissors for 30 cents: how much did she pay in ali f 20. A farmer has 15 sheep in one lot, 25 in another, and 30 in his barn-yard: how many has he in all? 21. A merchant buys 26 barrels of flour of one miller, 30 of another, 14 of another, and 36 of another: how many barrels does he buy in all? 22. A man bought a horse, saddle and bridle; for the horse he gave 75 dollars, for the saddle 25 dollars, and 7 dollars for the bridle: what did they all cast him?
Page 23 LES. X.] INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. 2 23. A drover bought 12 sheep of one farnter, 30 of another, 18 of another, and 25 of another: how,inany did he buy in all? 24. James gave nine cents to a beggar woman, 11 CeC "s to a beggar man, and 8 cents to a beggar girl: ow much did he give in all? 25. If John has 14 cents in one pocket, 10 cents in another, 6 cents in his purse, and 8 cents in his hard, how mlany cents has he in all 2 26. Charles has 8 cents, William 18, Robert 4, and Samuel 9: how many cents have they all 2 27. If Lucius gives 36 cents for a pen-knife, 8 cents for paper, 6 cents for quills, and 7 cents for wafers, how rmuch does he pay in all? 28. James buys 9 sticks of white candy, 9 sticks of red candy, 2 of brown candy, and 8 of yellow candy: how many sticks does he buy in all 2 29. If James gave 18 cents for the white candy, 8.elnts for the red candy, 4 cents for the brlown candy, and 16 cents for the yellow candy, how much did he pay in all 2 30. Jane pays 18 cents for a slate, 12 cents for quills, 11 cents for paper, and 15 cents for pencils: what does she pay in all? 31. A grocer purchases 6 barrels of flour for 30 dollars, a load of hay for 12 dollars, and 10 bushels of oats for 15 dollars: how much did he pay in all? 32. A tailor paid 15 dollars for a piece of cloth, for a coat, 4 dollars for the lining, 2 dollars for the buttons, and charged 9 dollars for making: what was fie cost of the coat?
Page 24 24 INTELLECTUAL ARITIIMETIC. [SEC. IL SECTION SECOND. LESSON I. Subtraction. 1. One and 1 are 2: if we take I from 2 wha.t remains*?. 2. One and 2 are 3: if we take 1 fromr 3, what remains? If we take 2 from 3, what remains? 3. One and 3 are 4: if we take 1 from 4, what remains? If we take 3 from 4, what remains? If we take 2 fiom 4, what remains? 4. One and 4 are 5: if we take 1 from 5, what remains? 5 less 4, are how many? 5 less 2, are how many? 5 less 3, are how many? 5. One and 5 are 6: 6 less 5, are how many? 6 less 1, are how many? 6 less 2, are how many? 6 less 3, are how many? 6 less 4, are how many? 6. Seven less 1 are how many? 7 less 2, are how many? 7 less.4, are how many? 7 less 5, are how many? 7 less 6, are how many? * SUGGETsoxs.-TThe pupil first gets the idea of more by addition. He adds two numbers together and finds that their sum is greater t-han either of them. He next sees that if one of them be taken away, the other will be left: hence, The d!ierence between two numbers is such a number as addled to the less will give the greater. SuBTRAcTIoN is the process of finding the difierence betweeu two numbers. Teach the pupil that every question in Subtraction requires him to find such a number as added to the less will give the greater. What is the difference between 6 and 2? VWhy is 4 the difference between 6 and 2? Because 4 added to 2 gives 6. — The sign - (minus), placed between two numbers siognifies that the number after rit is to be taken frouiit'l ibinmuber befoue it
Page 25 LES. I.] INTELLECTUAL ARITHIMETIC. 25 7. Eight less 1, are how many? 8 less 3, are how many 8 less 5, are how many?8 less 7, are how many? 8. Nine less 1, are how many? 9 less 3, are how many? 9 less 5, are how many? 9. Eight and 2, are how many? 10 less 2, are how many? 10 less 8, are how many? 10. Six and 4, are how many? 10 less 6, are how many? 11 less 5, are how many? 11. William has three apples and gives them all to James, how many has he left? 3 less 3, what remains? 12. William has six apples and gives three to James: how many has he left? 6 less 3, are hotw many? 13. 7 less 3, are how many? 14. 9 less 3, are how many? 15. 10 less 3, are how many 2 16. 14 less 3, are how many 2 17. 4 less 4; what remains? 18. 8 less 4, are how many? 19. Fourteen less 4, are how many? 20. Henry has five pears in a basket and gives them all to his sister: howm many has he left? 5 less 5 what remains? 21. 8 less 5, leaves how many? 22. 9 less 5, leaves how many? 23. 11 less 5, leaves how many? 24. James has six squirrels in a cage, and takes them all out: how many will, be left? 6 from 6i, leaves how many? 25. 9 less 6, leaves how many? 26. 8 less 6, are how many? 27. 16 less 6, are how man y? 28. WMhary has seven pins in her cushion and takes them all out: how many are left? 7 less 7, what remains
Page 26 2(0 INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. [SEC. IL 29. 12 less 7, are how many? 30. 15 less 7, are how many? 31. Reuben has eight plums and gives them all to John: how many has he left?2 8 less 8, what remains? 32. 10 less 8, are how many? 33. 14 less 8, are haw many? 34. 18 less 8, are how many? 35. There are nine chairs in a room, and Mary Cakes them all out: how many are left? 9 less 9, what remains? 36. 12 less 9, are how many? 37. 15 less 9, are how many? 38. 19 less 9, are how many 39. 16 less 6, are how many? 40. 15 less 10, are how many? 41. 14 less 4, are how many? 42. 25 less 5, are how many? 43. 36 less 16, are how Iany? 44. 25 less 12, are how many'? 15. 30 less 7, are how many? 46. 20 less 14, are how many? 47. 30 less 12, are how many? 48. 27 less 7, are how, many? 49. 29 less 10, are how many? 50. 39 less 20, are how many 1 51. 42 less 12, are how many 52. 19 less 7, are how many? 53. 50 less 20, are how many? 54. 14 less 8, are how many 55. 15 less 3, are how many? 56. 24 less 4, are how many? 5T7 16 less 5, are how many Q 58.: 17 less 8, are how many? 59. 19 less 7, are how many? 60. 19 less 9, are how many Q
Page 27 LE[S. I.] INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC 27 61. J29 less 8, are how many? 62. 34 less 3, are how many? 63. 35 less 6, are how many t 64. 50 less 8, are how many? 65. 57 less 6, are how many? 66. 59 less 5, are how many? 67.'53 less 7, are how many? 68. 60 less 20, are how mRany 69. 65 less 15, are how many? 70. 67 less 10, are how many? 71. 67 less 9, are how many? 72. 70 less 5, are how many? 73. 74 less 3, are how many? 74. 78 less 8, are how many? 75. 79 less 10, are how many? QUESTIONS. 1. There are nineteen peach-trees in an orchard, and six of them are blown down in a storm: how many are left standing? 2. Laura has twenty-five cents, and buys an arithmetic for eighteen cents: how much money will she have left 3. There are thirty-four pears in a basket, and nine of them are taken out: how many are left? 4. There are sixty-five pigeous in a flock, and John fires at them and kills nine: how many are left? 5. There are fifty-four sheep in a fold, and a wolf breaks in and kills seven: how'many are left? 6. There are forty-nine scholars in a school, and ten of them are girls: how many boys are there? 7. In another school there are twenty scholars, and iine are boys: how many girls are the ~-? 8. In Elizabeth's flower-bed there are thirty beauti fill lilies, and John breaks off seven of them: how many are unbroken?
Page 28 '28 INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. [SEC. I. 9. James has thirty-seven cents: he spends six foi candy, eight for a pencil, and twelve for a pen-knife: how many has he left? 10. John has twenty-five cents, and spends six cents for a top, nine cents for a pencil, and two cents for a peach: how much has he left? 11. Wiliam has 37 cents, he buys a top for 10 cents, and 8 marbles for 2 cents: how much has he left? 12. A boy has 40 peaches: he gives 24 to Lucy and 9 to Elizabeth: how malny has he left? 13. James received a premium worth 56 cents; Jane received one worth 30 cents: what was the dif. ference of their values? 14. Charles has 49 cents, and buys a book which costs himr 29 cents: how much has he left? 15. A butcher buys 39 sheep, and kills 17: how many are left alive? 16. A grocer has a tub of butter containing 45 pounds; he sells 20 pounds to Mr. Wilson, and 15 pounds to Mr. Jones: how much is left? 17. IIow many are 55 less 17? 18. How many are 77 less 19? 19. Four men bought a horse for 56 dollars; the first paid 16 dollars, the second 20 dollars, and the third 14 dollars: what did the fourth pay? 20. Charles bought a penknife for 48 cents, and a top for 25 cents: how much more did he pay for the knife -than for the top 2 LESSON II. Questions involving Addttion and Substraction. 1. Six and 4 and 3 and 5, less 4, are how many? 2. Eight and 9 and 4 and 2, less 3, are how many? 3. Seven and 6 and 5 and 8, less 5, are how many?
Page 29 LES. II.] INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. 29 4. Nine and 2 and 3 and 7, and 1, less 6, are how many? 5. Thirty and 5 and 8 and 15, less 10, are how many? 6. Twenty-one and 6 and 13, less 12, ale how many? 7. Forty-five and 15 and 12, less 9, are how many? 8. Sixty-nine and 11 and 5 and 2, less 8, are how many?. 9. Seventy-five and 5 and 6 and 12, less 8, are how many? 10. Forty-five and 8 and 4 and 3 and 6 and 7 and 9, less 12, are how many? 11. James has 4U cents, and pays 12 cents for a whistle and 25 cents for a knife: how much has he left 12. A man bought a calf for 5 dollars, a sheep for 4 dollars, and a pig for 2 dollars; also a cow feor 25 dollars: what did he pay in all, and how much more for the cow than for the other animals? 13. James has 26 nuts in one pocket, and 14 less in the other pocket: how many has he in both? 14. A man has 50 dollars; he pays 26 for a coat, 8 dollars for a pair of pantaloons, and 4 dollars for a vest: how much has he left? 15. A school-boy pays 56 cents for an Atlas, 30 cents for an Arithmetic, and 24 cents for a slate: what did he pay for all, and how much more for the Atlas than for the Arithmetic and slate? 16. Eighty-five and 5 and 9 and 3 and 12. less 8, less 3, are how many? 17. Fifty-nine and 5 and 9 and 8 anli 7 and 0j less 8, are how many? 18. Forty-seven and 9 and 6 and 4 and 5 anti 3, less 12, are how many? 3*
Page 30 30 INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. LSEC. n. 19. Seventy-two and 15 and 6, less 11, are how many? 20. Thirty eight and 4 and 9 and 7 and 6 and 2, less 12, are how many? 21. William had 16 marbles, James gave him 7, John gave him 8, and Reuben gave him enough to make his number, 40: how many marbles did Reuben give John? 22. A father gave seventeen cents to Lucy, 13 to Mary, and 4 to Jane, and then took back 9 from Lucy: how many had they left? 23. A man travelled 49 miles in three days; the first day he travelled 16 miles, and the second day 13 miles: how far did he travel the third day? 24. A tailor has a piece of cloth containing 393 yards; he sold 14 yards to one man, 13 to another, and made a coat which took two yards: how many yards were left? 25. A merchant bought some coffee, for which he paid 25 dollars, some sugar, for which he paid 12 dollars, and some tea, for which he paid 11 dollars; he sold the whole for 56 dollars: what did he gain? 4g5. A tailor bought a piece of cloth for 45 dollars; he made it into a coat and pantaloons; he paid 10 dollars for making, and then sold them for 60 dollars: did he make or lose, and how much? 27. James has 49 peaches; he gives 15 to Robert, 13 to John, and 9 to William: how many has he left? 28. Charles has some pears, and gives 12 to James, 11 to Henry, 13 to Reuben, and 8 to Elisha; when he finds that he has 9 left: how many had he at first? 29. Lucy has 12 pins on one cushion, and 15 on another: if she takes off 9, how many will she have left'?
Page 31 LES. 1I] INTELLECTUAL ARI'METC. 31 30. A man travelled 5 miles before breakfast, 19 miles between breakfast and dinner, and then travelled back 12 miles: how far was he from the place of starting 1 31. A cow has two calves, the first is worth 3 dollars, the second 4 dollars, and the cow is worth 25 dollars: how much more is the cow worth than the two calves, and what are they all worth? 32. A grocer buys some lemons for 15 dollar, some oranges for 25 dollars, and then sold the whole for 56 dollars: how much did he make? 33. Jane has 32 rose-buds on one bush, and 16 on another, and 38 only blossom: how many buds did not flower 2 34. A man owes 55 dollars; at one time he pays 24 dollars, at another 17 dolltrs, aed tien 14 dollars how much does he then owe? 35. William went after chestauts; he put 26 in one pocket, 15 in another, and 16 in a third: he lost 9 out of the first pocket, 3 from the secoad, atd 6 fiom the third: how many had he left! 36. Twenty-nine plus l plus 8 plus 4, less- 12 less 17 are how many~ 37. Mr. Jones owes his baker 17 do[lalrs, his gro.. cer 16 dollars, and his tailor 27 dollars: how much does he owe in all, and how much more to his baker and grocer than to his tailor 38. A farmer has 30 sheep in one lot, 25 in another, and 16 in a thbidi 9 shep3 escape from the first lot, 12 from nhe second, and 9 from the third: how many sIe'p had he in all, how atwty on t ped, and how maiy- were ft ina tihe falds
Page 32 R2 INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. [SEC. IX. SECTION THIRD. LESSON I. Multipliers from 1 to 4 incuisive. Once 1 is how many?* Once 7 is how marny Once 2 is how many? Once 8 is how many?. Once 3 is how many? Once 9 is how many? Once 4 is how many? Once 10 is how many Once 5 is how many? Once 11 is how many? Once 6 is how many? Once 12 is how many? 2 times 1 are how many? 2 times 7 are how many 7 2 times 2 are how many? 2 times 8 are how many? 2 times 3 are how many? 2 times 9 are how many? 2 times 4 are how many? 2 times 10 are how many? 2 times 5 are how many? 2 times 11 are how many? 2 times 6 are how many? 2 times 12 are how many? 3 times 1 are how many? 3 times 7 are how many? 3 times 2 are how many? 3 times 8 are how many? 3 times 3 are how many? 3 times 9 are how'many' 3 times 4 are how many? 3 times 10 are how many i 3 times 5 are how many 2 3 times 11 are how many 1 3 times 6 are how many? 13 timnes 12 are how many? 4 times 1 are how many? 4 times 7 are how many? 4 times 2 are how many? 4 times 8 are how many? 4 times 3 are how many' 4 times 9 are how many 4 times 4 are how many? 4 times 10 are how many? 4 times 5 are how mlany?- 4 times 11 are how many? 4 times 6 are how many2 14 ti;-ries.12 are how many'? * MULTIPLICATION is a short process of takaz, one uumler as many timles as there are units in another. The number to be taken is called the muzltp4iNcand. The cumber denoting how many times the multiplicani is to be taken, is called the multiplier. The result, or answer, is called the product. The multiplicand and multiplier are called factors or prao hIwers of the product.
Page 33 LES, II.1 INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC~. 33 1. If James buys 2 oranges at 3 cents apiece, what do they cost?* 2. What will 4 peaches cost at 1. cent each? 3. What will 3 oranges cost at 3 cents apiece? 4. What will 4 lemons cost at 4 cents apiece? 5. What will 3 pounds of raisins cost at 12' cents pound? 6. What will be the cost of 4 tops at 12 cents apiece? 7. What will be the cost of 2 melons at 11 cents apiece? LESSON II. MAultipliers from 6 to 8 inclusive. 5 times. 1 are how many? 5 times 7 are how many? 5 times 2 are how many? 5 times 8 are how many? 5 tines 3 are how many? 5 titmes 9 are how many? 5 times 4 are howr many? 5 times 10 are how many? 5 times 5 are how many v 5 times 11 are how many? 5 times 1 are how m1any? 5 times 12 are how many? 6 tizes 1 are how many? 6 times 7 are how many? 6 times 2 are how many? 6 times 8 are how many? 6 times 3 are how many? 6 times 9 aire how many? 6 times 4 are how many? 6 times 10 are how many? 6 times 5 are how many? 6 times 11 are how many? 7 times 6 are how many' 6 tilnes 17 are how many? 7 times 1 are how many? 7 times 7 are how many 7 7 times 2 are how nlaDy?17 timne3 8 are how many. 7 times 3 are how many? 7 tirnes 9 are how many? 7 times 4 are how many? 7 times 10 are how many? 7 times 5 are how many? 7 times 11 are how many? 7 times 6 are how many? 7 times 12 are how ma.ny, * ANALYsrs.-Two orlanges will cost two times as much as one orange. Since 1 orange costs 3 cents 2 oranges will coust two timles 3 cents, which ave 6 cents: therlfore, 2 oranges at S scr apiece, -will cost 6 cents. 2
Page 34 34 INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. [SEC. III, 8 times 1 are how many? 8 times 7 are how many 1 8 times 2 are how many? 8 times 8 are how many. 8 times 3 are how many? 8 times 9 are how many? 8 times 4 are how many? 8 times 10 are how many? 8 times 5 are how many? 8 times 11 are how many? S times 6 are how many? 8 times 12 are how many? 1. If William buys 5 pine-apples at 4 cents each, what do they cost him? 2. What is the cost of 6 barrels of flour at 5 dol lars a barrel? 3. What is the cost of 7 yards of cloth at 9 dollars a yard? 4. What is the cost of 8 barrels of fish at 8 dollars a barrel? 5. What is the cost of 6 pounds of candles at 9 cents a pound? 6. What is the cost of 8 pounds of raisins at 11 cents a pound? 7. What is the cost of 7 pounds of sugar at 8 cents a pound? 8.,What is the cost of 5 pounds of beef at 11 cents a pound? LESSON III. Mlultipliers from 9 to 12 inclusive. 9 times 1 are how many? 9 times 7 are how many? 9 times 2 are how many? 9 times 8 are how many? 9 times 3 are how many? 9 times 9 are how many? 9 times 4 are how many? 9 times 10 are how many. 9 times 5 are how many? 9 times 11 are how many? 9 times 6 are how many. 9 times 12 are how many? NoT. —The sign of multiplication (X), placed between Iwo m lmore numbers, signifies that they are tc be multiplied Itether.
Page 35 LES. III.] INTELLECTUAL ARITIIHMETIC. 35 10 times 1 are how many? 10 times 7 are how many? 10 times 2 are how many 2 10 times 8 are how many. 10 times 3 are how many 10 times 9 are how many? 10-times 4 are how many? 10 times 10 are how many-? 10 times 5 are how many? 10 times l are how many? 10 times 6 are how many? 10 times 12 are how many 1 11 times 1 are howmany? 11 times 7 are how many? 11 times 2 are how many? 11 times 8 are how many? 11 times 3 are how many II times 9 are how many? 11 times 4 are how many? 11 times 10 are how many? 11 times 5 are how many?i 11 times 11 are how many?. 11 times 6 are how many?11 times 12 are how many? 12 times 1 are how many? 12 times 7 are how many? 12 times 2 are how many? 12 times 8 are how many? 12 times 3 are how many? 12 times 9 are how many? 12 timnes 4 are how many? 12 times 10 are how many? 12 times 5 are how many? 12 times 11 are how many? 12 times 6 are how many? 12 times 12 are how many' 1. If James buys 9 lemons at 2 cents each, what do they cost him? 2.\ What will 11 yards of calico cost at 11 cents a yard? 3. What will 12 dozen of apples cost at 12 cents a dozen? 4. What will 9 pine-apples cost at 11 cents apiece? 5. What will 12 yards of cloth cost at 9 dollars a yard? 6. What will 9 pumpkins cost at 12 cents apiece? 7. What will be the cost of 11 pairs of boots at 5 dollars a pair? 8. What will be the cost of 12 loaves of bread at 11 cents a loaf? 9. What will 9 slates cost at 11 cents apiece? 10. What will be the cost of 11 yards of brotad cloth at 12 dollars a yard?
Page 36 s8 INTELLECTUAL ARITIHMETIC. [SEC. IlL LESSON IV. QUESTIONS. 1. What is the product of 13 taken 2 timles * 2. What is the product of 14 taken 3 timnes3 3. What is the product of 15 taken 5 times 4. What is the product of 18 taken 6 times? 9 tinaes 7 times? 5. What is the product of 16 taken 4 tirnes 5 times? S times? 6. If Jamles reads 16 verses of the bible a day, how mnany veises will he read in a week? 7. ilow nmany are 7 titlles 15 Whilich the mulltiplicaund?'3 Which the mrultiplier 3 Which the product? 8. \Vhat will 9 pounds of butter cost at 19 cents a pm>lcnd 3 9. If a steamboat can go 16 miles an hour, how far can it go in 11 hours'? 10. HIow Imally are 2 times 20? 4 times 2i 0 i 5 times 20 3 7 times 20? 9 times 20? 1i1 timines 20? 12 timnes 20' 11. if 1 barrel of flour cost 9 dollars, what will 12;barrels cost? 1.2. It' 1 barrel of fish cost 7 dollars, what will be the cost of 9 barrels' 13. I' I yard of cloth cost 6 dollars, what will he the cost oft 8' yads? 14. If 1 yard of cloth costs 5 dollars, what will 15 yards cost? 15. If' a man on horseback can ride 8 miles in I 3hour,' how far can he ride in 12 hours? ANAiALYSS. —Thirteen is made up of 1 ten and 3 units. T hen I ten nmultiplied by 2 gives 2 tens, ori 20; and 3 units ilu!t1:pl;'.d ty o gives 6 units, whichl being added to 20 gives 26 f; f 3e psuduct. Let each question be analyzed in a hnilar mauonn ea.
Page 37 LES. Vo. INTmLLECOUAL ARIaTHM{ET[O. 37 16. How many are 2 times 18? 3 times 18{ s times? 17. How many are 5 times 17? 3 times 18 1 4 times? 18. If 1 cow cost 20 dollars, how much will 7'ows cost? How much will 9 cost? How much will 12 cost? 19. If a man travels 19 miles a day, how far will he travel in 9 days? In 10 days? In 1 days? Ir 12 days? 20. If a pound of raisins cost 15 cents, how much, will'5 poands cost? (6 pounds? 7 pounds9? I pounds' 21. if a man digs IS bushels of potatoes in I day, how tmany would he dig in 7 days!? n 10 days I in 12 da ys? 22. If' a mlan eat 15 ounces of bread ie a. day, how uarny ounces will he eat in a week? how tmany in days? In Il days. L E S OT v. A&ti dtion- Sub t ct io t.-futipJticateion. 1. W1That will be the cost of 5 oranges at 3 eents 2. CWhat will 7 books costs at 8 cents apiece? At 9 cents? At 15 cents? At 20 cents? 3. -What will e the cost of loaves of bread.at 9 cents a loaf? Of 8 loavest. Of 10 loaves? Of 1t oa-ves.? Of I2 loaves 4,: What will be the cost of 4 hats at 7 dollars rapice-e, and the cost of 2 coats at I2 dolt.as apieee t W 5. h att will be the cost of 1t chickens at 2. certt Un.,[ipce. Of 11? Of 9? Of 7?T Of 6 Of 5 t \5. W'bhIat will be the diffierente in. cost between: 2 ij;s at () cents apiece, and 3 tops at4 cents apiec hey aIL[ cost?
Page 38 R8 INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. [SEc. Il. 7. What will be the cost of 8 yards of ribbon at 8 cents a yard? Of 5 yards? Of 6 yards? Of 9 yards? Of 12 yards? 8. What is the difference between the cost of 8 yards of cloth at 5 dollars a yard, and 12 yards at 2 lollars a yard? What would be the cost of the whole?, 9. James has 25 marbles and gives 9 to Willianm, then Charles gives him as many as he has left: how many more than he had at first will he then have? 10. What will be the whole cost of 8 apples at I cent apiece, and of 4 pears at 2 cents apiece? 11. What will be the whole cost of 6 oranges at 4 cents apiece, and of 2 lernons at 3 cents apiece? 12. What will be the whole cost of 6 lemons at 2 cents apiece, and of 2 apples at 1 cent apiece? 13. What will be the whole cost of 8 quills at 2 cents apiece, and of 12 sheets of paper at I cent each 1 14. What will be the whole cost of 6 spelling books at 8 cents apiece, and of 5 slates at 10 cents apiece? 15. What will be the difference of the cost of 6 yards of cloth at 5 dollars a yard, and of 4 yards of cloth at 6 dollars a yard 16. What will be the whole cost of ten sticks of candy at 2 cents apiece, and of 4 pounds of raisins at 11 cents a pound? 17. A farmer bought 9 sheep at three dollars apiece, and two calves at 4 dollars apiece: how much more did he pay for the sheep than for the calves? 18. A farmer bought 4 cows at 20 dollars apiece, and 12 sheep at 4 dollars apiece: what did the whole cost him 19. Fifteen plus 8 plus 9, less 5, are how manyi. 20. Forty plus 7, less 6, plus 8 plus 9s are i17 many?
Page 39 LES. V.o] INTELLECTUAL ARITIIMETIC. 39 21. Twenty-five plus 6 plus 8, less 3, plus 1, are how many? 22. Fifty plus 6 plus 9, less 8, less 3, less 4, are low many? 23. Sixty plus 8 plus 7 plus 1, less 6, are how aany? 24. Thirty less 7 less 6, plus 8, plus 9, iare how many? 25. Mary has 6 rose-bushes, and 9 buds on each; also 3 geraniums with 8 buds.-on each: how many buds are there in all? 26. A family consumes 12 pounds of meat in a day. Beef is 12 cents a pound and mutton 9: how much will they save by using mutton instead of beef?'/27. James bought 4 oranges at 3 cents apiece, and 2 quarts of chestnuts at 9 cents a quart: what did he pay in all? 28. James and John start from the same place, and run in opposite directions. James runs 30 rods and John 20: how far are they apart? How far would they be apart if they had run the same way? 29. Two men start from the same place and walk in opposite directions: the first walks 4 hours and goes 8 nmiles an hour, the second the same time and goes but 2 miles an hour: how far will they be apart? 30. Two men start from the same place and walk tilhe same way; the first wallrs 4 miles an hour, the second 3: how far will they be apart at the end of the first hour'. How far at the end of the second I The third? 31. A drover bought 3 sheep at 4 dollars apiece, iand 4 lambs at 2 dollars apiece: he gave in payment 2. calv.es at 5 dollars apiece, and the rest in cash. B:ow mruch money did he pay? 32. A jeweller bought a watch for 55 dollars, a
Page 40 40 INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. [SEC. In chain for 15 dollars, and a seal for 8 dollars; and then sold the whole for 80 dollars: did he make or lose, and how much? 33. Four boys bought a foot-ball for 75 cents. John paid 20 cents, James 33 cents, and William 18 cants: how much did Reuben pay? 34. A grocer bought a hogshead of sugar for 65 dollars, and a hogshead of molasses for 55 dollars; he sold them both for 125: did he make or lose, and how much? 35. A farmer bought 4 sheep for 15 dollars, and 6 lambs for 10 dollars; he sold the whole for 30 dok lars: did he make or lose, and how much? 36. A tailor has a piece of cloth containing 25 yards, and a second piece containing 35 yards; hp cut 8 yards from the first piece, and 12 from tho second: how many yards of cloth has he left? 37. A merchant has a piece of cloth, for which he paid 36 dollars; he wishes to sell it so asY to mlake a profit of 12 dollars: what must he ask for it? 38. A farmer has 150 sheep in three fields. In the first he has 45, in the second 55: how many has ha in the third? 39. There is an orchard with ten full rows of trees and 7 trees in each row; besides which there are 3 broken rows with 4 trees in each rov': how mlany trees are there in the orchard? I-low many more in the whole than in the broken rows? 40. An orchard contains 20 apple trees, 10 cherry trees, and 15 plum trees: how many more apple and cherry trees than plum trees? 41. James worked 4 days in a week for 12 cents a day, and William 2 days for 4 cents a day: how much more did James earn than Williamrrl 42. A butcher bought 16 sheep of one nman, 14 of another, and 25 of a third; he then killed 9, afterwards he killed 21: how many had he left?
Page 41 LES. vI.] INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. 41 43. A man earned 16 dollars a month for 6 months and his son James 7 dollars a month ftr the samle tiime.: how much more did the father earn than the soli I LESSON VI Factorig nurbers. 1. Four are how many times 2? What are the factors of 4.' 2. Six are how many times 3? Ihow many times 2? What are the factors of 6? 3. Eight are how many times 4? How many times 2? Wh'at are the factors of 8? 4. Nine are how many ti~mes 3? What are the factors of 9? 5. Ten are how many times 5? How many times 2? WVhat are the factors of 10? 6. Twelve are how many times 6? I-Iow many times 2. IBow many tigmes 4? I-ow many times 3.? Wh t are the factors of 121? 7. Fouirteen are how many times 7? How many times 2'? WV ht are the flactors of 14?. lFifteen are how many times 5? Iow many times 32 What are the factors of 15? 9. Sixteen iare how many times 8-? How many times'27 I-Iow many times 4? What are, the f'a. tots of 16? 10. Eiohteen are how many times 9?I- oow many tinmes 2 How manly times 6? Iow many time3 3? IV hat are the factors of 18? SUouEwr;EsoN.- — In each of the following questions, two numbera ime u 0.'td, 11mnd it is required to fitd a thi cld which multip)lietl b1, thie svcetu!l, will give a product equal to tle first. T'he sec86,l Ud lhirid Il lll llbtfbl's ale called FACTORS of the filst. Let hie pupil poiut out the factors in every example. 4*
Page 42 42 INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. [SEC. Ill 11. Twenty are how many times 2? How many tines 10? How many times 5? How many times 4? What are the factors of 20? 12. Twenty-two are how many times 111 hIow many times 2? 13. Twenty-four are how many times 12? IHow rany times 2? How many times 8? How many times 3? 14. Twenty-six are how many times 2? How many times 13? What are the factors of 26? 15. Twenty-seven are how many times 9? How many times 3 2 What are the factors of 27? 16. Twenty-eight are how many times 14? How imany times 2? What are the factors of 28? 17. Thirty are how many times 15? How many times 2? How many times 10? How many times 3? What are the factors of 30? 18. Thirty-three are how many times 11? How many times 3?'19. Thirty-four are how many times 2? How mnal-yv times 171 20. Thirty-six are how many times 18? How many times 12? How many times 9? How many times 6? How manytimesmes 4? How many times 3? How many times 2? What are the factors of 36?21. Thirty-eight are how many times 19? How many times 2 2 What are the factors of 38? 22. Forty are how many times 20 How many times 102 How many times 8? How many times 52 How many times 4? I-ow many times 2? 23.:Forty-two are how many times 21? IHow many times 2? How many times 6? How many times 7? What are the factors of 42? 24. Forty-four are how many times 22? How many times 2?. How many times 11 IIHow many times 4. What are the fiactors of 44 9.
Page 43 LES. I.] INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. 43 25. Forty-six are how many times 23? How niany times 2? What are the factors of 46? 26. Forty-eight are how many times 24? How many times 16? How many times 12? IHow many times 8? How many times 6?2 How many times 4? How many times 3? How many times 2?. What are the factors of 48? 27. Forty-nine are how many times 7. What are the factors of 49? 28. Fifty are how many times 25? How many times 10? How many times 5?2'hat are the factors of 50? 29. Fifty-four are how many times 9? Hlow many times 6? How many times 278 What al-e the fitctors of 54? 30. Fifty-six are how many times 7? How many times 8? How many times 28? What are the factors? 31. Sixty are how many times 10? How many times 12? How many times 5?. What are the factors? 32. Sixty-four are how many times 8? How many times 16? How many times 4? What are the ftactors? 33. Seventy are how many times 7? How many times 10? What are the factors? 34. Seventy-two are how many times 8? How many times 9? What are the factors? 35. Eighty-four are how many times 12? How many times 7? What are the factors 36. Ninety-six are how many times 12?. IIow many times 8? What are the factors I
Page 44 44 INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. [SEC. IV. SECTION FOURTH. LESSON I. In which Divisors are usedfrom 2 to 5.* 1. tiow many 2's are there in 2. 2 is contained in 2, how many times? 2. iHow mlany 2's are there in 4? 2 in 4, how many timles? 3. How many 2's are there in 6? 2 in 6, how n1mar.v times? 4. -Tow many 2's are there in 8? 2 in 8, how many times? 5. Ho(w many 2's are there in 10? 2 in 10, how mnany times? 6. HIow many 2's are there in 12? 2 in 2'how many times? 7. How many 3's are there in 32 3 is contained in 3, ho)w many timtes? S. lHow many 3's are there in 6? 3 in 6, how mrlany times? 9. I-low many 3's are there in 9? 3 in 9, how many vI 10. Tlow many 3's are there in 12? 3 in 12, how many? ii. flow many 3's are there in 15? 3 in 15, how many titmles? * DvIlSION is the process of finding how many times one nnmn her contains another.'he nuMnbel' to be divided is called the dividend. The ullmblhe by which we divide is called the dvi.!isor. The nmllber explressing how many t;imes the dividend ontainrs O0e divisor is called thle qluotient. Inl case tllt'ere is a num:ber left, it is called the remainder. rhe divisor and quotient are jixctors of the dividend.
Page 45 LEtS. I.] INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. 45 12. IHow many 3's are there in 18 3 in 18, how many tires? 13. HI-ow many 4's are there in 4? 4 is contained hi 4, how many times? 14. Iow many 4's are there in 8 4 in 8, bow many times? 15. How many 4's are there in twelve? 4 in 12, how many times? 16. How many 4's are there in 161 4 in 16, how many tim-nes? 17. How many 4's are there in 20? 4 in 20, how many times? 18. Hsow many 4's are there in 24? 4 in 24, how many times? 19. low many 5's are there in 5? 5 is contained in 5, how marnly times? 20. How many 5's are there in 10? 5 in 10, how many ti mes? 21. HI-Iow many 5's are there in 15? 5 in 15, how many times? 22. How many 5's are therein220-1 5 in 20, how many tines? 23. How many 5's are there in 25? 5 in 25, how many:times? 24. IHow many 5's are there in 30? 5 in 30, how many times? QUESTIONS. 1. *"William has 8 apples, and divides them equally between two boys: how many does he give to each? g. Jafrles has 12 peaches, and divides them equally be.een his two sisters: how many does he give to enach?.~. ANALSIS.-Since 8 apples are to be divided equally be. ie.n 2. boys, one will have as many apples as 2 is contained timnes in 8, which are 4: therefore, if 8 apples be equally divided between 2 boys, each boy will have 4 apples.
Page 46 46 INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. [SEC. LV 3. Charles has a basket containing 20 pears, and divides them equally between his father and mother: how many does he grive to each? 4. A fBther bought 28 fish-hooks, and divided them between Johnl and Charles: how many had each? 5. A mother has a dozen needles and gives an equal numtuber to Jane and Mary: tow many will each have? 6. A lady having two parlors, bought 24 chairs, and put an equal number in each room: how many were there in each room? 7. There are 16 boys in a school-room, and but 2 benches: how many boys must sit on each seat? 8. * low many peaches, at 2 cents apiece, can you buy for 18 cents? 9. At 3 cents apiece, how many oranges can you buy for 9 cenlts? How many can yot -buy- for 12 cents? How many can you buy for 30 cents? How many can you buy for 24 cents? 10. A boy has 12 cents, and finds that he must give 3 cents apiece for tops: how many can lihe buy? If he has 21 cents, how many can he buy.? If he has 24 cents, how many can he buy? 11. If 5 barrels of flour cost 30 dollars, how much will 1 banlel cnst?t * ANALYSs.-Since one peach costs 2 cents, you can bny as many peaches for 1S cents as 2 is contained times in 1S: 2 is contained in 18, 9 timen ie therefore, you can buy 9 peaches at 2 c(enots alpiece for 18 cents. t Sincve ) barrelscf-flhoi)r cost 30 dollars, one barrel will cost as many doltars as I is contained tim'es in 0: 5 is contained in 30, 6 times; therefore, If5 barcels of flour cost 3f dollars, one barrel will cost 6 dollars. NoTE.-The follbowing rules result from the analysis of exampl ei, 1, 8;and 1 1: -E'x. 1. Divide the whole nslmber of. things by the number of parts,,to swhichL they re to be divided; the quotient will be theO number is? each part. Ex. 8. Divide the entire cost by the cost of a single tsingf; and hdc quotienst is the znumbzher of thingqs.. Ex. 11. Divided the entire cost by the numiber of things, and the quotient will be the cost of a single thinlg.
Page 47 LES. I.1 INTELLECTUAL.ARTTHMETIC'. 47 1.2. If' 4 yards of cloth cost 24 dollars, how much will 1 yard cost? I-How much will 2 yaids cost? 8? 4? 6? 13. If 3 yards of ribbon cost 36 cents, how mnuch will it cost a yard? How mllch will ii valds cost? 14. If 4 pounds of beef cost 48 cents, how much will 1 pound cost,? 2? 3? 5? 15. Twenty dollars are paid for 5 yards of cloth, how mnucthl is plid for 2 yalrds 4? 6? 10? 16. Firteen dollars are paid for 5 pairs of boots: how much must be paid fo)r 1 patir? 17. If 4 apples be equally divided between 4 boys, how many will each haive? 18. At 4 cents apiece, how maniy oranges can you buy for 8 cents Hflow many can you buy for 1I cenlts? 19. If it takes 4 sheets of paper for a book, how many books wrill 20 sheets make? H-ow manyl will 28 sheets malke? How many will 32 sheets mnjalke? How niany will 36 sheets make? I-Iow many will 40 sheets mak e? 20. There are 4 benches in a school-room, and 20 scholars: how manly must sit on each beinch? If there be 24 scholars, how many must sit on each bench? If there.are 32 scholars, how n:any must sit on each bench? If there be 36 scholars, how mally mlust sit on each bench? 21. If John pays 4 cents for one top, how many tops will he buy for 12 cents? Ilow many will he buy for 16 cents? HI-ow many will he'ouy for 20 cents Iow many will he buy for 28 cents? How many will he buy for 40 cents? 22. If Charles gives 4 cents a quart for chestnuts, how many' will he buy for 8 cents? I-ow many hir 16 cents' IHfow many for 36 cenits 23. In a school-house there are 5 benches and 20
Page 48 48 INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. [SEa. IV. scholars: blow many must sit on a bench? If there are 25 scholars, how many must sit oii a bench? If there. are 30, how manv would there sit on a bench? 24. If cloth is 5 doilars a yard, how many yards can be purchased fi:r 10 dollars? How much can be purchased for 20 dollars? For 30 dollars? For 40 dollars? For 50 dollars? 25. If flour is 5 dollars a barrel, how many barrels can be purchased for 15 dollars? How manly barrels can be purchased for 20 dollars? How many barrels for 30 dollars? 26. If tape is 5 cents a bunch, how many bunches can be bought for 20 cents? How many bunches can be bought for 50 cents? How many bunches can be-bought for 45 cents? 27. If 5 sheets of paper make a copy-book,,how many books will 20 sheets make? flow many books will 30 sheets make? LESSON II. In whichl Divisors are used from 6 to 10. 1. How nmary 6's are there in 6? 6 is contained in 6, how many times? 2. How many 6's are there in 12? 6 in 12, how many tin'es? 3. I How many 6's in 18? 6 in 18, how many times'! 4. I-low many 6's in 24? 6 in 24, how many times? 5. tIow many 6's in 30? 6 in 30, how many times? d6. How many 6's in 36? 6 in 36, how many times?
Page 49 LES. II.] INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. 4"L 7. How many 7's are there in A? 7 is cantained in 7, how mariy times? S. I-How many 7's aile there in 14? 7 in 14, how many times? 9. How many 7's are there in 21? 7 in 21, holw many times? 10. How many 7's are there in 28? 7 in 28, how malny times. 11. How many 7's are there in 35 2 7 in 35, hoi many times 2 12.! How many 7's are there in 42? 7 in 42, how many times? 13. TIow many: 8's are there in 8? 8 is coti tained in 8, how manliy times? 14. How many 8's are there in 16.? 8 in 16, how many times? 15. How many S's are there in 24 2 8 in 24, how many times? 16. How malny 8's are there in 32? 8 in 32, hot. many times? ]7. How many\8's -are there in 40 2 8 in 40, hows many tim es? 18. How many 8's are there in 48 8 in 48, how many times? 19. I-ow many 9's are there in 92 9 in 9, how many times? 20. IIow many 9\s ar:e there in 18? 9 in 19, how many times? 21. How many 9's ae' there in 27? 9 in 27, how many times?'22. HIow many 9's are there in 36? 9 in 36, how many tines? 23. I-ow many 9's are there in 45? 9 in 45, how many times? 24. How many 9's are there in 54 2 9 in 54, how many times? 5
Page 50 50 INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. [SEC IV. 25. I-Tow many 10's are there in 30? 10 in 30, how many times? 26. Iowmallny 10's are there in 60? 10 in 60, how many times? 27. Iiow many 10's are there in 100. 10 in 100, Ihow many times? QUESTIONS. 1. If 6 sheets of paper make a copy-book, bow many boolos will 12 sheets make'? How many boolks will 24 sheets make? HIow many books will 30 sheets mnake? How many books will 48 sheets make. Itow many books will 60 sheets make? 2. If 1 yard of broadcloth costs 6 dollilrs, how many yards can be bought.for 30 dollars? I-low many yards can be bought for 36 dollars? flow many yards for 42 dollars? HIow many yards for 54 dollars? I-low many for 60 dollars? 3. If a man.travels 6 miles in 1 hour, how many hours will it take him to travel 12 miles fHow many hours will it take him to travel 24 miles? How long will it take him to travel 30 miles? IIow long to travel 54 miles? How long to travel 60 miles? 4. Forty-two apples are divided equally among 6 boys: how many does each one receive? 5. If 54 peaches be divided equally between 6 boys, how many will each receive? 6. If a yard of ribbon costs 6 cents, how many yards can be bought for 24 cents I-low many for 30 Cen ts? 7.. If you have 28 dollars, how many yards of cloth caOn you buy at 7 dollars a yard? HIow many yards for 35 dollars? HIow nmany for 70 dollars? 8. If you have'l6- apples to divide among 8 boys, how many do you give to each? If you have 32,
Page 51 LES. l1I.1 INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. how many? If you have 64, how many? If you have 96, how marny? 9. A laborer engaged to work for 12 dollars a month; at the end of the time he received 96 dollars, hlow many months did he work' 10. James engaged'to wo rlde:for 9 cents a day, and at the end of the time received 72 cents: how many days did lie work? 11. If a man can do a piece of work in 56 hours, how many days will it take him to do it, working 7 hours a day? 12. If two boys are 36 yards apart, and the oln behind gains on the other 4 yard a minute, how many minutes before he will overtake him? 13. A man has 84 pounds of butter to be put in seven jars: how much must be put in each jar? 14. A lady paid 108 cents for 9 yards of ribbont: how much did she pay a yard? 15. If a milliner pays 121 cents for 11 yards of ribbon: how much does she pay for 1 yard? 16. HIow many dresses can be cut from 132 yards of silk, if each dress contains 12 yards? LESSON III. Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division. 1. Two in 5, how many times, and what over? 2. Two in 7, how many times, and what over.* 3. Four in 15, how many times? 4. Five in 19, how many tinies? 5 Five in 36, how many times? 6. Seven in 42, how many times? 7. Nine in 60 how many times? w When there is a remainder, let it be simply mentioned
Page 52 52 INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. LSEC. IT. 8. Seven in 64, how many times? 9. Ten in 55, how many times? 10. Six in 70, how many times. 11. Nine in 100, how many times? 12 Five in 56, how many times? 13. Twelve are how many times 2? 14. Eighteen are how many times 6? 15. Nineteen plus 6, are how many times 5? 16. Twenty plus 8, are how many times 7? I-ow many times 4? 17. Thirty less 6, are how many times 6? How many times 4? How many times 3 18. Sixty less 5, are how many times 11? 19. Ninety plus 9, are how many times 11? 20. Eighty-seven plus 3, are how many times 10. 21. Forty-fi ve plus 4, are how many times 7 22. Sixty-nine plus 15, are how many times 12? How many times 6? How many times 7? 23. Six times 7 less 2, are how many times 10? 24. Forty plus 4 times 6, are how many times 8? 25.;Fifty plus 3 times 4, plus 2, are how many times 8? 26. Five times 6 plus 4 times 9, are how many times 1? 27. Seven times 8 plus 4, are how many times 6? 12? 10? 5?. 28. Eight times 5 plus 5, are how many times 9? 5? 29. Five times 11 less 5, are how many times 2? 10? 5?. 30.,Forty-six less 3 times 2, are how many times 10? "~? 5? 4? 2? 31. ~eyen times 9 plus 3 times 4, are how many tiMnesq.'5? 32. Six times'-4 less.3 times 4, are now many times 3? 4?.6?
Page 53 LES. IIn.] INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. 53 QUESTIONS, 1. If 2 yards of cloth cost 6 dollars, what will 8 yards cost 2-* 2. If 3 oranges cost 12 cents, what will II cost? 3. If 4 boxes of raisins can be bought for 16 dollars, how much will 9 boxes cost? 4. If 7 pounds of sugar cost 56 cents, what will 12 pounds cost? 5. What will 6 lemons cost if 8 cost 24 cents? 6. Jam es has apples worth 2 cents apiece, howv mtaniy must he give for 6 oranges worth 3 cents apiece? 7. How many eggs at S cents a dozen must be giNven for 12 pounds of sugar \worth 6 cents a pound? 8. How nmany knives at 2 shillings apiece are worth 4 axes at 8 shillings apiece? 9. HIow much barley at 5 shillings a bushel must be given for 6 bushels of wheat at 10 shillings a bushel? 10. A farmer bought 4 yards of cloth at 3 dollars a yard and paidcl in labor at 2 dollars a day; how many days must he labor? 1li. John had oranges worth 4 cents a piece which he gave to Jamies for 2 quarts of cherries worth S cents a quart; how many oranges did he give for the cherries? NOTE.-If anv number be divided into two equal parts, one of the parts is called one half. If it be divided into three equal parts, one of the par'ts is called onte third, and two of tihe parts are called two ti tirdt. If it be divided into four equal parts, one of the parts is called one fourth, two of the parts, twzo fourths, three of them, three fourths, &., &c. * ANALYsI. —One y ard will cost one half as much as two yards. If two yards cost 6 dollars, one yard will cost on.half of six dollars, which are 3 dollars; 8 yards will cost 8 times as much as 1 yard: if 1 yard costs 3 dollars, 8 yardsw..vill cost 8 timles 3 dolulars which are 24 dollars'. therefore, if 2 yards of cloth cost 6 dollars, 8 yards -will cost 21 dollars.
Page 54 54 INTELLECTUAL ARITIIMETIC. [SEC. ~V. 12. How many yards of cotton cloth, at 8 cents a yard, mlust be given for 6 pounds of butter worth 12 cents a pound? 1 3. A fairmer bought 4 yards of broadcloth wortb 5 dollars a1 yard, and paid for them in calves worth 4 doll;ars apiece. Ilow many mast he give? 14. I-ow many barrels of flour worth 6 dollars a 6arrel imust be given for 8 barrels of fish worth 3 dollars a barrel? 15. A inan bought S1 oranges at t;1e rate of O for 5 cents. 1-How imuch did they come to?i 16(. HIow many pears at'the rate of 2 for 3 cents can be 1bought for 24 cents? 17. Jaml-es bought 20 marbles at the rate of 5 for 0 cents. I-How much did they cost? 18. How nmuch cloth worth 2 dollars a yard, must be givel for 2 fiukins of butter worth 18 dollars a firkin? 1i9,. What will 8 pounds of beef cost, if 6 pounds cost 54 cents'? 20. A farmer has 6 dozen of eggs worth 12 cents a do~zenl, and wishes to exchange them for nutmlegs at 3 cents apiece: how many shall he receive? 21. A Ilran bought 4 barrels of flour at 7 dollars a barrel, and wishes to exchange them for' cloth at 2 dollars a yard: how nmany yards of cloth should he receive? 22. F1ourr men bought a boat for 60 dollars1: they paid 12 dollars fobr repairing her, and then sold her so that they made 5 dollars: what did they get for her. Hlow much more than they gave? * ANALYLIs.-SSince 3 oranges cost 5 cents, 18 oranges will cost as many times 5 cents as 3 is contained timles in 18, \wh)ich Ls 6 timles: therefore, 18 oranges will cost 6 times 5 cents which iare 30 ceLntu.
Page 55 LES. III.] INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. 5D 23. A laborer engaged to work for a year at 144 dollars a monith, but was sent away at the end of 7 months: how muc.h should he receive? How mluch less than if he had staid the entire y ea.r 24. A drover has S calves for which lhe paid 40 dollars, and 9 sheep for which he paid 27 dollars,hat did he pay apiece fo(r the calves? WVhat for the sheep? How much for ail? 25. If 8 firkins of butter are worth 96 dollars, how Imany firkins must be given for 3 barrels of sugar worth 20 dollairs a barrel? 26. Six men agree to do a piece of work for 90 dollars: it tutrns out that each man malkes 5 dollars by the bargain: what was the cost of doing the work? 27. A mann has 40 eggs, fiom which he wishes to raise chickens: his eggs( are worth a cent apiece, and his chickens, when hatched, w-ill be worth 3 cents apiece. Now, if 15 of his eggs prove addle, how much Nwill he gain 2 28. How much honey at 16 cents a pound must be given for 6 pounds of coffee at 8 cents a pould? 29. -Iow many hatts at 4 dollars apiece, can a ma-n buy if he gives in payment seven handkerchiefs at I dollar' apiece, and 5 pair of boots at 6 dollars a pair? What will he have left? 30. A grocer purchased 4 barrels of sugar at 12 dollars a barrel, and 5 hogsheads of molasses at 20 dollars a -hogshead, and sold the whole for 150 dollars': dcld he make or lose, and how much? 31. Fiv!e men agree to do a piece of wo-rk for 60 dollars, each to receive an equal part. When the is half done, two of the men quit, and the other finish it: how much should each receive 2 ri'ee men made up a purse. The first put i, A.jtirs; the second twice as much as the first, and
Page 56 56 INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. [SEC. IV. the third twice as much as the second: how much was put in in all? What would each have put in had they contributed equally? 33. ilMr1. Johnson bought 14 yards of broadcloth at 4 dolla'rs a yal'd, and having cut off 9 yards, sold the remainder for one half of what he paid for the whole less 3 dollars: how much more was this for each vard than he gave? 4, If it6 en can do a piece of work in 9 days, how long will it take one man to do it?* 35. How many men in 9 days can perform as much labor as 12 men can in 6 days? 36. If a barrel of flour will last 5 men 25 days, how long will it last 9 men? 37. A maln has a piece of work which would employ 3 men fobr 8 days: how many men can do it in I d ajY In 4 days 4',8 If S men can do a piece of work in 5 days, how long will it take oiie man to do it? How many men will do it in one day? 39.,A piece of work requires 9 men for 10 days, how many men can do the same work in one day? In 3 days? In 6 days? 40. If 6 men can build a wall 12 rods long in 8 days, how long will it take one maln to build it? How many men can build it in 1 day l In 3 days? In 12 days? - ANALrs2s. —It will take 1 man 6 times as long to do the same orlk as it mwill 6 men: if it takes 6 men 9 days, it will take 1. man 6 times 9 days, which are 54 days: therefoi e, if it take 6 Ien 9 days to do a piece of work, it will take 1 man 64 days to do the same work. ANXALYSIs. —It will take 8 times as mniny men tio work in I day as it iwill,to do it in 8 days: if it takes 8 cdays, it will take 8 times)3 men, TwMch are A24 mni,;' work in one day: theref!9, if 3 men can do a piece mo.8 days, 24 men cand'o the samre work in 1 day.
Page 57 IES. IV.1 INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. 57 LESSON IV. Combinations. The classes are to be drilled in the following tables until they are fully understo)od. The tables are to bo read across the page: thus, 1 and 1 are two; 1 foron 2 leaves one; once I is one; 1 in 1, once; and similarly fi)r the other lines.* 1 and 1; 1 fiom 2; once 1; 1 in 1 I and 2; 1 firom 3; once 2; 1 in 2 1 and 3; 1 fr,m 4; once 3; 1 in 3 1 ajnd 4; 1 friom 5; once 4; 1 in 4 r and 5; 1 fioom 6; once 5; 1 in 5 1 and 6; 1 friom 7; once 6; 1 in 6 1 and 7; 1 f'om S; once 7; 1 ii 7 1 and 8; 1 friom 9; once 8; 1 in 8 1 and 9; I from 10; once 9; 1 in 9 1 and 10; 1 firom 11; once 10; 1 in 10 2 and 1; 2 fiom 3; two timnes 1; 2 in 2 2' and 2; 2 fromn 4; two times 2; 2 in 4 2 and 3; 2 from 5; two times 3; 2 in 6 2 wand 4; 2 firom 6; two times 4; 2 in 8 2 and 5; 2 from 7; two times 5; 2 in 10 2 and 6; 2 froom 8; two tilnes 6; 2 in 12'2 iled 7; 2 fromn 9; two ti mes 7; 2 in 14 2 Itnd 8; 2 from 10; two timnes 8; 2 in 16 2 aind 9; 2 firomn 1; two times 9; 2 in 18.2 and 10; 2 frot 12; two tiines 10; 2 in 20 Sucar sT;oN,.-The object in placing these tables here is tv Ihill the plpil in changiug his mind from one subject to another r.u each line he begins with adulition, passes to subtraction, then multiplication, anid then to division. The difficulty of doing 4 accratel/, and, rapiidly. will iilustrate fully the value of the -ild must d be' r ix i'i. lined that can go through *,les without a mistake.
Page 58 INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. [SEC. IV, 3 and 1; 3 from 4; 3 times 1; 3 in 3 3 and 2; 3 from 5; 3 times 2; 3 in 6 3 and 3; 3 from 6; 3 times 3; 3 in 9 3 and 4; 3 from 7; 3 times 4; 3 in 12 3 and 5; 3 fLom 8; 3 times 5; 3 in 15 3 and 6; 3 firom 9; 3-times 6; 3 in 18 3 and 7; 3 from 10; 3 times ~7; 3 in 21 3 and 8; 3 from 11; 3 times 8; 3 in 24 3 and 9; 3 fi om 12; 3 times 9; 3 in 27 3 and 10; 3 firom 13; 3 times 10; 3 in 30 4 and 1; 4 from 5; 4 times 1; 4 in 4 4 and 2; 4 fron 6; 4 times 2; 4 t~a 8 4 and 3; 4 fromI 7; 7 4 times 3; 4 in- 12 4 and 4; 4 from 8; 4 times 4; 4 in 16 4 and 5; 4 fiom 9; 4 ti mes 5; 4 iln 20 4 and 6; 4 fiom 10; 4 times 6; 4 in 24 4 and 7; 4 from.11; 4 times 7; 4 in 28 4 and 8; 4 from 1.2; 4 times 8; 4in 32 4 and 9; 4 fiom 13; 4 times 9; 4 in 36 4 and 10; 4 from 14; 4 times 10; 4 in 40 5 and 1; 5 fiom 6; 5 times 1; 5 in 5 5 and 2; 5 firom 7; 5 times 2; 5 in 10 5- and 3; 5 fiom 8; 5 times 3; 5 in 15 5 and 4; 5 firom 9; 5 times 4; 5 in 20 5 and 5; 5 firom 10; 5 times 5; 5 in:25 5 and 6; 5 friom 11; 5 times 6; 5 in 30 5 and 7; 5 firom -12; 5 times 7; 5 in 35 5 and 8; 5 from 13; 5 tinles 8; 5 in. 40 5 and 9; 5 firom 14; 5 times 9; 5 in 4'" 5 and 10; 5 from 15; 5 timnes 10; 5 in 5.! B and 1; 6 fonom 7; 6 times; in 6 and 2; 6firom 8; 6 tires 2 6 in:'6' and 3; 6 from 9; 6 times o3; 6,in.l &i: 6 and 4; 6 fiom 10, 6 t:mles 6 and 5; 6 firom 3.; 6 timtes
Page 59 LBS. IV.] INTELLECTUAL ARITI-IMEi'f' 59 6 and 6; 6 from 12; 6 tilnes 6 6 in 36 6 and 7; 6 from 13; 6 tilnes 7; 6 in 42 6 and 8; 6 from 14; 6 times 8; 6 in 48 6 and 9; 6 from 15; 6 times 9; 6 in 54 6 and 10; 6 fromn 15; 6 times 10; 6 in 60.7 and 1I 7 from 8; 7 times 1; 7 in 7 7 and 2; 7 fi om 9; 7 times 2; 7 in 14 7 and 3; 7 from 10; 7 times 3; 7 in 21 7 and 4; 7 from 11; 7 times 4: 7 in 28 7 and 5; 7 from 12; 7 times 5;7 in 35 7 and 6; 7 from 13; 7 times 6;7 in 42 7- and 7; 7 firornm 14; 7 tirnes 7; 7 in 49 7 and 8; 7 fromn 15'; 7 times 8; 7 in 56 7 and 9; 7 from 1.6; 7 times 9; 7 in 63 7 and 10; 7 from 17; 7 tim es 10; 7 in 70 8 and 1; 88 timnes 1;8in 8 8 and 2; 8 from 10; 8 times 2; 8 in 1 6 8 and 3; 8 fi om 11; 8 times 3; 8 in 24 8 and 4; 8 from 152; 8 timnes 4; 8 in 32 8 and 5; 8 from 13 3; times' 5; 8 in 40 8 and 6; 8 fiomn -4; 8 times 6; 8 in 48 8 and 7; 8 fiomn 15; - tirnes 7 8 in 56 8 and 8; 8 from 16; 8 times 8; 8 in 64 8 and 9; 8 fror l1; 8 times 9; 8 in 72 8 and 10, 8 fro'l 18 8 tim-es 0; 8 in 80 9 and 1; 9 froi 10; 9 tinmes 1 9 iln 9 9 and 2; 9 fi'om 11;j 9 times 2; 9 9 and 3; 9 firom. 12; 9 inies 3;. ~9 and 4;9 Iom-fi 13; 9 times 4 ~ t 9:arnd 5; 9 fi in 14 9 ti-mes 5; 9 and 6; fitorl 15; 9 times 6 9 9 aid'7 7; f9 iron 1t; 9 times 7; 9; 9 frotn: 1; 9 tiles 9 flc ~
Page 60 60 INTELLWECTUAL ARITHMETIC. [SEC. lV. 10 and 1; 10 from 11; 10 times 1; 10 in 10 10 and 2; 10 from 12; 10 tlmes 2; 10 in 20 10 and 3; 10 from 13; 10 times 3; 10 in 30 10 and 4; 10 fro)- 14; 10 times 4; 10 in 40 10 and 5; 10 fi'dhit15; 10 times 5; 10 ill 50 10 anld 6; 10 firom 10; 10 times 6; 10 in 60 10 and 7; 10 fiom 17; 10 tirnes 7; 10 in 70 10 and 8; 10 from 18; 10 times 8; 10 in 80 10 and 9; 10 fiom 19; 10 times 9; 10 in 90 10 ald 10; 10 fiom, 20; 10 times 10; 10 in 100 11 and I; ll from 12; 11 times 1; 11 in 11 11 and 2; 11 froom 13; 11 times 2; 11 in 22 11 atind 3; 11 friom 14; 11 times 3; 11 in 33 11 anid 4; 1I firom 15; 11 ti mes 4; 11 in 44 I1 mid 5; 11 fiom 16; 11 timlsi 5; 11 in 55 11 alid 6; 11 fron 17; 11 tim-es 6; 11 in 66 ll and 7; 11 from 18; 11 tilnes 7 11 in 77 ll anid 8; 11 fiom 19; 11 times 8; lI in 88 11 and 9;: 11 firom 20; 11 times 9 11 in 99 11 an1 d 10; 11 friom 21; 11 tim-)es 10; 11 it ilO 11 and II; 11 firom 22; 11 times 11; I 1 in 121 11 atnd 12; 11 from 23; 11 times 12; 11 in 1032 12 dand 1; 12 fiom 13; 12 tiiiies 1; 12 in 12 12 anI d 2; 12 from 14; 12 titles 2 12 in 24 12 anid.' 3; 12 fiom 15 12 timnes 3; 12 in 36 12 and 4; 12 fiolml 16; 12 tixies 4; 12 in 48 12 aiid 5; 12 from 17; 12 timnes 5; 12 in 60 6; 12 froni 18; 12 tilnes 6; 12 inl 72 7; 12 frnom 19; 12 tilnes 7; 12 in 84 8; 12 fr'om 20; 12 times 8; 1') in 96 9; 12 friolm 21; 12 tilmes 9; 12 Iu i)08 10; 12 fioiio 22; 12 til-es 10; 12 ai 12( 11 12 frioml 23; 12 timnes 11; I1, in S131 1'2. tilmes 12
Page 61 ~o a ~oIt INTELLECTUAL ARItHMETIC,.] SECTION FIF TH. LESSON I. UNITED STATES MONEY. 10 mills malke.,. cent. ct. 10 cents..... c dille.. d. 10 dimes... 1 dollar.. 10 dollars.... 1 eagle. E. 1. How many minlls are there in 2 cents? In 8 cents? In half a cent? In five cents? 2. I-ow many cents aie there in 10 mills? In 15 mills? In 65 mills? 3. How many cents are there in 5 dimes? IIn 6 <imes? In 8 dimes? In 10 dimes? 4. How manay dimes are there in 10 cents? In 12 cents? In 16 cents? In 20 cents? 5. IHow many dimes in 1 dollar? In 2 dollars;? In 3 doitarss? In 4 dollars'? In 5 dollars? 6. How many dollars in 1 e.agle? In 2 eagles? In 5 eagles In eagles? In 9 eagles 7. How many eagles in 20 dollars? In 30 dollars. In 50 dollar-is? in 60 do(llars 8. If 3 yards of cloth cost 24 dimes, what will 7 yards cost? 9. If 7 pounds of tea cost 42 di-nies, what x ill 9 pounds cost? 10. If 6 cows cost eighteen eagles, how much will they cost apiece? What will 9 cost? ENGLISI1 STERLING MONEY, 4 fittthings make.. 1 pelny.. d. 2 pence.... 1 sbilling. s. 20 shiiiinig... 1 pould.. 21 shillings.... 1 guinea
Page 62 62 INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. [SEC. V. 1. I-low many farthings are there in 1 penny? In 2 penlce? In 4? In 6? In 8? 2. HIow nmany pence in 4 farthings? In 8 farthings' In 12? In 14? In 162 3. How many pence are there in 1 shilling? In 2 shillings? In 3 shillings 2 In 4 shillings? 4. How many shillings aie therle'in 12 pence? In 18? In 20? In 24? In 26 pence? 5. How many shillings are there in 1 pound? In 2 pounds? In 3? In 5 2 In 4 pounds? 6. HI-ow many pounds are there in 20 shillings? In 40 shillings? In 60 shillings 2 In 80 shillings? 7. fHow many guineas in 21 shillings? In 42 shillings? In 84 shillings? In 63 shillings? LESSON II. TABLE OF TROY WEIGHT. 24 grains, gr. make. 1 pennyweight,. pvt. 20 pennyweights.. 1 ounce... oz. 12 ounces.... 1 pound,... lb. 1. How many grains are there in 1 pennyweight [n 2 pennyweights? In 3 pennyweights? In 4 pennyweights 2 2. I-low many pennyweights are there in 24 grains I In 48 grains? In 72 grains? In 96 grains? 3. How many pennyweights in 1 ounce? In 2 ounces? In 32? In 4 In 52 4. How many ounces are there in: 20 pennyweights? In 40 pennyweights?' In 60 In 80 pennyweights? 5. How many ounces are there in 1 poundl In 2 pounds? In 3 pounds? In 4 pounds? In 5 pounds? 6. How many pounds in 12 ounces? In 24'? In.1 In 48?' In 60?
Page 63 LES. II.] IN1'ELLECTUAL ARITMETIC. 03 7. How many pennyweights in 4 ounces? In 2 ounces? How many grains in 1 ounce? In 2 ounces? In 3 ounces? TABLE OF APOTHECARIES' WEIGHlT. 20 grains, gr. make. 1 scruple,.. o 3 scruples.... 1 dram,.. 3. 8 dras.... 1 ounce,... 12 ounces.... 1 pound,. lb. 1. I-Tow many grains are there in 1 scruple? In2 scruples? In 3? In 4? 2. How many scruples in 20 grains? In 40?o In 60? - In 80? 3. How many scruples in I dram? In 2?. In 38 In 4, how many? TABLE OF AVOIRDUPOIS WEIGIHT 16 dra-ms, dr. make. 1 ounce,. oz. 16 ounces.... 1 pound,.. lb. 25 pounds.... quarter,. qr. 4 quarters... 1 hundred weight, cwt. 20 hundred;weight. I ton,... 2. 1. How many drams in an ounce? How many ounces in a pound? How many pounds in a quarter? How many quarters in a hundred? How many hundred in a ton? 2. How many drams in 2 ounces? How many ounces in 2 pounds? How many pounds in 2 quarters? How many quarters in 2 hundred? Hfow many hundreds in two tons? 3. HIow many ounces in 6 pounds How many in 4 pounds? How many tons in 60 hundred. HIow many quarters in 5 tons? How many pounds in - hundred and 3 quarters How many ounces in I P[pounds?
Page 64 64'INTELLECTUAL ARITEIMETIO. lgSEg. V LESSON III. TABLE OF LONG MEASURE. 12 inches, in. make. 1 foot,.. ft 3 feet.. 1 yard,. O. 5W yards, or 164- feet 1 rod,.. rd. 40 rods.. I. fulong,... fu.r. 8 furlongs, or 320 rods 1 mile, i n.. ra 3 mniles... 1 league,. eo. 60 geographical or 69- statute miles.. j degree,. deg. or 0 860 deglees. a great circle. I. HIow many feet in 24 inches? In 6 yards how many? How many yards in 15 feet? In 24. HIow -many rods in 2 furlongs? I-low many firlongs in 1(0 rods? How many miles in 9 leagues? How nany leagues in 54 miles? TABLE OF SQUARE MEASURE. 144 square inches, sq. in. make 1 square foot, sq. ft. 9 squlare feet.. 1 square yealrd, sq. yd. 80I square yards.. I square pole,. 40 square rods... 1 rood;.. o JI 4 roods.,....1 acre,.. o A. 6.4:0 acr4es.... 1 square mile,.. 1. HIow many square inchesin 2 square feet? 2. HIow inany square feet in 2 square y afids? In?. In 4? In 5? In 9? In 10? 3. How many square rods in 2 roods2? HIow many in' 3 roods -- In 5. 4. IHow -manyv roods in 80 s.quare rods? InT 120 1 In 16i0, how many 5. 1-low many roods in 2 acres 2 I-low nmany in 3 acres? low lmany in 5 acres? 6. I-low many acres in 8 roods? In 12, how ninny v In 20? 7. How many acres make 4 square miles?
Page 65 LES. III.] INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. 65 TABLE OF CLOTH MEASURE. 4- inches, in. make 1 nail,.... a. 4 nails... 1 quarter of a ya rd. qr. 4 quarters... 1 yard,. yd. 3 quarters... I Ell Flemish, E. Fi. 5 quarters. 1 Ell English,. E. E. 6 quarters... 1 Ell French,. E. Fr. 1. IHow many inches make 2 nails? 3 nails? 4 nails? L How many nails malke a quarter of a yard?:u:ow many make 2 quarters? How many mlake 3 cquarters? 3. How many quarters make 2 yards? 3 yard'? 4 yards 5 yards? 4. How many quarters make an Ell Flcelish? I-How many malke 2 Ells? 3 Ells?. 4? 5?2 6? 7 5. How mainy Ells Flemish in 3 qualrters of a yard? In 6 quar ters? In 9? In 12? Iil 15? TABLE OF WINE MEASURE. 4 gills, gi. Imake 1 piltt,.. pt. 2 pints..... 1 quart,... qto 4 quarts. 1; gallon,.. gal. 831- gallons..... 1 balrrel,.. bar. 63 gallo:)ns 1 hogshead.. A, d. 2 hogsheads s. 1 pipe,.. pi. 2 pipes, or 4hogsheads 1 tuin,.. et n.u 1. How many gills make a pint? How many take 2 pints? 3? 4? 5? 62 2. HIow Imany pints in a quart In 2 qua rts? In 83? T14? lIn 6? I1n72 3. tow imany qluarts in 2 pints? 11'4? In 6? f, 8? In 10? In 12? 4, How malny qularts in 1 gallon? In 2? Ii 3? [i;? In 5 1in7? ~'?~(,. 6*'
Page 66 66 INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC.:.LSEC. V, 5. HIow many gallons in 4 quarts? In 8 In 12? In 16? In20? 6. How rnany gallons in a barrel? 7. How many gallons in a hogshead? In 2? 8. HIow many hogsheads in a pipe? In 2 pipes? In 3? In 4 I n? In 5 9. HIow many pipes in 2 hogsheads? In 4? 10. How many pipes in I tun? In 2 tuns? In 3? TABLE OF ALE AND BEER MEASURE. 2 pints, pt. make 1 quart,.. qt. 4 quarts... 1 gallon,... gal. 36 gallons. I. 1 barrel,... 6ar. 54 gallons.. 1 hogshead,.. hItd. 1. How many pints in 2 quarts? In 3? In 4? In 5? 2. How many quarts in 2 pints? Tn 4? In 6? ir 8? In 10? In 12? 3. H-Tow many quarts.in 2 gallons? In 4? In,? 4. How many gallons in 4 quarts? In 8? In 12? TABLE OF DRY M}EASURE. 2 pints pt. make 1 quart.. qt. 8 quarts.... 1 peck,.. pk. 4 pecks. 1... bushel, o.. bu. 36 bushels.. I ehaldron,... ch. 1. HoVw miany pints in 2 quarts? In 3? In 4? In 5? In 6? 2. I-How many quarts in 4 pints? In 6? In 8? [n 10? 3. I1ow many quarts in 2 pecks? In 3? In 4? In 5? 4. H-low many pecks in 16 quarts? In 24? In 32? In 40?
Page 67 LtS. II.] INTELLECTUAL 4RITIIMETIO. 67 TIME TABLE. 60 seconds, sec. make I minute,... m. 60 minutes.. 1 hour,. hr. 24 hours..... day,.d...a. 7 days.... 1 week,.. wk. 4 weeks.. 1 month,... mo. 52 w: ks. 1 year,.... yr. 100 y ers..... 1 century,... C. The year is also divided into twelve calendar months, which contain an unequal number of days. Winter, I month January,. 31 2... February,. 28* 3... Ma rch,. 31 Spring, 4. April,... 30 5.. May,.... 31 6. June,.... 30 Summer,. July. 31 -(8... August,. 31 9.. September,.. 30 Autumn, I10... October,... 31 (11... November,.. 30 Winter, 12... December,.. 31 Total 365 Thirty days hath September, April, June, and November; All the rest have thirty-one, Excepting February, twenty-eight alone. * February has 29 days in leap-year
Page 68 68 INTELLECTUAL ARITHEMTIC. [SEC. VI, SECTION SIXTH. LESSON I. Of the Fraction One Half. 1. If an apple be divided into two equal parts, one of the parts is called one half. What are the 2 parts alled? 2. I-low many halves are there in one apple? 3. If a pear be divided into two equal parts, -what e tie parts called? 4. tIow many halves are there in a pear? 5. HI-ow many halves are there in 1? In 1 and a ialf, how manty? 6. How many halves are there in 2 pears? In 2 and a half, how many?' 7. How many halves are there in 3 things.? In 3 and a half, how rmany? 8. How many halves are there in 4? In 4 and a half, how many? 9. HIow many halves are there in 5? In 5 and a half, how many? 10. IIow many halves are there in 6? In 6 and a half, iow many? 1i. HIow many halves are there in 7? In 7 and a half, how many? 12. I-How many halves in 8? In 8 and a half.? 13. I-Tow many halves in 9? In 9 and a half? 14. tHow many halves in 10? In 10 and a half? 15. How many halves in 11 and a half~? In 12 and a half? 16. HFow many whole things are there in 2 halves? In 4 halves?t In 6 halves? In 12 halves? In 18 halves? 2 n 24? In 30? In 28? In 17 In 93i In 13' In 15? * ANALYSIS.-There are 2 halves in 1; therefore, in any numn ber of thilgs there are twiee as nianny halves as s whole thitlg& In 2 and a half there are 6 halves. t ANAL'SIS. —Since there is 1 whiole thing in two halves, the uumber of wvhole things are foiimd by dividing the halves by 2.
Page 69 1,ES. I1.] INTELLECTUAL ARITTMETIC. 69 QUJ ES'rIONS. 1. If one half an orange cost I cent, how much will 3 hallves cost? 2. If one half a pine-apple cost 4 cents, how mnch will 1 pine-apple cost? 3. If one half a yard of cloth cost 2 dollars, how mluch will 6 yards cost? 4 yards? 5 yards'? 4. If one and one half yards of cloth cost 6 dollars, vwhat \will 5 yards cost? 5. James gave 3 and a half cents for a top, 6 and a hal!f cents for paperl, 9 half cents for a pencil, and 7;ialf cents for an orange: how mluch did he pay in all? 6. Ann bought a skein of silk for 9 half cents, a ipool of thread for 7 and a half cents, a thimble for 16 half-cents: how much did she pay in all? LESSON II. Of the Fraction One Third. 1. If an apple be divided into three equal parts, one of the palts is called one third: what are 2 of the parts called? 3 of ther? 2. How many thirds are there in one apple 3. How nmany thirds are there in 1. 4. I-ow many thirds are there in 2? In 2 anrid one. third? Why? 5. How many thirds are ther e in 3 ITn 3 and two thirds? In 3 and one third? W-hy? * ANALYsI. —One and one half yards are eq-ual to 8 half yards. One half yard will cost one third as much as 3 half yards. If 3 half yards cost; 6 deollars, one hallf yar'd will cost one third of 6 collars, which are. 2 dollars. If one lllf a yald costs 2 dollars, one yard will cost 2 times 2 dollars, -which are 4 dollars; and if 1 yard costs 4 dollars, 5 yards will cost 5 times 4 dollars, which are 20 dollars. 3
Page 70 70 INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. LSEC. VI. 6. How many thirds are there in 4? In 4 and one thiird? In 4 and two thirds? 7. How many thirds are there in 5? In 5 and two thirds? In 5 and one third. S. How many thirds are there in 6? In 6 and one third? In 6 anld two thirds? 9. How many thirds are there in 7? In 7 and one third? In 7 and two thirds? 10. How many thirds are there in 8? In 8 and one third? In 8 and two thirds? 11. How many thirds are there in 9? In 9 and one third? In 9 and two thirds? 12.' How many thirds are there in 10? In 10 and two thirds? 13. How many thirds are there in II? In ll and two thirds? 14. How many thirds are there in 12? Tn 12 and one third? In 12 and two thirds? 15. How many whole things are there in 6 thirds? In 9 thirds? In 15 thirds? In 18 thirds? In 8 thirds? In 7 thirds? 16. How many whole things in 14 thirds? In 16 thirds? In 25 thirds? In 17 thirds? In 19 thirds? 17. How many thirds in 9 and 6 thirds? In 7 and 5 thirds? In 6 and 11 thirds? 18. How many thirds in 6 thirds and 5 thirds! In 9 thirds, and 4 and 2 thirds, how many? In 16' tbirds and 9 thirds and 5 thirds, how many thirds? QUESTIONS. 1. If one third of an orange cost one cent, what will the whole orange cost? What will two oranges,ost? 2. If one third of a yard of cloth cost two dollars, what will three yards cost? 3. If one third of a barrel of flour cost two dollars, what will six barrels cost?
Page 71 LES. III.] INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. 71 4. If two thirds of -a pound of tea cost 40 cents, what will 2 pounds cost? 5. If 3 and two thirds pounds of sugar cost 33 cents, how much will 8 pounds cost? If 3 and one third pounds of coffee cost 40 cents, how much will 9 pounds cost? 7. If 8 and two thirds yards of cloth cost 52 dollars, how much will 7 yards cost? 8. John gave two and two thirds dimes for a penknife: how much did he pay for 3 penknives? 9. If 2 sheep cost 5 anrd one third dollars, what will 6 cost? I0. If 1 pound of honey cost 12 and two third cents, what will 9 pounds cost? LESSON III. Of the Fraction One Fourth. 1. If an apple be divided into four equal parts, one of the parts is called one fourth. What are 2 of them called? 3 of them? 4 of them? 2. Iow many fourths are there in I? 3. How many fourths are there in 1 and one fourth? 4. How many fourths are there in 2? In'2 and one fourth? In 2 and three fourths? 5. How many fourths are there in 32 In 3 and two fourths? In 3 and three fourths? 6. How many fourths are there in 4? In 4 and one fourth? In 4 and two fourths? 7. How many fourths are there in 5? In 5 and one fourth? In 5 and three fourths? 8. How many fourths are there in 6? In 6 and one faurth? In 6 and three fourths? 9. I-low many fourths are there in 7? In 7 and one fo)urth. In 7 and three fourths?
Page 72 72 INTELLECTUAL ARITIM-ETIC. LSEC /I. 10. H(ow many fourths are there in 8? In S and one fourth? In 8 and two fi:urths? In 8 and three fourths? 11. Htow many fourths are chere in 9? In 9 and one fourth Ian 9 and two fourths ~ n 9 and three foiurths. 12. flow many fourths are there in 10? In 10 and one fourth. In 10 and two fourths?' In 10 and three fourths. 13. fIltow many whole things in 4 foulrths? In 8 fourths' In 20 fourths? In 17 fourths'. In 19 fourths 2 14. I-ow many whole things.in 12 fourths? In 25 fourths 2 In 30 fourths? in 35 fourths? In 48 foulths In 60 fourths? In 56 fourths? QUESTIONS. 1. If one fourth of a vyard of cloth costs 2 dollars, how nmluch will 1 yard cost? How much will 4 yards cost? 2. If 3 fourths of a pound of coffee cost 12 centst whlit wiil 5 pounds cost? 3. If 7 fbourths yards of cloth cost 14 dollars, what will 9 Clards cost? 4. lf8 3 vyards of cloth cost 3 and 3 fourth dollars, whatl will 5 yards cost? 5. How mnany foutths are there in 6 and one fourth? 6. How many whole things are there in 2 and 5 fourths, and 5 and 9 fourths? 7. If a barrel of vinegar cost 4 dollars, what will 5 ai:d 3 fourths barrels cost? 8. If 9 fourths yards of muslin cost 18 cents, what N\ ill 1 2 yards cost? 9. It' Ii fourths yards of br-'adcloth cost 2'2 dolalrs.what will 7 yards cost? 1.0. If 3 and a fourth yards of carabric cost 39 cernts, nmow' miuch will 7 yards cost.
Page 73 LES. IoV MET~LLECTUAL ARITHMETTe. 73 LESSON IV. Of te Fr'action One Fifth. 1. If an apple be divided into 5 equal parts, one of the parts is EcIled one fifth. What are 2 of ther, called? 3 of them? 4 of them T 5 of therat 2. mow many fifths are rthere in I apple t He w mrany fifhs in 1 thing T 3. ] ow many fifths are there inl 2? Int 2 and otne fifth? In2' nd 2 fifths 4. [ow many fifths'are there in 3. in 3 and one fifth? In 3 and two fifths? In 3 and three fifths? 5. Ho-w many fifths are there in 4? In t and one ffth I n 4 and two fifths l4 and t three tift, hs? 5. How many fifths are there in 5I In 5 and three fifths?,In 5 and on-e ~fih, [ a 5t and nfour fiths 7. How many fifths are there in 6 fit ( and one fifth? In 6 and two fifths In [ 6 and four ffths. S. How many fifths are there in 7 th.d7 and one 2ffth'? In 7 and two fifths [In 7 an.d thtree fifths [n 7 and four fifths? 9. HTo w mancy fifths are there fi 8 T in 8 and two fifths' [n 8 and three fifths T. In 8 and one fifth: 10.,'Uow matly fifths ae:;e thne;re in 9 T [In 9 and one fiftih I n 9 and three fib.hsi In. 9 and f:,tr fths T 11. How nany fifths are thcre in 10? In 10 attd -oune fifth ta 10 and three fifthsE fn 10 and. four fifths? 12. How many whole apples Lare equal to 5 fifths )~ an apple? How many whole th. ins:in 5 rfifths I"3. How many, whole things ia 10 fifths etl hi [2 sth1iKhs? nI' 14 fifths s [n gII fif[ths? 14. Ho(w maan y whole thiigs in [5 fifhs? [fn fifths In 2 5 ti ft.h I t 37 fi -st1$ [In 40 fiftths [I( 60 fifths 7f
Page 74 74 INT ILLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. [SEC. VI 15. How manv fifths in 8 and 4 fifths? In 6 and, 3 fifths? Ill 4 and 2 fifths? in 11 and 4 fifths?' QUESTIONS. 1. If 1 fifth of a yard of broadcloth cost I dollar, E hat will 1 yard cost? 2. If 3 fifths of a pound of coffee cost 15 cents, f hrat will 3 pounds cost? 3. If 4 fifths of a pound of tea cost 40 cents, what will 4 pounds cost? 4. If 1 yard of cloth cost 3 fifths of a dollar, what will 6 yards cost? 5. If 1 pound of tea cost 3 fifths of a dollar, what will 5 pounds cdst? 6. If 2 yards of cloth cost 4 fifths of a dollar, what will 10 yards cost? 7. John has 9 fifths apples, James 6 fifths, Charles 7 fifths, and Reuben 3 fifths: how many entire apples have they in all? 8. If my pencil cost 4 fifths of a dime, my pen 1 fifth, my paper 3 fifths, and wafers 2 fifths: how much do I pay in all 2 9. If a family consume 3 fifths of a barrel of flour in 1 week, how much will they consume in 5 weeks? 10. Eight times 3 fifths are how many fifths? How many times 1. LESSON V. Of the Fraction One Sixth. 1. If an apple be divided into six equal parts, one of the parts is called one sixth: what are2 of them called.; of them? 4 of them? 5 of them? 6 of thet-a 2. HIow many sixth parts are there in 1 apple? 3. How many sixths are there in 1? 4. How many sixths are there in 1 and one six th'l
Page 75 LES. V.] INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. 75 5. Itow many sixths are there in 2? In 2 and 3 sixths? In 2 and 4 sixths? 6. flow many sixths are there in 3? In 3 and 4 sixths? In 3 and 5 sixths? In 3 and 2 sixths? 7. How many sixths are there in 4? In 4 and 3 sixths? In 4 and 5 sixths2? In 4 and 2 sixths? 8. How many sixths are there in 52 In 5 and 3 sixths? In 5 and 4. sixths? In 5 and 5 sixths? 9. How many sixths are therein 6? In 6 and 3 sixths - In 6 and 5 sixths? 10. How many sixths are there in 7? In 7 and I sixth? In 7 and 2 sixths,? In' 7 and 5 sixths? 11. I-low many sixths are there in 8? In 8 and I sixth? In 8 and 2 sixths? 12. How many sixths are there in 9 In 9 and 2 sixths? In 9 and 4 sixths? 13. How many sixths are there in 10? In 10 and I sixth? In 10 and 2 sixths? In 10 and 3 sixths-? in 10 and 4 sixths? 14. How many whole apples are there in 6 sixths apples? In 12 sixths 2 In 18 sixths? In 24 sixths? In 36 sixths. In 72 sixths 2 15. How many whole things in 15 sixths? In 54 sixths? In 66 sixths? In 45? In 50? In 48? Inl 63? In 75? QUESTIONS, 1. If a family consume 1 bushel and 3 sixths of a bushel of potatoes in 1 week, how much will they consume in 8 weeks? 2. How many sixths of apples can you cut from apples and 2 sixths? How many from 6 and 5 sixths? 3. If J ames gives 5 sixths of a shilling for a pencil, and 4 sixths of a shilling for a slate, and 3 sixths of a slilling for paper: how much will he: pay in all?
Page 76 76 INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. [SEC. VL 4. If 2 sixths of a barrel of flour will last a family 4 weeks, how long will 2 barrels last them? 5. If 4 sixths of a load of hay is worth 8 dollars, what are 4 loads worth, at the same rate? 6. What is the cost of 3J barrels of flour at 4 dol. lars and 2 sixths a barrel? 7. A man gave to each of 12 men 5 sixths of a loaf of bread: how many loaves did he distribute? 8. A man bought 6 barrels of flour at 5 and 5 sixths dollars a barrel: what did it come to? 9. What is the product of 5 and 4 sixths, multiplied by 9? 10. What is the product of 6 and 5 sixths, mrultiplied by 12? LESSON vI. Of the Frpaction One Seventh and One,igth. 1. If an apple be divided into 7 equal parts, ilone of the parts is called one seventh: what are 2 of the parts called? 3 of them? 4 of them? 5 of them? 6 of them? 7 of them? HI-ow many sevenths are there in 1 apple? How many sevenths in 1 thing? 2. Show many sevenths are there in 2? In 2 and I seventh, how many? In 2 and 2 sevenths, how many? 3. How many sevenths are there in 3? In 3 and I seventh, how many? In 3 and 2 sevenths, how Dalny? 4. How many sevenths are there in 4? In 4 and;1 sevenths, how many? In 4 and 4 sevenths, how many? In 4 and 6 sevenths? 5. How many sevenths are there in 5? In 5 and 2 sevenths, hQw many? In 5 and 3 sevenths, how mnany? In 5 and 6 sevenths?
Page 77 LES. VI.] INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. 77 6. IIow many sevenths are there in 6? [n 6 and 2 sevenths, how many? In 6 and 3 sevenths? In 6 and 4 sevenths? 7. How many sevenths ale there in 7? In 7 and I seventh? In 7 and 3 sevenths? In 7 and 4 sevenths? 8. HIow many sevenths are there in 8? In 8 and 1 seventh? In 8 and two sevenths? In 8 and 5 sevenths? 9. Ilow many sevenths are, there in 9? In 9 and 4 sevenths? In 9 and 3 sevenths? 10. T-Tow many sevenths are in 10 In 10 and 1 seventh? In 10 and 2 sevenths? In 10 and 3 sevenths? 11. HIow many whole things in 14 sevenths? In 28 sevenths? In 35 sevenths? In 49 sevenths? 12. fHow many whole things in 17 sevenths? In 14 sevenths ard 4 sevenths? How many in 63 sevenths I? i3. IHow many sevenths in 9 and 5 sevenths? 1.4. 1How mlany whole things in 30 sevenths, 14 sevenths arnd 5 sevenths 8 EIGHT-IS. 1. It an apple be dividL;d into eight equal parts) what is one of the parts called H(,w many eighths ale therle in one? What are two parts called? 3 parts? 4 parts? 5 parts? 7 parts?'. -low many eighths are there in 2? -low irany hi i2 anid 1 eighth? Ia 2 and 5 eighths? In 2 and 6 eighths? 3. 1EIow many eighths are the!re in 3? In 3 alnd 2 eigh ths I In 3 and 4 eighths? In 3 and 7 eighths'. In 3,.nd 6 eighths? 4. 1-How many eighths in 41 In 4 and I eighth? Iln 4 and 3 eighths? In 4 and 5 eighths? In 4 atnd 6( eighths 7* 7*t
Page 78 78 INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. LSEC. VI. 5. How many eighths are there in 5? In 5 and 1 eighth? In 5 and 2 eighths? I1 5 and 3 eighths? In 5 and 5 eighths? 6. How many eighths are there in 6?' In 6 and 2 eighths? In 6 and 3 eighths? In 6 and 7 eighths? In 6 and 4 eighths? 7. How many eighths are there in 7? In 7 and 1 eighth? In 7 and 2 eighths? In 7 and 3 eighths? 8. How many eighths are there in 8 In 8 and 1 eighth? In eight and 3 eighths? In 8 and 4 eighths? Inl 8 and 6 eighths? 9. How many eighths are there in 9? In 9 and 1 eighth? In 9 and'I eighths? In 9 and 3 eighths? n1 9 and 4 eighths? 10. I-low many eighths are there in 10?2 In 10 and 1 eighth? In 10 and 2 eighths?. In 10 and 3 eighths? 11. How many whole things are there in 16 eighths? In 24 eighths, how many? How many in 32 eighths? In 40? In 50 In 60 In 70 In 56? In 96? In 88. In26? LESSO0N VII. Of the _Fractions Onle Ninth and One Tenth. 1. If an apple be divided into 9 equal parts, one of the parts is called one ninth. HI-ow many ninths are there in 1? What ale 2 of the parts called? 5 of them? 7 of them? 2,. How many ninths are there in 2 things?, ITow n.iny in 2 and 2 ninths? In 2 and 4 ninths? In 2 and 5 ninths? In 2 and 6 ninths? 3. How many ninths are there in 3?: In' 3 and 7 ninths? In 3 and 6 nilths? In 3 and 5 ninths 2 11n 3 and 8 ninths?
Page 79 LES. VII.] INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. 79 4. How many ninths are there in 4 things In 4 and 1 ninth? In 4 and 3 ninths? In 4 and 6 ninths In 4 and 8 ninths? 5. How many ninths are there in 5 3 In 5 and 2 ninths? In 5 and 3 ninths? In 5 and 4 ninths? 11 5 and 6 ninths? 6. How many ninths are there in 6? In 6 and 4 ninths? In 6 and 5 ninths? In 6 and 8 ninths? 7. How many ninths are there in 7 In 7 and' ninths 3 In 7 and 4 ninths 3 In 7 and 6 ninths 3 in 7 and 8 ninths? 8. How many ninths ai'e there in eight? In 8 and I ninth? In 8 and 2 ninths? In 8 and 4 ninths? 9. How many ninths. are there in 9? In 9 and 3 nlinths? In 9 and 4 ninths? In 9 and 5 ninths? 10. How many ninths are there in 10 3 In 10 and I ninth? In 10 and 2 ninths? In 10 and 8 ninths 3 11. How many whole things in 18 ninths? In 27? In 363 In 633 In 72 In 90? In 81? In 543 1n 67 In 59 1 In 71 In 993 TENTHIS. 1. If an apple be divided into ten equal parts, ona of the parts is called one tenth. 1How many tenths alre there in one thing 3 What are 2 parts called 3 43 5' 7 3 2. HIow many tenths are there in 22 In 2 and 3 tenths In 2 and 5 tenths? In 2 and 9 tenths 3 3. How many tenths are there in 3? In 3 and 4 tenlths? In 3 and 5 tenths? In 3 and 6 tenths 3 4. How many tenths are thei'e in 4? In 4 alnd 4 tenths In 4 and 5 tenths? In- 4 andl 8 tenths. 5. HIow many tenths are there in 5 In 5 and 3 tenths? In 5 and 6 tenths? Itn 5 and 9 tenths? 6. How many tenths are there in 6 1 In 6 and 3 tenths? In 6 and 7 tenths In 6 and 8 ten'ths
Page 80 80 INTELLECTUAL ARITHMET10. LSEC. VI. 7. IXow many tenths are there in 7? In 7 and,' tenths? In 7 and 8 tenths? In 7 arnd 9 tenlths? 8. How many tenths are there in 8'2 In 8 -and 4 tenths? In 8 and 5 tenths? In 8 and 9 tenths? 9. Ho(w many ten!ths are there in 9? In 9 anad 4 tenths? In 9 and 5 tenths? In 9 an d 8 tenlths? 10. tIow rany tenths are there in 10? tn 10 and 5 tenths? In 10 and 6 tenths? In 10 anrid 9 tenhlis I 11. How many whole things in 20 telnths? In 55? In 60? In 70? In 80? In 85? In 95? Ih LESSON VIII. Equal parts of lVTumbers. 1. What is one half of 4? 2. What part of 1 is one thitd of "-2 2* 3. XWhat part of 1 is one folurth o(f 3? 4. WV hat part of 1 is one ninth of 6? 5. TWVhat part of I is one fifth of 4? 5. [-ow iany times 1 is one sixth of 8? 7. How many times 1 is one fifth of 12? S. Nine are how mnlay tiies 7 9. If wheat is 9 shillings a bushel, how many btshtels caln you buy f(r 10 shillings? For 15 shillins?'t For 20 shillintgs? For 29 shillings? 10. Trwelve are hol(w any times 6? 11. What part of 1 is one twelfth of 6 2 12. What plrt of 1 is one tenth tof 4? 13. What part of 1 is one twelfth of 9 4. At 9 dimes a yard, how miuch miuslin cnil Vou buy fobr 1 dime? I ow much for 4 dir es? How much for! 71 How much fbr 9.* * SuoGEsTION.-One third of 2 must be twice as great, as one third of I: one third of one is one thild; hence, one third of 2 is t;vwo thirds of 1. Similarly for edch example.. OBSERVE that all numbers are finally expressed in terms of the unit 1.
Page 81 LES. VIII.] INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. 81 IIow many for 12? How many for 18? How many for 20? How many for 27? 15. If coal is 7 dollars a ton, how much will ons seventh of a ton cost? 5 sevenths? 14 sevenths? 16. If you have 30 dollars, how many barrels of flour can you buy at 5 dollars a barrel? At 6 dollars a barrel? At 7 dollars? At 8 dollars? At 9 dollars? At 10 dollars? 17. Twentv-four are how many times 4 f How maly tirmes 5? 8? 9? 10 11 12? 18. Sixty are how many times 5? 7 8? 4 9? 10.? 12? - 19. Seventy are how many times 10 2 7 8? 9? 11? 3? 20. Forty-two are how many times 8? 9? 10? 12? 6? 7? 21. Fifty-six are how many times 12? 10? 9? 8? 11? 5? 22. Twenty-two are how many times 5? 6? 7? 8? 9? 10? 23. Forty-eight are how many times 7? 6? 5? 4? 12? 11? 92 24. Fifty-five are how many times 8? 9? 7? 5? 3? 10? 11? 25. Forlty-seven are how many times 5 6? 9' 10? 12? 8? 7 26. Forty-one are how many times 6? 7? 9? 8? 5? 4?'27. If cloth is 7 dollars a yard, how many yards cin you buy for 60 dollars? How much could you buy at 8 dollars a yard? At 10 dollars? 5 dollars I 11 dollars? 28. Eighty-two are how many times 4? 8. 9. 122 112 29. Eighty-eight are how many times 7 8?. 9' 10? 111 12?
Page 82 82 INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. [SEc. VI, 30. Eighty-five are how many times 9? 8? 7? 10? 11? 12? 31. Eighty-seven are how many times 9? 8? 7? 10? 11? 12? 32. Ninety are how many times 9? 8? 7? 10? 1? 12? 33. Ninety-nine are how many times 9V 11? 12? 8? 10? 34. Seventy-two are how many times 6? 9? 7? 8? 10? 11? 12? 35. Seventy-six are how many times 9 8 7? 0? 10? 11? 12? 36. Seventy-eight are how many times 9? 8 7? 10? 12? 11 I 37. At 7 dollars a barrel, how much flour can you buy for 2 dollars? I-low much for 4 dollars? How much for 6 dollars? For 8 dollars? For 12 dollars 8 For 15 dollars? For 20 dollars? For 25 dollars? For 27 dollars? For 32 dollars? For 35 dollars? 38. Fifty-five are how many times 5? 6? 8? 9? 10? 12? 11? 39. Fifty-nine are how many times 8? 7? 6 9? 10? 11? 12? 40. If sugar is 9 dollars a hundred weight, how many hundreds can you buy for 3 dollars? How much fori 6? For 12? For 18 dollars? For 26t For 39? For 65o For 72? For 92 dollars? LESSON IX. Expressing:Fractions by Figures and Reading them. 1. The following is the manner of expressing frac. tions by figures: - one half. - one seventh. 2 7 one third. 1 one eighth. j one fonrth. } one ninth. * one fifth. -L one tenth. one sixth. A- one twelfth. 12
Page 83 LES. IX.] INTELLECTUAL AIITiHMETIC. 83 2. What is the figure above the line called? Trhe, Inu 11 era t or. 3. What is the figure below the line called? The denonliialtor. 4. What, does the denolinator show? It shows into how mnarny equal parts the whole thing is divided. 5. NVhat dot-s the nunmerator show? HI- w 11any-11 of thOse equal plarts are taken. 6. Whwlt may the whole thing which is divided be called? Unity or o(le. 7. Is one aple a iunit? Is one peach a unit? Is one dollar 1 iunit? Is one bo-ok a unit? 8. [In the fi.'ction. itnto he>Nw mnany equal parts is the unit dividecl? Which figuire is the numerator?:Which the cdlenomin?tor? 9. In the fi:1u tiolln 1-, il)to how many equal parts is the uinit divifled?'Which is the numerat{or? NWhich the denolni -1iltor? 10. hLeadl the follonwincg fraections: — tlhree eighths. eiht thirteent. 3 three sevenths. 1 fi:-tv-one. sixteenths. 5 five nilths. 9s3 two and 3 eighths. 6 six twelfths. 59 five and 9 sevexnths. 7-5 sevCn fifi;eenlths. (O(-i six land 5 twelftrhs.' 11. In the fiaction, into how many equal plarts is tile unit divided? How mIlany of these parts are taken? 12. In the firaction 3, into how niany equal parts is the unit divided? 1hIow nianny part.s are taken?; ScoGEsrT'oss..When the numerator is less than the leno mllunat'or, the fraction is called a proper fraction. When the numerator is greater than the denominator, the fraction is called an improper fraction. A whole number united with a fraction, is called a vmixed tnumber.
Page 84 84 INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. I,. A. V~13. In the fraction 5, into how many equal parts is the unit divided? H-low many parts are takenl 14. In the fraction g, into how many equal parts is the unit divided? How many parts are taken? 15. In the fraction 6-, into how many equal parts is the unit divided? How many parts are taken? 16. In the fiaction 7-, into how many equal parts is the unit divided How many parts are take n? 17. In the fiaction R,-, into how many equal parts is the unit divided? How many parts are taken? 18. In the fiaction 2, into how many equal parts is the unit divided? How mlany parts are taklien 19. What figures express one third of one? 20. What figures express five sevenths? 21. What figures express nine twelfths? 22. What figures express twelve qeventeenths? 23. What figures expyess tell thirty-sevenths? 24. What figures express fifteen sevenths? 25. What figures express fourteen twenty-ninths'? LESSON X. Fractional U~wnits. 1. What is the unit of a fraction? It is the whole thing which is divided into equal parts. 2. What is each equal part called? A fractionzal unit. 3. In the fraction - of a pound, what is the unit of the fraction? 1One poLund. What is the, firactional unit? One-eighth of a poulnd. How many fi'actional units are taken? Five. 4. In the fraction A, what is the unit of the fraction?
Page 85 LES. X.] INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. 5 The abstract or simnple unit, one. WVhat is the fractional unit? One fourth. How many fractional units are taken? Three. 5. What is the fractional unit in three fourths? IHow many fractional units in three fourths? 6. What is the unit of the firaction -7 of a dollar What is the fractional unit How many fractional units are taken? 7. What is the unit of the fraction ~? What is the fractional unit? How many are taken? 8. How many firacti)lnal units in i~ What is the unit of the fraction? What the firactional unit? 9. Jamnes and John have each an apple of the saseu size. James cuts his into two equal parits, and gives away one half. John cuts his into three equal parts and gives away two of the pieces. They seek to find what part of a whole apple they have left.* * SUGGcSTION.-This example suggests all the principles cmployed in fiactions. They may be thus stated: 1st. That something regaclded as a -whole, called unity, is the primary base of every friaction: and 2d. That one of the equal parts of unity, called the fractional unit, is the second base of any fractional number. From the nature of Division and Multiplication, we see: 1st. That the firactional unit is as many tines less than uuity as there are units in the denominator: 2d. That the numerator shows how many fractional units ul e taken. 3d. If the numerator be multiplied by any number, the nlml ber of fractional units will be increased as many times as there are Ilnits in the multiplier. 4th. If the numerator be divided by any number, the numlber uf fractional units will be diminished as many thies as the-re are unllits i the divisor. S
Page 86 86 INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. LSEC. VI. Now, says James, if I cut my half into 3 equal palts, each part will be three times less than before; that is, each part will be one sixth of the entire apple, but I shalli have three times as many parts, co that I shtll still have half my apple. Now, says John, if I cut my third into 2 equal arts, each part will be two times less than befoie; hat is, it will be one-sixth of the entire apple; but I shall have twice as many parts, so that I still have one third of the apple. Now, says John to James, if you have 3 sixths and I have 2 sixths, together we must have 5 sixths of a whole apple. 10. 1t the fiactions I and 1, what is the fractional unit of the first. Wh at of the second? I-Hoo can you reduce them to the same fractional tmlit? By multiplying the numlerator and denominator of the first by 3, and of the second by 2. What is the fractional unit after the multiplieation? ht.ows many friactional iunits arle taken in each fi'action? Ho)w many in both? 11. I-Iow can you reduce firactions to the same fractional unit? By multiplying the numerator and denominator of 6th. If the denominator be multiplied by any number, the friactional unit will be diminished as many times as there are units in the multiplier. 6th. If the denominator be divided by any number, the value of tho fi'actionall unit will be increased as many times as there ui'e units in the divisor. By combining 3 and 5, we see: 7thl. That if the numerator and denominator be multiplied by tile san.me number, the value of the fraction will not be changed. And by combining 4 and 6, -we see: 8th. That if the numerator and denominator be both divided Jby the same number, the value of the firaction will not be changed.
Page 87 LES. X.1 INTELLECTIUAL ARITHMETIC. 8~ eaach fri-ction by such a number as shall make the dei,n nilinltols the same in all. 12. Reduce - anld I, to the same fractional unit?' If we multiply the num erator and denominator of the first firaction by 4, we have -4A; and if we multiply thesecond by 3. we have, in which the fra.. tional unit is rlJ in both. 13. Reduce I and' to the same fitactional unit. 4 5 After reduction, what is the fractional unit, and Iow many fr'actional units in both 14. Reduce - and I to the same fractional unit. After reduction. what is the fractional unit, and how many fri'ational u1nits in both? 15. lRed-uce 1, an3 d 3, to the sam e fractional unit. 2-, 4 After reduction, how many fractional units in each? 16. iRe duce 3 and 5 to the same fractional unit. After reduction, what is the fractional unit? How many in each? 17. Ruclduce 5. r, and 2, to the same fiactional unit. 19. Reduce 4, and 2 to the sane frctional unit. 21. Reduee 3 ad, to the same fractional unit. 219. Reduce 4, 3 and 8 to the same fiactional unit. 20. Reduce anmd 4 to the same fractional unit. 231. Reduce s anld, to the sa me fiactional unit. 22. Reduce 4a and t o the same fraeti,,nal unit. 2' 5, 6 24. In?L5 how iany units 1? 25. In 67 how many units 1? 26. In 495 how many units 1? ~27. In 3-6 how nilany units 1? 28. In 4 7 how rY many units 1? 29. In 24 how nianyv units 1? SG:GEsTIoNs. —There are but three operations which chang tIe units of numbels: They are, 1st. To change integral to fiactiolal units: 2d. To chlange fiactiounal to integral units: and 3d. To change firom one firactional unit to another. The filst two were fully explained in the first seven lessotn of this section: and the third is treated of in this.
Page 88 ;~F INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. [SEC. VL 30. In 227 how many units 12 31. In 39 how many units 1 32. l]i 54 how many units 1? 33.. In 7g how many units 1? 34. How many units I in 3Z 2 35. IHow many units 1 in 49: 36. I-low manv nnits 1 in 6_-3 37. H-ow many units 1 in 47? 38. How many fourths in 1 half? 39. tIow many fourths in 2 halves? 40. How many fourths in 6 halves? 41. H-low many thirds in 12 sixths? 42. HEow in any sixths in I third? 43. How many sixths in 4 thirds? 44. How many sixths in I half? 45. How many sixths in 2 halves? 46. How many eighths in 1 fourth? 47. How many eighths in 1 half? 48. How many eighths in 2 fourths? 49. HIow many eighths in 3 fourths? 50. How manv ninths in 1 third? 51. How many ninths in 2 thirds? 52. 1How nany ninths in 6 thirds? 53. How many tenths in 1 fifth? 54. How many tenths in. 1 half? 55. How many, twelfths in 1 third? 56. How many twelfths in 1 half? 57. How many twelfths in I quarter? 58. I-low many sixteenths in 1 eighth? 59. How many sixteenths in l quarter? (-'0. low many eighteenths in I ninth? 61. How many eighteenths in 1 half? 62. How many eighteenths in 2 thirds? 63. flow many twentieths in 3 halves? 64. I-How many twentieths in 3 quclarters? 65. HTow many twenti-ths in 5 f)Lurths? 66. How many twentieths in 3 fifths?
Page 89 LtS. XI.] INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. 89 67. How many halves in T? In %6_. 68. IHow many halves in 24 2 In - T 69. How many thirds in 2 4 In11 _ 2 70. ITrow many thirds in 8? In i-? 71. H-ow many thirds in 9?In 42 7. 2 Iow many fouirths in 26 In 6 7o. How many fourths in 3-? In 1-6 5. f~low~ many fourths in II In -L 74. I-ow many fourths in 72 In 1 77. H-low mralny fifths ij 5 Z 320 78. Ilow many sixths in 6? In 4 A 79. f-low many sixths in 16? In 4I? 80. How many sevenths in 2? 2o In 54 2 81. How many seveixths in 6 2? In A6 LESSON XI. Valule of nTenbers. 79. hatow is the base if a nunber The0. How primary base of evely number is the UNiT ONE. 2. Whot is an integen, or whole numbe? It is a number which contains the unit one an exact number of times. Thus, three, four, five, &c., are inlteges, or Vahole numbers. 3. What is the fctional number? It is a number which explesses one or more of tir equal palts of unity. T'Phus, 2, 43, S,9 &c., are fractions. 4Th. hat expresses the value of a number either integral or frawhctionale number It is he number of tiwhes which it contains the unit one. 5. numbow any times does, three, four, fie contain one? 3. WTow many times is five greater than oie? I S acnEsTIoN.Dide the numerhltorh and denomilator thy iuch a number as will give the requied fractional unit? 8*
Page 90 90 INTEILLECTUAL ARITHI-IIETIC. [SEC. VI. 7. [How many times is six gleater than one? Why? 8. Flow mn:ay times is eight greater than one. Why-1? 9. [low many times does one half contain the unik 011.t) 2 On)e-half times. 10. Ilw many times is one half less than ore? Two times. 11. Wlhat expresses the value of a fraction? The nulmber of timles which a firaction coitains 1. 12.'What is thle value of one half? Why? 13.'What is the value of two halves? Why? 14. \hat is the value of three halves? VWhy 1 15. What is the value (f four halves? Why'? 16. What is tile value of one third? Why? 17. What is the value of three thirds? Why I 18. W hat is the value of six thirclds? Why. 19. IH-ow do you find the value of an improper firaction?' BV dividing the numeitttor by the denominator. 20. If ther e is a lielniainder, w hat do you do with it? Write the denomina tor under it, and annex the fracticln to the integrl number. 21. \Vhatt is the value of the flaction seven thirds.'2,. What is the value of nine fourths? Of seventytwo twelfths 2 Of one hundred eighths? Of ninetyfonu' nlinths?2 23. What is the value of seventy-five twelfths! Of sixty-seven eighths? Of eighty-nine eleveuths? Of otie hundred antd twenty tNwelfths? A* ANAL SS. —Since the numerator shows how many firactional uni'ts are taken, and the denominator how many fiactional units nlake 1, it follows, that the numelrator divided by tlle denoulinfator will shlow how many units 1, there are in the firaction. Impriless the pupil, constantly, that every number, whllether integral o1 fiaetionDal, must be compared witfh the ullit one. Also, that the valme of any numiber is expressed by the numbet of times which it contains the unit one.
Page 91 LS5. XI.] INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. p 24. When is a fraction said to be in its ]e;est terms? A fi'action is said to be in its lowest terms when there is no number except 1 that will divide both the numerator and denominator w\ithout a'remainder. 25. How may a fraction be reduced to its lowest terllms? By dividing both the numerator and denominator by the samt-e number.-* 26. Is the fraction 3 in its lowest term:s? Why? 27. What fiaction expresses the lowest termlns of 4 2 28. What fiaction expresses the lowest terms of 8? 29. What fraction expresses the lowest terms ~,f 6? 30. What fraction expresses the lowest terlms of -4r t T 2 30, What are the lowest terms of the frictioun 6? 32. What are the lowest terms of the fractiouJ 7? 33. Whhat are the lowest terms of the friactionl 1s 35. What are the lowest terms of the fraction 8-x' 36. What are the lowest termls of the fraction 1 37. Reduce the fraction -_ to) its lowest teruin. 38. What fraction will express the lowest termso,f 24 8 39. What fraction will express the lowest termns 40. What fraction will express the lowest terms of 6? SucGEs'rooN.-Reducce every fraction to its lowest ternms bCfore pecrforming any other operation. Reduce also every aneowLer t its lowest terms.
Page 92 92 IDNTELLECTUAL ARITHvIETIC. LSEC. V LESSON XII. Adding Fractional Units. James and John have each an apple of the same size. James cuts his into 4 equal parts and gives away 2 parts. John cuts his into 5 equal parts and gives away 3 parts. They seek to find what part of an apple each has left, and what part both together have? Now, says James, if I cut each of my fourths into 5 equal parts, I shall have 10 parts; that is, 10 twentieths of an apple: and says John, if I cut each of my fifths into 4 equal parts, I shall have 8 parts; that is, 8 twentieths of an apple; hence, James has 10 twentieths, and John 8 twentieths, and together they have 18 twentieths. 2. What is the unit of the fraction l W't What is the fractional unit in 18 twentieths of an apple? How many fractional units are taken? If the numerator and denominator be each divided by 2, what. does the fraction become? What, then, is each fractional unit? IIow many are taken? 3. What is necessary in order that two or more fi'actions may be added together. That they have the same integral unit, and the same firactional unit. 4. When no integral unit is named, what unit is understood? The abstract unit one. 5. tHave the fiactions 1 and - the same integral uiiit? What is it? Have they the same fractional unit'? What is it? d. I-low many fractional units in the first? Itow manly in the second? How many in both? 7. What is the sum of the fiactional units in 1 snd 2? 8. What is the sum of 3 and 2?
Page 93 LES. XI.]j INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. 9. What is the sum of -, 2 and 32 10. What is the sum of -1, 4 and a,? 11. What is the sum of 7, 5, and 6? 12. What is the sum of 5, A, and 2-? 13. What is the sum of 3,a 93nd? 14. What is the sum of 3, 5, and 7 15. What is the sumr of,6, 6, and 7 1 16. What is the sum of, 3 and 5 17. What is the sum of 3, A, -, and ~?' 18. What is the sum of 6 7 8,and 9 19. What is the sum of 3 4 6 and 7? 20. What is the sum of 4, 3, a, kd L 21. What is the sum of 62 -, and 7? 22. What is the sum of -, and 1 2 i, 7 7, and z 7 7 23. What is the sum of' 8, and? 24. What is the sum of I -a and 1,2 9 9' 9 9 252. What is the sum of I, 3 5, and 3? 2' 2' I 2'I 2 26). What is the sum of 5 6 - 27. What is the sum of 8 3 4 and I1 28. What is the sum of 3,, 7 and 9 29. What is the sulm of 5 6 9 anld 1- 2 30. Add together 2 and 3.. First, I is equal to 3-, and ~ is equal to 2; ther, plus C- are equal to 631. W hat is the sum of I and 4 32. What is the sum of 5 and 4? (Reduce to thiitieths.) 33. What is the sum of 2 and 3? 34. What is the sum of 3 and' A. 8 2 4 35. What is the sum of 4 and -3? 36. What is the sumn of 2 and 5,? 37. What is the sum of 5- and 3-'. 38. What is the sum of 4 and 3? 39. lW hat is the sum of s and A 2 90. WhSatt is the slum of g- and 4? 41. What is the sum of -- and 3.
Page 94 94 INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. [SEC. VI. 42. What is the sum of 2- aild 34 and 5 12 13. What. is the sumn of 23 and 44 and 66? 44. What is the sum of I 2 and 64 and 7260? 45. What is the su1m of 4 2 and 5 and 2.7 40i. What is the sum of 94 and 5 and 747. What, is the sum of 5s and 4 - and 5 48. What is the sum of 94 a-nd 75 and. 7? 49. What is the sum of 5-8 and 41-9- ald 89? 50. What is the sum of 64 and 8 - anld 1 0 ~ 51. What is the sum of 5a- and 8 8 atnd 2- 9 2 52. What is the sum of 5 and 2~ and 3? QUESTIONS. I John buys a top for one sixth of a shilling, a stick of candy for one twelfth of a shilling, and a piece of india-rubber for one third of a shilling: what does the whole cost him?t 2. James pays 3 of a dollar for a pair of gloves, and 3 of a dollar for a handkerchief: how much do they cost hin? 3. Nancy buys a work-box for 7 of a dollar, a pair of gloves forl3 of a dollar, and a comb for -;- of a dollar: how much do they all cost? 4. Jane buys a yard of ribbon for 2 of a dollar, a gold pin for - of a dollar, and an inkstand for 3 of a dollar: how much did she pay in all 5. Williaim buy-s a kite for R of a dollar, and a string for -4 of a dollar: how much did he pay? 6. Three ducks cost } of a dollar, two fowls 2 of a dollar, and two geese 1- of a dollar: what is the entire cost? * SBUoEOSTIONs.-Add the integer numbers separately, and unite the sum to the sumi of the fractional parts. { ANALYSIS. — of a shilling is 12r of a shilling. 2 of a shilling is 2 " 3 of a shilling is A2 aence the whole costs is - - - -72 of a shilling.
Page 95 LES. XII.] INTELLECTUAL ARITHTMETIC. 95 7. Three sheep cost 17 of a dollar, a calf of a dollar, and a lamb 5 of a dollar: what is the entire cost? 8. Three yards of cloth cost 4 of a dollar, a handkerchief 7 of a dollar, and a pair of gloves ~ of a dollar: what is the entire cost? 9. A father paid 3 quarters of a dollar for his own breakfast, one third of a dollar for his son's, and a quarter of a dollar for his daughter's: how much did he pay in all? 10. A merchant sold 3! yards of cloth from one piece, 2- yards from another, and 5- yards from another: how much did he sell in all?* 11. If a turkey costs I of a dollar, a goose I of a dollar, and 2 chickens - of a dollar: how much will the whole cost? 12. James spends 6~ cents for candy, 12-1 cents for a top, and 51 cents for a slate: how much does he spend in all? 13. A man travelled X2 miles the first hour, 3-, miles the second, and 41 the third: how far did he travel in the three hours? 14. What amount was paid for 4 weeks board, the board for the first week being 51 dollars, for the second 316 dollars, for the third 4~ dollars, and for the fourth 4'5 dollars? 15. A man paid 2 of a dollar for a breakfast, 16 of adollar for dinner, 2 of a dollar for supper, and 3- of a dollar for lodging: what did he pay for the days' entertainment? 16. Jance paid 32 cents for tape. 6- cents for needles, and 4-1 cents for ribbon: how much did she pay in all? 17. If 5 yards of muslin cost 7 of a dollar, 9 pairs of stockirgs 23 dollars, and 2 pairs of boots 91 dol lars, what will be the whole cost
Page 96 o6 INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. [SEC. VY. 18. A laborer sawed wood for 4 hours, and was to have 36 cents a cord. Thle first hour he saw-ed 3. of a cord, the second 2 of a cord, the third } of a cord, and the 4th hour 13 of a cord: how much ought hie to receive? LESSON X II. Subtractiing Fraelions. 1. What is necessary in order that one fraction muay be subltracted friom another? ThPat both fia'ctilns have the same integral and the same fl-a'etiolal unit. i r. Flom A subr]trlca 27. Silnce the integer unit is the cabstract unit one, and ttle fractional unit in both, is -}, the difference is ftond by sutbtracting 2 sevenths from 4 sevenths, which leaves 2 sevenths. 3. What is tile difference between W6h anid t 5 4. Whait is the difference betwseeu -8T'aid a, -' 5. YWhat is the diffietlce betmee 2e, It' 2 1 6. What is the differience between 1I and 1? 7. -What is the diL-aerence between 2-9 aidl - i 8. What is the diffrence betweetl 36q- asd I7 2 19 VNhfat is the diifference betwel en 42 lAldl i 2 10. What is the -litrenee betxxecn 14 7- 1 12 II. WYhat is thc dcifeleioelnlce betxween 2'9 e ild -]21 12. What is the diffeirence ebitwee 1 6 ai_,', I 13. \W hat is the difmere!lce between'3-;a.i 14. \What is the difdierence betxween 6 amlj i? i 2~ d duce both to the frlactiolnl i uiiit one si'wth On-1e half is equatl ti i4 and cnn thud to -2 heces their difirenl elce is equalr 1 to i 6 15. What is the di fi-tence between 14 7!mn.' 13. XWhat is the ditllerence tbetween -3 atl d- 27 17. What is the difi-erenee betweenA, idc 6 -A
Page 97 LES. XIII.1 INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. 97 18. What is the difference between -_6 and a 19. What is the difference between 5 and S- 2 20. W hat is the difference between 11 alid -9 2 21. WThat is the c ifference hetween - T aid -9 2 22, What is the difibrence between I 1 and 4.4 2 13 52 23. Frorm 2- take I1* 24. What is the difference between 5':Ind 2.d 25. What is the diftilenee betwenll il 3' ~ - 26. Whtat is the difelrence between 19 mind x-.- 27. What is the diflln fence between z 2 ancdi 1- 2 28, What is the difference between 17 Mnd 2' 2 QUESTIONS. 1. If you give I of an orange to one boy and 4 to mlother, how much more do you give to one that: to the other? 2. If I have B of a dollar and give ~ dollar for a knife, how much would I have left? 3. WY illiamn had - of a dollar and gave 4 of a dollar to a beggar, hw l muchLi had he left 2 * ANAL-YSIS. First: 2l are equal to 1, equal to; an s1- are equal to equal; hence, the differeuce is.1 It is genetraaly best to subtriaet the inteigral and fi ctionai l uum erI' Sel)'ae'rtel.y' thus, in examiple-25, 3-1, less 2 we may say 3 less 2 equals I; - less - equals 2, equals, hence, the tru differ ence is 1 —. If llhe firactional part of the subtrahend is of greater value ~thlan the fractionail pI>'t of the minuend, take one of the integltl' units of the mlinuend and add it to tho fi actional part, aud thel. subtratet. Thus, in example 24, - is greater thlan -: hence, we tare I unit froln 5 whichlh aded to cake; d tos le akes - and then adding I to the next figure in the subtratl end, wlhich is the same as taking 1 froin the minuendi, we have 3 fn'om 5 leaves 2; therefore, the ditifelence between 5} and 23 is 2-'-.
Page 98 98 INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. [SEC. VI. 4. B travels 45 of a mile in the same time that C tr~avels -: which travels the farthest and how much? 5. A merchant sells -- of a barrel of sugar from a barrel 7- full: what part was there left? 6. A tailor cut -} of a yard of cloth from a piece containing 1 — yards: how much was there left? 7. John pays 6 of a shilling for a knife, and ~ of a shilling for a top: for which does he pay the most? Ho' miuch? 8. Four pounds of tea cost L5 dollars, and twenty pounds of sugar {: which costs the most How in u ch. 9. A farmer buys a calf, for which he pays X dollars, and a lamb, for which he pays 5 dollars: for which does he pay the most? How Imuch? 10. Janmes' shoes cost 15 dollars, and his vest 7. d.ollars: what is the difference of their cost? 11. A man earned in 4 dclays of a week, 537 dollars, and paid 13 dollars for his board, the three other days: how much should he receive? 12. From a piece of cloth which was 12-~ yards long, 3:- yards is cut: how many yards sre ]eft? 13. If from a box of sugar containing 188 pounds, 6- pounds are taken, how much will be left? 14. A grocer bought 1 6 bushels of beans, and after selling 532 bushels, how many has he left? 15. Jane is 156 years old, and Nancy is 9- years old: how many years is Jane older than Nancy? 16. A draper cuts 56 yards of cloth fiom a piece 2l11 yards long: how much is left? 17. A grocer purchases a box of eggs, for which he paid 37 dollars, and sold them for 5A- dollars: how mnuchi did he make? 18. A grocer bought a pair of chickens for 8 of a dollar, and sold them for ~ dollars: did he make or lose, and how much?
Page 99 LES. XIV.] INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. 99 LESSON XIV. J.Multiplication of Fractions. 1. How many are 3 times 2? Here the fractional unit is o)ne third, and there are two fractional units in the expression, which being taken 3 times, gives six thirds, or 2 for the prolduct. 2. How many are 5 times 6-2-?* 8 times 4? 3. How many are 2 times 12 6 timhes 2 4. How many are 8 times -a 7 titles - 2-A 5. How many are 4 times -? 3 times }' 6. How many are 7 times -42 6 times 2-O? 7. fIow many are 3 times 2- 5 times 3'? 8. How many are 8 times 97? 4 tirnes 6- 2 9. How many are 4 times 6 -? 3 times 9~ 2 10. How many are 10 times 5'.2 9 timnes 64 L 11. How many are 7 times 63 9 times 9 12. How many are 5 times 34. 8 tines 6`' 13. HIow many are 7 times 4.? 6 times 3 -? 14. If the denominator of a fiaetion be divided by a whole number, how will the fraction be affected? It will be increased as many times as there are units in the divisor. (See Anialysis, page 86.) How then may a fraction be multiplied by a \N hole number. Either by multiplyi)ng the numerator, or dividing the denominator by the multiplier. 15. Wh'at is the product of 2 by 2? both ways. 16. What is the product of 3 by 4? both ways. 17. What is the product of a by 7? both ways, 18. What is the product of 8 by 4? both ways. 19. What is the product of f by 9? both ways. SUGGESTION.-Let the fraetional and integral units be multiplied separately: thus, 5 times 3 sixths are 15 sixths, equal to 2 and a half; and 5 times 6 are 30, to which add 2-, giving 322 for the product.
Page 100 100 INTELLECTUAL AR.ITHMETIC. [SEC. VL 20. W7T-hat is the produact of by 8? both ways. 21. What is the product of 6 by 3? both ways. 22. What is the product of 8- by 8? both b ays. 23. Wthat is the product of { by 4; both ways. 24. What is the product of 4- by 5? both ways. 25. If 3 h-e multiplied by 4, what is the product 2(6. W hat is the cost of -3 of a yard of cloth at dollars a yard? Whhat is 4 of 6? What part is it of 1'?t W27. xht is the cost of ~ boxes of raisius, at ddl.Hais a box? 28.o What par$t of 1 is ~ of2? What is ofI 29. What is the value of -2 of -? W hat par of I? 30. What is the value of 2,} of 1.? 31e. vWhat is the value of. of 3 of ~ q o2. What is the value of o ef 2 o3. How maIny timles 1 is "of 2 34. How many timnes 1 is 2s-; of 1I-? 35. hTi ow many times I is 3~ of 2 36(. IHtw wmnany times 1 is 52 of 6? 37. I-ow many times I is -1 of ~ of - of 38. How many times I is I of 3 of 2 39. h-Tow manly times 1 is - of 2~ of 3? 40. How many times 1 is A of I of 7. 41. It-ow rmany times 1 is 3 of 1 2? * The world or signifies multiplication. 3 ANALYSIS.-If the price per yard, - of a dollar, be multipi.4i by -A, the umnber of yards, the product will be the cost. Now, if 1 yard of cloth cost -. of a dollar, 4- of a yarld lwi cost orne fourlth as mnuch, that is, 5of, a dollar, and 41 will cost $ tiines as Imuch as 4, that is, 24, or. of a dollar. Hence: The product of two fractions is found by multiplyinf ths'v-umeraeors and denominators togethler.
Page 101 LES. XIV.] INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. 101 QUESTIONS. 1. What will 5 yards of cloth cost, at $1-l a yard'! 2. Whart will 4 pounds of tea cost, at 5,4 shilli[igs pounld'! 3. WLhat will 7 dozen of apples cost, at 11 cents a dozen? 4. W\hat will 9 dozen of oranges cost, at 37 Shi inItlg s a dozenu5. What xxill 5 pairs of shoes cost, at 2- a pa 6, Whlat.t will 10 hats cost, at 3 7 dollars a liece. 7. WMhat will 4-. yards of cloth cost., at $7 a yartd? S. Whlat will be the cost of 94 yards, at i a yard? 9. What will 12 pounds of coffee cost, at 11~ ce2nts a pond? - 10. What will 9 sheep cost, at $25 a head' 11. What will 8 calves cost, at $-1 a hea d?i 12. What will 11 quills cost, at 1-i cents apiece? 13. What will 10 yards of carpet cost, at 4 yard 14. What will 9 pairs of gloves cost, at $3- a pair 9 15. WVWhat will 6 pairs of fowls cost, at - of a cldolla pair? 16. What will 9 pairs of boots cost, at 5: dollars a, pair 2 17. What will be the cost of 6 yards of cloth, at'4- dollars a yard? 18. \Whitt is the product of 2- of 2 by 19. Boulght 2 of I- yards of cloth at 1- of -- oI 4 dollars a yard: what did it come to? 20. If raisins are 2- dollars a box, what will be the )st of 16 boxes? 21. W'hat will be the cost of 11 hats, if 1 hat cost 8~ dollars? 22. If I pair of shoes cost $25 dollars, what will be the cost of 7 pairs.
Page 102 102 INTELLECTUAL ARITHMEIC. [SmC. IV. 23. What will 12 penkuives cost, at $1 apiece? 24. What will 8 lb. of tea cost, at $1,-5 a pound? 25. What will 124 lb. of butter cost, at 12 cents a pound? 26. What will 20 bushels of wheat cost, at $8 a bushel? 27. What will 7 chickens cost, at 8 apiece? 28. What will 9 turkeys cost, at $11 apiece? 29. What will ]2 geese cost, at $4 apiece? 30. If 1 man can earn 1~ dollars -a day, how much call 5 men earn? 31. If 1 yard of cloth cost 23 dollars, how much will 24 yards cost? 32. A grocer bought I -of a box of raisins for which he paid 21 dollars a box: what did they cost him? 33. If i of a sheep is worth 3 dollars, what will be the cost of 2 sheep? 34. What will 4 of a yard of cloth cost, at 7 dollars a yard? 35. If it cost 2I dollars to build 1 rod of wall, how much will it cost to build 31 rods? 36. James gave John 1- apples and had 3 times as many left, how many. had he. at firstS? 37. If a yard of calico cost - of a shilling, what will 2~ yards cost? 38. What will 12 yards of cloth cost, at 24 dollars a yard? 3'. What will be the cost of 6 turkeys at I1- dollars apiece? 40. If 2 yards of cloth cost 8- dollars, what will ] 2 yards cost? 41. James gave 84 d-imes for 10 sheets of drawings..paper: lhow- mu-ch was that a sheet' W42. What will be the cost of a bushel of wheat, if S bushels c,,st 123- dollars
Page 103 LES. XV.] INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. 103 LESSON XV..Dividing Fractions. 1. What is the quotient of 6 divided by 2?* 2. What is the quotient of 2 divided by 2? both ways. 3. What is the quotient of 3 divided by. 3. botb ways. 4. What is the quotient of 8 divided by 3? both ways. 5. What is the quotient of -Oo divided by 5? both way s. 6. What is the quotient of 1-4 divided by 7? both ways. 7. What is the quotient of - divided by 4? both ways. 8. What is the quotient of 18 divided by 9? both ways. 9. What is the quotient of 1 2 divided by 6? both way s. 10. What is the quotient of 8 divided by 5? 11. What is the quotient of A divided by 3? 12. What is the quotient of 2-4 divided by 4? 13. What is the cquotient of; divided by 9? 14. What is the quotient of 6 divided by 29 15. What is the quotient of 1 divided by 8. ANALySIS.-Here the fractional unit is 5, and theire are 6 taken. Now, if we divide the 6 fractional units by 2, the qrotient will be 3; that is, 3. Again, if we multiply the denominator by 2, we shall habw a%, in which the fractional unit is -l~, (which is the half of,) and since the number taken is the same, it follows that % is on half of 6-. Hence: A fraction may be divided by a whole number, either bS dividing the nzumerator or mul.tiplifing the denominator by the 4ivisor.
Page 104 104 INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. [SEC. VI 16. What is the quotient of - divided by 4? 17. What is the quotient of,-32 divided by 3? 18. WThat is the qulotient of 19 divided by 3? 19. Wfhat is the quotient of 24 divided by 12? 20. What, is the quotient of'3- divided hy 6? 21. What is the quotient o f 5-3 divided by 7? 22. What is the quotielnt of 94 divided by 5? 23. What is the quotient of 124 divided( by 8 24. What is the quotient of 95 div ided by 9? 25. What is the quotient of 5 6 dividled i- 7?2 26. What is the quotient of 8-3 dividedl by 43? 27. What is the quotient of 94 divxied bv 7? 28. What is the quotient of 63 di x idd by 9 2 29. What is the qllotient of 1 ] div-ided by 23 2 30. What is the quotient of 2 - divided cty 8' 31. What is the quotietnt of c- dividcid by 2? 32. W That is the q(litient of 3 divicdd by x3 33. What is the quotient of 251 divided by 1 1? 34. What is the qllotient t of' () 40 divided by 3,2 2 35. What is the quotient of 83 divided by,2 36. What is the quoLtient of" 5 divided by 13 2. 37. What is the qtlotient of 64 divided by 2 7 38. What is the quotient o(f 5-4 divided by 7 39. What is the quotieiit of, divided by 21? 40. WVhat is the quotient of 74 divided by 2-6 2 41. What is the quotient (of 83- dix ided by (i6 I 42. What is the quotient of 5 l divided by 51 43. What is the quotient of 8-~ divided by 21 44. What is the quotieint (f 34 divided by 6 12 2 *SUGGESTION.'-Reduce both to sixths:. is equal to 6 and 2- ae equal to f-. Now, since the firactional unit is the samne in both, the qiuotieu will be found by dividincg the numlerators: Hence, to dlividle nue firaction by another, Reduce them to the saome fractiontal unit, and then divide the awmerator of the dividend by the numerator of the divisor.
Page 105 LES. XV.| INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. l0oI 45. What is the quotient of 6- divided by 3? 46. What is the quotient of 8- divided by 2. 47. WVhat is the quotient of 44- divided by 6 2 48. What is the quotient of 24 divided by 3? 49. What is the quotient of d divided by 2a? 50. What is the quotient of 84 divided by 6 —' 51. What is the quotient of 34 divided by 2T O 52. What is the quotient of 63 divided by 22? 53. What is the quotient of 34 divided by 84' 54. What is the quotient of 94 divided by 34 55. How many times is 2 cOntailled inl 82 56. hIow many times is ~ contained in 2? 4 is contained in 1 how many times? In 2 how many timres? How many times are 9 contained? 57. How many times is 4 contained in 8? 58. How many times is 24 contained in 3? 59. How many times is 4 contained in 5 2 60. H1ow many times is - contained in 2-. 61. How many times is 3- contained in 7? 62. How many times is 24 contained in? 63. How many times is 2- contained in -? QUESTIONS. 1. If 3 yards of cloth cost $10i, how much does it cost a yard? 2. If six pounds of tea cost $48-, what does it cost a pound? 3. If John gives 94 cents for 7 tops, how much do thiley cost him apiece? 4. If' 7 pounds of sugar cost 9 of a dollar, how much is it a pound? * ANALYSIs. —One is contained in -, 4 tiIne. But - is con4 tiamed in 4, 5 times as many times as 1; that is,?5 times. But 2 fifths is contained half as many times as; that is, times: Iencee, to find the quotient of one firaction divided by another, 1ivert the terms of tle divisor and n multiply. 4
Page 106 106 INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. [SEC. VI. 5. If 4 pounds of coffee cost $17-, how much does it cost a pound? 6. If 7 oranges cost 93 cents, how much do they cost apiece? 7. If three and three fourths yards of cloth cost $114~, how much does it cost a yard' 8. If James can walk 14 miles in 7 of a days how far can he walk ill one day? 9, If John can buy 9 lemons for 10} cents, how much do they cost him apiece? 10. If 9 eggs cost 10; cents, how much do they cost apiece? 11. If 71 bunches of grapes are worth 224 shillings, how much are they a bunch' 12. If 54 bushels of potatoes cost $2,3,, how much do they cost a bushel? 13. If nine baskets of peaches cost $124, how much are they a basket? 14. If 8 lambs cost $124, how much do they cost apiece? 15. If 93 pounds of cheese cost $3, how much does it cost a pound? 16. If 4 barrels of flour cost 24 dollars, what will 1P cost? 17. James has 3 oranges and 5 playmates: he wishes to give 3 of an orange to each, how must he divide the oranges, and how many oranges will he have left? 18. If one man consumes 11 pounds of meat in a day, how many men would 8a pounds supply? 19. A man distributed 173 pounds of bread among 8 persons, how much does he give to each? 20. If 12 horses consume 284 tons of hay in a winter, how much is consumed by each horse? 21. If 3 of a barrel of flour will last a family 30 days, how long will 2 barrels last themn
Page 107 LES. XV.] INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. 10O 22. A farmer has a field containing 8a acres; if a man can mow 1I acres in a day, how many men will it take to mow the field in 1 day? 23. If 9 bushels of apples cost 41 dollars, how much will 17 bushels cost? 24. If 7 pounds of butter cost 10 shillings, how much is that a pound? 25. If 3 pounds of butter cost 71 shillings, how much will 12 pounds cost? 26. If 5 yards of cloth cost 11i dollars, what will 8 yards cost? 27. If 8 yards of cloth cost 42} dollars, how much will 4 yards cost? 28. If 1- dollars will buy 2 yards of cloth, how many yards will 6 dollars buy? 29. How many times is 22 contained in 1.2 - 30. How many pounds of tea can be purchased for 63 dollars, if it cost A dollars a pound? 31. If a turkey costs 15 dollars, how many can be bought for 124 dollars? 32. If calico is worth J of a dollar a yard, and 71uslin 7 of a dollar a yard, how much calico must be given for 9 yards of muslin? What is the cost of 9 yards of muslin? 33. A tailor bought a piece of cloth containing 122 yards, for which he paid 38 dollars: what did it cost him a yard? 34. If you give 152 dollars for a cow, and sell her for 2 more than she cost, how much more do you receive for her than you gave? 35. If 6 men can do a piece of work in 153 days, Lh:w long will it take 1 man to do it? 2 men? 3 men? 36. A man divided 25 ofa dollar among his children, giving _o of a dollar to each: how many children were there.
Page 108 108 INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC1 [SEC. VIL SECTION SEVENTH. LESSON I. Comparison of Numbers. 1. What part of 2 is I? How many times does 1 ontain 2?* 2. What part of 3 is 2? What is the ratio of to 2 3. What part of 6 is 3? How many times does 8 contain 6? 4. What part of 12 is 4? What is the ratio of 12 to 4? 5. What part of 4 is 1? What is the ratio? 6. What part of 3 is 2? What is the ratio 2 7. What part of 8 is 5? What is the ratio? S. What part of 20 is 10? What is the ratio? 9. What part of 30 is 20? What is to ratio? 10. OWhat part of 50 is 10 2 What is the ratio? 11. What part of i is 2? What is the ratio? 12. What part of 4 is 2? What is the ratio? 13. What part of A is 3. What is the ratio'? S SuGGEESTloNs.-To find what part any number is of a nulri ber less than itself, we divide the less by the greater, and the quotient shows the part. This quotient is called the ratio. Thus, what part of 2 is 1; it is 1 divided by 2, which is i. If we wish to find how many times one number is greater than another, we divide the greater by the less, and the quotient shows the number of times. This quotient is also called the ratio of the two numbers. Thus, how many times is 12 greater than 2: it is 12 divided by 2 times greater, which is 6 times. But the general question, " How many times," has no ref'eratnce to the relative value of the numbers. Thus: what part of 2 is 1 Or, how many times is 2 contained in 1 i One half or one half times? IHow many times is 2 contained in 41'avise, or 2 times.
Page 109 MtL. ] INTS LECTUL ARITRHmTETO. I 14. What part of 3 is. \VWhat i the ratio t 15o What part of s- is -? {- What is the ratio 16. What part of is What is the ratio 17. What part of 31 is 39. What is the ratio 18. What part of 4- is 31- W W Ehat is the ratio 19. What part of 3~ is 14. t What is the radtio? 20o. What pat of 6{- is 5f. What is the ratio 1. What part of 8 is of 2,. What is ti. ratio? 22. Whet part of0 is a of4- Wht is the 23. What part of 15 is 4'4. What part of 45 is 12s 25, Whal part of o is I 204. What is the ratio of t2 t 7T 7. What is the ratio or.t _ to t 28 What is thei ratio of 3 to Itl. $ 29. What is the ratio of 9 to - of,T 10. What part of 7i- is li of 3j- I 1. Vs st parsto 30 dollars is 5 dar 1. 6 dootllarst I0 dollar- s 2 dollars. 2. \ T'rt part of 56 bu sels is $ bushel-s! T busihels.'4 bushels?.28 bushels.T o. Wha, pasrt 25 yards is a of It! yards? 4. A taleor has L2 yards of cloth; -e cputs offt 3 yards for a coat, 1{ yards for fo, pair of pantalo uso I.- of at yard for a vest: - what part of the ctoth did. he use 2 iW/hat part was leAft?' 5. A itarmer lhas 6 bushels of whea-t ii his barn;'e sells 20 busheis to oue inat, 15 to n.o ther, aEnd 1.0 to anmther what part of the wi etat has e I let f 6. Mr. Dix buys. orf ~ of M of a M Jones' filPr hic. cat iNs 100 acres iwhat part of the f'm, doe, buy? s IW many r mrt4 s ari e th ref IC te 10
Page 110 110 INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. [SEC. VIL. 7. James gave 5 dollars for his hat, and his father gave 25 dollars for a coat: what part of the cost of the coat was the cost of the hat? 8. What part of a barrel of flour is I of ] of it I What part of the whole barrel is the remainder? What will each part cost if flour is 8 dollars a barrel? 9. William having a pine-apple said he would give 2 of - of it to the one that could tell how much that would be: how much did the individual receive? What part of the pine-apple was left? 10. A merchant had 44 barrels of flour and sold. of it: how much had he left 2 11. A lady paid A of 53- dollars for a pencil and 15 dollars for a ring: how many times as much did she pay for the pencil as for the ring? 12. One man can build 5-5 rods of wall in one day, and another can build 31 rods: what part is the second of the first 2 13. Albert is 93 years of age, John is 5 of Albert's age: how old is John 2 14. James bought a kite for 161 cents, which was 21 times as much as he paid for his top: how much did he pay for his top 2 15. A farmer bought a calf for 4z dollars, and a pig for 14 of that sum: what did he pay for the pig? 16. A box of raisins cost 3} dollars, at tne rate of i of a dollar a pound: how many pounds were there in the box? 17. If 14 oranges are worth as much as 34 pine. apples, how many oranges is one pine-apple worth 2 18. Mary gave j of 3- dollars for a bonnet, wvhich was I of what Jane paid for hers: how much did Jane pay 2 19. If a father can do 1* times more work in a day than his son, how many days' work of the father will be equal to 18 of the son's?
Page 111 LES. II.] INTELLECTUAL ARITIIMETIC. 1 l 20. A gentleman gave 200 dollars to his three sons; to the first he gave - of it, to the second < of 2 times as much, and the rest to the, third: how much had each? 21. If a boy can run 80 rods in eight minutes, what part of a mile can he run in 16 minutes? 22. James bought -1 pound of candy, and gave 4 of it to Mary: what pa,t of a pound did he give her X 23. A vessel sails 150 miles one day, and is retarded - of 4 as much on the second: what part of 150 miles did she sail the second day? LESSON II. Comparison of Numbers. 1. Two is one half of what number?' 2. Four is one third of what number? 3, Five is one fifth of what number? 4. Two and one half is one-fourth of what number? 5. One and one half is one sixth of what number? 6. One and 2 thirds is one-third of what number?t 7. Three and one third is one third of what number 2 8. Ten and five sixth is one sixth of what numher? 9. Twelve is-one fifth of what number a 10. Eight and three fourths is one fourth of what rtimber? 11. Nine and one sixth is one sixth of what num. ber? 12. Five and one tenth is one tenth of what numiher? * ANALYSIS.-Two is one half of 2 times 2, which are 4 therefore, 2 is one half of 4. f ANrALSIs.-One and 2 thirds is one third of 3 times one and 2 thirds, which are 5: therefore, one and two thirds is one third o f.
Page 112 112 ITTLLECOTUAL ARITIMET1C. [Se-,. yvu. 13, Five and is one fifth of what number? 14. ASix and three fourths is one eighth of what number? 15. Twelve and one sixth is one sixth of hat numoer? 16. Two and three fourths is one twelfth of what number? 17. Three and six ninths is one ninth of what number? 18. Six and Z is one twelfth of what number? 19. Eight is 2 thirds of what number?2 20. 12 is 3 fourths of what number? 21. 16 is 4 fifts1 of what number? 22. 30 is 6 sevenths of what number? 23. 32 is 8 ninths of what number? 24. 15 is 5 ninths of what number? 25. 12 is 4 sevenths of what number? 26. 22 is 11 twelfths of what number 27. 27 is 9 tenths of what number? 28. 21 is 7 ninths of what number? 29. 15 is 3 sevenths of what number? 30. 24 is 8 elevenths of what number? 31. 16 is 5 times what number?t 82. 48 is 6 times what number? 33. 39 is 3 times what number? 34. 56 is 9 times what number I 35. 21 is 5 times what number? 36. 75 is 8 times what number? 37. 54 is 8 times what number? 38. 95 is 9 times what number? A'NALYsIS. —Sinee 8 is 2 thirds of some number, one half o! 8, which is 4, is one third of the same number; but 4 is one third of 3 times 4, which are 12; therefore, 8 is 2 thirds of 12., t AxALvsis.-16 is 5 tines ~- of 16, w'eh is 83 therefore,'.I is 5 times Si.
Page 113 LES. II.] INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. 113 QUESTIONS. 1. Two thirds of nine is one half of what number? 2. Two sevenths of fourteen is one third of what number? 3. Three twelfths of thirty-six is one eighth of what number? 4. James gave nine cents for a slate, which was three fourths of his money: how much had he 5. A man bought a cow, for which he paid $30, which was three fifths of his money: how much had he 8. 6. A lady was married at twenty years of age, which was the half of eight fifths of the age of her husband: how old was the husband? 7. In a pasture are 45 sheep, which is three fourth the numbelr of cows. in the same pasture: how many cows are there? 8. John gave 36 cents for a knife, which was six sevenths of what he gave for a sled: how much did he give for his sled? 9. If a manl can make six and two ninths rods of fence in one day, how much can he make in 12 days? 10. Two men agreed to build a wall; one man built 16 rods, which was four fifths of what the other built: how much did the second build, and what was the whole length of the wall? 11. A man willed one half of his property to his wife, one third of the remainder to his daughter Mary, and one sixth to his son'James: how much of it was left for his only remaining son John? 12. John gave one and 3 fourth cents for a Ieach which was one third of what he gave for an orange what did the orange cost him? 13. Charles gave ten and five sixths cents for Ilis kite, which was five times what he paid for his top: how much did he pay for his top? How much fir both? 10*
Page 114 114 INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. LSEC. VII 14. WVilliam gave eight and five ninths cents for a pencil, which was one fourth the cost of his penknife: what did his penknife cost him. 15. A farmer paid four and three fourths dollars for a calf, and one fifth as much for a pig: what did the pig cost him? 16. A farmer bought a calf for three and one sev. enth dollars, which was one seventh of what he paid for a cow: what did the cow cost him? 17. A man bought a pair of boots for six and I dollars, and a coat which cost him three and a hal times as much: what did the coat cost him? 18. If 3 sevenths of a barrel of flour cost 6 dollars, what will 5 sevenths cost? What will the whole barrel cost? 19. A grocer bought 5 boxes of raisins for two and three fifths dollars a box, and a barrel of sugar, which cost one half of two thirds as much as the raisins: how much more did the sugar cost him than the raisins? LESSON III. Comparison of VNumbers. 1. 25 is 5 eighths of how many times 7'1* 2. 63 is 7 ninths of how many times 8? 3. 36 is 4 sevenths of how many times 6? 4. 45 is 5 sixths of how many times 5? 5. 84 is 7 eighths of howl many times 9? 6. 29 is 3 ninths of how many times 10. 7. 42 is 7 thirds of how many times 5? 8. 64 is 8 fifths of how many times 3? 9. 32 is 3 eighths of how many times 11 * ANALYSIS. — If 25 is 5 eighths of some number, 1 eighth is 1 fifth of 25, which is 5. If 6 is 1. eighth, 8 eighths are 8 times 5, which are 40. As many as 7 is contained times in 40:' is eontained in 40, 5 and 5 sevenths times; therefore, 26 is 6 eighths of 5 times 7 and 5 sevenths of 7
Page 115 LES. III.] INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. 115 10. 75 is 5 eighths of how many tilmes 6 11. 21 is 7 fifths of how many times 4? 12. 40 is 4 sevenths of how many times 3 13. 6 sevenths of 21 is 3 fifths of what number?* 14. 8 ninths of 27 is 4 sevenths of what number? 15. 3 fourths of 40 is 6 tenths of what number? 16. 5 eighths of 64 is 8 ninths of what number? 17. 2 thirds of 42is5twelfthsof what number? 18. 7 tenths of 80 is 8 ninths of what number 2 19. 4 fifths of 60 is 6 sevenths of what number 2 20. 5 sixths of 48 is 7 eighths of what number?2 21. 3 sevenths of 21 is 2 thirds of what number? 22. 4 ninths of 81 is 5 eighths of what number 2'23. 7 fifths of 45 is 9 sevenths of what number? 24. 5 ninths of 36 is 4 fifths of how many times 5 2 25. 4 sevenths of 56 is 8 ninths of how many times 7 2 26. 3 fourths of 24 is 6 sevenths of how many times 4 2 27. 5 eighths of 48 is 5 ninths of how many times 9? 28. 4 thirds of 30 is 8 elevenths of how many times 8? 29. 5 tenths of 72 is 4 ninths of how many times 6? 30. 11 twelfths of 84 is 7 ninths of how many times 10? 31. 6 fifths of 50 is 4 thirds of how many times 12 l *ANALYSIS.-6 sevenths of 21 is 6 times 1 seventh of 21: 1 seventh of 21 is 3, and 6 sevenths is 6 times 3, which are 18I If 18 is 3 fifths of some number, 1 third of 18 which is 6 is I fifth of the same number; 6 is 1 fifth of 5 times 6 which is 30: therefore, 6 sevenths of 21 is 3 fifths of 30. VERIFICATION.-One fifth of 30 is 6, and 3 fifths of 30 are 18 out 6 sevenths of 21 are 18: therefore, 30 is the number soughL NOTRE.-With the correct answer all the questions may be reversed and similarly analyzed: thus, 30 is 6 thirds of 6 sevenths of what number? Again, 30 is 5 thirds of how many sevenths of 21
Page 116 110 INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. [SEC. VIL 32. 9 elevenths of 88 is 8 fifths of how many ti'mes 6? 33. 2 thirds of 75 is 5 sixths of how many times 91 34. 5 halves of 24 is 3 fourths of how many times 5 35. 5 ninths of 72 is 4 thirds of what number? 36. 6 sevenths of 56 is 5 ninths of what number! 37. 28 is I fifth of how many times 9? 38. 42 is 7 twelfths of' how many times 12? 39. 5 ninths of 108 is 10 elevenths of how many times 10? 40. 6 fifths of 35 is 7 twelfths of how many times 5? 41. 81 is 9 fourths of how many times 8 2 42. 7 thirds of 36 is 9 tenths of what number? 43. 7 twelfths of 96 is 8 ninths of how many times 5? QUESTIONS. 1. A boy gave 5 apples to one of his companions, which was one third of all he had: how many had he 2:2. A man bought a watch for 24 dollars, and sold it for four fifths of what it cost him: what did he receive for it, and how much did he lose by the bargain? 3. Charles gave away 12 apples to 3 of his cornplanions, which was 3 of ~- of all he had: how many hald ne, and how many did he give eachl 4. If 3 fourths of a hundred weight of sugar cost 12 dollars, what will a hundred weight cost? How nany barrels of cider at 2 dollars a barrel will pay fur it? 5. A man sold a horse for 60 dollars, which was 5 sevenths of what he cost-him: how much did he cost him, and how much did he lose? When he bought him he paid in cloth at 6 dollars a yard: how many yards of cloth did he give? 6. A pole is - in the water, 1 in the mud, and 14 feet out of the water: how long is the pole 2
Page 117 LES. III.] INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETICG 117 7. John s age is 23 William's, and the sum of their ages diminished by 5 is equal to 70: what is the age of each? 8. Mr. Wilson gave 200 dollars to his neice, which was I of;- of his property, and the remainder equally tc his 4 sons: how much did each receive? 9. How many yards of cloth, at 4 dollars a yard, must be given for a hogshead of sugar, if four sev. enths of it cost 48 dollars 2 10. There is a pole standing - in the water, i of the remainder in the mud, and 6 feet above the water: how long is the pole? 11. A staff 5 feet long casts a shadow of 3 feet: what is the length of a pole that casts a shadow of 24 feet the same time of day'?* 12. A man can build 56 rods-of wall in a certain time, another man can build 8 rods while the first builds 7: how much would the second build in the same time? 13. Two boys counting their marbles, one said he had sixteen. The other said, 3 eighths of yours is exactly 2 sevenths of mine: now if you will tell me how many I have, I will give you the difference between yours and mine: how many had he? 14. A man being asked how many sheep he had, said he had them in three pastures: iii the first he sad 42, which was 7 eighths of what he had in the second; and that 5 thirds of what he had in the second was just 4 times what he had in the third: how many had he in each field 2 15. A gambler lost 3 fourths of his money in play; he then won 30 dollars, which was 5 sixths of what he lost: how much money had he when he began to play? * ANALYsIs.-Since the shadow of the staff is 3 fifths the length of the staff, the shadow of the pole must be 3 fifths the length of the pole; then if 24 is 3 fifths of some number &c.
Page 118 118 INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. [Se. Vn. 16. A tailor cut off 3 fifths of a piece of cloth, he then cut off 4 yards, which was one third of the remainder: how many yards were there in the piece? 17. A gentleman left to his eldest son 300 dollars, which was 3 fourths of what the second son had, and twice the second son's share was just four times what thle third son received: how much was the fathe worth? 18. James being asked how many credit marks he had, said: if 1 third of the number be taken firoml 1 half of the number, the remainder would be 2- times 4: how many credits had he? 19. Three fourths of 40 is 5 sevenths as many dollars as Mr. C. paid for his horse: what was the cost of the horse? 20. A person being asked his age said, that 3 fourths of 80 was 6 sevenths of 5 times his age: what was his age? 21. Bought 45 yards of cloth and sold 4 ninths of it for 20 dollars, which was 5 sixths of what the whole cost: what would be the gain on the whole, at the same rate? 22. A merchant bought 6 barrels of flour at 54 dollars,, which was 9 eighths of what it cost him: what did it cost him a barrel? LESSON IV. 1. 3 sevenths of 56 is 8 ninths of 3 times what number.* * ANA.LYSIS.-Three sevenths of 56 is 3 times 1 seventh of 56. One seventh of 56 is 8, and 3 sevenths of 56 is 3 times 8 which are 24. Since 24 is 8 ninths of some number, 1 eighth of 24 which is 3 is 1 ninth of the same number: 3 is 1 ninth of 9 times 3 which is 2'. Now, 27 is 3 times 1 third of 27 which is 9; therefore, 3 sevenths of 56 is 8 ninths of 3 times 9, or 27.
Page 119 LES. IV.] INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. 119 2. 5 sixths of 54 is 5 eighths of nine times what numberl 3. 4 fifths of 30 is 3 fourths of 8 times what number? 4. 2 ninths of 81 is 3 elevenths of 4 times what number? 5. 5 eighths of 56 is 7 ninths of 6 times what number? 6. 4 thirds of 36 is 6 fifths of 10 times what number? 7. 9 tenths of 90 is 6 fourths of 8 times what number? 8. 6 halves of 30 is 9 tenths of 20 times what number? 9. 7 ninths of 108 is 7 twelfths of 8 times what number? 10. 5 eighths of 32 is 4 fifths of how many sixths of 18*P 11. 6 sevenths of 56 is 8 ninths of how many fourths of 24? 12. 8 fifths of 40 is 4 thirds of how many sixths of 36? 13. 4 thirds of 36 is 8 twelfths of how many fifths of 45? 14. 2 fifths of 75 is 5 sevenths of how many ninths of 54? 15. 3 halves of 40 is 6 twelfths of how many tenths of 80? 16. 7 ninths of 72 is 8 fifths of how many thirds of 24? 17. 6 elevenths of 44 is 3 tenths of how mary fourths of 32? * ANALYsIs. —The same as in the preceding examples until you obtain the second number, which in this example is 25.'1en, 25 is how many sixths of 18? 1 sixth of 18 is 3, and 3 is contained in 25 8 and 1 third times; therefore, 5 eighths of 82 is 4fifths of 8 and 1 third times 1 sixth of 18.
Page 120 120 INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. [SEC. VII 18. 5 sevenths of 77 is 11 twelfths of how many eighths of 56? 19. 10 thirds of 24 is 8 halves of how many twelfths of 36? 20. 12 fifths of 45 is 9 tenths of how many eighths of 64? 21. 5 sixths of 54 is 3 fourths of how many sevenths of 42? 22. 4 fifths of 30 is 4 sevenths of how many times 2 thirds of 21?* 23. 6 thirds of 27 is 6 ninths of how many times 1 tenth of 90' 24. 8 ninths of 63 is 7 twelfths of how many times 4 eighths of 24? 25. 7 sixths of 54 is 9 tenths of how many times 2 ninths of 45? 26. 5 halves of 24 is 5 eighths of how many times 4 sevenths of 28? 27. 9 tenths of 70 is 7 sixths of how many times 3 ninths of 27? 28. 4 thirds of 36 is 4 ninths of how many times 2 sevenths of 42? 29. 5 ninths of 72 is 4 fifths of how many times 5 twelfths of 60? 30. 7 eighths of 64 is 8 sevenths of how many tines 3 eighths of 32? 31. 10 fourths of 36 is 9 thirds of how many sevenths of 63? * NOTE-In connection with the answer, a reversed stateilient of the examples in this lesson may be made, giving two other propositions, to be solved by a similar analysis. Thus, in Example 22, 3 being the answer we have, First. 8 times 2 thirds of 21 is 7 fourths of 4 fifths of what number I which will give 80.,SecoTnd. 3 times 2 thirds of 21 is 7 fourths of how many fifths of 80? which will give 4 fifths of 30. This will give the pupil the benefit of three examples in one
Page 121 LES. III.] INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. 121 32 6 sevenths of 77 is 11 twelfths of how many fifths of 50? 33. 8 ninths of 81 is 6 fifths of 4 times what number? 34. 9 tenths of 100 is 5 halves of 8 times what inumber? 35. 3 sevenths of 84 is 4 ninths of how many times 4 ninths of 45. QUESTIONS. 1. Two boys comparing their ages, one said he was fifteen years old; the other said, 4 fifths of your age is just 3 halves of my age: what was his age? 2. A farmer had a certain number of sheep which he put in two fields; in one field he had 28, and 6 sevenths of them was 4 ninths of 2 times what he had in the second: how many were there in the second field? 3. A man pays 300 dollars a year for benevolent objects: - of this sum is equal to - of 2 times the amount of his personal expenses: what are his personal expenses? 4. A farmer sold a number of cows and had 12 left, which was. of the number sold; if the number sold be divided by 3- of 91, the quotient will be 5- the nuns ber of dollars he received per head: how much did he receive apiece for his cows? 5. The insurance on a house is 600 dollars, and 4 of that is * of 4 times the value of the furniture: what is the furniture worth? 6. A man bought a horse for 100 dollars, A of what the horse cost was 3 of what he paid for a carriage how much did the carriage cost him? 7. 4 of A's age is A of B's, and 3 tinmes B's is k (of C's: how old are A and E,if C is 24 years old? 8 Fort Plain is 56 miics fi'om Aibany, 5 of this distance is 4 times * the distance from Albanv to Rochester: what is the distance to Rochester'l 11
Page 122 1 S2 INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. [SEC. VII. 9. The contents of a certain store cost 1,000 dollars, and -2 the entire cost is 4 of 3 times what the cloths cost: what was the cost of the cloths? 10. James has a certain number of marbles; John has 6 as many less 3, and William has 4 as mnally as ollhn less 7; William has 5 marbles: how many have ohn and James? 11. A house is worth 600 dollars, and z- of its value is I of 2~ times the value of the farm on which it stands: what is the value of the farm? 12. Buffalo is 325 miles from Albany, and - of this distance is 3a times 2 the distance from Rochester to Buffalo: what is the distance? 13. A boy being asked his age said, that 9 years was 3 years more than J- times 47 of his age: what was his age? 14. A man had 5- of his money stolen from him; the thief was caught, but not until he had spent I of it, the remainder, ($50), was given back: how much nmoney had he at first? 15. A and B engaged in play with equal sums of money, B gained 40 dollars, which was 2 of 3 times what he commenced with: how much had each when they began to play? How much had A left? 15. A farmer sold a horse for 96 dollars, which was A times 5 what he paid for him: how much did he pay for him 2 LESSON V. Comparison of the units of Denominate Numnbers. 1. Four mills are what part of a cent? 2. Five cents are what part of a dollar? 3. Three dimes are what part of a dollar? 4. Thirty-six cents are what part of a dollar?
Page 123 LlS. V.] INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. 123 5. Three dollars is what part of an eagle? 6. How many cents in I of a dollar? 7. HIow many dimes inll of a dollar? 8. Itow many mills in -30 of a dollarS 9. How many dollars in -4 of an eagle! 10. What part of a pound is 1 shilling? 11. What part of a pound is 6 pence? 12. What part of a shilling is 5 pence? 13. What part of a shilling is 3 farthings? 14. What is the value, in pence, of - of a shilling? Of8 of a shilling? Of i of a pound? 15. What is the value, in shillings and pence, of % of of a pound? Of of ofof a pound? 16. Seven pence is what part of a pound? 17. Eleven pence is what part of a shilling? Of fi 18. What'part of a pound is 6 shillings? 7 shil rings? 12 shillings? 13 shillings? 14 shillings? 15 shillings? 19. What part of a pound is 3s. 8d.? 4.. 6d.' 2s. 7d.? 5s. 9d.? s. Sd.? 4s. 9d,? 20. What part of a shilling is 8-d.? 63d.? 9~d.? 21. What part of a pound is 20z. 4oz.? 6oz.. 9oz.? 120z.? 22. What part of a quarter is 81b.? What part of a quarter is 121b. 141b. 1 81b.. 20lb.? 23. What part of' czt. is 3 quarters? 2 quarters I quarter? 24. What part of 1cwt. is 5l6b.? 271b.? 951b.? 751b.? 681b.? 25. What part of a ton is Scwt.? 12cot.? 14cwt.? 16cwt.? 19cwt.? 26. What part of a ton is 651b.? What part of a ton is 951b.? 35016b.? 10001b.? 27. What part of a foot is 5 inches? 7 inches? 9 inches? 4 inches? 10 inches? 11 inches? 28. W'hat part of a yard is 1 foot? What part is I foot of 2 yards? What part of 5 yards is 1 foot?
Page 124 124 INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. [SEC. VIL. 29. What part of a yard is 1 foot? What part of a yard is 2 feet 2 30. What part of a furlong is 1 rod? 3 rods. 5 rods? 8 rods? 10 rods? 12 rods? 15 rods? 31. What part of a mile is 7 furlongs? 5 fur,'ongs? 4 furlongs? 3 furlongs? 2 furlongs? 6 furlongs? 32. What part of a mile is 20 rods? 30 rods? 40 rods? 50 rods? 160 rods? 33. What part of a square foot is 12 square inches? 48 square inches? 100 square inches? 34. What part of' a square yard is 2 square feet? 7 square feet? 8 square feet? 5 square feet? 35. What part of a square yard is 3 square feet? 6 square feet? 1 square foot? 4 square feet? 36. What part of a rood is 4 square rods? 8 square rods? 9 square rods? 7 square rods?2 37. What part of an acre is 4 square rods.? 10 square rods? 40 square rods? 100 square rods? What part of an acre is 3 roods? 38. What part of a quart is 1 pint? 2 pints is what part of 8 quarts? 3 pints is what part of 5 quarts? 39. In wine measure, what part of a quart is I pint'? What part of a quart is 2 gills? 3 gills? 5 gills? 40. What part of a gallon is 3 quarts? 3 pints? 3 gills. 2 quarts? 5 pints? 5 gills? 41. What part of a hogshead is I gallon'? 2 galIons.? 8 gallons? 9 gallons? 42. One pint in dry measure is what part of a quart? What part of a peck? What part of a bushel? 43. Three pecks is what part of a bushel? What part of a chaldron? 44. Five minutes is what part of an hour I
Page 125 LES. V.] INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. 125 8 seconds is what part of a minute? What part of an hour 2 45. Three hours is what part of a day? What part of a week'? 46. Four days is what part of a week? What part of a month? What part of a year? 47. Five years is what part of a century Whal part of a century is 30 years? 40 years? 6 years? 48. What part of 3 days is 5 hours? 6 hours.' 7 hours?. 9 hours 10 hours? 49. What part of 7 months is 9 weeks? What part is 8 weeks. 6 weeks? 50. Four minutes is what part of a day? Of an hour? Of a week? Of a month? QUESTIONS. 1. What will 3V yards of cloth cost at 4 dollars a yard? 2. If 4 bushels of wheat be divided equally among 5 men, how much will each receive? 3. What will 5- bushels of wheat cost at 21 dimes a peck? 4. What will 2t yards of cloth cost at 21 dimes a nail? 5. At 2- dimes a yard, what will be the cost of 13- yards of muslin? 6. What will 122 barrels of wine cost at 7 dollars a barrel? 7. A piece of cloth containing 16- yards is equally divided between 3 persons: how much has each ol l 8. If the twelve months were of equal length, how many days would each contain? 9. If a man travel 21 miles in - of an hour, how far will he travel in 5 hours 10. If wheat is one dollar a bushel, how much will I quart cost? 11*
Page 126 126 INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. [SEC. VII. 11. If cloth is 8 dollars a yard, what will 1 nail cost? 12. If wine is 4 dollars a gallon, what will 3 pints cost? 1 quart? 2 gills? 13. What will 9 yards of cloth cost at three cents a nail? At 5 cents? At 7 cents? 14. If 1 quarter of a yard of cloth costs 3- dollars, what xvill 4 yards cost? 15. If a man spends - of a dollar in 3- of a day, how much will he spend in 2 weeks? 16. If -3 of a hogshead of wine cost 54 dollars, what does the wine cost a gallon? 17. If a man earns 13 dollars a week, how much &oes he earn in each of the 6 working clays? 18. If a man earns 13 dollars a day, how much does he earn in a month of 26 working days? 19. If hay is 15 dollars a ton, how much is that per Icwt.? For 1 quarter? 20. If 10 pounds of hay cost 51- mills, how much will a ton cost? LESSON VI. Per Cent and Per Centage. 1. What is 1 per cent of 1 dollar? What is 2 per cent of 1 dollar? 3 per cent? 4 per cent? 5 per cent?* 2. What is 4 per cent of 50? 3. What is 6 per cent of 200 dollars? 4. What is 4 per cent of 150 dollars? Of 200 dollars? * SUGGESTION.-Per cent means by the hundred. Thus, 1 par eent, 2 per cent, 3 per cent, 4 per cent, &c., of any number or
Page 127 LEtS. vi.] INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. 127 5. What is 9 per cent of 300 dollars? Of 400 dollars? 6. What part of 1 is 3 per cent of 30? Of 4 per cent of 25? 7. What is 6 per cent of 60 dollars? Of 50 dollars? 8. What is 8 per cent of 70 dollars? Of 90 dollars? 9. What is 4 per cent of 250 dollars? Of 45 dollars? 10. What is 9 per cent of 40? Of 50 Of 60 11. What is 3a per cent of 100 dollars? Of 40 dollars? 12. What is 21 per cent of 200 dollars? Of 60 dollars? 13. What is 4 per cent of 600 dollars? Of 30 dollars? 14. What is 3 per cent of 25 dollars Of 36 dollars? 15. A person has 250 dollars, and takes out 2- per cent: how much will he have left? 16. What is 8 per cent of 15 dollars? Of 25 Of 30? Of 45? thing, means that the number or thing is divided into 100 equal parts, and that 1, 2, 3, 4, &c., of these parts are taken. The number of parts taken, determines the rate per cent. Thus, the rates above, are 1, 2, 3, 4, &c., per cent. The part of the number taken, is called the per centage. Thus, when the thing is 1 dollar, and the rate 1 per cent, 1 cent is the per centage; if the rate is 2 per cent, the per centage is 2 cents, &c. Observe, If any number be divided by 100, the quotient uill be 1 per owt of that number. Hence, to find the per centage of any number, for any rate per cent..Multiply the given number by the rate per cent and cut oq two figures fromt the right hand of the product, which is equivalezid to dividing by 100,
Page 128 128 INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. LSEC. VM 17. Whut is 10 per cent of 20 dollars2? Of 25? Of 35? Of 40? 13. What is the per centage of 75 dollars, at the rate of 6 per cent? 19. What is the per centage of 80 dollars, at the rate of 5 per cent? 20. What is the 8 per cent of a piece of cloth, measuring 50 yards 2 21. What is 3- per cent of a piece of muslin, measuring 75 yards? 22. What is 20 per centage of a box of shoes, coon taining 250 pairs? 23. What part of a number is 5 per cent of that number'124. Forty per cent is what part of any number? 25. What is 25 per cent of 60 2 Of 50.? Of 40? * ANALYSIS-Five per cent of any number, is 5 hundredths of that number: hence 5 per cent of a number being 51 of that number - - 2 of that number. The following table shown tile per centage in terms of the number: 5 per cent equals - = -7I of the number 6 per cent equals 6= of the number 10 per cent equals -Ao - ~-, of the number: 12- per cent equals 25 - - of the number. 15 per cent equals 95r = 3 of the number. 20 per cent equals 20 _= of the number. 28 per cent equals 2-o = - of the number. 830 per cent equals 1O ~ -- - of the number. 337 per cent equals 100 = - of the number. 40 per cent equals f1s-~ = 5 of the number. Y-v -- of the number. 40 per cent equals 4O = ~of the number'75 per cent equals 15 _ = 1of the number. 100 per cent equals I o 1 the number.
Page 129 LES. VI.] INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. 129 26. Whatis 10 per cent of 60 Of 40? Of 15? 27. What is 5 per cent of 40 Of' 80? Of 100? 28. What is 15 per cent of 40 dollars? Of 80 dollars 2 29. What per cent of any number is ~ of it? what per cent is I of it?* 30. Five is what per cent of 20?t 31. Six is what per cent of 18? Of 24? Of 30, 32. Ten is what per cent of 50? Of 302 Of 40? Of 60? 33. Three is what per cent of 12? Of 15? Of 24 X Of 36 2 34. Forty is what per cent of 80? Of 20? Of 10? 35. Fifty is what per cent of 200? Of 60? Oi 100? 36. Seven is what per cent of 49? Of 21? Of 56 37. Eight is what per cent of 562? Of 64? Of 84?' * ANALYSIS.-Since 1 of a number equals 2o, it follows that - of a number is equal to 20 per cent; and we may find the 20 per cent by adding two O's to 1, and then dividing by 5. Hence, we see, that having written the per centage in the forln of a fraction, if we add two cyphers to the numerator and then divide, the quotient will express the rate per cent. Therefore, the rate per cent, when the per centage is l, is 100 divided by 6, which gives 16-i per cent. f ANALYSIs.-Five is what part of 20? (see lesson VI, page 89.) 5 is of 2 of 20; of 20; but ~ is 25 per cent: hence, 5 is 25 per cent of 20. Hence, to find the rate per cent when the per centage and number are known: Divide the per centage by the number.
Page 130 130 INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETICO. SEC. V#* QUESTIONS. 1. A grocer purchased a bag of coffee at ten cents a pound: at what price must he sell it a pound, in order to make 10 per cent? What must he sell it Fir, to make 25 per cent? 50 per cent? 2. If a piece of broadcloth, containing 30 yaids; cost 5 dollars a yard, what must it be sold for to gain 20 per cent? What will be the profit? 3. A grocer bought 10 barrels of flour, at 8 dollars a barrel: what must they be sold for, to gain 25 per cent? 4. If sugar is bought at 6 cents a pound, what per cent will be gained if it be sold at 7? 5. If a barrel of flour cost 8 dollars, what must it be sold for, to gain 5 per cent? 6. A merchant finds that a lot of goods, which cost 60 dollars, is damaged, and he sells them at a loss of 15 per cent: what does he get for them? 7. The price of a book is 80 cents; but being sold to a friend, a discount is made of 20 per cent: what is paid for it? 8. A piece of cloth, which cost $45, is somewhat damaged, and is sold at a discount of 33~ per cent: what is paid for it? 9. A merchant buys a chest of tea, for which he pays 85 dollars; but finds it injured, and sells it at 20 per cent loss: how much does he get for it? 10. If a grocery merchant buys sugar at 6 cents a pound, and sells for 8, what per cent does he make? 11. A merchant buys a barrel of sugar for $60 and sells it for $80: what was the rate per cent and what the percentage? 12. A grocer buys sugar at 5 cents a pound: what must he sell it for to make 60 per cent? 13. A grocer buys sugar at 8 cents a pound: what must he sell it for to make 25 per cent 2
Page 131 LESr -II.] INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. 131 14. A grocer buys sugar at 6 cents a pound and sells it at 9: how much does he make per cent? 15. A grocer buys a bag of coffee at 12 cents a pound: what must he sell it for a pound in order to net 162 per cent? 16. A bag of coffee is bought at 10 cents a pound, nd being injured, is sold at 8 cents a pound: what was the loss per cent? 17. If flour cost 9 dollars a barrel, what must it be sold for to give 10 per cent. profit? 121 per cent profit? 18 per cent? 18. If molasses costs 30 cents a gallon, what must.t be sold for to yield a profit of 20 per cent 2 33j per cent? 19. What is 25 per cent of 6? Of 9? Of 10? 20. Nine is what per cent of 36? Of 54? LESSON VII. Of Interest. 1. Interest is an allowance made for -the use of money, and is generally reckoned at so much per cent for each year on the sum loaned, which sum is called the principal. The allowance, or per centage, is called the interest, and the principal and interest, together, are called the amount. 2. What is the interest of $100 for 1 year, at 1 per cent? At 2 per cent? At 3 p&a cent? At 4 per cent? 3. What is the interest of $150 for 1 year, at 1 per sent 2 At 2 per cent? At 3 per cent? 4. What is the interest of $200 for 1 year at 2 per cent? At 5 per cent? 5. What is the. interest of $160 for 1 year, at 5 per eent? At8 per cent?.
Page 132 132 INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. [SEC. VIL 6. What is the interest of $200 for 2 years at 5 per cent.* 7. What is the interest of $200 for 1 year at 6 per cent? 8. What is the interest of $150 for 1 year at 8 per cent? 9. What is the interest of $300 for 2 years at 4 per cent? 10. What is the interest of $500 for 2 years at 6 per cent? 11. What is the interest of $90 for 3 years at 2 per cent? 12. What will be the amount if $120 be put at in. terest for 2 years at 6 per cent? 13. What will be the amount if $60 be put at iln. terest for 3 years at 3 per cent 2 14. If $80 be put at interest for 2 years at 4 per cent, what will be the amount? 15. What will be the amount of $70 for 2 years at 5 per cent? 16. What is the interest of $320 for 4 years at 3 per cent? 17. What is the interest of $260 for 3 years at 6 per cent? 18. What is the interest of 125 dollars for' years at 7 per cent 2 19. What will be the amount, if $300 be put at interest for 2 years, at the rate of 4 per cent? * ANALYSIS.-The interest of 1 dollar for 1 year at 1 per cent is 1 cent; and for any number of dollars, as many cents as there are dollars in the principal. Hence: Find the interest of the principal for 1 year, at one per cen& antd thetn multipwlv by the time, in years, and by the rate per centz the product will be the interest. lahs, the interest of $200 for 1 year, at 1 per cent, is $2: len, $ 2 X 5 =$20, the interest for 2 years, at 5 per cent. W The eanths of a dollar may be read dimes, and the htuidrledths, cetjts.
Page 133 L>. VII,] INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. 132 20. What will be the amount, if 8250 be put at interest at 6 per cent for 3 years? 21. What will be the amount, if $500 be put at interest for 2 years at 4 per cent? 22. What will be the amount, if $55 be put at interest for 5 years at 7 per cent? 23. What will be the interest of $85 for 2 years at 7 per cent? 24. What will be the interest of $75 at 6 per cent for 5 years 2 25. What will be the interest of $275 at 6 per cent for 4 years? 26. What will be the amount of $175, after drawing interest for 3 years at 5 per cent 2 27. What will be the, interest of $160 for 2 years at 8 per cent? 28. What will be the interest of $375 for 2 years at the rate of 5 per cent? 29. What will be the amount of $350, drawing interest for 2 years at the rate of 4 per cent 2 30. What will be the amount of $95 for 2 years at the rate of 5 per cent? 31. What will be the amount of $86 for 3 years at the rate of 3 per cent? 32. What is the interest of $150 for 3 years at the rate of 6 per cent? 33. What is the amount of $360 for 5 years at 2 per cent'? 34. What is the amount of $240 for 3 years at 3 per cent 2 35. What will be the amount of $120 for 4 years at the rate of 5 per cent? 36. What will be the amount of $240 for 3 years t 5 per cent? 12
Page 134 134 INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. [SEC. vU LESSON VI. Interest for parts of a Year. 1. What is the interest of 200 dollars for 3 months, at 5 per cent?* For 5 months? 2. What is the interest of 60 dollars for 4 months, at 5 per cent? 3. What is the interest of $40 for 6 months at 0 per cent? 4. What is the interest of $20 for 9 months, at 3 per cent? 5. What is the interest of $15 for 10 months, at 6 per cent? 6. What is the interest of $6 for 8 months, at 7 per cent?' 7. What is the interest of $12 for 11 months, at 8 per cent? 8. What is the interest of $25 for 10 months, at 9 per cent? 9. What is the interest of $60 for 5 months, at 6 per cent? 10. What is the interest of $84 for 11 months at 10 per cent? 11. What is the interest of $96 for 7 months, at 9 per cent? 12. What is the interest of $72 for 5 months, at 7 per cent? 13. What is the interest of $144 for 11 months, at 9 per cent? " ANALYSIS.-Find the interest for 1 year, at 1 per cent, which is $2; then, as 3 months being 4 of a year, the interest for three months will be J of 2, or i a dollar; then multiply by 5, the rate per cent, and we obtain 21 dollars, or 2 dollars and fifty cents, for the interest. For 5 months, we have f152 of 2 dollars, which is 7- of one dollar, which being multiplied by 5, gives 2 X or 16 dollars.
Page 135 LES. VII.] INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETiC. 135 14. What is the interest of $60 for 6 days,* at 9 per cent? 15. What is the interest of $84 for 9 days, at 7 per cent? 16. What is the interest of $24 for 16 days, at 8 per cent?t 17. What is the interest of $48 for 17 days, at 6 per cent? 18. What is the interest of $50 for 6 days, at 8 per cent? 19. What is the interest of $96 for- 11 days, at 7 per cent? 20. What is the interest of $40 for 15 days, at 9 per cent? 21. What is the interest of $144 for 8 days, at 5 per cent? 22. What is the interest of $60 for 18 days, at 10 per cent? 23. What is the interest of $72 for 10 days, at 9 per cent? 24. What is the interest of $132 for 5 days, at 6 per cent? 25. What is the interest of $42 for 20 days, at 9 per cent? 26. What is the interest of $12 for 19 days, at 10 per cent? 27. What is the interest of $36 for 21 days, at 10 per cent? 28. What is the interest of $15 for 25 days, at 8 per cent? * ANALYSIS.-The interest of $60 for 1 yeat, at 1 per eent is 60 cents; and for 1 month, is 5 cents, and for 1 day is - cr oi f 1 cent; and at 8 per cent., it is * X 8 = 1 -i ]3 cents t OnsEavATION-Observe that 16 days is'1 of a month, and 1 lay over; then as the interest at 1 per cent is 2.cents a month, t6 days gives 1 cent, and-L of 2 cents, or I-j- of a cent: hence T1- of a cent multiplied by 8, gives 8T9 of a cent.
Page 136 (36 INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. [SEC. VnI 29. What is the interest of $20 for 2 years a months and 6 days, at 7 per cent? 30. What is the interest of $30 for 3 years 9 months and 10 days, at 6 per cent? 31. What is the interest of $24 for 4 years 0 months and 20 days, at 8 per cent 32. What is the interest of $36 for 1 year and 5 days, at 8 per cent? 33. What is the interest of 60 dollars for 2 years t months and 25 days, at 6 per cent? 34. What is the interest of $200 for 2 years lO months and 10 days, at 5 per cent? 35. What is the interest of 60 dollars for 2 years 2 months and 3 days, at 8 per cent? 36. What is the interest of 48 dollars for 3 years 8 months and 10 days, at 2 per cent? 37. What is the interest-of $72 for 3 years 0 mnonths and 5 days, at 4 per cent? 38. What is the interest of $84 for 2 years 4 months and 3 days, at 6 per cent? LESSON VIII. Analysis of Questions. 1. If 1 yard of cloth cost $2, how much will 4 yards cost at the same rate? 2. If 5 yards of cloth cost $10, what will 8 yards cost at the same rate? 3. If 4 yards of cloth cost $9, what will 16 yards cost at the same rate?* ANALYSI.-Thil, and similar examples, may be done by tim analysis on page 63; or they may be done thus: The ratio of 4 yards of cloth to 16 yards is 4; that is, 10 yards of cloth is 4 times as much as 4 yards, and therefore, will aost 4 times as much? If 4 yards of cloth cost $9, 16 yards will cost 4 times 9 dol iaes, which are 86 dollars.
Page 137 Bi. VIII.] INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. 137 4. If 6 men consume a barrel of flour in 2 months how much will they consume in a year 2 5. If a man travels 60 miles in 5 days, how far will he travel in 30 days? 6. If 4 men consume I barrel of flour in 20 days, how much would 32 men consume in the same tire? 7. If 3 barrels of flour cost $14, how much will 9 barrels cost? 8. If 41b. of sugar cost 64 cents, what will 131b. cost? 9. If A of a piece of cloth costs $84, what will - pieces cost? 10. If 4 of a barrel of cider cost lo of a dollar, what will 2 of a barrel cost? 11. If 9 bushels of oats will feed 4 horses 5 days, how long will 36 bushels feed them? 12. if 3 paces of the common step be equal to 2 yards, to how many yards will 18 paces be equal? 13. If 5 yards of cotton cloth are equal in value to 2 yards of linen, how many yards of linen will 20 yards of cotton buy? 14. If 81b. of coffee is of the same value as 3t1. of tea, how many pounds of tea will 241b. of coffee buy? 15. If 8 oranges are worth 24 cents, how much are 2 oranges worth? 16. If 4 apples are worth I1 oranges, and one orange is worth two lemons, how many lemons will 12 apples buyv? 17. If 5 baskets of peaches are worth $83, how much will 8 baskets be worth. 18. If a man travel 7 miles in two hours, how fai will he travel in 14 hours? 19. Two men start from the same point and travel in opposite directions; one at the rate of 38 miles an hour, and the other at the rate of 41 miles an 12*
Page 138 138 INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. [SEC. YI hour; how far apart will they be at the end of 4 hours? 20. If, in the last question, the men were to travel in the same direction, how far apart would they be at the expiration of 4 hours? 21. If 61b. of butter cost 14 shillings, how much will 151b. cost? 22. If 4 turkeys cost $24, what will 16 turkeys cost? 23. If 9 yards of broadcloth cost $271, how much will 27 yards cost? 24. If 51b. of loaf sugar cost $3-, how much will twenty-five pounds cost 2 25. If 2 tons of hay cost 191 dollars, what will 8 tons cost? 26. If 3 pairs of boots cost $214 dollars, how much will 18 pairs cost? 27. If 3 horses eat 6-1 bushels of oats in 2 days, how much will 12 horses eat in the same time? 28. If a family consume 143 barrels of flour in 2 months, how much will they consume in 4 months? 29. If 7 bushels of wheat cost $64, how much will 14 bushels cost? 30. If a family consume 2:q bushels of grain in 34 weeks, how much will they consume in 61 weeks? 31. If 34 yards of cloth cost $62, what will 14 yards cost? 32. If 3 pairs of shoes cost $54, what will 9 pairs cost? 33. If a man travels 9 miles in 24 hours, how far will he travel in 74- hours? 34. If 9~ pounds of tea cost 12g dollars, how much will 28 pounds cost? 35. If 8 yards of broadcloth cost 17 dollars, what will 16 yards cost?
Page 139 L,.S. Ix.] INTELLECTUAL ARITIMETIC. 139 LESSON IX Analysis of Questions Continueda 1. If a man can build a wall in 1 day, how long will it take. two men to build it? 2. If 2 men can build a wall in 4 days, how long will it take 4 men to build it? 3. If 4 horses, in two days, eat 5 bushels of oats, how much will 6 horses eat in 4 days?* 4. If a barrel of flour last 15 men 20 days, how long will it last 25 men If 5. If 6 men consume 241b. of beef in 5 days, how much will 9 men consume in ten days? 6. If 6 horses eat 21 tons of hay in 2 weeks, how much will 16 horses eat in 1 weeks? 7. If 8 men can build a wall 6 days, in how many days can 12 men build it? 8. If a certain amount of provisions will last 2 families of 5 persons each 3 weeks, how long will the same provisions last 5 families of 6 persons each? 9. If 2 men, in 5 days, can Muild 160 feet of wall, how long will it take 4 men to build 192 feet of wall? 10. If 5 men can do a certain work in 6 days, how long will it take 3 men to do 5 times that work? * ANALYSIS —Four horses will eat as much in 2 days, as 8 hoises in 1 day; and 6 horses will eat as much in 4 days as 24 horrses in 1 day. Now, 24 horses is 3 times 8 horses: if 8 horses eat 5 bushels of oats in 1 day, 24 horses will eat 3 times as much, which are 15 bushels: therefore, 6 horses in 4 daya (equivalent to 24 horses for 1 day) will eat 15 bushels. T Fifteen men will eat as much in 1 day as 1 inan will eat in 16 (days and 15 men will eat as much in 20 days as 1 man in 300 days. Now, the same provisions will last 25 men only one-twenty-fifth as long as they will last 1 man; that is, so many days as 25 is contained times in 300, which are 12.
Page 140 140 INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIO. [SEC. VrL ] 1. If a man travels 48 miles in 2 days, travelling 6 hours a day, how far will he travel in 3 days, travelling at the same rate, 5 hours a day 2 12. If 12 dollars' worth of provisions will supply 9 men 4 days, how much will it cost to supply 21 men for 5 days 2 13. If 2 men consume 21b. 4oz. of flour in 1 day, kow much will 8 men consume in 4 days? 14. I-ow many sheep, at 3 dollars a head, must be given for 5 cows at $18 apiece? 15. A man, failing in trade, pays his creditors 3 shillings on the dollar, while another pays an equal sum by paying two shillings on the dollar: what is the ratio of their debts? 16. If ~ of a bushel of oats will feed 2 horses half a day, how many will be required to feed 4 horses 4-& days? 17. If a barrel of flour will serve a farnily of 6 per. sons 31 weeks, how much will serve a family of 9 persons 43 weeks? 18. If 5 men can cut 30 cords of wood in 3 days, how much will 4 men cut in 8 days 2 19. If 3 men can mow 15 acres in 2+ days, how long will it take 11 men to mow 44 acles? 20. If a farmer can plough 9 acres in 4 days, with one team, how much can he plough with two teams in 8 days? 21. If a pasture of 8 acres will feed 3 horses for 2 months, how many acres will feed 4 horses 5 months? 22. If the wages of 3 men for 7 days are 21 dollars, what will be the wages of 9 men for 11 days? 23. If a man travels 121 miles in 5 hours, how far will he travel in 4 hours, at the same rate 2 24. A man loses, at play, - of his money, after which he gives away i of the remaindelr, and finds that he has 8 dollars left; how much had he at firsts
Page 141 LES. X. I NTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. 141 25. How many yards of cloth at 44 dollars a yardL must be given fur 9 yards at 3 dollars a yard? 26. If 4 tailors can make 8 pair of pantaloons in 2 days, how many will 3 tailors make in 5 days? 27. If 5 horses consume 2414 tons of hay in a winter, how much will 10 horses consume? 28. James being asked how many marbles he had, replied, that if 3 of the number be divided by 2, and the quotient subtracted from one half the number, the remainder would be 12: how many had he? 29. If 9 men can do a piece of work in 4a days, how many men should be employed to do the same work in 7 days? 30. If 3 horses eat 34 tons of hay in 2 months, how much will supply 5 horses for 4 months? LESSON X. 1'b find the parts, knowing the whole and the proportion of the parts. 1. James bought an orange and a melon, for which he paid 8 cents. He paid three times as Inuch for the melon as for the orange: what did he pay for each?* 2. Charles bought a whistle and a top, for which he paid 12 cents. He paid five times as much for the whistle as for the top: what did he pay for each? 3. What number added to itself will give a sum equal to 20? 4. What number added to twice itself will give a number equal to 15? * ANALYSIS.-Jamies paid one equal part of the wehole sum fo, the orange, and 3 equal parlts for the melon: hence, he paid 4 equal parts for both. Then, the whole sum which he paid, (8 cents), divided by the number of equal parts, (4 equal parts), will give 1 part. which is 2 cents, what he paid for the orange; and 2 cents multiplied by 3, will give 6 cents, what he paid for thse melon. 5
Page 142 142 INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. [SEC. VII. 5. What number added to five times itself will give a number equal to 30? 6. John bought an apple, a peach, and an orange, or which he paid 6 cents. He paid twice as much for the peach as for the apple, and as much for the orange as for the apple and peach together: what did e pay for each? 7. A man bought a horse, saddle, and bridle, for which he paid 90 dollars. He paid twice as much for the saddle as for the bridle, and four times as much for the horse as for the saddle and bridle together: what did he pay for each? How many parts are there? 8. The sum of the ages of James, Charles, and John, is 44 years. James' age is one half Charles and one third John's: what is the age of each? 9. A farmer has in his garden apple trees, pears, and peaches; in all 72. He has twice as many pear as apple trees, and three times as many peaches as pear trees: how many has he of each? 10. A person distributed 36 cents amongst three beggars, a father, mother, and son. He gave the mother twice as much as the boy, and the father twice as much as the mother and boy together: how much did he give to each? 11. A farmer has 72 sheep in four lots. In the second he has twice as many as in the first; in the third as many as in the second; and in the fourth twice as many as in the third: how many has he in each? 12. Mary, Jane, and Nancy, gather 144 apples from the orchard. Jane is to have twice as many as Mary, and Nancy is to have three times as many as Mary and Jane together: how many will each have 1 13. Divide 12 into two such parts that the second shall be double the first. Into how many equal parts is 12 to be divided?
Page 143 LEd. X.1 INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. 143 14. Divide 21 into three such parts that the second shall be double the first, and the third double the second. 15. James asked John how many miarbles he had? John replied, if you will give me twice as many as i now have, and William will give me 5 times as many as I should then have, I would have, in all, 36: how many had he?. 16. Mr. Parsons bought 4 pounds of coffee, a pound of tea, and a yard of cloth, and paid in all $16. He paid twice as much for the tea as for the coffee. and 5 times as much for the cloth as for the coffee: what did he pay for each? 17. Divide 36 into four such parts that the second shall be 3 times the first, the third 5 times the first, and the fourth 9 times the first. 18. In a pasture there are seven times as many sheep as cows, and twice as many lambs as cows; in all, 40: how many of each sort? 19. A father, mother, and son, receive 108 cents for a day's work. The mother receives twice as much as the son, and the father as much as the mother and son together: what does each receive? 20. In a school of three departments, there are 150 pupils. In the first department there are one third as many as in the second, and in the second one half as many as in the third: how many are there in each? How many equal parts of the whole school in each department? 21. Divide 82 into four such parts that the second shall be 4 times the first, the third 3 times the second, and the fourth 2 times the third. 22. A sloop employed in carrying bricks to New York, carries 40 thousand at a load. She is loaded twice and urloaded once, the first week-the second week, she is unloaded twice and loaded once; and so
Page 144 144 INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. L[SEC. VIT. on for the season: how much does she average a week? 23. James being asked what he had been about during the day, replied, that he had been ciphering 4 hours and done 82 sums. That in the second hour lie did 4 times as many as in the first; in the third hour, three times as many as in the second; and in the fourth, 2 times as many as in the third: how muany did he do in each hour? LESSON XI. To divide NVunbers into proportional parts. 1. Divide the number 18 into two parts, such that the ratio of the parts shall be the same as 2 to 4.* 2. Divide the number 28 into two parts, such that their ratio shall be the-same as 5 to 9. 3. Divide the number 34 into two parts, such that the first shall be eight ninths of the second. 4. Divide 34 into two such parts that the first shall be one and one eighth times the second. 5. Two men bought a piece of muslin containing 30 yards; one paid $2 and the other 83: how many yards belonged to each? 6. Two men hired a pasture for $24. One pastured 5 horses and the other 3: how much should each pay? 7. Two men hired a pasture for $72. One pastured 3 horses for 5 weeks, and the other 7 horses for 3 weeks: what proportion should each pay? 8. A father divides 84 cents between John and Charles, giving 5 cents to John and 7 to Charles each ANALYsIS.-Thela are 6 units in the sum of 2 and 4. If 18 itc divided into 6 equal parts, each part will be 3. Two of theme parts must form the first number, and 4 of them tlh secamd. Hence, the numbers are 6 and 12.
Page 145 LES. XL I INTELLECTUAL akRf RMET'C. 145 tine, till the whole was distributed: how muach did tae give to each? 9. Three persons buy a piece of cloth contaiining 48 yards. The first puts in 5 dollars, the second 9, and the third 10: what was each one's share? 10. James has 72 marbles; he gives 3 to Wilillham and 5 to John, each time, until none are left: how nmany does he give to each. 11. William has 9 cents and John 7, and they buy 06 apples: how many apples should each havet 12. AMr. Wilson fails in business and pays - of hh; debts: how much will Mr. Squires receive to whom. (Le owes $108? 13. A grocer weighs out 24 pounds of -sugar to 2 customers, giving.2 pounds to one as often as he gave: of a pound to the other: how much did he give to each? 14. A draper divides a piece of cloth coistaining 36 yards, betwee n 2 persons, giving 2- yards to the one every time that he gave 3~ yards to the othero how much did each receive? 15. A man distributed 78 cents amnong 8 beggars, g of whorm were men and It were women. lie gave twice as much to each womran as to each man: htow much did he give to each? 16. James and John start from the same place, travel the samna way, and take steps of equal length James steps 4 times while John steps but 3: how far will they be apart when the distances travelled by both is 14 miles? 17. James and John start friom the same place, travel the same way, and take steps of equal length; James steps 4 times while John steps but 3: how fatr will each have travelled when they are 3 mntiites apart? T
Page 146 146 INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. [SEC. VII. 18. Two men agree to do a piece of work for which they are to receive $88; the first sends 4 hands for 3 days, and the second 5 hands for 2 days: how much should each receive? 19. A person met three beggars, a boy, a mother and father, and distributed 84 cents among them. For every 5 cents he gave the boy he gave the mother 7 and the father 9: how much did he give to each? 20. Three persons hire a pasture, for which they pay $56. The first puts in 2 horses for 3 weeks, the second 5 horses for 2 weeks, and the third 9 horses for 1- weeks: how much ought each to pay? 21. Charles has 5 marbles and John' 9, and they agree to share their winnings or losses in the same proportion. After several games they find that they have won 42: how are they to be divided? 22. A and B enter into partnership: A puts in 7 dollars, and B 11: they make 9 dollars by the operation: how should it be divided? 23. A and B enter into partnership: A puts in 6 dollars for 2 months, and B, 5 dollars for 3 months: they gain 81 dollars: what is the share of each? 24. Two barrels of flour, costing 12 dollars, are consumed by three persons; the first ate fiom theml 2 months, the second 3 months, and the third 5 ntonths: how much should be paid by each? 25. Three persons hire a pasture for sheep, for which they pay 12 dollars. The second puts in twice as many sheep at the first, and the third three times as many as the first; but the sheep belonging to the first man are in twice as long as those belonging to the second, and three times as long as those belonging to the third: how much should each pay?
Page 147 LES. XII.] INTELLECTUAL ARITHME:TrIC. 147 LESSON XII. Analysis of Questionzs. 1. The suim of two numbers is 10 and their difference 4: what are the numnbers?* 2. The sum of two numbers is 16 and their dif. ference 8: what are the numbers? 3. James and John together have 24 marbles, and the difference between thciir marbles is one fourth of the sum: how many had each? 4. A tailor in measuring two pieces of cloth found their difference to be 6 yards, and also that this dif ference was an eighth part of the cloth in both pieces: how much was there in each piece? 5. James and John have 16 marbles, and James has 4 more than John: how many has each? 6. Nancy has 6 more pins in hei cushion than Jane, and together they have 30: how many has each? 7. John, in a week recited 10 lessons more than Charles, and together they recited 24: how mlany did each recite? 8. A farmer bought an equal quantity of sugar and coffee, and then gave a cheese for 20 pounds of coffee, when it appeared that he had in all 50 pounds of sugar and coffee: how much had he of each? 9. A ralan being asked how much money he had, said, that he had only dollars and dimes, and that he had 72 pieces in all: that the number of dollars less the number of dimes, was one-twelfth the sum of the pieces: how much money had he? * ANALYSIS.-If the two numbers were equal and their sum 10, each number would be 5. Now, if you take 1 from one of the 5's you have the number 4, and if you add it to the other you get the number 6; if you do the same for the two last nullLers, you get the nunmbers 3 and 7, whose difference is 4: that is, the greater of two numbers is equal to half their sum plus'alf their diference, and the less is equal to half their sum minus half their diference.
Page 148 148 INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. [SEC. VIL 10. A farmer has 10 more sheep than he has cows, he loses 3 cows and 6 sheep, when he finds that he has 17 of both kinds remaining: how many had he at first of each kind? 11. A father being asked his age, replied, that 7 years ago his age was double that of his son's, and now that the sum of their ages was 89: what was the age of each? 12. A man and son engage to work 20 days, the son to receive 3 dimes a day less than the father: at the end of the time they receive 42 dollars: how much of this sum did each earn, and what did each receive per day 2 13. John being asked how many marbles he had, replied, that 19 was 3 more than 4 of the number: how nmany had he? 14. Lucy being asked her age, said, that her sister Jane was 6 years old when she was born, and that now the sum of their ages was 20: what was the age of each? 15. A farmer had as many sheep as hogs, and after losing 12 of his hogs, his sheep and hogs amounted to 04: how many had he at first of each kind? 16. A man bought a vest, for which he paid 21 dollars less than he paid for his coat, and for the two together he paid 33 dollars: what did he pay for fach? 17. Mr. Wilson sold his cow for 30 dollars, which was jo of what she cost himn: what did he give for her? 18. A gentleman bought a coat and hat, for which lie paid 27 dollars, and the cost of the hat was ono eighth of the cost of the coat: what was the cost of each? 19. If- 5 of a number is 3 less than what is the iumber?
Page 149 LES. XIII.] INTELLECTUAL ARIThMETIC. 149 20. Two men have 60 dollars between themn; if the,.ne having the largest sum gives the other 5 dollars, their money will be equal: how much had each? 21. A man bought a cow and a calf, for which he paid 36 dollars, paying 5 times as much for the cow as for the calf: what did he pay for each? 22. A man bought a pairi' of boots for 6- dollars, which was 3 of what he paid for his coat: what did his coat cost? 23. A man paid 2- dollars more for his pantaloons thllan for his vest, and for both -he paid 14} dollars: what did he pay for each? 24. A market woman bought 36 eggs; for I: of them she paid 2 cents for three eggs, and the remain der she bought at the rate of 4 cents for 3 eggs: for what must she sell them that she may make 6 cents? LESSON XIII. Separate and Concurring Causes. 1. If Charles can do a piece of work in 2 days. what part of it can he do in I day? If you denote the work by 1, what will denote the part which he can do in 1 day? 2. If James can do a piece of work in 3 days, what part of it can he do in I day? What part in 2 days? 3. If a family consume 12 pounds of sugar in a week, how much will they consume in 1 day? IIo,w nmuch ir. 3 days? 4 days? 4. If Jamnes can do one fifth of a piece of work in 1 day, how long will it take him to do the entire work'l If he can do I in a day, how long will it take him to do the work? How long if he can do 4I If he can do i, how long? 5. John can do a piece of work in 2 days, and Charles can do the same work in 3 days: 13*
Page 150 150 INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. [SE(C VIL. WThat part of the work can each do in a single day? What part can both do in I day; and itr what timne can the work be done by both of them working together? * 6. A can do a certain piece of work in 3 days, B can do it in 5 days: What part of it can each do in 1 day? What part can both do in I day, and in what time can the work be done by both working together? 7. A cistern is to be filled by two pipes. One can fill it in 2 hours and the other ill 5: What part of the cistern can each fill in 1 hour? What part of it can they both fill in 1 hour? In what time can they fill the cistern running together i S. A cistern is to be filled by three pipes. The first can fill it in 2 hours, the second in 3, and the third in 4: What part of it will each fill in 1 hour? What part of it will they all fill in 1 hour? In what time will the three fill it, running together? 9. John can do a piece of work in 2 days, and John and James together, can do it in 15- days: ill what time can James do it alone?ft * ANALYsIs.-Denote the work to be done by 1. Then -T will will represent the part which John can do in 1 day; and * will Represent the part which Charles can do in 1 day; and the sum of 1 and ~ will represent what both can do in 1 day, viz.: 5- of the entire work. Then, the number of times which 1 (the work to be done) contains 6, viz.: 1- times, shows the numnber of days in which they can do the work together. Many similar examples may be done in the same manner. f ANA rSIS.-If John can do the work in 2 days, he can do 1 of it in 1 day; and if James and John together, can do the work in 1 - days, that is 6 days, they can do 1 divided by f, that, is ~F of it in 1 day: then, James can do 5 of the work less } of the work, that is, 3 of the work, in 1 day; therefore, he canl do the whole work in three days.
Page 151 I.Es. XIII.] INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. 151 10. A can do a piece of work in 3 days, A and B together, can do it in 1l days: in what time can B do it working alone? 11. A cistern can be filled by one pipe in 2 hours, and by 2 pipes in 1- hours: how long will the second pipe require to fill it if running alone? 12. A cistern can be filled by 3 pipes in 1 I hours, one of the pipes can fill it in 2 hours, and another in 3: how long will it require the third to fill it, if running alone? 13. A man and his wife usually drank a gallon of beer in 12 days; but when the man was fiom'home it lasted his wife 30 days: how many days would the man require to drink it? 14. A quantity of flour will last one family six weeks, and the same flour will last another family 3 weeks. It is found that one-third of the flour is spoiled: how long will the remainder' last both families? 15. If two families consume a quantity of provisions in 13 weeks, and one family alone would consume the same provision in 4 weeks: how long would it last the other? 16. A can mow a field in 1 day, B in 2 days, and C in 3 days: in what time can they all mow it, working together? 17. A can mow a field in 2 days, B can mow it in 3 days, but by the aid of C, they can mow it in 6 of 1 day: how long will it take C to mow it alone? In what.time can A and B mow it? In what time can A and C mow it? 18. Three carpenters can finish a house in 2 months; two of them can do it in 2~ months: how long will it take the third to do it alone? 19. A, with the assistance of B, can build a wall 2 tfeet wide 3 feet higTh and 30 feet long in 4 days, but with the assistance of C they can do it in 21- days:
Page 152 152 INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. [SEC. VI[ What part of it can A and B build in 1 day? What part of it can they all build in 1 day? What part of it can C alone, build in 1 day? In how many days would C build it alone LESSON XIV. Analysis of Questions. 1. A laborer engaged to work for 16 days on these conditions: For every day he labored, he was to receive 4 shillings, and fobr each day that he was idle he was to pay 2 shillings for his board; at the end of the time he received 52 shillings: how many days did he work, and how many days was he idle?* 2. A carpenter took an apprentice on these terms: he paid his father, at the end of each month of 26 working days, 3 shillings a day, for every day the boy worked —charged him 20 shillings for clothes, also, I shilling for board, for every idle day; at the end of the time there was 30 shillings due him: how many days was he idle? 3. A merchant bought 50 yards of calico, some of which was damaged, on these terms: He was to pay 3 dimes a yard for all that was perfect, and 1 dime a yard for all that was injured; at the settlement he paid 12 dollars: how many yards were injured? 4. A grocer purchased 30 fowls, a part turkeys and a part of them chickens; for the turkeys he was tc pay 11 dimes a piece, and for the chickens 4; he paid in all, 24 dollars and 60 cents: how many were there of each kind? * ANALY-Ss.-Had he labored the 16 days. he would have re ceivecl the 64 shillings. But he received only 52 shillings: hence, lie lost 12 shilliuns by idleness. But as he paid 2 shillings a day for his board, and lost 4 shillings a day in wages, he lost, in all, 6 shillings a day: therefore, the esmaber of days he was idle will be expressed by 12 divided by 6, giving 2 idle days: therefore, he worked 14 days.
Page 153 LES. XIV.] INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. 153 5. A farmer hired a father and son to do 20 days work between them: the father was to have a dollar for every day he worked, and the son 75 cents; at the end of the time, the amout paid was 17 dollars: how many days did each work? 6. A yard stick is broken into 2 parts, the shorter of which is A the length of the longer: what is the length of each piece?* 7. A piece of cloth of 40 yards in length is cut into 2 pieces, such, that the smaller piece is 7 of the larger: What is the length of each piece? 8. What number is that to which if 3 of itself be added, the surm will be 32? 9. A coat and vest cost 24 dollars, and the vest cost 7- as much as the coat: what was the cost of each? 10. A cow and calf are worth 56 dollars, and the calf is worth r- of the cow: what is the valueof each? 11. A pole 16 feet long stands in the mud, water, and air. The part in the mud is I of the part in the water, and the part in the air is equal to the other two: what is the length of each part? 12. There is a fish weighing 72 pounds. His head weighs twice as much as his tail, and his body weighs as much as his head and tail together: what is the weight of each part? 13. Divide the number 52 into two such parts, that.{ of the larger part shall be equal to the less part. * ANALYSS.-The fractional unit, in this question, is one fifth the length of the longer piece. There are 5 of these units in the longer piece and 4 in the shorter: hence, there are 9 in the whole stick, which is 36 inches long. The value of the fraetional unit, is, therefore, 36 divided by 9, or 4 inches. Hence, one of the pieces is 20 inches, and the other 16. All simiat questioms are solved byfindinfg thefractional unit.
Page 154 154 INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. LSEC. VIL 14. A tailor has 48 yards of cloth in 2 pieces; i of the longer piece is equal to 2 of the shorter: how iany yards in each piece?* 15. A fiarmer bought pigs and sheep, in all 33: 2 of the pigs was equal to - of the sheep: how many were there of each kind? 16. Three fourths of a son's age is equal to on fourth the age of the faither, and the sum of their ages is 80 years: what is the age of each? 17. There are 125 sheep in two fields, 4 of the number in one field being equal 1* times the number in the other: how many in each field? 18. A man after counting his gains at play, found that he had increased his money by 2} of -, and that he then had 42 dollars: how much had he at first? 19. The difference of two numbers is 6, and the less number is I of the greater: what are the numbers?t 20. A father's age is such, that ~ of it is equal to 1- the age of his son, and the difference of their ages is 36 years: what is the age of each? 21. What number is that which being diminished by the difference between 4- and 3 of itself leaves a remainder equal to 34? 22. A flag staff 52 feet long, is so broken by the wind, that ~ of the top piece is equal to - of the piece left standing: how long are the pieces? e SUGGESTION.-If - of the shorter piece equals 2 of the longer, then of the shoter equals of thhe longer, and the whole of the shorter piece equals -6 of the longer. Always find the unit of the smaller in terms of the larger qmvlber. t ANALYSIr.-Suppose the greater number be divided into 8 equal parts; two such parts, are found in the lesser number: hence, the difference between the numbers is equal to 1 of the greater, which is 6: therefore, the greater number is 18 and the )less 12.
Page 155 LES. Ir.] INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. 155 23. Jamnes was asked how many marbles he had, and replied, I have 55, black and red, and. of the black make just as many as ~ of the red. Pray how many have I of each sort? 24. A laborer engaged to work 20 days, and was to receive 9 shillings for every day he worked, and pay 3 shillings a day for his board, every day that he was idle; ill settling, he received 84 shillings: how nany days did he work? 25. A church, including the steeple, is 188 feet high. If the height of the steeple is equal to I the height of the body of the building, Nwhat is the height uf each? LESSON XV. Analysis of Questions. 1. William chases Henry, who is 42 feet in advance, around a circular walk of 100 feet. Their steps are each 3 feet, but William takes 6 steps while Henry takes but 5: how many steps must William make to overtake Henrry? 2. A hare is 25 of his own leaps before a greyhound, which is pursuing him. The greyhound makes'2 leaps while the hare makles 5; but 1 leap of the greyhound is equal to 3 of the hare's: how many leaps will the greyhound make before he overtakes the hare 2* 3. James is in pursuit of John. and 12 of John's steps behind him. James steps 3 times while John * ANALYSIS.-Since the greyhound makes 2 leaps while the hare makes 5, in the time that the greyhound makes 1 leap the hare will make 2A leaps. But 1 leap of the greyhound is equal to 3 leaps of the hare; hence, every time the greyhound jumps he will gain on the hare ~ of a hare's leap: therefore, he must make 50 leaps to overtake him.
Page 156 156 INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. [SEC. VI1 steps 4 times; but Jamnes' steps are twice as long as John's: how many steps must James make to overtake himl? 4. A-Mary is 24 years old and Jane is 4: how rr any years must elapse before Mary's age will be iust double Jane's.* 5. A father is 60 years old and his son is 35: how long since the age of the father was double that of the son? What was then the age of each? 6. A amother is 36 years old and her daughter 12: how long before the age of the nlother will be double that of the daughter? What will then be the age of each? 7. A mother is 48 years old and her daughter 30: how long since the age of the daughter was half that of the another? What was then the age of' each? 8. A mother is 48 years old and her daughter 10: how long before the age of the daughter will be onethird that of the mother?2t What will then be the age of each-? 9. A mother is 54 years old.and her daughter 20: how long since the age of the daughter was one-third that of the mother? What was then the age of each? ANALYSIs.-At Jane's birth, 4 years ago, Marly was 20 years old, atnd Jane's agre was 0. Twenty years from that date, Mary will be twice as old as Jane: Hence, filfJary's age be dirninished by Jane's, anid the rernainder be rlltiplied by 2, the product will denote Afary's age whent it is clouble Jane's. 1 ANALYis.-At the birth of the daughter, the mother was 88 years old. What number added to 38 years will give a sumn equill to 3 times the number added? If 3 times the number added is equal to 38 plus the number, then, twice the number added will be equal to 38' and the number mIust be one half of 38, or 19 years. Hence, i' the daEughtr's age be subtraccted froi the mother's, acnd the renainbder divided by 2, the q7lolient vwill be the daughter's age, whten it is one-third the iother's. If the difference be divided by 3, the quotient will be the daughter's age when it is one-fouth the mother's; and so on.
Page 157 LES. XVI.] I TELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. 157 10. A fathei's age is 45 years, and his son 9: how long before the age of the son will be one fourth that of his father i What will then be the age of each? 11. A father is 54 years old, and his son 30: how long since the age of the father was 4 times that of di( son? What was then the age of each 3 LESSON XVI. Analysis of Questions by means of Unity. WE have said, that any number, regarded as a whole, may be called UNITY. What may any number be called, when it is re. garded as a whole? 1. What number added to twice itself will give a sum equal to l12.* 2. What number is that which added to thiree times itself will give a sum equal to 24? 3. What number is that which added to half itself will give 6'3 4. What number added to half itself will give 9? 5. What number added to one-fourth of itself will give 20 6. What number is tbfat which added to twice itself, and the sum to 3 times itself will give 30? 7. What number added to half of itself, and to one fourth of itself will give 28 3 8. James being asked his age, said, I am half the age of my father, and the sum of our ages is 60 years: What is the age of each? * ANALYSIS.-Call the number sought, unity. Then by the conditions of the question, unity plus twice unity is equal to 12. But muity plus twice unity is equal to 3 times unity, which is equal to 12. Then, if 8 times unity is equal to 12, once unity is equal to 12 divided by 3; which is 4. SuGcES'noN.-Let the pupil see if 4 wvill fulfil the conditiols: 4 + 4 X2 = 4 + 8 = 12. Let every question of the lesson b!e analyzed and verified in a similar way 14
Page 158 158 INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. [SEC. VII. 9. What number is that to which if its * be added, the sum xwill be 35? 10. A man being asked his age,, replied, if to my age you add one-third of it and then' of it, the sum will be 57: How old was he 2 11. John being asked how many marbles he hlad, aid, that one half of what he had, increased by l, and diminished by ~, was equal to 14. 12. Divide the number 12 in two such parts, that one shall be three times the other? 13. Divide 24 into 3 such parts, that the second shlall be 3 times the first, and the third 4 tinmes the first: What are the numbers? 14. Divide 32 into 3 such parts, that the second shall be 4 times the first, and' the third 3 times the first: What are the numbers? 15. Divide 27 into two such parts, that the second shall be 5 of the first 16. Divide 20 into three such parts, that the second shall be one half of the first, and the third, one third of the second. 17. James asked Robert how many marbles he had. Robert answered, "If you will give me half as many as I now have, and afterwards give me I of what I shall then have, my number will be 54." How many had he? 18. A young chap asked an old gentleman his age, who replied, "When you was born, I was 6 of my present age: one third of your age plus one fourth of it, is equal to 7 years. Can you now tell how old I amll 2. 19. A tailor buys a piece of cloth for 6 dollars a yard, and a piece of equal length for $2 a yard, and sells the whole at $4 a yard: does he make or lose? 20. John and James together have 45 marbles: if John's is equal to 2 of James, how many has each ]
Page 159 IEs. XvII.] INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. 159 21. A market woman bought geese and turkeys; 36 in all; one seventh of one sort was equal to one half of the other: how many of each kind? 22. A pole 72 feet long has one half as much in the mud as in the water, and twice as much in the air as in the mud and water together: how many feet in each? 23. What number added to ~, to I, and to i of itself will give a sum equal to 50 2 24. Mr. Wilson bought a hat, a coat, and a cloak; he paid for the coat I1 as much as for the hat, and for the cloak,three times as much as for the coat; and for all he paid 42 dollars; how much did he pay for each? LESSON XVII. Analysis of Questions by means of Unity. 1. What number is that to which if 10 be added, the sum will be 16.* 2. James being asked how many marbles he has, replied, if to ~ of what I have you add 8, the sum wil be equal to 18: how many had he? 3. What number is that whose half exceeds it. third by 4? 4. What number is that, to which if I of itself and 4 be added, the sum will be equal to 22? 5. What number is that, which being added to on, third of itself, and to 3 times itself, will give a suir equal to 26? 6. What number is that, which being diminished by its half and its third, the remainder will be equa to 42 * ANALYSIS.-Denote the required number by unity. Then by the conditions of the question, unity plus 10 equals 16. But if' unity plus 10 equals 16, unity must be equal to 16 minus 10, or 6. For, if the same number be subtractedfrom two equal c;umere, lthe remainders will be equal.
Page 160 160 INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETJC. [SEC. VII, 7. What number is that, to the one fourth of which if 10 be added, the sum will be equal to 20? 8. What number is that to which if its one fourth be added, and the sum diminished by 7 will leave 13 for a remainder? 9. A. tailor cuts a piece of cloth 21 yards long into 3 pieces; the second contains 1 of the first minus 5 yards, and the third is equal to 1 of the first plus 5 yards: how many yards are there in each piece.* 10. One fourth of William's age is equal to one half of John's, and -the sum of their ages is 24: what is the age of each? 11. If one half of Charles' age equals one sixth of John's, and the sum of their ages is 16, what is the age of each 3 12. Divide 15 into two such parts, that one eleventh of the first shall be equal to 1 of the second. 13. A watch and seal are together worth 64 dollars, and the watch is worth 7 times as much as the seal: what is the value of each? 14. A mother divided 56 pins between Jane and Nancy, so that one fifth of Jane's was equal to one half of Nancy's: how many had each? * ANYsis.-Denote the first part by unity. Then unity = the first part, of unity - 5 = the second part, and v of unity + 5 = the third part; and since the sum of the parts is equal to 21 yards, unity 3 unity- 5 +- of unity +5 =21; that is, I of unity = 21; and X of unity = 3, or unity 12. Hence, the pieces are 12, 1, and 8 yards.
Page 161 LES. XVII.] INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. 161 15. John gave one third of his marbles to William, and then gave half of what he had left and 4 more to Charles, after which he had 8 remaining: how many had he at first?. 16. James and John together, have 50 marbles; 3 times James' number is equal to 7 times John's: how many has each? 17. The sum of two numbers is 16, and the greater is 3 times the smaller: what are the numbers? 18. Two partners in trade have made a profit of 99 dollars, and agree to divide it so that the second shall have 4 dollars every time the other has 5: what was the portion of each 2 19. A school of 88 scholars has three classes; the second contains H1 times as many as the first, and the third twice as many as the second: how many scholars in each class 2 20. If - of John's marbles is equal to l of James', and together they have 56, how many has each? 21. A piece of cloth is divided into 3 parts; one piece is 4 yards long, which is one eighth of the length of the other two, but of these two pieces the longer is 3 times the shorter: what is the length of each piece 2 22. Two persons, A and B, at a tavern, spend 80 cents, of which twice what A spends is equal to 3 times what B spends: how much is spent by each? 23. The sum of the ages of two persons is 56 years, and twice the age of the elder is 6 times the age of the younger: what is the age of each'1 24. A man has 66 fowls, and after selling a-part of them found that what he had left was twice the number sold: how many did he sell, and how many had he left? 25. A man after spending a part of his money at a.tavern, found that what he had left was one fifth of 14*
Page 162 162 INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC, [SEC. VI1 what he had spent, and remembering that he had 84 cents at first, wished to know how much he had left 26. A man sold a horse for 140 dollars, by which he gained R- of what the horse cost him: what did he give for the horse? 27. John anid Charles receives 18 cents for premiiiums, t school. If three times John's money be subtracted from 3 times what both receive, the remainder will be 24: how much does each receive? 28. A fish weighs 64 pounds. The head weighs 3 times as mu-ch as the tail, and the body weighs as much as the head and tail both: what is the weight of each part' 29. If a shadow 15 feet long is cast by a stick 10 feet long, standing vertically, what will be the length of' a stick or pole, like placed, which casts a shadow 24 feet long, at, the same time of day? 30. If a shadow 10 feet long is cast by a stick 5 feet high, what will be the length of a stick, standing in a like position, which casts a shadow 16 feet in length, at the same time of day? 31. A tailor cut 6 coats firom a piece of cloth, after which it, measured 24 yards; he then cut 5 pairs of pantaloons, which took -} as much as the coats, when it was found that one half of the piece was left: how many yairds did the piece contain? 32. A. farmer has two bins for grain, which together, hold 60 bushels; if he diminishes the greater by (. of its capacity and increases the less by the same amnoull; the two will then hold an equal number of bushels: how mrnany bushels does each hold?
Page 163 LES. xv11I.] INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. 163 LESSON XVIII. Promiscuous Questions. I. A man sold a barrel of flour for $4, which was ] of what it cost: how much profit did he make? 2. If - of a piece of broadcloth, containing 18 yards, cost 32 dollars, how much was that a yard? 3. A man sold a cow for 18 dollars, which was 6 of what she was worth: what was her true valLue-? 4. A man spends 5 of his mnonthly income for a hat, and twice as much for a coat, and has $10'left: how much does he receive a month? 5. A man pays I of his daily wages for board, a.d i for his clothes, and at the end of the week has saved $1': what are his wages a day? 6. A pole stands 1 in the air, 1 in the water, and 3 feet in the mud: how long is it? 7. The body of a fish is three times as long as hlis head, and his tail is 2 feet, which is one fourth the length of the head and body: -what is the length of each part, and of the entire fish? 8. A person gave -- of his money to each of 5 persons, and had 4 cents left: how much had he at first? 9. John gave Charles 4 times as manly apples as he gave to William, and to William-1 as miany as he had left, which was ten: how many had he at first? 10. What will be the cost of a bag of coffee, if 2 of it cost $4S? 11. Mary gave i of her money to Jane, and i to Eliza, and had 3 cents remaining: how much had she at first 12. If 3 men can do a piece of work in 8 days, how long will it take 12 men to do the samne worlk? 13. It 5 men can do a piece of work in 71 days, how long will it take nine men to do the same worlk? [low long 12 men? 18 mnen? 36 rle.l? 722 men
Page 164 1(64 INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. [SEC. VII. 14. A man would give 3, i, and k of the money in his pulrse to the oldest, the second, and youngest son; now, if he has fifty-two dollars left, how much will each receive? 15. James and John, on comparing their marbles, fild that together, they have 112; and that if James gives a of his to John, they will have an equal num. ber: how many has each? 16. James, John, and Charles together, have 120 marbles; if James gives - of his to John, each will ha.,ve 1: as many as Charles: how many marbles has each?2* 17. James, John, and Charles together, have 800 marbles; if James gives 12 more than X of his to John, each will have I as many as Charles: how many has each? 18. In a fruit orchard, one third of all the trees are apples, I are pears, I are cherries, and 26 are plums: how many of each sort, and how many in all? 19. A person being asked the time of day, said, that the time past 12 o'clock x. (that is noon), was { the time past the previous midnight: what was the timle? HIIow many equal parts (fourths), from 12, midnight, to the required time? fEow nmany of these parts between midnight and noon? What is the value of each part? 20. I-ow will you divide half a water-lmelon among 3 boys, so that the second shall have twice as much as the first, and the third twice as much as the second1: whllat part of the whole melo!e will each boy have? NolE.-After James has given one sixth of his marbles to John, each ivill have one fourth of 120, or 30, and Charles will have one half of 120 or 60. Then, what number diminished by $ leaves 30?
Page 165 LES. XIV.] INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. 165 21. If 2 of a barrel of flour will last a family of 5 persons 10 days, how long will a barrel last a family of 25 persons? 22. If 5- baskets of peaches are worth $8[,' how many potatoes at 25 cents a bushel, will one basket buy? 23. If 25 bushels of oats will serve 5 horses for 7 days, how many will serve 7 horses for 9 days? 24. A farmer has his sheep in 3 partures. In the first he has - of his flock, in the second I, in the third i, and 6 over: how many has he in all? 25. A tailor has a piece of cloth, from which he cuts enough for a suit of clothes, and finds that he has 28 yards left, which is just I of 2 of his piece: how many yards in the piece? 26. A man starts on foot from Albany, for New York, and at the end of the first day finds that he has 125 miles yet to travel, which was just 5- of the whole distance: what was, the whole distance? 27. A grocer bought an equal number of lemons and oranges; he paid 9 cents for every 2 oranges, and 7 cents for every 4 lemons: what must he sell them at a piece to make 100 per cent? 28. A grocer bought a certain number of eggs at the rate of 2 for 5 cents, and an equal number at the rate of 3 for 7 cents, and sold them at 3 cents a piece, by which he made 21 cents: how many eggs did he buy? 29. A man and his wife consumed ten pounds of meat in 3 days. The man alone would have consumed it in 5 days: what part of the meat did the -oman consume? 30. If two men can dig 32 bushels of potatoes in I day, working 8 hours a day, how long will it take 3 men, working 9 hours a day, to dig 54 bushels?
Page 166 166 INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. L[SEC. VII. 31. If 5 men can build a fence 20 rods long in 8 days, homw long will it require 16 men to build it? 32. What number is that fiom which if 2 be subtracted 2 of the remainder will be 4? What number is that a of which is 4? If 2 be added, what number? 33. After paying away 3 and - of my money, I had 10 dollars remaining: how much had I at first? 34. A person after spending - of his money, and then 3 of the remainder, had 8 dollars left: how much had he at first? 35. A man at play lost - of his money, and the next night lost ~ of the remainder, when he found that he had but $12 left: how much had he at firsts 36. John is 20 paces ahead of Charles, but Charles takes 2 steps while John takes 1: how many steps will John make before he is overtaken? How much does Charles gain at each step? 37. If John is 15 steps in advance, and Charles makes 3 steps while John makes 2: how many steps will Charlesmake before he comes up? 38. John being asked how many marbles he had, said, 1 have but four, fbr James first took 4 of all I had, and Charles then took 3 of what was left: how mnany had he before he lost any? 39. A man bought a harness, a carriage, and a pair of horses. The horses cost 70 dollars more than the carriage, and the carriage 50 dollars more than the harness, which cost 40 dollars: what was the whole cost? 40. A tailor cut a piece of cloth into 3 parts: the first part contained 2 yards more than the second; the second contained 4 yards less than the third; and the third was found to contain 12 yards: how many yards in the piece? 41. A tailor cut a piece of cloth into 3 parts: the
Page 167 LES. XIV.1 INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. 167 first part contained -1 of the piece and 4 yards over; the second contained - of the piece wanting 2 yards; and the third contained -A of the piece and 6 yards over: how many yards in the whole piece, and how many in each part? 42. A man paid 3 of his year's bill; after which he paid I of what was left, and yet owed 12 dollars: h}ow much was the bill 2 43. A man spends in a pleasure trip - of his money at a hotel, -I of it in a railroad fare, and 14 dollars in carriage hire and other expenses: how much did he spend in all? 44. Mr. Wilson spends A of his money at a tavern, aind then goes to a grocery and pays 2 of the remainder for coffee and tea; he counted what he had left, and found 2 dollars: how m-uch had he at first 2 45. A young lady had a portionl at marriage. She expended A of it in furniture, gave 6 dollars to each of two sisters, and had 28 dollars left: how much had she at first? 46. James has half as many marbles as Charles tend 10 over; William has half as many as James, and Charles has as many as James and William: how many has each? 47. A tailor wishes to divide a piece of cloth containing 50 yards, into two such parts that one part shall be 51 times the other: how many yards in each piece? 48. A farmer has a field containing 30 acres of land, and wishes to divide it into 3 such fields that she second shall be double the first, and the third equal to the sum of the other two: how much in each of the new fields? 49. A father buys 70 marbles for John and Henry; and wishes that John should have 2-~ times as many as Henry: how must he divide them?
Page 168 ~G ( INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. [sEO. VIl. 50. A tailor's bill amounts to 96 dollars; 4 articles were charged, vests, pantaloons, and coats; there was 3 times as much charged for pantaloons as for vests, and twice as much for coats as for vests and pantaloons: how much was charged for each? 51. A tailor having a piece of cloth, cut it into two parts, one of which was 2 yards less than one half the piece; he then cut the smaller piece into two equal palrts, when lie found that each part contained 14 yards: how many yards in the piece? 52. A mason. built a wall in 2 days. The first day he built 3- of it and 2 rods over; the second day he built t of the remainder and 3 rods more: what was the length of the wall? 53. A horse is worth 4- times the saddle, and both are worth 110 dollars: what is the value of each? 54. A father divided a farmll of 130 acres between 3 sons; the second was to have 14 times as rmuch as the first, and the third to have 2 as rmluch as the second: what was the share of each? 55. A merchant in settling up his cash accounh found that if he had - and I more, that he would still need 4 dollars to malie $70: how much had he? 56. The difference between 2 a:nd 3 of a number is 8 less than I of the number: what is the number? 57. The difference between -5 and i- of a number is 5 greater than 41 of the number: what is the numnber; 58. A mcan on foot is 35 miles in advance of a man pursuing himn on horseback; the footman travels -1 miles an hour, and the horseman iides 7: how It ng befolre the footman will be overtalen? 59. A dog pursues a fo.x, which is 10 rods in advance; while the fox ruins 3 rods, the dog runs 5: how rluny rods will the dog run before overtaking tli fox.
Page 169 LIS. XVIII.] INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. 169 60. A cistern is filled by a pipe which runs 5 gallons a minute; while the water is discharged by a leak, at the rate of 2 gallons a minute: if the cistern holds 120 gallons, how long will it take to fill it, and how many gallons will have run out? 61. The minute hand of a clock moves 12 times as fast as the hour hand, and moves over one space on the face, in five minutes: how long will it take the minute hand to overtake the hour hand when it is one space behind? 62. A poultry-yard contains geese, ducks, and 15 turkeys; if there were 10 more ducks the number would be equal to that of the geese and turkeys; and the number of the geese is equal to -5 the number of the ducks: how many are there of each sort 2. 63. A father distributed a sum of money between his three sons, thus: to John he gave - of the whole and 9 dollars over; to Reuben he gave 15 dollars; and to William he gave the remainder, which was. of the sum that he gave to his other two sons: how much money did he distribute? 64. A piece of cloth containing 86 yards, is cut into two parts: -2 of the whole piece is equal to I of the smaller: how many yards must be added to the less piece to make the two pieces equal? 65. A person being asked his age, replied: 0 f my age added to 20 equals my age diminished by 5. 66. A man bought a horse and a colt; 2~ times what he paid for the colt equalled 1 I times 50 dollars, which he paid for the horse: what did he pay for the colt, and how much more for the hor'se than the colt' 67. A farmer bought a cow and a sheep, and paid 40 dollars for both. I-e paid for the sheep one half what he paid for the cow, less 8 dollars: what did he pay for each? 15
Page 170 170 INTELLECTUAL ARITHIMETIC. [SEC. VI1. 68. James has 8 dollars more money than John; 5- times this difference equals 1A- times James': how much has each? 69. Charles after eating -4 of his chestnuts gave iway ~ of what he had left, and then had 16 remainuig: how many had he at first? 70. A and B enter into trade together; A puts ill 2 dollars every time B puts in 5: Ai's money remains in 12 months and B's 8; they make a profit of 128 dollars: how should it be divided between them? 71. James went out hunting, and shot one of every 5 squirrels which he saw; had he seen 10. more, and killed in the same proportion, he would have brought hoime 6: how many squirrels did he see? 72. Two men hired a pasture for $33, and agreed that the pasture of 2 cows should count for 1 horse: one pastured 4 cows and 2 horses for 3 weeks, the other 2 cows and 3 horses for 2 weeks: how much should each pay? 73. If 40 dollars be divided between two persons, so that one shall have 3 dollars every time that the other has 2, how much will each receive? 74. In a school of 44 pupils, there are 13 times as many girls as boys: how many of each? 75. A man bought a horse, saddle, and bridle: he paid 2 times as much for the saddle, as for the bridle, and 11 times as much for the horse as for saddle and bridle both; in all he paid $108: how mluchl did he pay fkor each? 76. A merchant sold 63 yards of cloth at 4 dollars a yaid, and took his pay in equal quantities of rye tland wheat, the former at 50 cents, and the latter at 1 a bushel: how much wheat did he receive? 77. Find the ages of three persons, knowing that the age of the second is equal to twice the age of the first, and the age of the third five times the age of
Page 171 LES. XVIII.] INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. 171 the first and second, and that the sum of their agcs is 90 years. 78. A drover after selling 5 of his flock of sheep, finds that if he had sold 4 less he would have sold just I of his flock: how many had he? 79. A boy being asked his age, replied: if to my age y:ou add 2 of it, 3 of it, and 14 years, you will have a sum equal to 3 times my age. 80. A hare pursued by a hound, runs 13 times as far as the distance between them when the pursuit commenced, and the hound runs 28 rods before overtaking the hare: how far was the hare in advance when the pursuit began 2 81. A firmer buys a pig, for which he pays 3 dollars, and also a sheep and a cow; the cow cost 3 times as much as the pig and sheep, and the sheep cost 5 times as much as the pig: what was the cost of each 3 82. A garrison of 300 men, has provisions for 6 months, at the rate of 16 ounces a day: how much must the allowance be diminished to last 8 months? 83. If a staff 3 feet high, casts a shadow 6 feet in length: how long is a pole which casts a shadow 20 feet long, at the same time of day? 84. If a stick 12 feet long casts a shadow 2 feet long, what is the length of a pole which casts a shadow 9 feet long, at the same time of day? 85. A man's coat cost him 1a- times as much as his pantaloons, his pantaloons cost 6 dollars less than his coat: what was the cost of the pantaloons? What was the cost of the coat 86. James, John, and Charles together have 150 marbles; Charles has X as many as John; if J ohln gives Charles 30 of his, they will all have the dinme ullh, " how many has each?
Page 172 172 INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC. [SEC. VII. it in'2i- hours, and the other in 3U-: in what time will they fill it running together? S8. A person hired a man and two boys. To the nman he gave six shillings a day, to one boy four, and to the other three; at the. end of the time he paid them 104 shillings: how long did they work? 89. A cask of wine leaked out one quarter, after which one third of the remainder was drawn, when the cask was found to contain 30 gallons: how much did the cask hold? 90. A market woman bought a certain number of eggs at 3 for 2 cents, and an equal number at 5 for 4 cents. She paid for both lots 44 cents: how much did her eggs cost her apiece, and how many did she buy? 91. A market woman bought a certain number of eggs at the rate of 4 for 3 cents, and sold them at the rate of 5 for 4 cents, by which she made 4 cents. What did she pay apiece for the eggs? What did she make on each egg sold? How many did she sell to make 4 cents? 92. A market woman bought 36 fowls, of three different sorts, for which she paid 84 shillings. She bought half as many of the first sort as of the second, and three times as many of the third sort as of the first, and paid 1, 2, and 3 shillings apiece for each sort: howii many of each did she buy? 93. If James can weed his father's onions in 9 hours, and John in 12 hours, how long will it take both, working together, to weed them? 94. A lady wishes a dress, and does not know'~ hether to buy silk or muslin. The silk costs 9 shil lings a yard, and the muslin 3. If she purchases the silkxE will cost 72 shillings more than the muslin: l..\....-.... vanrrl Ai;d1 sheAP need?
Page 173 LfS8. XVIII.] INTELLECTUAL ARIT'IMETIC. 173 lhe worked he wvas to receive 5 dimes, tnd for every day he played he was to pay 2 dimes tvr his board. When he came to settle he received 87 dimes: how many days did he work 96. How many small cubes, 1 inch on a side, man be sav ed out of a cubic block, 2 feet on a side, allow. ng ne waste in saw'in.'97. If A caln do Iof a piece of work in 2 days, and 13 can do ~1 of it i-4-: days, how much of it can each do in 1 day, and hWw long will it take both to do it, working together i 98. A man having a goose, pig, and calf, was asked the value of them. He said that the three were worth 30 shillings, that the goose was worth one third as much as the pig, and that the calf was vworth 1-4 times as much as the goose and pig togethier: what vwas the value of each? 99. James is 10 of his own paces behind John, and in pursuit of him. James steps 3 times,,lwhile John steps 4 times; but James' steps are twice as long as John's: how many steps must James make to over take him? 100. Two families bought a barrel of flour tog, ther, for which they paid $85 and agreed that each child should count half as much as a grown person. In olle family, there were 3 grown persons and 3 childreln; atld in the other, 4 growln persons and 10 children; the first family fed from the flour 2 weeks, a1nd the seoond 3: how much ought each to pay? 15*
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i don't know
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In Judaism, loosely and originally what is a mitzvah?
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Judaism 101: Bar Mitzvah, Bat Mitzvah and Confirmation
Bar Mitzvah, Bat Mitzvah and Confirmation
Bar Mitzvah, Bat Mitzvah and Confirmation
Level: Basic
Jews become responsible for observing the commandments at the age of 13 for boys, 12 for girls
This age is marked by a celebration called bar (or bat) mitzvah
Some synagogues have an additional celebration called confirmation
Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah
"Bar Mitzvah" literally means "son of the commandment." "Bar" is "son" in Aramaic, which used to be the vernacular of the Jewish people . "Mitzvah" is "commandment" in both Hebrew and Aramaic. "Bat" is daughter in Hebrew and Aramaic. (The Ashkenazic pronunciation is "bas"). Technically, the term refers to the child who is coming of age, and it is strictly correct to refer to someone as "becoming a bar (or bat) mitzvah." However, the term is more commonly used to refer to the coming of age ceremony itself, and you are more likely to hear that someone is "having a bar mitzvah" or "invited to a bar mitzvah."
So what does it mean to become a bar mitzvah? Under Jewish Law, children are not obligated to observe the commandments, although they are encouraged to do so as much as possible to learn the obligations they will have as adults. At the age of 13 (12 for girls), children become obligated to observe the commandments. The bar mitzvah ceremony formally, publicly marks the assumption of that obligation, along with the corresponding right to take part in leading religious services , to count in a minyan (the minimum number of people needed to perform certain parts of religious services), to form binding contracts, to testify before religious courts and to marry.
A Jewish boy automatically becomes a bar mitzvah upon reaching the age of 13 years, and a girl upon reaching the age of 12 years. No ceremony is needed to confer these rights and obligations. The popular bar mitzvah ceremony is not required, and does not fulfill any commandment. It is certainly not, as one episode of the Simpsons would have you believe, necessary to have a bar mitzvah in order to be considered a Jew! The bar or bat mitzvah is a relatively modern innovation, not mentioned in the Talmud , and the elaborate ceremonies and receptions that are commonplace today were unheard of as recently as a century ago.
In its earliest and most basic form, a bar mitzvah is the celebrant's first aliyah . During Shabbat services on a Saturday shortly after the child's 13th birthday, or even the Monday or Thursday weekday services immediately after the child's 13th birthday, the celebrant is called up to the Torah to recite a blessing over the weekly reading .
Today, it is common practice for the bar mitzvah celebrant to do much more than just say the blessing. It is most common for the celebrant to learn the entire haftarah portion, including its traditional chant, and recite that. In some congregations, the celebrant reads the entire weekly torah portion, or leads part of the service, or leads the congregation in certain important prayers. The celebrant is also generally required to make a speech, which traditionally begins with the phrase "today I am a man." The father traditionally recites a blessing thanking G-d for removing the burden of being responsible for the son's sins (because now the child is old enough to be held responsible for his own actions).
In modern times, the religious service is followed by a reception that is often as elaborate as a wedding reception.
In Orthodox and Chasidic practice, women are not permitted to participate in religious services in these ways, so a bat mitzvah, if celebrated at all, is usually little more than a party. In other movements of Judaism, the girls do exactly the same thing as the boys.
It is important to note that a bar mitzvah is not the goal of a Jewish education, nor is it a graduation ceremony marking the end of a person's Jewish education. We are obligated to study Torah throughout our lives. To emphasize this point, some rabbis require a bar mitzvah student to sign an agreement promising to continue Jewish education after the bar mitzvah.
Sadly, an alarming number of Jewish parents today view the bar or bat mitzvah as the sole purpose of Jewish education, and treat it almost as a Jewish hazing ritual: I had to go through it, so you have to go through it, but don't worry, it will all be over soon and you'll never have to think about this stuff again.
Confirmation
Confirmation is a somewhat less widespread coming of age ritual that occurs when a child is 16 or 18. Confirmation was originally developed by the Reform movement , which scorned the idea that a 13 year old child was an adult (but see explanation below ). They replaced bar and bat mitzvah with a confirmation ceremony at the age of 16 or 18. However, due to the overwhelming popularity of the bar or bat mitzvah, the Reform movement has revived the practice. I don't know of any Reform synagogues that do not encourage the practice of bar and bat mitzvahs at age 13 today.
In some Conservative synagogues, however, the confirmation concept has been adopted as a way to continue a child's Jewish education and involvement for a few more years.
Is 13 an Adult?
Many people mock the idea that a 12 or 13 year old child is an adult, claiming that it is an outdated notion based on the needs of an agricultural society. This criticism comes from a misunderstanding of the significance of becoming a bar mitzvah.
Bar mitzvah is not about being a full adult in every sense of the word, ready to marry, go out on your own, earn a living and raise children. The Talmud makes this abundantly clear. In Pirkei Avot , it is said that while 13 is the proper age for fulfillment of the Commandments, 18 is the proper age for marriage and 20 is the proper age for earning a livelihood. Elsewhere in the Talmud, the proper age for marriage is said to be 16-24.
Bar mitzvah is simply the age when a person is held responsible for his actions and minimally qualified to marry. If you compare this to secular law, you will find that it is not so very far from our modern notions of a child's maturity. In Anglo-American common law, a child of the age of 14 is old enough to assume many of the responsibilities of an adult, including minimal criminal liability. Under United States law, 14 is the minimum age of employment for most occupations (though working hours are limited so as not to interfere with school). In many states, a fourteen year old can marry with parental consent. Children of any age are permitted to testify in court, and children over the age of 14 are permitted to have significant input into custody decisions in cases of divorce. Certainly, a 13-year-old child is capable of knowing the difference between right and wrong and of being held responsible for his actions, and that is all it really means to become a bar mitzvah.
Gifts
One of the most common questions I get on this site is: do you give gifts at a bar or bat mitzvah, and if so, what kind of gifts?
Yes, gifts are commonly given. They are ordinarily given at the reception, not at the service itself. Please keep in mind that a bar mitzvah is incorporated into an ordinary sabbath service, and many of the people present at the service may not be involved in the bar mitzvah.
The nature of the gift varies significantly depending on the community. At one time, the most common gifts were a nice pen set or a college savings bond (usually in multiples of $18, a number that is considered to be favorable in Jewish tradition, see: Hebrew Alphabet: Numerical Values ). In many communities today, however, the gifts are the same sort that you would give any child for his 13th birthday. It is best to avoid religious gifts if you don't know what you're doing, but Jewish-themed gifts are not a bad idea. For example, you might want to give a book that is a biography of a Jewish person that the celebrant might admire. I hesitate to get into specifics, for fear that some poor celebrant might find himself with several copies of the same thing!
When in doubt, it never hurts to ask the parents or the synagogue's rabbi what is customary within the community.
© Copyright 5756-5771 (1996-2011), Tracey R Rich
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Commandment
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What mythical paradise and expression was conceived in James Hilton's 1933 novel Lost Horizon?
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Bar/Bat Mitzvah | Jewish Virtual Library
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BAR MITZVAH, BAT MITZVAH (Heb. masc. בַּר מִצְוָה, fem. בַּת מִצְוָה; lit. "son/daughter of the commandment," i.e., a person under obligation, responsible), term denoting both the attainment of religious and legal maturity as well as the occasion at which this status is formally assumed for boys at the age of 13 plus one day, for girls at 12 plus one day (Maim. Yad, Ishut, 2:9–10). Upon reaching this age a Jew is obliged to fulfill all the *commandments (Avot 5:1; cf. Yoma 82a). Although the term occurs in the Talmud for one who is subject to the law (
BM
96a), its usage to denote the occasion of assuming religious and legal obligations does not appear before the 15th century (Sefer Ẓiyyoni of R. Menahem Ẓiyyoni to Gen. 1:5). A special celebration for a girl, the bat mitzvah, is not found mentioned before Ben Ish Ḥai, the legal code by Joseph Ḥayyim b. Elijah (19th cent.).
While the occasion of becoming bar/bat mitzvah was thus formalized only in later times, it is obvious from various sources that the status of obligation for boys of 13 was assumed in early times. According to Eleazar b. Simeon (second century
C.E.
), a father was responsible for the deeds of his son until the age of 13. For example the vows of a boy 13 and a day old are considered valid vows (Nid. 5:6). From then on a person can perform acts having legal implications, such as being a member of a bet din, being reckoned as part of a minyan, and buying and selling property. Yet there are notable exceptions, e.g., the testimony of a 13-year-old is not valid regarding real estate because he is "not knowledgeable about buying and selling" (Maim. Yad, Edut, 9:8).
Jewish law fixed 13 as the age of responsibility considering this the time of physical maturity for boys (and 12 for girls; Kid. 16b). At this age young people are thought to be able to control their desires (
ARN
2 16, 62–63). Rashi claims that bar mitzvah as a status of obligation was "in the category of biblical laws, as it was given to Moses at Sinai" (comment. to Avot 5:1). Midrashic literature gives many references for 13 as the turning point in the life of a young person, e.g., Abraham rejected the idols of his father at this age (
P
The term bat mitzvah occurs only once in the Talmud (
BK
15a), in reference to the time a girl becomes subject to the obligations of Jewish law incumbent on adults. While Avot 5:21 asserts that 13 is the age of adult responsibility, Niddah 5:6 rules that the vows of a girl who is 12 and one day are deemed valid, as are the vows of a boy who is 13 and one day. Similarly, after their respective 12th and 13th birthdays, girls and boys must fast on Yom Kippur (Yoma 85). Talmudic discussion in Kiddushin 16b clarifies that a boy is of age when physical signs of adulthood appear after he is 13 plus one day. Maimonides (Yad, Ishut 2:9–10) completes the equation and specifies that a girl's signs of adulthood are those that appear only after her 12th birthday plus one day. Aside from assuming ritual obligations, adult responsibility meant that a young woman was no longer dependent on her father, mother, or brother in marital arrangements and could act on her own behalf. Prior to the modern era this change in a female's status was rarely celebrated in a communal context. It is not until the 19th century that indications of ceremony or public recognition come from Italy, Eastern and Western Europe, Egypt, and Baghdad. These acknowledgements of female religious adulthood include a private blessing, a father's aliyah to the Torah, a rabbi's sermon and/or a girl's public examination on Judaic matters. Bat mitzvah as a female ceremony equivalent or identical to the male bar mitzvah is not found until the middle of the 20th century and is an American innovation, discussed in more detail below.
ITALY
The earliest source, from Verona on Passover 1844, refers to an iniziazione religiosa delle fanciulle and la maggiorita delle fanciulle. This reference to entrance "into minyan" was used for boys and girls. By the end of the century, this ritual had also spread to other cities such as Ancona, Bologna, and Rome. During this confirmation-like process the girl recited some biblical verses and a liturgical selection and a rabbi delivered a sermon. There was great debate in the 19th century Italian community as to whether this was a permitted rite. In Italy today a 12-year-old female is examined by a rabbi, usually on Shavuot or Purim, after which she reads special prayers in Hebrew and Italian in the synagogue; a celebratory party follows. Edda Servi Machlin describes her 1938 bat mitzvah experience in her cookbook, The Classic Cuisine of Italian Jews (1981), p. 69.
EUROPE
Some scholars have mentioned Rabbi Jacob *Ettlinger of Germany as favoring some form of puberty lifecycle event. It is clear, however, in Ettlinger's Binyan Ẓiyyon 107 (1867), p. 145, that he opposed confirmation or any similar celebration. Rather, in accordance with Danish regulations, he gave some girls a public exam on the completion of their religious studies (limmudei kodesh) and then delivered a sermon. All this took place in the synagogue. Intriguing references to bat mitzvah celebrations in various European cities include a confirmation in Warsaw in 1843 and a party in Lvov in 1902. Rabbi Musafiya notes that bat mitzvah celebrations were held in France towards the end of the 19th century. Anecdotal references to bat mitzvah celebrations include that of Charlotte Salomon (1917–1943) in Berlin (see Mary Lowenthal Felstiner, To Paint Her Life (1997)).
EGYPT
Rabbi Elijah Hazzan held a synagogue celebration for benot mitzvah (pl.) girls who had completed studies in religion and Jewish history in 1907 in Alexandria.
BAGHDAD
One significant early reference to a celebration for a girl is found in the book Ben Ish Ḥai by Rabbi *Joseph Ḥayyim b. Elijah of Iraq (1834–1909). In his discussion of parashat Re'eh, note 17, vol. 1, p. 132, Rabbi Ḥayyim posits that there
is an equal sense of simḥah for boys and girls as they reach juridical responsibility; he recommends celebrating the girl's 12th birthday in some liturgical fashion. He declared that even though it was not the custom in his community (Baghdad) to make a se'udat mitzvah, nonetheless the event should be celebrated on that day and the girl should wear special (Sabbath) clothing. If at all possible, her father should buy her a new dress so that she could say the benediction sheheḥeyanu on the occasion of her bat mitzvah.
ISRAEL
In Israel it became customary to celebrate a girl's 12th birthday with a party. It was called a bat mitzvah but there was rarely any liturgical or synagogue component. In the early 21st century, often all the girls in a class prepare for a group celebration after studying relevant material throughout the school year. Some synagogues and schools do enable a ritual format for girls while some families go to Rachel's tomb or other sacred sites for a party. Tourists and Israelis who desire a liturgical and Torah element for a girl's bat mitzvah may go to the Western Wall to pray with the Women of the Wall.
NORTH AMERICA
There are reports of various forms of bat mitzvah ceremonies in the American Midwest as early as 1907, but the best-known bat mitzvah ritual was created in 1922 by Rabbi Mordecai *Kaplan for his daughter Judith Kaplan *Eisenstein . Although innovative in concept and held in a synagogue, it was not identical to a contemporary bar mitzvah which would have included an aliyah and the ritual recitation of a haftarah. Rather, Judith Kaplan read a section selected by her father from a printed Ḥumash (Five Books of Moses). The egalitarian bat mitzvah format, identical to a bar mitzvah, is not documented until 1940 and did not spread across North America until after the 1960s. The history of these ritual performances developed along denominational lines. Initially, the Reform movement was divided over any bat mitzvah rite as many congregations preferred a group confirmation ceremony for girls and boys at age 15 or 16. However, by the early 1960s, many North American Reform congregations offered prepared girls the option of bat mitzvah as well as confirmation. Although these early benot mitzvah generally read from the Torah scroll, their liturgical roles were often less than those of a bar mitzvah. Within the Conservative movement of the 1950s and 1960s there was debate as to where to place a ceremony for girls and what its content should be. During the 1970s and 1980s, the ritual celebration of bat mitzvah became ensconced within Reform, Conservative, and Reconstructionist congregations. At the beginning of the 21st century, most benot mitzvah in the Reform, Conservative, and Reconstructionist movements perform the same liturgical roles as a bar mitzvah, including reading from the Torah scroll and recitation of a haftarah. For some the ceremony is held on Friday night; but for most it takes place during Sabbath morning services.
By the 1970s many in Orthodox movements also sought ways to fit a bat mitzvah into the established order of worship in ways that were halakhically permissible. One option, established by Hebrew day schools in response to an Orthodox preference for home- or school-based rituals for girls, was a group bat mitzvah celebration. Another choice was to hold a ceremony in the synagogue at a time when no prayer services were taking place. An alternative possibility was to celebrate the bat mitzvah at a separate women's prayer service during which a non-liturgical reading from the Torah could occur. Even in contemporary ḥasidic and ḥaredi communities some format for the recognition and celebration of a girl's initiation as an adult Jew now exists
The major impact of bat mitzvah celebrations has been to increase the level of women's Jewish education and synagogue ritual participation. By the first decade of the 21st century adult bat mitzvah ceremonies had also become a common occurrence in synagogues of all denominations.
LEGAL RESPONSA
Rabbi Moses *Feinstein forbids the use of the sanctuary for an official bat mitzvah. He does allow a special birthday kiddush in the sanctuary, adding that the girl may say some appropriate words there after services; he also permits some form of public celebration in synagogue social halls or in the family home. Rabbi J.J. *Weinberg recommends a modest home-based celebration to strengthen the girl's education and attachment to Jewish traditions. A number of 20th century rabbinic decisors, including Rabbi Y. *Nissim, (Noam 7:4), Rabbi Ovadiah *Yosef (Yabi'a Omer 6:29.4, Yehaveh Da'at 2:29, 3:10), and Rabbi Chanoch Grossberg (Ma'ayan, 13:42), assert that a se'udat mitsvah (obligatory festive meal) is held in honor of a girl's bat mitzvah on her birthday. Rabbi Abraham Musafiya, writing in the latter part of the 19th century (first printed in Noam 7 (5724, 1964) p. 4), claims that there is no difference between a boy and a girl in terms of the obligatory nature of the festive meal and that this festive meal is customarily held for boys and girls in France.
RELATED BLESSING
At the time of a bar mitzvah blessing a father traditionally says Barukh she-petarani me-onsho shel zeh, indicating that he has been released from responsibility for his son's acts. There is disagreement within Orthodox Judaism whether this blessing is also recited for a girl. Some decisors claim that a father cannot say it on the occasion of a bat mitzvah since he is not obligated to teach his daughter Torah. Others claim that the girl's coming of age at 12 years requires the same parental blessing as that for a boy at thirteen years. Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef favorably quotes Rabbi A. Aburbia, who recommends saying the blessing without God's name (Yabi'a Omer
OH
[Norma Baumel Joseph (2nd ed.)]
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
L. Loew, Lebensalter (1875), 210–22, 410ff.; I. Rivkind, Le-Ot u-le-Zikkaron. Toledot Bar Mitzvah (1942), incl. bibl.; Assaf, Mekorot, 4 (1943), 108, 114, 127; Sadan (Stock), in: Dat u-Medinah (1949), 59ff.;
ET
, 4 (1952), 165–8; M.Z. Levinsohn-Lavi, in: Sefer ha-Yovel shel Hadoar (1952), 42–46; C. Roth, in: A.I. Katsh (ed.), Bar Mitzvah (1955), 15–22; J. Nacht, in: Yeda-Am, 17–18 (1955), 106–11; Joseph Manspach, Minhag Bar Miẓvah, ed. by A.M. Habermann (1958); B. Yashar, Le-Vat Yisrael be-Hagiyah le-Mitzvot (1963); S.B. Freehot,
Current Reform Responsa (1969), index.
ADD. BIBLIOGRAPHY:
BAT MITZVAH
: J. Weissman Joselit, "Red-Letter Days," in: The Wonders of America: Reinventing Jewish Culture 1880–1950 (1994), 89–133; S. Barack Fishman, A Breath of Life (1993); C. Koller-Fox, "Women and Jewish Education: A New Look at Bat Mitzvah," in: E. Koltun (ed.), The Jewish Woman: New Perspectives (1976), 31–42; A.S. Cohen, "Celebration of the Bat Mitzvah," in: The Journal of Halakhah and Contemporary Society, 12 (Fall 1986), 5–16; B. Sherwin, "Bar Mitzvah, Bat Mitzvah," in: B. Sherwin, In Partnership With God: Contemporary Jewish Law and Ethics (1990); P.E. Hyman, "The Introduction of Bat Mitzva in Conservative Judaism in Postwar America," in:
YIVO
Annual, 19 (1990), 133–46; idem, "Bat Mitzvah," in: Hyman and Moore (eds.), Jewish Women in America, (1998) pp. 126–128; Erica Brown, "The Bat Mitzvah in Jewish Law and Contemporary Practice," in: M. Halpern and Ch. Safrai (eds.), Jewish Legal Writings by Women (1998), 228–54; L. Katz, "Halakhic Aspects of Bar-Mitzvah and Bat-Mitzvah," in: Journal of Jewish Music and Liturgy, 9 (1986), 22–30. I.G. Marcus, The Jewish Life Cycle: Rites of Passage from Biblical to Modern Times (2004) 105–23; R. Stein, "The Road to Bat Mitzvah in America," in: P. Nadell and J. Sarna, Women and American Judaism, (2001), 223–34; S. Friedland Ben Arza (ed.), Bat Mitzvah: Collected Writings and Reflections (Heb., 2002). O. Wiskind Elper, Traditions and Celebrations for the Bat Mitzvah (2003); N. Joseph, "Ritual, Law, and Praxis: An American Response/a to Bat Mitsva Celebrations," in: Modern Judaism, 22:3 (Fall 2002); idem, "When Do I Get To Say Today I Am a Jew?" in: D. Orenstein (ed.), Lifecycles, vol. 1 (1994), 92–93; M. Meyer, Response to Modernity: A History of the Reform Movement in Judaism (1988). A. Reiner, "The Attitude Towards Bat-Mitzvah Ceremonies – A Comparative Study of Contemporary Responsa," in: Netuim, 10 (2003), pp. 55–77.
Source: Encyclopaedia Judaica . © 2008 The Gale Group. All Rights Reserved.
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i don't know
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How many degrees are in a right-angle?
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How many degrees are in a right angle? | Reference.com
How many degrees are in a right angle?
A:
Quick Answer
A right angle has 90 degrees. Angles are measured on a scale from 0 to 360 degrees. Right angles represent one-fourth of a full 360-degree revolution.
Full Answer
Right angles have their own symbol, which is a square in the corner where the two lines of the angle meet. Math has six kinds of angles: acute, right, obtuse, straight, reflex and full. Acute and obtuse angles are defined in relation to right angles, as acute angles are less than 90 degrees and obtuse angles are between 90 and 180 degrees. A straight angle is exactly 180 degrees, and a full angle is exactly 360 degrees. Reflex angles fall between 180 and 360 degrees.
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ninety
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What number is Jamie Oliver's charity restaurant concept?
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Trigonometry/Angles of a triangle sum to 180 Degrees - Wikibooks, open books for an open world
Trigonometry/Angles of a triangle sum to 180 Degrees
From Wikibooks, open books for an open world
In any triangle the angles
always sum to
The Sum of Angles[ edit ]
In any triangle the angles always sum to
180
This is a perhaps surprising fact.
Because
∘
{\displaystyle 90^{\circ }}
is a right angle, it means that the sum of the angles of any triangle is the same as two right angles. If we 'tore the corners off' and placed them together at the same point, we could arrange them so that they exactly formed a straight line. There doesn't need to be anything special about the triangle. It works for any triangle.
Angles sum to 180o
Some examples that we had before of triangles are shown below
.
50-60-70 Triangle
20-40-120 Triangle
The first example shows an equilateral triangle. All of the sides are equal. All of the angles are equal. Each angle is 60 degrees. The sum of the angles is
60
{\displaystyle 60^{\circ }+60^{\circ }+60^{\circ }}
which is
{\displaystyle 180^{\circ }}
.
The second triangle shows a right angle triangle. One of the angles is a right angle. This right angle triangle has two sides the same length. It is symmetric. It fulfils our criteria for being an isosceles triangle. This is a particularly special isosceles triangle because it is isosceles and it is a right triangle. There is one angle of 90° and each of the two remaining angles is 45°. The sum of the angles is
45
{\displaystyle 45^{\circ }+45^{\circ }+90^{\circ }}
which is
{\displaystyle 180^{\circ }}
.
The third triangle is sometimes called the 30°-60°-90° triangle, because of its angles. It is actually half an equilateral triangle. The sum of the angles is
30
{\displaystyle 30^{\circ }+60^{\circ }+90^{\circ }}
which is
.
The pattern is pretty clear.
Next we have a more arbitrary triangle. All the sides are different. The angles are 50°, 60° and 70°. The sum of the angles is
50
{\displaystyle 50^{\circ }+60^{\circ }+70^{\circ }}
which is
{\displaystyle 180^{\circ }}
.
Finally we have a triangle with an obtuse angle, that is one of the angles is larger than 90°. The angles happen to be 20°, 40° and 120°, and the sum of the angles is
20
{\displaystyle 20^{\circ }+40^{\circ }+120^{\circ }}
which is
.
The examples suggest it is true, but they don't prove it.[ edit ]
We could keep on doing this for other triangles, and keep finding the same answer, unless we make a mistake. This might convince us that our statement that the angles sum to 180 is true for all triangles, but it does not prove that it is so. To prove it we need some kind of general argument that could convince a mathematician that it is true. How do we know it is always true?
How could it go wrong? Well, if we hadn't tried with a triangle with an obtuse angle, it might be the case that the formula only works for triangles which don't have obtuse angles. Even having tried the triangle with an obtuse angle we could have not been trying hard enough to find an example that doesn't work. For all we know the formula only works if the angles are multiples of 5°.
Proof will show it works for all triangles[ edit ]
The formula does in fact work for all triangles. We can for example make a triangle with angles of 33° and 66° and the third angle will have to be 81°. Making more and more examples unfortunately doesn't get us anywhere closer to proving it is true of all triangles. We need a different approach. We'll show a proof later. The point of having a proof is to show that it is true for all triangles, not just the ones we've chosen to look at.
Exercises[ edit ]
Given any triangle with angles 123° and 60°. Evaluate the third angle. Is it possible?
It is not possible because the sum of all angles of a triangle cannot exceed 180°.
A triangle has angles 15° and 65°, what is the third angle?
A triangle has angles 100° and 79.5°, what is the third angle?
Do you think all the sides of this triangle will be about the same length?
What is the measure of each angle of an equilateral triangle?
Roadsign Exercise
The following road signs from Tanland show how steep the road ahead is. Put the road signs in order, least steep to steepest.
In these signs a sign that shows, for example, 5:8 means that the road is 5m higher when you've travelled 8m horizontally.
1:1
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i don't know
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The international corporate brands Slacker, Rdio and Spotify deliver primarily what services/product?
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The New York Stock Exchange
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ¨ No x
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes ¨ No x
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (Section 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes x No ¨
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (Section 229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrants knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. x
Indicate by a check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definition of large accelerated filer, accelerated filer and smaller reporting company in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ¨ No x
The aggregate market value of the voting common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of July 29, 2011(the last business day of the registrants most recently completed second quarter), based on the closing price of such stock on The New York Stock Exchange on such date was approximately $955 million. This calculation excludes the shares of common stock held by executive officers, directors and stockholders whose ownership exceeds 5% outstanding at July 29, 2011. This calculation does not reflect a determination that such persons are affiliates for any other purposes.
On March 12, 2012 the registrant had 164,958,154 shares of common stock outstanding.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Portions of the registrants Definitive Proxy Statement relating to its 2012 annual meeting of stockholders, to be filed subsequent to the date hereof, are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K where indicated. Such Definitive Proxy Statement will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission not later than 120 days after the conclusion of the registrants fiscal year ended January 31, 2012. Except with respect to information specifically incorporated by reference in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the Definitive Proxy Statement is not deemed to be filed as part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Table of Contents
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AND INDUSTRY DATA
This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. The statements contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), including, but not limited to, statements regarding our expectations, beliefs, intentions, strategies, future operations, future financial position, future revenue, projected expenses and plans and objectives of management. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as anticipate, believe, estimate, expect, intend, may, might, plan, project, will, would, should, could, can, predict, potential, continue, objective, or the negative of these terms, and similar expressions intended to identify forward-looking statements. However, not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. These forward-looking statements reflect our current views about future events and involve known risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievement to be materially different from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, those identified below, and those discussed in the section titled Risk Factors included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Furthermore, such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this report. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements. We qualify all of our forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements. In addition, the industry in which we operate is subject to a high degree of uncertainty and risk due to a variety of factors including those described in the section entitled Risk Factors. These and other factors could cause our results to differ materially from those expressed in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Some of the industry and market data contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K are based on independent industry publications, including those generated by Triton Digital Media or Triton and International Data Corporation or IDC or other publicly available information. This information involves a number of assumptions and limitations. Although we believe that each source is reliable as of its respective date, we have not independently verified the accuracy or completeness of this information.
As used herein, Pandora, the Company, we, our, and similar terms refer to Pandora Media, Inc., unless the context indicates otherwise.
Pandora and other trademarks of ours appearing in this report are our property. This report contains additional trade names and trademarks of other companies. We do not intend our use or display of other companies trade names or trademarks to imply an endorsement or sponsorship of us by such companies, or any relationship with any of these companies.
PART I.
BUSINESS
Overview
Pandora is the leader in internet radio in the United States, offering a personalized experience for each of our listeners. We have pioneered a new form of radio one that uses intrinsic qualities of music to initially create stations and then adapts playlists in real-time based on the individual feedback of each listener. As of January 2012, we had over 125 million registered users, which we define as the total number of accounts that have been created for our service at period end, and we were adding two new registered users every second on average. For the fiscal year ended January 31, 2012, we streamed 8.2 billon hours of radio and as of January 31, 2012, we had 47 million active users. According to a January 2012 report by Triton, we are one of the top 20 internet radio stations and networks in the United States and we have more than a 69% share of internet radio among these top 20 stations and networks. Since we launched the Pandora service in 2005, our listeners have created over 2.4 billion stations.
We offer our service to listeners at no cost and we generate revenue primarily from advertising. We also offer a subscription service to listeners.
Our Service
Unlike traditional radio stations that broadcast the same content at the same time to all of their listeners, we enable each of our listeners to create up to 100 personalized stations. The Music Genome Project and our playlist generating algorithms power our ability to predict listener music preferences, play music content suited to the tastes of each individual listener and introduce listeners to music they will love. When a listener enters a single song, artist or genre to start a station a process we call seeding the Pandora service instantly generates a station that plays music we think that listener will enjoy. Based on listener reactions to the songs we pick, we further tailor the station to match the listeners preferences.
We currently provide the Pandora service through two models:
Free Service. Our free service is advertising-based and allows listeners access to our music and comedy catalogs and personalized playlist generating system for free across all of our delivery platforms. In September 2011, we effectively eliminated the 40 hour per month listening cap on desktop and laptop computers by increasing the cap to 320 hours of listening per month, which almost none of our listeners exceed. We have the right to assess a $0.99 fee to listeners who exceed the new cap, but this has not generated, and is not expected to generate any meaningful revenue. Listeners on other platforms have access to unlimited hours of free music and comedy.
Pandora One. Our listeners can subscribe to Pandora One for $36 a year or, on some devices, $4 per month. Pandora One works with all of our delivery platforms and currently eliminates all external advertising from any device used to access our service. Pandora One allows unlimited listening time and provides access to higher quality 192 kbps audio on supported devices. In each of fiscal 2011 and 2012, subscription services and other revenue accounted for approximately 13% of our total revenue.
Beyond song delivery, listeners can discover more about the music they hear by researching song lyrics, reading the history of their favorite artists, viewing artist photos and buying albums and songs from Amazon or iTunes. Our service also incorporates community social networking features. Listeners can create and customize personal listener profile pages to connect with other listeners. Our music feed feature enables a real-time, centralized stream for listeners to view the music that their social connections are experiencing and to provide and receive recommendations for songs, albums and artists. Listeners can also share their stations across other social media outlets and through email by using our share feature or by distributing our individualized station URLs. In addition, our website is integrated with Facebooks instant personalization capability, allowing our listeners to share their stations and music preferences with their Facebook friends and enabling us to make additional music recommendations. In September 2011, we redesigned our website to incorporate a faster software platform, expand our social features and streamline our station creation features and the navigation of our interface.
Distribution
We make the Pandora service available through a variety of distribution channels. In addition to streaming our service to traditional computers, we have developed Pandora mobile device applications or apps for devices such as Android phones, Blackberry phones and the iPhone, and we distribute those mobile apps free to listeners via smartphone app stores. In addition, we have partnered with the makers of over 500 consumer electronics devices, including Alpine, Panasonic, Pioneer, Samsung and Sony. These third-party distribution partners incorporate our applications into aftermarket and factory-installed automobile entertainment consoles and other consumer electronics devices targeted for use in the home and on the go. We have also developed relationships with major automobile manufacturers, including Ford, Lincoln, Mercedes-Benz, MINI, BMW, Hyundai, Scion, Toyota, Lexus, Honda, GMC, Chevrolet and Buick, and with suppliers to major automobile manufacturers, to integrate the Pandora service into current and future automotive sound systems. Additionally, Cadillac, Acura and Kia have publicly announced their plans for future Pandora integrations. Under the arrangements, we receive no financial compensation and recognize no revenue from these distribution partners.
Table of Contents
Advertising
We generate revenue primarily from advertising. In fiscal 2010, 2011 and 2012, advertising revenue accounted for approximately 91%, 87% and 87% of our total revenue, respectively, and we expect that advertising will comprise a substantial majority of revenue for the foreseeable future.
We offer a comprehensive suite of display, audio and video advertising products across our traditional computer, mobile and connected device platforms. Our advertising products allow both national and local advertisers to target and connect with listeners based on attributes including age, gender, zip code and content preferences, and we provide analytics for our advertisers detailing campaign performance.
Display Advertising. Our display products offer advertisers opportunities to maximize exposure to our listeners through our desktop and mobile service interfaces, which are divided between our tuner containing our player and now playing information, and the information space surrounding our tuner. Our display ads include industry standard banner ads of various sizes and placements depending on platform and listener interaction.
Audio Advertising. Our audio advertising products allow custom audio messages to be delivered between songs during short ad interludes. Audio ads are available across all of our delivery platforms. On supported platforms, the audio ads can be accompanied by display ads to further enhance advertisers messages.
Video Advertising. Our video advertising products allow delivery of rich branded messages to further engage listeners through in-banner click-initiated videos, videos that automatically play when a listener changes stations or skips a song and opt-in videos that pause the music and cover the tuner.
Our advertising strategy focuses on developing our core suite of display, audio and video advertising products and marketing these products to advertisers for delivery across traditional computer, mobile and other connected device platforms. As listenership on our mobile platforms has grown more rapidly than on our other platforms, we have sought to improve our advertising products for the mobile environment. For example, our introduction of audio ads was driven by the growth of mobile listenership. In addition, our banner advertising products for display on mobile devices include standard banner ads displayed on the Pandora app now-playing screen, welcome screen banners which are the first to display upon launch of the app, and other multi-functional banners of different shapes and sizes. Further, advertisers can create drag-and-drop stations where listeners select among branded icons and drag and drop the selected icon to automatically launch a station. We have also incorporated rich media touch screen initiated functionality, or tap-to technology, to enhance connections between our mobile listeners and advertisers. Tap-to technology allows mobile listeners to expand banner ads, launch videos, receive advertiser emails, dial advertiser phone numbers, download applications and access links to advertiser websites, offering increased listener and advertiser engagement.
Our display, audio and video advertising products can be designed and modified by us and advertisers to create advertising campaigns tailored across all of our high volume delivery platforms to fit specific advertiser needs. For example, our advertisers can create custom branded stations from our music library that can be accessed by our listeners, as well as engage listeners by allowing them to personalize the branded stations through listener-controlled variables.
Sales and Marketing
We organize our sales force into five teams focused on selling advertising across our traditional computer, mobile and other connected device platforms. Teams are located in our Oakland, California headquarters, in regional sales offices in Chicago, Illinois; Santa Monica, California; and New York, New York and local sales offices throughout the country.
Our marketing team is charged with amplifying Pandoras brand message to grow awareness and drive listening hours. We organize the marketing team into three groups focused on communications, marketing analytics, and brand marketing.
Our Technologies
Music Genome Project
The Music Genome Project is the foundation of our personalized playlist generating system and has been built by our music analysts to select songs tailored to an individuals music tastes. The Music Genome Project database was developed one song at a time, by evaluating and cataloging each songs particular attributes. Our music catalog currently consists of over 900,000 uniquely analyzed songs from over 90,000 artists, spanning over 350 genres and sub-genres ranging from classical, jazz, rock, pop, and hip hop to post punk, Celtic and flamenco. Our musical catalog includes both well-known and little-known music and incorporates listener suggestions and independent submissions. Music is assessed on the basis of value to our catalog and we do not accept money or any form of consideration from artists or their representatives for inclusion in the Music Genome Project.
Once we select music to become part of our catalog, our music analysts genotype it by examining up to 450 attributes including objectively observable metrics such as tone and tempo, as well as subjective characteristics, such as lyrics, vocal texture, and emotional intensity. We employ rigorous hiring and training standards for selecting our music analysts, who typically have four-year degrees in music theory, composition or performance, and we provide them with intensive training in the Music Genome Projects precise methodology.
Comedy Genome Project
Our Comedy Genome Project leverages similar technology to the technology underlying the Music Genome Project, allowing a listener to choose a favorite comedian or a genre as a seed to start a station and then give feedback to personalize that station. Our comedy collection includes content from more than 1,000 comedians with more than 15,000 tracks.
Our Other Core Innovations
In addition to the Music Genome Project, we have developed other proprietary technologies to improve delivery of the Pandora service, enhance the listener experience and expand our reach. Our other core innovations include:
Playlist Generating Algorithms. We have developed complex algorithms that determine which songs play and in what order on each personalized station. Developed since 2004, these algorithms combine the Music Genome Project with the individual and collective feedback we receive from our listeners in order to deliver a personalized listening experience.
Pandora User Experience. We have invested in ways to enable our listeners to play music they love as quickly as possible. To this end, we have developed a number of innovative approaches, including our autocomplete station creation feature, which predicts and generates a list of the most likely musical starting points as a listener begins to enter a favorite station, song or artist.
Pandora Streaming Network. We have developed our own infrastructure for streaming music content to a diverse network of devices and destinations. Our streaming network is hosted from Pandora owned and operated infrastructure in data centers across the country. This network has allowed us to deliver a high quality streaming experience to a broad collection of devices at significant cost savings relative to outsourced third-party solutions.
Pandora Mobile Streaming. We have designed a sophisticated system for streaming music content to mobile devices. This system involves a combination of music coding programs that are optimized for mobile devices as well as algorithms designed to address the intricacies of reliable delivery over diverse mobile network technologies. For example, these algorithms are designed to maintain a continuous stream to a listener even in circumstances where the mobile data network may be unreliable.
Automotive Protocol. We have developed an automotive protocol to facilitate increased availability of the Pandora service in automobiles. Through the automotive protocol, automobile manufacturers, their suppliers and makers of aftermarket audio systems can easily connect dash-mounted interface elements to the Pandora app running on a smartphone. This allows us to deliver the Pandora service to listeners via their existing smartphone, while leveraging the automobile itself for application command, display and control functionalities.
Table of Contents
Pandora API. As part of our effort to make the Pandora service available everywhere our listeners want it, we have developed an application programming interface, which we call the Pandora API. Through our partnerships with manufacturers of consumer electronics products, we have used this technology to bring the Pandora experience to connected devices throughout the home.
Competition
Competition for Listeners
We compete for the time and attention of our listeners with other content providers on the basis of a number of factors, including quality of experience, relevance, acceptance and diversity of content, ease of use, price, accessibility, perceptions of ad load, brand awareness and reputation. We also compete for listeners on the basis of our presence and visibility as compared with other providers that deliver content through the internet, mobile devices and consumer products. We believe that we compete favorably on these factors. For additional details on risks related to competition for listeners, please refer to the section entitled Risk Factors.
We offer our service at no cost or through a low cost subscription plan through web, mobile and consumer electronic platforms however, many of our current and potential future competitors enjoy substantial competitive advantages, such as greater name recognition, longer operating histories and larger marketing budgets, as well as substantially greater financial, technical and other resources.
Our competitors include:
Other Radio Providers. We compete for listeners with broadcast radio providers, including terrestrial radio providers such as Clear Channel and CBS and satellite radio providers such as Sirius XM. Many broadcast radio companies own large numbers of radio stations or other media properties. Many terrestrial radio stations have begun broadcasting digital signals, which provide high quality audio transmission. In addition, unlike participants in the emerging internet radio market, terrestrial and satellite radio providers, as aggregate entities of their subsidiary providers, generally enjoy larger established audiences and longer operating histories. Broadcast radio pays no royalties for its use of sound recordings and satellite radio pays a much lower percentage of revenue, currently 8.0%, than internet radio providers for use of sound recordings, giving broadcast and satellite radio companies a significant cost advantage. We also compete directly with other emerging non-interactive online radio providers such as CBSs Last.fm, Clear Channels iheartradio and Slacker Personal Radio. We could face additional competition if known incumbents in the digital media space choose to enter the internet radio market.
Other Audio Entertainment Providers. We face competition from providers of interactive on-demand audio content and pre-recorded entertainment, such as Apples iTunes Music Store, RDIO, Rhapsody, Spotify and Amazon that allow listeners to select the audio content that they stream or purchase. This interactive on-demand content, is accessible in automobiles and homes, using portable players, mobile phones and other wireless devices. The audio entertainment marketplace continues to rapidly evolve, providing our listeners with a growing number of alternatives and new media platforms.
Other Forms of Media. We compete for the time and attention of our listeners with providers of other forms of in-home and mobile entertainment. To the extent existing or potential listeners choose to watch cable television, stream video from on-demand services such as Hulu, VEVO or YouTube or play interactive video games on their home-entertainment system, computer or mobile phone rather than listen to the Pandora service, these content services pose a competitive threat.
Competition for Advertisers
We compete with other content providers for a share of our advertising customers overall marketing budgets. We compete on the basis of a number of factors, including perceived return on investment, effectiveness and relevance of our advertising products, pricing structure, and ability to deliver large volumes or precise types of ads to targeted demographics. We believe that our ability to deliver targeted and relevant ads across a wide range of platforms allows us to compete favorably on the basis of these factors and justify a long-term profitable pricing structure. However, the market for online advertising solutions is intensely competitive and rapidly changing, and with the introduction of new technologies and market entrants, we expect competition to intensify in the future. For additional details on risks related to competition for advertisers, please refer to the section entitled Risk Factors.
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Our competitors include:
Other Internet Companies. The market for online advertising is becoming increasingly competitive as advertisers are allocating increasing amounts of their overall marketing budgets to web-based advertising. We compete for online advertisers with other internet companies, including major internet portals, search engine companies and social media sites. Large internet companies with greater brand recognition, such as Facebook, Google, MSN and Yahoo! have large direct sales staffs, substantial proprietary advertising technology, and extensive web traffic, and consequently enjoy significant competitive advantages.
Broadcast Radio. Terrestrial broadcast and to a lesser extent satellite radio are significant sources of competition for advertising dollars. These radio providers deliver ads across platforms that are more familiar to traditional advertisers than the internet might be. Advertisers may be reluctant to migrate advertising dollars to our internet-based platform.
Other Traditional Media Providers. We compete for advertising dollars with other traditional media companies in television and print, such as ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC, cable television channel providers, national newspapers such as The New York Times and the Wall Street Journal and some regional newspapers. These traditional outlets present us with a number of competitive challenges in attracting advertisers, including large established audiences, longer operating histories, greater brand recognition and a growing presence on the internet.
Content, Copyrights and Royalties
To secure the rights to stream music content over the internet, we must obtain licenses from, and pay royalties to, copyright owners of both sound recordings and musical compositions. These royalty and licensing arrangements strongly influence our business operations. In May 2011, we started streaming spoken word comedy content, for which the underlying literary works are not currently entitled to eligibility for licensing by any performing rights organization for the United States. Rather, pursuant to industry-wide custom and practice, this content is performed absent a specific license from any such performing rights organization. We do, however, obtain licenses to stream the sound recordings of comedy content under federal statutory licenses as more fully described under the section captioned Sound Recordings below, which in some instances we have opted to augment with direct agreements with the licensors of such sound recordings.
Sound Recordings
Our largest royalty expense arises from our use of sound recordings. We obtain performance rights licenses and pay performance rights royalties to the copyright owners of sound recordings, typically performing artists and recording companies, pursuant to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998, (the DMCA). Under federal statutory licenses created by the Digital Performance Right in Sound Recordings Act of 1995, (the DPRA), and DMCA, we are permitted to stream any lawfully released sound recordings and to make reproductions of these recordings on our computer servers, without having to separately negotiate and obtain direct licenses with each individual copyright owner. These statutory licenses are granted to us on the condition that we operate in compliance with the rules of statutory licenses and pay the applicable royalty rates to SoundExchange, the non-profit organization designated by the Copyright Royalty Board, or CRB, to collect and distribute royalties under these statutory licenses. We believe we are not an interactive service as defined in the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976 (the U.S. Copyright Act). As a non-interactive service, we are not allowed to stream a particular song on-demand and are otherwise obliged to limit the ways in which we stream music to our listeners. As such we are required, among other things, to restrict the number of songs that are played on a particular station from a particular artist or album within certain time periods.
The rates we pay to SoundExchange for non-interactive streaming of sound recordings pursuant to these licenses are privately negotiated or set by the CRB. In 2007, the CRB set royalty rates for non-interactive, online streaming of music that were extremely high. In response to the lobbying efforts of internet webcasters, including Pandora, Congress passed the Webcaster Settlement Acts of 2008 and 2009, which permitted webcasters to
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negotiate alternative royalty rates directly with SoundExchange outside of the scope of the CRB process. In July 2009, certain webcasters reached a settlement agreement with SoundExchange establishing a royalty structure more favorable to us that by its terms will apply through 2015. This settlement agreement is commonly known as the Pureplay Settlement. Once the rates and terms of the Pureplay Settlement came into effect in July 2009, any qualifying commercial webcaster could elect to avail itself of those rates and terms by filing an initial notice, followed by annual notices, of election with SoundExchange through 2015. In July 2009, we elected to be subject to the Pureplay Settlement and timely filed notices of election with SoundExchange for 2010, 2011and 2012. We currently intend to continue to make such elections through 2015.
The table below sets forth the per performance rates for the calendar years 2011 to 2015 (1) as established by the CRB, which we have opted out of, (2) under the Pureplay Settlement applicable to our non-subscription, ad-supported service and (3) under the Pureplay Settlement applicable to our subscription service.
*
The rate applicable to our non-subscription service is the greater of the per performance rates set forth in this column or 25% of our U.S. gross revenue.
As reflected in the table above, we currently pay per-performance rates for streaming of sound recordings via our Pandora One subscription service that are higher than the per-performance rates for our free, non-subscription service. As a result, we may incur higher royalty expenses to SoundExchange for a listener that subscribes to Pandora One as compared to a listener that uses our free, non-subscription service, even if both listeners listen for the same amount of time.
Proceedings to establish rates that will be applicable to our service after 2015, known as Webcasting IV proceedings, are expected to commence in January 2014. While we did not participate in the prior proceedings to establish royalty rates for non-interactive webcasting services, we currently expect to participate in the Webcasting IV proceedings. At that time, webcasters, including us, will have the opportunity to enter into voluntary settlement negotiations with SoundExchange, and failing that, will participate in formal hearings before the CRB to establish rates.
We believe that our participation in the Webcasting IV proceedings as a mature player in an industry that will have evolved significantly since the prior proceedings may enhance our ability to negotiate rates on economically favorable terms. However, if we are unable to successfully negotiate rates for the 2016-2020 period, we will be forced to litigate those rates before the CRB. Any such litigation would be costly, and the outcome of such litigation would be uncertain. If the Webcasting IV proceedings establish rates applicable to us that represent incremental increases in the per performance rates set forth as CRB Rates in the table above for the 2016-2020 period and there is no percentage of revenue option available to us, then our content acquisition expenses could substantially increase, which could materially and adversely affect our operating results. For additional details on risks related to the rate-setting process, please refer to the section entitled Risk Factors. We are unable to estimate the direct and indirect costs of participating in the Webcaster IV proceedings, but we expect those costs to be significant.
The existing laws and regulations governing performance royalties applicable to commercial webcasters are subject to change. For example, there is no guarantee that the royalty structure that emerged from the Pureplay Settlement will be available upon its expiration. In addition, performers and owners of sound recordings are seeking compensation for the public performance of sound recordings from terrestrial broadcasters who are not currently required to pay royalties for non-subscription broadcast transmissions. If these performers and owners are successful, terrestrial radio broadcasters will, for the first time, be subject to payment of sound recording performance royalties, a development that could potentially have a positive impact on our ability to compete with
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terrestrial radio broadcasters. Further, the Copyright Office has issued a report with respect to whether sound recordings released in the United States prior to January 1972 (the time at which federal copyright protection was first afforded to sound recordings), should be covered under federal copyright law. The report recommended that federal copyright protection should apply to sound recordings fixed before February 15, 1972. It proposed special provisions to address issues such as copyright ownership, term of protection, termination of transfers and copyright registration. We do not expect any potential resulting legislation to have a material impact on our business, financial condition or results of operations. We are not aware of any other proposed or pending changes to laws and regulations relating to performance royalties applicable to commercial webcasters such as us.
Musical Compositions
We also incur royalty expenses from our use of musical compositions embodied in sound recordings, with respect to which we must license performance rights and pay performance rights royalties to copyright owners of those musical compositions (typically, songwriters and music publishers). These royalties are less than what we pay for sound recording rights. Copyright owners of musical compositions most often rely on intermediaries known as performance rights organizations to negotiate so-called blanket licenses with copyright users, collect royalties under such licenses and distribute them to copyright owners. We have obtained public performance licenses from, and pay license fees to, the three major performance rights organizations in the United States: the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, or ASCAP, Broadcast Music, Inc., or BMI and SESAC, Inc., or SESAC.
We currently operate under agreements with BMI and SESAC. Each of these agreements automatically renew, but are subject to termination by either party in accordance with their terms at the end of each calendar year, with respect to BMI, and at the end of each yearly term, with respect to SESAC. The current rate that we pay under our negotiated agreement with BMI is calculated on a percentage of revenue basis of 1.75% multiplied by our total revenue. The current rate that we pay under our negotiated agreement with SESAC is based on the same total revenue calculation but at a rate of 0.4%. The SESAC rate is subject to small annual increases. There is no guarantee that the licenses and associated royalty rates available to us now with respect to BMI and SESAC will be available to us in the future, although BMI, pursuant to a consent decree entered into with the U.S. Department of Justice, cannot refuse to grant us a license for our service and any dispute over royalties will be adjudicated by a federal rate court in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
In October 2010, we elected to terminate our agreement with ASCAP as of December 31, 2010 because we believed that the royalty rates sought by ASCAP were excessive. Notwithstanding our termination of the agreement, we continue to have a license for musical works administered by ASCAP pursuant to the provisions of a consent decree. The ASCAP consent decree established a rate court in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. The rates to be paid by us will be set either by mutual agreement between us and ASCAP, or by a ruling from the ASCAP rate court. In September 2011, we changed the method we used to calculate royalties due to ASCAP following the execution of an interim arrangement for the period commencing January 1, 2011, pending a final determination of new rates. If either we or ASCAP request that the rate court determine our royalty rate, rate court proceedings could take years to complete, could be very costly, and there would be no guarantee that the rate court would establish royalty rates more favorable to us than those we previously paid pursuant to our terminated agreement with ASCAP or those we pay pursuant to our interim arrangement with ASCAP.
In May 2011, EMI Music Publishing, or EMI, announced its decision to withdraw certain licensing rights from ASCAP that EMI had previously authorized ASCAP to manage on its behalf. As a result, ASCAP may no longer be able to license the webcasting of songs from EMIs catalog of musical compositions, and digital music webcasters, such as Pandora, who were previously able to secure licenses from ASCAP for EMI musical compositions, may now have to enter into direct licensing arrangements with EMI. It is currently unclear what specific effect EMIs limited withdrawal from ASCAP will have on us, or whether other publishers may also choose to withdraw all or a portion of their catalogs from the collection of musical compositions that ASCAP has the authority to license.
Non-U.S. Licensing Regimes
In addition to the copyright and licensing arrangements described above for our use of sound recordings and musical compositions in the United States, other countries have various copyright and licensing regimes, including in some cases performance-rights organizations and copyright collection societies from which licenses must be obtained. However, as yet, economically suitable licensing arrangements have not been identified.
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Government Regulation
As a company conducting business on the internet, we are subject to a number of foreign and domestic laws and regulations relating to consumer protection, information security, data protection and privacy, among other things. Many of these laws and regulations are still evolving and could be interpreted in ways that could harm our business. In the area of information security and data protection, the laws in several states require companies to implement specific information security controls to protect certain types of information. Likewise, all but a few states have laws in place requiring companies to notify users if there is a security breach that compromises certain categories of their information. Any failure on our part to comply with these laws may subject us to significant liabilities.
We are also subject to federal and state laws regarding privacy of listener data. Our privacy policy and terms of use describe our practices concerning the use, transmission and disclosure of listener information and are posted on our website. Any failure to comply with our posted privacy policy or privacy-related laws and regulations could result in proceedings against us by governmental authorities or others, which could harm our business. Further, any failure by us to adequately protect the privacy or security of our listeners information could result in a loss of confidence in our service among existing and potential listeners, and ultimately, in a loss of listeners and advertising customers, which could adversely affect our business.
Intellectual Property
Our success depends upon our ability to protect our technologies and intellectual property. To accomplish this, we rely on a combination of intellectual property rights, including trade secrets, patents, copyrights and trademarks, contractual restrictions, technological measures and other methods. We enter into confidentiality and proprietary rights agreements with our employees, consultants and business partners, and we control access to and distribution of our proprietary information.
We have two patents which have been issued in the United States and we continue to pursue additional patent protection, both in the United States and abroad where appropriate and cost effective.
Our registered trademarks in the United States include Pandora and the Music Genome Project. Pandora is also registered in the European Union, China and other countries. Music Genome Project is also registered in China. We have filed other trademark applications in the United States and in certain other countries, including applications for Pandora logos.
We are the registrant of the internet domain name for our website, www.pandora.com, as well as www.pandora.cn, pandora.co.uk, pandora.de, among others. We own rights to proprietary processes and trade secrets, including those underlying the Pandora service.
In addition to the foregoing protections, we generally control access to and use of our proprietary software and other confidential information through the use of internal and external controls, including contractual protections with employees, contractors, customers and partners.
Customer Concentration
In fiscal 2010, 2011 and 2012, Google accounted for 11.4%, 6.3% and 2.7%, respectively, of our total revenue. Pursuant to our arrangements with Google, Google acts as an online advertising agency, delivering relevant ads on our unsold ad space across both our traditional computer and mobile platforms. Google maintains the direct relationships with the advertisers and ad networks, and we receive a portion of the revenue Google derives from these ads, generally earned on a cost-per-click basis. While these cost-per-click arrangements continue to apply unless terminated by either party, Google can terminate these agreements at will. No other single customer accounted for 10% or more of our total revenues in fiscal 2010, 2011 or 2012.
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Seasonality
Our results may reflect the effects of some seasonal trends in listener behavior due to increased internet usage and sales of media-streaming devices during certain vacation and holiday periods. For example, we expect to experience increased usage during the fourth quarter of each calendar year due to the holiday season, and in the first quarter of each calendar year due to increased use of media-streaming devices received as gifts during the holiday season. We may also experience higher advertising sales during the fourth quarter of each calendar year due to greater advertiser demand during the holiday season. See the section entitled Quarterly Trends in Item 7 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for a more complete description of the seasonality of our financial results.
Employees
As of January 31, 2012, we had approximately 530 employees. None of our employees are covered by collective bargaining agreements, and we consider our relations with our employees to be good.
Corporate and Available Information
We were incorporated as a California corporation in January 2000 and reincorporated as a Delaware corporation in December 2010. Our principal executive offices are located at 2101 Webster Street, Suite 1650, Oakland, California 94612 and our telephone number is (510) 451-4100. Our website is located at www.pandora.com and our Investor Relations website is located at investor.pandora.com.
We have a January 31 fiscal year end. Accordingly, in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, all references to a fiscal year refer to the 12 months ended January 31 of such year, and references to the first, second, third and fourth fiscal quarters refer to the three months ended April 30, July 31, October 31 and January 31, respectively.
We file reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and any other filings required by the SEC. We make available on our Investor Relations website, free of charge, our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and all amendments to those reports, as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC. The information on our website is not incorporated by reference into this Annual Report on Form 10-K or in any other report or document we file with the SEC.
The public may read and copy any materials we file with the SEC at the SECs Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549. The public may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC maintains an Internet site (http://www.sec.gov) that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC.
ITEM 1A.
RISK FACTORS
The risks and uncertainties set forth below, as well as other factors described elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K or in other filings by the Company with the SEC, could adversely affect the Companys business, financial condition, results of operations and the trading price of our common stock. Additional risks and uncertainties that are not currently known to the Company or that are not currently believed by the Company to be material may also harm the Companys business operations and financial results. Because of the following factors, as well as other factors affecting the Companys financial condition and operating results, past financial performance should not be considered to be a reliable indicator of future performance, and investors should not use historical trends to anticipate results or trends in future periods.
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Risks Related to Our Business
Internet radio is an emerging market, which makes it difficult to evaluate our current business and future prospects.
Internet radio is an emerging market and our current business and future prospects are difficult to evaluate. The market for internet radio has undergone rapid and dramatic changes in its relatively short history and is subject to significant challenges. As a result, the future revenue and income potential of our business is uncertain. You should consider our business and prospects in light of the risks and difficulties we encounter in this new and rapidly evolving market, which risks and difficulties include, among others:
our ability to maintain relationships with makers of mobile devices, consumer electronic products and automobiles; and
our operation under an evolving music industry licensing structure including statutory and compulsory licenses that may change or cease to exist, which in turn may result in a significant increase in our operating expenses.
Failure to successfully address these risks and difficulties, and other challenges associated with operating in a new and emerging market, could inhibit the implementation of our business plan, significantly harm our financial condition, operating results and liquidity and prevent us from achieving or sustaining profitability.
We have incurred significant operating losses in the past and may not be able to generate sufficient revenue to be profitable.
Since our inception in 2000, we have incurred significant net operating losses and, as of January 31, 2012, we had an accumulated deficit of $101.4 million. A key element of our strategy is to increase the number of listeners and listener hours to increase our market penetration. However, as our number of listener hours increases, the royalties we pay for content acquisition also increase. We have not in the past generated, and may not in the future generate, sufficient revenue from the sale of advertising and subscriptions to offset such royalty expenses. If we cannot successfully earn revenue at a rate that exceeds the operational costs associated with increased listener hours, we may not be able to achieve or sustain profitability. In addition, we expect to invest heavily in our operations to support anticipated future growth and the reporting and compliance obligations to which we are subject as a public company. As a result of these factors, we expect to continue to incur operating losses on an annual basis through at least fiscal 2013.
Our revenue increased rapidly in each of the fiscal years ended January 31, 2007 through January 31, 2012; however, we expect our revenue growth rate to decline in the future as a result of a variety of factors, including increased competition and the maturation of our business, and we cannot assure you that our revenue will continue to grow or will not decline. You should not consider our historical revenue growth or operating expenses as indicative of our future performance. If our revenue growth rate declines or our operating expenses exceed our expectations, our financial performance will be adversely affected. Further, if our future growth and operating performance fail to meet investor or analyst expectations, it could have a materially negative effect on our stock price.
In addition, in our efforts to increase revenue as the number of listener hours has grown, we have expanded and expect to continue to expand our sales force. If our hiring of additional sales personnel does not result in a sufficient increase in revenue, the cost of this additional headcount will not be offset, which would harm our operating results and financial condition.
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Our failure to convince advertisers of the benefits of our service in the future could harm our business.
For our fiscal year ended January 31, 2012 we derived 87% of our revenue from the sale of advertising and expect to continue to derive a substantial majority of our revenue from the sale of advertising in the future. Our ability to attract and retain advertisers, and ultimately to generate advertising revenue, depends on a number of factors, including:
penetrating the market for local radio advertising;
continuing to develop and diversify our advertisement platform, which currently includes delivery of display, audio and video advertising products through multiple delivery channels, including traditional computers, mobile and other connected devices, including automobiles; and
coping with ad blocking technologies that have been developed and are likely to continue to be developed that can block the display of our ads.
Our agreements with advertisers are generally short term or may be terminated at any time by the advertiser. Advertisers that are spending only a small amount of their overall advertising budget on our service may view advertising with us as experimental and unproven and may leave us for competing alternatives at any time. We may never succeed in capturing a greater share of our advertisers core advertising spending, particularly if we are unable to achieve the scale and market penetration necessary to demonstrate the effectiveness of our advertising platforms, or if our advertising model proves ineffective or not competitive when compared to alternatives. Failure to demonstrate the value of our service would result in reduced spending by, or loss of, existing or potential future advertisers, which would materially harm our revenue and business.
Advertising on mobile devices, such as smartphones, is an emerging phenomenon, and if we are unable to increase revenue from our advertising products delivered to mobile devices, our results of operations will be materially adversely affected.
Our number of listener hours on mobile devices has surpassed listener hours on traditional computers, and we expect that this trend will continue. Our mobile listenership has experienced significant growth since we introduced the first mobile version of our service in May 2007. Listener hours on mobile devices constituted approximately 5%, 24%, 51% and 65% of our total listener hours for fiscal years 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively. We expect this growth to continue, though at a less rapid pace. Advertising on mobile devices is an emerging phenomenon, and the percentage of advertising spending allocated to advertising on mobile devices is lower than online advertising. According to IDC, the percentage of U.S. advertising spending allocated to advertising on mobile devices was less than 1% in 2010, compared to 13% for all online advertising. Our cost of content acquisition or licensing fee is currently calculated on the same basis whether a listening hour is consumed on a traditional computer or a mobile device. To date, we have not been able to generate revenue from our advertising products delivered to mobile devices as effectively as we have for our advertising products served on traditional computers. While a substantial amount of our revenue has been derived from display ads, some display ads may not be currently optimized for use on certain mobile devices. For example, display ads are not well-suited for use on smartphones due to the size of the device screen and may not be appropriate for automobiles due to safety considerations. Further, some display ads may not be optimized to take advantage of the multimedia capabilities of connected devices. By contrast, audio ads are better-suited for delivery in automobiles and across mobile and connected device platforms and video ads can be optimized for a variety of platforms.
Our audio and video advertising products are relatively new and have not been as widely accepted by advertisers as our traditional display ads. In addition, the introduction of audio advertising places us in more direct competition with terrestrial radio, as many advertisers that purchase audio ads focus their spending on terrestrial radio stations. Thus, one challenge we face in promoting audio ads is overcoming any reluctance of these advertisers to migrate their advertising spend to online advertising. We have plans to increase our number of listener hours on mobile and other connected devices, including our efforts to expand the reach of our service by making it available on an increasing number of such devices, such as smartphones and devices connected to or installed in automobiles, and we cannot assure you that we will be able to effectively monetize inventory generated by listeners using mobile and connected devices, or the time frame on which we may do so.
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If our efforts to attract prospective listeners and to retain existing listeners are not successful, our growth prospects and revenue will be adversely affected.
Our ability to grow our business and generate advertising revenue depends on retaining and expanding our listener base and increasing listener hours. We must convince prospective listeners of the benefits of our service and existing listeners of the continuing value of our service. The more listener hours we stream, the more ad inventory we have to sell. Further, growth in our listener base increases the size of demographic pools targeted by advertisers, which improves our ability to deliver advertising in a manner that maximizes our advertising customers return on investment and, ultimately, to demonstrate the effectiveness of our advertising solutions and justify a pricing structure that is profitable for us. If we fail to grow our listener base and listener hours, particularly in key demographics such as young adults, we will be unable to grow advertising revenue, and our business will be materially and adversely affected.
Our ability to increase the number of our listeners and listener hours will depend on effectively addressing a number of challenges. We may fail to do so. Some of these challenges include:
continuing to innovate and keep pace with changes in technology and our competitors; and
maintaining and building our relationships with makers of consumer products such as mobile devices, other consumer electronic products and automobiles to make our service available through their products.
In addition, we have historically relied heavily on the success of viral marketing to expand consumer awareness of our service. If we are unable to maintain or increase the efficacy of our viral marketing strategy, or if we otherwise decide to expand the reach of our marketing through use of more costly marketing campaigns, we may experience an increase in marketing expenses, which could have an adverse effect on our results of operations. We cannot assure you that we will be successful in maintaining or expanding our listener base and failure to do so would materially reduce our revenue and adversely affect our business, operating results and financial condition.
Further, although we use our number of registered users and our number of active users as indicators of our brand awareness and the growth of our business, the number of registered users and number of active users exceeds the number of unique individuals who register for, or actively use, our service. We define registered users as the total number of accounts that have been created for our service and we define active users as the number of distinct registered users that have requested audio from our servers within the trailing 30 days from the end of each calendar month. To establish an account, a person does not need to provide personally unique information. For this reason a person may have multiple accounts. If the number of actual listeners does not result in an increase in listener hours, then our business may not grow as quickly as we expect, which may harm our business, operating results and financial condition.
We have experienced rapid growth in both listener hours and advertising revenue. We do not expect to be able to sustain these growth rates in the future and our business and operating results may suffer.
We have experienced rapid growth rates in both listener hours and advertising revenue as a result of our growth strategy to commit substantial financial, operational and technical resources to build the Company. As we grow larger and increase our listener base and usage, we expect it will become increasingly difficult to maintain the rate of growth we currently experience. Slower growth could negatively impact our stock price, our ability to hire and retain employees or harm our business in other ways.
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If we fail to effectively manage our growth, our business and operating results may suffer.
Our rapid growth has placed, and will continue to place, significant demands on our management and our operational and financial infrastructure. In order to attain and maintain profitability, we will need to recruit, integrate and retain skilled and experienced sales personnel who can demonstrate our value proposition to advertisers and increase the monetization of listener hours, particularly on mobile devices. Continued growth could also strain our ability to maintain reliable service levels for our listeners, effectively monetize our listener hours, develop and improve our operational, financial and management controls, enhance our reporting systems and procedures and recruit, train and retain highly skilled personnel. If our systems do not evolve to meet the increased demands placed on us by an increasing number of advertisers, we may also be unable to meet our obligations under advertising agreements with respect to the timing of our delivery of advertising or other performance obligations. As our operations grow in size, scope and complexity, we will need to improve and upgrade our systems and infrastructure, which will require significant expenditures and allocation of valuable management resources. If we fail to maintain the necessary level of discipline and efficiency and allocate limited resources effectively in our organization as it grows, our business, operating results and financial condition may suffer.
We face and will continue to face competition for both listener hours and advertising spending.
We compete with other content providers for listener hours.
We compete for the time and attention of our listeners with other content providers on the basis of a number of factors, including quality of experience, relevance, acceptance and diversity of content, ease of use, price, accessibility, perception of ad load, brand awareness and reputation.
Our competitors include terrestrial radio, satellite radio, and online radio. Terrestrial radio providers such as CBS and Clear Channel offer their content for free, are well-established and accessible to listeners and offer content, such as news, sports, traffic, weather and talk that we currently do not offer. In addition, many terrestrial radio stations have begun broadcasting digital signals, which provide high quality audio transmission.
Satellite radio providers, such as Sirius XM, may offer extensive and oftentimes exclusive news, comedy, sports and talk content, national signal coverage, and long established automobile integration. In addition, terrestrial radio pays no royalties for its use of sound recordings and satellite radio pays a much lower percentage of revenue, currently 8.0%, than internet radio providers for use of sound recordings, giving broadcast and satellite radio companies a significant cost advantage.
Other online radio providers may offer more extensive content libraries than we offer and some may be accessed internationally.
We also compete with providers of on-demand audio media and entertainment which are purchased or available for free and playable on mobile devices, automobiles and in the home. These forms of media may be purchased, downloaded and owned such as iTunes audio files, MP3s, CDs, or accessed from subscription or free online on-demand offerings by music providers such as RDIO, Spotify, and Rhapsody or content streams from other online services such as Hulu, VEVO, turntable fm and YouTube. In addition, on-demand music providers may leverage their existing infrastructure, brand recognition and content collections to augment their services by offering competing internet radio features to provide listeners with more comprehensive music service delivery choices. We face increasing competition for listeners from a growing variety of businesses that deliver audio media content through mobile phones and other wireless devices.
We believe that companies with a combination of financial resources, technical expertise and digital media experience also pose a significant threat of developing competing internet radio and digital audio entertainment technologies in the future. In particular, if known incumbents in the digital media space such as Amazon, Apple, Facebook or Google choose to offer competing services, they may devote greater resources than we have available, have a more accelerated time frame for deployment and leverage their existing user base and proprietary technologies to provide products and services that our listeners and advertisers may view as superior. Our current and future competitors may have more well-established brand recognition, more established relationships with consumer product manufacturers, greater financial, technical, and other resources, more sophisticated technologies or more experience in the markets in which we compete.
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We also compete for listeners on the basis of our presence and visibility as compared with other businesses and software that deliver audio and other content through the internet, mobile devices and consumer products. We face significant competition for listeners from companies promoting their own digital music and content online or through application stores, including several large, well-funded and seasoned participants in the digital media market. Search engines, such as Google, and mobile device application stores, such as the iTunes Store, rank responses to search queries based on the popularity of a website or mobile application, as well as other factors that are outside of our control. Additionally, mobile device application stores often offer users the ability to browse applications by various criteria, such as the number of downloads in a given time period, the length of time since a mobile app was released or updated, or the category in which the application is placed. The websites and mobile applications of our competitors may rank higher than our website and our Pandora app, and our app may be difficult to locate in mobile device application stores, which could draw potential listeners away from our service and toward those of our competitors. In addition, our competitors products may be pre-loaded into consumer electronics products or automobiles, creating an initial visibility advantage. If we are unable to compete successfully for listeners against other digital media providers by maintaining and increasing our presence and visibility online, in application stores and in consumer electronics products and automobiles, our listener hours may fail to increase as expected or decline and our advertising sales may suffer.
To compete effectively, we must continue to invest significant resources in the development of our service to enhance the user experience of our listeners. There can be no assurance that we will be able to compete successfully for listeners in the future against existing or new competitors, and failure to do so could result in loss of existing or potential listeners, reduced revenue, increased marketing expenses or diminished brand strength, any of which could harm our business.
We compete for advertising spending with other content providers.
We compete for a share of advertisers overall marketing budgets with other content providers on a variety of factors including perceived return on investment, effectiveness and relevance of our advertising products, pricing structure and ability to deliver large volumes or precise types of ads to targeted demographics.
We face significant competition for advertising dollars from terrestrial and, to a lesser extent, satellite radio providers. As many of the advertisers we target have traditionally advertised on terrestrial radio and have less experience with internet radio providers, they may be reluctant to spend for advertising on traditional computers, mobile or other connected device platforms. In addition, terrestrial radio providers as well as other traditional media companies in television and print, such as broadcast television networks such as ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC, cable television channel providers, national newspapers such as the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal and some regional newspapers, enjoy a number of competitive advantages over us in attracting advertisers, including large established audiences, longer operating histories, greater brand recognition and a growing presence on the internet.
Although advertisers are allocating an increasing amount of their overall marketing budgets to web and mobile-based ads, such spending lags behind growth in internet and mobile usage, and the market for online and mobile advertising is intensely competitive. As a result, we also compete for advertisers with a range of internet companies, including major internet portals, search engine companies and social media sites. Large internet companies with greater brand recognition, such as Facebook, Google, MSN and Yahoo! have significant numbers of direct sales personnel and substantial proprietary advertising inventory and web traffic that provide a significant competitive advantage and have a significant impact on pricing for internet advertising and web traffic. The trend toward consolidation among online marketing and media companies may also affect pricing and availability of advertising inventory.
In order to compete successfully for advertisers against new and existing competitors, we must continue to invest resources in developing and diversifying our advertisement platform, harnessing listener data and ultimately proving the effectiveness and relevance of our advertising products. Failure to compete successfully against our current or future competitors could result in loss of current or potential advertisers or a reduced share of our advertisers overall marketing budget, which could adversely affect our pricing and margins, lower our revenue, increase our research and development and marketing expenses and prevent us from achieving or maintaining profitability.
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Our ability to increase the number of our listeners will depend in part on our ability to establish and maintain relationships with automakers, automotive suppliers and consumer electronics manufacturers with products that integrate our service.
A key element of our strategy to expand the reach of our service and increase the number of our listeners and listener hours is to establish and maintain relationships with automakers, automotive suppliers and consumer electronics manufacturers that integrate our service into and with their products. Working with certain third-party distribution partners, we currently offer listeners the ability to access our service through a variety of consumer electronics products used in the home and devices connected to or installed in automobiles. We intend to broaden our ability to reach additional listeners, and increase current listeners hours, through other platforms and partners over time. However, reaching agreements with distribution partners can be time consuming, and once an agreement is reached, product design cycles can be lengthy. If we are not successful in maintaining existing and creating new relationships, or if we encounter technological, content licensing or other impediments, our ability to grow our business could be adversely impacted.
Our existing agreements with partners in the automobile and consumer electronics industries generally do not obligate those partners to launch the integration of our service in their products. In addition, some automobile manufacturers or their supplier partners may terminate their agreements with us for convenience. Our business could be adversely affected if our automobile partners and consumer electronics partners do not continue to provide access to our service or are unwilling to do so on terms acceptable to us. If we are forced to amend the business terms of our distribution agreements as a result of competitive pressure, our ability to maintain and expand the reach of our service and increase listener hours would be adversely affected, which would reduce our revenue and harm our operating results.
Additionally, we distribute our mobile applications via smartphone application download stores managed by Apple, Google, Amazon, Palm and Research In Motion, or RIM, and such distribution is subject to an application developer license agreement in each case. Should any of these parties amend the terms of their license in such a way that inhibits our ability to distribute the Pandora apps via their application store, or negatively impacts our economics in such distribution, our ability to increase listener hours and sell advertising would be adversely affected, which would reduce our revenue and harm our operating results.
If we are unable to continue to make our technology compatible with the technologies of third-party distribution partners who make our service available to our listeners through mobile devices, consumer electronic products and automobiles, we may not remain competitive and our business may fail to grow or decline.
In order to deliver music everywhere our listeners want to hear it, our service must be compatible with mobile, consumer electronic, automobile and website technologies. Our service is accessible in part through Pandora-developed or third-party developed applications that hardware manufacturers embed in, and distribute through, their devices. Connected devices and their underlying technology are constantly evolving. As internet connectivity of automobiles, mobile devices, and other consumer electronic products expands and as new internet-connected products are introduced, we must constantly adapt our technology. It is difficult to keep pace with the continual release of new devices and technological advances in digital media delivery and predict the problems we may encounter in developing versions of our applications for these new devices and delivery channels. It may become increasingly challenging to do so in the future. In particular, the technology used for streaming the Pandora service in automobiles remains at an early stage and may not result in a seamless customer experience. If automobile and consumer electronic makers fail to make products that are compatible with our technology or we fail to adapt our technology to evolving requirements, our ability to grow or sustain the reach of our service, increase listener hours and sell advertising could be adversely affected.
Consumer tastes and preferences can change in rapid and unpredictable ways and consumer acceptance of these products depends on the marketing, technical and other efforts of third-party manufacturers, which is beyond our control. If consumers fail to accept the products of the companies with whom we partner or if we fail to establish relationships with makers of leading consumer products, our business could be adversely affected.
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Unavailability of, or fluctuations in, third-party measurements of our audience may adversely affect our ability to grow advertising revenue.
Selling ads requires that we demonstrate to advertisers that our service has substantial reach and usage, and we rely on third parties to quantify the reach and usage of our service. These third-party measurements may not reflect our true listening audience and their underlying methodologies are subject to change at any time. In addition, the methodologies we apply to measure the key metrics that we use to monitor and manage our business may differ from the methodologies used by third-party measurement service providers. For example, we calculate listener hours based on the total bytes served for each track that is requested and served from our servers, as measured by our internal analytics systems, whether or not a listener listens to the entire track. By contrast, certain third party measurement service providers may calculate and report the number of listener hours using a client-based approach, which measures time elapsed during listening sessions. Measurement technologies for mobile and consumer electronic devices may be even less reliable in quantifying the reach and usage of our service, and it is not clear whether such technologies will integrate with our systems or uniformly and comprehensively reflect the reach and usage of our service. While we have been working with third-party measurement service providers, these providers have not yet developed uniform measurement systems that comprehensively measure the reach and usage of our service. We expect that in the future these providers will begin to publish increasingly reliable information about the reach and usage of our service. However, until then, in order to demonstrate to potential advertisers the benefits of our service, we must supplement third-party measurement data with our internal research, which may be perceived as less valuable than third-party numbers. If such third-party measurement providers report lower metrics than we do, or if there is wide variance among reported metrics, our ability to convince advertisers of the benefits of our service could be adversely affected.
Our success depends upon the continued acceptance of online advertising as an alternative or supplement to offline advertising.
The percentage of the advertising market allocated to online advertising lags the percentage of consumer online consumption by a significant degree. Growth of our business will depend in large part on the reduction or elimination of this gap between online and offline advertising spending, which may not happen in a way or to the extent that we currently expect. Many advertisers still have limited experience with online advertising and may continue to devote significant portions of their advertising budgets to traditional, offline advertising media. Accordingly, we continue to compete for advertising dollars with traditional media, including broadcast radio.
Although advertisers as a whole are spending an increasing amount of their overall advertising budget on online advertising, we face a number of challenges in growing our advertising revenue. We compete for advertising dollars with significantly larger and more established online marketing and media companies such as Facebook, Google, MSN and Yahoo!. We believe that the continued growth and acceptance of our online advertising products will depend on the perceived effectiveness and the acceptance of online advertising models generally, which is outside of our control. Any lack of growth in the market for online advertising could result in reduced revenue or increased marketing expenses, which would harm our operating results and financial condition.
We operate under and pay royalties pursuant to statutory licensing structures for the reproduction and public performance of sound recordings that could change or cease to exist, which would adversely affect our business.
We currently operate under statutory and compulsory licensing regimes and structures that may change or cease to exist. Unlike traditional radio broadcasters, we must pay performance rights royalties for the digital audio transmission of sound recordings pursuant to the DPRA and DMCA. Subject to our ongoing compliance with numerous statutory conditions and regulatory requirements for a non-interactive service, we are permitted to operate under a statutory license that allows the streaming in the U.S. of any sound recording lawfully released to the public. We are also permitted to make reproductions of sound recordings on computer servers pursuant to a separate statutory license designed to facilitate the making of transmissions. There is no guarantee that we will continue to be eligible to operate under these statutory licenses. For example, if a court were to determine that we operate an interactive streaming service or make reproductions of sound recordings outside the statutory license, we would have to negotiate license agreements with sound recording copyright owners individually, a time consuming and expensive undertaking that would jeopardize our ability to stream all music currently in our library and could result in royalty costs that are prohibitively expensive. In addition, if copyright owners object to the functionality or
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transmission methods of our service, we could lose our eligibility to operate under the statutory licenses. Our ability to avoid negotiating separate agreements with the many copyright owners of sound recordings depends on these two statutory licenses, and if we were to no longer qualify for operation under, or violate the provisions of the statutory licenses, we could be subject to significant liability for copyright infringement and may no longer be able to operate under our existing licensing regime. For our fiscal year ended January 31, 2012 we incurred SoundExchange related content acquisition costs representing 49.7% of our total revenue for that period.
The rates to be paid for the streaming of sound recordings pursuant to the statutory licenses can be established by either negotiation or through a rate proceeding conducted by the CRB, a tribunal established within the U.S. Library of Congress. In 2007, the CRB set royalty rates for the online streaming of sound recordings for 2006 through 2010 that were so high that the cost for streaming sound recordings alone would have been unsustainable under our current business model. In response to the lobbying efforts of internet webcasters, including us, Congress passed the Webcaster Settlement Acts of 2008 and 2009, which permitted webcasters and SoundExchange, the sole entity designated by the CRB to collect and distribute the statutory royalties paid by internet webcasters such as us, to negotiate alternative rates to those established by the CRB for the years 2006 through 2015. In July 2009, certain webcasters reached an agreement with SoundExchange, establishing a more favorable royalty structure that we have elected to accept and that by its terms will apply through 2015. We do not know what rates will be available to us following that period and there is no guarantee that the royalty structure that emerged from the negotiations with SoundExchange pursuant to the Webcaster Settlement Acts will be available after 2015. The CRB, which still has rate-making authority over us upon expiration of our agreement with SoundExchange, has consistently established royalty rates that would, if paid by us, consume an unsustainable percentage of our revenue. If we are unable to reach a new agreement with SoundExchange for the period after 2015, our operating costs may significantly increase, which could harm our financial condition and inhibit the implementation of our business plan.
In addition, the royalties that we pay to SoundExchange for the streaming of sound recordings are calculated using a per performance rate. While we believe that the mechanisms we use to track performances are sufficient to ensure that we are accurately reporting and paying royalties, our ability to do so depends in part on our ability to maintain these mechanisms as new devices are introduced and incumbent technologies evolve. Any understatement or overstatement of performances could result in our paying lower or higher royalties to SoundExchange than we actually owed, which could in turn affect our financial condition and results of operations.
We depend upon third-party licenses for musical works and a change to or loss of these licenses could increase our operating costs or adversely affect our ability to retain and expand our listener base, and therefore could adversely affect our business.
To secure the rights to stream musical works embodied in sound recordings over the internet, we obtain licenses from or for the benefit of copyright owners and pay royalties to copyright owners or their agents. Those who own copyrights in musical works are vigilant in protecting their rights and seek royalties that are very high in relation to the revenue that can be generated from the public performance of such works. There is no guarantee that the licenses available to us now will continue to be available in the future or that such licenses will be available at the royalty rates associated with the current licenses. If we are unable to secure and maintain rights to stream musical works or if we cannot do so on terms that are acceptable to us, our ability to stream music content to our listeners, and consequently our ability to attract and retain advertisers, will be adversely impacted.
In order to stream musical works embodied in sound recordings over the internet, we must obtain public performance licenses and pay license fees to three performing rights organizations: ASCAP, BMI and SESAC. These organizations represent the rights of songwriters and music publishers, negotiate with copyright users such as us, collect royalties and distribute those royalties to the copyright owners they represent. Performing rights organizations have the right to audit our playlists and royalty payments, and any such audit could result in disputes over whether we have paid the proper royalties. If such a dispute were to occur, we could be required to pay additional royalties and the amounts involved could be material. We currently operate under negotiated agreements with BMI and SESAC, however, these agreements are subject to termination by either party in accordance with their terms at the end of each calendar year, with respect to BMI, and at the end of each yearly term, with respect to SESAC, and there is no guarantee that the associated royalty rates available to us now will be available to us in the future. BMI, pursuant to a consent decree entered into with the U.S. Department of Justice, cannot refuse to grant us licenses for the public performance of musical works represented by BMI but the rates to be paid to BMI can be set,
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in the absence of a negotiated agreement, by the rate court established pursuant to such decree in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. SESAC is not subject to a mandatory licensing obligation and could withhold the rights to all of the musical works for which it acts as a licensor on behalf of songwriters and music publishers. The loss of the musical works represented by SESAC could diminish the appeal of our service to listeners.
In October 2010, we elected to terminate our prior agreement with ASCAP as of December 31, 2010 because we believed that the royalty rates sought by ASCAP were excessive. Notwithstanding our termination of the agreement, musical works administered by ASCAP are licensed to us pursuant to the provisions of a consent decree, similar to the BMI consent decree referred to above. The ASCAP consent decree also established a rate court in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. The rates to be paid by us will be set either by mutual agreement between us and ASCAP, or by a ruling from the ASCAP rate court. In September 2011, we changed the method we used to calculate royalties due to ASCAP following the execution of an interim arrangement for the period commencing January 1, 2011, pending a final determination of new rates. If either we or ASCAP request that the rate court determine our royalty rate, rate court proceedings can take years to complete and be very costly. In such a case, there would be no guarantee that the rate court would establish royalty rates more favorable to us than those we previously paid pursuant our terminated agreement with ASCAP or those that we pay pursuant to our interim arrangement with ASCAP; we could be liable for both increased royalty rates going forward and a potential true-up of royalty payments in excess of any interim royalties paid for the period following December 31, 2010. For our fiscal year ended January 31, 2012, we incurred BMI, SESAC and ASCAP related content acquisition costs representing 4.1% of our total revenue for that period.
We do not currently pay so-called mechanical royalties to music publishers for the reproduction and distribution of musical works embodied in transitory copies used to make streams audible to our listeners. Although not currently a matter of dispute, if music publishers were to change their position and seek to be paid mechanical royalties by us, and a final judgment were entered by a court requiring that payment, our royalty obligations could increase significantly, which would increase our operating expenses and harm our business and financial interests.
In May 2011, we started streaming spoken word comedy content, for which the underlying literary works are not currently entitled to eligibility for licensing by any performing rights organization for the United States. While pursuant to industry-wide custom and practice this content is performed absent a specific license from any such performing rights organization, there can be no assurance that this will not change or that we will not otherwise become subject to additional licensing costs for spoken word comedy content imposed by performing rights organizations in the future.
If music publishers withdraw all or a portion of their catalogs from performing rights organizations such as ASCAP or BMI, we may be forced to enter into direct licensing agreements with these publishers at rates higher than those we currently pay, or may be unable to reach agreement with these publishers at all, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
In May 2011, EMI Music Publishing, or EMI, announced its decision to withdraw certain licensing rights from ASCAP that EMI had previously authorized ASCAP to manage on its behalf. As a result, ASCAP may no longer be able to license the webcasting of songs from EMIs catalog of musical compositions, and digital music webcasters, such as Pandora, who were previously able to secure licenses from ASCAP for EMI musical compositions may now have to enter into direct licensing arrangements with EMI. Although we continue to be licensed by ASCAP, it is currently unclear what specific effect EMIs limited withdrawal from ASCAP will have on us, or whether other publishers may also choose to withdraw all or a portion of their catalogs from the collection of musical compositions that ASCAP has the authority to license. If we are unable to reach an agreement with respect to the repertoire of EMI or any other music publisher who withdraws all or a portion of its catalog(s) from ASCAP or other performing rights organizations, or if we are forced to enter into direct licensing agreements with publishers at rates higher than those currently set by the performing rights organizations (or the U.S. District Court having supervisory authority over ASCAP and BMI) for the performance of musical works, our ability to stream music content to our listeners may be limited or our operating costs may significantly increase, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
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If we fail to accurately predict and play music or comedy content that our listeners enjoy, we may fail to retain existing and attract new listeners.
We believe that a key differentiating factor between the Pandora service and other music content providers is our ability to predict music that our listeners will enjoy. Our personalized playlist generating system, based on the Music Genome Project and our proprietary algorithms, is designed to enable us to predict listener music preferences and select music content tailored to our listeners individual music tastes. We have invested, and will continue to invest, significant resources in refining these technologies; however, we cannot assure you that such investments will yield an attractive return or that such refinements will be effective. The effectiveness of our personalized playlist generating system depends in part on our ability to gather and effectively analyze large amounts of listener data and listener feedback and we have no assurance that we will continue to be successful in enticing listeners to give a thumbs-up or thumbs-down to enough songs for our database to effectively predict and select new and existing songs. In addition, our ability to offer listeners songs that they have not previously heard and impart a sense of discovery depends on our ability to acquire and appropriately categorize additional tracks that will appeal to our listeners diverse and changing tastes. While we have more than 900,000 tracks in our catalog, we must continuously identify and analyze additional tracks that our listeners will enjoy and we may not effectively do so.
We recently launched comedy on Pandora an offering which is designed to predict comedy content that our listeners will enjoy using technology similar to the technology that we use to generate personalized playlists for music. The risks that apply to predicting our listeners musical tastes apply to comedy to an even greater extent, particularly as we lack experience with content other than music, do not yet have a large set of data on listener preferences for comedy and have a much smaller comedy catalog as compared to music. Our ability to predict and select music or comedy content that our listeners enjoy is critical to the perceived value of our service among listeners and failure to make accurate predictions would adversely affect our ability to attract and retain listeners, increase listener hours and sell advertising.
Loss of agreements with the makers of mobile devices, renegotiation of such agreements on less favorable terms or other actions these third parties may take could harm our business.
Most of our agreements with makers of mobile operating systems and devices through which our service may be accessed, including Apple, RIM and Google, are short term or can be cancelled at any time with little or no prior notice or penalty. The loss of these agreements, or the renegotiation of these agreements on less favorable economic or other terms, could limit the reach of our service and its attractiveness to advertisers. Some of these mobile device makers, including Apple, are now, or may in the future become, competitors of ours, and could stop allowing or supporting access to our service through their products for competitive reasons. Furthermore, because devices providing access to our service are not manufactured and sold by us, we cannot guarantee that these companies will ensure that their devices perform reliably, and any faulty connection between these devices and our service may result in consumer dissatisfaction toward us, which could damage our brand.
We rely upon an agreement with DoubleClick, which is owned by Google, for delivering and monitoring our ads. Failure to renew the agreement on favorable terms, or termination of the agreement, could adversely affect our business.
We use DoubleClicks ad-serving platform to deliver and monitor ads for our service. There can be no assurance that our agreement with DoubleClick, which is owned by Google, will be extended or renewed upon expiration, that we will be able to extend or renew our agreement with DoubleClick on terms and conditions favorable to us or that we could identify another alternative vendor to take its place. Our agreement with DoubleClick also allows DoubleClick to terminate our relationship before the expiration of the agreement on the occurrence of certain events, including material breach of the agreement by us, and to suspend provision of the services if DoubleClick determines that our use of its service violates certain security, technology or content standards.
If we are unable to implement and maintain effective internal control over financial reporting in the future, the accuracy and timeliness of our financial reporting may be adversely affected.
In connection with the preparation of our financial statements for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2011, we concluded there was a material weakness in the design and operating effectiveness of our internal controls over
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financial reporting as defined by the standards established by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. A material weakness is a deficiency, or combination of deficiencies, that creates a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected in a timely manner. The material weakness related to inadequate financial statement preparation, review procedures and controls to ensure that accurate financial statements could be prepared on a timely basis, including insufficient review of account reconciliations that did not identify exceptions or that required journal entries. After implementing new procedures based on the recommendations of our independent registered public accounting firm, we concluded that we have remediated the previously identified material weakness as of January 31, 2012. Although we believe we have addressed the previously identified material weakness, the measures we have taken may not be effective, and we may not be able to implement and maintain effective internal control over financial reporting in the future.
We have recently initiated steps to implement, evaluate and test our internal controls over financial reporting. We have not completed these procedures and until these controls are fully implemented and tested there is a possibility that a material misstatement would not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. We are not currently required to comply with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, and are therefore not currently required to make an assessment of the effectiveness of our internal controls. Our first assessment of the effectiveness of our internal controls will be included within our form 10-K for the year ending January 31, 2013. During the evaluation and testing processes, if we identify one or more material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting, we will be unable to assert that our internal control over financial reporting is effective.
In addition, our independent registered public accounting firms audit for the years ended January 31, 2011 and 2012 included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing their audit procedures, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting. If such an evaluation had been performed, they may have identified additional material weaknesses, significant deficiencies and other control deficiencies. Moreover, when such tests are performed in future reporting periods, material weaknesses, significant deficiencies and other control deficiencies may be identified.
If we are unable to implement and maintain effective internal control over financial reporting, or if our auditors are unable to express an opinion on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting, we could lose investor confidence in the accuracy and completeness of our financial reports, which could have a material adverse effect on the price of our common stock.
Our business and prospects depend on the strength of our brand and failure to maintain and enhance our brand would harm our ability to expand our base of listeners, advertisers and other partners.
Maintaining and enhancing the Pandora brand is critical to expanding our base of listeners, advertisers and other partners. Maintaining and enhancing our brand will depend largely on our ability to continue to develop and provide an innovative and high quality experience for our listeners and attract advertisers, content owners and automobile, mobile device, and other consumer electronic product manufacturers to work with us, which we may not do successfully.
Our brand may be impaired by a number of other factors, including service outages, data privacy and security issues, listener perception of ad load and exploitation of our trademarks by others without permission. Further, if our partners fail to maintain high standards for products that integrate our service, fail to display our trademarks on their products in breach of our agreements with them, or use our trademarks incorrectly or in an unauthorized manner or if we partner with manufacturers of products that our listeners reject, the strength of our brand could be adversely affected. In addition, there is a risk that the word Pandora could become so commonly used that we lose protection for this trademark, which could result in other people using the word Pandora to refer to their own products, thus diminishing the strength of our brand.
We have not historically been required to spend considerable resources to establish and maintain our brand. However, if we are unable to maintain the growth rate in the number of our listeners, we may be required to expend greater resources on advertising, marketing, and other brand-building efforts to preserve and enhance consumer awareness of our brand which would adversely affect our operating results and may not be effective.
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We depend on key personnel to operate our business, and if we are unable to retain, attract and integrate qualified personnel, our ability to develop and successfully grow our business could be harmed.
We believe that our future success is highly dependent on the contributions of our executive officers as well as our ability to attract and retain highly skilled and experienced sales, technical and other personnel. All of our employees, including our executive officers, are free to terminate their employment relationship with us at any time, and their knowledge of our business and industry may be difficult to replace. Qualified individuals are in high demand, particularly in the digital media industry, and we may incur significant costs to attract them. In addition, competition for qualified personnel is particularly intense in the San Francisco Bay Area, where our headquarters are located. If we are unable to attract and retain our executive officers and key employees, we may not be able to achieve our strategic objectives, and our business could be harmed. In addition, we believe that our key executives have developed highly successful and effective working relationships. If one or more of these individuals leave, we may not be able to fully integrate new executives or replicate the current dynamic and working relationships that have developed among our executive officers and other key personnel, and our operations could suffer.
Interruptions or delays in service arising from our own systems or from our third-party vendors could impair the delivery of our service and harm our business.
We rely on systems housed in our own facilities and upon third-party vendors, including bandwidth providers and data center facilities located in California and Virginia, to enable listeners to receive our content in a dependable, timely, and efficient manner. We have experienced and expect to continue to experience periodic service interruptions and delays involving our own systems and those of our third-party vendors. We do not currently maintain a live fail-over capability that would allow us to switch our streaming operations from one facility to another in the event of a service outage. Both our own facilities and those of our third-party vendors are vulnerable to damage or interruption from earthquakes, floods, fires, power loss, telecommunications failures and similar events. They also are subject to break-ins, sabotage, intentional acts of vandalism, the failure of physical, administrative, technical and cyber security measures, terrorist acts, natural disasters, human error, the financial insolvency of our third-party vendors and other unanticipated problems or events. The occurrence of any of these events could result in interruptions in our service and to unauthorized access to, or alteration of, the content and data contained on our systems and that these third-party vendors store and deliver on our behalf.
We exercise no control over our third-party vendors, which makes us vulnerable to any errors, interruptions, or delays in their operations. Any disruption in the services provided by these vendors could have significant adverse impacts on our business reputation, customer relations and operating results. Upon expiration or termination of any of our agreements with third-party vendors, we may not be able to replace the services provided to us in a timely manner or on terms and conditions, including service levels and cost, that are favorable to us, and a transition from one vendor to another vendor could subject us to operational delays and inefficiencies until the transition is complete.
Our operating results may fluctuate, which makes our results difficult to predict and could cause our results to fall short of expectations.
Our revenue and operating results could vary significantly from quarter to quarter and year to year because of a variety of factors, many of which are outside our control. As a result, comparing our operating results on a period to period basis may not be meaningful. In addition to other risk factors discussed in this Risk Factors section, factors that may contribute to the variability of our quarterly and annual results include:
changes in government regulation affecting our business.
Seasonal variations in listener and advertising behavior may also cause fluctuations in our financial results. We expect to experience some effects of seasonal trends in listener behavior due to increased internet usage and sales of media-streaming devices during certain vacation and holiday periods. For example, we expect to experience increased usage during the fourth quarter of each calendar year due to the holiday season, and in the first quarter of each calendar year due to increased use of media-streaming devices received as gifts during the holiday season. We may also experience higher advertising sales during the fourth quarter of each calendar year due to greater advertiser demand during the holiday season. In addition, expenditures by advertisers tend to be cyclical and discretionary in nature, reflecting overall economic conditions, the economic prospects of specific advertisers or industries, budgeting constraints and buying patterns and a variety of other factors, many of which are outside our control. While we believe these seasonal trends have affected and will continue to affect our quarterly results, our trajectory of rapid growth may have overshadowed these effects to date. We believe that our business may become more seasonal in the future and that such seasonal variations in listener behavior may result in fluctuations in our financial results.
Failure to protect our intellectual property could substantially harm our business and operating results.
The success of our business depends on our ability to protect and enforce our trade secrets, trademarks, copyrights and patents and all of our other intellectual property rights, including our intellectual property rights underlying the Pandora service. We attempt to protect our intellectual property under trade secret, trademark, copyright and patent law, and through a combination of employee and third-party nondisclosure agreements, other contractual restrictions, technological measures and other methods. These afford only limited protection. Despite our efforts to protect our intellectual property rights and trade secrets, unauthorized parties may attempt to copy aspects of our song selection technology or obtain and use our trade secrets and other confidential information. Moreover, policing our intellectual property rights is difficult, costly and may not always be effective.
We have filed, and may in the future file, patent applications. It is possible, however, that these innovations may not be protectable. In addition, given the cost, effort, risks and downside of obtaining patent protection, including the requirement to ultimately disclose the invention to the public, we may choose not to seek patent protection for certain innovations. However, such patent protection could later prove to be important to our business. Furthermore, there is always the possibility that our patent applications may not issue as granted patents, that the scope of the protection gained will be insufficient or that an issued patent may be deemed invalid or unenforceable. We also cannot guarantee that any of our present or future patents or other intellectual property rights will not lapse or be invalidated, circumvented, challenged or abandoned, that our intellectual property rights will provide competitive advantages to us, that our ability to assert our intellectual property rights against potential competitors or to settle current or future disputes will not be limited by our relationships with third parties, that any of our pending or future patent applications will have the coverage originally sought, that our intellectual property rights will be enforced in jurisdictions where competition may be intense or where legal protection may be weak, or that we will not lose the ability to assert our intellectual property rights against or to license our technology to others and collect royalties or other payments.
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We have registered Pandora, Music Genome Project and other marks as trademarks in the United States. Nevertheless, competitors may adopt service names similar to ours, or purchase our trademarks and confusingly similar terms as keywords in internet search engine advertising programs, thereby impeding our ability to build brand identity and possibly leading to confusion among our listeners or advertising customers. In addition, there could be potential trade name or trademark infringement claims brought by owners of other registered trademarks or trademarks that incorporate variations of the term Pandora or our other trademarks. Any claims or customer confusion related to our trademarks could damage our reputation and brand and substantially harm our business and operating results.
We currently own the www.pandora.com internet domain name and various other related domain names. Domain names are generally regulated by internet regulatory bodies. If we lose the ability to use a domain name in a particular country, we would be forced either to incur significant additional expenses to market our solutions within that country or to elect not to sell solutions in that country. Either result could harm our business and operating results. The regulation of domain names in the United States and in foreign countries is subject to change. Regulatory bodies could establish additional top-level domains, appoint additional domain name registrars or modify the requirements for holding domain names. As a result, we may not be able to acquire or maintain the domain names that utilize our brand names in the United States or other countries in which we may conduct business in the future.
In order to protect our trade secrets and other confidential information, we rely in part on confidentiality agreements with our employees, consultants and third parties with whom we have relationships. These agreements may not effectively prevent disclosure of trade secrets and other confidential information and may not provide an adequate remedy in the event of misappropriation of trade secrets or any unauthorized disclosure of trade secrets and other confidential information. In addition, others may independently discover our trade secrets and confidential information, and in some such cases we might not be able to assert any trade secret rights against such parties. Costly and time-consuming litigation could be necessary to enforce and determine the scope of our trade secret rights and related confidentiality and nondisclosure provisions, and failure to obtain or maintain trade secret protection, or our competitors obtainment of our trade secrets or independent development of unpatented technology similar to ours or competing technologies, could adversely affect our competitive business position.
Litigation or proceedings before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office or other governmental authorities and administrative bodies in the United States and abroad may be necessary in the future to enforce our intellectual property rights, to protect our patent rights, trademarks, trade secrets and domain names and to determine the validity and scope of the proprietary rights of others. Our efforts to enforce or protect our proprietary rights may be ineffective and could result in substantial costs and diversion of resources and management time, each of which could substantially harm our operating results.
Although we take steps to protect our intellectual property as discussed above, there can be no assurance, however, that changes in law will not be implemented, or changes in interpretation of such laws will occur, that will affect our ability to protect and enforce our patents and other intellectual property, including as a result of the 2011 passage of the America Invents Act of 2011 (which codifies several significant changes to the U.S. patent laws and will remain subject to certain rule-making and interpretation, including changing from a first to invent to a first inventor to file system, limiting where a patentee may file a patent suit, requiring the apportionment of patent damages, replacing interference proceedings with derivation actions, and creating a post-grant opposition process to challenge patents after they have issued).
Assertions by third parties of infringement or other violation by us of their intellectual property rights could result in significant costs and substantially harm our business and operating results.
Internet, technology and media companies are frequently subject to litigation based on allegations of infringement, misappropriation or other violations of intellectual property rights. Some internet, technology and media companies, including some of our competitors, own large numbers of patents, copyrights, trademarks and trade secrets, which they may use to assert claims against us. Third parties have asserted, and may in the future assert, that we have infringed, misappropriated or otherwise violated their intellectual property rights, and as we face increasing competition, the possibility of intellectual property rights claims against us grows. For example, in April
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2011, we were served with a complaint by Augme Technologies, Inc. alleging that we infringed an Augme patent and seeking injunctive relief and monetary damages. Such litigation may involve patent holding companies or other adverse patent owners who have no relevant product revenue, and therefore our own issued and pending patents may provide little or no deterrence to these patent owners in bringing intellectual property rights claims against us. In addition, various federal and state laws and regulations govern the intellectual property rights associated with sound recordings and musical works. Existing laws and regulations are evolving and subject to different interpretations, and various federal and state legislative or regulatory bodies may expand current or enact new laws or regulations. We cannot assure you that we are not infringing or violating any third-party intellectual property rights.
We cannot predict whether assertions of third-party intellectual property rights or any infringement or misappropriation claims arising from such assertions will substantially harm our business and operating results. If we are forced to defend against any infringement or misappropriation claims, whether they are with or without merit, are settled out of court, or are determined in our favor, we may be required to expend significant time and financial resources on the defense of such claims. Furthermore, an adverse outcome of a dispute may require us to pay damages, potentially including treble damages and attorneys fees, if we are found to have willfully infringed a partys intellectual property; cease making, licensing or using solutions that are alleged to infringe or misappropriate the intellectual property of others; expend additional development resources to redesign our solutions; enter into potentially unfavorable royalty or license agreements in order to obtain the right to use necessary technologies, content, or materials; and to indemnify our partners and other third parties. Royalty or licensing agreements, if required or desirable, may be unavailable on terms acceptable to us, or at all, and may require significant royalty payments and other expenditures. In addition, any lawsuits regarding intellectual property rights, regardless of their success, could be expensive to resolve and would divert the time and attention of our management and technical personnel.
We may require additional capital to pursue our business objectives and respond to business opportunities, challenges or unforeseen circumstances. If capital is not available to us, our business, operating results and financial condition may be harmed.
We may require additional capital to operate or expand our business. In addition, some of our current or future strategic initiatives, including entry into non-music content channels, such as comedy, or international markets, may require substantial additional capital resources before they begin to generate revenue. Additional funds may not be available when we need them, on terms that are acceptable to us, or at all. For example, our current credit facility contains restrictive covenants relating to our capital raising activities and other financial and operational matters, and any debt financing secured by us in the future could involve further restrictive covenants, which may make it more difficult for us to obtain additional capital and to pursue business opportunities. In addition, volatility in the credit markets may have an adverse effect on our ability to obtain debt financing. If we do not have funds available to enhance our solutions, maintain the competitiveness of our technology and pursue business opportunities, we may not be able to service our existing listeners, acquire new listeners or attract or retain advertising customers, each of which could inhibit the implementation of our business plan and materially harm our operating results.
We may acquire other companies or technologies, which could divert our managements attention, result in additional dilution to our stockholders and otherwise disrupt our operations and harm our operating results.
We may in the future seek to acquire or invest in businesses, products or technologies that we believe could complement or expand our service, enhance our technical capabilities or otherwise offer growth opportunities. The pursuit of potential acquisitions may divert the attention of management and cause us to incur various expenses in identifying, investigating and pursuing suitable acquisitions, whether or not they are consummated.
In addition, we do not have any experience in acquiring other businesses. If we acquire additional businesses, we may not be able to integrate the acquired personnel, operations and technologies successfully, or effectively manage the combined business following the acquisition. We also may not achieve the anticipated benefits from the acquired business due to a number of factors, including:
use of substantial portions of our available cash to consummate the acquisition.
In addition, a significant portion of the purchase price of companies we acquire may be allocated to acquired goodwill and other intangible assets, which must be assessed for impairment at least annually. In the future, if our acquisitions do not yield expected returns, we may be required to take charges to our operating results based on this impairment assessment process.
Acquisitions could also result in dilutive issuances of equity securities or the incurrence of debt, which could adversely affect our operating results. In addition, if an acquired business fails to meet our expectations, our operating results, business and financial condition may suffer.
We face many risks associated with our long-term plan to expand our operations outside of the United States, including difficulties obtaining rights to stream music on favorable terms.
Expanding our operations into international markets is an element of our long-term strategy. However, offering our service outside of the United States involves numerous risks and challenges. Most importantly, while the DPRA and DMCA provide a statutory licensing regime for the streaming of sound recordings to listeners within the United States, there is no equivalent statutory licensing regime available outside of the United States, and the other licensing alternatives currently available are not commercially viable. Currently, the licensing terms offered by rights organizations and individual copyright owners in countries outside the United States are prohibitively expensive. Addressing licensing structure and royalty rate issues in the United States required us to make very substantial investments of time, capital and other resources, and our business could have failed if such investments had not succeeded. Addressing these issues in foreign jurisdictions may require a commensurate investment by us, and there can be no assurance that we would succeed or achieve any return on this investment.
In addition, international expansion would expose us to other risks such as:
potential adverse tax consequences associated with foreign operations and revenue.
Further, in jurisdictions where copyright protection has been insufficient to protect against widespread music piracy, achieving market acceptance of our service may prove difficult as we would need to convince listeners to stream our service when they could otherwise download the same music for free. As a result of these obstacles, we may find it impossible or prohibitively expensive to enter foreign markets, or entry into foreign markets could be delayed, which could hinder our ability to grow our business.
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Expansion of our operations into non-music content, including our recent launch of comedy, subjects us to additional business, legal, financial and competitive risks.
Expansion of our operations into delivery of non-music content stations involves numerous risks and challenges, including increased capital requirements, new competitors and the need to develop new strategic relationships. For example, in May 2011, we started streaming spoken word comedy content, for which the underlying literary works are not currently entitled to eligibility for licensing by any performing rights organization for the United States. Rather, pursuant to industry-wide custom and practice, this content is performed absent a specific license from any such performing rights organization. Further, growth into this new area may require changes to our existing business model and cost structure, modifications to our infrastructure and exposure to new regulatory and legal risks, any of which may require expertise in which we have little or no experience. There is no guarantee that we will be able to generate sufficient revenue from advertising sales associated with comedy content to offset the costs of maintaining comedy stations. For example, many of the mainstream advertisers that choose to place ads on our music stations may choose not to advertise on our comedy stations because of the sometimes explicit nature of comedy content. Further, we have established a reputation as an online music provider and our ability to gain acceptance and listenership for comedy content stations, and thus our ability to attract advertisers on comedy stations, is not certain. Failure to obtain or retain rights to comedy content on acceptable terms, or at all, to successfully monetize and generate revenues from such content, or to effectively manage the numerous risks and challenges associated with such expansion could adversely affect our revenues and profitability. To the extent we choose, in the future, to offer additional types of content beyond music and comedy, such as news, talk and sports programming, we will be subject to many of these same risks.
Our ability to use our net operating loss carryforwards and certain other tax attributes may be limited.
At January 31, 2012, we had federal net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $100.4 million and tax credit carryforwards of approximately $1.3 million. At January 31, 2012, we had state net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $107.9 million and tax credit carryforwards of approximately of $2.8 million. Under Sections 382 and 383 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code, if a corporation undergoes an ownership change, the corporations ability to use its pre-change net operating loss carryforwards and other pre-change tax attributes, such as research tax credits, to offset its post-change income may be limited. In general, an ownership change will occur if there is a cumulative change in our ownership by 5-percent shareholders that exceeds 50 percentage points over a rolling three-year period. Similar rules may apply under state tax laws. As a result of prior equity issuances and other transactions in our stock, we have previously experienced ownership changes under section 382 of the Code and comparable state tax laws. We may also experience ownership changes in the future as a result of future transactions in our stock. As a result, if we earn net taxable income, our ability to use our pre-change net operating loss carryforwards or other pre-change tax attributes to offset United States federal and state taxable income is subject to limitations.
If we cannot maintain our corporate culture as we grow, we could lose the innovation, teamwork and focus that contribute crucially to our business.
We believe that a critical component of our success is our corporate culture, which we believe fosters innovation, encourages teamwork, cultivates creativity and promotes focus on execution. We have invested substantial time, energy and resources in building a highly collaborative team that works together effectively in a non-hierarchical environment designed to promote openness, honesty, mutual respect and pursuit of common goals. As we continue to develop the infrastructure of a public company and grow, we may find it difficult to maintain these valuable aspects of our corporate culture. Any failure to preserve our culture could negatively impact our future success, including our ability to attract and retain employees, encourage innovation and teamwork and effectively focus on and pursue our corporate objectives.
Federal, state and industry regulations as well as self-regulation related to privacy and data security concerns pose the threat of lawsuits and other liability, require us to expend significant resources, and may hinder our ability and our advertisers ability to deliver relevant advertising.
We collect and utilize demographic and other information, including personally identifiable information, from and about our listeners as they interact with our service. For example, to register for a Pandora account, our listeners must provide the following information: age, gender, zip code and e-mail address. Listeners must also provide their
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credit card or debit card numbers and other billing information in connection with additional service offerings. We also may collect information from our listeners when they enter information on their profile page, post comments on other listeners pages, use other community or social networking features that are part of our service, participate in polls or contests or sign up to receive e-mail newsletters. Further, we and third parties use tracking technologies, including cookies and related technologies, to help us manage and track our listeners interactions with our service and deliver relevant advertising.
Various federal and state laws and regulations govern the collection, use, retention, sharing and security of the data we receive from and about our listeners. Privacy groups and government bodies have increasingly scrutinized the ways in which companies link personal identities and data associated with particular users or devices with data collected through the internet, and we expect such scrutiny to continue to increase. Alleged violations of laws and regulations relating to privacy and data security, and any relevant claims, may expose us to potential liability and may require us to expend significant resources in responding to and defending such allegations and claims. For example, in late 2010 through late 2011, we were named as a defendant in several class action lawsuits alleging, among other things, violations of computer fraud, computer trespass and privacy laws. In addition, in early 2011, we were served with a subpoena to produce documents in connection with a federal grand jury, which we believe was convened to investigate the information sharing processes of certain popular applications that run on the Apple and Android mobile platforms. We complied with the subpoena, and have received no further communication from the agencies conducting the investigation. Claims or allegations that we have violated laws and regulations relating to privacy and data security have resulted and could in the future result in negative publicity and a loss of confidence in us by our listeners and our advertisers, and may subject us to fines by credit card companies and loss of our ability to accept credit and debit card payments.
Existing privacy-related laws and regulations are evolving and subject to potentially differing interpretations, and various federal and state legislative and regulatory bodies may expand current or enact new laws regarding privacy and data security-related matters. We may find it necessary or desirable to join self-regulatory bodies or other privacy-related organizations that require compliance with their rules pertaining to privacy and data security. We also may be bound by contractual obligations that limit our ability to collect, use, disclose, and leverage listener data and to derive economic value from it. New laws, amendments to or re-interpretations of existing laws, rules of self-regulatory bodies, industry standards and contractual obligations, as well as changes in our listeners expectations and demands regarding privacy and data security, may limit our ability to collect, use, and disclose, and to leverage and derive economic value from listener data. We may also be required to expend significant resources to adapt to these changes and to develop new ways to deliver relevant advertising or otherwise provide value to our advertisers. In particular, government regulators have proposed do not track mechanisms, and requirements that users affirmatively opt-in to certain types of data collection that, if enacted into law or adopted by self-regulatory bodies or as part of industry standards, could significantly hinder our ability to collect and use data relating to listeners. Restrictions on our ability to collect, access and harness listener data, or to use or disclose listener data or any profiles that we develop using such data, would in turn limit our ability to stream personalized music content to our listeners and offer targeted advertising opportunities to our advertising customers, each of which are critical to the success of our business.
We have incurred, and will continue to incur, expenses to comply with privacy and security standards and protocols imposed by law, regulation, self-regulatory bodies, industry standards and contractual obligations. Increased regulation of data utilization and distribution practices, including self-regulation and industry standards, could increase our cost of operation, limit our ability to grow our operations or otherwise adversely affect our business.
If our security systems are breached, we may face civil liability and public perception of our security measures could be diminished, either of which would negatively affect our ability to attract listeners and advertisers.
Techniques used to gain unauthorized access are constantly evolving, and we may be unable to anticipate or prevent unauthorized access to data pertaining to our listeners, including credit card and debit card information and other personally identifiable information. Like all internet services, our service, which is supported by our own systems and those of third-party vendors, is vulnerable to computer viruses, internet worms, break-ins, phishing attacks, attempts to overload servers with denial-of-service or other attacks and similar disruptions from unauthorized use of our and third-party vendor computer systems, any of which could lead to system interruptions,
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delays, or shutdowns, causing loss of critical data or the unauthorized access to personally identifiable information. If an actual or perceived breach of security occurs of our systems or a vendors systems, we may face civil liability and public perception of our security measures could be diminished, either of which would negatively affect our ability to attract listeners, which in turn would harm our efforts to attract and retain advertisers. We also would be required to expend significant resources to mitigate the breach of security and to address related matters.
We cannot control the actions of third parties who may have access to the listener data we collect. The integration of the Pandora service with applications provided by third parties represents a significant growth opportunity for us, but we may not be able to control such third parties use of listeners data, ensure their compliance with the terms of our privacy policies, or prevent unauthorized access to, or use or disclosure of, listener information, any of which could hinder or prevent our efforts with respect to growth opportunity. In addition, these third party vendors may become the victim of security breaches, or have practices that may result in a breach and we may be responsible for those third party acts or failures to act.
Any failure, or perceived failure, by us to maintain the security of data relating to our listeners and employees, to comply with our posted privacy policy, laws and regulations, rules of self-regulatory organizations, industry standards, and contractual provisions to which we may be bound, could result in the loss of confidence in us, or result in actions against us by governmental entities or others, all of which could result in litigation and financial losses, and could potentially cause us to lose listeners, advertisers, revenue, and employees.
We are subject to a number of risks related to credit card and debit card payments we accept.
We accept payments exclusively through credit and debit card transactions. For credit and debit card payments, we pay interchange and other fees, which may increase over time. An increase in those fees would require us to either increase the prices we charge for our products, which could cause us to lose subscribers and subscription revenue, or suffer an increase in our operating expenses, either of which could harm our operating results.
If we or any of our processing vendors have problems with our billing software, or the billing software malfunctions, it could have an adverse effect on our subscriber satisfaction and could cause one or more of the major credit card companies to disallow our continued use of their payment products. In addition, if our billing software fails to work properly and, as a result, we do not automatically charge our subscribers credit cards on a timely basis or at all, we could lose subscription revenue, which would harm our operating results.
We are also subject to payment card association operating rules, certification requirements and rules governing electronic funds transfers, which could change or be reinterpreted to make it more difficult for us to comply. Currently, we are implementing the steps that are required for us to become fully compliant with the Payment Card Industry, or PCI, Data Security Standard, or PCI DSS, a security standard with which companies that collect, store, or transmit certain data regarding credit and debit cards, credit and debit card holders, and credit and debit card transactions are required to comply. Our failure to comply fully with PCI DSS may violate payment card association operating rules, federal and state laws and regulations, and the terms of our contracts with payment processors and merchant banks. Such failure to comply fully also may subject us to fines, penalties, damages, and civil liability, and may result in the loss of our ability to accept credit and debit card payments. Further, there is no guarantee that, even if PCI DSS compliance is achieved, we will maintain PCI DSS compliance or that such compliance will prevent illegal or improper use of our payment systems or the theft, loss, or misuse of data pertaining to credit and debit cards, credit and debit card holders and credit and debit card transactions.
If we fail to adequately control fraudulent credit card transactions, we may face civil liability, diminished public perception of our security measures and significantly higher credit card-related costs, each of which could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
If we are unable to maintain our chargeback rate or refund rates at acceptable levels, credit card and debit card companies may increase our transaction fees or terminate their relationships with us. Any increases in our credit card and debit card fees could adversely affect our results of operations, particularly if we elect not to raise our rates for our service to offset the increase. The termination of our ability to process payments on any major credit or debit card would significantly impair our ability to operate our business.
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If we fail to detect click fraud or other invalid clicks on ads, we could lose the confidence of our advertisers, which would cause our business to suffer.
Our business relies on delivering positive results to our advertising customers. We are exposed to the risk of fraudulent and other invalid clicks or conversions that advertisers may perceive as undesirable. A major source of invalid clicks could result from click fraud where a listener intentionally clicks on ads for reasons other than to access the underlying content of the ads. If fraudulent or other malicious activity is perpetrated by others and we are unable to detect and prevent it, or if we choose to manage traffic quality in a way that advertisers find unsatisfactory, the affected advertisers may experience or perceive a reduced return on their investment in our advertising products, which could lead to dissatisfaction with our advertising programs, refusals to pay, refund demands or withdrawal of future business. This could damage our brand and lead to a loss of advertisers and revenue.
Our success depends on our listeners continued high-speed access to the internet and wireless devices and the continued reliability of the related infrastructure.
Because our service is designed primarily to work over the internet, our revenue growth depends on our listeners low cost, high-speed access to the internet, as well as the continued maintenance and development of the internet infrastructure, including the wireless internet infrastructure. The future delivery of our service will depend on third-party internet service providers and wireless telecommunication companies expanding high-speed internet access and wireless networks, maintaining reliable networks with the necessary speed, data capacity and security, and developing complementary products and services for providing reliable and timely wired and wireless internet access and services. The success of our business depends directly on the continued accessibility, maintenance and improvement of the internet and, in particular, access to the internet through wireless infrastructure, to permit high-quality streaming of content and provide a convenient and reliable platform for customer interaction. All of these factors are outside of our control.
To the extent that the internet and the wireless internet infrastructure continue to experience an increasing number of listeners, frequency of use and expanding bandwidth requirements, the internet and wireless networks may become congested and unable to support the demands placed on them, and their performance and reliability may decline. In addition, the wireless communications companies that provide our listeners with access to the internet through wireless networks may raise their rates or impose data usage limits, which could cause our listeners to decrease their usage of our service or our listenership to decline. Any future internet or wireless network outages, interruptions, bandwidth constraints, rate increases or data usage limits could adversely affect our ability to provide service to our listeners and advertising customers.
Some of our services and technologies may use open source software, which may restrict how we use or distribute our service or require that we release the source code of certain services subject to those licenses.
Some of our services and technologies may incorporate software licensed under so-called open source licenses, including, but not limited to, the GNU General Public License and the GNU Lesser General Public License. Such open source licenses typically require that source code subject to the license be made available to the public and that any modifications or derivative works to open source software continue to be licensed under open source licenses. Few courts have interpreted open source licenses, and the manner in which these licenses may be interpreted and enforced is therefore subject to some uncertainty. We rely on multiple software programmers to design our proprietary technologies, and we do not exercise complete control over the development efforts of our programmers and we cannot be certain that our programmers have not incorporated open source software into our proprietary products and technologies or that they will not do so in the future. In the event that portions of our proprietary technology are determined to be subject to an open source license, we could be required to publicly release the affected portions of our source code, re-engineer all or a portion of our technologies, or otherwise be limited in the licensing of our technologies, each of which could reduce or eliminate the value of our services and technologies and materially and adversely affect our ability to sustain and grow our business.
Government regulation of the internet is evolving, and unfavorable developments could have an adverse affect on our operating results.
We are subject to general business regulations and laws, as well as regulations and laws specific to the internet. Such laws and regulations cover taxation, user privacy, data collection and protection, copyrights,
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electronic contracts, sales procedures, automatic subscription renewals, credit card processing procedures, consumer protections, broadband internet access and content restrictions. We cannot guarantee that we have been or will be fully compliant in every jurisdiction, as it is not entirely clear how existing laws and regulations governing issues such as privacy, taxation and consumer protection apply to the internet. Moreover, as internet commerce continues to evolve, increasing regulation by federal, state and foreign agencies becomes more likely. The adoption of any laws or regulations that adversely affect the popularity or growth in use of the internet, including laws limiting internet neutrality, could decrease listener demand for our service offerings and increase our cost of doing business. Future regulations, or changes in laws and regulations or their existing interpretations or applications, could also hinder our operational flexibility, raise compliance costs and result in additional historical or future liabilities for us, resulting in adverse impacts on our business and our operating results.
We could be adversely affected by regulatory restrictions on the use of mobile and other electronic devices in motor vehicles, and legal claims are possible from use of such devices while driving.
Regulatory and consumer agencies have increasingly focused on distraction to drivers that may be associated with use of mobile and other devices in motor vehicles. In 2010, the U.S. Department of Transportation identified driver distraction as a top priority, and in February 2012, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (the NHTSA) proposed new voluntary guidelines for visual-manual devices not related to the driving task that are integrated into motor vehicles. NHTSA also intends to propose guidelines applicable to after-market and portable devices that may be used in motor vehicles. Regulatory restrictions on how drivers and passengers in motor vehicles may engage with devices on which our service is broadcast could inhibit our ability to increase listener hours and generate ad revenue, which would harm our operating results. In addition, concerns over driver distraction due to use of mobile and other electronic devices to access our service in motor vehicles could result in litigation and negative publicity.
We rely on third parties to provide software and related services necessary for the operation of our business.
We incorporate and include third-party software into and with our applications and service offerings and expect to continue to do so. The operation of our applications and service offerings could be impaired if errors occur in the third-party software that we use. It may be more difficult for us to correct any defects in third-party software because the development and maintenance of the software is not within our control. Accordingly, our business could be adversely affected in the event of any errors in this software. There can be no assurance that any third-party licensors will continue to make their software available to us on acceptable terms, to invest the appropriate levels of resources in their software to maintain and enhance its capabilities, or to remain in business. Any impairment in our relationship with these third-party licensors could harm our ability to maintain and expand the reach of our service, increase listener hours and sell advertising each of which could harm our operating results, cash flow and financial condition.
The impact of worldwide economic conditions, including the effect on advertising budgets and discretionary entertainment spending behavior, may adversely affect our business and operating results.
Our financial condition is affected by worldwide economic conditions and their impact on advertising spending. Expenditures by advertisers generally tend to reflect overall economic conditions, and to the extent that the economy continues to stagnate, reductions in spending by advertisers could have a serious adverse impact on our business. In addition, we provide an entertainment service, and payment for our Pandora One subscription service may be considered discretionary on the part of some of our current and prospective subscribers or listeners who may choose to use a competing free service or to listen to Pandora without subscribing. To the extent that overall economic conditions reduce spending on discretionary activities, our ability to retain current and obtain new subscribers could be hindered, which could reduce our subscription revenue and negatively impact our business.
Our business is subject to the risks of earthquakes, fires, floods and other natural catastrophic events and to interruption by man-made problems such as computer viruses or terrorism.
Our systems and operations are vulnerable to damage or interruption from earthquakes, fires, floods, power losses, telecommunications failures, terrorist attacks, acts of war, human errors, break-ins or similar events. For example, a significant natural disaster, such as an earthquake, fire or flood, could have a material adverse impact on our business, operating results and financial condition, and our insurance coverage may be insufficient to
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compensate us for losses that may occur. Our principal executive offices are located in the San Francisco Bay Area, a region known for seismic activity. In addition, acts of terrorism could cause disruptions in our business or the economy as a whole. Our servers may also be vulnerable to computer viruses, break-ins and similar disruptions from unauthorized tampering with our computer systems, which could lead to interruptions, delays, loss of critical data or the unauthorized disclosure of confidential customer data. We currently have very limited disaster recovery capability, and our business interruption insurance may be insufficient to compensate us for losses that may occur. As we rely heavily on our servers, computer and communications systems and the internet to conduct our business and provide high quality service to our listeners, such disruptions could negatively impact our ability to run our business, result in loss of existing or potential listeners and advertisers and increased maintenance costs, which would adversely affect our operating results and financial condition.
Risks Related to Owning Our Common Stock
Our stock price has been and will likely continue to be volatile, and the value of an investment in our common stock may decline.
The trading price of our common stock has been and is likely to continue to be volatile. In addition to the risk factors described in this section and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, factors that may cause the price of our common stock to fluctuate include, but are not limited to:
our actual or anticipated operating performance and the operating performance of similar companies in the internet, radio or digital media spaces;
any major change in our board of directors or management;
publication of research reports about us or our industry or changes in recommendations or withdrawal of research coverage by securities analysts; and
sales or expected sales of shares of our common stock by us, and our officers, directors and significant stockholders.
In addition, the stock market has experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations that often have been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of those affected companies. Securities class action litigation has often been instituted against companies following periods of volatility in the overall market and in the market price of a companys securities. Such litigation, if instituted against us, could result in very substantial costs, divert our managements attention and resources and harm our business, operating results and financial condition.
Future sales of our common stock by stockholders could depress the market price of our common stock.
Sales of substantial amounts of our common stock in the public market, or the perception that such sales could occur, could adversely affect the market price of our common stock. As of January 31, 2012, we had approximately 163.6 million shares of common stock outstanding. Following the expiration in December 2011 of contractual lockup agreements entered into in connection with our initial public offering (IPO), all of these shares are generally freely tradable, except for any shares held by our affiliates as defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act, which may be sold in compliance with the volume restrictions of Rule 144. In addition, we filed a Form S-8 under the Securities Act to register 49,026,295 shares of our common stock for issuance under our equity incentive plans. These shares may be sold in the public market upon issuance and once vested, subject to any restrictions provided under the terms of the applicable plan or award agreement. If these additional shares are sold, or if it is perceived that they will be sold, in the public market, the trading price of our common stock could decline. We also may issue our shares of common stock or securities convertible into our common stock from time to time in connection with a financing, acquisition, investments or otherwise. Any such issuance could result in substantial dilution to our existing stockholders and cause the trading price of our common stock to decline.
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If securities or industry analysts do not publish research, publish inaccurate or unfavorable research about our business, or make projections that exceed our actual results, our stock price and trading volume could decline.
The trading market for our common stock depends in part on the research and reports that securities or industry analysts publish about us or our business. If securities or industry analysts who cover us downgrade our stock or publish inaccurate or unfavorable research about our business, our stock price would likely decline. If one or more of these analysts cease coverage of us or fail to publish reports on us regularly, demand for our stock could decrease, which might cause our stock price and trading volume to decline. Furthermore, such analysts publish their own projections regarding our actual results. These projections may vary widely from one another and may not accurately predict the results we actually achieve. Our stock price may decline if we fail to meet securities and industry analysts projections.
Concentration of ownership among our officers, directors, large stockholders and their affiliates may prevent new investors from influencing corporate decisions.
Our officers, directors, greater than 5% stockholders and their affiliates beneficially own or control, directly or indirectly, a majority of our outstanding common stock. As a result, if some of these persons or entities act together, they will have significant influence over the outcome of matters submitted to our stockholders for approval, including the election of directors and approval of significant corporate transactions, such as a merger or other sale of our company or its assets. This concentration of ownership could limit the ability of other stockholders to influence corporate matters and may have the effect of delaying an acquisition or cause the market price of our stock to decline.
Our charter documents, Delaware law and certain terms of our music licensing arrangements could discourage takeover attempts and lead to management entrenchment.
Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws contain provisions that could delay or prevent a change in control of the Company. These provisions could also make it difficult for stockholders to elect directors that are not nominated by the current members of our board of directors or take other corporate actions, including effecting changes in our management. These provisions include:
a classified board of directors with three-year staggered terms, which could delay the ability of stockholders to change the membership of a majority of our board of directors;
no cumulative voting in the election of directors, which limits the ability of minority stockholders to elect director candidates;
the ability of our board of directors to issue shares of preferred stock and to determine the price and other terms of those shares, including preferences and voting rights, without stockholder approval, which could be used to significantly dilute the ownership of a hostile acquiror;
the exclusive right of our board of directors to elect a director to fill a vacancy created by the expansion of our board of directors or the resignation, death or removal of a director, which prevents stockholders from being able to fill vacancies on our board of directors;
a prohibition on stockholder action by written consent, which forces stockholder action to be taken at an annual or special meeting of our stockholders;
the requirement that a special meeting of stockholders may be called only by the chairman of our board of directors, our president, our secretary, or a majority vote of our board of directors, which could delay the ability of our stockholders to force consideration of a proposal or to take action, including the removal of directors;
the requirement for the affirmative vote of holders of at least 66 2/3% of the voting power of all of the then outstanding shares of the voting stock, voting together as a single class, to amend the provisions of our certificate of incorporation relating to the issuance of preferred stock and management of our business or our bylaws, which may inhibit the ability of an acquiror to effect such amendments to facilitate an unsolicited takeover attempt;
the ability of our board of directors, by majority vote, to amend the bylaws, which may allow our board of directors to take additional actions to prevent an unsolicited takeover and inhibit the ability of an acquiror to amend the bylaws to facilitate an unsolicited takeover attempt; and
advance notice procedures with which stockholders must comply to nominate candidates to our board of directors or to propose matters to be acted upon at a stockholders meeting, which may discourage or deter a potential acquiror from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect the acquirors own slate of directors or otherwise attempting to obtain control of us.
Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law governs us. These provisions may prohibit large stockholders, in particular those owning 15% or more of our outstanding voting stock, from merging or combining with us for a certain period of time. In addition, if we are acquired, certain terms of our music licensing arrangements, including favorable royalty rates that currently apply to us may not be available to an acquiror. These terms may discourage a potential acquiror from making an offer to buy us or may reduce the price such a party may be willing to offer.
ITEM 2.
PROPERTIES
Our principal executive offices are located in Oakland, California in a 48,476-square-foot facility, under a lease expiring on September 30, 2017. We also lease regional offices in Chicago, Illinois; Santa Monica, California; and New York, New York and local sales offices at various locations within those regions.
Our primary data center is hosted by Equinix, a leading provider of hosting services, in San Jose, California, and is designed to be fault tolerant. Backup systems in California and Virginia can be brought online in the event of a failure at the primary data center. The backup sites enable additional fault tolerance and will support our continued growth.
The data centers host the Pandora.com website and intranet applications that are used to manage the website content. The websites are designed to be fault-tolerant, with a collection of identical web servers connecting to an enterprise database. The design also includes load balancers, firewalls and routers that connect the components and provide connections to the internet. The failure of any individual component is not expected to affect the overall availability of our website.
We believe that our current facilities are adequate to meet our needs for the near future and that suitable additional or alternative space will be available on commercially reasonable terms to accommodate our foreseeable future operations.
ITEM 3.
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
The material set forth in Note 5 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K is incorporated herein by reference.
MARKET FOR REGISTRANTS COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Market Information
Our common stock is traded on The New York Stock Exchange (the NYSE) under the symbol P. The following table sets forth the range of high and low sales prices on the NYSE of our common stock for the periods indicated, as reported by the NYSE.
PRICE RANGE OF OUR COMMON STOCK
Our common stock has traded on the NYSE under the symbol P since June 15, 2011. Our initial public offering was priced at $16.00 per share on June 14, 2011
The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the high and low sales prices per share of our common stock as reported on the NYSE.
9.15
On January 31, 2012, the closing price per share of our common stock as reported on the NYSE was $13.19 per share. As of March 12, 2012, there were approximately 101 holders of record of our common stock. The number of beneficial stockholders is substantially greater than the number of holders of record because a large portion of our common stock is held through brokerage firms.
Dividend Policy
We have not declared or paid any cash dividends on our common stock and currently do not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Instead, we intend to retain all available funds and any future earnings for us in the operation and expansion of our business. Any future determination relating to dividend policy will be made at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend on our future earnings, capital requirements, financial condition, future prospects, applicable Delaware law, which provides that dividends are only payable out of surplus or current net profits, and other factors that our board of directors deems relevant. In addition, our credit facility restricts our ability to pay dividends. See Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations Liquidity and Capital Resources Our Indebtedness Credit Facility and note 7 to our financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Equity Compensation Plan Information
For equity compensation plan information refer to Item 12 in Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Stock Price Performance Graph
This performance graph shall not be deemed to be soliciting material or filed or incorporated by reference in future filings with the SEC, or subject to the liabilities of Section 18 of the Exchange Act except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.
The following graph shows a comparison from June 15, 2011 (the date our common stock commenced trading on the NYSE) through January 31, 2011 of the total cumulative return of our common stock with the total
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cumulative return of the New York Stock Exchange Composite Index (the NYSE Composite), the Global X Social Media Index (the SOCL) and the SPDR Morgan Stanley Technology MTK Index (the MTK). The figures represented below assume an investment of $100 in our common stock at the closing price of $17.42 on June 15, 2011 and in the NYSE Composite and MTK on the same date. The SOCL was modeled from the inception of the index on November 15, 2011. Data for the NYSE Composite, MTK and SOCL assume reinvestment of dividends. The comparisons in the graph are historical and are not intended to forecast or be indicative of possible future performance of our common stock.
Comparison of Cumulative Total Return Among Pandora Media, Inc., New
York Stock Exchange Composite Index, Global X Social Media Index and SPDR
Morgan Stanley Technology MTK Index
Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities
Between February 1, 2011 and July 6, 2011 (the date of the filing of our registration statement on Form S-8, No. 333-175378), we (i) granted to our directors, officers, employees and consultants options to purchase 6,534,825 shares of our common stock with per share exercise prices ranging from $3.14 to $16.00 under our 2004 Stock Plan, as amended and (ii) issued and sold an aggregate of 2,695,771 shares of common stock that were not registered under the Securities Act to our directors, officers, employees and consultants pursuant to the exercise of stock options for cash consideration with aggregate exercise proceeds of approximately $0.6 million. These issuances were undertaken in reliance upon the exemption from registration requirements of Rule 701 of the Securities Act. The recipients of these shares of common stock represented their intentions to acquire the shares for investment only and not with a view to or for sale in connection with any distribution, and appropriate legends were affixed to the share book entry records issued in these transactions. All recipients had adequate access, through their relationships with us, to information about us.
Use of Proceeds
On June 14, 2011, our registration statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-172215) was declared effective for our IPO, and on June 20, 2011 we consummated the IPO consisting of 14,684,000 shares of our common stock for
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$16.00 per share, including 6,000,682 shares issued and sold by us. On July 19, 2011, we settled the underwriters exercise of their IPO over-allotment option for an additional 350,000 shares issued and sold by us for $16.00 per share. The underwriters of the offering were Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Citigroup Global Markets, Inc., William Blair & Company, L.L.C., Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC. Following the sale of the shares in connection with the closing of the IPO, the offering terminated. As a result of the offering, including the underwriters over-allotment option, we received total net proceeds of approximately $90.6 million, after deducting total expenses of $11.0 million, consisting of underwriting discounts and commissions of $7.1 million and offering-related expenses of approximately $3.9 million. No payments for such expenses were made directly or indirectly to (i) any of our officers or directors or their associates, (ii) any persons owning 10% or more of any class of our equity securities, or (iii) any of our affiliates other than the payment of certain legal expenses on behalf of our selling stockholders.
Approximately $31.0 million of the net proceeds to us from the IPO, including the over-allotment, were used to pay accrued dividends on our preferred stock. Remaining net offering proceeds have been invested into short-term investment-grade securities and cash equivalents and used for working capital. There has been no material change in the planned use of proceeds from our IPO from that described in the final prospectus filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b)(4) on June 15, 2011.
ITEM 6.
SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
The following selected consolidated financial and other data should be read in conjunction with, and are qualified by reference to, Item 7, Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, and our audited consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes included elsewhere in this report. The consolidated statements of operations and balance sheet data for the fiscal years ended January 31, 2008 and 2009 and the consolidated balance sheet data as of January 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010 were derived from our audited consolidated financial statements not included in this report. The consolidated statements of operations data for the fiscal years ended January 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012 and the consolidated balance sheet data as of January 31, 2011 and 2012 were derived from our audited consolidated financial statements included in this report. The historical results presented below are not necessarily indicative of financial results to be achieved in future periods.
ITEM 7.
MANAGEMENTS DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
You should read the following discussion of our financial condition and results of operations in conjunction with the financial statements and the notes thereto included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The following discussion contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ substantially from those referred to herein due to a number of factors, including but not limited to those discussed below and elsewhere in this report, particularly in the sections entitled Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements and Industry Data and Risk Factors.
Overview
Pandora is the leader in internet radio in the United States, offering a personalized experience for each of our listeners. We have pioneered a new form of radio one that uses intrinsic qualities of music to initially create stations and then adapts playlists in real-time based on the individual feedback of each listener. In January 2012, we had over 125 million registered users, which we define as the total number of accounts that have been created for our service at period end, and we added two new registered users every second on average. For the fiscal year ended January 31, 2012, we streamed 8.2 billon hours of radio and as of January 31, 2012, we had 47 million active users. According to a January 2012 report by Triton, we are one of the top 20 internet radio stations and networks in the United States and we have more than a 69% share of internet radio. Since we launched the Pandora service in 2005, our listeners have created over 2.4 billion stations.
We derive the substantial majority of our revenue from the sale of display, audio and video advertising for delivery across our traditional computer-based, mobile and other connected device platforms. We also offer a paid subscription service to listeners, which we call Pandora One. While historically our revenue growth has been principally attributable to selling display advertising through our traditional computer-based platform, the rapid adoption of our service on mobile and other connected devices is changing this mix. This expansion of our services also presents an opportunity for us to reach our audience anytime, anywhere they enjoy music, and therefore offer additional distribution channels to current and potential advertisers for delivery of their advertising messages.
Growth in our active users and distribution platforms has fueled a corresponding growth in listener hours. Our total number of listener hours is a key driver for both revenue generation opportunities and content acquisition expenses, which are the largest component of our operating expenses:
Revenue. Listener hours define the number of opportunities we have to sell advertisements, which we refer to as inventory. Our ability to attract advertisers depends in large part on our ability to offer sufficient inventory within desired demographics. In turn, our ability to generate revenue depends on the extent to which we are able to sell the inventory we have.
Content Acquisition Expenses. Listener hours drive substantially all of our content acquisition expenses. With respect to each sound recording streamed to each listener, we pay royalties to the copyright owners both of sound recordings and of the underlying musical works, and we record these royalties as content acquisition expenses. Under U.S. law, we are guaranteed the right to stream any lawfully released sound recordings, and royalties are negotiated with and paid through performance rights organizations such as SoundExchange for sound recordings and BMI, ASCAP, and SESAC, for musical works. Royalties are calculated using negotiated rates documented in master royalty agreements and based on sound recordings streamed, revenue earned or other usage measures. If we cannot agree on royalty rates, the dispute will be resolved by the Copyright Royalty Board, or CRB, in the case of SoundExchange, and by the rate court in the case of BMI and ASCAP. In May 2011, we started streaming spoken word comedy content, for which the underlying literary works are not currently entitled to eligibility for licensing by any performing rights organization for the United States. Rather, pursuant to industry-wide custom and practice, this content is performed absent a specific license from any such performing rights organization, however we pay royalties to SoundExchange at federally negotiated rates for the right to stream this spoken word comedy content.
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Given the royalty structures in effect with respect to content acquisition, our content acquisition costs increase with each additional listener hour, regardless of whether we are able to generate more revenue. As such, our ability to achieve operating leverage depends on our ability to increase our revenue per hour of streaming through increased advertising sales.
As our mobile listenership increases, we face new challenges in optimizing our advertising products for delivery on mobile and other connected device platforms. The mobile advertising market is nascent and faces technical challenges due to fragmented platforms and lack of standard audience measurement protocols.
In addition, we expect to increase the number of audio ad campaigns for both traditional computer-based and mobile platforms, placing us in more direct competition with broadcast radio for advertiser spending, and these advertisers predominantly focus on local advertising. By contrast, display advertisers have been predominantly national brands. To successfully sell audio ads, we may have to convince a substantial base of local advertisers of the benefits of advertising on the Pandora service.
In fiscal 2011 and 2012, we substantially increased our expenditures for product development, marketing and sales and general and administrative expenses to generate growth and provide support infrastructure for that anticipated growth. We expect that this increased level of operating expenses will continue into the future.
Our total revenue has grown from $55.2 million in fiscal 2010 to $274.3 million in fiscal 2012. At the same time, our total cost and expenses have grown from $70.6 million in fiscal 2010 to $285.3 million in fiscal 2012, principally as a result of the growth in content acquisition expenses. As the volume of music we stream to listeners increases, our content acquisition expense will also increase, regardless of whether we are able to generate more revenue. In addition, we expect to invest heavily in our operations to support anticipated future growth and public company reporting and compliance obligations. As a result of these factors, we expect to continue to incur operating losses on an annual basis through at least the end of fiscal 2013.
Opportunities, Challenges and Risks
Advertising revenue constitutes the majority of our total revenue, representing 87% of total revenue in both fiscal 2011 and 2012. For fiscal 2012, approximately 50% of our advertising revenue was derived from advertising delivered on mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices, nearly double the percentage derived from fiscal 2011, with the remainder of our revenue relating to web-based advertising on desktop and laptop computers. In addition, listener hours on mobile devices constituted approximately 51% and 65% of our total listener hours for fiscal years 2011 and 2012, respectively, with the remainder of listener hours delivered on desktop and laptop computers. Though the mobile advertising market is currently nascent, over time we see no fundamental difference in the monetization potential between mobile devices and desktop and laptop computers.
Key Metrics:
We track listener hours because it is a key indicator of the growth of our business. We also track the number of active users as an additional indicator of the breadth of audience we are reaching at a given time, which is particularly important to potential advertisers.
We calculate listener hours based on the total bytes served for each track that is requested and served from our servers, as measured by our internal analytics systems, whether or not a listener listens to the entire track. We believe this server-based approach is the best methodology to forecast advertising inventory given that advertisements are frequently served in between tracks and are often served upon triggers such as a listener clicking thumbs-down or choosing to skip a track. To the extent that third-party measurements of listener hours are not calculated using a similar server-based approach, the third-party measurements may differ from our measurements.
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Active users are defined as the number of distinct registered users that have requested audio from our servers within the trailing 30 days to the end of the final calendar month of the period. The number of active users may overstate the number of unique individuals who actively use our service within a month as one individual may register for, and use, multiple accounts.
The tables below set forth our listener hours for fiscal 2010, 2011 and 2012 and our active users as of the end of each of those periods.
(1)
For periods prior to fiscal 2012 presented in this report and have previously reported listener hours for each of the six month, nine month and fiscal year end periods by first rounding the absolute listener hours for each quarter within the period down to the nearest 0.1 billion and then summing the rounded quarterly figures. Beginning with fiscal 2012, listener hours for each period were calculated by rounding the absolute listener hours for that period down to the nearest 0.1 billion. If we applied this new rounding convention to periods prior to fiscal 2012, the resulting numbers would not differ materially from the reported numbers. As a result of this new rounding convention, the sum of the quarterly listener hours may differ from the cumulative period data presented.
Basis of Presentation
Revenue
Advertising Revenue. We generate advertising revenue primarily from display, audio and video advertising, which is typically sold on a cost-per-thousand impressions, or CPM, basis. Advertising campaigns typically range from one to 12 months, and advertisers generally pay us based on a minimum number of delivered impressions or the satisfaction of other criteria, such as click-throughs. We may earn referral revenue when, for example, a listener clicks on an advertisement and signs up for membership with an advertiser. We also have arrangements with advertising agencies and brokers pursuant to which we provide the ability to sell advertising inventory on our service directly to advertisers. We report revenue under these arrangements net of amounts due to agencies and brokers.
In fiscal 2010, 2011 and 2012, advertising revenue accounted for 91%, 87% and 87% of our total revenue, respectively, and we expect that advertising will comprise a substantial majority of revenue for the foreseeable future. In fiscal 2010, 2011 and 2012, Google accounted for 11.4%, 6.3% and 2.7%, respectively, of our total revenue. Pursuant to our arrangements with Google, Google acts as an online advertising agency, delivering relevant ads on our unsold ad space across both our traditional computer and mobile platforms. Google maintains the direct relationships with the advertisers and ad networks, and we receive a portion of the revenue Google derives from these ads, generally earned on a cost-per-click basis. While these cost-per-click arrangements continue to apply unless terminated by either party, Google can terminate these agreements at will. If these agreements with Google are terminated, we may not be able to enter into agreements with alternative third-party ad providers on acceptable terms, or on a timely basis or both.
Our ability to attract advertisers, and ultimately generate advertising revenue, is critical to our financial success. We believe that we provide a unique and commercially attractive advertising opportunity for our advertisers, including the ability to run multi-platform ad campaigns and to present ads while our listeners actively engage with our service. Although advertisers as a whole are spending an increasing amount of their advertising budget on online
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advertising, we face a number of challenges. Specifically, we compete for advertising dollars with significantly larger and more established online marketing and media companies, such as Facebook, Google, MSN and Yahoo!. In addition, our audio advertising products target advertisers that traditionally advertise on broadcast radio and are less familiar with internet radio advertising media.
Subscription Services and Other Revenue. We generate subscription revenue through the sale and activation of access to a premium version of the Pandora service for $36 per year or, on some devices, $4 per month, which currently includes an ad free environment and, on devices that support it, higher quality audio. We receive the full amount of the subscription payment at the time of sale; however, subscription revenue is recognized on a straight-line basis over the subscription period. Until September 2011, for listeners who are not subscribers, we limited usage of our advertising-supported service on desktop and laptop computers to 40 hours per month. Listeners who reached this limit could continue to use this service by paying $0.99 for the remainder of the month. We included this revenue in subscription services and other revenue. In September 2011, we effectively eliminated the 40 hour per month listening cap on desktop and laptop computers by increasing the cap to 320 hours of listening per month, which almost none of our listeners exceed. In fiscal 2012, subscription services and other revenue accounted for 13% of our total revenue.
Deferred Revenue. Our deferred revenue consists principally of both prepaid but unrecognized subscription revenue and advertising fees received or billed in advance of the delivery or completion of the delivery of services. Deferred revenue is recognized as revenue when the services are provided and all other revenue recognition criteria have been met.
Costs and Expenses
Costs and expenses consist of cost of revenue, product development, marketing and sales, general and administrative and content acquisition expenses. Content acquisition expenses are the most significant component of our costs and expenses followed by employee-related costs, which includes stock-based compensation expenses. We expect to continue to hire employees in order to support our anticipated growth as a public company. In any particular period, the timing of additional hires could materially affect our operating expenses, both in absolute dollars and as a percentage of revenue. We anticipate that our costs and expenses will increase in the future.
Cost of Revenue. Cost of revenue consists of hosting costs, infrastructure and the employee and employee-related costs associated with supporting those functions. Hosting costs consist of content streaming, maintaining our internet radio service and creating and serving advertisements through third-party ad servers. Infrastructure costs consist of equipment, software, facilities and depreciation. We make payments to third-party ad servers for the period the advertising impressions or click-through actions are delivered or occur, and accordingly, we record this as a cost of revenue in the related period.
Product Development. Product development expenses consist of employee compensation, information technology, consulting, facilities-related expenses and costs associated with supporting consumer connected-device manufacturers in implementing our service in their products. We incur product development expenses primarily for improvements to our website and the Pandora app, development of new advertising products and development and enhancement of our personalized station(s) generating system. We expense product development as incurred. We intend to continue making significant investments in developing new products and enhancing the functionality of our existing products.
Marketing and Sales. Marketing and sales expenses consist of employee and employee-related costs including salaries, commissions and benefits related to employees in sales, marketing and advertising departments. In addition, marketing and sales expenses include external sales and marketing expenses such as third-party marketing, branding, advertising and public relations expenses, and infrastructure costs such as facility and other supporting overhead costs. We expect marketing and sales expenses to increase as we hire additional personnel to build out our sales force and ad operations team and expand our business development team to establish relationships with manufacturers of an increasing number of connected devices.
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General and Administrative. General and administrative expenses include employee and employee-related costs consisting of salaries and benefits for finance, accounting, legal, internal information technology and other administrative personnel. In addition, general and administrative expenses include professional services costs for outside legal and accounting services, and infrastructure costs for facility, supporting overhead costs and merchant and other transaction costs, such as credit card fees. We expect to incur significant additional expenses in future periods as we continue to invest in corporate infrastructure, including adding personnel and systems to our finance and administrative functions. We also expect to incur additional expenses associated with being a public company, including increased legal and accounting costs, investor relations costs and compliance costs in connection with section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
Content Acquisition. Content acquisition expenses principally consist of royalties paid for streaming music or other content to our listeners. Royalties are calculated using negotiated rates documented in master royalty agreements and are based on both percentage of revenue and listener metrics. For example in fiscal 2012, under some royalty arrangements we pay a fee per track, while in other cases we pay royalties based on a percentage of our revenue. In still other cases we pay royalties based on a combination of these metrics. In fiscal 2010 and 2011 we also paid royalties on a fee per session basis.
We periodically test our royalty calculation methods to ensure we are accurately reporting and paying royalties. The performance rights organizations have the right to audit our playlist and payment records, and any such audit could result in disputes over whether we have paid the proper royalties. If such a dispute were to occur, we could be required to pay additional royalties and the amounts involved could be material.
For royalty arrangements under negotiation, we accrue for estimated royalties based on the available facts and circumstances and adjust these estimates as more information becomes available. The results of any finalized negotiation may be materially different from our estimates.
In July 2009 we, together with other webcasters, negotiated new royalty rates on performances with SoundExchange for calendar years 2006 to 2015. The agreement reduced rates originally established by the Copyright Royalty Board for calendar years 2006 to 2010 and established new rates for calendar years 2011 to 2015.
Provision for Income Taxes. Since our inception, we have been subject to income taxes only in the United States. In the event we expand our operations outside the United States, we will become subject to taxation based on the foreign statutory rates and our effective tax rate could fluctuate accordingly.
Income taxes are computed using the asset and liability method, under which deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the difference between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted statutory income tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to affect taxable income. Valuation allowances are established when necessary to reduce net deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized.
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Results of Operations
The following tables present our results of operations for the periods indicated and as a percentage of total revenue. The period-to-period comparisons of results are not necessarily indicative of results for future periods.
2011 Compared to 2012. Advertising revenue increased $120.6 million due to increases in the number of advertising campaigns enabled by higher listener hours and higher spending on campaigns by our advertisers. Subscription services and other revenue increased $16.0 million due to a 52% increase in the number of Pandora One subscribers.
2010 Compared to 2011. Advertising revenue increased $69.2 million due to increases in the number of advertising campaigns enabled by higher listener hours and higher spending on campaigns by our advertisers. Subscription services and other revenue increased $13.4 million due to a 63% increase in the number of Pandora One subscribers.
Cost and Expenses
11,200
2011 Compared to 2012. Cost of revenue increased $11.2 million due to a $5.8 million increase in hosting services costs as a result of a 109% increase in listener hours, a $2.7 million increase in employee-related expenses driven by a 78% increase in headcount and $2.4 million in higher infrastructure costs.
2010 Compared to 2011. Cost of revenue increased $3.7 million due to a $2.1 million increase in streaming and hosting costs related to an increase in listener hours and the number of campaigns, a $0.7 million increase driven by higher employee-related costs due to approximately 40% higher headcount, and $0.6 million higher depreciation expense due to equipment purchases.
28,760
2011 Compared to 2012. Marketing and sales expenses increased $28.8 million primarily due to $22.5 million higher employee-related costs, driven by a 95% increase in headcount, an increase in external sales and marketing expenses of $3.9 million related to search engine marketing, marketing research and event costs, and $2.0 million in higher infrastructure costs related to facilities and equipment.
2010 Compared to 2011. Marketing and sales expenses increased $18.8 million due to an $8.6 million increase in employee-related costs, driven by approximately 90% higher headcount and a $7.3 million increase in commissions driven by higher revenue and headcount. In addition, marketing and sales expenses increased $2.4 million related to higher customer acquisition and advertising effectiveness survey costs and higher spending for public relations activities.
General and Administrative
21,245
2011 Compared to 2012. General and administrative expenses increased $21.2 million primarily due to a $9.7 million increase in employee-related expenses driven by a 64% increase in headcount, higher compensation, a $7.7 million increase in professional services fees, and a $2.9 million increase in infrastructure costs.
2010 Compared to 2011. General and administrative expenses increased $7.8 million primarily due to a $5.3 million increase in employee-related costs driven by approximately 195% higher headcount and higher legal, accounting and other consulting costs. In addition, general and administrative expenses were higher by $1.6 million primarily due to merchant and other transaction costs.
2011 Compared to 2012. Total other income (expense) increased $3.7 million primarily driven by a $3.6 million increase in expenses due to the increase in the fair value of our preferred stock warrants liability.
2010 Compared to 2011. Total other income (expense) remained largely flat as an expense increase of $0.6 million related to the change in the fair value of our convertible preferred stock warrant liability was offset by $0.6 million due to lower interest charges on royalty payments in fiscal 2011 compared to fiscal 2010.
Provision for Income Taxes
2011 Compared to 2012. The state income tax provision decreased by $59,000 from $134,000 to $75,000 as a result of generating tax losses during fiscal year 2012.
2010 Compared to 2011. The state income tax provision increased by $0.1 million as a result of taxable income that was recognized in certain states. The state taxable income was primarily generated as a result of certain states disallowing bonus depreciation and the utilization of net operating loss carryovers.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
As of January 31, 2012 we had cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments totaling $90.6 million, which consisted of cash and money market funds held at major financial institutions, debt instruments of the U.S. government and its agencies, commercial paper and investment-grade corporate debt securities. In connection with our IPO in June 2011, we received aggregate proceeds of $94.5 million which included the exercise of the underwriters overallotment option, net of underwriters discounts and commissions but before deducting offering expenses of $3.9 million. We used approximately $31.0 million of these proceeds to pay accrued dividends on our preferred stock, which was converted to common stock in connection with the IPO. Prior to our IPO, we financed our operations primarily through private sales of equity and, to a lesser extent, from borrowings. Our principal uses of cash during the fiscal year ending January 31, 2012 were funding our operations, debt service payments, as described below, and capital expenditures.
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Sources of Funds
We believe, based on our current operating plan, that our existing cash and cash equivalents and available borrowings under our credit facility will be sufficient to meet our anticipated cash needs for at least the next 12 months.
From time to time, we may explore additional financing sources and means to lower our cost of capital, which could include equity, equity-linked and debt financing. In addition, in connection with any future acquisitions, we may require additional funding which may be provided in the form of additional debt, equity or equity-linked financing or a combination thereof. There can be no assurance that any additional financing will be available to us on acceptable terms.
Our Indebtedness
Credit Facility. On May 13, 2011, we entered into a $30 million credit facility with a syndicate of financial institutions. The amount of borrowings available under the credit facility at any time is based on our monthly accounts receivable balance at such time, and the amounts borrowed are collateralized by our personal property (including such accounts receivable but excluding intellectual property). At our option, drawn amounts under the credit facility will bear an interest rate of either (i) an adjusted London Interbank offered, or LIBO, rate plus (A) 3.00% (if the debt outstanding is greater than or equal to $15 million) or (B) 2.75% (if the debt outstanding is less than $15 million) or (ii) an alternate base rate plus (x) 2.00% (if the debt outstanding is greater than or equal to $15 million) or (y) 1.75% (if the debt outstanding is less than $15 million). The adjusted LIBO rate is the LIBO rate for a particular interest period multiplied by the statutory reserve rate. The alternate base rate is the greatest of the prime rate, the federal funds effective rate plus 0.5% and the adjusted LIBO rate plus 1%. In addition, we are obligated to pay a non-usage charge on the available balance. The non-usage charge is 0.5% if the debt outstanding is greater than or equal to $15 million or 0.625% if the debt outstanding is less than $15 million. Under the credit facility, we can request up to $5 million in letters of credit be issued by the financial institutions. The annual charge for any outstanding letters of credit is 2.75% (if the debt/letters of credit outstanding is less than $15 million) or 3.00% (if the debt/letters of credit outstanding is greater than or equal to $15 million).
The credit facility contains customary events of default, conditions to borrowing and covenants, including restrictions on our ability to dispose of assets, make acquisitions, incur debt, incur liens and make distributions to stockholders. The credit facility also includes a financial covenant requiring the maintenance of minimum liquidity of at least $5 million. During the continuance of an event of a default, the lenders may accelerate amounts outstanding, terminate the credit facility and foreclose on all collateral. Any inability to meet our debt service obligation could have material consequences on our security holders.
On December 30, 2011, we entered into a cash collateral agreement in connection with the issuance of letters of credit totaling $520,000 which were used to satisfy deposit requirements under facility leases. As a result, our available borrowing capacity under the credit facility was reduced to $29.48 million. As of January 31, 2012, the $520,000 cash collateral was considered to be restricted cash. The amount is included in other assets on the Companys balance sheet.
Capital Expenditures
Consistent with previous periods, future capital expenditures will primarily focus on acquiring additional hosting and general corporate infrastructure. Based on current estimates, we believe that our anticipated capital expenditures will be adequate to implement our current plans.
Operating Activities
In fiscal 2012, net cash provided by operating activities was $5.9 million, including our net loss of $16.1 million and non-cash charges of $18.9 million. In addition, cash provided by operating activities from changes in operating assets and liabilities included an increase in accrued royalties of $15.7 million due to an increase in listening hours and an increase in accrued compensation of $8.1 million related to higher employee bonus compensation due to the timing of payments. Cash provided by operating activities also included $3.3 million higher deferred revenue primarily related to an increase in customers purchasing subscriptions for Pandora One, largely offset by an increase in accounts receivable of $24.5 million primarily due to increased billings.
In fiscal 2011, net cash provided by operating activities was $3.2 million, including our net loss of $1.8 million and non-cash charges of $4.1 million. In addition, cash outflows from changes in operating assets and liabilities included an increase in accounts receivable of $23.0 million related to higher advertising sales. Cash inflows from changes in operating assets and liabilities included an increase in deferred revenue of $9.8 million primarily related to an increase in customers purchasing subscriptions for Pandora One and an increase in accrued royalties of $9.0 million due to the timing of royalty payments and increase in the number of listeners.
In fiscal 2010, we used $27.5 million in operating activities, including our net loss of $16.8 million, partially offset by non-cash charges of $2.1 million. In addition, cash outflows from changes in operating assets and liabilities included an increase in accounts receivable of $14.9 million related to higher advertising sales and a decrease in accrued royalties of $2.2 million due to the timing of royalty payments. Cash inflows from changes in operating assets and liabilities included an increase in deferred revenue of $5.6 million primarily related to an increase in customers purchasing subscriptions to our Pandora One service.
Investing Activities
Cash used in investing activities in fiscal 2012 was $59.1 million consisting of $66.9 million for the purchase of short-term investments and $11.6 million primarily for capital expenditures for leasehold improvements and server equipment, partially offset by $20.0 million in maturities of short-term investments.
Cash used in investing activities in fiscal 2011 was $7.9 million consisting primarily of capital expenditures of $8.3 million, primarily for server equipment, partially offset by lower restricted cash requirements.
Cash used in investing activities in fiscal 2010 was $1.6 million consisting primarily of capital expenditures of $1.9 million, primarily for server equipment, partially offset by lower restricted cash requirements.
Financing Activities
Cash provided by financing activities in fiscal 2012 was $54.3 million consisting of cash proceeds of $90.6 million from issuance of common stock in our IPO, net of cash paid for issuance costs partially offset by the payment of $31.0 million in dividends upon conversion of the redeemable convertible preferred stock concurrent with the closing of our IPO, and repayment of all outstanding debt for $7.6 million.
Cash provided by financing activities in fiscal 2011 was $31.6 million consisting primarily of net proceeds of $22.2 million from the issuance of 8.1 million shares of Series G redeemable convertible preferred stock and proceeds from the issuance of both vested and unvested common stock of $6.1 million.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
As of January 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012, we did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements.
Quarterly Trends
Our operating results fluctuate from quarter to quarter as a result of a variety of factors. We expect our operating results to continue to fluctuate in future quarters.
Our results may reflect the effects of some seasonal trends in listener behavior due to increased internet usage and sales of media-streaming devices during certain vacation and holiday periods. For example, we expect to experience increased usage during the fourth quarter of each calendar year due to the holiday season, and in the first quarter of each calendar year due to increased use of media-streaming devices received as gifts during the holiday season. We may also experience higher advertising sales during the fourth quarter of each calendar year due to greater advertiser demand during the holiday season and lower advertising sales during the first quarter of each calendar year due to seasonally adjusted advertising demand. While we believe these seasonal trends have affected and will continue to affect our operating results, our trajectory of rapid growth may have overshadowed these effects to date. We believe that our business may become more seasonal in the future and that such seasonal variations in listener behavior may result in fluctuations in our financial results.
In addition, expenditures by advertisers tend to be cyclical and discretionary in nature, reflecting overall economic conditions, the economic prospects of specific advertisers or industries, budgeting constraints and buying patterns and a variety of other factors, many of which are outside our control. For example, an advertiser which accounted for more than 10% of our advertising revenue for the first two quarters of fiscal 2012 did not meet this threshold for the third and fourth quarters of fiscal 2012. As a result of these and other factors, the results of any prior quarterly or annual periods should not be relied upon as indications of our future operating performance.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Our financial statements are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, or U.S. GAAP. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue, expenses and related disclosures. We evaluate our estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis. Our estimates are based on historical experience and various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Our actual results could differ from these estimates.
We believe that the assumptions and estimates associated with our revenue recognition, allowance for doubtful accounts, stock based compensation, stock option grants and common stock valuations, and accounting for income taxes have the greatest potential impact on our financial statements. Therefore, we consider these to be our critical accounting policies and estimates.
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Revenue Recognition
We recognize revenue when four basic criteria are met: (1) persuasive evidence exists of an arrangement with the customer reflecting the terms and conditions under which the products or services will be provided; (2) delivery has occurred or services have been provided; (3) the fee is fixed or determinable; and (4) collection is reasonably assured. We consider a signed agreement, a binding insertion order or other similar documentation to be persuasive evidence of an arrangement. Collectability is assessed based on a number of factors, including transaction history and the creditworthiness of a customer. If it is determined that collection is not reasonably assured, revenue is not recognized until collection becomes reasonably assured, which is generally upon receipt of cash. We record cash received in advance of revenue recognition as deferred revenue.
Advertising Revenue
We generate the majority of our revenue through the delivery of advertising impressions sold on a cost per thousand, or CPM, basis. We generally recognize revenue based on delivery information from our campaign trafficking systems. We record revenue from these performance-based actions when we receive third-party verification reports supporting the number of actions performed in the period. We generally have audit rights to the underlying data summarized in these reports.
Subscription Services and Other Revenue
Subscription revenue is generated through the sale of a premium version of the Pandora service which currently includes higher audio quality and advertisement-free access. Subscription revenue is recognized on a straight-line basis over the length of the subscription period.
Until September 2011, a small portion of subscription revenue was also generated from usage-based fees when a listener who did not have access to a premium version of the Pandora service reached a maximum number of listening hours on traditional computers in a given month. The listener was required to pay a nominal fee to continue the advertising-supported listening experience on traditional computers for the remainder of the month. Revenue from usage-based fees was recognized in the month the maximum number of listening hours was exceeded. In September 2011, we effectively eliminated the 40 hour per month listening cap on desktop and laptop computers by increasing the cap to 320 hours of listening per month, which almost none of our listeners exceed.
Revenue Recognition for Multiple-Element Arrangements
We enter into arrangements with customers to sell advertising packages that include different media placements or ad services that are delivered at the same time, or within close proximity of one another. Because we had not yet established the fair value for each element and our agreements contain mid-campaign cancellation clauses, advertising sales revenue prior to February 1, 2011 was recognized as the lowest of (1) revenue calculated on a time-based straight-line basis over the term of the contract, (2) revenue calculated on a proportional performance basis, based on CPM for the entire campaign multiplied by the number of impressions delivered to date and (3) revenue based on the delivered media and price as specified on the applicable insertion order. Significant creative or engineering professional services provided adjunct to a campaign are not considered to have standalone value. As a result, we recognized revenue for all elements of multiple-element arrangements as a single unit of accounting over the delivery period.
Beginning on February 1, 2011, we adopted new authoritative guidance on multiple element arrangements using the prospective method for all arrangements entered into or materially modified from the date of adoption. Under this new guidance we allocate arrangement consideration in multiple-deliverable revenue arrangements at the inception of an arrangement to all deliverables or those packages in which all components of the package are delivered at the same time, based on the relative selling price method in accordance with the selling price hierarchy, which includes: (1) vendor-specific objective evidence, or VSOE, if available; (2) third-party evidence, or TPE, if VSOE is not available; and (3) best estimate of selling price, or BESP, if neither VSOE nor TPE is available. BESP is generally used to allocate the selling price to deliverables in our multiple element arrangements. We determine BESP for deliverables by considering multiple factors including, but not limited to, prices we charge for similar offerings, sales volume, market conditions, competitive landscape and pricing practices. We recognize the relative
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fair value of the media placements or ad services as they are delivered assuming all other revenue recognition criteria are met. As a result of implementing this recent authoritative guidance, we recognized $3.0 million as revenue in the fiscal year ended January 31, 2012 that would have been deferred under the previous guidance for multiple element arrangements.
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
We maintain an allowance for doubtful accounts receivable based upon historical loss patterns, the number of days billings are past due and an evaluation of the potential risk of loss associated with delinquent accounts.
Stock-Based Compensation
We measure stock-based compensation expenses for employees at the grant date fair value of the award, and recognize expenses on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period, which is generally the vesting period. We account for stock options issued to non-employees in accordance with the guidance for equity-based payments to non-employees. We believe that the fair value of stock options is more reliably measured than the fair value of the services received. As such, the fair value of the unvested portion of the options granted to non-employees is re-measured each period. The resulting increase in value, if any, is recognized as expense during the period the related services are rendered.
We estimate the fair value of stock-based payment awards using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The determination of the fair value of a stock-based award on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model is affected by our stock price on the date of grant as well as assumptions regarding a number of complex and subjective variables. These variables include our expected stock price volatility over the expected term of the award, actual and projected employee stock option exercise behaviors, the risk-free interest rate for the expected term of the award and expected dividends. The value of the portion of the award that is ultimately expected to vest is recognized as expense in our statements of operations.
Prior to our IPO, our board of directors considered numerous objective and subjective factors to determine the fair market value of our common stock at each meeting at which stock options were granted and approved.
Stock-based compensation expenses are classified in the statement of operations based on the department to which the related employee reports. Our stock-based awards are comprised principally of stock options and restricted stock unit awards.
Accounting for Income Taxes
We account for our income taxes using the asset and liability method, which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in our financial statements or in our income tax returns. Deferred income taxes are recognized for differences between financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities at the enacted statutory income tax rates in effect for the years in which the temporary differences are expected to reverse. The effect on deferred taxes of a change in income tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. We evaluate the realizability of our deferred tax assets and valuation allowances are provided when necessary to reduce net deferred tax assets to the amounts expected to be realized.
We recognize a tax benefit from an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities, based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefits recognized in the financial statements from such positions are then measured based on the largest benefit that has a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon settlement. We will recognize interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in our income tax provision in the accompanying statement of operations.
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We calculate our current and deferred income tax provision based on estimates and assumptions that could differ from the actual results reflected in income tax returns filed in subsequent years. Adjustments based on filed income tax returns are recorded when identified. The amount of income taxes we pay is subject to examination by U.S. federal and state tax authorities. Our estimate of the potential outcome of any uncertain tax issue is subject to managements assessment of relevant risks, facts and circumstances existing at that time. To the extent that our assessment of such tax positions change, the change in estimate is recorded in the period in which the determination is made.
Item 7A.
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
We have operations wholly within the United States and we are exposed to market risks in the ordinary course of our business, including interest rate and inflation risks.
Interest Rate Fluctuation Risk
Our exposure to interest rates relates to the increase or decrease in the amount of interest we must pay on our outstanding debt instruments. On May 13, 2011, we entered into a $30 million credit facility with a syndicate of financial institutions. Any outstanding borrowings under the credit facility bear a variable interest rate and therefore the interest we pay as well as the fair value of our outstanding borrowings will fluctuate as changes occur in certain benchmark interest rates. As of January 31, 2012, we had drawn $0 million under the credit facility but had $520,000 of letters of credit outstanding.
The primary objective of our investment activities is to preserve principal while maximizing income without significantly increasing risk. Approximately half of our portfolio consists of cash and cash equivalents that have a relatively short maturity, and a fair value relatively insensitive to interest rate changes. Our fixed-income marketable securities have maturities of less than six months, but do carry some degree of interest rate risk and may have their fair market values adversely impacted by higher interest rates. We do not believe that a hypothetical 10% increase in interest rates as of January 31, 2012 would have had a material impact on our investment portfolio. We have currently determined, consistent with our investment objectives, that the potential increase in yield would not warrant investing our excess cash in longer-term investments. In future periods, we will continue to evaluate our investment policy in order to ensure that we continue to meet our overall objectives.
Inflation Risk
We do not believe that inflation has had a material effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations. If our costs were to become subject to significant inflationary pressures, we may not be able to fully offset such higher costs through price increases. Our inability or failure to do so could harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Board of Directors and Stockholders
Pandora Media, Inc.
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Pandora Media, Inc. as of January 31, 2011 and 2012, and the related consolidated statements of operations, redeemable convertible preferred stock and stockholders equity (deficit), and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended January 31, 2012. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Companys management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. We were not engaged to perform an audit of the Companys internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Companys internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Pandora Media, Inc. at January 31, 2011 and 2012, and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended January 31, 2012, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
As discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, under the heading Revenue Recognition, the Company changed its method of accounting for revenue recognition as a result of the adoption of amendments to the FASB Accounting Standards Codification resulting from Accounting Standards Update No. 2009-13, Multiple-Deliverable Revenue Arrangements, effective February 1, 2011.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
1.
Description of Business and Basis of Presentation
Pandora Media, Inc. (the Company or Pandora) provides an internet radio service in the United States, offering a personalized experience for each of its listeners. The Company has developed a form of radio that uses intrinsic qualities of music to initially create stations that then adapt playlists in real-time based on the individual feedback of each listener.
The Company was incorporated as a California corporation in January 2000 and reincorporated as a Delaware corporation in December 2010.
Initial Public Offering
In June 2011, the Company completed its initial public offering (IPO) whereby 14,684,000 shares of common stock were sold to the public at a price of $16.00 per share. The Company sold 6,000,682 common shares and selling stockholders sold 8,683,318 common shares. In July 2011, in connection with the exercise of the underwriters overallotment option, 350,000 additional shares of common stock were sold to the public at the initial offering price of $16.00 per share. The Company received aggregate proceeds of $94.5 million from the initial public offering and the underwriters overallotment option, net of underwriters discounts and commissions but before deducting offering expenses of $3.9 million. Upon the closing of the IPO, all shares of the Companys outstanding redeemable convertible preferred stock automatically converted into 137,542,912 shares of common stock and outstanding warrants to purchase redeemable convertible preferred stock automatically converted into warrants to purchase 154,938 shares of common stock.
Basis of Presentation
The consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (U.S. GAAP). The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. In the opinion of the Companys management, the consolidated financial statements include all adjustments, which include only normal recurring adjustments, necessary for the fair presentation of the Companys financial position for the periods presented.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make certain estimates, judgments, and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the related disclosures at the date of the financial statements, as well as the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the periods presented. Estimates are used for determining selling prices for elements sold in multiple-element arrangements, the allowance for doubtful accounts, the fair value of common stock through the date of the IPO, stock-based compensation, fair values of investments and income taxes, and accrued royalties. To the extent there are material differences between these estimates, judgments, or assumptions and actual results, the Companys financial statements could be affected. In many cases, the accounting treatment of a particular transaction is specifically dictated by U.S. GAAP and does not require managements judgment in its application. There are also areas in which managements judgment in selecting among available alternatives would not produce a materially different result.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - Continued
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Revenue Recognition
The Companys revenue is principally derived from advertising services and subscription fees.
The Company recognizes revenue when: (1) persuasive evidence exists of an arrangement with the customer reflecting the terms and conditions under which products or services will be provided; (2) delivery has occurred or services have been provided; (3) the fee is fixed or determinable; and (4) collection is reasonably assured. For all revenue transactions, the Company considers a signed agreement, a binding insertion order or other similar documentation to be persuasive evidence of an arrangement.
Advertising Revenue. The Company generates advertising revenue primarily from display, audio and video advertising. The Company generates the majority of its advertising revenue through the delivery of advertising impressions sold on a cost per thousand, or CPM, basis. In determining whether an arrangement exists, the Company ensures that a binding arrangement, such as an insertion order or a fully executed customer-specific agreement, is in place. The Company generally recognizes revenue based on delivery information from its campaign trafficking systems.
The Company also generates advertising revenue pursuant to arrangements with advertising agencies and brokers. Under these arrangements, the Company provides the agencies and brokers the ability to sell advertising inventory on the Companys service directly to advertisers. The Company reports this revenue net of amounts due to agencies and brokers because the Company is not the primary obligor under these arrangements, the Company does not set the pricing, and does not establish or maintain the relationship with the advertisers.
Subscription and Other Revenue. The Company generates subscription services revenue through the sale of access to a premium version of Pandora internet radio, or Pandora One. Subscription revenue is recognized on a straight-line basis over the subscription period.
Until September 2011, a small portion of subscription revenue was also generated from usage-based fees when a listener who did not have access to a premium version of the Pandora service reached a maximum number of listening hours on traditional computers in a given month. The listener was required to pay a nominal fee to continue the advertising-supported listening experience on traditional computers for the remainder of the month. Revenue from usage based fees was recognized in the month the maximum number of listening hours was exceeded. In September 2011, the Company effectively eliminated the 40 hour per month listening cap on desktop and laptop computers by increasing the cap to 320 hours of listening per month, which almost none of our listeners exceed.
Deferred Revenue. Deferred revenue consists of both prepaid but unrecognized subscription revenue and advertising fees received or billed in advance of the delivery or completion of the services or in instances when revenue recognition criteria have not been met. Deferred revenue is recognized when the services are provided and all revenue recognition criteria have been met.
Multiple-Element Arrangements. The Company enters into arrangements with customers to sell advertising packages that include different media placements or ad services that are delivered at the same time, or within close proximity of one another.
For the fiscal years ended January 31, 2010 and 2011, because the Company had not yet established the fair value for each element and the Companys agreements contained mid-campaign cancellation clauses, advertising sales revenue was recognized as the lesser of (1) revenue calculated on a time-based straight-line basis over the term of the contract, (2) revenue calculated on a proportional performance basis, based on an average CPM rate for the entire campaign multiplied by the number of impressions delivered to date, and (3) revenue earned on the delivered media and price as specified on the applicable insertion order.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - Continued
Beginning on February 1, 2011, the Company adopted new authoritative guidance on multiple element arrangements, using the prospective method for all arrangements entered into or materially modified from the date of adoption. Under this new guidance, the Company allocates arrangement consideration in multiple-deliverable revenue arrangements at the inception of an arrangement to all deliverables or those packages in which all components of the package are delivered at the same time, based on the relative selling price method in accordance with the selling price hierarchy, which includes: (1) vendor-specific objective evidence (VSOE) if available; (2) third-party evidence (TPE) if VSOE is not available; and (3) best estimate of selling price (BESP) if neither VSOE nor TPE is available.
VSOE. The Company determines VSOE based on its historical pricing and discounting practices for the specific product or service when sold separately. In determining VSOE, the Company requires that a substantial majority of the selling prices for these services fall within a reasonably narrow pricing range. The Company has not historically priced its advertising products within a narrow range. As a result, the Company has not been able to establish VSOE for any of its advertising products.
TPE. When VSOE cannot be established for deliverables in multiple element arrangements, the Company applies judgment with respect to whether it can establish a selling price based on TPE. TPE is determined based on competitor prices for similar deliverables when sold separately. Generally, the Companys go-to-market strategy differs from that of its peers and its offerings contain a significant level of differentiation such that the comparable pricing of services cannot be obtained. Furthermore, the Company is unable to reliably determine what similar competitor services selling prices are on a stand-alone basis. As a result, the Company has not been able to establish selling price based on TPE.
BESP. When it is unable to establish selling price using VSOE or TPE, the Company uses BESP in its allocation of arrangement consideration. The objective of BESP is to determine the price at which the Company would transact a sale if the service were sold on a stand-alone basis. BESP is generally used to allocate the selling price to deliverables in the Companys multiple element arrangements. The Company determines BESP for deliverables by considering multiple factors including, but not limited to, prices it charges for similar offerings, market conditions, competitive landscape and pricing practices. The Company limits the amount of allocable arrangement consideration to amounts that are fixed or determinable and that are not contingent on future performance or future deliverables. The Company regularly reviews BESP. Changes in assumptions or judgments or changes to the elements in the arrangement may cause an increase or decrease in the amount of revenue that the Company reports in a particular period.
The Company recognizes the relative fair value of the media placements or ad services as they are delivered assuming all other revenue recognition criteria are met.
Concentration of Credit Risk
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist principally of cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments and trade accounts receivable. The Company maintains cash and cash equivalents with domestic financial institutions of high credit quality. The Company performs periodic evaluations of the relative credit standing of all of such institutions.
The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of customers to assess the probability of accounts receivable collection based on a number of factors, including past transaction experience with the customer, evaluation of their credit history, and review of the invoicing terms of the contract. The Company generally does not require collateral. The Company maintains reserves for potential credit losses on customer accounts when deemed necessary. Actual credit losses during the fiscal years ended January 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012 were not significant.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - Continued
For the fiscal year ended January 31, 2010 the Company had one customer that accounted for 11% of total revenue. For the fiscal years ended January 31, 2011 and 2012 the Company had no customer that accounted for 10% or more of total revenue.
As of January 31, 2011 and 2012 there were no customers that accounted for 10% or more of the Companys total accounts receivable.
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-term Investments
The Company classifies its highly liquid investments with maturities of three months or less at the date of purchase as cash equivalents. The Companys short-term investments consist of commercial paper, corporate debt securities and U.S. agency notes. These investments are classified as available-for-sale securities and are carried at fair value with the unrealized gains and losses reported as a component of stockholders equity. Management determines the appropriate classification of its investments at the time of purchase and reevaluates the available-for-sale designations as of each balance sheet date. The Company classifies its investments as either short-term or long-term based on each instruments underlying contractual maturity date. Investments with maturities of less than 12 months are classified as short-term and those with maturities greater than 12 months are classified as long-term. The cost of investments sold is based upon the specific identification method.
Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
Accounts receivable are recorded net of an allowance for doubtful accounts. The Companys allowance for doubtful accounts is based upon historical loss patterns, the number of days that billings are past due and an evaluation of the potential risk of loss associated with delinquent accounts. The Company also considers any changes to the financial condition of its customers and any other external market factors that could impact the collectability of its receivables in the determination of its allowance for doubtful accounts.
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment is recorded at cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method based on the estimated useful lives of the assets as follows:
Shorter of the estimated useful life of 5 years or the lease term
Property and equipment is reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of these assets is measured by a comparison of the carrying amounts to the future undiscounted cash flows the assets are expected to generate. If property and equipment are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized equals the amount by which the carrying value of the asset exceeds its fair market value.
During the fiscal year ended January 31, 2012 the Company wrote off approximately $0.3 million in information technology infrastructure assets net of accumulated depreciation.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - Continued
Internal Use Software and Website Development Costs
Costs incurred to develop software for internal use are required to be capitalized and amortized over the estimated useful life of the asset if certain criteria are met. Costs related to design or maintenance of internal-use software are expensed as incurred. The Company evaluates the costs incurred during the application development stage of website development to determine whether the costs meet the criteria for capitalization. Costs related to preliminary project activities and post implementation activities are expensed as incurred. As of January 31, 2011, the Company had not incurred material costs related to internal use software and website development and such costs that were capitalized were not material. As of January 31, 2012, the Company had incurred and capitalized approximately $100,000 related to internal use software and website development costs.
Preferred Stock Warrant
Prior to the Companys IPO, warrants to purchase the Companys redeemable convertible preferred stock were classified as liabilities on the Companys balance sheet. The Company measured these warrants at fair value at each balance sheet date and any changes in fair value were recognized as a component of other income (expense) in the Companys statements of operations. The Companys preferred stock warrants were categorized as Level 3 because the fair value was estimated using an option valuation model, which included the estimated fair value of the underlying preferred stock at the valuation measurement date, the remaining contractual term of the warrant, risk-free interest rates, and expected dividends on, and expected volatility of the price of the underlying preferred stock. These assumptions are inherently subjective and involve significant management judgment. The Company performed the final remeasurement of the warrants at the fair value at the closing date of the Companys IPO on June 20, 2011 because the preferred stock warrants were either exercised or converted to common stock warrants on that date.
The Company recorded losses of approximately $0.2 million, $0.9 million and $4.5 million arising from the revaluation of the convertible preferred stock warrant liability for the fiscal years ended January 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012.
Stock-Based Compensation
Stock-based payments made to employees, including grants of employee stock options and restricted stock units, are recognized in the statements of operations based on their fair values. The Company recognizes stock-based compensation for awards granted that are expected to vest, on a straight-line basis using the single-option attribution method over the service period of the award, which is generally four years. Because stock-based compensation expenses recognized in the statements of operations are based on awards ultimately expected to vest, they have been reduced for estimated forfeitures. Forfeitures are required to be estimated at the time of grant and revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates. The forfeiture rates used for valuing stock-based compensation payments were estimated based on historical experience. The Company estimates the fair value of employee stock options using the Black-Scholes valuation model. The determination of the fair value of a stock-based award is affected by the deemed fair value of the underlying stock price on the grant date, as well as other assumptions including the risk-free interest rate, the estimated volatility of the Companys stock price over the term of the award, the estimated period of time that the Company expects employees to hold their stock options and the expected dividend rate.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - Continued
The Company has elected to use the with and without approach as described in Accounting Standards Codification 740 Tax Provisions in determining the order in which tax attributes are utilized. As a result, the Company will only recognize a tax benefit from stock-based awards in additional paid-in capital if an incremental tax benefit is realized after all other tax attributes currently available to the Company have been utilized. In addition, the Company has elected to account for the indirect effects of stock-based awards on other tax attributes, such as the research tax credit, through the statement of operations.
Cost of Revenue
Cost of revenue consists of the infrastructure costs related to content streaming, maintaining the Companys service and creating and serving advertisements through third party ad serving technology providers, including the employee costs associated with supporting these functions. The Company makes payments to third-party ad servers for the period the advertising impressions or click-through actions are delivered or occur, and accordingly, the Company records this as a cost of revenue in the related period.
Product Development
The Company incurs product development expenses consisting of employee compensation, information technology, consulting, facilities-related expenses and costs associated with supporting consumer connected-device manufacturers in implementing its service in their products. The Company incurs product development expenses primarily for improvements to its website, the Pandora app, development of new advertising products and development and enhancement of the Music Genome Project and infrastructure costs such as facility and other overhead costs. The Company generally expenses product development costs as incurred, but as of January 31, 2012, the Company had incurred and capitalized approximately $100,000 related to internal use software and website development costs.
Marketing and Sales
Marketing and sales expenses consist of employee and employee-related costs including salaries, commissions and benefits related to employees in sales, marketing and advertising departments. In addition, marketing and sales expenses include external sales and marketing expenses such as third-party marketing, branding, advertising and public relations expenses, and infrastructure costs such as facility and other supporting overhead costs. Advertising expenses are expensed as incurred. Total advertising expenses incurred were $ 0.6 million, $3.0 million and $6.9 million for the years ended January 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - Continued
General and Administrative
General and administrative expenses include employee and employee-related costs consisting of salaries and benefits for finance, accounting, legal, internal information technology and other administrative personnel. In addition, general and administrative expenses include professional services costs for outside legal and accounting services, and infrastructure costs for facility, supporting overhead costs and merchant and other transaction costs, such as credit card fees.
Content Acquisition Costs
Content acquisition costs principally consist of royalties paid for the right to stream music to the Companys listeners. Royalties are calculated using negotiated rates documented in master royalty agreements and are based on usage measures or revenue earned. The performance rights organizations to which royalties are paid have the right to audit the Companys playlist and payment records. The Company may also recognize content acquisition costs based on estimated rates during periods of contract negotiation with performance rights organizations.
Income Taxes
The Company accounts for income taxes using the asset and liability method, which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in the financial statements or in the Companys tax returns. Deferred income taxes are recognized for differences between financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities at the enacted statutory tax rates in effect for the years in which the temporary differences are expected to reverse. The effect on deferred taxes of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. The Company evaluates the realizability of deferred tax assets and valuation allowances are provided when necessary to reduce net deferred tax assets to the amounts expected to be realized.
The Company recognizes a tax benefit from an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities, based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefits recognized in the financial statements from such positions are then measured based on the largest benefit that has a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon settlement. The Company will recognize interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in the income tax provision in the accompanying statement of operations.
The Company calculates the current and deferred income tax provision based on estimates and assumptions that could differ from the actual results reflected in income tax returns filed in subsequent years. Adjustments based on filed income tax returns are recorded when identified. The amount of income taxes paid is subject to examination by U.S. federal and state tax authorities. The estimate of the potential outcome of any uncertain tax issue is subject to managements assessment of relevant risks, facts and circumstances existing at that time. To the extent that the assessment of such tax positions change, the change in estimate is recorded in the period in which the determination is made.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - Continued
Net Loss Per Share
Basic net loss per share is computed by dividing the net loss by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period.
Diluted net loss per share is computed by giving effect to all potential shares of common stock, including stock options, convertible preferred stock warrants, restricted stock units and redeemable convertible preferred stock, to the extent dilutive. Basic and diluted net loss per share was the same for each period presented as the inclusion of all potential common shares outstanding would have been anti-dilutive.
Recently Issued Accounting Standards
In October 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2009-13 regarding Accounting Standard Codification (ASC) Subtopic 605-25, Revenue Recognition Multiple-element Arrangements. This ASU addresses criteria for separating the consideration in multiple-element arrangements. ASU 2009-13 requires companies to allocate the overall consideration to each deliverable by using a BESP of individual deliverables in the arrangement in the absence of VSOE or other TPE of the selling price. The changes under ASU 2009-13 are effective prospectively for revenue arrangements entered into or materially modified subsequent to adoption. The Company adopted the changes under ASU 2009-13 effective February 1, 2011. Under the previous accounting guidance, the Company treated its multiple element arrangements as a single unit of accounting as the Company generally did not have evidence of fair value for its undelivered elements. Under the new guidance, the Company uses BESP when neither VSOE nor TPE are available. As a result, the Company is able to recognize the relative fair value of the elements as they are delivered, assuming other revenue recognition criteria are met. As a result of implementing ASU 2009-13, the Company recognized $3.0 million as revenue in the fiscal year ended January 31, 2012 that would have been deferred under the previous guidance for multiple element arrangements.
In May 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-04 regarding ASC Topic 820 Fair Value Measurement. This ASU updates accounting guidance to clarify how to measure fair value to align the guidance surrounding Fair Value Measurement within GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards. In addition, the ASU updates certain requirements for measuring fair value and for disclosure around fair value measurement. It does not require additional fair value measurements and the ASU was not intended to establish valuation standards or affect valuation practices outside of financial reporting. This ASU will be effective for the Companys fiscal year beginning February 1, 2012. Early adoption is not permitted. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material impact on the Companys financial statements.
In June 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-05, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Presentation of Comprehensive Income. This ASU amends the ASC to allow an entity the option to present the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income, and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. In both choices an entity is required to present each component of net income along with total net income, each component of other comprehensive income along with a total for other comprehensive income, and a total amount for comprehensive income. ASU 2011-05 eliminates the option to present the components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of changes in stockholders equity. The amendments to the ASC in the ASU do not change the items that must be reported in other comprehensive income or when an item of other comprehensive income must be reclassified to net income. ASU 2011-05 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011. Early adoption is permitted. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material impact on the Companys financial statements.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - Continued
In December 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-12, Deferral of the Effective Date for Amendments to the Presentation of Reclassifications of Items Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income in Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-05. This ASU defers the effective date pertaining to reclassification adjustments out of accumulated other comprehensive income in ASU 2011-05. ASU 2011-12 defers only those changes in ASU 2011-05 that relate to the presentation of reclassification adjustments in ASU 2011-05. The amendments are being made to allow the Board time to redeliberate whether to present on the face of the financial statements the effects of reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income on the components of net income and other comprehensive income for all periods presented. The amendments in this update are effective at the same time as the amendments in update 2011-05 so that entities will not be required to comply with the presentation requirements in update 2011-05 that this update is deferring. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material impact on the Companys financial statements.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - Continued
The unrealized losses on our available-for-sale securities were primarily a result of unfavorable changes in interest rates subsequent to the initial purchase of these securities. As of January 31, 2012, the Company owned 13 securities that were in an unrealized loss position. The Company does not intend nor expect to need to sell these securities before recovering the associated unrealized losses. It expects to recover the full carrying value of these securities. As a result, no portion of the unrealized losses at January 31, 2012 is deemed to be other-than-temporary and the unrealized losses are not deemed to be credit losses. No available-for-sale securities have been in an unrealized loss position for 12 months or more. When evaluating the investments for other-than-temporary impairment, the Company reviews factors such as the length of time and extent to which fair value has been below cost basis, the financial condition of the issuer and any changes thereto, and the Companys intent to sell, or whether it is more likely than not it will be required to sell, the investment before recovery of the investments amortized cost basis. During the fiscal year ended January 31, 2012, the Company did not recognize any impairment charges.
Accounts Receivable
Accounts receivable, net consisted of the following:
Depreciation and amortization expenses totaled $1.1 million, $1.6 million, and $4.5 million for the years ended January 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively. The Company wrote off net assets due to asset retirement totaling $0.3 million for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2012. There were no materials write-offs during the fiscal years ended January 31, 2010 and 2011.
4.
Fair Value
The Company records cash equivalents, short-term investments and its preferred stock warrant liability at fair value.
Fair value is an exit price, representing the amount that would be received from the sale of an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. As such, fair value is a market-based measurement that should be determined based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability. Fair value measurements are required to be disclosed by level within the following fair value hierarchy:
Level 1 Inputs are unadjusted, quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities at the measurement date.
Level 2 Inputs (other than quoted prices included in Level 1) are either directly or indirectly observable for the asset or liability through correlation with market data at the measurement date and for the duration of the instruments anticipated life.
Level 3 Inputs lack observable market data to corroborate managements estimate of what market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability at the measurement date. Consideration is given to the risk inherent in the valuation technique and the risk inherent in the inputs to the model.
When determining fair value, whenever possible the Company uses observable market data, and relies on unobservable inputs only when observable market data is not available.
The Companys money market funds are classified as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy because they are valued primarily using quoted market prices. The Companys other cash equivalents and short-term investments are classified as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy because they are valued using professional pricing sources for identical or comparable instruments, rather than direct observations of quoted prices in active markets. The Companys preferred stock warrants were classified as Level 3 within the fair value hierarchy because they were valued using unobservable inputs and managements judgment due to the absence of quoted market prices, inherent lack of liquidity and the long-term nature of such financial instruments.
The Company leases office space under arrangements expiring through 2018. Rent expenses for the years ended January 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012 were $0.8 million, $1.3 million and $2.5 million respectively.
For operating leases that include escalation clauses over the term of the lease, tenant improvement reimbursements and rent abatement periods, the Company recognizes rent expenses on a straight-line basis over the lease term including expected renewal periods. The difference between rent expenses and rent payments is recorded as deferred rent in current and long-term liabilities. Deferred rent totaled $0.3 million, and $1.3 million as of January 31, 2011 and 2012, respectively.
Letters of Credit and Restricted Cash
As of January 31, 2012, the Company had $520,000 in letters of credit outstanding that were used to satisfy deposit requirements under facility leases. On December 30, 2011, the Company entered into a cash collateral agreement in connection with the issuance of letters of credit. As of January 31, 2012, the $520,000 cash collateral was considered to be restricted cash. The amount is included in other assets on the Companys balance sheet.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - Continued
Indemnification Agreements
In the ordinary course of business, the Company may provide indemnifications of varying scope and terms to customers, vendors, lessors, business partners, and other parties with respect to certain matters, including, but not limited to, losses arising out of breach of such agreements, services to be provided by the Company or from intellectual property infringement claims made by third parties. In addition, the Company has entered into indemnification agreements with directors and certain officers and employees that will require the Company, among other things, to indemnify them against certain liabilities that may arise by reason of their status or service as directors, officers or employees.
While the outcome of these matters cannot be predicted with certainty, the Company does not believe that the outcome of any claims under indemnification arrangements will have a material adverse effect on the Companys financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.
Legal Proceedings
Pandora has been in the past, and continues to be, a party to privacy and patent infringement litigation which has consumed, and may continue to consume, financial and managerial resources. The Company is also from time to time subject to various other legal proceedings and claims arising in the ordinary course of its business. We believe that the liabilities associated with these cases, while possible, are not probable, and therefore we have not recorded any accrual for these as of January 31, 2012. Further, any possible range of loss cannot be reasonably estimated at this time. The Company does not believe the ultimate resolution of any pending legal matters is likely to have a material adverse effect on its business, financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
Between December 2010 and February 2011, three putative class action lawsuits were filed against Pandora in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, alleging that it, along with other defendant corporations, unlawfully accessed and transmitted personally identifiable information of the plaintiffs in connection with their use of iPhone and iPad applications, and seeking damages and injunctive relief. Between March and July 2011, seven additional putative class action lawsuits also alleging unlawful access and transmission of personally identifiable information by iPhone and iPad applications were filed against Pandora in various district courts. These cases were all subsequently consolidated into one matter, In re iPhone Application, and Pandora was not named as a defendant in the amended consolidated complaint in that case.
On December 30, 2010, a similar putative class action suit was filed in the Superior Court of the Province of Quebec, District of Montreal, Canada. On December 15, 2011, plaintiffs motion to dismiss the complaint with respect to Pandora was granted by the court.
On January 7, 2011, a putative class action lawsuit was filed against Pandora in the Circuit Court of Washington County, Arkansas, seeking damages for the alleged unauthorized access and use of plaintiffs computers through the placement of embedded Adobe Flash cookies. On December 6, 2011, Pandoras motion to dismiss the lawsuit was granted without leave to amend. A final judgment was entered by the court on March 5, 2012. Plaintiffs have 30 days from that date in which to file a notice of appeal.
In May 2011, a putative class action lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida against Google, Inc. In June 2011 the complaint was amended to name Pandora as a defendant. The complaint alleged that the defendant class including Pandora, created, collected or transferred user location data or other sensitive user information to Google and sought damages and injunctive relief. In July 2011, the plaintiffs filed a voluntary dismissal of the complaint with respect to Pandora.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - Continued
In June 2011, a putative class action lawsuit was filed against Pandora in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California alleging that it unlawfully accessed and transmitted personally identifiable information of the plaintiffs in connection with their use of the Companys Android mobile application. In September 2011, the action was transferred before the judge who is hearing all other Android-related privacy class actions. Pandoras motions to dismiss will be filed by March 23, 2012.
In September 2011, a putative class action lawsuit was filed against Pandora in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California alleging that it violated Michigans video rental privacy law and consumer protection statute by allowing Pandora listeners listening history to be visible to the public. Pandoras motion to dismiss the complaint was filed on November 28, 2011, to be heard on March 27, 2012.
In addition to civil liability, certain of the privacy lawsuits include allegations of violations of criminal statutes, and if the Company were found liable, there would be additional risk of criminal penalties. Each of these cases is at an early stage and the Company is investigating the allegations. However, the Company currently believes that it has substantial and meritorious defenses to these claims and intends to vigorously defend its position.
On April 9, 2009, a lawsuit was filed against Pandora by Zamora Radio LLC in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, Miami Division, alleging that it, along with other defendants, infringe a Zamora patent and seeking injunctive relief and monetary damages. The Company filed a motion for summary judgment of no infringement on April 22, 2010, which the court granted on November 5, 2010. On January 3, 2012, Zamora filed a notice of appeal. On February 8, 2012, Zamora voluntarily dismissed its appeal, leaving in place the judgment in favor of Pandora.
In April 2011, Augme Technologies, Inc. filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware against Pandora alleging patent infringement. The complaint alleges that Pandora infringes an Augme patent and seeks injunctive relief and monetary damages. The Company currently believes that it has substantial and meritorious defenses to these claims and intends to vigorously defend its position.
On December 29, 2011, Hartford Casualty Insurance Company filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California seeking a declaratory judgment that it has no obligation to defend or indemnify Pandora in relation to six of the Apple-related privacy class actions and the sole pending Android-related class action described above. The complaint was served on February 22, 2012. Pandoras responsive pleading is due March 14, 2012.
The outcome of any litigation is inherently uncertain. Based on the Companys current knowledge it believes that the final outcome of the matters discussed above will not likely, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on its business, financial position, results of operations or cash flows; however, in light of the uncertainties involved in such matters, there can be no assurance that the outcome of each case or the costs of litigation, regardless of outcome, will not have a material adverse effect on the Companys business.
Guarantees and Contingencies
The Company is party to certain contractual agreements under which it has agreed to provide indemnifications of varying scope and duration for claims by third parties relating to its intellectual property. Such indemnification provisions are accounted for in accordance with guarantors accounting and disclosure requirements for guarantees, including indirect guarantees of indebtedness of others. To date, the Company has not incurred, does not anticipate incurring and therefore has not accrued for, any costs related to such indemnification provisions.
At January 31, 2012, the Company had federal net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $100.4 million, which includes stock-based compensation deductions of approximately $22.8 million and tax credit carryforwards of approximately $1.3 million. The federal net operating losses and tax credits expire in years beginning in 2021. At January 31, 2012, the Company had state net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $107.9 million which expire in years beginning in 2014. In addition, the Company had state tax credit carryforwards of approximately $2.8 million that do not expire. Under Section 382 and 383 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code, if a corporation undergoes an ownership change, the corporations ability to use its pre-change net operating loss carryforwards and other pre-change tax attributes, such as research tax credits, to offset its post-change income may be limited. In general, an ownership change will occur if there is a cumulative change in our ownership by 5-percent shareholders that exceeds 50 percentage points over a rolling three-year period. Similar rules may apply under state tax laws. We have previously experienced ownership changes under section 382 of the Code and comparable state tax laws. We estimate that approximately $1.7 million of our federal and approximately $2.1 million of our state net operating losses will expire unused due to the limitation in Section 382 of the Code.
During the fiscal year ended January 31, 2012 the Companys valuation allowance increased by approximately $2.5 million. At January 31, 2011 and 2012, the Company maintained a full valuation allowance on its net deferred tax assets. The valuation allowance was determined in accordance with the provisions of ASC 740, Accounting for Income Taxes, which requires an assessment of both positive and negative evidence when determining whether it is more likely than not that deferred tax assets are recoverable. Such assessment is required on a jurisdiction by jurisdiction basis. The Companys history of cumulative losses, along with expected future U.S. losses required that a full valuation allowance be recorded against all net deferred tax assets. The Company intends to maintain a full valuation allowance on net deferred tax assets until sufficient positive evidence exists to support reversal of the valuation allowance.
At January 31, 2012, unrecognized tax benefits of approximately $1.4 million, if recognized, would not affect the Companys effective tax rate as the tax benefit would increase a deferred tax asset which is currently offset with a full valuation allowance. The Company does not anticipate that the amount of existing unrecognized tax benefit will significantly increase or decrease within the next 12 months. Accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits are recorded as income tax expenses. The Company did not have such interest, penalties or tax benefits during the fiscal year ended January 31, 2012.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - Continued
The Company files income tax returns in the United States, California and other states. Tax years 2000 to 2011 remain subject to examination for U.S. federal and state purposes. All net operating losses and tax credits generated to date are subject to adjustment for U.S. federal and state purposes. The Company is not currently under examination in federal or state jurisdictions.
7.
Debt Instruments
In December 2008, the Company entered into a credit facility with a financial institution. The amount of borrowings available under the credit facility was based on the Companys monthly accounts receivable balance and amounts borrowed were collateralized by the Companys personal property. As of January 31, 2011 the interest rate was 4.5% and the Companys outstanding balance under the credit facility was $6.0 million. On May 13, 2011, the credit facility was paid in full and terminated.
In September 2009, the Company entered into a $2.0 million equipment financing line with a financial institution. As of January 31, 2011 the Company had drawn $1.6 million on the equipment financing line, with the latest draw maturing in September 2013. On May 13, 2011, the equipment financing line was paid in full and terminated.
On May 13, 2011, the Company entered into a $30 million credit facility with a syndicate of financial institutions. The amount of borrowings available under the credit facility at any time is based on the Companys monthly accounts receivable balance at such time, and the amounts borrowed are collateralized by the Companys personal property (including such accounts receivable but excluding intellectual property). At the option of the Company, drawn amounts under the credit facility will bear an interest rate of either (i) an adjusted London Interbank offered, or LIBO, rate plus (A) 3.00% (if the debt outstanding is greater than or equal to $15 million) or (B) 2.75% (if the debt outstanding is less than $15 million) or (ii) an alternate base rate plus (x) 2.00% (if the debt outstanding is greater than or equal to $15 million) or (y) 1.75% (if the debt outstanding is less than $15 million). The adjusted LIBO rate is the LIBO rate for a particular interest period multiplied by the statutory reserve rate. The alternate base rate is the greatest of the prime rate, the federal funds effective rate plus 0.5% and the adjusted LIBO rate plus 1%. In addition, the Company pays a non-usage charge on the available balance. The non-usage charge is 0.5% if the debt outstanding is greater than or equal to $15 million and .625% if the debt outstanding is less than $15 million. Under the credit facility, the Company can request up to $5 million in letters of credit be issued by the financial institutions. The annual charge for any outstanding letters of credit is 2.75% (if the debt/letters of credit outstanding is less than $15 million) or 3.00% (if the debt/letters of credit outstanding is greater than or equal to $15 million).
As of January 31, 2012, the Company had $520,000 in letters of credit outstanding and had $29.48 million of available borrowing capacity under the credit facility. The credit facility contains customary events of default, conditions to borrowing and covenants, including restrictions on the Companys ability to dispose of assets, make acquisitions, incur debt, incur liens and make distributions to stockholders. The credit facility also includes a financial covenant requiring the maintenance of minimum liquidity of at least $5 million. During the continuance of an event of a default, the lenders may accelerate amounts outstanding, terminate the credit facility and foreclose on all collateral.
On December 30, 2011, the Company entered into a cash collateral agreement in connection with the issuance of letters of credit which were used to satisfy deposit requirements under facility leases. As of January 31, 2012, the $520,000 cash collateral was considered to be restricted cash. The amount is included in other assets on the Companys balance sheet.
Total debt issuance costs associated with the credit facility were $1.0 million, which are being amortized as interest expense over the four-year term of the credit facility agreement. For the fiscal years ended January 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012, $0 million, $0 million and $0.2 million, respectively of debt issuance costs were amortized and included in interest expense.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - Continued
Stock-based Compensation Plans and Awards
Stock Compensation Plans
In February 2000, the board of directors of the Company adopted the 2000 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended (the 2000 Plan). In March 2004, the board of directors of the Company adopted the 2004 Stock Option Plan (the 2004 Plan), which replaced the 2000 Plan and provided for the issuance of incentive and non-statutory stock options to employees and other service providers of the Company.
In May 2011, the board of directors of the Company adopted the Pandora Media, Inc. 2011 Equity Incentive Plan (the 2011 Plan and, together with the 2000 Plan and the 2004 Plan, the Plans). The 2011 Plan was the successor to the 2004 Plan and was available for grants starting on June 14, 2011. The 2011 Plan provides for the issuance of stock options, restricted stock units and other stock-based awards. Shares of common stock reserved for issuance under the 2011 Plan include (a) 12,000,000 shares of common stock reserved for issuance under the 2011 Plan as of June 14, 2011 plus (b) 1,506,424 shares of common stock previously reserved but unissued under the 2004 Plan as of June 14, 2011 that are now available for issuance under the 2011 Plan. To the extent awards outstanding as of June 14, 2011 under the 2004 Plan expire or terminate for any reason prior to exercise or would otherwise return to the share reserve under the 2004 Plan, the shares of common stock subject to such awards will instead be available for future issuance under the 2011 Plan. Each fiscal year, (beginning with the fiscal year that commenced February 1, 2012 and ending with the fiscal year commencing February 1, 2021), the number of shares in the reserve under the Plan may be increased by the lesser of (x) 10,000,000 shares, (y) 4.0% of the outstanding shares of common stock on the last day of the prior fiscal year or (z) another amount determined by the Companys board of directors. The 2011 Plan is scheduled to terminate in 2021, unless the board of directors determines otherwise.
Plans are administered by the compensation committee of the board of directors (the Plan Administrator) of the Company.
Under the 2011 Plan, the Plan Administrator determines various terms and conditions of awards including option expiration dates (no more than ten years from the date of grant), vesting terms (generally over a four-year period), and payment terms. For stock option grants the exercise price is determined by the Plan Administrator, but generally may not be less than 100% of the fair market value of the common stock subject to the option on the date of grant.
Given the absence of a public trading market prior to the IPO, the Companys board of directors considered numerous objective and subjective factors to determine the fair market value of its common stock at each meeting at which stock option grants were approved. These factors included, but were not limited to; (i) contemporaneous valuations of common stock; (ii) the rights and preferences of redeemable convertible preferred stock relative to common stock; (iii) the lack of marketability of common stock; (iv) developments in the business; (v) recent issuances of redeemable convertible preferred stock; (vi) the likelihood of achieving a liquidity event, such as an initial public offering, or sale of the Company, given prevailing market conditions and (vii) secondary transactions in the Companys common and preferred stock. These determinations of fair market value were used for purposes of determining the Black-Scholes fair value of the Companys stock option awards and related stock-based compensation expenses.
0%
The expected term of stock options granted represents the weighted average period that the stock options are expected to remain outstanding. The Company determined the expected term assumption based on the Companys historical exercise behavior combined with estimates of the post-vesting holding period. Expected volatility is based on historical volatility of peer companies in the Companys industry that have similar vesting and contractual terms. The risk free interest rate is based on the implied yield currently available on U.S. Treasury issues with terms approximately equal to the expected life of the option. The Company currently has no history or expectation of paying cash dividends on its common stock.
Common Stock
Each share of common stock has the right to one vote per share. The holders of common stock are also entitled to receive dividends as and when declared by the board of directors of the Company, whenever funds are legally available. These rights are subordinate to the dividend rights of holders of all classes of stock outstanding at the time.
Early Exercise Liability. In connection with the early exercise of stock options, the Company has the right, but not the obligation, to repurchase unvested shares of common stock upon termination of the individuals service to the Company at the original purchase price per share. During the fiscal years ended January 31, 2010, and 2012 there were no early exercises. During the fiscal year ended January 31, 2011, employees early exercised a total of 691,667 shares of common stock subject to these terms.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - Continued
As of January 31, 2012, there was $41.9 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to outstanding employee stock options. This amount is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.62 years. To the extent the actual forfeiture rate is different from what we have estimated, stock-based compensation related to these awards will be different from our expectations.
Options to Non-Employees. The per-share fair value of stock options granted to non-employees is determined on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the same assumptions as those used for employee awards with the exception of expected term. The expected term for non-employee awards is the contractual term of 10 years.
As of January 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively, a total of 406,595, 431,359 and 59,375 common stock options, issued to non-employees were vested and outstanding.
During the years ended January 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012, the Company recorded $3,000, $15,500 and $0.3 million, respectively, in stock-based compensation expenses related to stock option grants made to non-employees. As of January 31, 2012, total compensation cost related to stock options granted to non-employees but not yet recognized, was $0.8 million which the Company expects to recognize over a weighted-average period of 2.93 years. The fair value of these options will be remeasured on each vesting date and as of each reporting date until the options vest. The remeasured fair value will be recognized as compensation expense over the remaining vesting term of the options.
Option Granted to Related Party
During January of 2011, the Company entered into a consulting arrangement with a spouse of one of the Companys executive officers, pursuant to which the consultant will provide consulting services to the Company for a period of four years. Pursuant to this arrangement, the Company granted the consultant options to purchase 40,000 shares of its common stock at $3.14 per share, to vest over four years at a rate of 1/48th per month. Using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, the initial grant date fair value of these options was determined to be $60,000. As of January 31, 2012, $0.1 million compensation cost has been recognized related to these options due to the remeasured fair value at the reporting date.
Stock-based Compensation Expenses
The weighted-average fair value of stock option grants made during the fiscal years ended January 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012 was $0.09, $1.17 and $4.83 per share, respectively. As of January 31, 2012, total compensation cost related to stock options granted, but not yet recognized, was $42.7 million which the Company expects to recognize over a weighted-average period of approximately 2.6 years.
The intrinsic value of options exercised during the years ended January 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012 was $89,000, $5.8 million, $51.9 million, respectively. The total fair value of options vested during the years ended January 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012 was $440,000, $909,000 and $5.2 million, respectively.
Restricted Stock Units
During the fiscal year ended January 31, 2012, Pandora granted 1,431,475 restricted stock units (RSUs), respectively, under the 2011 Plan at a weighted average value of $12.02 per share. The fair value of the restricted stock units is expensed ratably over the vesting period. RSUs vest annually on a cliff basis over the service period, generally four years. The Company recorded stock-based compensation expense related to restricted stock units of approximately $1.0 million during the fiscal year ended January 31, 2012. As of January 31, 2012, total compensation cost not yet recognized of approximately $16.2 million related to non-vested restricted stock units, is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 3.70 years.
The following table summarizes the activities for our RSUs for the year ended January 31, 2012:
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - Continued
Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock
Redeemable Convertible Series F Preferred Stock
During the fiscal year ended January 31, 2010, the Company issued 45,833,082 shares of redeemable convertible Series F preferred stock (Series F) for approximately $34.1 million of cash, net of issuance costs of approximately $1.4 million.
Redeemable Convertible Series G Preferred Stock
During the fiscal year ended January 31, 2011, the Company issued 8,129,338 shares of redeemable convertible Series G preferred stock (Series G) for approximately $22.2 million in cash, net of issuance costs of approximately $44,000.
Redeemable convertible preferred stock was as follows as of the closing date of the Companys IPO:
During the period from February 1, 2011 through the closing date of the Companys IPO, the Company accrued dividends of $3.6 million on its redeemable convertible preferred stock. Upon the closing of the IPO on June 20, 2011, all outstanding redeemable convertible preferred stock was converted into shares of common stock at the contractual conversion ratios per the relevant redeemable preferred stock purchase agreements. Subsequent to the Companys IPO, there are no further convertible preferred share dividends as all outstanding convertible preferred stock has been converted. On the closing date of the IPO the Company paid $30.6 million in dividends to the holders of redeemable convertible preferred stock.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - Continued
The following is a summary of the rights and preferences of the classes of redeemable convertible preferred stock as of the closing date of the Companys IPO:
Dividends. The holders of shares of the Companys redeemable convertible preferred stock were entitled to receive dividends at the rate of $0.03, $0.04, $0.092, $0.136, $0.06196 and $ 0.219 per year on each outstanding share of Series B redeemable convertible preferred stock (Series B), Series C redeemable convertible preferred stock (Series C), Series D redeemable convertible preferred stock (Series D), Series E redeemable convertible preferred stock (Series E), Series F and Series G, respectively (as adjusted for any stock dividends, combinations or splits with respect to such shares). Such dividends were cumulative, meaning they accrue, until paid, from the date of issuance of each round of shares, whether or not declared. If redeemable convertible preferred stock were converted to common stock, all accrued but unpaid dividends on the shares converted would be paid in full. At the Companys election, such dividends would be paid either in cash or by issuance of shares of common stock based upon the fair market value of the common stock as of the conversion date. If a dividend were paid on any share of common stock, all preferred stockholders would be entitled to a proportionate share of any such dividend as if they were holders of common stock (on an as-if converted to common stock basis).
Liquidation Preference. In the event of any liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of the Company, either voluntary or involuntary, the holders of the Companys outstanding redeemable convertible preferred stock would have been entitled to receive out of the proceeds of such liquidation the greater of their stated liquidation preference and the amount such holders would have received had they converted their preferred stock into common stock immediately prior to such dissolution. For each series of redeemable convertible preferred stock, the stated liquidation preference per share was equal to the original issue price plus accrued but unpaid dividends. The per share and aggregate liquidation preferences of each series of redeemable convertible preferred stock as of the date of the Companys IPO is summarized above. Among the holders of redeemable convertible preferred stock such proceeds were distributed in the following order: (i) first, to holders of Series G and Series F, on a pari passu basis; (ii) second, to holders of Series E; (iii) third, to holders of Series D; (iv) fourth, to holders of Series C; (v) fifth, to holders of Series B; and (vi) sixth, to holders of Series A redeemable convertible preferred stock (Series A). If the assets available for distribution had been insufficient to make the full distributions to the holders of redeemable convertible preferred stock, the remaining assets would have been distributed among the holders of the respective series for which distribution of the full preference was not made in proportion to the full preference to which such holders would otherwise be entitled.
After payment of the foregoing liquidation preferences in full, any remaining assets were distributed among the holders of common stock pro rata, based on the number of shares of common stock held by each.
A liquidation or winding up of the Company, a greater than 50% change in control or a sale of substantially all of the Companys assets would have constituted a redemption event.
1:1
The conversion price of each series of redeemable convertible preferred stock, which was initially set at an amount equal to the issue price, was subject to adjustment for stock dividends, stock splits, recapitalization and upon the occurrence of certain triggering events related to anti-dilution protection rights. The conversion prices for the Series D and Series E shares were reduced at the time the Series F was issued because the Series F shares were issued at a lower price than the Series D and Series E conversion prices that were applicable at the time of the Series F issuance. Upon the adjustment of the Series D and Series E conversion prices a deemed dividend was recorded to increase the carrying value of the Series D and Series E based upon the value of the incremental common shares to which the Series D and Series E holders are entitled upon conversion.
All shares of redeemable convertible preferred stock were to convert automatically to common stock at the then-effective conversion price upon the sale of the Companys common stock in a public offering at a price of not less than $1.93625 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, combinations or the like) and which was to have resulted in net cash proceeds to the Company of at least $25.0 million (a Qualified IPO). Each series of redeemable convertible preferred stock was to have automatically converted to common stock at its then-effective conversion price upon the vote of a majority of such series, voting as a separate class; provided, that with respect to the Series D, (i) conversion upon the vote of a majority was conditioned upon all shares of Series A, Series B and Series C being similarly converted and (ii) if such conversion were effected in connection with (x) a liquidation transaction in which the price per share received by the holders of the Series D was less than $1.1484 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, combinations or the like) or (y) a public offering of common stock that was not a Qualified IPO, then the approval of the holders of at least 66-2/3% of the then outstanding shares of the Series D would have been required for such conversion. In addition, all shares of Series A, Series B and Series C automatically were to have converted to common stock at the then-effective conversion price upon the vote of the holders of at least 60% of the then outstanding shares of Series A, Series B, and Series C, voting together as a single class on an as-if converted to common stock basis. At the date of the Companys IPO the conversion price was $16.00.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - Continued
Redemption Rights. The Companys Series G and Series F were redeemable on a pari passu basis at any time after the fifth anniversary of the date upon which any shares of Series G were first issued upon the request of at least 53.5% of the then outstanding shares of Series F. Upon such request all Series G and Series F would have been redeemed for an amount equal to (i) $2.737 per share of Series G and (ii) $0.7745 per share of Series F, in each case, plus interest at a rate of 8% compounded annually from the Series G date of initial issuance. Series E was redeemable at any time after the redemption of the Series F and Series G upon the request of a majority of the then outstanding shares of Series E for an amount equal to $1.7007 per share plus interest at a rate of 6% compounded annually from the Series G date of initial issuance. Series D was redeemable at any time after the redemption of Series E stock upon the request of a majority of the then outstanding shares of Series D for an amount equal to $1.1484 per share plus interest at a rate of 6% compounded annually from the Series G date of initial issuance. Series C was redeemable at any time after the redemption of Series D upon the request of a majority of the then outstanding shares of Series C for an amount equal to $0.51 per share plus interest at a rate of 6% compounded annually from the Series G date of initial issuance. Series B was redeemable at any time after the redemption of Series C upon the request of a majority of the then outstanding shares of Series B for an amount equal to $0.3766 per share plus interest at a rate of 6% compounded annually from the Series G date of initial issuance. The Series A was redeemable at any time after the redemption of Series B upon the request of a majority of the then outstanding shares of Series A for an amount equal to $4.00 per share.
As the redemption events described above were not solely within the Companys control, all shares of redeemable convertible preferred stock were presented outside of permanent equity in the January 31, 2010 and 2011 balance sheets.
Voting Rights. Each share of Series A, Series B, Series C, Series D, Series E, Series F and Series G was entitled to one vote for each share of common stock into which such share of preferred stock was convertible on the record date for any vote, or effective date of any written consent, as applicable.
Accretion of Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock
Stock issuance costs were being accreted via a charge to accumulated deficit over the period from the date of issuance of the redeemable convertible preferred stock to the date at which the redeemable convertible preferred stock became redeemable at the option of the holders of the redeemable convertible preferred stock, the date of the Companys IPO.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - Continued
The dividends on redeemable convertible preferred stock reflected in the statements of redeemable convertible preferred stock and stockholders deficit for the fiscal years ended January 31, 2010 and 2011 represent accretion of the redemption value of the redeemable convertible preferred stock using the interest method. The holders of the Series B, C, D, E, F and G were entitled to receive a per share redemption amount plus interest calculated from the issuance date of the latest round of redeemable convertible preferred stock financing. Accordingly, to the extent there were new issuances of redeemable convertible preferred stock, previously accrued dividends were reversed and a new dividend was calculated starting with the issuance date of the new series. As of January 31, 2010 the accrued dividends on Series B, C, D, E and F represent interest earned from the issuance of Series F shares in July 2009. Upon issuance of Series G in May 2010, the previously accrued dividends through that date were no longer payable. As of January 31, 2011 the accrued dividends on Series B, C, D, E, F and G represent interest earned from the date of issuance of Series G shares in May 2010. The decrease in accrued dividends from January 31, 2010 to January 31, 2011 was reflected as Reversals of dividends on redeemable convertible preferred stock, net of accruals.
The holders of Series B, C, D, E, F and G were entitled to receive cumulative dividends in the event of conversion into common stock or liquidation of the Company. The dividends were payable in cash or shares of common stock, at the option of the Company. As of January 31, 2010, the Company did not have a sufficient number of authorized but unissued common shares to pay the cumulative dividends in common stock. The Company recorded additional preferred stock dividends incremental to the dividends recorded for accretion of the redemption value of the redeemable convertible preferred stock described above for the portion of the cumulative dividends for which a sufficient number of authorized and unissued common shares did not exist. The Company recorded incremental preferred stock dividends of $2.9 million during the year ended January 31, 2010, which represented the portion of the cumulative dividends accrued during the year that the Company would have been required to pay in cash if all of the redeemable convertible preferred stock was converted on January 31, 2010.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - Continued
10.
Net Loss Per Share
Basic net loss per share is computed by dividing the net loss attributable to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period.
Diluted net loss per share is computed by giving effect to all potential shares of common stock, including stock options, convertible preferred stock warrants and redeemable convertible preferred stock, to the extent dilutive. Basic and diluted net loss per share was the same for each year presented as the inclusion of all potential common shares outstanding would have been anti-dilutive.
The following table sets forth the computation of historical basic and diluted net loss per share.
Net loss is increased by the cumulative dividends payable upon conversion or liquidation of redeemable convertible preferred shares earned each year to arrive at net loss attributable to common stockholders.
The reversal of dividends on redeemable convertible preferred stock recorded on the statement of redeemable convertible preferred stock and shareholders deficit for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2011 reflects the reversal of previously recorded accretion of the redemption value of the redeemable convertible preferred stock in connection with the issuance of Series G and the reversal of previously recorded incremental dividends recorded for the portion of the cumulative dividends for which the Company did not have sufficient authorized shares of common stock as of January 31, 2010 while the amount of dividends reflected in the net loss per share calculation above represents the total increase in cumulative dividends during the fiscal year ended January 31, 2011.
CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures, as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act, that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. In designing and evaluating our disclosure controls and procedures, management recognizes that disclosure controls and procedures, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the disclosure controls and procedures are met. Additionally, in designing disclosure controls and procedures, our management necessarily was required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible disclosure controls and procedures. Based on their evaluation at the end of the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K, our chief executive officer and chief financial officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level as of January 31, 2012.
Managements Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
This Annual Report on Form 10-K does not include a report of managements assessment regarding internal control over financial reporting or an attestation report of our registered public accounting firm due to a transition period established by the rules of the SEC for newly public companies.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
During the fiscal year ended January 31, 2012, we implemented procedures recommended to us by our independent registered public accounting firm to address a previously identified material weakness. We implemented formal policies and procedures that are required to be followed during the month end close process by specifically identified individuals to ensure that all journal entries and reconciliations include appropriate documentation and are reviewed by higher level accounting personnel prior to being posted to the general ledger. We also established processes to enhance our expense cutoff procedures through centralized accounts payable processing and through detailed reviews of vendor invoices received at or subsequent to a reporting period to ensure the accuracy and completeness of our expenses. Similarly, we took steps to improve our revenue cutoff procedures by performing reviews of subsequent credit memoranda issued to customers to ensure the accuracy and completeness of our revenue as well as several procedures designed to ensure that revenue is recognized in accordance with our revenue recognition policy. In addition, we have implemented processes to ensure that non-routine judgmental and technical accounting transactions are documented and reviewed by multiple levels of internal management prior to the filing of our financial statements with the SEC. After considering these new procedures, we concluded that we have remediated the previously identified material weakness as of January 31, 2012.
Except for the efforts described above, there has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting during our most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Item 10.
DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Information required by this Item regarding our directors and executive officers is incorporated by reference to the sections of our proxy statement to be filed with the SEC in connection with our 2012 annual meeting of stockholders (the Proxy Statement) entitled Election of Class I Directors and Management.
Information required by this Item regarding our corporate governance, including our audit committee and code of business conduct and ethics, is incorporated by reference to the sections of the Proxy Statement entitled Corporate Governance and Board of Directors.
Information required by this Item regarding compliance with Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act required by this Item is incorporated by reference to the section of the Proxy Statement entitled Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance.
Item 11.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to the sections of the Proxy Statement entitled Executive Compensation, Board of Directors Compensation of Directors, Corporate Governance Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation.
Item 12.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
Information regarding security ownership of certain beneficial owners and management is incorporated by reference to the section of the Proxy Statement entitled Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management.
Information regarding our stockholder approved and non-approved equity compensation plans is incorporated by reference to the section of the Proxy Statement entitled Equity Compensation Plan Information.
Item 13.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
Information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to the sections of the Proxy Statement entitled Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions and Corporate Governance Director Independence.
Item 14.
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
Information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to the section of the Proxy Statement entitled Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
(a) The following documents are included as part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
1. Index to Financial Statements
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of January 31, 2011 and 2012
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the fiscal years ended January 31, 2010, 2011, and 2012
Consolidated Statements of Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock and Stockholders Deficit for the fiscal years ended January 31, 2010, 2011, and 2012
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the fiscal years ended January 31, 2010, 2011, and 2012
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
2. Financial Statement Schedule
All other schedules are omitted as the information required is inapplicable or the information is presented in the consolidated financial statements or the related notes.
3. Exhibits
The documents set forth below are filed herewith or incorporated by reference to the location indicated.
Table of Contents
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Joseph Kennedy, Steven Cakebread and Delida Costin and each of them, his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power to act separately and full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments to this Annual Report on Form 10-K, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and all other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto each said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or either of them or his or her or their substitute or substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1934, as amended, this report has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
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1: Planar Speaker Asylum, RE: Magnepan 2.7/QR image / focus issue (update) (0.00)
Posted by gmack on 2017-01-15, 10:23:25 (75.142.246.58)
Inspected the left speaker. measured resistance on all drivers and all good. less delam (almost none) than the right speaker. I will make one change at a time to the crossover when the parts arrive st .......
2: Planar Speaker Asylum, RE: Magnepan 2.7/QR image / focus issue (update) (0.00)
Posted by gmack on 2017-01-14, 08:35:38 (75.142.246.58)
I am pulling the staples on the second speaker. I have ordered film capacitors to replace the 50UF bi-polar caps. .......
3: Planar Speaker Asylum, RE: Magnepan 2.7/QR image / focus issue (update) (0.00)
Posted by gmack on 2017-01-12, 16:18:00 (75.142.246.58)
Ok I started testing. I pulled the sock off the right speaker. I disconnected the spade connections to the woofer, mid and tweeter so the crossover would not affect the pure resistance readings. Tweet .......
4: Vinyl Asylum, picked up 30 sealed classical albums at goodwill tonight (0.00)
Posted by gmack on 2016-12-19, 21:09:07 (75.142.228.102)
Mostly Columbia and CBS Masterworks. Appears an entire collection was donated as I picked up around a hundred excellent conditions classical albums in the last two weeks. Thank you whoever donated the .......
5: Planar Speaker Asylum, RE: Magnepan 2.7/QR image / focus issue (0.00)
Posted by gmack on 2016-12-19, 20:57:30 (75.142.228.102)
I floated the idea of capacitors going bad several months ago when I called Magnepan to order a box for my MMG's. The woman I spoke to in service had not heard of that being an issue. I will inspect .......
6: Planar Speaker Asylum, Magnepan 2.7/QR image / focus issue (0.00)
Posted by gmack on 2016-12-17, 17:25:03 (75.142.228.102)
I have a pair of Magnepan MG2.7/QR speakers. I am the original owner and purchased the speakers around 1998. I have made no modifications or upgrades to the speakers. My listening level is low to mid .......
Posted by gme109 on 2016-10-11, 18:31:41 (67.165.206.152)
What, no new socks? .......
8: General Asylum, RE: RMAF 2016!! (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2016-10-10, 15:49:25 (67.165.206.152)
Thought the Sanders room sounded excellent as well, especially in the transparency department. Just not as coherent, organic, and natural sounding to me as the Ryan setup. .......
9: General Asylum, RE: RMAF 2016!! (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2016-10-09, 11:45:31 (67.165.206.152)
Ryan Auido's Tempus III gets my vote for best sound. I just flat out enjoyed listening to this system, more so than any other setup I heard this year. Open, transparent, but most importantly, organic .......
10: General Asylum, Parts can be sourced from another country... (0.00)
Posted by gmike on 2016-07-16, 09:19:23 (73.159.36.213)
...and if assembled here, it can be called "American Made." It does create some assembly labor here, but does nothing for the manufacturing and raw material industries here. Something is better than .......
11: Vinyl Asylum, 4th of July Spins "1776" (0.00)
Posted by gmack on 2016-07-04, 07:26:23 (75.142.228.102)
Take your pick, the original soundtrack recording or the original Broadway cast. I remember seeing the movie 1776 as a child with my parents when going to the movies was an event. Enjoy your 4th! : .......
12: Vinyl Asylum, RE: Stay tuned (0.00)
Posted by gmack on 2016-06-27, 12:53:23 (75.142.228.102)
The Album that I listen to the most is The Best of Chet Atkins & Friends. (APL1-1985) Each song on the Album is Chet performing with another artist including but not limited to: Hank Snow, Jerry Reed, .......
13: Vinyl Asylum, Ordered Neck and Neck (0.00)
Posted by gmack on 2016-06-27, 12:37:26 (75.142.228.102)
Thanks to all who suggested Neck and Neck by Mark Knopfler and Chet Atkins. I ordered a copy of the CD on line today. .......
14: Vinyl Asylum, RE: Hell Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm glad you posted...found it! (0.00)
Posted by gmack on 2016-06-26, 20:27:07 (75.142.228.102)
After you posted your message about "Me and Jerry" I checked my spreadsheet and sure enough I was supposed to have have it. I looked for quite a while and my son comes over and said it's in this st .......
15: Vinyl Asylum, RE: Does anyone listen to Chet Atkins besides me? (0.00)
Posted by gmack on 2016-06-26, 19:24:55 (75.142.228.102)
I have not come across Chet Atkins in Hollywood in the thrifts yet. I see that album is on HP Superlist. I hope to find it some day. http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/the-hp-super-lp-list/ SPEC .......
16: Vinyl Asylum, RE: Chet and Mark Knopfler, Neck & Neck, (0.00)
Posted by gmack on 2016-06-26, 16:12:43 (75.142.228.102)
Thanks for the tip I will keep an eye out. I checked your link and seems to be easy to source. Thanks! .......
17: Vinyl Asylum, Does anyone listen to Chet Atkins besides me? (0.00)
Posted by gmack on 2016-06-26, 15:37:50 (75.142.228.102)
Sounds great and easy to find at thrift stores. Chet does a duet with Dolly Parton "Do I ever cross your mind" on The best of Chet Atkins & friends, which is a beautiful song. "Chet Atkins Picks on .......
18: Vinyl Asylum, Jazz find at Goodwill (0.00)
Posted by gmack on 2016-06-14, 13:58:13 (75.142.228.102)
13 Jazz albums on MCA Impulse for $1.00 a piece. They are digitally remastered. There is an additional sticker on back "KM Audiophile custom pressed on KC 569 blend premium virgin vinyl". I know ne .......
19: Vinyl Asylum, I'm greatful for the dead (and goodwill) (0.00)
Posted by gmack on 2016-06-12, 22:06:02 (75.142.228.102)
Today's find at Goodwill. Eight Greatful Dead, Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir Albums. All the vinyl in excellent condition with album jackets in good or better condition. 1 dollar each. Also picked up a Pe .......
Posted by gmike on 2016-05-18, 15:19:01 (73.159.36.213)
. .......
Posted by gmike on 2016-05-18, 13:38:49 (73.159.36.213)
. .......
Posted by gmike on 2016-05-14, 16:47:32 (185.89.216.237)
. .......
23: General Asylum, definitely (nt) (0.00)
Posted by gmike on 2016-05-13, 15:14:00 (172.102.215.3)
. .......
Posted by GM on 2016-05-07, 17:31:10 (73.82.13.100)
Oh yeah? WSB! [Welcome South, 'Brother'] :^) GM .......
25: Critic's Corner, LOL (0.00)
Posted by gmike on 2016-05-04, 19:59:56 (185.89.216.234)
It seems there are always a few who will overreact. Somewhere along the line, some have lost the ability to distinguish between getting dew on their shoes and the Titanic. .......
26: High Efficiency Speaker Asylum, RE: question about Altec 515b (0.00)
Posted by GM on 2016-04-29, 08:07:38 (73.82.13.100)
Hmm, I don't remember mine being this number, but in doing a '21184', 'post', search returned enough posts to confirm that at some point later in time than mine there was some consolidation plus with .......
27: High Efficiency Speaker Asylum, RE: GPA 416B reissue..... (0.00)
Posted by GM on 2016-04-28, 08:48:23 (73.82.13.100)
As already noted, XO point/slope plays a big part in the woofer's/speaker's 'tone' to the point where even a 500 Hz/2nd order XO is high enough for folks to hear the difference between a 416's and 515 .......
28: High Efficiency Speaker Asylum, RE: question about Altec 515b (0.00)
Posted by GM on 2016-04-28, 08:30:45 (73.82.13.100)
Double check GPA, but IIRC the 21184 and suffixes were 416-8B. It's been so long since I rotated my four mid 50's 515Bs, I don't recall what's stamped on them. Note too that these driver's specs chan .......
29: High Efficiency Speaker Asylum, RE: Fostex Break in time? (0.00)
Posted by GM on 2016-04-16, 09:30:51 (73.82.13.100)
......and why I've periodically noted that I knead/massage them to literally take the starch out of them till they sound smooth to me. If you over do it you can either use hairspray or spray starch or .......
30: High Efficiency Speaker Asylum, RE: Le Cleac'h spreadsheet (0.00)
Posted by GM on 2016-03-31, 15:59:15 (73.82.13.100)
No new email address, he passed away in 2014............ GM .......
31: High Efficiency Speaker Asylum, RE: well, the 604 LF section is a 515, sorta (right?) (0.00)
Posted by GM on 2016-03-29, 20:22:38 (73.82.13.100)
The 605 came much later as a cheaper version of the 604, so used the 'weak' motor 803/416 with the 804/806 HF driver. This can be confirmed by looking at marketing data sheets as the 604 will have a ~ .......
32: High Efficiency Speaker Asylum, RE: cabinet calculations (0.00)
Posted by GM on 2016-03-21, 10:32:25 (73.82.13.100)
Dunno, post the worksheet results if it doesn't closely match what I simmed in Hornresp. Historically, driver displacement [Vd] = Sd*Xmax = 535 cm^2*0.33 cm = 176.55 cm^3, but it appears he means driv .......
Posted by gme109 on 2016-03-18, 06:26:48 (107.2.168.152)
* .......
Posted by gmike on 2016-03-15, 19:06:48 (73.159.36.213)
. .......
35: High Efficiency Speaker Asylum, RE: New Cabinet (0.00)
Posted by GM on 2016-03-15, 10:27:02 (73.82.13.100)
One of the first net lingo acronyms I was confronted with when I got on-line in '96: TTBOMK - To The Best Of My Knowledge Online jargon, also known as text message shorthand, used primarily in textin .......
36: High Efficiency Speaker Asylum, RE: New Cabinet (0.00)
Posted by GM on 2016-03-15, 07:54:00 (73.82.13.100)
Agreed; my preference for point source drivers and use to recommend it, but I finally gave up years ago as no one TTBOMK would 'go the extra mile' woodworking wise. Ditto building triangular shaped c .......
37: High Efficiency Speaker Asylum, RE: Electro-Voice 12TRXB triaxial speaker in cabinet (0.00)
Posted by GM on 2016-03-14, 22:14:53 (73.82.13.100)
Sure! 'Bigger is Better' [BIB] :^) Due to its 1/4 WL pipe loading though, the vent probably can be a bit smaller; with the existing 60" height, but with a [w x d] = ~170", Hornresp sims a 83"^2 x 3/4" .......
38: High Efficiency Speaker Asylum, RE: Electro-Voice 12TRXB triaxial speaker in cabinet (0.00)
Posted by GM on 2016-03-14, 12:41:22 (73.82.13.100)
FWIW, using the attached specs: A 60" h x [w x d] = 117.96"^2 [not much bigger than the driver] sealed tower with the driver down 25.2" sims +/- 2 dB [with typical internal damping] from 50 Hz - up i .......
39: High Efficiency Speaker Asylum, RE: Just make the enclosure out of concrete and be done with it... (0.00)
Posted by GM on 2016-03-14, 11:01:18 (73.82.13.100)
......tried MULTIPLE iterations of weights, to see where it gets better and when it gets worse ( too much damping - takes the life away ). There's a formula to theoretically calculate this, but it's ' .......
40: Vinyl Asylum, Need tonearmvscrews for SL-1200 MKII keeps headshell level (0.00)
Posted by gmack on 2016-02-21, 20:22:09 (75.142.228.102)
Hello, I picked up a Technics SL-1200 MKII and the screw(s)the keep the headshell from canting side to side are missing. Appears to be two screw holes on the bottom side of the tonearm near the headsh .......
41: High Efficiency Speaker Asylum, RE: Open Baffle Suggestions Requested (0.00)
Posted by GM on 2016-02-21, 12:11:55 (73.82.13.100)
No clue about the Knight, but it's my understanding that the LS12 has near enough specs to the LT12, so if all three are 'close enough', little wonder it underwhelms as it wants to 'feel' a baffle air .......
Posted by gme109 on 2016-02-20, 14:13:27 (107.2.168.152)
* .......
Posted by gme109 on 2016-02-20, 06:36:28 (107.2.168.152)
Also the Band Yes, who preformed in a High School auditorium in Denver. .......
44: High Efficiency Speaker Asylum, RE: Mass Loading ALTEC A7 VOTT 825 enclosures (0.00)
Posted by GM on 2016-02-19, 13:33:34 (73.82.13.100)
You brace every panel and tie them all together so the cab can't 'breathe' and for an 825 cab + bracing, added mass set on top calculated out to around 246 lbs, so drlowmu's experiment gives some idea .......
45: High Efficiency Speaker Asylum, RE: 511b altec + JBL 4181 (0.00)
Posted by GM on 2016-02-19, 09:32:42 (73.82.13.100)
While the max XO point is theoretically ~880 Hz based on the 2241's published specs, ~440 Hz would be better overall, allowing the 511 to be used at >800 Hz and preferably much higher unless driven wi .......
46: High Efficiency Speaker Asylum, RE: http://www.americanradiohistory.com/ (0.00)
Posted by GM on 2016-02-01, 15:51:39 (73.82.13.100)
Hmm, peri-dynamic is a new one for me; any idea what it refers to? TIA, GM .......
47: Speaker Asylum, RE: portable bluetooth speakers (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2016-01-31, 11:50:39 (107.2.168.152)
I own the TDK Max A34 Wireless Weatherproof Speaker. Without a doubt, one of the better sounding portable bluetooth speakers out there. I think I paid around $150 when I purchased mine, but it's avail .......
48: Planar Speaker Asylum, RE: Contact us at 1-800-000-0000 :) -nt (0.00)
Posted by gmmtb on 2016-01-28, 15:36:31 (71.84.5.130)
Wow your right...I didn't look at it that close. Wording is definitely a little strange. .......
49: Planar Speaker Asylum, Magnepan web site (0.00)
Posted by gmmtb on 2016-01-28, 13:12:49 (71.84.5.130)
Magnepan has a new website; http://magnepan.net/about-us.html .......
50: High Efficiency Speaker Asylum, RE: True scale (0.00)
Posted by GM on 2016-01-27, 14:09:48 (73.82.13.100)
Arg! Thanks for catching it. 'Haste makes waste'; I glanced at the wrong set of dims. To think I once rattled off all this stuff from memory and now apparently can't even notice if what I read is corr .......
51: High Efficiency Speaker Asylum, RE: True scale (0.00)
Posted by GM on 2016-01-27, 11:25:34 (73.82.13.100)
Yeah, 8-1/3 ft high speakers do make a young child look downright tiny in comparison. GM .......
52: High Efficiency Speaker Asylum, RE: altec 416z t/s measurements vs 416A (0.00)
Posted by GM on 2016-01-26, 17:37:43 (73.82.13.100)
Greets! Kind of late, I apparently didn't see your post at the time, but FWIW, you ideally want to add enough weight to lower Fs at least 1.56x [or 0.614x Fs]. GM .......
53: Planar Speaker Asylum, I am having the same issue with my 2.7QR speakers (0.00)
Posted by gmack on 2015-11-30, 13:09:18 (67.45.112.130)
My speakers high end seems lacking and the base does not appear to go as low as it once did. I Purchased them new 20ish years ago and never played them hard enough to blow a fuse. I did not use them f .......
54: Inmate Central, RE: Reading up on dust mites and mattresses.. So... How old is YOUR mattress? (0.00)
Posted by gmike on 2015-11-30, 07:14:47 (73.159.36.213)
I apply food grade diametrious earth to under the mattress and box spring with a small dust applicator. Works great and safe for humans and pets, too. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_0_6?url=se .......
55: Cable Asylum, Anyone using Soundstring cables? (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2015-11-19, 11:19:12 (107.2.168.152)
If so, what do you like about them, and what did they replace? Thanks .......
Posted by gmike on 2015-08-25, 18:11:30 (73.159.36.213)
. .......
Posted by gmike on 2015-08-02, 16:42:54 (73.159.36.213)
. .......
Posted by gmike on 2015-07-23, 14:28:00 (24.147.241.230)
. .......
59: General Asylum, Just bought a new Cayenne and (0.00)
Posted by gmike on 2015-07-23, 14:19:37 (24.147.241.230)
I have briefly heard the Burmeister and it was better sound than the Bose. Whether it is worth the extra money is up to you. I think it will add to your enjoyment over the Bose. I purchased the Bos .......
60: Cable Asylum, That's what I did. (NT) (0.00)
Posted by gmike on 2015-07-04, 17:49:58 (24.147.241.230)
. .......
Posted by gmike on 2015-07-04, 14:19:25 (24.147.241.230)
. .......
62: Tubes Asylum, RE: Brief review of Genalex 12AX7/B759 vs. TungSol12AX7 (0.00)
Posted by gmike on 2015-07-04, 12:42:55 (24.147.241.230)
Have you tried the gold pin version of the TungSol12AX7? They are slightly clearer and have a better soundstage and measure better on my tube tester. Higher output, and measure a "Strong New," with ti .......
63: Amp/Preamp Asylum, RE: Musical Fidelity integrated- PS cap upgrade cost/benefit? (0.00)
Posted by gmike on 2015-05-24, 20:49:07 (24.147.241.230)
Yes, I should have mentioned that messing with the power supply caps, and also the secondary power supply, made no difference. The noticeable improvement came with changing the output caps. Thank you .......
64: Amp/Preamp Asylum, RE: Musical Fidelity integrated- PS cap upgrade cost/benefit? (0.00)
Posted by gmike on 2015-05-24, 08:03:57 (24.147.241.230)
Not an MF, but I upgraded an integrated amp with Audyn True Copper Caps and I must say, that the cost/performance benefit was off the charts good. For less than $100.00 in parts, it transformed the am .......
65: Tweakers' Asylum, RE: Full-sounding coupling caps (0.00)
Posted by gmike on 2015-04-19, 19:22:42 (24.147.241.230)
You describe the sound of Auricaps to a T. They are full bodied, smooth highs and tremendous bass. I put two of these in an integrated and could not believe the improvement. .......
66: General Asylum, RE: I remember that day quite well... (0.00)
Posted by gmike on 2015-04-19, 16:28:35 (24.147.241.230)
I do remember some of the thing you mentioned. I remember one hero who jumped in the icy waters and rescued someone who could not grasp the float device. Bless that man. I also remember Howard Stern o .......
67: General Asylum, The sound of a Boeing 737 slamming into the 14th St Bridge, on the Potomac (0.00)
Posted by gmike on 2015-04-18, 14:42:01 (24.147.241.230)
in 1982, a terrible tragedy. I had my window open slightly and heard the first impact and then sheet metal crunching and folding. I hesitated in posting this; to this day the thought of those sounds b .......
68: Inmate Central, You did very well (0.00)
Posted by gmike on 2015-04-16, 18:23:46 (24.147.241.230)
They are quickly growing in Europe and have not touched China yet. Enjoy the ride! .......
69: Inmate Central, Congrats! (0.00)
Posted by gmike on 2015-04-16, 16:30:43 (24.147.241.230)
I was late to the party, but did pick up 500 sh. two months ago and 500 one month ago. Today alone, I made the value of an expensive new car, so I am not complaining. 5% of the net proceeds will go to .......
70: Inmate Systems, gmmtb's gmmtb's system (0.00)
Posted by gmmtb on 2015-04-15, 17:52:44 (71.84.5.5)
gmmtb 's gmmtb's system System IP Address: 71.84.5.5 Last Update: April 15, 2015 at 17:52:44 Amplifier: Sanders Magtech Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): None Speakers: Magnepan .......
Posted by gme109 on 2015-02-14, 11:10:16 (107.2.168.152)
Would it kill you to use the link thingy? .......
72: General Asylum, RE: can one listen to too much of a particular genre. (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2015-02-07, 10:56:06 (107.2.168.152)
"Is it possible to listen to too much of a particular genre, or sub-genre of music?" Not if you continue to enjoy it. Which begs the question, why ask? .......
73: General Asylum, RE: Let's talk car audio... (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2015-02-07, 10:54:34 (107.2.168.152)
Every upgraded custom car stereo I've owned has been ripped off. No more hi end car audio for me. .......
74: General Asylum, A few not mentioned (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2015-02-03, 17:27:59 (107.2.168.152)
The Hifi Doctor-Rx For Better Audio 1069 East 131st Drive Thornton, CO 80241 Phone: (303) 669-9059 SoundScience [email protected] 720.308.4000 .......
Posted by gme109 on 2015-01-10, 15:38:09 (107.2.168.152)
And musical enjoyment has been maximized, via my VR-35s. .......
Posted by gmike on 2014-12-31, 16:36:20 (24.147.241.230)
Thank you for the columns and good luck! .......
77: Planar Speaker Asylum, RE: What would be your box speaker if you did not own stats or planars? (0.00)
Posted by gmrvos on 2014-12-28, 11:10:23 (70.120.214.78)
Long ago I owned a pair of MG1c's. I have recently heard the 3.7's and those certainly are an incredible speaker. That said the boxed speakers I'm living with today were meant to be a short term deal .......
Posted by gme109 on 2014-11-02, 13:11:52 (107.2.168.152)
It's always prudent to get the most bang for you buck, no matter how much you spend. .......
79: Speaker Asylum, RE: Anyone here own Von Schweikert VR-22 or VR-33? (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2014-11-02, 13:00:57 (107.2.168.152)
I've been living with the VR-35s for a little over a year now, and they are the most musical and enjoyable speakers I've ever owned. The icing on the cake is the fact that they do not have to be pulle .......
80: General Asylum, RE: Yeah, good for them .... (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2014-10-27, 06:47:08 (107.2.168.152)
No Sonos is not super hi end, but they make some of the best sounding wireless speakers out there. .......
81: General Asylum, RE: Classe (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2014-10-22, 08:44:02 (107.2.168.152)
Years ago I had to send a Classe DR25 in for repair. It was out of warranty and I had to pay the shipping both ways, but they ended up fixing the problem for free. I would not have even considered sen .......
82: General Asylum, Venmo: Send & receive payments instantly for free (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2014-10-19, 19:46:50 (107.2.168.152)
Although Venmo is owned by Ebay/Paypal, it appears to be better option for sellers at least, as there is zero percentage taken out, and no protection offered to buyers. Buyers however may not feel so .......
83: General Asylum, RE: Butt ugly speakers... (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2014-10-18, 13:35:04 (107.2.168.152)
I'm currently using a pair of Channel Islands D200 mk. II's which use the Hypex chip set. I'm quite happy with the sound, but at 4k per channel of amplification, it would be too expensive to use with .......
84: General Asylum, RE: Butt ugly speakers... (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2014-10-16, 06:14:35 (107.2.168.152)
I could live with those quite easily, especially considering their sound. The biggest issue I have is amplification. As good as they sounded with the XP5's, I'd like to use something a little more hig .......
85: General Asylum, As does The Audio Critic (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2014-10-15, 17:30:14 (107.2.168.152)
Summing Up I have not tested or even briefly listened to every high-end loudspeaker out there, but of all the speakers known to me none equals the Linkwitz Lab LX521 in my opinion. I have been to a fe .......
86: General Asylum, RE: I hate to point the obvious, but... 10 to 20 times? Aren't you just a little bit biased? (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2014-10-15, 14:52:58 (107.2.168.152)
I said world class speakers, not amplification. I'm aware that the 5 channel Emotiva amps are not top tier performers. That being said, the system as a whole sure sounded good, which makes me question .......
87: General Asylum, The most significant loudspeaker of the show... IMO (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2014-10-13, 15:09:37 (107.2.168.152)
Linkwitz doesn't sell loudspeakers, but he does sell the plans to build the LX521, one of the best sounding speakers I heard at the show, for $150. You can purchase a kit from Madison which includes e .......
Posted by gme109 on 2014-10-13, 13:54:49 (107.2.168.152)
Shame on you. .......
89: High Efficiency Speaker Asylum, RE: RCA Bracework (0.00)
Posted by gmsiryk on 2014-08-26, 05:42:47 (213.109.80.84)
Hello. I live in Ukraine. Really want to build cabinets RCA 64-A (http://images.audioasylum.com/usr/y2012/02/55769/RCA_64-A_speaker_page_small.jpg). You wrote that you can send the drawing. If possibl .......
90: Speaker Asylum, RE: Go to www.usedhighenddrivers.com (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2014-08-08, 06:17:29 (107.2.168.152)
Audiogon doesn't have a category for raw drivers, but thanks for the heads up on the Asylum Trader, wasn't aware there was a category for that. .......
91: Speaker Asylum, Best site to sell used loudspeaker drivers? (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2014-08-07, 21:18:30 (107.2.168.152)
Does anyone know what may be the best online site to sell used high end loudspeaker drivers? Thanks .......
92: General Asylum, What's up with Audiogon? My computer locks up and I get a strange message (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2014-08-02, 15:38:14 (107.2.168.152)
Happens after I've clicked on a few ads. I believe they've been hacked, and don't plan on revisiting any time soon. Anyone else have a similar experience? .......
93: Digital Drive, RE: Raysonic 228 Needs Repair (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2014-07-31, 17:36:42 (107.2.168.152)
USA Tube Audio fixed a Raysonic 168 I had, a few years back. They were the US distributor for Raysonic, after Quest4Sound and Raysonic had a falling out. Of course Raysonic is now out of business, so .......
Posted by gmike on 2014-03-26, 19:17:00 (24.147.241.230)
. .......
95: General Asylum, Of course... (0.00)
Posted by gmike on 2014-03-13, 08:16:56 (24.147.241.230)
I did invest wisely. It is what I am all about. .......
96: General Asylum, Not me. I am in the 1% and would never, ever spend (0.00)
Posted by gmike on 2014-03-13, 07:59:35 (24.147.241.230)
...$30,000 on a whole system, let alone a phono stage. A specialty item in a low volume, niche market allows for outrageous margins. I would never pay for those crazy markups, ever. $3,000 spent on a .......
97: Digital Drive, +1 on the Ayon 07s * (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2014-03-02, 09:55:15 (107.2.168.152)
* .......
98: General Asylum, Whatever you do..... (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2014-02-04, 07:31:11 (107.2.168.152)
Do not listen to music while driving or operating power tools! .......
99: General Asylum, RE: Review: TDK A33 Weatherproof Bluetooth speaker (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2014-02-02, 23:29:05 (107.2.168.152)
It comes with a 12V DC input from AC adapter. I'd imagine one could find an appropriate 12v car charger that would work. I haven't had it longer enough to know how long a charge lasts, but the manual .......
100: General Asylum, Review: TDK A33 Weatherproof Bluetooth speaker (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2014-02-02, 15:09:57 (107.2.168.152)
TDK A33 40.8 oz. 9.5 x 3.75 x 2" Two 1.5" speakers each driven with 3 watts and one 2.5" woofer driven with 9 watts, as well as two 2.5" passive radiators Built-in replaceable and rechargeble battery. .......
101: Computer Audio Asylum, RE: question about "Slacker Radio" and "Rdio" (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2014-01-29, 21:11:21 (107.2.168.152)
Are you having issues Google's download speeds when you pin a song or album to save on your device? I'm experiencing agonizingly slow speeds, like hours over wifi just for 10 tracks. .......
102: Computer Audio Asylum, RE: question about "Slacker Radio" and "Rdio" (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2014-01-29, 14:25:35 (107.2.168.152)
No experience with Slacker or Rdio, but I am on a quest to find the best streaming radio app. From the research that I've done, the two top products out there now, are Spotify and Google Play Music. B .......
103: High Efficiency Speaker Asylum, RE: Single Full range speaker (0.00)
Posted by GM on 2013-11-13, 09:02:13 (184.37.49.219)
Hmm, you're listed as being in the USA, so why no PE, etc.? GM .......
104: High Efficiency Speaker Asylum, RE: PLL = Passive Line Level Dooh! (0.00)
Posted by GM on 2013-11-12, 07:23:06 (184.37.49.219)
Due to the room's impact, etc. on performance, you'll probably need to design your own through experimentation: http://www.t-linespeakers.org/tech/index.html GM .......
105: High Efficiency Speaker Asylum, RE: EV 18W's ...here's mine. (0.00)
Posted by GM on 2013-11-11, 07:55:27 (184.37.50.119)
RETMA [EIA] = 0.001 W/30 ft Lp = 10*log [1 W/0.001 W] = 30dB Dl = 20*log [~3.280833 ft/30 ft] = ~19.22 dB EIA dBa + [30 dB + 19.22 dB] = _dB/W/m Nowadays, 'critical' damping = 0.5 Qts, but way back w .......
106: Amp/Preamp Asylum, RE: Gryphon Diablo amplifier (0.00)
Posted by gmike on 2013-11-04, 11:36:21 (24.147.241.230)
Never heard the Diablo, but if you are interested in this price range, the best integrated I have ever heard and the one I own, is an Accuphase E560 and its sister amp, the A-30. They both run in clas .......
107: Amp/Preamp Asylum, Wells Audio Innamorata (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-10-18, 12:13:41 (107.2.168.152)
I auditioned this amp in my system, and have to say, it really is something special. Easily the smoothest most natural sounding SS amp I've ever heard. "Wells Audio Innamorata Stereo Amplifier The b .......
Posted by gme109 on 2013-10-12, 09:46:49 (107.2.168.152)
Looking to pickup some NOS 5687 tubes. Thanks .......
109: Inmate Central, RE: Incremental improvements for sure... (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-09-15, 12:58:55 (107.2.168.152)
I'm a Mac desktop guy, but Apple has yet to sell me on any of their cell phone designs. Screen are too small. Can't easily replace the battery. Can't add memory. Glass sandwich design of previous mod .......
110: General Asylum, The gear,... (0.00)
Posted by gmike on 2013-09-04, 15:31:47 (24.147.241.230)
....just spent $16,000 on an Accuphase amp. Love it. I have a small desire to attend a few classical and jazz concerts, but not many, many, as you asked. .......
111: Speaker Asylum, Low serial numbers... (0.00)
Posted by gmike on 2013-09-02, 06:51:17 (24.147.241.230)
...especially sub 5000, are extremely valuable on the used market, provided the drivers meet spec. .......
112: Speaker Asylum, Early 80's (0.00)
Posted by gmike on 2013-09-01, 19:16:04 (24.147.241.230)
They hit serial number 5406 (A&B) in 09/78, the pair I had. Yours is a much later production. The best way to tell is to remove the 8 screws of the baffle, carefully pull the baffle out, look on the .......
113: High Efficiency Speaker Asylum, RE: Anyone near Southwest virginia, northern NC with Cornscalas? (0.00)
Posted by [email protected] on 2013-08-28, 19:44:22 (108.174.103.180)
Hello, I completely randomly bumped into this thread. I have a new (1 year old) pair of Cornscala Style "C" speakers. I had Bob build the cabs and send them to me. They are absolutely amazing speakers .......
114: Speaker Asylum, RE: heard them with the ambience tweeter (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-08-17, 12:11:20 (107.2.168.152)
Did you get a chance to A B the speaker with and without side firing tweeters? Curious as to what kind of overall affect it had on the sound. Thanks .......
115: Speaker Asylum, RE: ambience tweeter (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-08-17, 09:07:31 (107.2.168.152)
Tweeters are now placed on the sides of the cabinets. I'm guessing this is an improvement over rear firing tweeters. .......
Posted by gme109 on 2013-08-17, 08:26:42 (107.2.168.152)
Think the amps were behind the speakers, but not sure what they were using. .......
117: Speaker Asylum, Question (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-08-16, 13:03:46 (107.2.168.152)
Have you heard the Jenszen zA2.1's with the side tweeter option? Talked to David and he mentioned this to me, saying it adds some extra ambbience and spacious to the soundstage, along with less high f .......
118: Speaker Asylum, RE: Curious, how useful do you find video reports on speakers? (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-08-16, 06:53:28 (107.2.168.152)
Another thing I like about the video reports, is seeing the emotional response on the faces of those listening in. I also look for that emotional response in written reviews as well, as much or more t .......
119: Speaker Asylum, RE: Manufacture specs mean little (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-08-16, 06:28:03 (107.2.168.152)
They were custom built by Rick Craig of Selah Audio. They use a 45" ribbon tweeter from Newform Research. .......
120: Speaker Asylum, Manufacture specs mean little (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-08-16, 06:13:55 (107.2.168.152)
Especially in the bottom end. My current speakers are rated down to 40 Hz on paper, but the in room response with room grain, allows them to produce useful bass well below 30 Hz. And not much I've hea .......
121: Speaker Asylum, RE: Wells Audio Innamorato (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-08-15, 21:10:58 (107.2.168.152)
I'll be looking forward to your thoughts on the Janszen's being driven by the Innamorato. Two products I'm very interested in. I had a change to hear the King Sound King III's, which I believe were th .......
122: Speaker Asylum, Wells Audio Innamorato (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-08-15, 18:41:13 (107.2.168.152)
This amp might be worth checking out. Wayne Donnelly's review on Enjoy the Music. Wells Audio Innamorata Stereo Amplifier The best power amplifier you've never heard of? .......
123: Speaker Asylum, RE: Janszen zA2.1 new review (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-08-15, 18:14:40 (107.2.168.152)
The review on PF along with this video report,(link below) has peaked my interest in these speakers. I'll definitely be checking them out. .......
124: Speaker Asylum, Curious, how useful do you find video reports on speakers? (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-08-15, 18:09:20 (107.2.168.152)
I have a pretty decent set of speakers hooked up to my iMac, and have been listening to several different brands via AV Showrooms video reports. All things being equal on my end, and somewhat eq .......
125: Speaker Asylum, I love the midrange on the V2 (0.00)
Posted by gmike on 2013-07-26, 17:52:51 (24.147.241.230)
...and what it does with voices, vocals and acoustic instruments. I would like to hear opinions on them with the new subs also. .......
126: Speaker Asylum, Thank you, all! (nt) (0.00)
Posted by gmike on 2013-07-20, 04:50:45 (24.147.241.230)
. .......
127: Speaker Asylum, Copper binding posts? (0.00)
Posted by gmike on 2013-07-18, 09:07:01 (24.147.241.230)
Can anyone recommend tellurium or copper binding posts under $100 per pair? They would be for Bagby Continuum speakers, which I am having built. Thanks in advance. .......
128: Speaker Asylum, RE: Reference 3a MM de Capo BE (0.00)
Posted by gmike on 2013-06-21, 18:36:23 (24.147.241.230)
Yes, I think this "rightness" comes from what they excel in: coherency, truth of timbre and spatial resolution. They also excel in sound-stage depth. I am using it with a KT-77 based amplifier in a se .......
129: Speaker Asylum, RE: Reference 3a MM de Capo BE (0.00)
Posted by gmike on 2013-06-19, 16:18:54 (24.147.241.230)
The new beryllium tweeters are outstanding, the best I have heard in a monitor in that price range. No brightness at all. Allow 300 to 500 hours and they will sound magical. It is definitely an improv .......
130: Whiner's Woad, RE: Common sense is not common... (0.00)
Posted by gmike on 2013-06-14, 18:45:27 (24.147.241.230)
You are using a Sony receiver and commenting on someone else's purchase of a $1,200 cable which you never heard in his high quality system. I doubt whether you would hear much difference with your $8. .......
131: Speaker Asylum, RE: Reference 3A Dulcet (0.00)
Posted by gmike on 2013-06-11, 18:57:13 (24.147.241.230)
Agreed. I have the new Dulcet BE's (with beryllium tweeters) in a second system and they are better in a number of areas than the Harbeth P3ESR-SE, which I also owned. .......
132: Inmate Central, Hiriko folding electric car (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-06-01, 16:53:56 (107.2.168.152)
.......
133: Inmate Central, You missed your ride (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-05-26, 20:57:05 (107.2.168.152)
Comet HaleâBopp swung by in March of 97. Wont be back until 4387. .......
Posted by gme109 on 2013-05-19, 17:17:15 (107.2.168.152)
Start shopping for audiophile grade hearing aids? Are they available with a tube buffer stage? .......
135: Inmate Central, Sad Cat Diary (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-05-19, 09:22:09 (107.2.168.152)
.......
Posted by gme109 on 2013-05-09, 16:48:54 (107.2.168.152)
Gartner: PC Market posts 11.2 percent decline in Q113; Apple Mac sales up 7.4 percent in U.S. .......
Posted by gme109 on 2013-05-08, 19:57:21 (107.2.168.152)
* .......
Posted by gme109 on 2013-05-08, 19:54:57 (107.2.168.152)
.......
139: Inmate Central, Thanks for the laughs! * (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-05-01, 05:51:30 (107.2.168.152)
* .......
Posted by gme109 on 2013-04-30, 07:33:20 (107.2.168.152)
.......
141: Inmate Central, RE: Or two? (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-04-25, 19:50:18 (107.2.168.152)
In order to complete the application process, please provide at least one photo. Thank you. .......
142: Inmate Central, "But first, let's discuss your issues. Why on Earth don't you eat meat!?" First off, Vegetarians Live Longer (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-04-25, 19:46:02 (107.2.168.152)
And if that's not enough for you, they're also healthier. Why Do Vegetarians Live Longer? Nearly a decade of extra life -- that's what you get when you move away from eating animal foods and toward .......
143: Inmate Central, Does he need a sidekick? (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-04-25, 06:51:36 (107.2.168.152)
.......
Posted by gme109 on 2013-04-23, 17:25:20 (107.2.168.152)
Maybe Victor could stand guard with his sword. .......
Posted by gme109 on 2013-04-20, 10:48:37 (107.2.168.152)
Okay good to know. Thanks .......
146: General Asylum, Alert: Bulk mailing Phishing expedition to Asylum inmates (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-04-20, 09:00:57 (107.2.168.152)
Received this email from a fellow inmate: Hi Jack, This is the second message I received from you in the past couple of months. I recognize your name, and a couple of others here, from Audio Asylum. B .......
147: Inmate Central, Three's company * (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-04-19, 11:50:18 (107.2.168.152)
* .......
148: Inmate Central, Great kitty pic! (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-04-19, 11:43:08 (107.2.168.152)
Dilated pupils and all. .......
149: Inmate Central, CATNIP: EGRESS TO OBLIVION? (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-04-19, 10:46:39 (107.2.168.152)
.......
Posted by gme109 on 2013-04-14, 15:53:10 (107.2.168.152)
Its tough though, when you have to toe the line, and remain family friendly. .......
Posted by gme109 on 2013-04-14, 15:49:24 (107.2.168.152)
On "Outside" you'd have to go 2 or 3 pages back in order to find your post. .......
152: Inmate Central, RE: My Fault.... It's "BubblePixel", Not "Bubblesoft"..... (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-04-14, 15:44:04 (107.2.168.152)
I read through the description of the app on Goggle Play, and it says:"For entertainment purposes only. No changes are actually mad to your data connection. This app is just a joke/prank." ::: TOPIC: .......
153: Inmate Central, RE: Close call with hearing loss.. Scarey moments.. but all seems well (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-04-14, 10:26:07 (107.2.168.152)
Place a few drops of diluted apple cider vinegar in your ear canal. This will help soften and dissolve any ear wax. .......
154: Inmate Central, Wow great shot! (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-04-13, 19:11:35 (107.2.168.152)
Glad to see Monsanto hasn't killed all the bees. Not sure what kind of plant it is. Took the photo at the Butterfly pavilion, here in Colorado. .......
155: Inmate Central, Back at ya (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-04-13, 15:29:51 (107.2.168.152)
.......
Posted by gme109 on 2013-04-12, 12:35:22 (107.2.168.152)
I had my doubts about this app, and sure enough, its a prank. .......
157: Inmate Central, Not a kitty pic (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-04-11, 17:00:31 (107.2.168.152)
.......
Posted by gme109 on 2013-04-11, 16:39:06 (107.2.168.152)
Where did you download it from? .......
159: Inmate Central, RE: Nah (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-04-09, 20:35:53 (107.2.168.152)
.......
Posted by gme109 on 2013-04-09, 13:20:22 (107.2.168.152)
My Cat .......
Posted by gme109 on 2013-04-08, 17:02:28 (107.2.168.152)
Well almost. .......
162: Inmate Central, RE: Looks like (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-04-07, 21:59:36 (107.2.168.152)
Looks like Inmate Central is a real bore. .......
Posted by gme109 on 2013-04-07, 17:40:55 (107.2.168.152)
Friends and adversaries await. .......
Posted by gme109 on 2013-04-07, 14:29:17 (107.2.168.152)
Not anymore, it burned down. .......
Posted by gme109 on 2013-04-07, 14:05:57 (107.2.168.152)
* .......
Posted by gme109 on 2013-04-07, 09:36:49 (107.2.168.152)
Works fine. .......
167: Outside Asylum, Has anyone notified Late? (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-04-07, 08:50:38 (107.2.168.152)
The shock of visiting here and finding an error message may just kill him. .......
168: Outside Asylum, RE: This is like closing out a bar. (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-04-07, 08:31:48 (107.2.168.152)
News travels fast. We've already had a visit from DAC, all we need now is for YECH and John EH to show up, to pay their final respects. .......
Posted by gme109 on 2013-04-07, 08:28:10 (107.2.168.152)
Whoever it is, they will be immortalized for all of eternity. .......
170: Outside Asylum, Getting rid of Outside spells bad news for all the audio forums, IMO (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-04-07, 07:19:57 (107.2.168.152)
This was a place to come and let off steam, to get a little rough and tumble, and confrontational with other inmates. Closing this place down will be like shutting down the youth detention center, and .......
Posted by gme109 on 2013-04-06, 19:52:05 (107.2.168.152)
I believe a few posts from Outside where redirected to Whiners Woad. .......
172: Outside Asylum, Quick, what's the link? * (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-04-06, 19:45:28 (107.2.168.152)
* .......
Posted by gme109 on 2013-04-06, 19:16:10 (107.2.168.152)
* .......
Posted by gme109 on 2013-04-06, 18:55:45 (107.2.168.152)
To quote YECH....Toughin the fuck up! .......
Posted by gme109 on 2013-04-06, 18:47:00 (107.2.168.152)
* .......
Posted by gme109 on 2013-04-05, 17:17:34 (107.2.168.152)
* .......
177: Outside Asylum, Not quite everyone (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-04-05, 17:13:43 (107.2.168.152)
These corporate criminals are not only poisoning the food supply, but stealing our democracy as well. It seems however that more and more people are waking up to this fact, and making their voices hea .......
Posted by gme109 on 2013-04-04, 21:51:09 (107.2.168.152)
* .......
Posted by gme109 on 2013-04-04, 18:40:23 (107.2.168.152)
tried to pull off. Seriously, go crawl under your double wide, and lay low for a while. .......
Posted by gme109 on 2013-04-03, 07:02:11 (107.2.168.152)
* .......
181: Outside Asylum, RE: Hope so! /n (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-04-02, 20:00:28 (107.2.168.152)
None of this adds up, but it would be pretty sick if Rod was conspiring with mr. grits to pull one over on us. .......
182: Outside Asylum, Conspiracy? * (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-04-02, 19:52:27 (107.2.168.152)
* .......
183: Outside Asylum, RE: Oh no! The pollen apocalypse has War Horse in its sights! (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-04-02, 07:18:51 (107.2.168.152)
Pollen counts are way up, throughout the U.S., and the season starts earlier every year. This year allergy season started in Feb. in Colorado, as did the ads for over the counter allergy medicine. ::: .......
Posted by gme109 on 2013-04-01, 18:50:28 (107.2.168.152)
* .......
185: Outside Asylum, ABC News Reports...Not-So-Safe-Deposit Boxes: States Seize Citizens' Property to Balance Their Budgets (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-03-31, 19:09:53 (107.2.168.152)
The 50 U.S. states are holding more than $32 billion worth of unclaimed property that they're supposed to safeguard for their citizens. But a "Good Morning America" investigation found some states agg .......
186: Outside Asylum, RE: Very sad indeed (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-03-31, 11:46:10 (107.2.168.152)
This place is a stinking cesspool of partisan hacks, from both sides of the political spectrum. .......
Posted by gme109 on 2013-03-31, 09:58:30 (107.2.168.152)
Also hit the nail on the head with this one. .......
188: Outside Asylum, Ha Ha Ha...WANTED BY THE FEDS: Poul Thorsen, one of the CDC's main researchers (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-03-31, 08:13:36 (107.2.168.152)
OIG Fugitive: Poul Thorsen Poul Thorsen From approximately February 2004 until February 2010, Poul Thorsen executed a scheme to steal grant money awarded by the Centers for Disease Control and Preve .......
189: Outside Asylum, War Costs (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-03-27, 17:16:53 (107.2.168.152)
War Costs is the international effort to expose the financial and humane costs of the U.S. military industrial complex. Through full length films, short videos, and social media, we reveal the deep co .......
190: Outside Asylum, Jim Carrey Gun Control Satire Video. "Cold Dead Hand" Charlton Heston turns in grave (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-03-25, 18:44:28 (107.2.168.152)
The song contains satirical lyrics such as "(The angels) wouldn't take him up to heaven like he planned because they couldn't pry that gun from his cold dead hand," and, "You're a big big man with a l .......
191: Outside Asylum, Why so paranoid? (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-03-23, 12:46:22 (107.2.168.152)
Is crime that high in East Tennessee? .......
192: Outside Asylum, RE: Not applicable, the minimum wage in 1960 had three times the buying power. (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-03-21, 06:46:28 (107.2.168.152)
"minimum wage is dragging all the other wages down with it and making the rich richer by stealing the productivity and money of the working class" Couldn't agree more. I would also add, that it is a f .......
Posted by gme109 on 2013-03-21, 06:44:23 (107.2.168.152)
Raising it, would benefit the entire middle class. .......
194: Outside Asylum, It took my sister, with no medical training what so ever, to properly diagnose my mom's condition (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-03-19, 11:36:06 (107.2.168.152)
None of the numerous doctors and specialists had a clue that my mom had been suffering from hydrocephalus for 8 months, prior to my sister hitting the nail on the head. She had even mentioned it to my .......
Posted by gme109 on 2013-03-19, 06:02:37 (107.2.168.152)
* .......
Posted by gme109 on 2013-03-18, 16:14:25 (107.2.168.152)
* .......
197: Outside Asylum, "hint, it ain't single payor" No shit (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-03-18, 07:12:26 (107.2.168.152)
Obama is anything but a progressive president. He squarely sides against labor and unions, and the middle class. Seriously, I don't know why people waste their time voting. .......
198: Outside Asylum, Been to New Zealand (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-03-17, 16:02:12 (107.2.168.152)
And I must say, they are a friendly bunch over there. People would just walk right up to me on the street corner, if I happened to be looking over a map, and ask if they could help in any way. Stayed .......
199: Outside Asylum, RE: They work amazingly well. (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-03-17, 15:46:42 (107.2.168.152)
Use one during allergy season and it helps tremendously. I use distilled water with the appropriate amount of salt. I also use a shower filter that removes chlorine from the water. .......
200: Outside Asylum, Tap water in neti pots behind two brain-eating amoeba deaths in 2011 (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-03-17, 11:51:59 (107.2.168.152)
CBS News) Researchers believe that two people who died from the "brain-eating" amoeba known as Naegleria fowleri in 2011 contracted the infection after using neti pots with tap water to clear their si .......
Posted by gme109 on 2013-03-17, 11:19:07 (107.2.168.152)
* .......
202: Outside Asylum, I was referring to city tap water (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-03-17, 10:33:43 (107.2.168.152)
Obviously your water supply is straight from the bowels of the earth, and should be ultra pure. Unless of course there is some oil fracking going on in your neighborhood. .......
203: Outside Asylum, A Brita water filter is better than straight from the tap, but (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-03-17, 10:28:00 (107.2.168.152)
Nowhere near ideal. Water filter pitchers aren't certified to remove lead Many consumers may assume that filtering their water will make it safe to drink. But when it comes to lead, many popular pitc .......
204: Outside Asylum, Anyone still drinking tap water is a clueless fool (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-03-17, 09:35:42 (107.2.168.152)
Fluoride is only one of many harmful contaminants found in tap water. That Tap Water Is Legal but May Be Unhealthy The 35-year-old federal law regulating tap water is so out of date that the water .......
Posted by gme109 on 2013-03-17, 07:37:52 (107.2.168.152)
You've just gotten started. .......
Posted by gme109 on 2013-03-17, 07:31:15 (107.2.168.152)
* .......
Posted by gme109 on 2013-03-17, 07:29:38 (107.2.168.152)
And these are the results of exercise and eating right. Jack LaLanne age 40 Age 71 .......
Posted by gme109 on 2013-03-17, 06:58:04 (107.2.168.152)
* .......
Posted by gme109 on 2013-03-16, 17:54:34 (66.87.6.162)
* .......
Posted by gme109 on 2013-03-16, 16:18:17 (107.2.168.152)
Could be a real pain to keep clean with kids. .......
211: Outside Asylum, That, and the legalization of pot, makes this a great state! (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-03-16, 16:15:47 (107.2.168.152)
Gerald Thompson holds up a bag of marijuana on the steps of the State Capitol in Denver on Monday, Dec. 10, 2012. Marijuana for recreational use became legal in Colorado Monday, when the governor took .......
212: Outside Asylum, RE: declining U.S. empire? (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-03-16, 14:00:36 (107.2.168.152)
"I can think of far more telling indicators than weather modeling. " Most definitely, as can I. This was just one more example. .......
213: Outside Asylum, The agency has suffered budget cuts in the past two years, with more cuts proposed this year by the WH & Congress (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-03-16, 13:54:26 (107.2.168.152)
Mass criticized the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which runs the weather service, for its handling of weather satellites. The Government Accountability Office this summer noted cost .......
214: Outside Asylum, "The U.S. does not lead the world; we are not No. 1 in weather forecasting, I'm very sorry to say that," says (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-03-16, 13:48:48 (107.2.168.152)
AccuWeather's Mike Smith, author of Warnings: The True Story of How Science Tamed the Weather. "But the bottom line is that forecasters nailed this storm days ahead of its arrival. The people behind E .......
215: Outside Asylum, Another example of the declining U.S. empire. European weather forecasts superior to US models (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-03-16, 12:54:16 (107.2.168.152)
The predictions from European computer models, which have 10 times the computing ability of the National Weather Service, have increasingly become more accurate than our models with the starkest examp .......
Posted by gme109 on 2013-03-14, 18:17:16 (107.2.168.152)
* .......
217: Outside Asylum, I'd say not (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-03-14, 17:50:42 (107.2.168.152)
Maybe they need to hire a better attorney. .......
218: Outside Asylum, New wave of 'superbugs' poses dire threat, says chief medical officer (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-03-12, 17:51:04 (107.2.168.152)
This has been known for quite some time, that the over use of antibiotics would one day bite us on our collective asses. I guess as long as there is a buck to be made by pharmaceutical companies, and .......
Posted by gme109 on 2013-03-10, 18:09:33 (107.2.168.152)
More like getting pissed on. .......
220: Outside Asylum, How the USA PATRIOT Act redefines "Domestic Terrorism" Vague to say the least (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-03-10, 17:03:03 (107.2.168.152)
I feel so much safer now, knowing our government can now assassinate members of Green Peace, and other activist groups, without due process. December 6, 2002 Section 802 of the USA PATRIOT Act (Pub. .......
221: Outside Asylum, Who makes the decision on who is a terrorist? (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-03-10, 14:37:11 (107.2.168.152)
And what definition and guidelines will they be using? Do government whistle blowers need to be watching their backs now? These are not decisions that should be left up to one individual to make. Unle .......
222: Outside Asylum, RE: Judge, Jury and Executioner (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-03-10, 14:25:17 (107.2.168.152)
Its amazing to me, that all the liberals who were up in arms when the bush administration was trampling the Constitution, are now either silent, or do not have a problem with Obama doing the same. Par .......
Posted by gme109 on 2013-03-09, 09:25:23 (107.2.168.152)
cds sound like real music, and I can listen for hours on end. Five years ain't shit. .......
224: Outside Asylum, Mother Teresa was 'anything but a saint (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-03-07, 21:52:40 (107.2.168.152)
Mother Teresa may be synonymous with selflessness, but according to a team of Canadian researchers, the Catholic nun was âanything but a saint,â the Times of India reports. In a study to be publis .......
225: Outside Asylum, U.S. Income Inequality Worse Than Many Latin American Countries (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-03-07, 11:26:06 (107.2.168.152)
Latin America has long been viewed as a region plagued by some of the worst wealth inequality in the world. But in recent years, those figures have turned around, while in the United States income ine .......
Posted by gme109 on 2013-03-06, 17:06:08 (107.2.168.152)
Where are all the pussy progressives on this issue? Fucking pathetic. .......
227: Outside Asylum, RE: That would be fantastic if it was true. (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-03-04, 08:03:21 (66.87.25.33)
I don't believe Barry said that. There is such a thing as hiv and aids, but there is good reason to believe that hiv is not the cause of aids. .......
228: Outside Asylum, Dr. Gay cures child of HIV (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-03-03, 21:13:28 (107.2.168.152)
Scientists Report First Cure of HIV In A Child, Say It's A Game-Changer The Mississippi child's surprising cure came about from happenstance â and the quick thinking of a University of Mississippi p .......
Posted by gme109 on 2013-03-03, 09:50:19 (107.2.168.152)
Perhaps he resides on the Eastern side. .......
Posted by gme109 on 2013-03-03, 09:33:22 (107.2.168.152)
Obviously the rich need more breaks and taxes cuts, for trickle down to really start kicking in. .......
Posted by gmike on 2013-03-03, 04:43:35 (24.147.241.230)
. .......
232: Outside Asylum, Look where that got jazz (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-03-02, 12:33:07 (107.2.168.152)
He carried his remote close to his side and it ended up in the shitter. .......
Posted by gme109 on 2013-03-02, 12:29:32 (107.2.168.152)
This article may help broaden your narrow views, but I doubt it. .......
234: Outside Asylum, Same here (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-03-02, 12:03:16 (107.2.168.152)
Just not able to get to it at all times. .......
235: Outside Asylum, RE: How many of you OCD cases post from your phones?? * (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-03-02, 10:59:00 (107.2.168.152)
Been thinking about getting a tablet, but not feeling overly compelled to do so. With text wrapping on my Android smartphone, I can double tap to zoom in, and never have to scroll side to side, works .......
236: Outside Asylum, Geico and Progressive, along with ALL drug manufacture ads, invoke the same response from me (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-03-02, 10:45:32 (107.2.168.152)
May need to get Dish Networks "Hopper", and eliminate all commercials. Dish Network won't back down on Hopper commercial skipper ENGLEWOOD, Colo. â The Dish Network satellite service got the big fo .......
237: Outside Asylum, Keystone XL was a bad deal all along... According to Fox News (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-03-02, 09:21:50 (107.2.168.152)
1. Keystone XL Would Not Reduce Foreign Oil Dependency The oil to be sent through Keystone XL pipeline was never destined for US markets. In its own presentation to investors about the proposed pipeli .......
238: Outside Asylum, Keystone XL is a tar sands pipeline to export oil out of the United States (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-03-02, 07:06:27 (107.2.168.152)
One of the most important facts that is missing in the national debate surrounding the proposed Keystone XL tar sands pipeline is this â Keystone XL will not bring any more oil into the United State .......
Posted by gme109 on 2013-03-01, 13:28:41 (107.2.168.152)
* .......
Posted by gme109 on 2013-03-01, 13:15:23 (107.2.168.152)
I doubt you'll be rubbing elbows with them, now, or in the afterlife. .......
241: Outside Asylum, Not that simple (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-03-01, 11:58:25 (107.2.168.152)
If you're young enough, and are not needing to sell, yeah you can wait and sell at a more opportune time if the market is down. Doesn't always work, especially for elderly people, who may need to sell .......
Posted by gme109 on 2013-03-01, 10:19:24 (107.2.168.152)
.......
243: Cable Asylum, RE: Checked out StereoTimes. (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-02-27, 17:23:47 (107.2.168.152)
I'm a little confused, you say you returned the CT-1's, but you feel they're a step above the MG's? Meaning you think they were better? .......
Posted by gme109 on 2013-02-27, 13:16:16 (107.2.168.152)
* .......
245: Cable Asylum, RE: Checked out StereoTimes. (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-02-27, 12:34:35 (107.2.168.152)
There was a comparison done between High Fidelity and MG Audio, by someone on another forum. I made mention of it above in this thread. .......
Posted by gme109 on 2013-02-27, 08:00:25 (107.2.168.152)
* .......
Posted by gme109 on 2013-02-26, 19:51:27 (107.2.168.152)
I got myself in enough trouble driving a 280Z years ago. .......
Posted by gme109 on 2013-02-26, 19:43:50 (107.2.168.152)
Now I know why I drop in every once in awhile. .......
249: Cable Asylum, RE: Checked out StereoTimes. (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-02-26, 19:40:09 (107.2.168.152)
"Do we see a pattern here?" Yeah, cable design is advancing quickly, and they're all exceptional cables. I definitely have a new found respect for just how much difference a cable can make in a high e .......
250: Outside Asylum, Bugatti Veyron vs Lamborghini Aventador vs Lexus LFA vs McLaren MP4-12C (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-02-26, 19:29:33 (107.2.168.152)
If I had the means, I'd definitely go with the McLaren. 18 mpg vs. less than 10 mpg with the Bugatti. Bugatti = Wretched Excess. .......
251: Cable Asylum, High Fidelity cables were on my radar months earlier (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-02-26, 18:08:42 (107.2.168.152)
Still using some of Rick's older power cable designs, and love them. I'm sure his latest cables are off the charts in terms of sonic splendor, but before I had a chance to try them, a pair of MG Audio .......
252: Outside Asylum, RE: Argggghhh...my eyes my eyes!! (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-02-26, 12:52:54 (107.2.168.152)
I'm using Firefox on a Mac, and there is a link in the upper left corner that says: AudioAsylum Trader .......
Posted by gme109 on 2013-02-26, 12:41:46 (107.2.168.152)
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Posted by gme109 on 2013-02-25, 16:32:24 (107.2.168.152)
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Posted by gme109 on 2013-02-24, 08:01:38 (107.2.168.152)
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256: Digital Drive, RE: REVIEW: Ayon 07s (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-02-24, 07:25:42 (107.2.168.152)
I bought my Ayon 07s almost a year now, and have been enjoying it immensely, but it wasn't until recently after upgrading my speaker cables, that I became aware of the absolute stunning performance th .......
Posted by gme109 on 2013-02-23, 08:13:26 (107.2.168.152)
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Posted by gme109 on 2013-02-23, 07:40:46 (107.2.168.152)
The trail of breadcrumbs are there for anyone to see, who's eyes are open. .......
259: Computer Audio Asylum, A few obivous points (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-02-22, 09:23:21 (107.2.168.152)
The Resonessence player has numerous other options for feeding it a signal besides SD storage ie High-speed USB, Toslink, BNC, AE5 via an outboard computer. Also there is no reason why you could not u .......
260: Computer Audio Asylum, RE: You could have posted the link without the advertisment. (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-02-21, 20:19:04 (107.2.168.152)
Reading about the DAC is what brought the high capacity SD cards to my attention. It's also the first implementation of computer audio that's peaked my interest. So thought I'd pass it along. ::: TOPI .......
261: Computer Audio Asylum, RE: Change my mind about what ? (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-02-21, 18:27:45 (107.2.168.152)
$4k for a great sounding DAC / computer seems reasonable. Unless one uses their desktop computer, which probably is not ideal for computer audio. Aren't most using a dedicated computer, in their setup .......
262: Computer Audio Asylum, RE: Change my mind about what ? (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-02-21, 17:27:11 (107.2.168.152)
Don't mind using a computer to transfer music to an SD card, just don't want to mess with one during play back. Plus it stands to reason that using a solid state device for memory, verses a moving har .......
263: Outside Asylum, Maybe you need to find better sources of tuna (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-02-21, 16:27:52 (107.2.168.152)
Wild Planet is committed to providing the finest tasting sustainably caught seafood while supporting the conservation of wild marine ecosystems. Pole and troll tuna fishing is rated as the best catc .......
264: Computer Audio Asylum, This may change your mind (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-02-21, 16:16:22 (107.2.168.152)
resonessence labs Invicta DSD-Capable DAC - Out of the Box as reviewed by Lynn Olson Let's cut to the chase: the Invicta is one of the three best experiences I've heard with DSD sources. Considering t .......
265: Computer Audio Asylum, Click the link doofus* (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-02-21, 16:05:04 (107.2.168.152)
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266: Computer Audio Asylum, RE: New SDXC Memory Cards to Hit 2 Terabytes (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-02-21, 14:45:43 (107.2.168.152)
For me it's about simplicity, which is why I've never delved into computer audio. Yeah it's simple once it's setup, but the roads to get there are many, and often times confusing. A combination Dac/ c .......
267: Computer Audio Asylum, RE: New SDXC Memory Cards to Hit 2 Terabytes (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-02-21, 13:50:46 (107.2.168.152)
Sure there is, but this is the purest manifestation of computer audio. No cables, no additional boxes, no Jitter. .......
268: Computer Audio Asylum, New SDXC Memory Cards to Hit 2 Terabytes (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-02-21, 12:20:21 (107.2.168.152)
"Professional (or just prolific) photographers will like this: The capacity of SD memory cards will expand this year to 2 terabytes and deliver transfer rates that will eventually hit 300 megabits per .......
Posted by gme109 on 2013-02-21, 11:48:19 (107.2.168.152)
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270: Outside Asylum, So you're fine with the warrantless wiretapping of U.S. citizens, and torture? (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-02-21, 11:45:03 (107.2.168.152)
That wasn't the case when it was happening under bush, what changed? Senate Ignores Constitution, Passes Warrantless Wiretap Renewal Itâs not the eavesdropping thatâs the most egregious violati .......
271: Outside Asylum, New York Senate bill seeks to end anonymous internet posting. Gee do you think this would change the dynamics here? (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-02-21, 11:14:11 (107.2.168.152)
Introduced by New York State Sen. Thomas F. O'Mara (RâBig Flats), S6779 would require that any anonymous post online is subject to removal if the poster refuses to post â and verify â their lega .......
272: Outside Asylum, Telling the truth becomes a dangerous act (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-02-21, 10:48:34 (107.2.168.152)
when four federal whistleblowers reveal the darkest corners of America's war on terror. Beneath the headlines, out of sight of most Americans, a critical war is being fought between those who would r .......
Posted by gme109 on 2013-02-19, 06:57:59 (107.2.168.152)
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Posted by gme109 on 2013-02-14, 14:18:50 (107.2.168.152)
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Posted by gme109 on 2013-02-14, 14:17:52 (107.2.168.152)
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276: Outside Asylum, RE: That cruise from Hell. Not only crappy conditions, but held prisoner. (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-02-14, 13:47:13 (107.2.168.152)
Him and his wife could've dove into the ocean, and been rescued there. Certainly a better option than staying aboard the floating latrine. .......
Posted by gme109 on 2013-02-14, 12:54:33 (107.2.168.152)
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Posted by gme109 on 2013-02-14, 12:53:38 (107.2.168.152)
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Posted by gme109 on 2013-02-14, 12:50:19 (107.2.168.152)
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280: Outside Asylum, iPhone users take note. Apple Working on Fix for iOS 6.1 Passcode Hack (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-02-14, 12:39:49 (107.2.168.152)
Looks like the latest version of Appleâs iOS mobile operating system brought more than just Siri-enabled movie-ticket purchases and iTunes Match enhancements to the devices on which it runs. A new v .......
281: Outside Asylum, Why Broadband Service in the U.S. Is So Awful. Or why we need to spend more money improving our aging infrastructure (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-02-14, 09:01:14 (107.2.168.152)
The average U.S. household has to pay an exorbitant amount of money for an Internet connection that the rest of the industrial world would find mediocre. According to a recent report by the Berkman Ce .......
Posted by gme109 on 2013-02-14, 08:06:50 (107.2.168.152)
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283: Outside Asylum, The only options in my area are...Comcast, Century Link, but only at 1.5 Mb speeds, and Clear (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-02-14, 07:03:07 (107.2.168.152)
If my cell phone provider, Sprint, had 4g LTE, I'd use that as a modem for my desktop, and cancel Comcast. Might be time to dump Sprint, but Verizon no longer has unlimited data. .......
284: Outside Asylum, I have the triple play with Comcast as well (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-02-13, 19:21:39 (107.2.168.152)
And I'm past the promotion period, and was aware the price would be going up. That's not the problem. The problem is, it keeps going up every month, even when they say it will remain the same for quit .......
285: Outside Asylum, RE: directv works way better than that. (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-02-13, 19:12:02 (107.2.168.152)
Do a search on Direct TV ripoff. They are no different than Comcast or dish network, they're all scumbags. .......
Posted by gme109 on 2013-02-13, 18:12:51 (107.2.168.152)
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Posted by gme109 on 2013-02-13, 17:55:07 (107.2.168.152)
Every month I end up spending an hour on the phone straightening things out. Fucking corporate criminals! .......
Posted by gme109 on 2013-02-13, 16:11:05 (107.2.168.152)
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289: Outside Asylum, Truth in advertising. Heart Attack Grill's top patron dies of a heart attack (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-02-13, 12:29:52 (107.2.168.152)
John Alleman visited the Heart Attack Grill so often, the restaurant designed an entire line of clothing featuring a cartoon of its beloved "Patient Joe," and placed his face front and center on their .......
290: Outside Asylum, RE: Speaking of an Entitled populace...................... (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-02-13, 11:52:45 (107.2.168.152)
You're exactly right. I work for a lot of the same people you're describing, and they have no problem spending unlimited funds when it comes to something that they can display, ie Ferrari, top of the .......
291: Outside Asylum, Tip of the iceberg (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-02-13, 07:11:24 (107.2.168.152)
Authored in two parts by Gary Null PhD, Carolyn Dean MD ND, Martin Feldman MD, Debora Rasio MD, and Dorothy Smith PhD, it described in excruciating detail how the modern American medical system .......
292: General Asylum, RE: 100% improvement, you say? (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-02-12, 10:43:21 (107.2.168.152)
I honestly feel like I'm getting 100% more enjoyment from my system. Every aspect of the sound was transformed significantly. Words really do fail me in trying to convey the improvements, but I will s .......
293: General Asylum, RE: Partial cynic. (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-02-12, 10:05:21 (107.2.168.152)
Try a pair of MG Audio cables, and that 50% figure will fly out the window. In the last year I upgraded my monoblock amps and CD player, both of which were significant upgrades in sound, but they pale .......
Posted by gme109 on 2013-02-11, 14:23:50 (107.2.168.152)
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295: Outside Asylum, Same here (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-02-11, 13:18:39 (107.2.168.152)
No gun safe though, just my trusty practice sword, and my attack cat. .......
296: Outside Asylum, Any numb skull can pull a trigger. Real men use hand tools (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-02-11, 13:03:16 (107.2.168.152)
Hatchet Wielding Homeless Hitchhiker Saves The Day This is a viral video, or just becoming one. Kai the homeless hitchhiker, skateboarding, surfer guy, saves a woman from a man who had just rammed a .......
Posted by gme109 on 2013-02-10, 20:11:52 (107.2.168.152)
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298: Outside Asylum, Highest gun ownership per capita, but smaller populations compared to dotted states (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-02-10, 20:06:06 (107.2.168.152)
States with Extremely High Populations of Gun Owners(more than 50%) 1. Wyoming - 59.7% 2. Alaska - 57.8% 3. Montana - 57.7% 4. South Dakota - 56.6% 5. West Virginia - 55.4% 6. Mississip .......
Posted by gme109 on 2013-02-10, 19:47:26 (107.2.168.152)
Been using the same bottle for years. Improves the sound of every cd I apply it to. .......
300: General Asylum, RE: Is This Allowable Here? (0.00)
Posted by gmike on 2013-02-10, 18:57:59 (24.147.241.230)
I have dealt with both Galen Carol Audio Gene Rubin Audio and both are class acts. I would not hesitate to do business again with either of them. .......
301: General Asylum, Purchased a CAT preamp along with demoing a few other products from Galen Carol Audio (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-02-10, 18:50:20 (107.2.168.152)
Galen was not only a pleasure to deal with, but very knowledgeable as well. He's one of a select few high end audio dealers who I trust implicitly. .......
Posted by gme109 on 2013-02-10, 18:35:18 (107.2.168.152)
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303: Cable Asylum, Linky (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-02-10, 15:03:09 (107.2.168.152)
Hand made in Orlando Florida, USA 20AWG HC-OFC copper conductor for advanced signal transfer Sophisticated multi-gauge design for superior bass & midrange Insulated conductors eliminate strand .......
Posted by gme109 on 2013-02-10, 08:34:37 (107.2.168.152)
Good thing not everyone thinks like you, or we'd still be living in the stone age. .......
305: General Asylum, RE: Where in building matters. Above folks is more problematic by far than below others. (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-02-06, 15:12:43 (107.2.168.152)
If above folks are more problematic, and I agree, would it not be more advantageous to live on the top floor vs. the first floor? That way no one is above you. .......
Posted by gme109 on 2013-02-06, 14:37:33 (107.2.168.152)
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Posted by gme109 on 2013-02-06, 14:26:35 (107.2.168.152)
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308: Outside Asylum, Sorry to hear of your loss (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-02-05, 15:30:16 (107.2.168.152)
Although your daughter will never get to meet this very special person, she still lives in your memories, which will manifest in your actions and teachings, and will be passed along to your daughter. .......
Posted by gme109 on 2013-02-05, 14:59:44 (107.2.168.152)
Holy shit, this is totally unhinged!!! Don't need no stinking guns to save the day. .......
310: Cable Asylum, LOL! * (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-02-03, 09:42:05 (107.2.168.152)
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Posted by gme109 on 2013-02-02, 09:56:21 (107.2.168.152)
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Posted by gme109 on 2013-02-01, 15:04:13 (107.2.168.152)
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313: Outside Asylum, Single payer is the only sane way to go (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-01-31, 15:49:00 (107.2.168.152)
What is Single Payer? Single-payer is a term used to describe a type of financing system. It refers to one entity acting as administrator, or âpayer.â In the case of health care, a single-payer sy .......
Posted by gme109 on 2013-01-31, 15:41:14 (107.2.168.152)
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Posted by gme109 on 2013-01-31, 15:35:00 (107.2.168.152)
Not a bad idea. That way everything will be solidly affixed, verses going over popcorn texture. .......
Posted by gme109 on 2013-01-31, 15:30:49 (107.2.168.152)
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317: Outside Asylum, RE: No abestos here............... (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-01-31, 15:26:25 (107.2.168.152)
You could use finish screws to attach the wood beam ceiling, that way you'll have smaller holes to fill. Good luck. .......
Posted by gme109 on 2013-01-31, 15:23:10 (107.2.168.152)
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Posted by gme109 on 2013-01-31, 15:20:16 (107.2.168.152)
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320: Outside Asylum, RE: No abestos here............... (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-01-31, 14:51:57 (107.2.168.152)
Well with all that in mind, the sq. footage and rustic beamed wood, I'd say you're right, just go over the ceiling. How thick is the rustic beamed wood, and how were you planning on fastening it to th .......
321: Outside Asylum, RE: No abestos here............... (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-01-31, 14:01:59 (107.2.168.152)
I would remove the entire drywall ceiling. That way it would be easier to shim the ceiling joist, if need be, to achieve a flatter surface for your new wood ceiling. Also if there ever was any water d .......
Posted by gme109 on 2013-01-31, 13:48:22 (107.2.168.152)
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323: Outside Asylum, RE: Need some expertise on replacing ceilings........ (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-01-31, 13:43:46 (107.2.168.152)
First thing you want to have done, is have the popcorn ceiling checked for asbestos content, especially if your home was built 25 to 30 years ago. If it comes back negative, then you can have someone, .......
Posted by gme109 on 2013-01-31, 10:32:49 (107.2.168.152)
"shockingly profound"... meaning even someone with a tin ear, would've been able to hear the difference. .......
325: Whiner's Woad, Even though I have not yet tried upgraded receptacles, I believe him (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-01-31, 07:44:11 (107.2.168.152)
My experience as an audiophile over all the years has brought me to the conclusion that everything matters in a system, and to one degree or the other, will make a difference in the sound. I while bac .......
Posted by gme109 on 2013-01-30, 21:06:17 (107.2.168.152)
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Posted by gme109 on 2013-01-30, 21:02:53 (107.2.168.152)
* .......
Posted by gme109 on 2013-01-30, 17:39:51 (107.2.168.152)
We are all junkies, looking for the Holy Grail. .......
329: Outside Asylum, Makes no difference to my dead uncle, who's army transport crashed into Mt. McKinley in 1944 (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-01-30, 14:28:35 (107.2.168.152)
Mt. McKinley, AK Army Transport Crashes On Peak, Sep 1944 Posted January 16th, 2008 by Stu Beitler PLANE, 19 ABOARD, MISSING IN ALASKA. Edmonton, Alberta -- (U.P.) -- A U. S. army transport plane carr .......
330: Cable Asylum, RE: Haven't tried MG Audio's IC's yet, but your observations mirror that of mine, in regrads to their spealer cable (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-01-30, 12:44:19 (107.2.168.152)
Plenty of people have heard of MG Audio. Do a search, there are a handful of professional reviews out there. In fact Stereo Times just gave MG Audio, "Most Wanted Component 2012 Award" Also I've been .......
Posted by gme109 on 2013-01-30, 12:30:00 (107.2.168.152)
Are you accusing me of being a shill? .......
332: Cable Asylum, Haven't tried MG Audio's IC's yet, but your observations mirror that of mine, in regrads to their spealer cable (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-01-30, 12:17:37 (107.2.168.152)
I tried various cables ranging in price up to $1,000, all of them sounding different, and making somewhat of a difference. But nothing on the scale of what the MG Audio Design speaker cables have brou .......
333: Cable Asylum, Upper bass is phenomenal (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-01-30, 11:53:40 (107.2.168.152)
In fact the whole bass region up to the lower mids, has great pitch definition, with plenty of impact and punch. I'm hearing subtle inflections in bass tones that I've never heard before. The bass is .......
334: Outside Asylum, Well this is certainly encouraging. Fox News Ratings Hit 12-Year Low (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-01-30, 05:02:19 (107.2.168.152)
Looks like Sarah Palin got out right in time. January ratings for cable news show Fox News got its worst prime time ratings among 25-54 year olds since 2001, and its lowest total daytime ratings in fi .......
335: Cable Asylum, RE: I feel like the luckiest audiophile on the planet, after finding a used pair of MG Audio Planus II Speaker cables (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-01-29, 14:29:38 (107.2.168.152)
At some point I'd like to hear the Planus III's. I'm sure they're well worth the extra bucks, but for now, I'm still completely blown away by the II's. BTW, nice review of Greg's cables. .......
Posted by gme109 on 2013-01-29, 14:14:35 (107.2.168.152)
in the world. USA!!! .......
Posted by gme109 on 2013-01-29, 14:02:12 (107.2.168.152)
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338: Cable Asylum, I feel like the luckiest audiophile on the planet, after finding a used pair of MG Audio Planus II Speaker cables (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-01-29, 05:57:14 (107.2.168.152)
Guess not that many people are aware of MG Audio, so I was able to snag them before anyone else. Even at their full retail price of $950 for a 6' pair, they are an absolute steal. They've totally tran .......
339: Cable Asylum, RE: Why use chemicals? (0.00)
Posted by gmike on 2013-01-13, 11:38:19 (24.147.241.230)
That's what I did, too. .......
Posted by gme109 on 2013-01-12, 13:14:20 (66.87.25.72)
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341: Outside Asylum, RE: As I stated in the thread (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-01-12, 12:36:44 (66.87.25.72)
It wouldn't surprise me if big pharm is already aware of problem, much like the tobacco industry was. .......
Posted by gme109 on 2013-01-12, 09:05:23 (107.2.168.152)
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343: Outside Asylum, Thanks for posting this. I had a hunch most of the shooters invovled in these shootings were on anti-depressants (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-01-12, 09:02:05 (107.2.168.152)
I'm sure some will say this not absolute proof of a direct link between the two, but it certainly warrants further investigation. .......
344: Outside Asylum, Relatively speaking it maybe chump change, but it's totally unwarranted, and should be eliminated (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-01-04, 06:48:22 (107.2.168.152)
The defense budget needs to be slashed in half, first and foremost. Cuts to middle class workers should be the LAST thing on the table. .......
Posted by gme109 on 2013-01-04, 06:06:55 (107.2.168.152)
Cuts should be made there, before raising the age for retirement. .......
346: Outside Asylum, +1 * (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-01-03, 17:57:10 (107.2.168.152)
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347: General Asylum, In the process of buying some speaker cables myself (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2013-01-02, 20:36:46 (107.2.168.152)
I was ready to pull the tiger on a new pair of speaker cables and found the exact model and length of cable I needed on Audiogon, in like new condition. If it wasn't for the fact that the seller had a .......
Posted by gme109 on 2012-12-31, 14:05:16 (107.2.168.152)
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349: Outside Asylum, Not just here, but everywhere (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2012-12-29, 08:25:16 (107.2.168.152)
I no longer find it wonderful to read or interact with the mentally challenged. More of a total downer. .......
Posted by gme109 on 2012-12-27, 18:35:01 (107.2.168.152)
Jack at 71 and 91 I'm going with Jack's words of wisdom. .......
Posted by gme109 on 2012-12-27, 18:09:16 (107.2.168.152)
.......
352: Outside Asylum, Possible solution (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2012-12-27, 13:03:55 (107.2.168.152)
I've talked to a few people who have used these, and who say they do make a difference. I have an in home ozone purifier/ionizer which I find is quite affective at reducing air born allergens. Pers .......
353: Outside Asylum, "pot plant 'fumes.'"? Are saying that the neighbor smokes pot in the backyard, or just fumes from the plant? (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2012-12-27, 12:30:57 (107.2.168.152)
Either way, there is not much that the person being affected can do, other than were a mask or stay indoors. I get pissed off every time some dumb ass smoker in the car in front me pollutes the air sp .......
354: Outside Asylum, Cost of cops in every shcool... 7 Billion dollars, and it would not put a hault to the massacres. e.g. Columbine (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2012-12-27, 09:32:43 (107.2.168.152)
And who would've paid the extra 7 Billion to put armed guards in every school? Didn't see the NRA offering. .......
Posted by gme109 on 2012-12-26, 07:15:39 (107.2.168.152)
Here's a list from their website, but nothing like you described. .......
Posted by gme109 on 2012-12-25, 14:20:46 (107.2.168.152)
.......
357: Outside Asylum, Try stovetop popcorn, so much better (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2012-12-25, 13:56:53 (107.2.168.152)
Been using this recipe with great success. Perfect Popcorn Recipe INGREDIENTS 3 Tbsp canola, peanut or grapeseed oil (high smoke point oil) 1/3 cup of high quality popcorn kernels 1 3-quart covered .......
358: Outside Asylum, Braun's latest electric toothbrush is a real plaque busting MoFo (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2012-12-25, 12:12:34 (107.2.168.152)
My old Braun toothbrush was no longer holding a good charge, so I picked up the latest model a while back. Besides just rotating back and forth, it now has a pulsating action like a hammer drill, so e .......
Posted by gme109 on 2012-12-25, 11:30:54 (107.2.168.152)
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Posted by gme109 on 2012-12-25, 11:27:33 (107.2.168.152)
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361: Outside Asylum, WTF? * (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2012-12-25, 09:16:25 (107.2.168.152)
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362: Outside Asylum, I've been partaking in the joys of Socialism, and borrowing movies and music for free at my local library (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2012-12-25, 08:37:46 (107.2.168.152)
They actually have a decent selection of movies, including newer releases. Also scooped up a handful of cd's, all of which I get to hang on to for three weeks. Can't beat that, and I don't have to han .......
Posted by gme109 on 2012-12-24, 21:01:34 (107.2.168.152)
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364: Outside Asylum, RE: Shame on you (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2012-12-24, 17:06:42 (107.2.168.152)
Same scenario applies to Grandpa, so just an ageist. .......
365: Outside Asylum, RE: Arm grandmothers! nt (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2012-12-24, 16:57:03 (107.2.168.152)
If Grandma had a gun, she'd probably blow her foot off, but not before she shot her dog in the head. .......
Posted by gme109 on 2012-12-24, 16:50:51 (107.2.168.152)
Lots of discounts right now. .......
Posted by gme109 on 2012-12-24, 16:49:06 (107.2.168.152)
* .......
Posted by gme109 on 2012-12-24, 12:14:28 (107.2.168.152)
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_firearm-related_death_rate .......
369: Outside Asylum, RE: I complained to the theater manager about the sound . . . (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2012-12-24, 10:00:23 (107.2.168.152)
This was a present from a friend, which is now on its way back to the retailer for a refund. This was the second movie I watched this week that had inaudible dialog, the other one was "Total Recall" t .......
370: Outside Asylum, Rise of The Dark Knight...Biggest piece of shit moive that I ever watched, or tried to (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2012-12-24, 09:17:53 (107.2.168.152)
Didn't anyone notice during production, how utterly inaudible the dialog soundtrack was? Turning up the volume didn't help either, just louder mumbling. Could've turned subtitles on, but I wasn't the .......
371: Outside Asylum, Do you ever pay attention to what's happening around you? Columbine High School Had Armed Guard During Massac (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2012-12-24, 09:00:25 (107.2.168.152)
Columbine High School Had Armed Guard During Massacre In 1999 WASHINGTON -- In a highly anticipated press conference on Friday, the National Rifle Association announced that after a week of reflectio .......
372: Outside Asylum, It would cost around 7 Billion dollars to place armed guards at every school in the nation. (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2012-12-24, 08:42:36 (107.2.168.152)
Again, who's going to pay for that? As it is, republicans are already trying to defund education and schools. GOPâs Defunding of Education Having Major Consequences Since Republicans major wins in .......
Posted by gme109 on 2012-12-24, 08:20:44 (107.2.168.152)
* .......
Posted by gme109 on 2012-12-24, 00:36:01 (107.2.168.152)
obviously more guns is not the answer. .......
375: Outside Asylum, If the # of guns per capita equaled lower violence & murder rates, the U.S. should be the safest country in the world (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2012-12-23, 19:34:16 (107.2.168.152)
It's not. Even though the U.S. has the highest guns per capita of any country in the world, it ranks 10th in firearm-related deaths. On the other hand Japan ranks 164th in guns per capita, and corresp .......
376: Digital Drive, Ayon 07'S (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2012-12-23, 12:00:21 (107.2.168.152)
Makes beautiful music. .......
377: Outside Asylum, Brain dead * (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2012-12-23, 10:06:42 (107.2.168.152)
* .......
Posted by gme109 on 2012-12-21, 07:19:25 (107.2.168.152)
* .......
Posted by gme109 on 2012-12-21, 06:47:53 (107.2.168.152)
* .......
Posted by gme109 on 2012-12-20, 21:23:49 (107.2.168.152)
* .......
381: Outside Asylum, RE: Detroit regional schools closed for tomorrow, expecting doomsday-related catastophes. (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2012-12-20, 21:16:28 (107.2.168.152)
I remember driving through the city and down 12th st. as a kid, after the 67 Detroit riots. That image has stuck in my mind. Been to Detroit a few times as an adult, can't say I'd ever really want to .......
382: Outside Asylum, Its now 12/21/12 in Australia (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2012-12-20, 18:41:01 (107.2.168.152)
Has the world ended downunder? Just wondering. .......
383: Outside Asylum, That you know of (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2012-12-20, 15:37:24 (107.2.168.152)
Doesn't mean it hasn't, or couldn't happen. Wise up. .......
384: Outside Asylum, Compared to other workers with college degrees, they are under paid (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2012-12-20, 11:11:24 (107.2.168.152)
"Despite the considerable amount of money channeled into education here, teaching jobs in the United States are not as well paid as they are abroad, at least when you consider the other opportunities .......
385: Outside Asylum, Boneheads like Coulter have the reasoning skills of turnip (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2012-12-20, 10:34:00 (107.2.168.152)
Why would under paid teachers want to be put in the position of trying to take out a crazed Assault rifle totting gun nut, using a small caliber pistol? .......
386: Outside Asylum, Frontier towns -- places like Tombstone, Deadwood, and Dodge -- actually had the most restrictive gun control (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2012-12-20, 10:04:08 (107.2.168.152)
Guns were obviously widespread on the frontier. Out in the untamed wilderness, you needed a gun to be safe from bandits, natives, and wildlife. In the cities and towns of the West, however, the law of .......
387: Outside Asylum, Breaking news!...Ann Coulter knows how to stop school shootings (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2012-12-20, 09:25:02 (107.2.168.152)
Only one public policy has ever been shown to reduce the death rate from such crimes: concealed-carry laws. The effect of concealed-carry laws in deterring mass public shootings was even greater than .......
388: Computer Audio Asylum, RE: PS Audio NuWave DAC Arrived. Testing vs W4S DAC2 (0.00)
Posted by [email protected] on 2012-12-19, 20:05:50 (24.130.116.100)
I received my NuWave DAC a couple of weeks ago. It sounds really good, but not much better than the Cullen Stage IV modified PS Audio DL 3 (C4DL3). With 24/96 material the NuWave sounds slightly more .......
389: Outside Asylum, "To actually prevent and or simply min imize this tragedy is going to take a great deal more" Its a start (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2012-12-19, 15:04:23 (107.2.168.152)
Along with closing the Gun Show loopholes and providing tougher and longer waiting periods for acquiring firearms. It works in Japan, it can work here. A Land Without Guns: How Japan Has Virtually E .......
390: Outside Asylum, The Mayans Never Predicted Doomsday (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2012-12-18, 15:37:44 (107.2.168.152)
According to all the ridiculous hype surrounding Dec. 21, 2012, the Mayans "predicted" the end of the world with one of their calendars. On this date, doomsayers assert that Earth will be ravaged by a .......
Posted by gme109 on 2012-12-15, 15:19:14 (107.2.168.152)
.......
Posted by gme109 on 2012-12-15, 15:14:59 (107.2.168.152)
* .......
393: Outside Asylum, Nice ride (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2012-12-15, 08:47:18 (107.2.168.152)
Was considering that model, but found a great deal on a slightly used Specialized Stumpjumper FSR S-Works. .......
394: Outside Asylum, Spot on * (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2012-12-11, 10:45:43 (107.2.168.152)
* .......
Posted by gme109 on 2012-12-09, 10:25:36 (107.2.168.152)
* .......
396: Outside Asylum, Perfect! * (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2012-12-03, 18:17:33 (107.2.168.152)
* .......
Posted by gme109 on 2012-12-02, 16:41:22 (107.2.168.152)
Except maybe Jazz. .......
Posted by gme109 on 2012-12-02, 14:18:35 (107.2.168.152)
to warrant a new investigation. .......
399: Outside Asylum, Do you really think an answer to that question will some how bend the laws of physics? (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2012-12-02, 13:57:17 (107.2.168.152)
Your logic is slipping with every post. If anything, foreknowledge of the collapse lends itself more handily to planed demolition. BBC REPORTED BUILDING 7 COLLAPSE 20 MINUTES EARLY!! An astounding v .......
400: Outside Asylum, Your understanding of physics leaves little to be dersired (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2012-12-02, 12:02:49 (107.2.168.152)
In the case of asymmetrical damage, gravity would have taken its toll unevenly, bringing the building down asymmetrically, not neatly into its own footprint. Only way to achieve total symmetry in the .......
401: Outside Asylum, RE: Planned demolition? Bullshit. How did the firemen know it was going to collapse? (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2012-12-02, 11:23:16 (107.2.168.152)
Then explain to me how a partially damaged building ends up falling in a symmetrical fashion at near free fall speeds, without all of its structural supports being taken out simultaneously? ::: TOPIC: .......
402: Outside Asylum, RE: Oh joy, a 2 hour + video. Learn how to present evidence. (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2012-12-02, 11:03:25 (107.2.168.152)
The asymmetrical damage that building 7 sustained, could never have lead to the symmetrical and near free fall speed collapse that was witnessed. Only planned demolitions behave in that manner. ::: .......
403: Outside Asylum, 25,000 Years of Architectural and Engineering Experience Says â âNew Investigation Neededâ (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2012-12-02, 08:25:08 (107.2.168.152)
This video includes an abundance of scientific forensic data and eye witness testimony that was omitted from the official 9/11 report. Who are these architects and engineers who have signed thi .......
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-30, 06:44:09 (107.2.168.152)
Looking to carry less change, not more! .......
405: Outside Asylum, 18,000 employees laidoff whilst CEO's walk away with $1.75 million in bonuses (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-30, 06:09:28 (107.2.168.152)
after the business lost 88 percent of its value, due to poor management. Middle class workers screwed again by trickle up economics. .......
406: Outside Asylum, What a load of crap! * (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-29, 20:46:23 (107.2.168.152)
* .......
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-29, 06:46:30 (107.2.168.152)
.......
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-28, 16:52:32 (107.2.168.152)
that for the most part only treat symptoms. .......
409: Outside Asylum, You're a brain washed fool * (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-28, 15:27:46 (107.2.168.152)
* .......
410: Outside Asylum, Use it all the time as an antibiotic, along with grapefruit seed extract and garlic (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-28, 15:26:29 (107.2.168.152)
All natural and potent antimicrobial protects that don't require a prescription, and wont jack up your intestinal flora like antibiotics. .......
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-26, 20:21:41 (107.2.168.152)
* .......
412: Outside Asylum, Walmart Employees Kill Another Alleged Shoplifter (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-26, 16:35:36 (107.2.168.152)
By now many have heard the news that a brutal trio of Walmart employees have killed an alleged shoplifter in Lithonia, Georgia. Georgia police are investigating the killing and the three have been sus .......
413: Outside Asylum, Top 15 Countries with the Hottest Women. US comes in last (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-26, 16:14:20 (107.2.168.152)
While itâs true that beautiful women can and will be found in every country the world over, there are a few that stand out from the crowd and produce a remarkably conspicuous amount of hot women. Th .......
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-26, 16:09:10 (107.2.168.152)
* .......
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-26, 16:01:03 (107.2.168.152)
* .......
416: Outside Asylum, Hubba hubba! * (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-26, 15:58:22 (107.2.168.152)
* .......
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-26, 15:53:06 (107.2.168.152)
* .......
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-25, 17:05:49 (107.2.168.152)
Although in your investigative mind I'm sure this doesn't rise to the level of compelling either. .......
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-25, 15:30:19 (107.2.168.152)
.......
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-23, 11:44:12 (107.2.168.152)
the Powerball. .......
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-23, 10:45:11 (107.2.168.152)
* .......
422: Outside Asylum, Jesus would be proud * (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-23, 09:35:01 (107.2.168.152)
* .......
423: Outside Asylum, Careful, human bird flu spreads in Turkey (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-22, 14:57:39 (107.2.168.152)
Well kind of. Five new human cases of bird flu have been confirmed in several Turkish provinces, pushing the number of people infected up to 14, officials say. .......
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-22, 10:16:07 (107.2.168.152)
* .......
425: Outside Asylum, How about using your brain? (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-22, 09:56:15 (107.2.168.152)
Never heard of Google? .......
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-22, 09:35:56 (107.2.168.152)
* .......
427: Outside Asylum, It comes as no surprise, that Republican leaning polls were not very scientific (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-21, 17:22:41 (107.2.168.152)
as science is not something they embrace, and therefor suck at. The GOP polling debacle Because the electorate is changing so rapidly, and because more and more voters are using cell phones that are .......
428: Outside Asylum, And the biggest most bloated portion of the Federal Budget, is the Pentagon, which the right wants to hand more (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-18, 11:59:38 (107.2.168.152)
money over to, money they didn't even ask for. Obama has already saved 2 Trillion dollars, that Mitt would've given to his defense contractor buddies, had he been elected. .......
429: Outside Asylum, Always the optimist * (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-17, 17:46:12 (107.2.168.152)
* .......
430: Outside Asylum, Somewhere in New York, a fat man is crying (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-17, 11:04:19 (107.2.168.152)
Ding Dong! 18,500 Hostess Jobs Dead RUSH: Look, here I'm already being asked, "Are you gonna talk about Hostess?" Yeah, I'm gonna talk about Hostess. You know what, 18,500 people gone, Hostess Twinkie .......
431: Outside Asylum, Time to forget about him, and hold the democrats feet to the fire, on important progressive issues (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-16, 09:56:44 (107.2.168.152)
Like single payer health care, sane gun control, and addressing climate change. Romney will soon fade into obscurity. .......
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-16, 08:33:29 (107.2.168.152)
.......
433: Outside Asylum, Irish mourn death of woman denied abortion, demand change to law (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-15, 22:45:36 (107.2.168.152)
Despite her rising pain, doctors refused her request for an abortion for three days because the fetus had a heartbeat. She died in the hospital from blood poisoning three days after the fetus died and .......
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-15, 21:22:15 (107.2.168.152)
Guess you never heard of Social Security tax. .......
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-15, 18:26:08 (107.2.168.152)
* .......
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-15, 17:05:24 (107.2.168.152)
* .......
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-13, 19:48:04 (107.2.168.152)
* .......
438: Outside Asylum, Bobby Jindal: GOP Should 'Stop Being The Stupid Party' (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-13, 19:04:37 (107.2.168.152)
Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal hurled harsh criticism at his own party after the GOP was blindsided in the 2012 elections, telling Republicans to end "dumbed-down conservatism" by putting a stop to " .......
439: Outside Asylum, Fun fact of the day. Bush Got More Mormon Votes Than Mitt (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-13, 06:54:11 (107.2.168.152)
The Saints Didn't Come Marching in for Romney As The Hill and some other news outlets have reported, Mitt Romney received fewer votes from members of the Church of the Latter Day Saints than Bush. It .......
440: Outside Asylum, Pretty sure that's YECH * (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-12, 19:25:07 (107.2.168.152)
* .......
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-11, 17:14:51 (107.2.168.152)
Deal with it loser. .......
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-11, 16:24:06 (107.2.168.152)
* .......
443: Outside Asylum, Southern Sockholm syndrome * (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-11, 07:11:21 (107.2.168.152)
* .......
444: Outside Asylum, Obama 332. Suck that Mitt * (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-10, 12:57:28 (107.2.168.152)
* .......
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-10, 12:35:19 (107.2.168.152)
Don't expect anyone here to have a clue about any of this. .......
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-10, 08:33:15 (107.2.168.152)
* .......
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-10, 07:59:30 (107.2.168.152)
* .......
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-10, 07:56:15 (107.2.168.152)
* .......
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-10, 07:53:41 (107.2.168.152)
* .......
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-10, 07:51:09 (107.2.168.152)
* .......
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-10, 07:00:57 (107.2.168.152)
* .......
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-10, 06:58:12 (107.2.168.152)
* .......
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-09, 19:28:28 (107.2.168.152)
* .......
454: Outside Asylum, I think I see a pattern here. Romney stiffs his staff, and Newt leaves behind multi-million dollar campaign debt (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-09, 16:12:39 (107.2.168.152)
Another example of what being a Fiscally conservative is all about, screwing the other guy. Gingrich mothballs campaign, but leaves behind multi-million dollar debt Newt Gingrich quit his Republican .......
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-09, 15:34:53 (107.2.168.152)
* .......
456: Outside Asylum, Try looking at the BIG picture...2 TRILLION saved in military spending over Romney (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-08, 06:57:54 (107.2.168.152)
That's 2 Trillion that the Pentagon didn't ask for. And you're worried about struggling people getting food stamps during hard times. Seriously, get your priorities in order. .......
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-08, 05:57:53 (107.2.168.152)
Try taking a little responsibility for your own life. .......
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-07, 20:22:09 (107.2.168.152)
The Lord works in mysterious ways. .......
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-07, 14:50:22 (107.2.168.152)
For anyone interfering with Americans right to vote. Let's put the death penalty to good use. .......
460: Outside Asylum, They may feel more comfortable moving to more Fascist government regime, like Syria (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-07, 12:12:23 (107.2.168.152)
Human rights Main article: Human rights in Syria Syria's human rights situation is currently among the worst in the world, according to human rights organizations such as Human Rights Watch.[120] Fre .......
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-07, 11:32:13 (107.2.168.152)
You wont be missed. .......
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-07, 11:16:29 (107.2.168.152)
Obama. .......
463: Outside Asylum, I thought for sure Romney was going to win Colorado, based on all the bumber stickers and yard signs (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-07, 11:11:28 (107.2.168.152)
I now feel much better about living here in Colorado, knowing it's more blue than red. And legalizing pot was the right thing to do, you know smaller government. .......
464: Outside Asylum, RE: 58M to 56M is NOT a mandate and the House shows that.... (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-07, 11:07:10 (107.2.168.152)
From where I and a large portion of the country sit, Obama has already done a lot to "fix" what bush and other republicans have done, to destroy the middle class. .......
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-07, 10:57:58 (107.2.168.152)
Dow is down, because wall st. knows republicans will not work with the president. .......
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-07, 10:17:11 (107.2.168.152)
about this, besides paying lip service. .......
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-07, 10:11:32 (107.2.168.152)
* .......
468: Outside Asylum, No country for angry old white men: (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-07, 09:59:24 (107.2.168.152)
the GOP's diminishing demographic Unless the Republican party embraces diversity and renews its appeal to Americans of color, it faces gradual extinction .......
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-07, 09:57:39 (107.2.168.152)
* .......
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-07, 09:19:28 (107.2.168.152)
* .......
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-07, 09:09:17 (107.2.168.152)
* .......
472: Outside Asylum, Donald Trump loses it, calls for ârevolutionâ (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-07, 06:48:38 (107.2.168.152)
The Donald has purged his account of its most unhinged tweets, but not before we were able to make a screen grab Time to put the Patriot Act to good use, and give the Donald a full body cavity search .......
473: Outside Asylum, I just want to take this moment to thank God for answering all my prayers (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-07, 06:32:41 (107.2.168.152)
Mitt Romney sent packing! Marijuana legalized in Colorado! grits finally shut the fuck up! I'm walking on sunshine! .......
474: Outside Asylum, Ha Ha...What a Dick! (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-06, 23:43:06 (107.2.168.152)
Prediction: Romney 325, Obama 213 By Dick Morris on November 5, 2012 Published on TheHill.com on November 5, 2012 Yup. Thatâs right. A landslide for Romney approaching the magnitude of Obamaâs aga .......
475: Outside Asylum, RIP grits* (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-06, 22:12:01 (107.2.168.152)
* .......
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-06, 20:27:12 (107.2.168.152)
Morons to the bitter end. .......
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-06, 20:14:08 (107.2.168.152)
+ .......
478: Outside Asylum, done deal Obama wins Ohio (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-06, 20:08:31 (107.2.168.152)
+ .......
479: Outside Asylum, Yep (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-06, 14:25:27 (107.2.168.152)
I was either not going to vote, or vote for Gary Johnson. In the end, I ended up voting for Obama, more of a anti Rob-Me vote though. .......
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-05, 20:05:37 (107.2.168.152)
+ .......
481: Outside Asylum, Dick Morris * (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-05, 19:38:44 (107.2.168.152)
+ .......
482: Outside Asylum, +1* (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-05, 17:38:33 (107.2.168.152)
* .......
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-05, 16:18:31 (107.2.168.152)
Gary Johnson polling 10 percent in Ohio. .......
484: Outside Asylum, I knew it! * (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-05, 13:18:15 (66.87.126.198)
+ .......
485: Outside Asylum, RE: Jellybean? (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-04, 20:47:50 (107.2.168.152)
"What happened to Ice Cream Sandwich?" Same thing that happened to iOS5. .......
486: Outside Asylum, Only keep my phones for two years if that (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-04, 19:07:45 (107.2.168.152)
Last android phone had an os upgrade at least 3 times. Looking forward to jellybean on this phone within a week. And Google maps works like a charm. .......
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-04, 17:16:23 (107.2.168.152)
Never did get the iPhone 5. Decided on the Samsung Galaxy 3, which I absolutely love. .......
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-04, 16:05:47 (107.2.168.152)
Better be done before the next BIG blowout. .......
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-04, 15:59:24 (107.2.168.152)
Contrast that to the 1.7 million without power from hurricane Katrina. .......
490: Outside Asylum, About sums it up (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-04, 15:28:28 (107.2.168.152)
.......
491: Outside Asylum, RE: It's diff than a tornado (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-03, 10:03:42 (107.2.168.152)
It was widely reported that trees would be uprooted, so why not take the extra precaution and stay below ground level? That is certainly where I would've hunkered down. .......
492: Outside Asylum, When a hurrican is barreling down on you, why would you hangout on the 2nd or 1st floor? (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-03, 09:29:01 (107.2.168.152)
Heard of several people who were crushed to death by falling trees, while on the second and first floors. Unless the basement was flooded, I don't know why you'd be milling about elsewhere. ::: TOPIC: .......
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-02, 14:25:27 (107.2.168.152)
* .......
494: Outside Asylum, Yeah they spent a whopping 5K at Walmart for the fake storm fundraiser photo op (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-02, 13:52:56 (107.2.168.152)
Romney staged fake fundraiser in wake of disaster with campaign-bought 'donations' Think Progress reports that campaign aides reportedly went to a local Wal-Mart and bought up approximately $5,000 wor .......
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-02, 13:36:42 (107.2.168.152)
* .......
496: Outside Asylum, "I hope lots of you own stock in Home Depot or Lowes."I'm hoping a majority of that money goes to local lumber (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-02, 13:34:09 (107.2.168.152)
and building supply outfits, vs Home Depot and or Lowes. Would be much more beneficial to the communities, if that money stayed locally, instead of Swiss or Cayman Islands bank accounts. .......
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-02, 12:32:37 (107.2.168.152)
Which makes sense, since republicans don't like government, and therefore are not very good at running it. .......
498: Outside Asylum, This is hideous! (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-01, 21:21:09 (107.2.168.152)
* .......
499: Outside Asylum, That's why we need a few question cleared up before the election (0.00)
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-01, 21:15:47 (107.2.168.152)
"You might want to educate yourself about where he really stands." Thought that was the job of the candidate? It would help if he had the guts to answer a few questions honestly. .......
Posted by gme109 on 2012-11-01, 21:01:40 (107.2.168.152)
* .......
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i don't know
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What common internet term is a loose portmanteau of two words broadly meaning internet and diary?
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Words
Word Origins and Interesting Words that I once knew but forgot, interesting sayings by philosophers and writers by Ray Sahelian, M.D.
Ben Franklin said, "3 may keep a secret, if 2 of them are dead
After three days men grow weary of a wench, a guest, and rainy weather", Franklin said in his Poor Richard's almanac
Kate Hepburn said of this dance team's mystique, "He gives her class and she gives him sex" Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers
"Some are weather-wise... some are other wise
Herb Shriner said, "All you need to be a fisherman is patience and a worm
George Bernard Shaw wrote, "He who can does; he who cannot teaches
Wilfred Sheed wrote, "If the French were really intelligent, they'd speak English
When poverty comes in the door, love flies out the window.
When you have nothing to say....say nothing.
Truman said, "It's a recession when your neighbor loses his job, it's a depression when you lose your own"
Acrostic type of word puzzle, related somewhat to crossword puzzles,
Akimbo is a human body position in which the hands are on the hips and the elbows are bowed outward
Amulet, similar to a talisman can be any object but its most important characteristic is its alleged power to protect its owner from danger or harm. include gems, especially engraved gems, statues, coins, drawings, pendants, rings, plants and animals
Angst means extreme fear or anxiety in German or English
Aristocrat, bourgeousie, peasant
Backdraft is an explosive event at a fire resulting from rapid re-introduction of oxygen to combustion in an oxygen-starved environment
Bail bondsman For 10% of the bail, he'll spring you from jail
Barnstormer Term for stunt pilots or politicians who tour small towns to show they've got the right stuff
Beeline It's the shortest route taken back to the hive, to move swiftly in a direct straight course
Billfold, a wallet to carry paper money
Bassinette, or cradle is a bed specifically for babies from birth to about four months
Bellum Bellicose & belligerent are derived in part from this Latin word for "war"
Bier is a stand on which a corpse, coffin, or casket containing a corpse, is placed to lie in state or to be carried to the grave.
Black light, also referred to as a UV-A light, Wood's lamp, or simply ultraviolet light, is a lamp which emits long wave (UV-A) ultraviolet light and not much visible light.
Blue blood may refer to: nobility or social prominence
Bonfire An open-air blaze; its name comes from a time when bones were used for fuel
Bookplate, also known as ex-librīs, is usually a small print or decorative label pasted into a book, often on the inside front cover, to indicate its owner. Simple typographical bookplates are termed "booklabels".Bookplates typically bear a name, motto, device, coat-of-arms, crest, badge, or any motif that relates to the owner of the book,
Boon A benefit bestowed, especially one bestowed in response to a request.
Boondocks From the Tagalog word for mountain, it's our word for the backwoods or "the sticks"
Bounder a man of objectionable social behavior : cad: a man who acts with deliberate disregard for another's feelings or rights.
Bower 1. A shaded, leafy recess; an arbor.2. A woman's private chamber in a medieval castle; a boudoir.3. A rustic cottage; a country retreat.
Brazen Head (or Brass Head or Bronze Head) was a legendary automaton that often appeared in literature, reputed to be able to answer any question. It was said to have been owned by medieval scholars who were believed to be wizards
Bucolic This adjective meaning rustic or pastoral comes from the Greek word for cowherd
Buss a kiss
Cable tie, also known as a zip tie or tie-wrap, is a type of fastener, especially for binding several electronic cables or wires together and to organize cables and wires.
Cafeteria, coffee shop from Spanish
Calaboose jail
Candling is a technique to inspect eggs
Canopie jar If you were a mummy, some of your internal organs would be in these jars
Car hop It's a waitress at a drive-in, not a dance party for automobiles
Carousel It can be a group riding exhibition performed to music or a merry-go-round
Charm bracelet is an item of jewellery worn around the wrist. It carries personal "charms": decorative pendants or trinkets which signify important things in the wearer's life.
Cherut From the Tamil word for roll, "curuttu", it's a cigar with square-cut ends
Chiromancy It's a "hand"y synonym for chiromancy Palm reading or palmistry
Claptrap Once a theatrical trick to win applause, today it means pretentious & insincere language
Confectioner definition, a person who makes or sells candies and, sometimes, ice cream, cakes, etc.
Console Pronounced one way, it means to comfort; pronounced another way, it's a cabinet for your stereo
Constable A public officer who keeps the peace, or a British policeman of the lowest order
Coroner, kept legal records for the crown
Coronet is a small crown consisting of ornaments fixed on a metal ring. By one definition, a coronet differs from a crown in that a coronet never has arches, and from a tiara in that a coronet completely encircles the head, while a tiara does not. By a slightly different definition, a crown is worn by a king or queen, a coronet by a nobleman or lady.
Cryptography, a cipher (or cypher) is an algorithm for performing encryption or decryption�a series of well-defined steps that can be followed as a procedure.
Curator (from Latin: curare meaning "take care") is a manager or overseer. Traditionally, a curator or keeper of a cultural heritage institution (e.g., gallery, museum, library or archive
Curmudgeon A 10-letter word for a crotchety old miser, not a crotchety old dog
Dactylography study of fingerprints for purposes of identification.
Dandy (also known as a beau or gallant) is a man who places particular importance upon physical appearance, refined language, and leisurely hobbies
Desperado: Outlaw, particularly in the American Old West
Dolmen, also known as a portal tomb, portal grave, or quoit, is a type of single-chamber megalithic tomb, usually consisting of three or more upright stones supporting a large flat horizontal capstone (table)
Doozy - something very good of its kind <you don't make mistakes very often, but when you do, it's a real doozy>. Synonyms beauty, bee's knees, cat's meow
Doubloon 32-reales gold coin, weighing 6.77 grams were minted in Spain, Mexico, Peru, value of two ducats or because of the double portrait of Ferdinand and Isabella.
Dystopia is a community or society, usually fictional, that is in some important way undesirable or frightening. It is the opposite of a utopia. Famous depictions of dystopian societies include Nineteen Eighty-Four, a totalitarian invasive super state; Brave New World, where the human population is placed under a caste of psychological allocation; Fahrenheit 451, where the state burns books out of fear of what they may incite.
Effigy is a representation of a specific person, especially in the form of sculpture or some other three-dimensional medium.
Ersatz Adjective that means an inferior & artificial substitute
Esperanto International language known by the pseudonym of its inventor, L.L. Zamenhof
Esplanade is a long, open, level area, usually next to a river or large body of water, where people may walk.
Facsimile From Latin for "make it similar", it's an exact copy or reproduction of a document
Fender Bender A minor traffic accident
Flash in the pan Originally an explosion of gunpowder in a flintlock rifle that failed to set off the charge
Fleabag seedy, rundown hotel or other lodging place
Frame Term for a single exposure on a reel of motion picture film
Fringe benefits little extra perks that go with the job
Gallows (or scaffold) is a frame, typically wooden, used for execution by hanging
Geneology, ancestry
Glad hand hearty welcome or enthusiastic reception, especially one that is effusive or hypocritical: Visiting dignitaries were being given the glad hand.
Glam is a shortened form of the word glamour.
Gorge - old French word for throat, means to stuff one's face
Ghoul is a (folkloric) monster associated with graveyards and consuming human flesh
Grotesque From ornate figures found on Roman grotto walls comes this word meaning bizarrely ugly
Gun shy afraid of loud noises
Guttersnipe Name for street urchin, probably derived from where they are said to live
Hallow is "to make holy or sacred, to sanctify or consecrate, to venerate".
Hinterland is the land or district behind a coast or the shoreline of a river.
Holier-than-thou Exhibiting an attitude of superior virtue; self-righteously pious.
Honeypot pot, jar or other container used to store honey
Hootenanny is a Scottish word meaning 'celebration' and / or 'party', most closely associated with Hogmanay
Hubris means extreme pride or arrogance.
Humdinger a person, thing, action, or statement of remarkable excellence or effect.
Hurly-burly. Noisy confusion; tumult.
Illuminati is a name given to several groups, both real (historical) and fictitious. Historically the name refers to the Bavarian Illuminati, an Enlightenment-era secret society founded on 1776. In more modern contexts the name refers to a purported conspiratorial organization which is alleged to mastermind events and control world affairs through governments and corporations to establish a New World Order.
Incompatibility This personality conflict between husbands & wives is grounds for divorce in some states
Ingress A going in or entering.2. Right or permission to enter.
Insignia: a symbol or token of personal power, status or office, or of an official body of government or jurisdiction. Badges Cockades Coats of arms and Heraldry Crowns Ensigns Flags of a country or state Military aircraft insignia Military rank and unit markings:
Intelligentsia, russian, society's intellectual elite
Integrity is the most looked up word
Intermural, latin for within the wall, atheletic competition within a school
John Doe This name, usually given to a real person whose identity is unknown, was 1st used in the 14th century
Johnny on the spot One who is on hand & ready to perform a service or respond to an emergency
Juke joint (or jook joint) is the vernacular term for an informal establishment featuring music, dancing, gambling, and drinking, primarily operated by African American people in the southeastern United States.
Knock off For gangsters, a killing; in fashion terms it's a cheap copy of a high-priced original
Knot - Granny Kind of knot that sounds like its tied by your mother's mother, Square knot, Hitch Term for a knot used to fasten a rope to an object or "your wagon to a star", Square This geometric knot is one of the oldest in use, Slack Half a pair of pants, or the looseness in a knot. Not tightness per se, but this kinetic force friction gives knots their holding power. Not a Kawasaki, but honda loop knot, makes a lasso circular
Lorgnette is a pair of spectacles with a handle, used to hold them in place, rather than fitting over the ears.
Lugubrious This adjective that means extremely dismal comes from the Latin for "to mourn", lugere
Machismo, a strong sense of masculine pride : an exaggerated masculinity
Marquee (sign), a sign placed over the entrance to a hotel or theatre
Mascot From the French for a sorcerer's talisman, for Notre Dame, it's a leprechaun
Matinee Though it's from the French word for "morning", it now means an afternoon performance
Maudlin tearfully or weakly emotional; foolishly sentimental:
Meerschaum pipes
Midden (also kitchen midden or shell heap) is an old dump for domestic waste[1] which may consist of animal bone, human excrement, botanical material, vermin, shells, sherds, lithics (especially debitage), and other artifacts and ecofacts associated with past human occupation
Misandry is the hatred or dislike of men or boys. The word did not appear in most dictionaries until the second half of the 20th century. It was commonly seen as a neologism in the early 1970s.[1] Misandry was formed from Greek misos (μῖσος, "hatred") and anēr, andros (ἀνήρ, gen. ἀνδρός; "man"). Misandry is the antonym of philandry, the fondness, love, or admiration of men. Misandry is a back-formation from misogyny, the hatred or dislike of women.
Mixer
Monochromatic, one color
Mortise and Tenon
Muff A small cylinder of fur or cloth into which the hands are inserted for warmth
Mukluk A soft Eskimo boot made of reindeer or seal skin
Nether lying or believed to lie beneath the earth's surface; infernal: the nether regions.
Nirvana, freedom from pain, worry, and the external world
Nosegay A small bouquet of flowers that would probably please your partner's proboscis
Parquet Geometrically patterned flooring
Pumice, foam from latin, volcanic rock
Origami paper folding
Osculation - The act of kissing. to Osculate to kiss
Parochial Technically, this adjective means "of, pertaining to, or located in a parish" A parochial school is a school that provides religious education in addition to conventional education., In 1947 the Supreme Court upheld free busing & in 1968 free books for students in these schools
Pedigree One's lineage, named because the lines on a genealogical chart look like a crane's foot or "pie de grue"
Pedometer is a device, usually portable and electronic or electromechanical, that counts each step a person takes by detecting the motion of the person's hips.
Persona in the word's everyday usage, is a social role or a character played by an actor.
Perfume Because ancient peoples burned incense, the word perfume came from Latin "perfumus", meaning "through" this
Petard was a small bomb used to blow up gates and walls when breaching fortifications.
Pidgin is a simplified language that develops as a means of communication between two or more groups that do not have a language in common.
Pharos A word used for any lighthouse, from the island where a famous ancient one was located
Pop-up book is often applied to any three-dimensional or movable book, although properly the umbrella term movable book covers pop-ups, transformations, tunnel books, volvelles, flaps, pull-tabs, pop-outs, pull-downs, and more, each of which performs in a different manner. Also included, because they employ the same techniques, are three-dimensional greeting cards.
Pyrotechnics From the Greek for "fire" & "craft", it's a fancy word for a fireworks display
Quarry, open pit
Quintessence
Rapier is a slender, sharply pointed sword, ideally used for thrusting attacks, used mainly in Early Modern Europe during the 16th and 17th centuries.
Rebus is an allusional device that uses pictures to represent words or parts of words. It was a favourite form of heraldic expression used in the Middle Ages to denote surnames
Regale to give pleasure or amusement to <regaled us with tall tales>.
Rhetoric is the art of discourse, an art that aims to improve the facility of speakers or writers who attempt to inform, persuade, or motivate particular audiences
Ruckus A disturbance; a commotion
Russian roulette is a potentially lethal game of chance in which a player places a single round in a revolver, spins the cylinder, places the muzzle against his head, and pulls the trigger.
Sandwich Board Not a table for serving lunch, it's 2 large ad placards linked by straps & worn over the shoulders
Satchel is a bag, often with a strap. The strap is often worn so that it diagonally crosses the body, with the bag hanging on the opposite hip, rather than hanging directly down from the shoulder. The main difference between a satchel and a briefcase is that a satchel is soft-sided. Also, satchels often have straps while briefcases usually don't.
Schmo a foolish, boring, or stupid person; a jerk.
Scrip Term for paper currency issued for temporary use in an emergency
Shoop to edit a pic on photoshop
Shindig Term for noisy dance or party which originally meant a kick in the shins
Skid row Run-down part of town, from the rough forest paths along which newly-cut logs were dragged
Skulk to move in a stealthy or furtive manner <skulked into her sister's room>. 2. tohide or conceal something (as oneself) often out of cowardice or fear
Slicker A raincoat, often yellow, named for its glossy appearance
Snuff is a product made from ground or pulverised tobacco leaves. It is an example of smokeless tobacco. It originated in the Americas and was in common use in Europe by the 17th century.
Sobriquet, humorous nickname
Spinster, or old maid, is an older, childless woman who has never been married
Spackle Powder (containing gypsum plaster and glue)
Squeak a short, sharp, shrill cry; a sharp, high-pitched sound.
Stamp - From the Latin for "remind", a commemorative stamp, issued to honor a person, place or event. Airmail stopped in 1970s. First day issue or first day edition.
Steward It's the former term for a male flight attendant, or one who oversees the food & drink at a club or hotel
Sub rosa This Latin term for "confidentially" literally means "under the rose"
Svelte slender or graceful in figure or outline; slim.
SWAT ("Special Weapons And Tactics") is a commonly-used proper name for law enforcement units, which use military-style light weapons
Swizzle stick is a small stick used to hold fruit garnishes or stir drinks.
Sycophant is this type of "man" Yes Man
Tab�leaux A vivid or graphic description: The movie was a tableau of a soldier's life. An interlude during a scene when all the performers on stage freeze in position and then resume action as before.
Tally Ho This English cry probably comes from the French cry "Taiaut", used to excite the hounds when deer hunting
Tankard A large drinking vessel with a single handle & often a hinged cover
Tapir It's a very slender candle or the wax-coated wick used to light it
Taxidermist It's someone who stuffs or mounts animals, usually for a museum
Thermos This brand name is also a generic term for what technically are vacuum bottles that maintain temperature
Threshold, doorsill
Toby is a jug or drinking mug; often shaped like a hefty-man wearing a 3-cornered hat
Toof, member of upper class in England
Troll someone who posts inflammatory, extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community, such as a forum, chat room, or blog
Trollop a woman who plays innocent like she don't have sex and she don't like cock, but in reality, sleeps with every dude she lays eyes on.
Trousseau may refer to: dowry or The outfit of a bride, including the wedding dress or similar clothing
Tuffet, pouffe or hassock is a piece of furniture used as a footstool or low seat.
Umbrage a feeling of pique or resentment at some often fancied slight or insult
Umpteen An indefinitely large amount, though it sounds like a lot less than a zillion
Unsubstantiated This type of rumor lacks a basis in fact
Vamoose leave quickly
Viaduct From Latin �way�, it's a bridge that crosses mainly over dry land instead of water
Visa Official endorsement to show validity of a passport,
Waif From a middle English word for lost or unclaimed, it's a homeless child
Wasp, dismissive insectoid name for an american ethnic group of british on-catholic ancestry
Watermark is a recognizable image or pattern in paper that appears as various shades of lightness/darkness when viewed by transmitted light (or when viewed by reflected light, atop a dark background), caused by thickness or density variations in the paper.
Weekend Warrior A person who regularily parties on weekends. When you drink or smoke up on the weekends you can be considered a weekend warrior.
White-knuck�led Characterized by tense nervousness or apprehension: a white-knuckle emergency landing
White lie, a small fib intended not to harm but to avoid embarrassment or distress
World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms, woofing
Yellow streak (down someone's back) a tendency toward cowardice.
Xenophile, likes foreign things
GRAMMAR, literary forms
Addendum It's the supplementary information put into the book after the initial publication
Ambigram is an art form that may be read as one or more words not only in itsform as presented, but also from another viewpoint, direction, or orientation
Anagram is a type of word play, the result of rearranging the letters of a word or phrase to produce a new word or phrase, using all the original letters exactly
Anticedent The word, phrase or clause a pronoun must agree with The antecedent in the sentence "John left the book he brought to school on the bus." John
Antithesis - To be or not to be" is not a thesis but an example of antithesis, also meaning "the opposite"
Aphorism is an original thought, spoken or written in a laconic (concise) and memorable form.
Auxiliary
Bibliography Related books you may also want to read on the same subject are provided in this source list
Bildungsroman coming-of-age story is a literary genre that focuses on the psychological and moral growth of the protagonist from youth to adulthood (coming of age)
Breve The U-shaped line put over a vowel to indicate a short sound; its name is from Latin for "short"
Comma use to join independent clauses, do not use Semicolon
Declension is the inflection of nouns, pronouns, adjectives, and articles to indicate number (at least singular and plural), case (nominative or subjective, genitive or possessive), and gender. A declension is also a group of nouns that follow a particular pattern of inflection. In Latin, rosa, rosae, rosam, for example. Conjugation is the listing of the forms of a verb, & this is the listing of the forms of a noun Declension.
Diacritical marks Term for the marks used to indicate pronounciation
Digression is a section of a composition or speech that is an intentional change of subject.
Ditto marks From the Latin "dictus", meaning said, it's a pair of marks placed under words indicating repetition
Doggerel crudely or irregularly fashioned verse, often of a humorous or burlesque nature.
E the most common letter used in English language
Ellipsis is a series of dots that usually indicate an intentional omission of a word, Usual number of dots in an ellipsis 3
Epistolary novel is a novel written as a series of documents. The usual form is letters, although diary entries, newspaper clippings and other documents are sometimes used.
Eponym is a person or thing, whether real or fictional, after which a particularplace, tribe, era, discovery, or other item is named or thought to be named.
Ergo This conjunction is Latin for "therefore"
Exclamation mark Punctuation mark of the imperative mode
Figures of speech include similes, metaphors & puns
Glossary From the Latin for "difficult word", it's a list of words and their definitions
Graphology In this area of study, handwriting is analyzed to determine personality traits
Index It's an alphabetical list of terms, names, & facts, along with the page numbers they appear on
Irony the intended meaning is different from the literal meaning
Guttural Adjective describing sounds of German, & to non-English speakers, English
Magic realism is a genre where magic elements are a natural part in an otherwise mundane, realistic environment.[1] Although it is most commonly used as a literary genre, magic realism also applies to film and the visual arts.
Meiosis, as a kind of understatement, names one of the two principle means ofcommunicating
Metaphor is a figure of speech that describes a subject by asserting that it is, on some point of comparison, the same as another otherwise unrelated object.
Nominative In grammar, the case of the "we" in "We drove to the city"
Noun - It can be common, proper, collective or concrete
Onomatopoeia is a word that imitates or suggests the source of the sound that it describes. Onomatopoeia (as an uncountable noun) refers to the property of such words. Common occurrences of onomatopoeias include animal noises, such as burp, chirp, creak, fizz, gong, meow, oink, pitter patter, roar, kerflop, kerplunk & kerflooey
Palindrome is a word, phrase, number, or other sequence of units that may be read the same way in either direction
Parse
Pastoral during Renaissance Plays were either comedies, tragedies or these love tales about woodland goddesses & shepherds
Penmanship This 10-letter word for the art of attractive writing has the name of a writing implement in it
Penny dreadful (also called penny horrible, penny awful,was a type of British fiction publication in the 19th century that usually featured lurid serial stories appearing in parts over a number of weeks, each part costing one (old) penny.
Period The one punctuation mark necessary to every declarative sentence
Petulant Irritable or peevish, from the Latin "petere", to attack
Picaresque novel (Spanish: "picaresca," from "p�caro," for "rogue" or "rascal") is a popular sub-genre of prose fiction which is usually satirical and depicts, in realistic and often humorous detail, the adventures of a roguish hero of low social class who lives by his wits in a corrupt society.
Portmanteau is a combination of two (or more) words or morphemes, and their definitions, into one new word. Derived from portmanteau luggage, which has two compartments, such a word generally combines both sounds and meanings, as in smog, coined by blending smoke and fog.
Potboiler or pot-boiler is a low-quality novel, play, opera, film, or other creativework whose main purpose was to pay for the creator's daily expenses
Prepositional phrase
Predicate The part of a clause containing the verb, its complements & its modifiers
Preposition There are dozens of these including at, by & with
Present participle ing is 3-letter ending of present participles & gerunds
Prosaic Apt adjective for dull, boring writing, even if its poetry
Punctuation mark
Puns "Bred any Good Rooks Lately?" is a humorous collection of these groaners
Purple prose Ornate, flowery writing characterized by an excess of sentiment or pathos
Reflexive verb
Reynard is a literary cycle of allegorical French, Dutch, English, and German fables largely concerned with Reynard, an anthropomorphic red fox and trickster figure.
Rhetorical question is a figure of speech in the form of a question that is askedin order to make a point and without the expectation of a reply.
Schwa Representing the sound of the "a" in "about", a small "e" turned upside down is called this, The schwa, used in the pronounciation guide, looks like this lower-case letter turned upside down
Scrivener It's a professional copyist, like Bartleby in the title of a Melville work
Semantics is the study of a word's meaning, Etymology is the study of a word's history
Sentence Every complete sentence must have a subject & this part containing the verb a predicate
Serifs are the small lines tailing from the edges of letters and symbols
Sibilance is a manner of articulation of fricative and affricate consonants, made by directing a stream of air with the tongue towards the sharp edge of the teeth, which are held close together; a consonant that uses sibilance may be called a sibilant. Examples of sibilants are the consonants at the beginning of the English words sip, zip, ship, chip, and Jeep, and the second consonant in vision.
Steampunk is a sub-genre of science fiction that typically features steam-powered machinery, especially in a setting inspired by industrialized Western civilization during the 19th century.
Strunk and White's rules
Tables In the back of a geometry book, you may find these lists of trigonometric ratios or square roots
Tense past present future
Tilde In Spanish, it's the letter over which you may see a tilde N
Tinderbox A holder for flint & steel, or a potentially explosive place
Tom Swiftly " 'I'm going to the racetrack', said Tom hoarsely" is an example of this kind of wordplay
Tonic water It's carbonated water that contains quinine & is often flavored with fruit
Umlaut, or more generically trema is a diacritic that consists of two dots ( � ) placed over a letter, most commonly a vowel. This diacritical mark is 2 dots over a vowel in a German word
Vernacular is the native language or native dialect of a specific population, as opposed to a language of wider communication that is a second language or foreign language to the population, such as a national language
Volpone fox
Vowel, a e i o u,
Noam Chomsky This M.I.T. linguist claims every human knows the general principles of language at birth
Baht tailand
Rial Iran
Ruble russia, Our dollar consists of 100 cents, while the Russian ruble consists of 100 Kopecks
Rupee india
ETIQUETTE This term first applied only to manners and conduct at royal courts
Ann Landers is Dear Abby's twin sister
A column of �Hints� has been written under this name shared by a mother & the daughter who succeeded her Heloise
Emily Post Columnist whose 1922 �Etiquette: The Blue Book of Social Usage� sold over half a million copies
Miss Manners It's the name under which Judith Martin writes her famous etiquette column
Wedding
When writing, offer the bride �best wishes� & the groom Congratulations
In a double ring ceremony, the Maid of Honor gives the ring to the bride to place on the groom�s finger
According to tradition, the man who catches the bride�s garter gets to place it on the woman who catches the bouquet
FARMING
Combine is a combination harvester & this machine that separates seed from straw, Tresher
Plowshare (or ploughshare) is a component of a plow. It is the cutting or leading edge of a moldboard which closely follows the coulter (one or more ground-breaking spikes) when plowing.
Ad Hoc this Latin phrase means "for the particular purpose at hand"
Arraignment prisoner is brought to court for charges
Acquittal formally certifies that the accused is free from the charge of an offense
Affidavit is a written statement of facts voluntarily made by an affiant under an oath or affirmation administered by a person authorized to do so by law.
Amicus curiae, friend of the court. A person with strong interest in or views on the subject matter of an action, but not a party to the action
Amnesty not a pardon, which lifts punishment, it differs by barring prosecution
Appraiser before granting a mortgage, a lender has this person inspect the property to determine its market value
Assault, aggravated, involves serious bodily injury
Assessor local government official who determines the value of a property specifically for tax purposes
Bailiff swears you in court
Bequeath to give by will
Brief, a document for the court's info
Bylaws
Certified Verbatim Reporter (CVR)
Change of venue
Charter is the grant of authority or rights, stating that the granter formally recognizes the prerogative of the recipient to exercise the rights specified.
Chattel once applied to slaves, it's the general legal term for items of personal property, as distinguished from real estate
Claim jumping, a person who seizes another's claim of land, especially for mineral rights.
Codicil is a document that amends, rather than replaces, a previously executed will.
Collateral property accepted as security on a loan, it also can mean running side by side
Common Law derives authority from custom and usage, previous decisions, especially the ancient unwritten law of England, 2. Matrimony by agreement of both parties, without a civil or religious ceremony
Community service
Contempt of court
Corpus delicti (body of crime) refers to the principle that a crime must have been proven to have occurred before a person can be convicted of committing that crime.
Court Martial, Military Tribulnal
Custodian, in case parents die
De Facto existing in actual fact but not by legal establishment
Default You can win a case by this if the other party doesn't show up in court
Dissenting opinion
Docket, transcript court case record
Embezzle - to appropriate money or property fraudulently for one's own use
Eminent Domain 2-word phrase for the power of the federal government to take private property for public use
Escrow funds held
Estate an individuals' assets
Executor takes care of wills
Expatriation It's the legal process by which a person's citizenship can be taken away, or by which it may be given up
Ex post facto law (after the fact"), also called a retroactive law, is a law that retroactively changes the legal act after it has been committed
Extortion get funds by coercion
Extradition transfer to foreign country criminal case
Felony worse than misdemeanor, with a penalty of more than a year in prison or death
Fence is an individual who knowingly buys stolen property for later resale, sometimes in a legitimate market.
Foreman lead juror
Goodwill intangible salable assets
Grand jury investigates, indicts
Habeus corpus you have the body, During the Civil War this writ, ordering that the prisoner be brought before the court, was suspended
Hung jury fail to agree on verdict
Incriminating evidence indicating you committed the crime
Infringement violation of trademark rights
Injunction writ or order from court prohibiting or ordering action
Ipso Facto "by the fact itself"
Larceny petty or grand theft
Libel written defamation
Listing agreement with a real estate broker to market one's property
Manslaughter The unlawful killing of another without malice; it can be involuntary or voluntary
Process server delivers subpoena
Lien legal claim on property for debt
Living trust avoids probate
Moot court mock court
Nolo contendere
Non Compos Mentis In law, this three-word phrase is used to mean "not of sound mind" or "not legally competent"
Ordinance law of municipality
Overrule
Palimony is the division of financial assets and real property on the termination of
a personal live-in relationship wherein the parties are not legally married. This word came into vogue in 1979 after Michelle Triola sued Lee Marvin for it
Parliamentary procedure
Motion - application to court for ruling
Recording secretary
1876 Robert's Rules of Order
Perjury lie under oath
Pinkerton, we never sleep motto
Precedent A judgement or decision of a court cited as an example or analogy to justify a similar decision
Prima Facie at first sight
Primogeniture From Latin for "first birth", it's the rule that only the oldest son inherited the property of a parent
Probate court has jurisdiction of wills, estate, minors
Prosecution In the closing arguments in a federal criminal case, this side goes first & gets to do a rebuttal
Proxy, it's the power of attorney given to another to vote your shares of stock
Public defender
Public domain you can perform Shakespeare's plays without paying royalties since copyright law defines them as this
Rejoinder the defendant's answer to the plaintiff's replication 2: reply; specifically : an answer to a reply
Retainer fee paid in advance to lawyer
Sanctions are penalties or other means of enforcement used to provide incentives for obedience with the law, or with rules and regulations. Criminal sanctions can take the form of serious punishment, such as corporal or capital punishment, incarceration, or severe fines.
Search warrant
Self defense, reasonable force to protect oneself
Sequester take temporary possession of property pending claim determination
Ses�qui�cen�ten�ni�al: a 150th anniversary or its celebration
Slander spoken defamation
Solicitor General represents govt in Supreme court
Statute of Limitations
Subpoena official order to appear in court to give testimony, While a summons asks nicely, subpoena demands your appearance in court
Summons order to appear as defendant
Sunset provision or clause is a measure within a statute, regulation or other law that provides that the law shall cease to have effect after a specific date, unless further legislative action is taken to extend the law.
Testimony
Tontine annuity plan in which the last survivor inherits all, named for Lorenzo Tonti, a Neopolitan banker
Tort wrongful act or injury (not breach of contract) civil action can be brought
Value added tax many foreign governments impose this tax at each stage in the production of a good or service
Waif property claimed by no one
Warrant issued by the court itself for the arrest of a party, bench
Writ of Mandamus we command
Your honor to judge
Zone area legally designated for specific use, such as business, residential or industrial
Foundation is oil based or water based
Mascara for eyelids
Powder used to finish makeup
Admiral Arabic's amir-al-bahr, or commander of the sea, became this English title
Aircraft Carrier The Enterprise & the Nimitz, for example
Army Corps of Engineers This military corps' projects have included the St. Lawrence Seaway & the Manhattan Project
B2 bomber In 1988, the Air Force unveiled this hi-tech bomber, described as a "flying wing"
Blockade The closing off of a port by hostile ships to stop supplies from coming in to their enemy
Bugle The name of this military horn comes from the Latin for "young ox" since the first ones were ox horns
Color Guard refers to a detachment of soldiers assigned to the protection of regimental colors and the flag bearer.
Congressional medal of honor There are Army, Navy & Air Force versions of this highest U.S. medal
Ditty Type of bag carried by soldiers or sailors, or a simple song
Esctucheon From the Latin for shield, "scutum," it's a shield bearing a coat of arms
Fletcher (occupation), a person who fletches arrows, the origin of the surname
4FTerm for someone who's unfit for service in the U.S. military
Hyman Rickover Longest active-duty U.S. naval officer in history was this "Father of the Nuclear Navy"
Infantry Because they were too young or inexperienced for the cavalry, foot soldiers came to be called this
Leave One-word term for an authorized leave from duty; to a sailor it means freedom for 48 hours or less
Mig russian jet
Minuteman U.S. land-based long-range nuclear missile that shares name with type of Revolutionary War fighter
Nautilus It was the first nuclear-powered submarine to sail under the North Pole
Quonset hut is a lightweight prefabricated structure of corrugated galvanized steel having a semicircular cross-section.
Stealth aircraft use stealth technology to avoid detection by features to interfere with radar, as well as to reduce visibility in the infrared, visual, audio, and radio frequency (RF) spectrum. Well-known modern examples of stealth aircraft include the United States' F-117 Nighthawk (1981�2008), the B-2 Spirit, the F-22 Raptor, and the F-35 Lightning II.
Navy's Blue Angels and the Air Force's Thunderbirds, With $85 billion in automatic cuts to the federal budget taking effect beginning Friday, millions of fans across the country will miss out on precision flying
Rock Island is the site of the government's largest military arsenal in Illinois
Submarine The largest of these, such as Russian Typhoons & U.S. Tridents, are almost 2 football fields long
Yeoman U.S. Navy petty officer who performs clerical duties
Army - Green Berets In 1952 the U.S. Army formed the special forces group later nicknamed this
Marine band The first time this group played for an inauguration was at James Monroe's in 1821.
Marine Armed forces branch called "leathernecks" because of the leather bands once worn around their throats. This branch's memorial in Arlington, Va. depicts the flag raising on Iwo Jima
Navy They are the 2 official colors of the U.S. Navy Blue and Gold
Major Army officer above a captain but below a lieutenant colonel
Colonel
Weapon
Ballistics is the science of mechanics that deals with the flight, behavior, and effects of projectiles, especially bullets, gravity bombs, rockets, or the like; the science or art of designing and accelerating projectiles so as to achieve a desired performance.
Bazooka This portable rocket launcher was named for an instrument played by comedian B. Burns in the �40s, One of Goddard's early inventions was developed into this anti-tank rocket gun
Blowgun It's hollow, has a mouthpiece, shoots poison darts & can be 25 feet in length
Buckshot the large pellets contained in the shell of a 12 gauge gun
Cannon Built in the 16th century, the Czar Puchka is the world's largest one of these & is now in the Kremlin
Catapult Also called onagers, the largest one could throw a missile weighing 60 lbs. a distance of 500 yards
Claymore It's what you'd be looking at if a Highlander let you have a peek at his claymore, sword
Crossbow bolt might be fired "out of the blue"--from a crossbow
Howitzer Weapon used to fire projectiles in a high arc to reach targets hidden from view
Jackknife or pocket knife
Musket From the Latin for "fly", this shoulder gun let fly with ammo throughout the 17th & 18th centuries
Pike is a pole weapon, a very long thrusting spear formerly used extensively by infantry. common weapons that are also common dives in competition
Sabre It's a heavy, single-edged cavalry sword with a blade less curved than a scimitar
Scud is a series of tactical ballistic missiles developed by the Soviet Union during the Cold War.
Shuriken : "sword hidden in the hand") is a traditional Japanese concealed weapon that was generally used for throwing, and sometimes stabbing or slashing. Shape of a ninja's shuriken, it's what "shuriken" means in Japanese
Whip
PALINDROME Noon, Kook - Possibly from cuckoo, it's an eccentric or zany person. Radar It's usually classified into two general types: pulse and continuous wave, Tenet It's generally held to be true and is often referred to as a basic
Gobble turkey
Quack In "A Day at the Races", Hugo Hackenbush is one
Stereo speakers Audio components whose job sound like they could be done by dogs & birds, woofer and tweeter
TRANSPORTATION
Air, plane
Aileron (French for 'little wing') is a hinged flight control surface usually attached to the trailing edge of each wing of a fixed-wing aircraft. Ailerons are used in pairs to control the aircraft in roll, or movement around the aircraft's longitudinal axis
Blimp helium
Concorde In 1994, British Airways found and repaired hairline cracks in the wings of these jets that crack the sound barrier
Dirigible - Good Year Blimp in Ohio, Lakehurst NY, Until 1937 the Lakehurst, New Jersey, naval air station was the U.S. transatlantic terminal for these craft
Lift primary force created by plane wings, A plane's wings are necessary to create this primary force in flying
Propellor
Spoiler is a device intended to reduce lift in an aircraft. Spoilers are plates on the top surface of a wing which can be extended upward into the airflow and spoil it. Spoilers differ from airbrakes in that airbrakes are designed to increase drag making little change to lift, while spoilers reduce lift as well as increasing drag.
Supersonic Simultaneous take-offs from London & Paris in 1976 provided 1st passenger service of this kind
Ultralight 1 seat single engine max 254 lbs
Wright Brothers Orville Wilbur telegram on December 17, 1903, they wrote, "Success. Four flights Thursday morning"
Boat or ship
Ballast tanks Air trapped in these tanks makes a sub float
Chronometer Invented in 1735, this clock, whose name means "time measurer", is used in sea navigation
Clipper 1830-54 built for speed. Cutty Sark is a British clipper ship. Built on the Clyde in 1869, she was one of the last tea clippers to be built and one of the fastest, coming at the end of a long period of design development which halted as sailing ships gave way to steam propulsion.
The Cutty Sark was built in 1869 to carry crates of tea cargo from China
"Davy Jones' Locker" is sailor's name for bottom of the ocean
Dhow indian ocean
Dugout canoe
Flotsam is floating wreckage of a ship or its cargo. Jetsam is part of a ship, its equipment, or its cargo that is purposefully cast overboard or jettisoned to lighten the load in time of distress and that sinks or is washed ashore.
Galleons These sailing ships were the largest in the Spanish Armada
Gondola
Junk is an ancient Chinese sailing vessel/ship design still in use today.
Lifeboats It's said these are "manned" in an emergency, but they're usually womened & childrened first
Log Name for a ship's �speedometer�, as well as for the record of its voyage
Outboard motor Term for the detachable engine that's mounted on the stern of a boat
Punt flat bottomed moved with pole
Kayak
Regatta Originally Italian for gondola race, it's a racing meet that might be held on the Thames
Sampan china japan move with scull or oar, Smaller than a junk, this Oriental boat usually has a cabin with a roof made of mats
Sextant This instrument measures the angular distance of a celestial body above the horizon, The sextant is so named because its shape is this fraction of a full circle
Steamer It could be paddle wheel, cargo or tramp
Tacking In sailing, when you're tacking, your boat is on this kind of course zig zag
Tanker oil
Aft, in naval terminology, is an adjective or adverb meaning, towards the stern (rear) of the ship
Bow is the forward part of the hull of a ship or boat, the point that is most forward when the vessel is underway. Both of the adjectives fore and forward mean towards the bow.
Ballast a heavy substance placed in such a way as to improve stability and control
Forecastle refers to the upper deck of a sailing ship forward of the foremast,
Galley An early warship propelled by oars, it's now just the kitchen on a ship
Jib is a triangular staysail that sets ahead of the foremast of a sailing vessel.
Keel In addition to a rudder and oars, most keelboats were equipped with these to aid travel, Sails
Painter is a rope that is attached to the bow of a dinghy, or other small boat, and used for tying up or towing.
Port and Starboard are nautical terms which refer to the left and right sides
Poop deck is a deck that forms the roof of a cabin built in the rear, or "aft", part of ship. stern deck,
Prow is the forward most part of a ship's bow that cuts through the water. Doing this comes from the Roman custom of offering a drink to the gods when launching a ship, breaking a champagne bottle on the prow
Rudder is a device used to steer a ship, boat, submarine, hovercraft, aircraft, orother conveyance that moves through a medium (generally air or water)
Slipway also known as boat ramp or launch, is a ramp on the shore by which ships or boats can be moved to and from the water.
Stern is the rear or aft-most part of a ship or boat,
Autobahn The 1st of these high-speed German highways was opened between Cologne & Bonn in 1932
BART bay area rapid transit
Bicycle Early ones were called the "hobby horse", "penny-farthing" & "high-wheeler"
uckboard is a four-wheeled wagon of simple construction meant to be drawn by a horse or other large animal.
Cable car This means of transportation invented by Andrew Hallidie was first used in San Francisco in 1873
Caravan
Chuckwagon - in 1866 rancher Charles Goodnight introduced the chuckwagon for transporting provisions and cooking equipment.
Conestoga wagon
Fire engine hook and ladder
Funicular, also known as an inclined plane or cliff railway, is a cable railway in which a cable attached to a pair of tram-like vehicles on rails moves them up and down a steep slope
Hansom A covered 2-wheeled carriage, whether it's good-looking or not, This cab was named for an English architect, not for its good looks
Monorail The driver of this "train" at Disneyland needs a one-track mind
Moped
Riding shotgun refers to the practice of sitting alongside the driver in a moving vehicle.
Sidecar This wheeled seat attached to a motorcycle debuted circa 1903; the cocktail came later
Troika This light Russian sleigh is pulled by 3 horses
AMTRAK america and track 1971 20 railroads joined
Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe.
Baltimore and Ohio.
Caboose is a manned American rail transport vehicle coupled at the end of a freight train. Cabooses were once used on nearly every freight train.
Maglev magnetic levitation.
Monorail is a rail-based transportation system based on a single rail,
Orient Express paris to istambul.
TGV train a grand vitesse.
Transcontinental railroad completed 1869.
Trans Siberian Railway from moscow to vladivostok
ARABIC
Abdullah Common Arabic name which means "servant of Allah"
Fakir An Arabic word for "poor" gave us this term for a Muslim or Hindu beggar said to have mystical powers
Kismet is a word meaning fate or destiny, a predetermined course of events. Of Arabic origin, the word spread to Persian and Turkish where, as kısmet, it commonly means "luck".
Sheik From Arabic for "old man", it's the leader of an Arab family, tribe, or village
Wadi gulch, gulley, streambed, valley, arroyo
Blimey This mild interjection is from a contraction of "God Blind Me!"
Elevenses In Britain, the numerical name for a midmorning snack
Hoover The British turned this brand name into a verb meaning to vacuum
Nap If you pinch a kipper you've stolen a fish; if you take a kip, you've done this
Ten Downing st Numerical phrase referring to the P.M.'s office
Ye Olde Trip To Jerusalem claims to be the oldest of these in Britain, so bottoms up to it - Pub
Accoutrement equipment, trappings; specifically : a soldier's outfit usually not including clothes and weapons
Au Contraire On the contrary, this is French for "On the contrary"
Auteur a filmmaker, usually a director, who exercises creative control over his or her works and has a strong personal style.
Avant Garde - an artist who opposes accepted ways of doing things
Bette Noir, a person or thing strongly detested or avoided
Bon appetit Julia Child ended her show with this French phrase
Cadre nucleus of trained personnel around which a larger organization can be built and trained: a cadre of corporals who train recruits.
Cahiers du Cin�ma, Notebooks on Cinema) is an influential French film magazine founded in 1951
Chemin de fer - A railroad or a gambling game you could be railroaded in
Cin�ma v�rit� is a term, referring to a style of documentary filmmaking
Coup de grace - It could be �The final blow� in boxing or �The finishing stroke� in tennis
Decollete Leaving the neck and shoulders uncovered; cut low in the neck, or low-necked, as a dress.
Denouement French for "untying of a knot", it's the outcome of a plot
De Riguer Strictly required according to etiquette or usage, such as wearing a bow tie with your tux
Eclat a brilliant or successful effect; brilliance of success or effort; splendor; brilliant show; striking effect; glory; renown.
Ing�nue is a stock character in literature, film, and a role type in the theatre; generally a girl or a young woman who is endearingly innocent and wholesome.
Manqu� (feminine, manqu�e) is a term used in reference to a person who hasfailed to live up to a specific expectation or ambition.
Mise en scene - arrangement of scenery and properties to represent theplace where a play or movie is enacted. stage setting
Roman � clef or roman � cl� French for "novel with a key", is a novel about real life, overlaid with a fa�ade of fiction.
Trompe L' Oeil refers to deceiving this, especially in art eye
Vignette is a short impressionistic scene that focuses on one moment or gives a trenchant impression about a character, idea, setting, or object.
Danke sch�n � thank you very much.
Bundestag federal diet or assembly
Danke Schoen As Wayne Newton could tell you, it means "thank you"
Gesundheit You say it to a sneezer to wish him or her "good health"
Zeitgeist (spirit of the age or spirit of the time) is the intellectual fashion or dominant school of thought that typifies and influences the culture of a particular period in time. For example, the Zeitgeist of modernism typified and influenced architecture, art, and fashion during much of the 20th century.
Graf count or earl
Putsch German for armed uprising or riot; Hitler's failed in 1923
Ubermensch, as both Nietzsche & Clark Kent could tell you Superman
GREEK
The Greek expression meaning "philosophy (is) the guide of life" is abbreviated by these three Greek letters Phi Beta Kappa
Catharsis Greek word also used in English which means purging from guilt or defilement
HEBREW, Yiddish
Bar Mitzvah - age 13
Hava Nagila "Let us rejoice") is a Jewish traditional folk song in Hebrew, that has become a staple of band performers at Jewish weddings and Bar/Bat Mitzvahs.
Mazel tov is a phrase used to express congratulations for a happy and significant occasion or event.
Oy gevalt. exclamation of surprise, incredulity, or simply used to emphasize a statement. often used when kvetching. alt. spelling: oy gevalt, that was a long drive!
IRISH
Banshee a female spirit in Irish mythology, usually seen as an omen of death and a messenger from the Otherworld.
Erin the Bragh, Ireland forever
Leprechaun is a type of fairy in Irish folklore, usually taking the form of an old man, clad in a red or green coat, who enjoys partaking in mischief. The Leprechauns spend all their time busily making shoes, and store away all their coins in a hidden pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
ITALIAN
Bunga bunga is a phrase of uncertain meaning that dates from 1910 if not earlier. By 2010 the phrase had gained popularity in Italy and the international press as well, when it was used by the Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi to refer to his alleged sex parties, which caused a major political scandal in Italy.
LATIN
Ad valorem tax (Latin for "according to value") is a tax based on the value of real estate or personal property.
Anno Domini Used for dates in the last 1,990 years, the abbreviation A.D. is short for this Latin expression
Cui Bono for whose benefit to what purpose
Ecce Homo behold the man jesus thorns
Excelsior army motto always higher
E Pluribus Unum The motto on the Great Seal of the U.S.: "Out of many, one"
Id Est, often abbreviated i.e. in papers, translates to this in English That Is
Ipse Dixit he himself has said it
Inter Alia among other things
Modus Operandi Criminologist's phrase, from Latin for "manner of working"
Noli me tangere touch me not
Non Sequiter
Pro bono publico for the public good
Post mortem after death
Quid pro quo
Quod vide (q.v.), which see, Used after a term or phrase that should be looked upelsewhere in the current document or book.
Semper Paratus always prepared coast guard
Vinum Vinyl & vintage are both derived from "vinum", the Latin word for grape
Vox populi popular opinion or sentiment
JAPANESE
Ainu, light skinned, unrelated to others in language, live on Hokkaido and Sikhalin
Banzai, battle cry, may you live 10,000 years This battle cry is Japanese for "10,000 Years", as in "May you live 10,000 Years"
Bonsai, dwarf tree
Bushido, chivalric code of Samurai
Daimo, hereditary feudal nobleman
Ginza, shopping an entertainment disrict
Honcho This word for boss or head is from a Japanese word meaning squad leader
Issei, emigrate after 1907, not citizen until 1952, First generation Americans of this ethnic origin are Issei, 2nd generation are Nisei
Kabuki, drama 17th cent, men only, This popular form of Japanese dance drama traces its origins to Bunrako puppet theatre and Noh, Developed in the 17th century, this form of theater features men called "onnagata" in female roles
Kimono
Noh classic drama oldest theatre, choral music, dancing, oldest - This word for a form of Japanese dance-drama isn't negative, it means "talent"
Origami, paper folding
Ronin was a samurai with no lord or master during the feudal period (1185�1868) of Japan. A samurai became masterless from the death or fall of his master, or after the loss of his master's favor or privilege. In modern Japanese usage, the term also describes a salaryman who is "between employers" or a secondary school graduate who has not yet been admitted to university.
Sayonara farewell
Samurai retainees of the Daimos
Shogun great general
Shojis are translucent screens which originated in this country
Tatami rice straw floor mat, In a traditional Japanese home, floors are covered with straw mats called these
Tycoon former shogun
Babushka A Russian grandmother, or her kerchief
Bolshevik Originally applied to a follower of Lenin, it literally means "one of the majority"
Spanish
Ay, caramba! The exclamation was the signature nickname of the flamenco dancer and singer, La Caramba, in the 1780s in Madrid. Her head-dress of brightly coloured ribbons became known as a caramba. The fictional character Bart Simpson from the American animated sitcom The Simpsons further popularized the phrase in modern pop culture. It became one of his most notable catchphrases and something he would say when he was positively surprised by something or in connection with women.
El tio uncle
Aesop tales
Boy who cried wolf - Someone compared to this Aesop kid has lied so many times no one believes him even when he's telling the truth
MAXIMS MOTTOS
"When I was just a little girl, I asked my mother 'What will I be? Will I be pretty, will I be rich?'..." Que Sera Sera
"Stone walls do not a prison make, nor iron bars a cage "Richard Lovelace wrote,
Cliches
A fools paradise - A state of happiness based on false hope.
All dressed up and/with nowhere to go = to be dressed and ready to go somewhere nice, but not have anywhere to go
As you make your bed so you must like on it
Born with a silver spoon in his mouth
Cast your bread upon the waters for after many days you will find it again - Show hospitality, even though the corresponding return of hospitality to you may seem improbable; nevertheless, be hospitable in faith.
Change leopard's spots
Feather one's nest - amass wealth for future comfort
Give up the ghost - to die
Gold goes in any gate but heaven
His name is mud
Hold on to your hat - slow down
Hold your horses - wait
Johnny come lately
Keep your fingers crossed Phrase meaning "Wish me luck", from the old superstition of making the sign of the cross to ward off evil
Keep your shirt on, the tradition of men fighting shirtless
Last but not least
One man's meat is another man's poison
Pack up your troubles in your old kitbag
On the side of angels
Meanwhile back at the ranch
Off the beaten path
Play possum
Pull a rabbit out of a hat From a magician's trick, it means to accomplish the unexpected or find a surprising solution
See you later alligator, hasta la vista
Shoot the works
There is a remedy for all things but death
Throw the book at him, give the maximum sentence
Thinks she is the queen or Sheba, putting on airs
Work expands to fill the time available
Work without play makes Jack a dull boy
You can't win them all
Epigram is a brief, interesting, memorable, and sometimes surprising or satirical statement.
Idiom is a rendition of a combination of words that have a figurative meaning.
Bee in one's bonnet - a single idea or a thought that remains in one's mind; an obsession.
Heebie-jeebies (idiom), used to describe a feeling of anxiety, apprehension, depression or illness.
In a pig's eye - something that you say which means you think there is no chance that something is true or that something will happen
keep your nose to the grindstone
The devil is in the details.
What's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. What is good for one person is good for another.
Phrase
"Absence makes the heart grow fonder" is disputed by the proverb, "Out of sight, out of Mind
All's fair in love and war In "Frank Fairlegh" Francis Edward Smedley wrote "
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder Margaret Wolfe Hungerford wrote in "Molly Bawn", "
Bell the cat Someone risking danger to benefit others is said to do this, as Aesop's mouse did to a dangerous feline
Cast your bread upon the waters - Toss one's loaves onto aquatic environments
Conscience "The inner voice which warns us that someone may be looking"H.L. Mencken defined it as
Cook goose", you spoiled someone's plans
"Do not let your deeds belie your words, lest...someone...say...'Why do you not practice' what you preach St. Jerome said,
Entirely well attired without any destination - all dressed and nowhere to go
Expert is someone who knows more and more about less and less
Game is afoot: The process is in active existence; for example, 'The teams are on the pitch - the whistle blows - the game is afoot.'
Happy as a clam at high tide
Like a snowball in hell
Like water off a ducks back
Lowest common denominator
Fiddle while rome burns This cliche referring to callousness in the face of calamity was inspired by the emperor Nero
Finishes Lord Chesterfield's 1749 line; "No idleness, no laziness, no procrastination: never put off until tomorrow what you can do today."
Fools paradise
Gird your loins Figuratively speaking, to prepare for action you do this to your loins
Go whole hog" this means to stop at nothing, you animal, you
Hand the rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world"
Heav'n has no Rage, like Love to Hatred turn'd, Nor Hell a Fury, like a woman scorned
"He has more money than you can" shake a stick at
"He laughs best who laughs last." In 1706, Sir John Vanbrugh wrote in "The Country House",
He who does not love wine, women & song remains a fool his whole life long"
Hold Your Horses Rein in one's palominos
I Have A Rendezvous With.death.."Completes the title of Alan Seegar's most famous poem, "
"I'm a girl who lost her reputation and never missed it."Star of "She Done Him Wrong" who said, Mae West
"In a world where England is...dead, I do not wish to live"In 1940, U.S. poet Alice D. Miller wrote,
"In the country of the blind the man with one eye is king"
Invention is the mother of necessity
I survived Asked what he did during France's Reign of Terror, Abbe Sieyes replied with these 2 words
Keep on Trucking R. Crumb cartoon character who used the slogan
Keep your shirt on From the tradition of men fighting topless came this saying urging calm
Kiss and tell According to playwright William Congreve, "You must not" do this "and tell"
"Liberty like charity must begin at home" James Bryant Conant said,
Life is a banquet & most poor suckers are starving to death!" Auntie Mamie
Meanwhile back at the ranch Originally a caption in silent Westerns, it returned your attention to the main house
Millions for defense, but not one cent for Tribute" 1798 Robert Goodloe Harper said, "A tribute (from Latin tributum, contribution) is wealth, often in kind, that one party gives to another as a sign of respect or, as was often the case in historical contexts, of submission or allegiance. Various ancient states exacted tribute from the rulers of land which the state conquered or otherwise threatened to conquer.
Money "speaks sense in a language all nations understand" In the 17th century Aphra Behn wrote this
Napoleon said the Ridiculous is one step away from the Sublime
Never give a sucker an even break definition - Don't hesitate to take advantage of a fool.
Night has a thousand eyes and the day, but one" Francis Bourdillon wrote
No fruit, no flowers, no leaves, no birds, November"Completes the line from a Thomas Hood poem, "
No sooner said than done Roman Quintas Ennius said a man of worth follows the rule
Only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do Nothing" Edmund Burke supposedly said, "The o
Promises and piecrust are made to be broken."According to Jonathan Swift, these
Proof in the pudding is the eating This phrase refers to the ability to measure up to expectations
Pull a fast one This phrase from the '30s means to succeed in a trick or a swindle
"Prosperity makes friends" but adversity tries them"
Red Herring "Colorful" smoked fish, used to throw hounds off a fox's scent, that's become a figure of speech
Run with the hare and hunt with the hounds
Sharpest knife in the kitchen
Slow and easy wins the race
"So many people showed up at Louis B. Mayer's funeral... to make sure he was dead" Sam Goldwyn said
"Stone walls do not a prison make, nor iron bars a cage" thisRichard Lovelace wrote,
"Sweet April showers do spring May flowers T. Tusser's 16th C. book "A Hundred Good Points of Husbandry" says,
Take leave of one's senses
Take the Fifth
Though hard be the task, keep a stiff upper lip In the 19th century, Phoebe Carey advised "And
Tie the Knot
"Turn On, Tune In, Drop Out" was the title of a lecture he gave in 1967
War is much too important a matter to be left to the generals" Georges Clemenceau called this "
When the one great scorer comes to write against your name, he marks -- not that you won or lost -- but how well you played the game
Worst case scenario
You can't fool all of the people all the time" Lincoln
A watched pot never boils
All things come to him who waits
All work and no play makes Jack a Dull boy. In his 1659 "Proverbs", James Howell wrote, "
Bees that have honey in their mouths have stings in their tails."
Beggars can't be choosers"
Better the foot slip than the tongue
"Blessed is he who expect s nothing for he shall never be disappointed"
Charity begins at home
East, West, Home is Best
Every shoe does not fit every foot
Faint heart never won a fair lady
Forbidden fruit is sweetest
Friend is never known till needed.
Friend to all, friend to none
Gold dust blinds all eyes
Good archer is not known by his arrows but by his aim
Hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world"
Haste makes waste
He that has many irons in the fire will find that some of them will cool
Hell had no fury like a woman scorned
In vine, truth in vino veritas
It is better to be envied than pitied
Keep your mouth shut and eyes open
Last drop makes the cup run over
Laugh and the world laughs with you, weep and you weep alone
Learn to walk before running
Let Sleeping dogs lay
Living well is the best revenge Over 300 yrs. ago British poet George Herbert wrote
Love makes the world go round
Mouse that has but one hole is quickly taken."
Music has charms to soothe a savage beast- william Congreve
Nearer the bone sweeter the meat
Never look a gift horse in the mouth
No one is a hero to his valet
Old habits die hard
One catches more flies with a spoonful of honey that 20 pounds of vinegar
Opera isn't over until the fat lady sings
Promises like pie crust are made to be broken
Spare the rod and spoil the child
There's no time like the present
They that sow the wind shall reap the whirlwind
Too many cooks spoil the broth contradicts many hands make light work
Waste not want not
When poverty comes in at the door love flies out the window
Where there is a will there's a way
Why buy a cow when milk is so cheap?
Woman's mind & winter wind change oft
You cannot make bricks without straw
Simile- is a figure of speech that directly compares two different things, usually by employing the words "like" or "as"
As clear as a bell
As fast as greased lightning
As pretty as a picture
Like a fish out of water
Smell like roses
Control your destiny or someone else will
get down to brass tacks") refers to the fundamental or essential elements of a topic.
Give crowns & pounds & guineas but not your heart away, A.E. Housman heard a wise man say ,
He of little faith
Under every stone lurks a politician, Aristophanes in Wasps
We have met the enemy and they are ours
We have met the enemy and he is us
Tips
Keeping sink drain open pour one cup baking soda follow with one cup of cider vinegar add one pint boiling water
To remove white spots or rings ona shellated surface left from wet glass, simply rub some toothpaste
FUNNY
Before you diagnose yourself with low mood or depression, first make sure you are not surrounded by unreasonably euphoric individuals
Either take a short rest now or take permanent one later
His nickname is laxative, he makes shit happen
I can eat eat a bowl of alphabet soup and come up with a better argument than that
I don't think he is stupid, he just has chronic bad luck with his thinking process
If someone hates you for no reason, give that asshole a reason
If you drink, don't drive "Don't even putt Dean Martin said, "
If u want anything at all just abstain
I'm not an alcoholic, alcoholics go to meetings. I'm a loose drunk, we go to parties.
There cannot be a crisis next week; my schedule is already full, Kissinger
perfume can enhance sexual attractiveness and fragrance
Parents for sale, buy one get one free
I am who I am! YOUR APPROVAL ISN'T NECESSARY!
PROCRASTINATORS UNITE!!! ........ perhaps tomorrow or next week.,
Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened
Going to church don't make you a Christian.
Pleasing everyone is too hard, but pissing everyone off is a piece of cake
I shook my family tree and a bunch of nuts fell out
I either want less corruption or more chance to participate in it
I have PMS and a gun.... Did u have something to say...?
Call me a flirt, but when im in a relationship, i'm one faithful person.
ITS THE BEAUTY THAT ATTRACTS BUT THE PERSONALITY THAT CAPTURES THE HEART
I have no idea what you just said so im just gonna say "yeah" and smile,
I come from a town where a traffic jam is 2 cars behind a tractor,
I play with my phone when i am waiting for someone so i dont look stupid
i once had a life ... then some idiot suggested I start a face book page
i speak fluent sarcasm
my silence spoke a thousand words but you never heard them
I love to walk in rain because no one knows that i am crying,
I like how you do your makeup. Do you use a brush or just dip your face in?,
"Yes Officer I did see the Speed Limit sign I just didn't see YOU"
Your mind is like a parachute...it functions better when open.
Feel safe tonight...sleep with a doctor
homosexuality is not a choice but homophobia is
shite happens,, and usually to me!!
growing old is unstoppable, growing up is optional,
I love sleep so much, it's the first thing I want to do when I wake up
ANY DICK CAN MAKE A BABY BUT IT TAKES A MAN TO BE A DADDY,
The Coalition For The Prevention Of Unintelligent People Breeding
If you want to gather honey, don;t kick over the beehive
Those who are too smart to engage in politics are often punished by being governed by those who are dumber
You miss 100% of the shots you don't take
I like classy, elegant, intelligent, well-educated women who say "F*ck" a lot,
I tried being normal once, worse 5 minutes of my life
It's Better To Lose A Lover... Than Love A Loser !
Well behaved women rarely make history
Sluts have other sluts for being sluts
The trouble with the world is that the intelligent are still trying to understand while the uninformed are cocksure.
The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt.
~Bertrand Russell
Bertrand Russell Prologue to his Autobiography:
Three passions, simple but overwhelmingly strong, have governed my life: the longing for love, the search for knowledge, and unbearable pity for the suffering of mankind. These passions, like great winds, have blown me hither and thither, in a wayward course, over a deep ocean of anguish, reaching to the very verge of despair.
I have sought love, first, because it brings ecstasy -- ecstasy so great that I would often have sacrificed all the rest of life for a few hours of this joy. I have sought it, next, because it relieves loneliness -- that terrible loneliness in which one shivering consciousness looks over the rim of the world into the cold unfathomable lifeless abyss. I have sought it, finally, because in the union of love I have seen, i...n a mystic miniature, the prefiguring vision of the heaven that saints and poets have imagined. This is what I sought, and though it might seem too good for human life, this is what -- at last -- I have found.
With equal passion I have sought knowledge. I have wished to understand the hearts of men. I have wished to know why the stars shine. And I have tried to apprehend the Pythagorean power by which number holds sway above the flux. A little of this, but not much, I have achieved.
Love and knowledge, so far as they were possible, led upward toward the heavens. But always pity brought me back to earth. Echoes of cries of pain reverberate in my heart. Children in famine, victims tortured by oppressors, helpless old people a hated burden to their sons, and the whole world of loneliness, poverty, and pain make a mockery of what human life should be.
I long to alleviate the evil, but I cannot, and I too suffer.
This has been my life. I have found it worth living, and would gladly live it again if the chance were offered me.
1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick.Your family and parents will. Stay in touch.5. Pay off your credit cards every month.6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn'tbe in it.15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye.But don't worry; God never blinks.16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood.But the second one is up to you and no one else.20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.24. The most important sex organ is the brain.25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words'In five years, will this matter?'27. Always choose life.28. Forgive everyone everything.29. What other people think of you is none of your business.30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.33. Believe in miracles.34. God loves you because of who God is, not becauseof anything you did or didn't do.35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.37. Your children get only one childhood.38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
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Made-up words | Simpsons Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia
Adultivity
The state or condition of being an adult.
In " Much Apu About Nothing ," Kearney believes that his fake "Charles Norwood" ID will confirm this for him, thus allowing him to buy beer and cheap cigars.
Al-key-hol
Marge: I don't want to alarm anyone, but there's a little al-key-hol in this punch.
America Junior
A term for Canada coined by Homer in " The Bart Wants What It Wants ".
Homer: Why should we leave America to visit America Junior?
America's Wang
A term coined by Homer in reference to Florida's shape, compared to the rest of the United States, resembling a flaccid penis.
Homer: Florida?! But that's America's Wang!
Psychiatrist: They prefer "The Sunshine State".
Annual Gift Man
The fictitious translation of Santa Claus's supposed name in Japanese. In Japan he is supposedly thought to live on the Moon. John (voiced by guest star John Waters ) mentions the name in the episode " Homer's Phobia ".
Anyhoo / Anywho
Alternative term for 'anyway' or 'anyhow'. Heard in " Secrets of a Successful Marriage "
Appling
The process of using Photoshop to add rosy "apple" to someone's cheeks and make them more attractive. Waylon Smithers apples Mr. Burns face to make him appear more benevolent on the cover of a newspaper. Seen in " Fraudcast News ".
Assal Horizontology
A term for a medical procedure coined by Dr. Nick Riviera in " King-Size Homer ."
Homer Simpson tries to gain weight to get on workers' compensation. While prescribing a diet consisting of a steady gorging process for Homer, Dr. Nick suggests that it be combined with assal horizontology. Presumably, he means lying down - or more likely, sitting on your ass in an almost horizontal position. Possible also that he means to gain so much weight causing Homer's ass to expand horizontally
Avoision
Kent Brockman's conflation of the words avoidance and evasion in " Bart the Fink ."
When corrected through his earpiece, Brockman responds to them on-air: "I don't say evasion, I say avoision." This is a reference to a William Shatner outtake where he argues with his director over "sabotage": "You say sabotage. I say sabot-age" (rhyming with the word badge).
The term avoision originated in the literature of the anti-taxation movement in the U.S. in the 1970s; it was coined to get around laws against advocating or providing advice relating to tax evasion.
B
A bazooka that fires beanbags, as used by Lou in Lisa the Tree Hugger .
Banjoologist
An expert in banjo based musical styles.
In the episode " Home Away from Homer ", Lisa listens to a radio program on obscure music, and hears the host refer to a guest as a banjoologist, using "-ology" as the suffix for the study of a subject (or sometimes the subject itself, although this is technically incorrect).
Bartesque
An invented French word that means "being like Bart " (i.e., mischievous).
Bart: But it involves being a bit underhanded, a bit devious, a bit, as the French say: Bartesque.
Basegame
A variant of baseball, but without a ball, offered at Springfield Elementary while the school's only ball was being repaired. Used by Principal Skinner in " My Big Fat Geek Wedding ."
Bathiola
Mr. Burns 's name for a bath.
Mr. Burns : I'm going to take a bathiola, and when I get back, one of you better be laughing.
Beginualize
A mixture of "actualize" and "begin", used by a counsellor teaching Marge and Maggie the C.R.I.E. method of baby independence when Maggie becomes too clingy. Episode: " Midnight Towboy ".
Counsellor: "Now her childhood can beginualize."
Beginulate
Used by Professor John Frink as part of his pseudo-scientific jargon, merely as a more complicated verb form of "begin".
Frink: "Let the commencement… beginulate!"
Beheadbumped
Bumped on the head. Used in " The Wettest Stories Ever Told ," when Ned Flanders is knocked unconscious by Homer's bowling ball from the roof.
Be-musement Park
An amusement park that bemuses instead of amuses. Coined by Ned Flanders in " I'm Goin' to Praiseland ."
Ned: Oh, Maude, I've turned your dream of a Christian amusement park into a be-musement park.
Homer: Don't say that, Ned!
Ned: It is! It's a be-musement park!
The phrase might also be intended as a play on letter grading from A-musement to B-musement. See B-movie. Whereas "B-musement" suggests the park is second rate and explains his strong spoken emphasis of the letter "b", "bemusement" suggests the attendees simply fail to understand the religious park's message.
Betsy Bleedingheart
A person or organisation who tries to get sympathy with the public.
Mr. Burns : A non-profit organization with oil; I won't allow it! An oil well doesn't belong in the hands of some Betsy Bleedingheart or Maynard G. Muskievote!
Blingwad
Unclassified transformed matter. Possibly a wad of bling.
Krusty the Clown : I oughta replace it right now with that Chinese cartoon with the robots that turn into... blingwads! But I'm a lazy, lazy man.
(From the episode " The Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie Show ".)
Blubber-in-law
This is a term used by Patty and Selma to denigrate Homer. It is a play on "brother-in-law", and the fact that Homer is fat.
Blundering Numbskullery
Burns' insult to an assassin who can't do the job of killing Grampa Simpson.
Assassin: [after failing to kill Grampa] D'oh! Not again!
Burns: I can't take much more of your blundering numbskullery.
From the episode " Raging Abe Simpson and His Grumbling Grandson in "The Curse of the Flying Hellfish" ."
Bolognium
An element on a highly inaccurate Periodic Table at Springfield Elementary . Due to their inability to afford an accurate Table, they have to make do with a promotional one from Oscar Mayer, which advertises their product in the information. The atomic weight of Bolognium is known to be either "delicious" or "snacktacular".The real element in that space in the periodic table is Molybdenum and the atomic weight is 95.95. The name is presumably derived from Polonium, element 84.
Bonus Eruptus
A medical condition coined by Dr. Nick Riviera that is described as "a terrible condition where the skeleton tries to leap out of the mouth and escape the body" in " 22 Short Films About Springfield ".
The term came to be when a frantic Abe Simpson demanded to see a quack. Abe's symptoms included being "edgy", having "ants in his pants" and being "discombobulated". Dr. Nick also warned Grandpa that if he didn't calm down to receive treatment, Grandpa would give himself skin failure. Dr. Nick's prescribed treatment for Bonus Eruptus was "Trans-dental Electromicide," which called for a golf-cart motor and a 1000-volt "Capacimator". High voltage is applied to the patient's teeth, presumably until he is either cured or dead.
This is a reference to the common cartoon trope of a skeleton escaping a character's mouth in fright, and possibly a reference to the Ray Bradbury short story "Skeleton".
Boostafazoo
Bart : Burns needs some serious boostafazoo, right Dad?
Boo-urns
What Smithers tells Burns the angry movie audience is saying after a screening of his film "A Burns for All Seasons".
During the episode " A Star is Burns ", Mr. Burns asks his faithful assistant Waylon Smithers if the crowd is booing his blatantly egotistical motion picture. Smithers, ever the yes-man, replies that they are saying "boo-urns" (i.e. "Burns"), and not "boo". When Burns asks for clarification, the crowd replies that they are indeed saying "boo", and not "boo-urns". After the crowd replies, Hans Moleman says that, in fact, he was saying "boo-urns".
Hans Moleman: I was saying "boo-urns…"
note: Has been heard chanted in UCLA's Paulley Pavilion. Cynicaly when the basketball team is performing below expectations.
Bovine University
A term for a slaughterhouse used by Troy McClure in a vintage pro-meat/pro-slaughter documentary shown to Lisa's class from the episode " Lisa the Vegetarian ".
Ralph Wiggum: [unclear on the meaning] When I grow up, I'm going to Bovine University!
Brassafrax
Presumably an extremely antiquated cry of submission (as in "Uncle!") used by Montgomery Burns's mother in the episode " Homer the Smithers ". When Smithers wants to regain Burns's trust, he tells Homer to call Burns's mother and transfer the call to his office. Smithers's plan is to rush in and rescue Burns from what will certainly be an awkward phone conversation.
Smithers: Hello, Mrs. Burns? This is Waylon Smithers. I have your son Montgomery on the line...
Mrs. Burns: That improvident lackwit? Always too busy stridin' about his atom mill to call his own mother. I'll give him what-fors till he cries brassafrax!
Bumbled-bee
One of Mr. Burns' seemingly antiquated alternative expressions referring to an existing term (similar to "iced cream", the original name for ice cream ). In episode 12 of Season 16, Burns tells Selma, who is in the process of lowering the soft top on his roadster, "Stop that you want-wit! I could get stung by a bumbled-bee!"
C
California Cheeseburger
A sandwich with a baby in the middle, first seen in " The Secret War of Lisa Simpson ."
Chief Wiggum shows a group of touring kids a museum display of a hippie couple who are getting stoned and ready to take a bite of the "California Cheeseburger."
Capdabbler
A word made up by Mr. Burns in " Last Exit to Springfield " for a song parodying Dr. Seuss's "The Grinch":
"Look at them all, through the darkness I'm bringing
They're not sad at all. They're actually singing!
They sing without juicers
They sing without flungers, capdabblers and mendlers!"
Car Hole
A common man's term for garage, coined by Moe Szyslak in " The Springfield Connection ".
While "Car Hole" appears only twice in the series itself, it is often used by fans to jokingly refer to a garage, or garage-like structure. The phrase first appears in a conversation between Moe Szyslak and Homer Simpson, wherein Moe ridicules Homer for his use of the overly formal word, "garage".
Homer: Hmm. I wonder why he's so eager to go to the garage?
Moe: The "garage"? Hey fellas, the "garage"! Well, ooh la di da, Mr. French Man.
Homer: Well what do you call it?
Moe: A car hole!
The phrase appears once more, as Homer Simpson expresses his shock, upon discovering a counterfeit jeans outfit has (inexplicably) taken up operation in his garage.
Homer: [gasps] A counterfeit jeans ring operating out of my car hole!
Chazwazers
A fictitious Australian name for the bullfrog.
As the Simpsons depart from Australia, an Australian equivalent of Squeaky-Voiced Teen asks what the strange creature infesting his home country is called. Upon receiving its proper name, he responds, "What? That's an odd name. I'd have called them chazwazers."
Cheese-eating surrender monkeys
A satirical and insulting phrase, referring to the collaborationist Vichy France regime's surrender in World War II.
Groundskeeper Willy (teaching French class): "Bonjourrrrrr, you cheese-eating surrender monkeys!"
Chestal
Of, or relating to, the chest.
Bart: I'm all tense through the chestal area!
The word "chestal," in this sense, first became popular in the 1960s when Woody Allen used it in one of his stand-up comedy routines . It then appeared in the episode " Bart's Girlfriend "
Also used: "neckal" and "scalpal".
Chester A. Arthritis
A condition resulting from excitement over studying President Chester A. Arthur. Upon discovering Jebediah Springfield's past as Hans Sprungfeld, Lisa nervously jokes about having just gotten over her "Chester A. Arthritis" before coming down with "Jebeditis".
Professor Hurlbut: "Looks like you've come down with a serious case of Jebeditis."
Lisa: "Just as I was getting over my Chester A. Arthritis."
Professor Hurlbut: "Heh heh... y-you had arthritis?"
Chocotastic
One of the three neglected food groups, along with the Whipped group and the Congealed group, that Homer must concentrate on eating more of in " King-Size Homer ".
This word has made its way into international culture, as there are Pop Tarts available in The Netherlands and elsewhere in Europe with the flavor of Chocotastic. (Coincidentally, in the episode, Riviera recommends that Homer use Pop Tarts to replace bread in sandwiches.)
Clouseauesque
A combination of excessive clumsiness and ridiculously bad luck, in the manner of Peter Sellers' hapless Inspector Jacques Clouseau . From the episode " The Boy Who Knew Too Much ".
The French waiter, who accused Freddy Quimby of attacking him, says in the court room, "This is an outrage! I am not a clumsy clouseauesque waiter!" He then falls out of the window into an open truck of rat traps.
Commie-Nazis
Fictional villains Rainier Wolfcastle faces in one of his McBain movies.
While delivering UNICEF pennies to "the puny children who need them", the McBain's airplane is attacked. He picks up the radio and says, "McBain to base, under attack by Commie-Nazis." These "Commie-Nazis" combine Communism and Nazi ideology, and use a mix of the Swastika and Hammer and Sickle on a red background as their standard.
This phrase has long precedent in the form of "Commu-Nazi" as used by Walter Winchell. However, many viewers believe that this is simply a combination of two over-used action movie villains.
It may also be a reference to the Superman comics during World War II pitting the superhero against the "Japanazis", a cross between America's two principal enemies in the war.
Crantastic
A reference to an Ocean Spray advertising device, a portmanteau of cranberry and fantastic. Said by the squeaky-voiced teen as he is swept away by a tide of cranberry juice in " Homer and Apu ".
Crap factory
Invented by Bart as a dysphemism for "stomach" after Nelson takes exception to his saying "tummy."
Bart: "Its my tummy!" (Nelson glares at him) "I mean stomach! Gut! Crap factory!"
Craptacular
A portmanteau of "crap" and "spectacular."
Craptacular was used by Bart to describe the supposedly defective Christmas lights that Homer purchased in " Miracle on Evergreen Terrace ". It is one of the more frequently used made-up words from The Simpsons, and, like a few others, was in use before The Simpsons popularized it. Currently a yearly contest on Howard Stern show, where contestants eat and eat then weigh their waste over 24 hours.
Crayola Oblongata
The procedure of putting a crayon into the brain via the nasal cavity, a port-manteau of crayon producing company Crayola and the part of the brainstem called the medulla oblongata.
Crisitunity
A portmanteau created by Homer when Lisa tells him that the Chinese have the same word for "crisis" and "opportunity". The actual Chinese words for those terms are different but share a common character ( 危 機 for "crisis", 機 會 for "opportunity").
From " Fear of Flying ".
Cromulent
A word meaning valid or acceptable, coined by David X. Cohen for the Simpsons episode " Lisa the Iconoclast ".
When schoolteacher Edna Krabappel hears the Springfield town motto "A noble spirit embiggens the smallest man," she comments she'd never heard of the word embiggens before moving to Springfield. Miss Hoover replies, "I don't know why; it's a perfectly cromulent word".
Later in the same episode, while talking about Homer's audition for the role of town crier, Principal Skinner states "He's embiggened that role with his cromulent performance."
Based on the context in which Miss Hoover uses the word cromulent, we can interpret that she intends it to mean "legitimate", "applicable" or "appropriate." Principal Skinner seems to use it to mean "more than acceptable" or "more than adequate"; these usages would also (in an assumed lexical context) satisfy Miss Hoover's use of the word. Perhaps both characters intend it to mean "authentic", which would validate both uses of the word (e.g. "it's a perfectly authentic word" and "he embiggened that role with his authentic performance"). The word has a sort of recursive irony about it: as a made-up word it possesses none of the qualities that it describes.
Both "embiggen" and "cromulent" were quickly adopted and used by Simpsons fans. Cromulent has taken on an ironic meaning, to say that something is not at all legitimate and in fact spurious. Indeed the DVD commentary for "Lisa the Iconoclast" makes a point of reinforcing that "embiggen" and "cromulent" are completely made up by the writers and have since taken on a life of their own via the Internet and other media.
In the 2005 Xbox game Jade Empire, the player meets a British-colonialist-styled outsider who uses made-up mispronounced words. When the player confronts the man with this, the man claims that one of the words he used was "cromulent".
"Cromulent" has since appeared in Webster's New Millennium Dictionary of English. ( lookup via reference.com.) Some sources have misheard the word as "promulent".
Crotch dot
A red dot that appears on one's crotch, and is thought to be fatal (Chief Wiggum's uncle died of Crotch Dot). Seymour Skinner was suspected of having this disease, although in reality, it was a laser pointer used as a prank by Bart. From " The Dad Who Knew Too Little ". Compare to "crotch rot", a slang term for jock itch.
Chief Wiggum: "Hey you better get that red dot checked out, my uncle died of crotch dot!"
D
Dash Hole
Another name for the cigarette lighter power socket.
This name was used by the automotive appliance salesman when asking Homer what he had plugged into his Dash Hole. From " Brake My Wife, Please ."
Dealie (dealy)
A word that can be used in place of any noun. Sometimes used as a placeholder for an object whose name does not immediately spring to mind.
Homer: Marge, where's that... metal... dealie... you use to... dig... food?
Used in countless episodes throughout the series.
Debigulator
A device for shrinking a person to microscopic size.
A Professor Frink-like character uses the debigulator to shrink Lisa to microscopic size in The Genesis Tub, one of the stories in Treehouse of Horror VII.
Deceleratrix
The service brakes on a car.
Mr. Burns attempts to drive a car for the first time while proclaiming he is sure the owners' manual will instruct him as to which lever is the velocitator and which one is the deceleratrix. The word is formed by changing the word "decelerator" from the Latin masculine to feminine. From " Homer the Smithers "
Dickety
Grandpa Simpson 's made-up word for twenty in the episode " Raging Abe Simpson and His Grumbling Grandson in "The Curse of the Flying Hellfish" ."
Abe: Now, my story begins in nineteen-dickety-two. We had to say "dickety" 'cause the Kaiser had stolen our word "twenty". I chased that rascal to get it back, but gave up after dickety-six miles…
The word may have a faux "old timer" feel because of its similarity to the words "dicker" and lickety as in "lickety split." Dicker is a word for bargain that's sometimes associated with rural or antiquated settings.
In the Latin American version the word used is "tijiri", which has no actual meaning or similarity to another word.
The German version is "zwickig", which also has no meaning, but sounds similar to "zwanzig" ("twenty").
The term pokes fun at the common habit of replacing words during the anti-German sentiment of World War I, such as the replacing of Sauerkraut with "Liberty Cabbage" (according to Grandpa, Liberty Cabbage was, in turn, known as "Super Slaw").
Diddly
(Also spelled diddily), Ned Flanders ' characteristic non-word.
Generally speaking, "diddly", though not in itself a made-up word, is used by Ned Flanders in what linguists call a filled pause, a non-word which a speaker uses to take up time or space in a sentence, and which are sometimes used for emphasis. Flanders often uses "diddly" as an alliteration in his sentences, i.e. "What can I diddly-do you for?" or "Dee-diddly-lighted!" Flanders also seems to use filled pauses as a crutch to avoid swearing, as in "son of a diddly...", until he finally snaps in " Hurricane Neddy " when the inept townspeople of Springfield, in a disastrous attempt to rebuild his house, push him too far: "Calm down, Neddilly-diddily-diddily-diddily... They did their best... Shoddilly-iddily-iddily-diddly... Gotta be nice... hostility-ilitybilitydility aaaw hell diddly ding dong crap! Can't you morons do anything right?!"
Occasionally, Flanders will use "diddly" as a tmesis such as in the episode " Summer of 4 Ft. 2 " in his note at the summer house to the Simpsons ("Wel-diddly-elcome", to which Homer responds, "He actually wrote "diddly").
It was also used as a familial word when the 'Flanders Clan' has a reunion, Jose Flanders says when meeting Homer, "Buenos ding-dong-diddly días, señor" (although Lord Thistlewick Flanders has to be prompted to say it, and does so reluctantly).
In the Latin American version, "diddly" is often translated as "-irijillo", an overly elaborate and ridiculous diminutive (e.g. "Perfectirijillo").
Doctorb
Homer, in need of a triple bypass, sees an infomercial showcasing the surgical "talents" of Dr. Nick. In the ad, Dr. Nick gives the (presumably) toll-free number as, "1-600-DOCTORB", going on to explain that "...The B is for 'bargain'!" It is pronounced /ˈdɔkˌtoːɻb/.
Dodgerock
A game of dodgeball played with a rock instead of a ball. At least one (brief) match was played by Nelson Muntz and Milhouse.
Dollareydoos
A term to describe Australian Dollars. In Bart vs. Australia , when the father of the Australian boy, whom Bart had called collect, saw the bill for 900 dollars, he exclaimed "900 Dollareydoos?!" and asked his son if he had accepted the call from America. When the Australian boy replies that he'd only accepted the charges because he thought it was urgent, the father confronts Bart over the phone, only to learn his son had fallen victim to a prank.
It is likely that the term "Dollareydoo" is a reference to the aboriginal instrument from Australia, the Didgeridoo or didgeridu .
Don'ter
The opposite of a doer. Appeared in Lisa the Tree Hugger .
Bart : Hey, some people in this family are doers, and some [he looks at Lisa] are don'ters.
D'oh!
An exclamation of annoyance often uttered by Homer .
In scripts and episode titles, D'oh is referred to as "annoyed grunt"1.
It may be argued that "D'oh" is not a Simpsons neologism, as actor Dan Castellaneta based the phrase on James Finlayson's similar utterance in many Laurel & Hardy films; however, Finlayson did not exclaim the term as Castellaneta does, but used it as more of a muttered whine.
Don't have a cow, man!
An exclamation and catchphrase of Bart that implies that the subject should calm down, or not get worked up about something. It was brought into pop culture mainly by merchandise, as is evidenced by the fact that it is only uttered by Bart on the show a handful of times in the first season (" There's No Disgrace Like Home " and " The Call of the Simpsons "), and therefore were not self-parodying uses.
In the third season's " Bart the Murderer ", Eat My Shorts and Don't Have a Cow are horses in a race. It isn't used again by Bart until the eighth season. In " The Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie Show ", in response to Homer's cartoon debut, Lisa explains, "You can't be cool just by spouting off a bunch of worn-out buzzwords." Bart replies, "Don't have a cow, Lis!" In " The Simpsons Spin-Off Showcase ", Bart sings it along with "eat my shorts!" as part of his musical introduction in the variety show spin-off.
Occasionally, another character has uttered the line. In another self-parodying use, Apu, a vegetarian, shows off his t-shirt with the saying surrounding an actual cow in a no symbol in the seventh season's " Lisa the Vegetarian ". In the seventh season's " Summer of 4 Ft. 2 ", After Bart's complaining that Lisa is acting like him to get friends, Lisa is overheard to say "Don't have a cow, man!" (and later "¡Ay, caramba!") to which Marge replies, "You haven't said that in four years. Let Lisa have it."
In the 19th season's Apocalypse Cow , after raising a young bull to adulthood and saving it from the slaughterhouse, Bart comments that he can finally say he "had a cow".
Doobob
Mr. Burns's word for a generic object that is mysterious to him.
Doodily
(Also spelled doodly), A Flanders word that is compatible with diddly .
Flanders [upon learning that Bart , Lisa and Maggie were never baptised]: Reverend...emergency! I... it's the Simpson kids... eedily... I, uh, baptism... oodily... doodily doodily!"
Flanders is afraid to say the word "sex" even if kids aren't around. Instead, he calls it "doodily".
Dorkus Molorkus
Used by Bart, Dorkus molorkus is supposedly a Latin phrase meaning dork. Given as the reason Lisa was unaware of the National Grammar Rodeo.
Bart: You are, as they say in Latin, a Dorkus Molorkus.
Lisa: That's not Latin...
Double-Bacon Geniusburger
A very intelligent person, used as an alternate lyric in Homer's version of the Grinch song.
"You're a Hero, Homer J. You're as crafty as a skunk! They'll thank you in the morning, for stealing Flanders' junk, Homer JAAAY! You're a double-bacon geniusburger, and just a little drunk!" From the episode " 'Tis the Fifteenth Season ".
Drunkening
Moe tells Homer he's late for his drunkening. From " Brake My Wife, Please ".
Dumbening
The process of becoming dumber.
In the episode " Lisa the Simpson ," Lisa is writing in her diary after speaking to Grandpa about "the Simpson Gene", which supposedly makes every male in the Simpson family stupid.
Lisa: [writing] Dear log, can it be true? Does every Simpson go through a process of dumbening? Hey, that's not how you spell 'dumbening'. Wait a minute… 'dumbening' isn't even a word!
Dumpster Buns
Cinnamon buns thrown out into a dumpster.
In the episode " Thank God It's Doomsday ", Homer wants to go to the mall to eat the day old throw aways from Cinnabon. While at the mall, Bart and Lisa run into their father eating out of the dumpster.
Homer: Mmm... dumpster buns.
Mr. Burns 's word for a dungeon.
E
What Flanders thinks Bart says when he says Eat my Shorts .
Bart : Eat my shorts, Shelbyville.
Bart and Homer : Eat my shorts!
Flanders : Yes, eat all of our shirts.
Eat my Shorts
Bart and Homer : Eat my shorts!
Eddie Punch-clock
A dismissive phrase describing the common man used by Mr. Burns .
Eedily
A variant of doodily used by Flanders when he's nervous or screwing up his words.
Flanders [upon learning that Bart , Lisa and Maggie were never baptised]: Reverend...emergency! I... it's the Simpson kids... eedily... I, uh, baptism... oodily... doodily doodily!
Electromicide
According to Dr. Nick Riviera , the only treatment for Bonus Eruptus .
Dr. Nick's procedure is trans-dental electromicide, a process of introducing severe electrical currents into the body through the mouth. The word electromicide is possibly a conflation of the prefix electro- with homicide.
Embiggen
To make something better. The opposite of belittle.
From a famous saying by Jebediah Springfield/Hans Sprungfeld : "A Noble Spirit Embiggens the Smallest Man", evoking the manner in which its antonym, belittle , was coined by Thomas Jefferson. It is likely a creative conflation of big with the word embolden (to render bold; to hearten, to encourage). The quotation appears on the statue of Jebediah Springfield in front of City Hall.
American actor and writer Wil Wheaton frequently uses this word in his blog when he posts thumbnailed images.
Examples of use:
"Patriots will embiggen America."
Esquilax
A legendary horse born with the head of a rabbit and the body of a rabbit.
Examples of use:
In Season 6 Episode 19 Lisa's Wedding, Chief Wiggum performing as Renaissance actor 'Friar Wiggum' explains to Lisa, "And here, out of the mists of history, the legendary Esquilax! A horse with the head of a rabbit, and... the body of a rabbit. Oh, it's galloping away!"
F
Fantastipotamus
An animal located in a "different" zoo that contains creatures that people like Homer have never heard of.
Ron Howard : Look, I'd love to help you out, Homer, but I'm taking my kids to the zoo.
Homer: That's great. Even big stars take their kids to the zoo.
Ron Howard: Well, it's a different zoo, containing animals you've never heard of.
Howard's daughter: Daddy, we're missing the fantastipotamus. She only sings twice a day.
A portmanteau of the words "fantastic" and " hippopotamus ".
Farkbot
As in, "What the farkbot?" Said by a frustrated Bart Simpson during the opening scroll of Cosmic Wars .
Most likely one of the writers is a member of Fark.com. Commonly, submitters to the site replace choice words including certain expletives, with Fark. As in "What the Fark?".
Faxtrola
A portmanteau of the words "fax" and "victrola".
Fishmas
Part of "Merry Fishmas!", shouted by Mr. Burns in " Homer vs. Dignity ".
Flanswered
The state of Ned Flanders being the answer to a question or proposition.
Homer: Single women of Springfield, your prayers have been Flanswered. Ned Flanswered that is.
Is also played as word during Flanders lonely Scrabble game. From " Alone Again, Natura-Diddily ".
Floor Pie
A pie that is on the floor.
In the episode " Boy-Scoutz 'n the Hood ", Homer is lured into a trap set up by Bart in which the bait is a pie on the floor ("Ooooh, floor pie!"). This saying has been adapted by some for various objects (e.g. "floor candy" or "floor clothes"). Floor [word] is used for an object which is on the floor when it probably shouldn't be.
Swedish-American sculptor Claes Oldenburg also created a large sculpture of a piece of Cake to be displayed on the floor of a gallery entitled Floor Cake .
Flunjer
A word made up by Mr. Burns in " Last Exit to Springfield " for a song parodying Dr. Seuss's "The Grinch":
"Look at them all, through the darkness I'm bringing
They're not sad at all. They're actually singing!
They sing without juicers
They sing without flunjers, capdabblers and smendlers !"
Foodbag
A derogatory term in " Burns, Baby Burns " used by Mr. Burns to describe Homer. It is used while they are eating a lavish dinner together, thus it is likely referring to the amount of food Homer was eating at the time and/or his weight in general.
Burns: You, foodbag, do you have a son?
Foodrinkery
As seen on the sign for "TGI McScratchy's Goodtime Foodrinkery" in the episode Itchy & Scratchy Land
Forfty
A portmanteau of the words "Forty" and "Fifty". Possibly slang for forty-five.
In the episode " Homer the Vigilante ", Homer mentions the word as he responds to Kent Brockman about statistics.
Kent Brockman: Mr. Simpson, how do you respond to the charges that petty vandalism such as graffiti is down eighty percent, while heavy sack-beatings are up a shocking nine hundred percent?
Homer Simpson: Aw, people can come up with statistics to prove anything, Kent. Forfty percent of all people know that.
Oddly enough, the captions read "forty" or "fourteen".
Foundling-a-ding
Flanders ' euphemistic word for a foundling, or abandoned child ( Home Sweet Homediddly-Dum-Doodily ).
Frinkahedron
Professor Frink's name for a cube (a.k.a. hexahedron).
In the Halloween episode " Treehouse of Horror VI ", Professor Frink tries to explain Homer's disappearance into the third dimension. A possible real-life analogue to the Frinkahedron is the tesseract .
Frink: (at chalkboard) Here is an ordinary square.
Chief Wiggum: Whoa, whoa, slow down, egghead!
Frink: But, suppose we extend the square beyond the two dimensions of our universe, along the hypothetical Z-axis there.
Marge, Lisa, Bart, Ned, Reverend Lovejoy, Chief Wiggums, Dr. Hibbert, Patty & Selma: [gasps] (as Frink draws a cube)
Frink: This forms a three-dimensional object known as a cube or a Frinkahedron, in honor of its discoverer.
Homer: Help me! Are you helping me, or are you going on and on?
Frink: Oh, right. And, of course, within, we find the doomed individual.
Fatard
The ballet teacher's name for Bart's ballet outfit.
Conflation of the words "fat" and "leotard".
Fudrucker
A swear used by Marge during " The President Wore Pearls ". When the police show up shortly after she says it, she thinks that they have come to arrest her for saying it. It may be a reference to the Fuddruckers chain of restaurants or alternatively a semi-concealed curse.
Führerific
A conflation of "führer" and "terrific".
This is how Bart describes what is claimed to be Hitler's car in the episode " Bart Carny ".
Bart: It's Führerific.
G
Gamblor
The name Homer gives to the monstrous gambling vice that has metaphorically "enslaved" Marge in " $pringfield (Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Legalized Gambling) ." The creature is purported to have neon claws.
Garbagewater
Homer spills some detritus-laced liquid from the bottom of the garbage can on his slipper while taking out the trash and coins this word, as in, "eww! Garbagewater!"
Gibby Gabby
Marge's name for the Albanian language, as uttered upon hearing the dialog from the movie "Kosovo Autumn". From the episode " Home Away from Homer ".
Glavin
A word used by Professor Frink when he's muttering. In one episode while he's shocked he says, "Great glaven in a glass!" or "Good glavin!" It is most often heard when Frink is in pain like "Oh, so much pain in the glavin!" (pronounced / ˈglejvn̩/) This is probably an adaptation of Jerry Lewis 's interjection "froyndleyven!", which, in turn, is presumed to be Yiddish semi-nonsense roughly meaning "happytime!" (cf. standard German "Freund", friend; "Freude", joy; "Leben", life). The similarity to Slavic words for 'head' (golova, glava, glowa) does not account for the vowels or 'n' and is probably coincidental. Lewis's portrayal of the Nutty Professor is considered by many Simpsons fans to be partial inspiration for Frink's character, and Lewis did a guest voice in one episode as Frink's father.
Frink: That meteor is headed straight for us, with the fire, and the impact, and the hundred percent chance of pain!… Pain in the glavin!!
Alternate spelling: glaven or glayvin.
Groin-Grabbingly
A phrase used by Homer in the episode " Guess Who's Coming to Criticize Dinner? ".
Lisa: Hmm. What's the English equivalent for [drools like Homer]? I'd say... transcendent.
Homer: How about groin-grabbingly transcendent?
Lisa: Uh... I don't think so.
Homer: We make a good team. A groin-grabbingly good team.
H
A common laugh from Nelson Muntz when he takes note of one's failure.
Hey-dilly-ho
Dr. Nick 's characteristic greeting, adopted as a casual hello by fans.
Holy Flurking Schnit
A vulgar exclamation used by Kang .
Homerhol
While in rehab for drunk driving (framed by Homer), Marge realizes she doesn't belong there, and exclaims, "I'm a Homer-holic!" Otto interjects, “Whoa, man, you're drinkin homerhol? I'll take a swig!!!”
Homersexual
During a routine disciplinary visit to Principal Skinner's office, Bart must call Moe's Tavern looking for his father, Homer. But when Moe answers the phone, Bart preempts the original purpose of the call and substitutes one of his trademark prank-calls. Instead of asking for his father "Homer Simpson," Bart asks for "Homer Sexual." With the prank thus launched, Bart quickly hands the phone to the Principal, who is shocked and dismayed to hear Moe Szyslak 's resulting tirade.
Later, when Homer marks Skinner as a possible mate for Selma, an imaginary heads-up display seen from Homer's point of view (a spoof of The Terminator movies) identifies Skinner as a possible "homer-sexual."
Though not exactly the same, Homer proclaims it is time to "get Homererotic" when he is having himself photographed in suggestive poses for a gift portfolio for Marge.
More recently the term "homersexual" has been used as a parody antonym for the expression metrosexual (which means a heterosexual with stereotypical gay habits); in this context, "homersexual" refers to a gay person with stereotypical straight habits.
Hoyvin-Mayvin
A secret project by the Motherloving Sugar Corporation to get the town of Springfield addicted to sugar in the episode " Sweets and Sour Marge ." The project was named after the vocal ramblings of its creator, Professor Frink . The Professor was also the project's whistleblower.
Hypohemia
Mr. Burns's rare blood disease, for which he needed a transfusion of Bart's blood in the episode " Blood Feud ." The word stems from a combination of hypo (Greek prefix for "under" or "below") and hemia (Greek for "blood"). The proper term for lack of circulatory fluids, however, is hypovolemia.
I
Introubulate
The act of getting someone into trouble. From " I'm with Cupid " where Kent Brockman reads a story about how Apu is giving his wife extravagant presents for Valentine's Day, and the rest of the town's wives are annoyed at their husbands for their comparative romantic lameness.
Brockman: One Springfield man is treating his wife to an extra-special Valentine's Day this year, and introubulating the rest of us.
Perhaps related to Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard's neologism enturbulate, meaning to bring into turbulent or troublesome conditions.
J
Jebeditis
A condition resulting from excitement over Jebediah Springfield. When Hollis Hurlbut, curator of the Springfield Historical Society, returns to Lisa with Johnny Cakes, she is acting strangely having just found "The Secret Confessions of Jebediah Springfield" hidden in Springfield's fife. Lisa attempts to disguise her behavior as "just the excitement of studying Jebediah," which Hurlbut characterizes jokingly as "Jebeditis."
Professor Hollis: "Looks like you've come down with a serious case of Jebeditis." Lisa: "Just as I was getting over my Chester A. Arthritis." Professor Hollis: "Heh heh... y-you had arthritis?"
Jebus
According to Matt Groening , The Simpsons writers have an ongoing competition to write a line that "most represents Homer at his singularly most stupid". Most likely the current champion is Homer's faux term for Jesus, first mentioned in the episode "Missionary: Impossible." When asked to be a missionary, Homer replies, "I'm no missionary, I don't even believe in Jebus!". When the plane that is carrying Homer is taking off, he cries, "Save me Jebus!"
In popular usage on many discussion boards, such as Fark.com and Guardian Unlimited Talk , it is often deliberately used by posters as an implied "cut" or "chop" against Christians, particularly fundamentalist Christians from the Southern United States. Sometimes spelled "Jeebus" in this context.
Jebus has often been the Papua New Guinean patois for Jesus.
Jiminy Jillikers
A phrase used by Radioactive Man 's sidekick Fallout Boy , this phrase featured largely in the portion of the Radioactive Man film that was shot in Springfield. According to Radioactive Man, it is a form of profanity.
Johnny Come-not-lies
A phrase used by Principal Skinner, when the teachers didn't show up for the last day before Christmas break.
Johnny Lunchpail
Used by Mr. Burns when describing a television.
Mr. Burns: Jumping box, television, picto-cube, just crank it up!
Juzz
Bart's mispronunciation of the word "jazz." From the episode " Jazzy and the Pussycats ".
Bart: "I need you to teach me all about the world of juzz."
Lisa: "It's jazz! Jazz! You don't even know the name of the thing you're stealing from me!"
K
Killbot Factory
Kent Brockman 's openly-declared "more alarmist" name for the United States Army, an institution Brockman shockingly describes as a place where "hundreds of men are given weapons and trained to kill!" The term "killbot" has gone on to be widely used in Futurama .
Knifey Spooney
A fictional Australian barroom game made in the episode " Bart vs. Australia ", in a parody of a scene from the movie Crocodile Dundee, Bart is confronted by an Australian local who shows him a spoon and says "This is a knife!" Most often used in the phrase "I see you've played knifey-spooney before."
Knifey Wifey
A name used by Chief Wiggum for any woman who is known to have attacked her husband with a knife.
Wiggum: Here we are, 123 Fake Street . Home of knifey wifey.
Knowitallism
Knowitallism (also Know-it-all-ism) is a fictitious word made up by the faculty of Springfield Elementary School to describe Lisa Simpson 's precocious personality. The students break into the school's vault and find their permanent records and when Lisa reads that her teachers have labelled her as suffering from "knowitallism", she exclaims, "That's not even a word!"
Knowledgeum
The Springfield Knowledgeum, a science museum "Where science is explained with brightly-colored balls", was visited by the Simpsons in episode This Little Wiggy .
Krisis
A word used by Kent Brockman to assist in alliteratively describing the crisis that occurred at Kamp Krusty when it descended into a state of anarchy after a general revolt by abused campers.
Kwyjibo
Kwyjibo / ˈkwɪdʒiˌbo/ is a word made up by Bart during a game of Scrabble with his family. In the episode " Bart the Genius ," Bart puts "kwyjibo" on the board, scoring 116 points (22 points plus Triple Word Score plus 50 points for using all seven of his letters.) When Homer demands Bart say what a kwyjibo is, Bart replies, "A big, dumb, balding North American ape…with no chin." Marge adds in, "…and a short temper." At this point, realizing it was about him, Homer chases Bart away, causing him to exclaim, "Uh-oh! Kwyjibo on the loose!"
'Kwyjibo' was used as one of the aliases of the creator of the Melissa worm, and is the name of a yo-yo string trick. 'Kweejibo' is a handmade clothing company in San Francisco.
Recently, Yahoo's online version of Scrabble was advertised on the Yahoo home page with a visual representation of letter tiles spelling out K-W-Y-J-I-B-O. Kwyjibo is also the name of a puzzle involving a Scrabble board in The Simpsons Scene It .
On another James L. Brooks -produced animated series The Critic , Duke Phillips also made up a fictional word in Scrabble: quyzbuk. Unlike Bart, Duke was able to immediately legitimize the word by contacting Noah Webster to have the word added to Webster's Dictionary, defining it to mean "a big problem". When he found out no one was using his other word "Dukelicious", he sadly called the situation a "Duketastrophe." This episode, as well as "Bart The Genius," were written by Jon Vitti , which would explain the similarities.
A similar scene took place in the Dilbert animated series during a Scrabble match between Dilbert and the powerful supercomputer Comp-U-Comp. Comp-U-Comp's first move was to lay down all its seven tiles randomly, spelling wipqozn; it then used its control of worldwide computer systems to immediately bring the word into circulation (in newscasts, for example). In meaning and usage, "wipqozn" seems roughly equivalent to "crap."
L
A lame female (a pun on Cinderella).
Bart : Skanks for nothin', Lamarella.
Land Cow
How an early Springfield settler describes a buffalo after seeing one for the first time, in the episode " Lisa the Iconoclast ". In the film Young Jebediah Springfield, which relates the founding of Springfield, the group of migrants see a wild buffalo, with one of them proclaiming, "It's some sort of land cow!" Presumably a reference to sea cows, a term for manatees.
In the video game The Simpsons: Hit and Run , when driving with Cletus Spuckler he will yell "Move it, Land Cow!" upon hitting something.
Land Monster
An alternative name for groundhog, coined by an Adam-like Homer in the episode " Simpsons Bible Stories ."
Land of Chocolate
Germany, as described by one of the new owners of the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant in " Burns Verkaufen der Kraftwerk ."
Learnatorium
"The Grandma Simpson Peace Museum and Kid-teractive Learnatorium", the new name for Burns' germ warfare laboratory.
Lard-ho
Yelled by the Sea Captain when he spots Homer .
Lupper
When Bart and Lisa embarrass their parents while having brunch, Homer decides to leave and go to Moe's, stating he will see them at "lupper" (a portmanteau of lunch and supper). This rather obvious parallel portmanteau has appeared before in Archie comics and in the television sitcom Seinfeld.
Liberty Log
Liberty log, according to Abe Simpson, was the name given to sushi during the second World War, and no one ever heard of it. This is similar to the term Freedom Fries.
Little Horse
A racing greyhound. The phrase started in Two Dozen and One Greyhounds on a banner outside the Springfield Dog track, which read: Just Think of Them as Little Horses. Homer adopts the phrase...
Homer : Come on, you little horse!
Third World Loser Country
A term used by Moe Szyslak in The Boy Who Knew Too Much to describe a third-world nation. Moe: Freddy Quimby was with me the entire... night in question. We were collecting canned goods for the starving people in... er, you know, one of them loser countries.
LSD
Love for my son and daughters. In Home Sweet Homediddly-Dum-Doodily , Marge, apparently clueless about the drug that shares these initials, tells a social worker that LSD is the only thing she's high on.
M
A term for large breasts, coined by Krusty . It was also Stampy 's safety word.
Malonga Gilderchuck
A fictitious Australian word, used in describing how the bullfrogs are all over the place; presumably it is a generic term for an arbitrary, but common, location. Lisa and Marge are in the general store, and the shopkeeper is sweeping away all the bullfrogs, remarking, "These bloody things are everywhere. They're in the lift, in the lorry, in the bond wizard, and all over the malonga gilderchuck."
Malparkage
The state or condition of being illegally parked. In " The City of New York vs. Homer Simpson " Barney had left Homer's car illegally parked on the plaza at the World Trade Center. Homer then received a letter regarding this violation:
"Dear motorist, your vehicle is illegally parked in the borough of Manhattan. If you do not remedy this malparkage within 72 hours, your car will be thrown into the East River at your expense."
This could be a reference to George Orwell's Newspeak, featured in his book 1984, where mal is a prefix for mistake, bad, or wrong. The following is a bureaucratic jargon quote (not actually Newspeak, but using Newspeak prefixing) from 1984 asking the protagonist to fix an error in Big Brother's speech on Africa:
"times 17.3.84 bb speech malreported Africa rectify"
(Translated into standard English: "There is an error in the reporting of Big Brother's speech in the Times of 17 March 1984 with regards to Africa; it needs to be rectified.")
"Mal-" is also a Latin root word meaning "bad," and is used in several English words such as "malfunction," "malignant," and "maladjusted."
It could also be a play on the legal term "malpractice" in medical language.
Mazuma
Money, cash; from Yiddish, mazumen
Megacide
The murder of a giant. Used by Eddie in " Simpsons Bible Stories ", when he arrests King David (Bart) after killing Goliath's son, Goliath II .
"Meh"
An interjection used to indicate indifference or boredom. Used frequently, usually by Bart or Lisa.
Although the word existed before its usage on the Simpsons, and may have origins in Yiddish, it was brought into the awareness of the general population after its use on Simpsons.
Menapplause
Applause specifically directed toward menopause. Coined by guest star Robert Wagner (or his writers; he says "menapplause? I'm not saying that") in the episode " Goo Goo Gai Pan ".
Menu Boy
A boy who skillfully distributes menus from a restaurant in order to advertise it. The owner of Springfield restaurant You Thai Now employed Bart as a menu boy in Lisa the Tree Hugger .
Microcalifragilistics
A field of science apparently made up (and studied) by Professor Frink.
This is a spoof of the term "supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" from the movie Mary Poppins.
Milhousing
A word used when someone is making another person looks like Milhouse . e.g.: Stop Milhousing your sister!
Mobilomobile
Mr. Burns 's name for a car.
Money Fight
This is like a snow-ball fight, only with wads of cash in place of snow-balls. It can be done with two or more people within close range of each other. Mr. Burns and Mr. Smithers decide to have a money fight in the middle of a difficult conversation concerning the power plant's safety budget.
N
Neglecterino
Ned Flanders' typically cuddly and innocent term for a neglected child. The line was originally pitched by Matt Groening to be "abuserino", but was dismissed as sounding too harsh.
Neighborino
A Ned-Flanderized version of the word "neighbor." Possibly inspired by comedian Louis Nye on the Steve Allen Comedy Hour (1967), whose character Gordon Hathaway greeted Allen by saying "Hi, ho, Steve-a-reeno."
May also be inspired by Kimmy Gibbler's "Hola, Tanneritos" from the sitcom Full House.
Nervous Pervis
Mrs. Bellamy's word for a nervous or scared person from the episode The Frying Game . Also used by Flanders in The Simpsons Movie .
Flanders : Uh, Homer? I don't mean to be a nervous pervis, but if he falls, couldn't that make your son a paraplegiarino?
This term may have originated with "Never Nervous" Pervis Ellison, a basketball player who played for the University of Louisville Cardinals from 1985-1989.
No-breath
A person who cannot create condensation very well on glass with their breath.
[Jimbo breathes on the glass of the freezer at the Kwik-E-Mart, then writes "BITE ME" in the condensation.]
Dolph : Hah! Some ice cream guy's going to see that, and it'll blow his mind.
Bart : Let me try. [He tries to form condensation on the glass by breathing, but it fails.]
Jimbo : Way to breathe, no-breath.
Nuclear Whipping Boy (NWB)
In the episode " Worst Episode Ever ", it is revealed, in a film that Bart and Milhouse find in Comic Book Guy 's stash of illegal films hidden in his basement, that Springfield is classified Nuclear Whipping Boy in case of an emergency and will be bombed at will by all allies to calibrate their missiles. The general who is divulging this information then terminates the cameraman.
Nucleon
Homer's stated place of work; mispronunciation of nuclear power plant.
A nucleon is actually a term for the particles of matter within a nucleus.
Nulecule
According to Homer, the mother of all atomic particles.
In "Day of the Jackanapes", Moe is a contestant on the Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?-parodied show Me Wantee! and as his lifeline, calls Homer for help on which of "electron", "neutron", "proton" or "bonbon", is not an subatomic particle. Homer begins a diatribe, "Well, it all starts when a nulecule comes out of its nest..." then Lisa grabs the phone and tells Moe that the correct answer is "bonbon". Moe follows Lisa's advice and wins $500,000. Moe then passes on the million dollar question and the Millionaire babes burn the other half of the million dollars in a wheelbarrow.
The true essence of a nulecule and how it gets pregnant (and who or what gets it pregnant) and gives birth to atomic particles has not yet been explained.
Nuisancefon
Mock German, meaning a phone which causes distress.
In the episode " Bart vs. Australia ", Bart dials several Southern Hemisphere countries attempting to discover in which direction their toilets flush. One of those countries is Argentina, where Bart winds up dialing a man who appears to be Adolf Hitler . When the man can't answer his phone in time, he laments, "Ach! Das Beinfon ist ein... Nuisancefon!"
Nutty Fudgekins
A euphemistic exclamation Marge uses when something bad happens.
Marge: Aaah, nutty fudgekins!
What Skinner says when he finds something funny.
Skinner : Oh, ho ho, that place must be falling apart. Oh, mercy!
Okely Dokely
Ned Flanders' version of the phrase, "Okie Dokie."
Another variation is "Okely-dokely-do."
The Old Fork in the Eye
Moe 's trick of stabbing people in the eye when they least suspect it.
Onetuplet
Pronounced /wɐntɐplɪt/ or one-tuplit, a child not born as part of a multiple-birth pregnancy . Specifically, what Homer laments his children are compared to the free gift-receiving octuplets of Apu and Manjula.
One Way Passage to the Boneyard
The Sea Captain's word for an upcoming doom.
The Sea Captain : Arr, Burns, your scurvy schemes will earn ya a one way passage to the boneyard.
Oodily
A variant of doodily used by Flanders when he's nervous or screwing up his words.
Flanders [upon learning that Bart , Lisa and Maggie were never baptised]: Reverend...emergency! I... it's the Simpson kids... eedily... I, uh, baptism... oodily... doodily doodily!
Ovulicious
A portmanteau of "ovulation" and "delicious." (See sacrilicious .)
When Apu 's wife Manjula gives birth to octuplets, Apu confesses to secretly giving his wife fertility drugs. Several of the Simpsons admit that they had done the same, and Homer says "Mine tasted like strawberry." He pops one of the pills into his mouth, moaning " Mmm , ovulicious!".
P
Flanders ' euphemism for a paraplegic. From The Simpsons Movie .
Flanders : Uh, Homer? I don't mean to be a nervous pervis, but if he falls, couldn't that make your son a paraplegiarino?
Pasghetti
Homer 's mispronunciation and misspelling of spaghetti. ( Guess Who's Coming to Criticize Dinner? ).
Pointy kitty
Ralph Wiggum's description of a rat, when he and Bart are looking for a lost key to the electric chair of Morningwood Penetentiary in the episode " This Little Wiggy ".
Ralph: There's the key! [A rat takes the key] Aagh! The pointy kitty took it!
Pollutinest
Most polluted. Used by the Rich Texan in conjunction with "rootinest tootinest".
Posturologists
Scientists who study the field of posture. Mrs. Krabappel informs her students that their oddly curved chairs were designed by such scientists in " The Boy Who Knew Too Much ." Possibly just a marketing term used to sell the uncomfortable chairs.
Edna Krabappel: Well, children, our new ultra-hard Posturefect chairs have arrived. They've been designed by eminent posturologists to eliminate slouching by the year 3000.
Presbylutheran
Formally The Western Branch of American Reform Presbylutheranism, it is the Protestant church attended by the Simpson family. Presbylutheranism was formed as a result of a schism with the Presbyterian and Lutheran churches over the right for worshippers to attend church with wet hair (a tenet the Presbylutheran church has since abandoned). A group of Presbylutheran ministers were also responsible for the approval of the stop-motion Gravey and Jobriath (a parody of Davey and Goliath, possibly referring to the singer Jobriath); we see one episode in which Gravey builds a pipe bomb to blow up a Planned Parenthood. See Western Branch of American Reform Presbylutheranism .
Pretzeled Bread
Mr. Burns' word for pretzels..
Pricetaggery
"To spoil the fun of buying something by noticing the exorbitant price"; when Mr. Burns decides to make amends for his ingratitude after receiving the gift of life from Bart's blood, he takes Smithers shopping and then berates him for his pricetaggery.
Pull a Homer
"To succeed despite idiocy", or rather, to have great amounts of dumb luck. After Homer does so in the episode " Homer Defined ", this phrase becomes a temporary fad in the Simpsonverse.
Q
Quantum Tunnel
A tunnel (that will be invented in the future) which does not physically exist, but traffic may pass through, by some quirk of physics. Future Homer drives his hovercar through the Quantum Tunnel on his way to Moe's Bar. It may be that the Quantum Tunnel replaced the Warren G. Harding Memorial Throughhole.
The name is a reference to the real phenomenon of quantum tunneling .
Quetzalzacatenango
During the episode " El Viaje Misterioso de Nuestro Jomer (The Mysterious Voyage of Homer) ", Homer samples many different chilis proudly served by Springfield residents at the annual chili cook-off. Chief Wiggum prepares an especially spicy concoction for Homer containing, "The merciless insanity peppers of Quetzlzacatenango… grown deep in the jungle primeval by the inmates of a Guatemalan insane asylum." "Quetzal" is a Central American bird and the currency of Guatemala. "Tenango" means in K'iche "land of". Acatenango is a volcano in Guatemala. "Quetzaltenango", also known as "Xela", is the second largest city in Guatemala. "Quetzalcoatl" was an Aztec deity.
R
Rageohol(ic)
A fictitious substance that creates rage. From the episode " I Am Furious (Yellow) ", in which Homer admits: "I'm a rageoholic! I just can't live without rageohol!"
Like workaholic, the word is based on alcoholic, using "oholic" as a suffix for "addicted to."
Rastafy
To make more Rastafarian. Used by an animation executive designing Poochie, the unpopular character added to Itchy and Scratchy, as a byword for coolness. Rastafy was previously used by hip-hop artist The D.O.C. in his song 'It's Funky Enough'.
Raytheist
Disbelief in the existence of Ray. Used by Ned Flanders during an episode where Ray Romano guest stars (as Ray Magini) and everyone believes that Ray is a figment of Homer's imagination.
Rear Admiral
Fully, The Dreaded Rear Admiral: a fictitious school bully prank mentioned by Milhouse .
Rebigulator
In the "Genesis Tub" part of the episode Treehouse of Horror VII , Lisa asks if she will ever be able to become normal size after Professor Frink uses the Debigulator on her. In response Frink says, "Why that would require some sort of rebigulator!".
Re-Dorkulated
In " The Blunder Years ", a hypnotist turns Professor Frink into a suave ladies man, which suggests strongly that Frink's character is modeled on Jerry Lewis's Nutty Professor/Buddy Love very closely. When the spell wears off Frink says, "Oh dear, I've redorkulated." Literally, the word means, "to become dorky again."
Retirony
In the episode " Homer vs. Dignity ", Chief Wiggum explains to a financial planner that retirony means he'll get shot three days before retirement. Seemingly a portmanteau of 'retire' and 'irony'.
Based on a common cliché in crime and action films, examples of retirony are one of the show's longest-lasting running gags, as illustrated by these instances:
" Saturdays of Thunder " — Homer watches a McBain movie, where McBain's doomed partner (an analogue to Danny Glover in Lethal Weapon ) is killed right before retirement.
" Homer and Apu " — When Homer smashes the hidden camera hat used to spy on Apu , Kent Brockman tells him that the hat had one day left until retirement.
" The Two Mrs. Nahasapeemapetilons " — a man writes on a billboard "Today: Bachelor Auction. Tomorrow: I Retire, Ya Bastards!". Finishing up with the "!" the man topples off the ladder and falls to the ground.
" Natural Born Kissers " — When a police dog sniffs a pair of Homer's underwear, it runs away, prompting Wiggum to say that the dog had one day left until retirement.
" Homer to the Max " — A tree falls onto a police car, destroying it. Wiggum notes that the car had one day left until retirement.
" Marge Simpson in: "Screaming Yellow Honkers" " — Marge crashes into a prison, freeing some inmates, and Wiggum tells her "Those prisoners were one day away from being completely rehabilitated."
Reverse Vampires
Vampires that only come out during the day and sleep at night. First, mockingly suggested by Lisa in the episode " Grampa vs. Sexual Inadequacy " as to the reason why parents were going to bed early. Later added to Bart's Grand Conspiracy Theory diagram along with the Saucer People and the Rand Corporation. ("We're through the looking glass, people" comments Milhouse, quoting a line from the film JFK).
In the Aqua Teen Hunger Force episode "Bus of the Undead," Master Shake refers to a supposedly vampiritic bus as a reverse vampire.
Reversifying Glass
According to Cletus's wife (and sister), Brandine, "mirror" is just "a big city word for Reversifying Glass" (From the episode " The Seven-Beer Snitch ").
Riding the Midnight Train to Slab City
Reverend Lovejoy 's bizarre term for rock 'n' roll.
Reverend Lovejoy : Wait a minute... This sounds like rock and/or roll.
S
Sacrilicious
Homer's description of his act after eating a waffle that Bart threw on the ceiling, which he was praying to as if it were God. In the episode's DVD commentary, the writers stated that it was related to a disgusting candy on the ceiling of the writing room. The word is a portmanteau of the words sacrilegious and delicious. From the episode " Homer Loves Flanders ".
Sally Housecoat
C. Montgomery Burns' condescending dismissal of ordinary, middle or working-class women. Used along with "Johnny Lunchpail" From the episode " Two Cars in Every Garage and Three Eyes on Every Fish ".
Sandal-wearing goldfish tenders
The Japanese, as described by Mr. Burns' grandfather in " Last Exit to Springfield ".
Saxamaphone
Homer's word for Lisa's favorite instrument.
He also seems to be unable to pronounce several other instruments. In " Lisa's Sax " where Homer tells Lisa the story of how she got her sax, he suggests a few other potential instruments: oboe-ma-bo, vio-mo-lin and tuba-ma-ba.
This is an example of Mytacism, or "Too frequent use of the letter m, or of the sound represented by it."
During Lisa's absence in " Home Sweet Homediddly-Dum-Doodily ", Homer attempted to "play" Lisa's baritone saxophone in her memory by singing "Saxamaphone" to the tune of the initial motif from Beethoven's Fifth Symphony into the instrument.
Scalpal
Relating to the scalp. See also chestal .
Skinner : What kind of parents would allow such a lapse in scalpal hygiene?
Science Pole
A long pole, usually made of metal, used for scientific purposes.
Scientist: Frink, are you mad?! Put down that science pole!
Scientician
An incorrect name for a scientist. From the "educational film" Meat and You -- Partners in Freedom featured in " Lisa the Vegetarian ":
Jimmy: Uhh, Mr. McClure? I have a crazy friend who says it's wrong to eat meat. Is he crazy?
Troy : No, just ignorant. You see, your crazy friend never heard of "The Food Chain." Just ask this scientician.
"Scientician": [Looks up from microscope] Uh -
Troy: He'll tell you that, in nature, one creature invariably eats another creature to survive.
Probably a combination of the words 'science' or 'scientist' and the -cian ending of such words as 'dietician', 'physician', or 'statistician'.
Scotchtoberfest
Scotchtoberfest is a fake Scottish festival which was featured in the episode " Bart's Girlfriend ". It was invented by Principal Seymour Skinner to catch Bart red-handed in the act of perpetrating a prank, as is Bart's perennial wont. Groundskeeper Willie , the Scottish school janitor, plays the bagpipes while wearing a kilt. Bart lifts his kilt with helium balloons, and since Willy wears his kilt without underpants, at least one woman faints at the sight.
Skinner: There's no such thing as Scotchtoberfest.
Willie: [sounding genuinely surprised] There's not?! Ya used me, Skinner. Ya used me!
It is a play on the Oktoberfest held in Munich, Germany every September.
Screamapillar
A caterpillar that screams nearly all the time, even as it sleeps. Without constant reassurement, it will die, and it is sexually attracted to fire. It is endangered and illegal to kill one, despite the fact that it is a menace and, as Homer puts it, "God... want[s] it to die."
Scrod Basket
The fictional town of Little Pwagmattasquarmsettport is called "America's scrod basket" in " Summer of 4 Ft. 2 ". Conversely, Springfield is "America's Crud Bucket", according to Newsweek. Scrod means "A young cod or haddock, especially one split and boned for cooking as the catch of the day," so a scrod basket could be a type of fish container, or, in this context, a place producing lots of fish (Little Pwagmattasquarmsettport appears to be on the coast, so this is feasible). This could also refer to fish and chips, a meal that is often served in coastal towns in a plastic basket with scrod as the fish - hence "scrod basket."
Lisa:So where are we going anyway?
Marge:Little Pwagmattasquarmsettport. Apparently it's America's Scrod basket.
Bart:I thought Springfield was America's Scrod basket.
Marge:No, Springfield is America's crud bucket. At least, according to Newsweek.
Senseless Dunderpate
A useless stupid person, according to Mr. Burns.
Mr. Burns : My name is the return address, you senseless dunderpate! Smithers, who is this nincompoop?
She. U.I.
A D.U.I. committed by a woman.
Chief Wiggum: This D.U.I. is a She. U.I.!
Shinning
A play on the mispronunciation of the word "Shining" as a reference to the sixth sense, as in the Stephen King novel and Stanley Kubrick film The Shining. It appears in episode " Treehouse of Horror V ." But as Willie stated that it was so they wouldn't get sued.
Groundskeeper Willie: Boy, you read my thoughts! You've got the Shinning.
Bart: You mean Shining.
Groundskeeper Willie: Shhh! Do ya' want to get sued?
Shirkaday
In " 22 Short Films About Springfield ," while he and Mr. Burns are riding a tandem bicycle, Smithers is stung by a bee and goes into anaphylactic shock. To save his lackey, Mr. Burns employs an insult-based motivational technique to inspire Smithers to pedal them both to the hospital. As they collapse upon arrival at the hospital, with his last gasp Mr. Burns calls Smithers a "wretched shirkaday." From "to shirk," meaning to avoid duty or responsibility, plus "workaday."
Shirt-wiener
From " Thank God It's Doomsday ", while hunting for a winning "photo" to be hung in the school lobby for the rest of the year, the Springfield Elementary Photo Club sees Principal Skinner's shirt sticking out of his pants zipper. Nelson declares "Look! The Principal has a shirt-wiener!" Much photo snapping ensues to the chagrin of Skinner.
Shiva H. Vishnu
An expression of surprise used by Apu, a Hindu. Obvious reference to "Jesus H. Christ".
Skanks for nothing
A ruder version of "thanks for nothing".
Bart : Skanks for nothin', Lamarella.
Skittlebrau
Beer with pieces of candy floating in it
Homer: "I'm feelin' low, Apu. You got any of that beer that has candy floating in it, you know, Skittlebrau?" Apu: "Such a product does not exist, sir! You must have dreamed it." Homer: "Oh. Well then just gimme a six-pack and a couple of bags of Skittles.
Smarch
The 13th month of the year, which exists only on Springfield Elementary's misprinted calendars. Many Simpsons merchandise calendars also feature Smarch as a "bonus" month.
Homer: Lousy Smarch weather!
Smashy Smashy
Used to inform others of your intentions to wantonly destroy an object or objects, or to encourage others to do so.
After smashing a window with cameras behind it. Bart: Smashy, smashy.(smashes a random window) Marge: Hmm, I don't approve of that.
From the episode "Itchy & Scratchy Land".
Smeckler's Powder
A fictional treatment option suggested in jest by Bart in " Lady Bouvier's Lover ", to mock Grampa's and Grandma Jackie's competing suggestions for a medicinal response to Maggie's frightened reaction to flashbulbs, candles, and a darkened room during her birthday party. Said suggestions included: "Lister's Carbolic Unguent" on a wad of cotton, placed in Maggie's ear (from Grampa); a "balsam specific" (from Grandma Jackie); and a "curative galvanic belt" (facetiously from Grampa). This is a reference to unregulated (pre-FDA) early 20th Century pharmacological quackery.
Smell Ya Later
Phrase coined by Nelson Muntz. Another way to say 'see ya later' or 'goodbye.'
"I can't believe 'smell ya later' replaced goodbye." -- Bart Simpson, "Bart to the Future"
Smendler
A word made up by Mr. Burns in " Last Exit to Springfield " for a song parodying Dr. Seuss's The Grinch:
"Look at them all, through the darkness I'm bringing
They're not sad at all. They're actually singing!
They sing without juicers
They sing without blenders
They sing without flunjers , capdabblers and smendlers!"
The word is also used by Professor Frink's father after being given an unspecified type of hors d'œuvre possibly containing fish.
Frink's father: Mmmm, that's a good smendler.
Professor Frink: Oh, I've waited so long to hear you say that again! ...What does it mean? Is it dirty?
Smitily
An adverb which describes of triumph over another knight in battle, to the point where a doctor needs to be called. Origin is allegedly pure Flanders. Said by Ned to Smithers in " Lisa's Wedding ".
Zounds, I did thee mightily smitily!
Smokesperson
A spokesperson for a cigarette company, such as Laramie Cigarettes' Menthol Moose , or Joe Camel.
The American Cancer Society has used this term frequently in a recent anti-smoking ad campaign parodying "American Idol" entitled "America's Next Smokesperson".
Also used to describe Nick Naylor in the 1994 book Thank You For Smoking: A Novel."
Snacktacular
In the episode " Lisa Gets an "A" ", Snacktacular is offered by Edna Krabappel as an acceptable atomic weight for the element Bolonium as taken from a promotional periodic table provided by Oscar Mayer.
Snitchy
A person who snitches on others.
Milhouse : Bart did it! That Bart right there!
Bart : Milhouse!
Reverend Lovejoy : Milhouse, you did the right thing. Bart, come with me for punishment. You too, snitchy.
Sophistimacated Doowhackey
Homer's term for a complex machine, used to describe Frink's matter transporter. i.e "Bart, this is a highly sophistimacated doowhackey," proving that he can't even get the word "doohickey" right.
Speedholes or Speed Holes
While dressed as Krusty the Clown , Homer is shot at by mob assassins (under the direction of Fat Tony) as he visits a car dealership. Asking about the new bullet holes peppering the vehicle he is interested in (after they shoot and miss), Homer is told by the quick-thinking salesman that they are speedholes to make the car go faster. (Homer responds knowingly, "Oh, yeah. Speed holes!") Later in the episode, Homer 'installs' speedholes in his existing car with a pick-axe, to the bafflement of Ned Flanders. The word has been picked up by many fans to jokingly describe the condition of run-down cars (specifically, those with holes in the body).
In reality, Buick cars are famous for having holes in the front fender on both sides. Called VentiPorts these were first advertized as providing ventilation to the engine bay though in later years they became purely aesthetic.
Spiritual De-pantsing
Apu's description for his karmic fall from grace, suffered in Episode 1F10, "Homer & Apu". In response to Marge asking him if he would accompany her to the Kwik-E-Mart for milk, Apu says "I cannot go there. That is the scene of my spiritual de-pantsing".
Spokesrebel
A corporate mascot designed to appeal to the anti-authoritarian streak in children and teens.
Squozen
From Lemon of Troy as Milhouse's declaration of having squeezed all of the lemons at his Lemonade Stand.
MILHOUSE: Gasp! We've squozen our whole supply. To the lemon tree!
Stabby
From Grift of the Magi and The Italian Bob ; the state or condition of being likely to stab.
FAT TONY: I don't get mad. I get stabby.
MARGE [on Sideshow Bob]: He's getting that stabby look again.
Steamed Hams
An alternate name for hamburgers. In one of the segments from " 22 Short Films About Springfield ", a mishap in the kitchen forces Principal Skinner to tell Superintendent Chalmers they were having steamed clams. After Skinner sneaks back from Krustyburger with lunch, Chalmers confronts him on the change in menu. Skinner tries to pass off that he in fact said 'steamed hams', a regional term from upstate New York synonymous with hamburgers. When Chalmers retorts that he is from Utica, and has never heard the term, and that the nickname "steamed hams" made no sense because the burgers were "obviously grilled", Skinner's final stab at alleviating his discomfort is "oh, no, it's an Albany expression". To this, an inexplicably satisfied Chalmers replies, "I see," and ceases the questioning immediately. This is probably Skinner's best performance at dealing with Chalmers; at the end of the night, Chalmers remarks "Well, Seymour, you are an odd fellow, but I must say... you steam a good ham."
In the French Canadian version, Skinner tries to pass a hamburger off as "un ham vapeur," claiming that it's a regional dialect from the Lac-Saint-Jean region of Quebec. Chalmers tells Skinner he's from Jonquière and has never heard the term "ham vapeur," but Skinner tells him that it's an Alma expression.
Stinkables
A generic term that appeared in the "Trash of the Titans" episode, referring to any article that emits a foul or unpleasant odor. When telling the voters what the garbagemen will do, one of the things is "Air out your 'stinkables'".
Suck Shack
Bart Simpson's name for Springfield Elementary. In " How the Test Was Won ", Bart laments, " I can't believe we have to start another year at school. I never learned anything at that suck shack." Later in the episode when Superintendent Chalmers is preparing students for a high stakes standardized test he explains, "Your scores on this test will determine how much money this suck-shack gets for years to come."
Successmanship
The practice of success through the use of "Megatronics"; Homer enrolls in Stark Richdale's extension class Successmanship 101, which gives him the "Megatronics: The 48 Tips to Corporate Success" tools needed to take over the SNPP. From " C.E. D'oh ".
[Homer leaves the class and is reading the Successmanship book while driving]
Homer: "Step One, 'Live every day as if it were your last.'"
[cut to next scene: Homer sobbing inconsolably on the curb]
Homer: "Step Two..."
"Megatronics: The 48 Tips to Corporate Success" is a direct reference to the book "The 48 Laws of Power." Megatronics also appears to be an oblique reference to the engineering discipline mechatronics.
Sunblocker
A large screen that blocks out the sun over a large area. The Springfield sunblocker was dreamt up and built by Mr. Burns in Who Shot Mr. Burns? (Part One) . It was destroyed by angry residents in Who Shot Mr. Burns? (Part Two) .
Superliminal
Describes something so apparent or obvious that it's irresistible. The most direct of the three methods ("Subliminal, liminal, and superliminal") used by Navy recruiter Lt. L. T. Smash to convince new recruits. The term was coined in the 12th season episode " New Kids on the Blecch ".
Lisa: But you have recruiting ads on TV. Why do you need subliminal messages?
Smash: It's a three-pronged attack: subliminal, liminal, and superliminal.
Lisa: Superliminal?
Smash: I'll show you. [opens the window, and shouts at Lenny and Carl, who are standing on the corner] Hey, you! Join the Navy!
Carl: Uh, yeah, all right.
Lenny: I'm in.
A suspicious person ( Flanders , Lisa's Sax ).
Flanders : Well, sir, I hate to be suspicious Aloysius on you, but DID YOU STEAL MY AIR CONDITIONER!?
Swedish Lunchbox
What Grampa Simpson used to call a suitcase in his youth.
Grampa: Back in my day, a suitcase was called a Swedish lunchbox!
From the episode " Jaws Wired Shut ".
Swishifying
The effect of the modern world, what with its TV and diet sodas, on the youth of today, as stated by keen-eyed observer of humanity Moe Szyslak in the episode " Homer's Phobia ". Suggested remedies involve killing men, or, better yet, a deer, which Barney declares is "like killing a beautiful man".
T
Tasty-Fake
A food product designed to look like something other than what it actually is.
In " All's Fair in Oven War ", Marge enters the Ovenfresh Bakeoff with "Dessert Dogs" - hot dogs which are actually made of cookie dough "dogs", meringue "buns", cherry sauce "ketchup", and caramel "mustard". When she presents the idea to an experienced contestant, he refers to the idea as a "tasty-fake". It might be a reference to the Delaware Valley's popular Tastykake snack cakes. [1]
Telepanhandling
A portmanteau of "telemarketing" and "panhandling", specifically used by Homer in describing his auto-dialer scam.
Texas Left
A The direction that is referred to as "down" in the rest of the country.
Texas Penny
A hundred dollar bill. When Moe bets the Rich Texan a hundred dollars on whether Homer can defeat him in an arm-wrestling contest, the Rich Texan throws his hundred dollar bill on the bar and claims it is a Texas penny.
Throughhole
A type of road of relatively unknown description; it could be a combination of a thruway and a tunnel.
In the episode " Thank God It's Doomsday " there are two references to a road leading out of Springfield called the Warren Harding Memorial Throughhole.
Tomacco
A fictional hybrid fruit that is half tomato and half tobacco, from the episode " E-I-E-I-D'oh ".
Tomorry
Homer's former mangling of the word "tomorrow", as revealed in " HOMЯ ".
Ton-In-Law
A word made up by Paty and Selma to describe Lucas Bortner in the episode Luca$ . It's a play with the words "Son-In-Law" and "Ton", refering to his weight.
Traumedy
Perhaps spelled 'Traumady', Traumedy is a portmanteau of 'trauma' and 'comedy' identified by Dr Hibbert in the episode " Faith Off " as a syndrome of horrifying yet amusing injuries. Also a pun on the term "dramedy".
Tromboner
A term for one who plays the trombone. Mr. Largo , the music teacher, asks Lisa if she finds something funny about the word "tromboner" after she chuckles at a prank Nelson Muntz plays on Groundskeeper Willie in " Lisa's Date with Density ."
U
Unblowuppable
The state or condition of being unable to be blown up. Describing his toy rocket, Homer says: "The word unblowuppable is thrown around a lot these days, but I think I can say for certain that... (Boom)". This may refer to the people who confidently predicted that the Titanic was "unsinkable."
Unfaceuptoable
Used by Mayor Quimby to describe the dire straits the town found itself in after Homer became Sanitation Commissioner, requiring the implementation of the town's all-purpose contingency plan.
Mayor Quimby: We must face up to the unfaceuptoable!
Most likely a reference to "enduring the unendurable" in Emperor Hirohito's Gyokuon-hōsō speech.
Unky
'Unky Herb', the term Herb Powell wants Bart and Lisa to call him, since Uncle is too formal and Unky is cuter.
Unpossible
Spoken by Ralph Wiggum in the episode " Lisa on Ice ," as a synonym of "impossible."
Ralph: [Upon Principal Skinner informing him that he's failing English class] Me fail English? That's unpossible!
"Unpossible" appears in Shakespeare's play Richard II, Act 2, Scene 2.
The word first came into contemporary use in Walt Kelly's comic strip Pogo.
Up and At Them
This is how Ranier Wolfcastle kept pronouncing Radioactive Man's catchphrase, which was intended to be "Up and Atom!" In real life, Army movies and other sources have used the phrase "Up and at 'em", and the 1960s cartoon, Atom Ant, introduced the "Up and atom!" version. The Austrian Ranier Wolfcastle is apparently not fluent enough in English to get the intended joke, and he keeps insistently pronouncing it very flatly.
Crew Member: Up and atom.
Rainer Wolfcastle: Up and at them.
Crew Member: Up and atom.
Rainer Wolfcastle: Up and at them.
Crew Member: Up and ATOM!
Rainer Wolfcastle: Up and AT THEM!
Crew Member: ...Better.
Cletus' term for an elevator (from the episode " Homer Simpson, This Is Your Wife ")
V
Velocitator
Mr. Burns's archaic name for a car's accelerator pedal. Burns attempts to drive a car for the first time while proclaiming he is sure the owners manual will instruct him as to which lever is the velocitator and which one is the deceleratrix .
Volleybrick
Volleyball played with a brick instead of a ball.
W
Walking Bird
Another name for a turkey. In "Lisa v. Malibu Stacy," Grandpa Simpson drones on with a rambling story about Thanksgiving:
"I just used [my washtub] that morning to wash my turkey, which in those days was known as a walking bird. We'd always have walking bird on Thanksgiving with all the trimmings: cranberries, injun eyes, yams stuffed with gunpowder. Then we'd all watch football, which in those days was called 'baseball'..."
Well-Wisher
Someone who does not wish you any specific harm.
When Homer asks the guys in the bar if they are his soulmate, moe responds with, "I'm a well-wisher, in that I don't wish you any specific harm."
Whoa Mama
Main article: Whoa, mama!
This is a phase Bart to express how he's impress by an item or an ability someone has.
Widget
Mr. Burns's word for a generic object that is mysterious to him.
Note: this actually is not a made-up word [2] .
Wiggle Puppy
An imaginary dog made up by Ralph Wiggum, who can wiggle his tail to fly.
Marge: Is that normal?
Chief Wiggum: Oh, he's just playing Wiggle Puppy. I tell ya, that dog has had some amazing adventures...
Woozle Wuzzle
Spoken by Bart on Krusty's TV show after his rendition of his catchphrase, "I didn't do it!" for the umpteenth time yielded only a short, quiet laugh, a cough and some crickets. From the " Bart Gets Famous " episode.
Initially said earlier in the episode by Homer, hoping to exploit his other children for financial gain, as a suggestion for something funny for Lisa to say:
Homer: Come on, Lisa, say something funny.
[holds a tape recorder with a microphone]
Lisa: Like what?
Homer: Oh, something stupid like Bart would say. "Bucka Bucka" or "Woozle Wuzzle": something like that.
"Woozled" is also a colloquial term for "drunk; intoxicated with alcohol". "Wuzzled" is a possible variation.
Word hole
Used by Chief Wiggum in " Sideshow Bob's Last Gleaming " to mean mouth.
Bob: There. That's the last condom wrapper.
[a jet flies by, blowing all the neatly piled trash away]
Bob: Oh, I renew my objection to this pointless endeavor! Informally now and by affidavit later. Time permitting.
Wiggum: Shut your word hole! We've got to get this place clean for the air show.
Y
Yellow Fatty-Beans
What Grampa calls bananas. At the end of one of his trademark long, pointless speeches, he says, "...and that's why today, bananas are called yellow fatty-beans. Any questions?". From the episode " Natural Born Kissers ".
Yoink!
After appearing many times on The Simpsons, "Yoink" has gained widespread usage as a verbal exclamation made when removing or stealing an object from its owner or rightful place. It can also be used as a verb: "I yoinked it." First used by Homer in " Duffless ", when he snatches the wad of money he saved, by not drinking for a month, from Marge. Coined by Simpsons writer George Meyer. [1]
It is possible that "Yoink" is a verbal imitation of the sound effect (performed by a violin) which has been used to illustrate that something is being unceremoniously removed or stolen. The most recognizable example of this would be during the intro to "The Jetsons" where George holds out a dollar bill and "Yoink", Jane grabs the whole wallet instead. "Yoink" is a verbal declaration that a transaction has taken place, frequently to the consternation of the party relinquishing the article.
See also: The Yoink List.
You-know-what-icide
Spoken by Marge in You Kent Always Say What You Want , and she was referring to suicide because she was afraid Kent Brockman would commit the deed after losing his job after the mishap with Homer .
Z
Zazz
Used to describe that certain je ne sais quoi that Bart has as an anchor of Kidz News, and that Lisa, a much better investigative reporter, does not. From the episode " Girly Edition ":
Lisa: What is 'zazz'?
Lindsey Naegle : Zing! Zork! Kapowza! Call it what you want, in any language it spells mazuma in the bank!
Lisa: 'Zork'? What is 'zork'?
Lindsey Naegle: I didn't say 'zork'. The point is, the camera loves him!
Possibly a play on the word "pizzazz", meaning flair, zest or energy.
Zuh
Exclamation used when one cannot comprehend a complex situation or statement. Used by Bart Simpson , in the episode " The PTA Disbands ", when Milhouse says to Bart: "Bart, you'll never get Krabappel and Skinner together again. They're like two positively charged ions." Bart responds, "Zuh?"
The word was also used by Homer in the episode " The Frying Game " when he could not think of anymore similar-sounding exclamations.
Homer (upon seeing the corpse of Mrs. Bellamy): Wha? Muh? Buh?...Zuh?
Citations
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i don't know
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What Brazilian originating dance and music in Portuguese means loosely 'new trend'?
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Bossa nova dictionary definition | bossa nova defined
LINK / CITE ADD TO WORD LIST
noun
The definition of bossa nova is Brazilian music or dance that is related to the samba but has less percussion. It is a style of music made popular by Antonio Carlos Jobim, Joao Gilberto, Gilberto Gil, and Vinicius de Moraes—to name a few. In Portuguese the words “bossa nova” means new trend. However, it was very much a lasting trend.
Bossa Nova is known mostly for its “lighthearted” themes. It is known for its lyrical and smooth vocals, and guitar instrumentation. It is sometimes described as a mix of Samba and Jazz.
Bossa Nova: How it Began and Evolved
Originating from the middle and upper-middle class neighborhoods of Rio de Janeiro , Bossa Nova really took off in the late 1950s. Although the first Bossa Nova song was "Chega de Saudade" (1959) by Antonio Carlos Jobim and Vinicius de Moraes, many music critics argue that the song “Girl from Ipanema” written in 1962 by Antonio Carlos Jobim and Joao Gilberto is the song that put Bossa Nova on the map. In 1964 American Jazz musician Stan Getz recorded the song along with Jobim, Joao Gilberto and his wife Astrud Gilberto. It won a Grammy Award the year after. It was on the U.S. music charts for over a year. The song is about a real girl from Rio that Jobim would see walking to the beach, Ipanema.
Bossa Nova songs are often about love, romance (existing or unrequited ) and the beauty of Brazil. When it showed signs of great commercial success, not everyone in Brazil was happy, as some felt it did not truly reflect the poor and working class. So as a resistance and protest, some musicians wrote ‘anti-Bossa Nova’ songs, calling for political change and equality in Brazil. In fact, the Bossa Nova tunes in the mid-1960s greatly differed from the earlier songs and were not that "lighthearted."
Some music critics argue that the days of Bossa Nova are long gone. However there are contemporary artists like singer Bebel Gilberto (who is the daughter of Joao Gilberto), guitarist Celso Fonseca, and singer Luciana Souza who are bringing a new twist to this classic Brazilian musical style.
An example of a bossa nova artist is Edu Lobo.
An example of a bossa nova song is "The Girl from Ipanema."
bossa nova
jazz samba music that originated in Brazil, with a light, flowing line
a dance for couples, performed to this music
Origin of bossa nova
Port, literally , new bump, new tendency ; from bossa, a bump (akin to French bosse, boss) + nova (; from L, feminine of novus, new)
bossa nova
noun
A style of popular Brazilian music derived from the samba but with more melodic and harmonic complexity and less emphasis on percussion.
A lively Brazilian dance that is similar to the samba.
Origin of bossa nova
Portuguese : bossa, trend + nova, new.
bossa-nova
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Bossa nova
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Stately home Cliveden, now a hotel, was a pool party venue for characters involved in what famous political scandal, named after the Secretary of State for War at its centre?
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About the Music – Asuos Productions
LEARN ABOUT BRAZILIAN MUSIC
TYPES OF BRAZILIAN MUSIC
There are several different instruments used to make beautiful music, but these are some of the most opular or well-known Brazilian musical instruments used in dances, religious ceremonies, and just for simple enjoyment
Bossa Nova is a well-known style of Brazilian music developed and popularizedin the 1950s and 1960s.The phrase bossa nova means literally “New Trend” A lyrical fusion of samba and jazz, bossa nova acquired a large following in the 1960s initially from young musicians and college students. Since its birth, it remains a vital part of the standard jazz repertoire.
Brazilian Pop Music or MPB is a trend in post-Bossa Nova urban popular music. It is not a distinct genre but rather a combination of original songwriting and updated versions of traditional Brazilian urban music styles like samba and samba-canção with contemporary influences, like folk, rock, pop and jazz.
Samba is a Brazilian dance and musical genre originating in Bahia and with its roots in Brazil (Rio De Janeiro) and Africa via the West African slave trade and African religious traditions. It is recognized around the world as a symbol of Brazil and the Brazilian Carnival. Considered one of the most popular Brazilian cultural expressions, samba has become an icon of Brazilian national identity.
Samba Rock is a style of music that was born in Brazil in the 1960′s. It combines the sounds of samba, soul, bebop and jazz. It’s a genre of samba and sub genre of rock and most importantly: it will keep you moving all night long! The pioneers of the style are Jorge Ben Jor, Bebeto, Banda Black Rio, Tim Maia and Trio Mocotó. Today names such as Clube do Balanço, Sambasonics, Seu Jorge among others keep everyone dancing to the groove!
Brazilian Rock is the musical style known in Brazil as “Brazilian rock n’ roll” dates back to a Portuguese-version cover of “Rock Around the Clock” in 1954. In the 1960s, young singers like Roberto Carlos and the Jovem Guarda movement were very popular. The 60s also saw the rise of bands such as the “tropicalistas” Os Mutantes and the experimental (mixing progressive rock, jazz and Música Popular Brasileira) O Som Imaginário.
Brazilian folk/folk-rock is the new Brazilian folk scene is not to be mistaken with folkloric Brazilian music. In recent years mainstream Brazilian artists have emerged playing a blend of classic Americana artists such as Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash alongside clear influences by Brazilian troubadours such as Chico Buarque and Caetano Veloso. The first to break into the mainstream was internet phenomenon Mallu Magalhães, who played covers of her favourite artists in English and her own songs in both English and Portuguese (as well as other languages).
Forro encompasses a number of Northeastern Brazilian dances as well as a number of different musical genres which accompany these dances. Although the music has gained widespread popularity in all of Brazil and is growing in popularity outside Brazil, the event most closely associated with Forró is the annual Festa Junina (June Festival), a part of Brazilian traditional culture which celebrates a number of Catholic saints. The most celebrated day of the festival is the day of São João.
Choro or Chorinho (literally “cry” in Portuguese, but in context a more appropriate translation would be “lament”), traditionally called chorinho (“little cry” or “little lament”). Instrumental, its origins are in 19th century Rio de Janeiro. Originally choro was played by a trio of flute, guitar and cavaquinho (a small chordophone with four strings).
Capoeira Music is the Afro -Brazilian sport of capoeira is never played without its own music, which is usually considered to be a call-and-response type of folk music. The main instruments of capoeira music include the berimbau, the atabaque and the pandeiro. Capoeira songs may be improvised on the spot, or they may be popular songs written by older, and ancient mestres (teachers), and often include accounts of the history of capoeira, or the doings of great mestres.
Other Forms It would take a book to describe the plethora of musical styles available in Brazil today.Tropicalia, musica nordestina, repentismo, frevo, baiao, maracatu, batuque, maxixe, moda de viola, bumba-meu-boi, lundu,and maxixeand, afoxe are just some of the other popular musical styles that abound in a country that loves to sing and dance..
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i don't know
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In 2011 street thieves were filmed in Chinese cities using what innovative pickpocketing tools?
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Morning Blog | PlanetPOV
Morning Blog
Morning Blog
Kalima On May - 30 - 2011
Good morning everyone! I hope that when and if you have the time, MB will be the place for you to catch up with friends before you leave for work or start your new day. A place to relax and take a break from serious topics and discussions during your day.
You are free to talk about anything here. Introduce your favourite news stories, videos, photos, funny stories or recipes. Think of it as your space, whether you wake up with the birds or chose to have a lay in, MB is open 24/7. By 5 am EST-2 am PST, I will update MB each morning, posting links and sometimes brief comments to many international news stories and opinions I hope that you might find interesting.
Please feel free to drop in anytime, you are always welcome here. Looking forward to meeting you in your mornings, afternoons and evenings. Have fun.
Share this:
Written by Kalima
Long time resident of Tokyo --- "Where is this woman I once knew so well? Memories fading or hurtling by like a howling wind at a speed I can't fathom or define. A star hangs like a teardrop from her eye, quivering but never falling. I search the empty corridors of my soul in hopes of catching just another glimpse of who she once presumed herself to be. Where is this woman who trod with such certainty, where is she now? I mourn her passing as another dawn breaks in my restless heart."
Related PlanetPOV posts:
REMINDER
=======
A quick reminder about the 2nd anniversary edition of MB updates. I’ve just downloaded a photo for tomorrow morning’s updates, and I will be posting a new post. The first 3 people to send me the correct answer to [email protected]
will receive a MB mug of their choice of colour and size, from me. I will leave the photo at the top of the MB post for 24 hours.
GOOD LUCK!
11/20/2011 at 9:29 AM
Kalima
Because we don’t have calendars in our house, I thought today was the 20th and I came in my craft room to see what the quiz was today only to find out I am a day early. But now I know what the quiz is going to be about. I will be checking to see it posted. Oh and for next year we already have a calendar on the side of the fridge lol. Every month I will see a different dolphin but they are all Flipper to me. All those years ago that movie started my love affair with dolphins can you believe it? My aunt and I sat through two showings of it on the same day, that is how much I loved it. I also tried never to miss a showing of the regular series lol.
K, don’t do that, it will be up for 24 hours, or until the next morning’s updates.
I didn’t know that, I mean that you wanted one. Keeping my fingers crossed for you.
Well now I’m confused, 2nd anniversary gifts calls for cotton in the US, paper in the UK and what’s it Japan? No matter you deserve precious jewels for a fantastic job--DAILY!
Thank You Kalima!
11/19/2011 at 6:28 PM
As do you my friend, as do you.
No idea if there is even such a thing in Japan, but if I could choose one, it would have to be NATTO. 😀
😆 K, you caught me dancing on the table again. Old habits die hard.
Two years tomorrow, my how time flies when you are having fun.
Thank you so much, and don’t forget to send your answer, ok?
As you can see, I’m finally back.
11/18/2011 at 10:35 PM
Good Morning from Kalima.
She is having some major computer problems ans she is unable to do her Morning Blog today, she sends her regrets and I’m sure we wish her the best and will miss her “bits and bobs” from around the world.
So from Kalima, “Mata ashita ne”
Kalima, you are missed. And I hope your computer problems are resolved quickly.
Hurry back!
11/18/2011 at 1:53 AM
Good morning everyone.
I’m heading into my weekend in the morning, another day will be spent in cleaning up the house ready for the big cat’s day off on Sunday.
Japan continues with almost daily stories about radiation fallout being discovered all over the northern regions of the country, and as the cooler weather grips us, I wonder and worry about those who have lost their homes and how they will cope in temporary housing. They will be spending their usually festive New Year’s celebrations, an important time for renewal for the Japanese, wondering what the future holds for them, when they can get their compensation, find work, and if and when they can rebuild their homes, their schools and their broken lives.
Hoping you have a good Friday wherever you may be, take care and be safe.
Sayonara from my corner of Tokyo, where the sky now grows dark at about 4:30 every afternoon. Mata ashita ne
—————————————————————————————————--
A few stories and opinions from around the globe.
================================
Simulation determines much of east, northeast likely contaminated
Cesium fallout widespread
Schools in deprived areas stand to lose most in budget shakeup
Thinktank issues warning about single national formula to calculate funding for under-16 pupils in England
http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2011/nov/18/schools-budget-shakeup
—-
Of course this will only work if you increase the taxes of the rich and filthy rich at the same time George.
————
Working pensioners can show George Osborne the way out of this crisis
Tax cuts for the low paid will reduce unemployment by encouraging people back to work.
—-
Ex-head of MI5 calls on government to decriminalise and regulate cannabis
Change policy and look at alternative ways of combating UK’s drugs culture, says Eliza Manningham-Buller
They must be kidding of course.
————
Phone hacking: NI asks judge to strike out exemplary damages claims
Publisher’s lawyer seeks to avoid punitive fines in civil actions brought by Steve Coogan, Sky Andrew and other victims
—-
Cameron warned his eurozone stance risks forcing two-speed Europe
Angela Merkel wants quick revision of Lisbon treaty to underpin euro and will advise Cameron to table only modest proposals
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/nov/17/cameron-two-speed-europe-concessions
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Looks as if this disgusting creep is in free fall, and this is the man who had a rape case against him dismissed. Just your average family man in the middle of a smearing campaign they said.
————
The French call girl, the 11 orgies and Dominique Strauss-Kahn
A French call girl took part in 11 orgies over six years with Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the fallen International Monetary Fund chief, it has been claimed.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/dominique-strauss-kahn/8896606/The-French-call-girl-the-11-orgies-and-Dominique-Strauss-Kahn.html
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Would someone remind this guy that he left the office in disgrace, and that his words are now lower than pond scum.
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Berlusconi says he’ll back his successor – for now. Not a very cheery scenario
The deposed prime minister can deprive the new government of parliamentary support whenever he likes
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Greece: Athens uprising anniversary demonstration descends into violence
Running battles between police and protesters marred a march to commemorate the date of a student uprising in the country in 1973, which saw 50,000 people take to the streets of Athens.
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US man charged with trying to assassinate Barack Obama
A man accused of opening fire on the White House with an assault rifle has been charged with attempting to assassinate President Barack Obama.
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Occupy Wall Street eviction: live
Around 177 people have been arrested in New York as protesters across the United States mount a day of action.
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Extradition request for fugitive George Wright denied by Portugal
Americans want Wright – who was captured by the FBI after 40 years on the run – to serve rest of jail term for 1962 killing
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/nov/17/extradition-request-george-wright-denied
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My first thought when I read this in my morning was, what an elaborate way to distract from his scandals and foul ups. My second thought was, why the waste of taxpayers money, a few guys in clown suits would be much more appropriate.
————
Herman Cain assigned Secret Service bodyguards
Herman Cain has become the first Republican presidential candidate to receive protection from the US Secret Service.
Egypt and Syria protests -- live updates
• New draft UN resolution to end human rights abuses in Syria
• Protester return to Cairo’s Tahrir Square
• Fury over Reuters Yemen reporter who also works for Saleh
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World must ‘hear screams’ from Syria
The world must urgently ‘hear the screams” from Syria and do something to stop the bloodshed, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey’s prime minister has said.
—-
Egyptian activist’s family call for Tahrir Square protest against military trials
Detained revolutionary Alaa Abdel Fattah backed by mother, who is continuing hunger strike until military release him
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Qatar, the tiny Gulf state that has turned into a big player in the Great Game
Qatar has emerged as the pea-sized power behind the Arab League’s tough new stance over Syria.
—-
Kuwait security crackdown after crowd storms parliament
Emir denounces protest as threat to country’s stability and calls for ‘stricter measures to confront chaotic behaviour’
—-
Foreign Office admits failings in case of Briton allegedly raped in Egypt
Guidelines on helping victims of torture updated after peace activist claims diplomatic staff failed to help
—-
Palestinian Authority ‘willing to delay UN statehood bid’
The Palestinian Authority is willing to countenance a brief delay in its United Nations bid for statehood, but only if Israel frees hundreds of prisoners and lifts financial sanctions, diplomats said on Thursday.
————
Iran fires up voters with partial lifting of water pipe ban
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s government reverses unpopular ban on smoking in tea houses -- but only for men
—-
Adml Mike Mullen confirms Pakistan army plot letter
Relations between Pakistan’s president Asif Zardari and the country’s powerful army were plunged deeper into crisis on Thursday after Adml Mike Mullen, America’s former top military officer confirmed he had receiving a letter urging Washington help oust the country’s top generals.
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Husain Haqqani, Pakistan’s US ambassador, offers to resign
Ambassador made the offer over a letter supposedly sent to the US military requesting help after the killing of Osama bin Laden
—-
Colombian Marxists plotted to sell uranium to Venezuela for ‘distant friends’
Colombian Marxist rebels plotted to sell uranium to Venezuela in the belief that they would pass it on to “friends from distant lands”, according to leaked emails.
—-
Aung San Suu Kyi says change is on the way
Burma’s freed opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has abandoned her principled demands for the isolation of the regime and believes she can now work to bring five decades of military dictatorship to an end.
—-
TRIVIA QUIZ
Yesterday’s answer. James Dean for “East of Eden” in 1955, and”Giant” in 1956. Dean died in September 1955. KT got it right, well done.
Today’s question.
How many square feet of lawn does it take to provide a day’s oxygen needs for one person? Hint. More than 550 and less than 630.
—-
Protest and survive: the Greenham veteran who refuses to go away
Thirty years ago, Helen John was the first full-time member of the Greenham Common peace camp. Now 73, she’s still hard at it, trying to stop drones operating from a UK air base
11/18/2011 at 1:11 PM
Good afternoon/morning, Kalima!
“In a few more years 90% of all internet content will be cat videos,”(said as the bar on the graph flies right past the category labeled “porn.”) 😆
I have to say that the vid of the geese following the drummer may give the cats a run for their catnip, though. That one’s pretty cute.
Boy, the myths that antibiotics can kill the common cold or influenza really do die hard, don’t they? I wonder if it’s partly because everyone wants so badly for it to be true. In this era, in which people simply can’t afford to be sick — ever — they really want to be able to take a pill and have whatever it is GONE in 12 hours. The trouble with miracle drugs is that they lead us to expect miracles. All the time. Sometimes Mother Nature just sets us back on our heels and insists that it is not always business as usual. And there’s not much we can do about it. Other myths that I wish would go away: that pneumonia comes from getting chilled, that hand washing doesn’t matter in the era of antibiotics, and that lying in bed completely immobile for days after surgery is the best way to get well. Nope.
And furthermore…! 😆 While I’m ranting! Not only should “mixed wards” be banned in Britain’s NHS, “wards” in general should be banned! The move here is toward all private rooms, which makes complete sense. A hotel would never book two unknown people to a room — even when they’re healthy! Why in the world would hospitals in the 21st century put complete strangers in — basically — one big bedroom? To facilitate germ swapping? This is a recipe for an infectious disease disaster. There may have been an era in which this was thought to reduce steps and work-time for nurses. But hospitals are not supposed to be for nurses! They’re for patients!
Years ago there was a 5 bed ward for “the poor” in a hospital in CT. The wealthy went to a special 10 bed unit — all private rooms. I thought those days were over with. Just think what the nights must be like on those wards. People coughing, moaning, calling out, getting up to go to the bathroom. Never any privacy. Terrible!
Well, I’ve ranted so long, I’ve left only a minute for my trivia guess, which I will put smack-dab in the middle at 590 sq. ft.? 😀
Well fancy that George. What, no plan B?
————
Osborne to miss deficit target as UK economy stalls and unemployment rises
Eurozone crisis hits home as Bank of England cuts growth forecasts and makes grim predictions of a weak recovery
—-
Coalition sheds crocodile tears over young jobless
Youth unemployment has risen above 1 million, but the eurozone crisis and slow global growth aren’t to blame – the coalition is
—-
Hands Off Our Land: Now even National Parks are at risk
Restrictions on building in some of the most beautiful parts of the country could be relaxed under new Government plans, The Daily Telegraph can disclose.
—-
Labour pledges to repeal NHS bill
All provisions that turns health and social care services into a market-based system will be removed, says Andy Burnham
Huh? Thank the Lord that we were married in Brixton.
————-
Half of population could be barred from bringing in a foreign partner under family visa reform
Up to half the population will no longer be able to bring a foreign bride, groom or relative to the UK under tough new proposals to reduce their burden on the state.
—-
MI6 foiled suicide bomb assassination plot in Libya
British intelligence foiled a plot by Col Muammar Gaddafi’s henchmen to assassinate Western diplomats and Libya’s revolutionary leadership, the Foreign Secretary has revealed.
—-
Iraq war inquiry report delayed
Chilcot inquiry panel cites refusal by Whitehall departments to disclose sensitive documents as one reason for delay until summer 2012
—-
Leveson inquiry told hacking of Milly Dowler’s phone ‘despicable’
NoW’s illegal deleting of murdered teenager’s voicemails gave false hope to her parents she was alive, says lawyer
—-
Police pepper spray Occupy Seattle protesters
Members of Occupy Seattle clash with police in downtown Seattle over a protest march and are met with pepper spray.
—-
Occupy protesters prepare for day of ‘solidarity’ across US
Series of events planned to support evicted Zuccotti Park activists by highlighting growing inequality and need for jobs
—-
99% v 1%: the data behind the Occupy movement -- animation
It has been the rallying cry of the Occupy movement for the past two months -- but is the US really split 99% v 1%? As poverty and inequality reach record levels, how much richer have the rich got? This animation explains what the key data says about the state of America today
—-
Syrian rebels warn Assad regime they can strike ‘anywhere and anytime’
Syrian rebels warned the government that they could strike “anywhere and anytime” on Wednesday after they exposed the vulnerability of its security apparatus with a string of unprecedented attacks on military targets around Damascus.
—-
Tunisia’s Islamists hail arrival of the ‘sixth caliphate’
The Islamist politician likely to become Tunisia’s first democratically elected prime minister has alarmed liberals and secularists by claiming the arrival of the “sixth caliphate”, a controversial term for a Muslim empire.
—-
Kuwaiti protesters storm parliament
Protesters took over Kuwait’s parliament building last night as a demonstration against the prime minister spiralled into violence.
————
Iran says missile base blast was not caused by Israeli intelligence
Tehran dismisses reports that Mossad or US was behind the explosion that killed the architect of country’s missile programme
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/nov/16/iran-missile-blast-israel-mossad
—-
US must stop night raids if it wants to keep bases in Afghanistan past 2014, Hamid Karzai warns
America must stop night raids and house searches and close its military prisons in return for keeping troops in the country after 2014, Hamid Karzai told a national assembly.
—-
Bombs target Kenya’s aid workers
Two policemen and two security guards escorting aid workers in the world’s largest refugee camp in Kenya were injured when a remote-controlled bomb exploded beneath their vehicle.
—-
Global campaign to decriminalise homosexuality to kick off in Belize court
Lord Goldsmith involved in attempt to overturn law in country which is first of 80-plus targeted by new rights group Human Dignity Trust
—-
New Zealand prime minister seeks to block recording
John Key claims he was illegally recorded in a private conversation with an ally just days before the upcoming election
—-
Chinese man sets himself on fire in Tiananmen Square
A Chinese man set himself on fire in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square in what is thought to be the first act of self-immolation at the scene of the 1989 pro-democracy protests for more than a decade.
11/17/2011 at 7:48 AM
Good morning/evening, Kalima! Another work day here in corn country, so I’ll have to make the most of the little bit of time I have on the Planet this morning.
Shocking story of the neo-Nazi group in Germany that got away with so much for so long. 10 murders and 14 bank robberies in 13 years? Scary, scary stuff. But the really worrisome aspect of the whole thing is the fact that they are suspecting that at least one member of the German intelligence organization (which is supposed to be monitoring this sort of thing) was actually involved! Although the fact that someone who was in something like our Homeland Security/FBI department would also have right wing leanings shouldn’t be a total surprise, I guess. Some “police type” personalities, I think, don’t have far to go to make that leap.
Smoking in one’s own car? Please. I’m not a huge fan of smoking but really, this is too much. The only possible exception I can see is if there are children in the vehicle who are not allowed to open the windows. As a kid I remember being held hostage in the back seat while my grandfather smoked his dreadful cigars and my grandmother resisted any window-opening. That was pretty awful. But when there are only adults in the car? Or the driver is alone? Good grief! Smoke ’em if you’re inclined.
Trivia: Oh, Em! Now you’ve gone and put me on the spot! I really don’t know this one. I think you’re on to something with Larry Olivier, but just for novelty’s sake I say Sir John Gielgud.
11/17/2011 at 8:15 AM
I, as a smoker sees some wisdom in it though. My worst chain-smoking I ever did was driving! There
is just something about driving that lends itself to it with my left hand dangling out the window, my right hand on the wheel. 😆
As such, I now keep the car smoke-free and cut down significantly on cigarettes (and smell) in the process. I always had the front window down though, and cracked down the rear one to try and siphon any extra smoke out. Can’t imagine smoking with the windows closed, and can’t imagine the thick pungent cigar smoke at all. My friend and I tried a slim once and my friend put his out and made me put out mine fairly quick--it was just stinking up his car bad, with our windows all the way down and blowing out of them.
And it should be outlawed when children under legal smoking age are involved. No question about that.
But other than that, this is absurd on its face, of course (I coyly built to this). Are they trying to lampoon the “nanny state”? Is this like an art project?
11/17/2011 at 12:29 PM
Khirad, about two weeks ago I tried E-Cigarettes for the first time. They are great and about half the cost of smoking real cigarettes.
Actually, they are little cigarette sized (slightly larger than real cigarettes) vaporizers. The “cigarette” portion of the device is the battery, with a miniature circuit that activates the cig when you take a puff. The “filter,” part is a little cartridge filled with a nicotine soulution and the solution vaporizes with each puff. No smoke, (just water vapor) no stink, no ashes and no ashtrays. And it tastes and feels like you’re smoking a real cigarette. 98% safer than tobbacco cigs.
11/17/2011 at 1:23 PM
Sue, I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised. I was. It’s almost exactly like smoking a real cigarette, but like I said, no smoke (just vapor), no stink, no ashes, no ashtray, no lighter or matches needed.
I live in a small apartment and just got really tired of stale tobacco stink. Now my apartment smells much, much better, no stinky hair or clothes or breath. And I spend about half as much on E-Cigs than I did on real cigs. Ain’t technology great? Oh, and I am starting to feel better and my sense of smell has greatly improved. 😉
11/17/2011 at 3:26 AM
Good morning/evening Kalima!
I share your smile this morning. The weather is cold and rather nasty today here. Time for those warm sweaters and a bowl of hot soup. We are forecast for mixed snow and rain, and the only problem I have is that I have to make a 100 mile drive to see yet another doctor for the unrelenting headaches. I would much rather stay in with the puppies.
As I scrolled through the articles, one caught my attention…the neo-Nazi problem in Germany. It is shocking that they are rearing their ugly heads again. I know nothing about German law concerning individual freedoms there, but history should be their guide. This group should be banned and wiped out. Germany has suffered enough from the stigma left from WWII. I recently watched a History Chanel program about a kind of “national guilt” that many older people still feel there. Sixty-odd years since the end of the war, we can take some consolation in that most of the Nazis from Hitler’s era are dead. Germany certainly doesn’t need any “new” ones.
The other item was the demand by a member of the medical establishment in the UK to ban smoking in cars! OMG! This sounds exactly like something the republicans would try to do in the US! They are all about “small government” but insist on putting watchdogs into every aspect of our lives, including our bedrooms and our wombs! I hope that none of our right-wingers in this country sees this article! It will only give them the idea about yet another way to control our individual behaviors while ignoring the legitimate and urgent need for jobs! Big Brother is alive and well!
As for the “loo paper”, Six squares should certainly do the job! We must be frugal!!
As for the trivia question, I don’t have a clue so I’ll make a really lame guess…Laurence Olivier! We’ll have to ask Kes! She’s amazing and will know, I’m sure!
Thanks for your hard work! Great, as usual! Have a wonderful evening/day!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Party_Germany
No symbols are allowed. It’s so strict it’s even gotten ridiculous how serious they take these anti-Nazi laws when anti-fascist protesters with swastikas in a crossed out circle have received fines, and Hindus have had to get exemptions to use what was their symbol in the first place!!!
As such, the remarkable part of this story is how they existed underground and committed terrorist acts for upwards a decade in the most unfriendly country to neo-Nazis, and anti-Semites (outside Israel). Many neo-Nazis feel so stifled and complain so bitterly about the “oppressive” laws of Germany (I leave the irony of that to you) that they emigrate to neighboring countries with laxer laws on free speech.
But indeed, as tempting as it is, I think our First Amendment is the way to go. I’d rather have the idiots out in public and freely posting away on the internet. The downside is that they can infect more minds, but the upside is we can freely monitor and stop them before they were to commit such terrorist attacks here, knock on wood.
As an aside, during the 2006 World Cup hosted by Germany, it was the first time German flags were brought out in force. They’ve been so shy and reticent about such colorful patriotic demonstrations ever since WWII, and I quite frankly cried a little to see such joy and the ocean of Schwarz-Rot-Gold being waved. They’re so scarred and ashamed at times (fully self-aware of where excessive nationalism has landed them in the past). I thought it was beautiful that they finally found it was ‘okay’ to be proud again. It was healing not only for getting past some of the neuroses and sensitivity to a Nazi past, but still patching up the wounds after Reunification.
11/18/2011 at 2:07 AM
These groups exist all over Europe, they are also in the countries previously known as the Eastern Block. When it happens in a country where for generations we have faced our collective guilt and shame, it’s big news.
I would rather that this scum was banned from the beginning as we have done. If anyone publicly denies the holocaust they will be arrested, it’s the way we have tried to make up for the horrors of our past. I would rather be in a country that comes down hard on these groups than give way to some idea that everything goes in the name of free speech. How can the vile protests of military funerals be free speech for instance?
This is normal for people living in the U.S.. the same way as any Tom, Dick and Harry carrying a gun, it’s not normal for those of us born and bred in Europe, so I don’t think it’s possible to compare the two. If you are saying that your country is safer because of your free speech, then I would have to respectfully disagree with you because I see no evidence that the U.S. is safer than any other country in Europe, and we don’t own guns.
The swastika symbol is/was used throughout Asia as a symbol for shrines and temples long before the Nazi’s got their claws on it.
Indeed, not comparable.
Both Constitutions are just explicit/implicit in their own ways.
There’s no way to outlaw groups like that in the US because of the slippery slope Voltaire type argument. We all agree those groups are sick and dangerous, but are wary of the precedent to any other group that might be deemed unacceptable to the state in the future. Though we can implement hate crime laws and threats, we can’t prosecute thought crimes, even though Holocaust denial is like collective slander.
With Germany and Europe there is no such compunction because it is a very specific and immediate concern (particularly when it was written after the war) that doesn’t carry those broader lofty philosophical questions. When they say no Nazis, they mean no Nazis. It was its own precedent already. Nie wieder.
I also like the part in the German Federal Constitution that behooves citizens to resist by force any leader trying to subvert democracy and allowing for no powers of emergency law.
11/18/2011 at 3:05 AM
We had the same problem with the Aum Shinri Kyo here in Japan after the Tokyo sarin attack. To ban or not to ban a group who claimed to be a religious group, so would banning them outright, infringe on religious freedom?
Most of them, including their nutty leader Asahara were arrested, and the meager bunch left, decided not to pursue a group as before. They ended up in smaller groups, but were often asked by local authorities to move away because the population didn’t want them in their cities and towns. I believe that they are still being monitored, in fact I’m sure that they are.
11/17/2011 at 3:05 AM
Why has this neo-Nazi thing not taken off here? I mean, not only does Der Spiegel have a big spread on it, but the Guardian is covering it, etc.
Do we, as the SPLC has shown, really think this far-right terror is unrelated to us in the states?
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Also, good article on Self-Harm. Not that I could finish it. Anything like that triggers a flood of memories and a minor quasi-panic-attack in me, and I don’t know why. I of all people should be able to handle it. But as long as it’s out there more and more I think is important.
11/17/2011 at 3:38 AM
Good morning, Khirad! You’re up early too, I see.
We must have been typing at the same time. Your comment about the neo-Nazis was not there when I stared mine. I believe we’ve had some skin-head neo-Nazis here, but they have been pretty much ignored and marginalized. At least, I don’t think they are actively targeting their enemies. I’m sure the FBI keeps a close watch on their activities. I guess there will always be those crackpots and with our rather messy freedom of speech rights in this country, it’s hard to stop them.
Nick Clegg: one million unemployed young people ‘must not be ignored’
More than a million young people are unemployed, figures out today are expected to show.
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Hundreds of thousands of public sector workers to announce plans to strike
Hundreds of thousands of public sector workers are set to announce plans to strike at the end of this month in what will be biggest industrial action for decades.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/8892461/Hundreds-of-thousands-of-public-sector-workers-to-announce-plans-to-strike.html
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That’s fairly obvious Nick. Taxpayers money for anything but improving the lives of the public, is “not right” at any time.
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Taxpayer cash for political parties ‘not right’ during spending cuts, says Clegg
Nick Clegg has become the first party leader to rule out state funding for political parties ahead of an official review due to be published next week.
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These border tensions mask a greater scandal
Britain’s transport infrastructure is creaking -- a new London airport is needed to cope with the huge number of passengers.
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Solar giant ‘could quit UK’ after Government cuts to subsidies
The world’s biggest solar panel maker may pull out of the UK, following the Government’s controversial decision to slash subsidies.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/journalists/rowena-mason/8892601/Solar-giant-could-quit-UK-after-Government-cuts-to-subsidies.html
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There he goes again about the food and drink firms, wasn’t there an episode with a “conflict of interset” angle?
I recently linked to a story about the rise in obesity in the U.K., go figure.
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Obesity advisory group disbanded by government
Panel’s members criticised health secretary’s decision to tackle obesity through ‘responsibility deals’ with food and drinks firms
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Leveson inquiry warned of threat to media freedom
Phone hacking hearing told by News International and Mail group to avoid overreacting with a stringent system of regulation
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-15752168
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Good Lord, I will be so happy when this spineless wimp finally goes away, and preferably to a Swedish jail cell.
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Julian Assange seeks to take extradition fight to supreme court
WikiLeaks founder will ask permission to appeal against high court ruling that he must face sex crime charges in Sweden
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Germany shocked by secret service link to rightwing terror cell
Undercover officer was at scene of Turk’s murder as rightwingers killed 10 times but stayed free for 13 years
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Unions battle PSA Peugeot Citroën over 4,000 French job losses
Carmaker confirms plans to axe more than 5,000 jobs – up to 4,000 in France – after previously stating no full-time French workers would be affected
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Mario Monti to announce new Italy government
Prime minister-designate says he has ‘defined picture’ of administration amid concern over possible role for Berlusconi ally
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Euro crisis: voters prepare to eject Spain’s Socialists for Mariano Rajoy
Mariano Rajoy is poised to become Spain’s new prime minister at the weekend after an election in which voters angry at austerity measures have spurned the incumbent Socialist Party.
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Tens of thousands of businessmen forced to flee Russia claims former top banker
UP to 30,000 bankers, businessmen and financiers have been driven out of Russia by Vladimir Putin’s ever-tightening grip on the country’s political and commercial life, according to a prominent exile at the centre of a major banking controversy.
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Occupy Wall Street: judge backs mayor Michael Bloomberg’s move to evict camp
Occupy Wall Street, the New York protest camp that inspired anti-capitalist demonstrations across the world, has been demolished after protesters were evicted by police.
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Brookfield Properties’ letter to Michael Bloomberg
Read the letter from Brookfield CEO Ric Clark on the ‘substantial adverse impact’ the property firm believes the Occupy Wall Street camp is having on the local community
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Occupy Wall Street protesters return to Manhattan park despite ruling
New York mayor wins legal battle to have them removed, but activists make Zuccotti Park their base again
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Former Navy Seal’s book on Bin Laden’s death branded ‘fabrication’
US special operations command says claims in Chuck Pfarrer’s Seal Target Geronimo are ‘categorically incorrect’
Syria: Arab League meets as defectors attack -- live updates
• Free Syrian Army attack bases near Damascus
• Arab League mulls sanctions at meeting in Rabat
• Political prisoner shot hours after being released
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Fledgling Libyan army steps in to subdue inter-militia violence
Hundreds of men in uniform deployed to bring end to feud that cast doubt on government’s ability to keep order, officials say
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Syrian army defectors attack intelligence base near Damascus
Attacks on President Bashar al-Assad’s military bases come two days after rebels kill 34 soldiers and security officials in Daraa
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Syrian Free Army resistance attacks reported in Homs
Amateur footage from Homs is reported to show evidence of resistance to the brutal state-sponsored crackdown against protests as the Syrian Free Army target government tanks and personnel carriers.
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Syria to ‘boycott Arab League summit’
Syria will boycott today’s Arab League meeting in response to its decision to suspend Damascus from the organisation, according to reports.
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Veteran human rights activist chosen as Tunisia’s new interim president
Moncef Marzouki, a veteran human rights activist, was selected as Tunisia’s new interim president on Tuesday, an official has claimed.
Jerusalem mayor battles ultra-orthodox groups over women-free billboards
Female models erased from advertisements across city after religious lobby brands the images as offensive
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Palestinian protesters dragged off Israeli bus riding into Jerusalem
Six Palestinian activists, clutching national flags and surrounded by dozens of reporters, were dragged off an Israeli bus they planned to ride into Jerusalem after a standoff with police Tuesday.
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Turkey on brink of open confrontation with Syria
Turkey was on the brink of open confrontation over its border with Syria on Tuesday night, announcing its first economic sanctions against Damascus and saying President Bashar al-Assad’s regime was “on a knife-edge”.
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Vulture funds await Jersey decision on poor countries’ debts
Pressure grows to end trade that has made $1bn for speculators but has been blamed for delaying recovery of war-torn countries
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Vulture funds – how do they work?
Funds who buy up debts of countries mired in war and chaos have received payouts of $1bn and are due a further $1.3bn
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Julia Gillard welcomes Barack Obama to Australia
The US President is set to visit Canberra and Darwin on a brief 26-hour visit to the country.
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Britain demands release of Burmese political prisoners
Britain demanded the release of leading Burmese political prisoners on Tuesday, as Andrew Mitchell, the International Development secretary became the first senior figure to meet with the regime president and top leaders.
Good afternoon/night, Kalima! A quick note before I run to the pet shop to replace a goldfish before you-know-who gets here. 😳
Whyyy did I ever got started on this? ‘Nuff said…
Sad as it is to say it, I think that if I lived in Japan I would be grateful to have the iPhone geiger counter. Have we come to this?
I hope justice is finally done in the Stephen Lawrence murder case. And you’re right about the faces of the alleged killers: “dead man eyes.”
Oh those Christmas ads. So many millions spent on persuading us to spend so many millions… Christmas… What was the original cause of all the hoopla? Poor little kid born during Occupy Bethlehem? Anchor baby? Un-wed mother? Remember, folks?
Trivia: Oh gosh…no idea whatsoever! A parrot?
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Libya seeks UK firms to develop oil sector and construction industry
Nuri Berruien, head of Libya’s National Oil Company, said the government would ‘favour our friends’ to develop its reserves
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Syria: Bashar al-Assad ‘increasingly isolated’, says US
The United States has welcomed a strengthening of an international drive against the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad after the Arab League, King Abdullah of Jordan and the EU piled on the pressure.
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Turning the screw on Assad’s ailing regime
Tougher sanctions are needed against Syria to stop President Bashar al–Assad oppressing his own people.
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King Abdullah of Jordan becomes first Arab ruler to call on Syria’s Bashar al-Assad to go
King Abdullah of Jordan has become the first Arab ruler to call on Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian president, to step down.
IMF sounds warning for Chinese banking system
China’s banks face ‘steady build-up of financial sector vulnerabilities’, according to IMF report
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Spooks, suspicion and slumps, the harsh reality of investing in China
Anthony Bolton turns to private investigators after investors in Fidelity’s China fund suffer losses of 21%
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Aung San Suu Kyi marks one year of freedom in Burma
Aung San Suu Kyi, the Burmese opposition leader, signalled that she was ready for full scale engagement in the country’s military-dominated politics on Monday and insisted the president was “genuine” in his desire for change.
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Mongolia bids to keep city cool with ‘ice shield’ experiment
Geoengineering trial aims to ‘store’ winter temperatures in a giant block of ice that will cool and water Ulan Bator in summer
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Training scheme sees 900% rise in apprenticeships for over-60s
More elderly are taking up government skills programme, but youth unemployment is expected to hit one million
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UK’s oesophageal cancer rate is worst in Europe
Cancer charity attributes Britain’s poor global placing – equal with Rwanda – to high alcohol intake and growing obesity
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Our human rights are not a fad. We don’t need this Botox bill
Replacing the Human Rights Act could lead to a permanent constitutional revolution rather than a statement of basic values
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Protesters set up camp outside Exeter Cathedral
A group of “Occupy” protesters has set up camp next to Exeter Cathedral, just yards from where hundreds of people gathered to pay their respects to Britain’s war dead at a remembrance service.
11/14/2011 at 10:21 AM
Good afternoon/early morning, Kalima!
Tears of laughter in my eyes at the moment, since I saved the delectable Charlie Brooker for dessert and have just finished reading his video game review. The man almost never misses!
I don’t particularly mind the level of violence in computer games, partly because it’s absurd, and partly because I’m hopelessly desensitised. What I do object to is the dick-swinging machismo that infests games like this. If I had a penny for every time I’ve spent the opening moments of a game sitting in the back of a transport vehicle listening to a soldier called Vasquez repeatedly use the word “motherfucker”, I’d have enough money to buy the Sesame Street game instead. And even that probably starts with Sergeant Grover warning Private Elmo that “Shit is about to get real”.
It only gets better from there. He is a funny, funny man.
Fascinating story about the German musician who had nearly total amnesia, except for the area of music. For one thing, I really had no idea that herpes encephalitis could be so permanently devastating. The cases I’ve seen have cleared up fairly well over a period of a couple weeks. Apparently this does happen about 1:500,000 times, though, I learned. I recall a patient with advanced Alzheimer’s in a nursing home, who could no longer speak at all, but who could still play the piano beautifully. The mysteries of the human brain.
Rick Perry and “forewithal.” Oh, I can see why the language-astute Brits would have a field day with that one. To me, with people like Palin, Dubya, and Perry, the main problem isn’t ignorance. It’s the pretentiousness of thinking that they’re going to sound erudite if they use “big words.” So,if they don’t know the appropriate “big word” to use in any given situation, they simply make one up. And their opinion of all of us listeners is so low that they think we’ll never know the difference.
So now a number of Britain’s “care homes,” which I assume would be the equivalent of our nursing homes, are going bankrupt. Is anyone surprised? I have no wonder about the fate of the poor residents there. Sold to the highest bidder? Unbelievable.
Trivia time: Elephant’s ear? Hmmmmm. In Ohio there is a confection (of sorts) sold at county fairs called an elephant’s ear. I think they are deep fried and probably weigh about 50 pounds apiece. (Kidding!) But for some odd reason, I think I do recall seeing the figure 50 pounds attached to the weight of an elephant’s ear, so I’m going to guess that. Although why I remember silly things like that is cause for some alarm, if I do say so myself.
Don’t I have any better things to do with my mind?
11/14/2011 at 6:24 AM
Good morning/evening, Kalima!
Great work today! I’ve not come anywhere close to reading everything you’ve posted for us. There’s always that second cup and a little more time before I start the chores.
One item…no, two items…the articles about the OWS protests. I am sorry to see that the problems with the camps have caused their disruption and police action in a number of locations. I believe this was inevitable though. Problems for the cities with drugs and crime are only going to be tolerated for just so long before they take action.
We were discussing this yesterday at length. The question remains, where does the movement go from here? Perhaps their best bet is to maintain a vigorous online presence over the winter. I don’t have any other answers. Media interest has waned drastically of late, that is unless there is violence that they will readily cover. The slant by the media just perpetuates the public’s perception that the camps are a nuisance and should be shut down. It’s too bad that a lot of people view them as over-staying their welcome.
I believe that the movement can be sustained over the winter with targeted sit-ins and marches, publicized in advance over social media. That approach may garner a more positive coverage from the press. IMO, the public at large still supports the general message from OWS, but as things stand right now, the movement faces a quick decline unless they change tactics. Perhaps the groups could put a bandaid on their somewhat tarnished image by tearing down the camps and helping to repair the areas, acting as good neighbors to the cities. Moving indoors, if arrangements are possible, might also be a way to keep it alive. I know they want to maintain their visibility, but it is only going to get harder as police departments crack down.
Thanks again for your collection of articles. I do promise to read more later…those nasty little chores have to take precedence this morning. Have a great evening!
Child poverty warning as cuts threaten to close 3,500 Sure Start centres
Flagship scheme for children is in danger as budget restrictions bite, warns former government adviser
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Veterans join Occupy protest as St Paul’s canon shows support
Occupy London’s tents prevent new lord mayor from being anointed on cathedral steps for first time in 800 years
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The week that Europe stumbled to the brink of disaster… and stopped
Prime ministers fell, markets shook and there were rumours that the eurozone would split up. But it survived – for now
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Silvio Berlusconi finally resigns as Italy’s prime minister, to cheers from supporters and jeers from foes
Silvio Berlusconi has resigned as Italy’s longest-serving post-war prime minister, bringing to an end a tumultuous, 17-year political career which was marred by sex scandals, corruption allegations and gaffes on the international stage.
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It’s time for an ascetic, noble Italy to replace the crass Berlusconi version
The fetish of the ‘lovable rogue’ showed up the worst of our national character. The best may yet emerge
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Far-right Finnish politician Timo Soini bids for presidency
Timo Soini’s conversation ranges from Moses to Millwall FC as he reiterates his opposition to the euro
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Blow for Syria as Arab League votes to suspend it and threatens sanctions
The Arab League has dealt President Bashar al-Assad the most humiliating of blows by voting to suspend Syria in a move that could pave the way for UN sanctions against his regime.
And the U.S. support this government, while it drags us all into another conflict, another war?
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Israel refuses to tell US its Iran intentions
Israel has refused to reassure President Barack Obama that it would warn him in advance of any pre-emptive strike on Iran’s nuclear capabilities, raising fears that it may be planning a go-it-alone attack as early as next summer.
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Huge explosion kills at least 27 Revolutionary Guards at Iran military base
Amateur video shows smoke billowing out from an Iranian military base near Tehran following an explosion which has killed at least 27 people and injured 16 more.
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Interview: Lindwe Mazibuko, the new black face of South Africa’s ‘white’ party
Lindwe Mazibuko is the first black woman to pose a serious challenge to the ANC. But can she convince the electorate, asks Aislinn Laing.
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Brazilian police invade Rio’s biggest slum
The raid is part of a policing campaign to drive drug gangs out of the city’s slums, where the traffickers have ruled for decades
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Colombian president calls for global rethink on drugs
Juan Manuel Santos stresses vital role of Britain, America and the EU to ‘take away violent profit of traffickers’
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Eyewitness report -- inside the wreckage of Japan’s Fukushima nuclear reactor
Japan’s stricken Fukushima nuclear plant has opened its doors to reporters for the first time since the March 11 earthquake. Martin Fackler of the New York Times sent this pooled dispatch.
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Japan opens doors to crippled Fukushima nuclear plant
Japan’s notorious Fukushima nuclear power plant opens its doors to the media for the first time since it was damaged in the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.
11/13/2011 at 6:22 PM
Good evening/morning, Kalima! Hope that Robin Hood turned out to be 2 interesting hours and not a prolonged nap. The rob-from-the-rich-to-give-to-the-poor concept does sound pretty timely!
Mr. Kawasaki is an amazing guy. The fellow who’s rebuilding his home after the tsunami. The matter-of-fact way he talks about having saved 7 people during the disaster itself, and then doing the difficult and depressing work of searching for bodies afterward. Wow. And after all the hard labor of re-building, he says that if the government tells him he must tear his house down: “I will cooperate.”
I had to laugh at the chant that greeted Silly Burlesque-only as he resigned in Italy: “Eeed-yote! Eeed-yote!” That one word says it all: “idiot.”
“Care may suffer” is the way they phrase it. Sounds so casual doesn’t it? Kind of like the way Timothy McVeigh discussed “collateral damage.” Oh well. On the relentless march to profiteer off of the health care system in Britain through privatization “care may suffer.” Remember Chaplin’s “Modern Times”? The gigantic machine with the gears that pulled the Little Tramp into itself? I suppose there will be patients who will know exactly how he felt. These Tories really must be stopped.
Trivia time: after a weekend away from home you’d think my brain cells would be rested and I would have a snappy answer. But you’d be wrong. (Just this once.) Nuthin’ up there. So…I’ll just have to guess that if you’re in prison for voter fraud and/or tampering with an election, they won’t let you vote!? 😀
11/14/2011 at 2:05 AM
Hi kes. Well I think that “Idiot” can be understood in any language if the leader had been as bad as “Caligula” Berlusconi, I’m glad they came to see him off. 😀
I have to congratulate the Japanese on their fortitude. When you think of all they have been through since the end of WW11, they certainly know how to pick themselves up, and start all over again.
Today a few more stories about the waning health care, I find something almost every day, each one a little more shocking than the one before. Yes, they must be stopped.
Psst, you got it right kes.
11/12/2011 at 1:42 AM
Good morning everyone, and welcome to another weekend.
All my idle chatter about the cooler weather arriving here, flew out of the window when it became warmer than expected, with 81% humidity here again this early afternoon. Still waiting and still hoping.
Have a good weekend wherever you may be, take care and be safe.
Sayonara from my tired corner of Tokyo, where I’m hoping to put my feet up for a bit before hubby comes home. Mata ashita ne.
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A few stories and opinions from around the globe.
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Crisis worker woes, shortage another story
Calm at J. Village belies the danger
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Wounded soldiers face sack under new Army redundancy plans
Wounded soldiers are to be dismissed from the Army under plans to double the number of personnel being made redundant, a leaked memo discloses.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/defence/8885552/Wounded-soldiers-face-sack-under-new-Army-redundancy-plans.html
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So people who can only work part time because of illness or maybe because this is all they can find, are lazy?
What’s next, finding finding harrowing work for wheelchair bound invalids?
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Duncan Smith plans new crackdown on lazy benefit claimants
Part time workers will be forced to work longer hours or face losing their state benefits in the next phase of the government’s welfare reforms.
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Public sector workers to be offered further concessions in pensions row
Ministers preparing to give in to trade unions in contentious area of transferring pensions from public to private sector
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Trade unions to be offered concessions on transfer of public sector pensions
Ministers will impose a public sector pensions deal at the end of the year if trade union leaders reject final peace offering
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Police arrest EDL supporters in London -- video
Scotland Yard confirm over 170 members of the English Defence League were arrested on Armistice Day in order to ‘avert a planned attack’. Sources said repeated threats had been made to attack Occupy protesters camped outside St Paul’s Cathedral. The law states that officers can make arrests if they believe a breach of the peace to be ‘imminent’
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Police arrest EDL members to ‘avert planned attack’ in London
Three bailed and 176 released without charge after reports of threats to attack Occupy protesters outside St Paul’s
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This Veterans Day, we must remember the Iraqi interpreters
They stood by us and helped us do our job and stay alive. Now it’s time to repay the debt and resettle our Iraqi comrades
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It wasn’t me: James Murdoch, Theresa May and a mysterious world of denial
Murdoch and May have shown how people in high places can profess to know the least about the organisations they lead
Yemen’s southern rebels emerge from the shadows
Hirak leader calls for beleaguered regime in Sana’a to accept south’s self-determination demands
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Turkish forces end ferry hijack
The hijacker had seized the Kartepe ferry after it set sail from the northwestern port of Izmit with 18 passengers on board
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Turkey quake death toll rises to 25
Rescuers in Van search for two journalists trapped in collapsed hotel after second earthquake in two weeks
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/nov/12/turkey-earthquake-deaths
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I have many things I want to say about this, but for now will button my lips. I’ll just sum it up with two words, “cowards and hypocrites”, and I don’t mean the Palestinians.
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UN vote on Palestinian state put off amid lack of support
Palestinians to decide whether to press statehood issue after mustering only eight of nine votes needed to win approval
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Sudan bombing of South amounted to a war crime
A Sudanese airforce bombing run on a refugee camp in South Sudan was yesterday condemned as a crime against international law by UN agencies.
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US report warns Sudan’s military is upgrading air bases
Satellite monitoring group says build-up of air resources could be precursor to wider bombing campaign in south Sudan
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India’s Supreme Court denounces Pakistani jail term discovery
India’s Supreme Court has denounced the detention without trial of more than 250 Pakistanis who illegally crossed the border, including four prisoners who have spent more than forty years in jail.
Aren’t you glad that you don’t live in China? 😯
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China tries to stay in control of the web with new rules for reporters
China has banned journalists from publishing information culled from the internet without verification, in its latest attempt at diluting the influence of social media.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/8884120/China-tries-to-stay-in-control-of-the-web-with-new-rules-for-reporters.html
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Here in Japan and even in Tokyo, many years we have had months of everything covered with a fine yellow dust which blows in from China. Researches have suggested it causes many respiratory problems.
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China concedes it underestimates air pollution levels
After a wave of public anger at Beijing’s atrocious pollution, the Chinese government on Friday promised to make its misleading readings of smog levels more accurate.
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China’s chequebook diplomacy runs deep in the Pacific
The opening of a Chinese embassy in the Maldives in the Indian Ocean fits into a long-established pattern by Beijing of pursuing better relations with small island nations in the Pacific Ocean in a bid to win support at the United Nations vis a vis Taiwan, and as a bulwark against American influence.
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TRIVIA QUIZ
Yesterday’s answer. Magnum Opus, and kes in her late night/early morning dash got it right. Well done kes. 😀
Today’s question.
In 2011 street thieves were filmed in Chinese cities using what innovative pickpocketing tools: Fishing rods; Barbecue tongs; Portable vacuum cleaners, or Chopsticks?
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Yuan drain as China’s rich move west
Up to half of China’s millionaires considering emigrating for better education, cleaner air and greater stability
Artistic relations: how family portraiture changed through the ages
An exhibition exploring the portrayal of the family in British art provides some surprising contrasts
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Leonardo da Vinci: ‘An artist who deserves every bit of his fame’ – video
The National Gallery’s Leonardo exhibition promises a once-in-a-lifetime chance to view the artist’s finest paintings and drawings. Jonathan Jones takes a look at this unprecedented show, the most complete display of Leonardo’s rare surviving paintings ever held, and discovers an artist who looks deeply into the human experience
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Rebecca Coriam: lost at sea
When Rebecca Coriam vanished from the Disney Wonder in March, hers became one of the 171 mysterious cruise ship disappearances in the past decade. So what happened? Jon Ronson booked himself a cabin to find out…
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Affairs of the heart, part one: the story of a single heartbeat -- video
In the first of four scientific tours of the heart, Prof Michael Shattock of King’s College London tells the story of a single heartbeat. How does a tiny electrical signal from the pacemaker cells kick off the tightly coordinated series of muscular contractions needed to pump blood around the body?
11/12/2011 at 4:09 PM
Oh that is so sweet of you Sue, and I will try to remember the next time, I promise. Our garage, where I feed the outside tribe is built onto the house, so it was a quick dash out because my hands were full. You are right, I don’t want to take any chances, if I get sick with something that might be in the rain, which is the way it has been carried to Tokyo from Fukushima in many cases, who would feed my tribes when hubby is out at work. I’ll be careful the next time, and thank you for caring.
11/12/2011 at 11:09 AM
Kalima, in going back to read more of your MB today, the article on Capitalism was most interesting. I came across something that bears some thought…
“The big mistake made by libertarians is to assume that economic and social liberalism go together. Liberal capitalism requires social conservatism. It needs the virtue-generating institutions or there’ll be no thrift, no duty, no honesty, no Protestant work ethic.”
Liberal capitalism requires social conservatism…exactly what the teabaggers would like! Unregulated markets and over-regulation of everything else in our private lives.
I would reject the idea that social liberalism does not generate duty, honesty, etc. Who gave the social conservatives the high ground here? Maybe I’m reading this the wrong way.
Interesting article! Thanks for posting that!
11/12/2011 at 11:55 AM
Em
Come on over. It is a simple recipe. You buy a can of green chile enchilada sauce and pour it on the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish. Simmer your chicken in water and Mexican style stewed tomatoes. Shred the chicken when done and roll it into softened flour tortillas like a closed ended burrito. Lay the burritos in the pan and spread cream cheese over the tops, not too thick but not too thin. Then sprinkle either grated sharp chedder or slices over each burrito until the tops are completely covered. Tent with foil and cook until the cheeses are melted. If you like a partially crisp burrito, spray the tops and sides with pam prior to adding cheeses. You can make a whole tray of them(that is what we call enchiladas made in a baking dish) and freeze them with spanish rice to eat later in the week. My husband and I do it every so often so we don’t have to cook during the week. I hate to cook and so does he, unless it is the BBQ.
11/12/2011 at 9:31 AM
K: I have a friend, a Palestinian artist (Salwa Arnous -- check her out; her paintings and prints are amazing), who actually has PALESTINE as the country of her birth on her passport. You should hear what she went through to get that.
When people say “Palestine was never a ‘country'”, I remind them to look at maps that show that land marked Palestine BEFORE 1948.
Honestly. Makes me so nuts. Deny it, and it will go away. Or shoot it if it doesn’t. Bibi Nuttyyahoo is as big a dick as Cheney.
I wish for all Palestinians as safe and secure a home as I wish for all Jews. I just want a more level playing field for them.
11/12/2011 at 5:33 PM
AB, thank you so much for sharing the work of your friend, the paintings show the face of what I have always imagined life to be like for the Palestinians, their suffering and their constant grief. Like you, I want both sides to live in peace, I want the land stolen from the Palestinians returned to them, and I’m am very disappointed in the U.S. and their stance on this, and the European countries who promised the Palestinians they would stand behind their bid for statehood, then bowing to the decision of the U.S. I’m mad, very mad.
I’ve said it here often enough, the U.S, and their mollycoddling of Israel when they behave like tyrants, is contributing to more and more tyranny against a proud people. Instead of cutting funds to the Palestinians, cut the aid to Israel until they can actually do something positive for peace in that region.
Thanks again for the link, the paintings are outstanding, and the music touched my heart.
11/12/2011 at 5:38 PM
Oh, K! I will share with Salwa. I now only see her about once a year, which saddens me. But I love her like a sister. The Blov went to Palestine WITH Salwa that year that forever changed us both on the issue.
Send me an email and a postal for you; I will eventually get you an amazing video.
The one painting I love most is the one of the man covering his face. She painted a duo -- Grieving Father and Grieving Mother. Mother sold, and if I ever have extra cash, I’m buying Father.
One of my host moms had “discovered” Salwa, and had purchased one of her paintings BEFORE I ever met her. We have a woodblock print of boats along the Nile. Simply beautiful, and probably our favorite piece of art.
Thanks again, and I know Salwa will appreciate it. -- AB
11/12/2011 at 6:22 PM
On this issue I can only speak the truth, it is amoral what is being done to and has been done to these people, generation after generation, and things becoming worse, not better, I feel very strongly about it, and always have, even though I was against the terrorism. They deserve their stolen land back, more was stolen to make Israel’s own “Berlin Wall”, and they deserve an equal place at the table.
I’ll send you my address, but will be upset that you will have to pay for the postage. Can’t you find some healthy pigeon, or a flying mule?
11/12/2011 at 7:28 PM
Ok, sweet dreams and all that crap then.
We would make a great team then, you and your mouth, me and mine. I remember you talking often about the Blov’s trip over there, and then I thought you had lost most of your data when your computer crashed, happy that something as important as this was saved.
Can’t really imagine having to buy friends, I’d be forever looking over my shoulder or having to make lame excuses whenever they embarrassed me.
In the end it won’t be that they feel any shame from the international outrage whenever they do something that demands it, it will come from their own citizens, who when polled recently, were quite high in percentage for “Yes” to a Palestinian statehood.
Rest well you ultra busy girl, take a close look at those sheep you are are counting about now, one might have my face and be waving at you, please wave back.. 😀 Good night AB.
K: I don’t mind at all. Really. Trust me, it’s so nice to be able to pay postage and get something somewhere, as opposed to having to find couriers to take things to AFG.
I agree -- the Blov has an outstanding PPT on the Wall in Palestine/Israel and the Berlin Wall.
I will never stay quiet about the matter; as good old Jesus said: Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free. And I have photos and the Blov’s first hand experience; and I have a mouth the size of Russia, so keeping quiet on the subject doesn’t work.
But I have to say: since 2003, when the Blov went, I have seen a marked increase in people here in the U.S. who are now tuned into the issue, and who are questioning our motives. For the first time, ever. Makes me have that hope thingy-ma-bob.
When you have to pay someone to be your “friend”, you’re not really that well liked. It goes to our relationship with Israel, and our relationship trying to buy them friends in Egypt and Jordan.
To quote Stephen Bruton (RIP) from Rich Man’s War -- “when you buy an ally, you can treat ’em like a whore”. Guess who “bought” us????
We give Israel $8.2 million a DAY in military aid. That sucks. No other way to put it.
Now, off to bed for me. Sweet dreams and all that crap. It’s a rich man’s war, but it’s a poor man’s fight. -- AB
11/12/2011 at 9:07 AM
Yell-o K & Em!
Open house tomorrow. The horrid chirren in the McMansion behind us were screaming as usual. Blov shouted Shuddup, at which point they lined up at the fence and screamed even more loudly. I then told the Pup to look and see: it makes so difference how much $$ you have, you can still be white trash. The little darlings then yelled in unison: We’re calling the police! And I replied “FOR WHAT??” That made the never present mummy and dada come usher the little darlings inside.
This man was one of the Obama haters from WAAAYYY back, and proudly and stupidly kept his No Socialism sign in the yard way past its due date.
GRRRRR. I love children, but hate it when parents allow them to harass and bother those with whom they share no DNA. They -like their rich trash dad -- are rude. AB is gonna nip ’em next time….
SO: I’m guessing the Chinese used the Popeil Pocket Fisherman fishing rod. Just cuz I wanted to say “Popeil”.
Trust your weather will change soon, dear Ms. K.
And Em: SO fun on VOX wit ya last night…..
11/12/2011 at 9:45 AM
HELLO, AB! It was great fun indeed! You are a gem and I love it when you are there on VP!
Sounds like trouble in paradise! I am so glad that I live out in the “boonies” with virtually no neighbors within earshot! Now, if I can keep my shih tzu from barking at NOTHING! She is incorrigible! She watches TV with me and barks at things like jelly fish and men in hoodies!
I figured chopsticks for today’s trivia question, just because they are so prevalent in China, an easy and cheap little tool! Come to think of it, there are lots of easy and cheap little tools in our politics lately! Ha!
I really do wish we could do VP more often than once per week! It is so much fun and I love our conversations without having to wait for the usual reply to comments.
I trust you will have a good weekend! Keep ’em all in line, the Blov and the Pup alike!
11/12/2011 at 9:22 AM
HA, Sue -- fooled ’em. Had the uterus yanked out when I was in my 40s. Best thing I ever did -- can wear white any day I want, swim without worry of sharks, etc.
No, these people have nothing about the Pup or the others. They are just those “my little darlings are so precious everyone will love to hear their screams at 8AM, so Mummy and Dada can get some more sleep” type.
I truly love kids -- have been “Auntie” (or now, Khala) for so many. But there are well mannered children, and there are brats. And sometimes well behaved children ACT like brats. But these children are, I believe, JUST brats. I’ve seen little of them that belies that.
OK, enough. Too nice a day to spoil it sulking.
11/12/2011 at 7:30 AM
Good morning/evening, Kalima!
I would send you the cold weather from here if that is what you would want! It has dawned clear and cold…time for my fuzzy socks too. I let my tribe out early and they both made a quick retreat back to the door to come in from the cold, tails wagging and expecting a doggie treat. What pleasure they bring me!
I started to write a comment about the child sex abuse scandal, but decided to do a piece about it instead. This story has so many implications that we need to examine.
For today’s question, I would have to guess…chopsticks?? I cannot imagine using a vacuum cleaner to steal a wallet out of someone’s pocket!
Thank you again, for putting so much thought and effort into MB! As usual, many very interesting articles. I have so much to read today!!
11/11/2011 at 1:46 AM
Good morning everyone.
A rather rainy and miserable day here in Old Edo today. Where I would usually quite enjoy a day like this, now going out in the rain holds too many “I wonder ifs” for me and I suppose for many living here. Contrary to my promise to always wear some protection, when you have a hungry tribe complaining just a few feet from you outside, thoughts of yourself seem to fly right out of the window.
Hope you have a good Friday wherever you may be, take care and be safe.
Sayonara from my still rainy corner of Tokyo. Mata ashita ne.
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A few stories and opinions from around the globe.
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INTERNATIONAL NEWS
===============
Lowering taxes on the rich will save the economy, right. Now where have I heard that before? 😆
So 50 pence, which won’t even buy you a cup of coffee, axed from the higher income earners, will save us, I have a bridge to sell you. The British delusional “trickle down”. Who is advising them, George Bush?
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Debt crisis: ‘axe the 50p tax rate now to save the economy’
George Osborne should “accelerate” plans to scrap the 50p higher rate of income tax and increase personal tax allowances to help the economy during the euro crisis, business leaders will warn the Chancellor.
They are really all the same, just some of them speak with a different accent.
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Hague facing questions over Libya deal
William Hague, the Foreign Secretary, is facing questions over his role in a controversial oil deal in Libya involving a company run by a Conservative donor.
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Is it any wonder that the country is in a mess?
What happens now to people with genuine claims when someone has been to lazy to do the job they are payed to do?
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£300 million of disability benefits paid ‘without checks’
Hundreds of millions of pounds are being paid in disability benefits to people without a face-to-face assessment of their needs, figures have revealed.
‘Schoolboy mentality hampers political debate’
Westminster is a bizarre microclimate in which old-fashioned gender stereotypes are revived with alarming regularity
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Muslims Against Crusades to be banned from midnight
Home secretary announces ban on group, which burned poppies last November and was planning Armistice Day protest this year
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Murdoch shows aptitude for apologies
Smart political leaders have a special way of saying sorry. Essentially it involves apologising while at the same time emphasising that whatever they’re apologising for wasn’t their fault. James Murdoch, to go by his performance in front of the Commons select committee yesterday, shares this vital skill.
James Murdoch: never has one man known so little, and so often
News Corp chief executive displays total lack of recall when appearing before Commons culture committee
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Occupy London protesters ‘will not obstruct remembrance events’
Activists at St Paul’s Cathedral say they will not overshadow ceremonies on Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday
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Cameron’s ‘blame Europe’ strategy is full of holes – but so far it’s working
Blaming the eurozone crisis for Britain’s economic ills will play well with the Tory faithful, and have Labour on the back foot
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/nov/10/cameron-blame-europe-strategy-eurozone
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Kudos to her. After all of Cameron’s grandstanding and blaming for the crisis in the U.K. which started long before the crisis in Europe, it’s good to see her slap him down. Very good.
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Angela Merkel to David Cameron: support us or we leave UK behind
German chancellor told prime minister that eurozone countries are prepared to draw up their own treaty without Britain
Well the French are great at making excuses. and Sarkozy lacks the backbone to fight on.
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France plots eurozone ‘breakaway group’
France is drawing up plans to create a breakaway organisation of eurozone countries with its own treaty, parliament and headquarters – a move that could significantly undermine the existing European Union.
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Crucial vote for eurozone due in Italian senate
Upper house expected to pass austerity measures, with Silvio Berlusconi to resign as prime minister afterwards
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Berlusconi’s exit – what does it mean for Italy?
Seventeen years of Berlusconi has meant rising poverty, rampant price-fixing, strengthened organised crime, a burgeoning black market and a shocking brain drain. So what next for troubled Italy?
Syria accused of crimes against humanity -- live updates
• Human Rights Watch details systematic abuses in Homs
• Activists say 39 people killed in Syria in the last 24 hours
• Panetta warns against attacking Iran
• Palestinian bid for UN statehood fades
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/middle-east-live/2011/nov/11/syria-middle-east-unrest-live-updates
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Oh I don’t know, after all the people he has ordered killed, imprisoned and tortured, a “fate” like Momo sounds very fitting.
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Syria: Bashar al-Assad urged to take up offer of asylum in Arab world
Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian president, has been urged to spare himself the fate of Col Muammar Gaddafi in Libya by taking up an offer of asylum elsewhere in the Arab world.
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Young girl among 12 killed in Syria
A young girl and six soldiers were among 12 Syrians killed on Thursday as security forces pressed a crackdown on protests and in clashes between troops and army deserters, a rights group said.
Moan, moan, and bitch, bitch. Everyone hide under your bed.
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Iran’s supreme leader warns West of ‘strong slap and iron fist’
Iran’s supreme leader has warned Israel and the United States that Tehran would respond with “a strong slap and iron first” if either launched a military strike aimed at crippling the country’s nuclear programme.
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Moshe Katsav rape sentence upheld
Ex-Israeli president convicted of raping one woman and molesting two others loses appeal against seven-year jail term
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Palestinian Authority to push for UN non-member state status ‘within weeks’
The United Nations General Assembly could be asked to admit the Palestinian Authority as a non-member state within weeks after officials in the West Bank conceded that their bid to win full statehood from the Security Council would have to be put on hold.
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Hamas support on the wane amid crackdowns on political dissent
Prisoner swap boosted popularity but disillusionment grows over corruption and focus on conflict with Israel rather than jobs
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Sirleaf victory in Liberia marred by boycott and violence
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf wins election by landslide thanks to opposition boycott, but insists polls were legitimate
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Rio favelas: key facts and figures
Police in Rio de Janeiro are seeking to take back control of many of the cities main favelas from drug gangs before playing host to matches in the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympic Games.
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New Zealand coal company chief faces criminal charges
Pike River Coal’s former chief executive Peter Whittall faces 12 charges following the explosion that killed 29 miners last year
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‘Burning martyrs’: the wave of Tibetan monks setting themselves on fire
Monks and nuns say leaflets are circulating in monasteries in China listing names of those ready to carry out suicide protests
TRIVIA QUIZ
Yesterday’s answer.
Sleight of hand (it means great manual dexterity, as a conjuror would use, or figuratively refers to deception -- sleight is an old English word from the Norse root sloegr, meaning sly)
Well done again to kes and Emerald.
Today’s question.
What Latin expression, meaning ‘great work’, described the search for the secret of alchemy?
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Richard Nixon claimed Watergate tapes erased ‘accidentally’
Richard Nixon claimed to investigators that an infamous White House recording must have been erased accidentally during the Watergate scandal and that he “blew his stack” when he found out, secret testimony has disclosed.
11/10/2011 at 2:07 AM
Good morning everyone.
Although as yet missing the crispness of Autumn air, today was feeling very close, and I believe that our cooler weather is now here to stay. Roll on the fluffy socks days.
Hope that you will have a good day wherever you many be, take care and be safe.
Sayonara from a very happy corner of Tokyo, after finding our favourite Welshman doing well, and looking better than he has for a very long time.
Mata ashita ne.
A few stories and opinions from around the globe.
================================
Tepco told to revise Fukushima road map
Utility ordered to remove spent fuel a year earlier
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
===============
He backed George Osborne on a plan that is failing. He backed Liam Fox when his scandal came to light. He let Andy Couson have first hand information about sensitive issues he had no business knowing about. I hope that he doesn’t bet on the horses, he seems to have an uncanny knack of backing the losers.
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David Cameron backs Theresa May on border control pilot
The Prime Minister is accused of running “a shambolic Government” by Labour leader Ed Miliband as he defends his Home Secretary’s pilot scheme to relax border controls.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/david-cameron/8878935/David-Cameron-backs-Theresa-May-on-border-control-pilot.html
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Widen the drain holes, the flood of disasters are starting. When I hear the word “private” in context to health care, I can’t help but cringe.
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Private company to take over ‘failing’ NHS hospital
A private company will today become the first to be given the go-ahead by the Treasury to take over the management of a “failing” NHS hospital, The Daily Telegraph can disclose.
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The elderly deserve far better from the NHS
Making sure that older patients get decent care is the next great battle for the health service.
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A filthy shame
Hospitals will have a greater number of older people to care for in future and must resolve the scandal of inadequate care.
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Politics is bad for our health
Cancer survival rates in the NHS are excellent. But without costly meddling they could be even better
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Head teachers back national strike action over pensions
Millions of children face being turned away from school after head teachers overwhelmingly backed plans for a national strike.
Of course they will oppose this.
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Tories to oppose £10,000 individual party donation cap, leak reveals
Proposal is central recommendation of report into party funding designed to end abuse of big money in politics
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London protests: police put a stop to Trafalgar Square ‘tent city’
Police stepped in to prevent another “tent city” being set up in central London yesterday after protesters attempted to occupy Trafalgar Square.
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London student protests: a street-level view
Thousands of students and protesters marched from outside University College London to protest against tuition fee hikes and the ‘privatisation’ of the higher education system.
The march passed off peacefully, with only a handful of arrests but many protesters complained of intimidation tactics by the police
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Syria: Arab leaders willing to provide safe haven for Bashar al-Assad
Some Arab leaders have told the United States they are willing to provide safe haven to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to hasten his “inevitable” departure from power.
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Syria opposition figures pelted with eggs by angry protesters
Demonstrators accuse Syrian opposition figures of working covertly for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad ahead of their meeting in Cairo with the Arab League.
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Turkey earthquake kills seven and leaves dozens trapped in rubble -- video
Dozens are trapped awaiting rescue as 25 buildings collapse, including two hotels and a school, after 5.7-magnitude earthquake. The quake hit late on Wednesday with its epicentre in the Edremit district, 10 miles south of Van. The disaster comes less than three weeks after a much stronger quake in the same area killed 600 people and left thousands homeless
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Turkish Roma make way for property developers in historic Istanbul district
Sulukule ‘urban regeneration’ programme sees new townhouses advertised at 10 times the price paid to evictees
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Why Iran wants the bomb
Iran’s unanimous desire to have the security of nuclear weapons puts it on a collision course with the West.
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Iran nuclear report: Britain and France push for new sanctions
Iran came under mounting diplomatic pressure on Wednesday following a UN report that it may be trying to develop nuclear weapons, with Britain and France issuing a joint statement calling for new and strong sanctions.
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Iran: bolting the stable door
It really is time to drop the pretence that Iran can be deflected from its nuclear path
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70 Taliban fighters killed
Up to 70 Taliban fighters were killed after trying to attack a foreign troop base in eastern Afghanistan, according to officials.
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Sonia Gandhi’s cancels speech fuelling succession to Rahul speculation
Sonia Gandhi, India’s most powerful politician, has cancelled her first public speech since undergoing suspected cancer surgery, fuelling speculation she will hand power to her son, Rahul.
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Sudan warns it is ready to return to war with South Sudan
Omar Al-Bashir, Sudan’s president, has criticised “continued provocations” by South Sudan and says his country is ready to return to war with its neighbour.
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‘Nigerian Taliban’ threat prompts US military training
US embassy in Abuja refuses to confirm whether help focuses on growing threat from Boko Haram militants
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Raul Castro’s daughter indulges in Twtter spat with dissident
Raul Castro’s daughter and an anti-government Cuban blogger have engaged in a prickly argument on Twitter.
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Charges laid over deadly New Zealand mine blast
Charges over alleged safety failures at the Pike River Mine, where 29 men died in an explosion, have been laid in a New Zealand court.
Yesterday’s answer. Rigmarole and kes was correct.
Today’s question.
Spell the expression: Slieght of hand; Slyte of hand; Sleight of hand; or Slight of hand?
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Brain scanner brings new hope for patients in vegetative state
Patients previously believed to be in vegetative state respond to basic questions through portable bedside brain scanner
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Medicinal tree used in chemotherapy drug faces extinction
Annual IUCN ‘red list’ of endangered species includes upgraded threat to tree whose bark is harvested for cancer treatment
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IUCN red list 2011 – in pictures
The latest update of the IUCN ‘red list’ of threatened species illustrates the efforts undertaken by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to expand the number and diversity of species assessed, improving the quality of information in order to build up a better picture of the state of biodiversity
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Tasers: ‘If officers have a new toy, they like using it’
Tasers are part of the modern police’s arsenal. But how safe are they and why are the guidelines for their use so vague?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-15659821
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Oh absolutely, and to acquaint yourself with a country, their customs and what might be considered bad manners by the locals.
I remember many years ago after hubby returned from a trip to Italy with a good Japanese friend of ours. He told me of his embarrassment as our friend almost emptied a whole restaurant when he began making loud slurping noises while eating his pasta. In Japan it is normal to slurp while eating hot ramen and noodles, in Milan it was an unforgivable faux pas. Not wanting to embarrass our friend in front of the few remaining customers, hubby explained it when they returned to their hotel later.
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The history of table manners
Mealtime etiquette has relaxed hugely since Mrs Beeton’s time. Do manners still matter?
Note: Hi Kalima! Just as I was about to post a reply to you this morning, the site went down. I saved the comment and here ’tis…
Good morning/evening, Kalima!
Good collection of stories, as usual! Plenty to chew on here.
The item about table manners is quite interesting to me. When I was a young “lady”, my grandparents sent me to a rather posh preparatory school. Every meal was served at a “high table”, complete with white linen tablecloth and napkins, and a full setting of silverware. I learned very quickly how to dine, rather than just to eat. No elbows on the table, where to place the knife and fork after using it, proper use of the napkin, etc. These things sound silly now when I think about it. It was stiff and confining to a teenage girl at the time. We were required to eat even fried chicken with a knife and fork, strange for Southerners!
The preparation that I received at that school has served me well over the years in various social situations. I may never be invited to a state dinner at the White House, but if it should happen, at least I will not embarrass myself! I will know how to dress, how to introduce others and converse in “polite” society, and how to dine. I’ve tried to pass these old-fashioned manners on to my grandchildren. Good manners are a gift that I can give them, knowing that it will benefit them in the years ahead. A price cannot be placed on the value.
The answer today would be “sleight of hand”. I always have to stop and think about the “i before e” rhyme.
Thanks for posting the article. It brought back some memories of a more gentile time, and of my beloved grandmother who taught me so much! Have a great day/evening!
Now, I’ll try it again! So far, so good!
11/10/2011 at 4:04 PM
Glad that you saved your comment Em, sorry, the site went down.
It was the same with my grandparents, and no one sat at the breakfast table in their pajamas, you had to be dressed and ready to go. If my grandmother could see me now, she might be cross, then again she might be proud that as of now and in all the years since I left her, I always use a plate, and have never eaten anything straight out of the box or container, except for newspaper wrapped fish and chips in England, and that was only nibbling until I got them home to put on a plate. Eating spare ribs with my fingers for the first time as a teenager, I felt as if I had let the side down. Still, try eating those with a knife and fork. 😀
Again, my pleasure that you found something of interest, that’s what I like to hear. Thank you.
11/10/2011 at 4:22 PM
Kalima, this really did give my memories a little jolt. I guess that happens when one gets older! I will always be grateful for my grandmother’s teachings. She was a great lady and I miss her so much.
While I have no illusions about the “good ol’ days”, there is still something to be said for using good manners, dressing appropriately and conducting yourself in a civilized way. I am certainly not stodgy, prim and proper at all, but there is a time for jeans and a time to get dressed up. I love to dress and go out for a nice dinner at a good restaurant. At least, I know which fork to use!
And you’re 100% correct…spare ribs just cannot be managed with a knife and fork! And the bib is not particularly attractive either! Would never have done at my posh school!
Thanks again for all your hard work to enlighten us! You have succeeded beautifully!
11/10/2011 at 11:35 AM
I’ll rattle on as fast as I can, Kalima! It was nobody’s fault (that we know of…heh…heh…) that the Planet was down for a while earlier in the day. But — blast — why did it have to happen just when I was going to comment on MB!? 😀
Last things (literally) first: If you check out the skulls that are decorated and carried to Mass in Bolivia, you see the funniest things: like stocking caps (skulls get chilly?), cigarettes stuck between their teeth (cause of death?) and military caps (slightly more logical?) Well — funny in a gallows humor sort of way, anyhow? (Too many years in nursing?)
Speaking of nursing, I’m glad Britain is getting a grip on understanding the problem of poor care for the elderly, at least. I know I shouldn’t generalize, but in my limited experience the elderly who don’t have dementia are among the most pleasant people to take care of. (And if there are difficulties because of dementia, it’s certainly NOT the patient’s fault.) The alert members of that generation often have amazing patience and endurance. Having been through the Depression and WWII, they accept the concept of sacrifice without whining — almost to a fault! Often you have the urge them even to take Tylenol. You have to offer food/beverages at bedtime, because they will not ask! They’ve been taught: “don’t complain; don’t make a mess; don’t impose.” Sometimes I wish they hadn’t learned those lessons so well.
The Queen of Schadenfreude. C’est moi. Rick Perry’s flame-out was a sight to behold last night. Forgive me, but the way he kept looking frantically to a bemused Ron Paul to bail him out was priceless. Game over, Senor Perry.
Wasn’t that picture of the guy who murdered the man in the Hawaii McDonald’s creepy? The eyes of a cold-blooded killer. And to think that a man like that was going to have a hand in managing security for high level attendees at a conference — including OUR PRESIDENT! Scary, scary stuff.
Now trivia: This could be embarrassing because I just used this phrase recently, and if I discover that I’ve been misspelling it all along, I’m gonna feel pretty silly. I spelled it “sleight of hand.” Izzat right? (Gonna hafta Google again!)
11/10/2011 at 4:19 PM
Hello kes, you are having a bad break in choosing to comment when we go down, and I’m so sorry, we are working on the problem with our server.
So glad you saw those hilarious skulls too kes, it seems like such a fun way to remember your dead.
Perry’s fall from grace was pure delight, the man is obviously very dumb, now more people will know that, but for some, they of course won’t be able to join the dots. The press and the blogs however, had a wicked field day. Prosit! 😀
Yes I’m so glad that the neglect in nursing and care is being exposed on almost a daily basis, makes it harder for the blasted Tories to deny it, or leave it rotting on some musty shelf.
With you on that guy’s eyes, who hires these crackpots anyway?
I suppose when you said you were just rattling through, that it means you are working again today. Have a safe journey home, and then I want to see those tired feet up.
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One in five staff passholders in the House of Lords linked to lobbying
Guardian survey shows that, excluding obviously junior outside interests, 172 of 646 staff working for lords have lobbying links
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Nick Clegg vetoes Conservative donor’s idea to help firms sack workers
Deputy PM blocks plan backed by No 10 guru Steve Hilton to promote growth but Lib Dems open to other labour reforms
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Student fees protest: who is behind latest London demonstrations
Thousands of students and demonstrators are expected to gather for protests against tuition fees on Wednesday. Here is a look at some of the groups involved in the large scale demonstration.
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Met accused of trying to scare off protesters with warning letter
Force writes to anyone previously arrested for public order offences before demonstration in central London on Wednesday
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/nov/08/met-accused-scare-protesters-letter
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These reports are coming fast and furious, but what will be done about it with the Tories in charge?
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‘Age discrimination within NHS’ leaves elderly neglected
Appalling standards of care on some NHS wards have led to complaints of neglect of elderly patients increasing by more than a third over the past year, according to a new report.
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NHS care quality comes under fire
Report highlights how some patients were denied pain relief by nurses and were sometimes left without food and water
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So they can’t find work, but it’s alright to use them as forced unpaid labour.
————
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Jobless to be forced into community work
People unemployed for more than two years could be forced to do compulsory community work or have their benefits cut, David Cameron has announced.
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Britain can’t afford to bet its future on shale gas -- wind turbines are here to stay
Diversity of energy sources increases our security: renewables, fossil fuels and nuclear power are not mutually exclusive.
————
Italy greets Silvio Berlusconi’s resignation with relief and concern
Rome grinds to a halt as prime minister announces decision to step down later this month following vote on budget
—-
Silvio Berlusconi: the rise and fall
Timeline: the political ups and downs of the media magnate’s career as Italy’s leader
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Greece to announce new government ‘today’ as markets hail Berlusconi exit -- live
Eurozone debt crisis: The search for Greece’s next prime minister might finally end in the next few hours, while Italy will also soon have a new leader to replace Silvio Berlusconi
—-
Russian Mars probe stuck in Earth’s orbit after engines fail to fire
Spacecraft was to visit Martian moon of Phobos and bring back soil sample but looks like joining list of failed red planet missions
Is everything back to normal then?
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BP to end cleanup operations in Gulf oil spill
Focus will turn to restoring areas damaged in the oil spill, which the coast guard says represents an important milestone
—-
Occupy protesters plan 300-mile march from NYC to Washington
Protesters to set off from Wall Street to meet up with other Occupy movements on the way to DC
—-
Herman Cain is a monster, says second woman
A second woman who claims she was sexually harassed by Herman Cain identified herself last night, as the Republican presidential hopeful said he would undergo a lie detector test to prove his innocence.
The pot calling the kettle black.
————
Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad calls head of nuclear watchdog a US ‘puppet’ -- video
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad rejects the International Atomic Energy Agency’s ‘serious concerns’ about research and development work by Iran, which the agency described as ‘specific to nuclear weapons’. In its report on Iran’s nuclear programme, the IAEA said it had accumulated more than 1,000 pages of documentation that led it to believe suspected nuclear weapons work was carried out under a ‘structured programme’ until 2003, and ‘some may still be ongoing’
—-
Iran’s nuclear programme: the IAEA report (pdf)
Read the November 2011 IAEA report warning that Iran appears to be on a structured path to building a nuclear weapon
—-
Pakistan floods: why are donors not giving?
There may be several reasons why there is a funding shortfall for the Pakistan floods of 2011.
—-
Afghan soldiers disarmed after attack on Australian allies
Soldier turned his weapons on colleagues at base in Uruzgan province, seriously wounding three of them
—-
Liberian polls deserted after election violence
Nobel laureate Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf is expected to retain Liberia’s presidency even though polling stations were deserted and atmosphere tense on Tuesday, following clashes which saw up to four people killed.
—-
Ugandan president Museveni says US troops will not engage in battle
Barack Obama has dispatched 100 military personnel to aid in fight against rebel group the Lord’s Resistance Army
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TRIVIA QUIZ
Yesterday’s answer. King Arthur’s father. His full name was Uther Pendragon. We have two winners, Emerald and kes, well done ladies.
Today’s question.
What English expression for a long complex procedure derived from a old legal document called a ragman roll?
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Aung San Suu Kyi admits she does not have courage to watch film of her life
Aung San Suu Kyi, Burma’s freed democracy leader, has admitted she has yet to summon up the courage to watch a film portraying her life, as it contains scenes depicting the deaths of her father and British husband.
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‘Sun Biofuels have left us in a helpless situation. They have taken our land’ – video
The collapse of British company Sun Biofuels has left thousands of Tanzanians landless, jobless and in despair for the future. Residents of villages in Kisarawe district thought their dreams had come true as they were promised payments, jobs, water wells and more, but after the company went bust, they were left with nothing. Damian Carrington investigates what went wrong
—-
Israel Shamir and Julian Assange’s cult of machismo
That Shamir ever gained access outraged many at WikiLeaks. Now Assange’s dictator-admiring friend has surpassed himself
—-
Social networking aside, how many close friends do you have?
So much for Facebook and Twitter, most of us have only two real friends. How many do I, and the others we asked, admit to?
Consumer ripoffs amount to £7bn a year, government committee warns
Public accounts committee says methods of protecting consumers fail to keep pace with fraudsters
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Multiple gene test allows more targeted treatment of cancer
SNaPshot test looks for mutations in key genes of patients with cancer so they can be given the most effective drugs
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Turner prize 2011 contenders: George Shaw -- video
George Shaw’s The Sly and Unseen Day show has been nominated for this year’s Turner prize. Painted in Humbrol enamel, these works look at the landscape of his adolescent life, depicting locations near his childhood home in Coventry.
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The story behind the V&A’s new Photographs gallery – audio slideshow
The V&A has been involved with photographs since the 1850s. Now the London museum is bringing together its extraordinary collection in a new dedicated gallery, opening on 24 October. The curator of photographs, Marta Weiss, talks about some of the highlights including work by Julia Margaret Cameron, Roger Fenton, Eugène Atget and Alfred Stieglitz
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
===============
Unbelievable, and then they have the nerve to complain about suspected terrorist infiltration. Great job you are doing in keeping us safe Ms May
————
UK Border Agency staff: passport checks were ‘suspended daily’
The suspension of passport checks on foreigners at ports and airports occured almost daily and lasted several hours, workers claimed ahead of an emergency Commons statement by Theresa May.
—-
1 million to lose incapacity benefits under Coalition reforms
Almost one million people will be stripped of their incapacity benefit payments and forced to look for jobs under major reforms to the welfare system over the next three years, research has found.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-15198431
—-
Imagine what 8 billion pound could buy, or how many people it could save from poverty or contribute to their medical needs.
————
Taxman accused of letting Vodafone off £8 billion
The taxman was yesterday accused of letting Britain’s biggest phone company off paying up to £8 billion in a “sweetheart” deal not available to ordinary people.
—-
Retail sales slump amid fears over euro and job losses
Spending on furniture, clothes and other non-food items declined by 1.8% from September while food held up with 1.8% growth
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/nov/08/retail-sales-slump-job-losses
—-
Amazing, the government witl use taxpayers money to do something that the taxpayers in the regions are against in the first place. The government seems to like to pay money to help anyone except it’s tax paying citizens, even already rich developers.
————
Government pledges £500m to developers to finish stalled housing projects
Half a billion pounds of public money will be used to help developers complete stalled housing projects, ministers will announce today.
—-
Students are fighting not just for education, but the welfare state
Our protest on Wednesday could mark the start of the resistance that breaks the coalition’s cuts and privatising agenda
—-
As a war in Iran draws closer, Britain should press for peace
Tough diplomacy and sanctions rather than an Israeli air strike remain the best option for dealing with the global pariah.
—-
News of the World hired investigators to spy on hacking victims’ lawyers
Exclusive: Investigators followed and filmed lawyers of hacking victims in apparent attempt to gather material on private lives
—-
Société Générale cuts dividends and bonuses amid eurozone crisis
French bank to scrap payouts to investors and reduce bonuses after it was ordered to preserve capital during the bank stress tests
—-
Carlos the Jackal trial begins with a smile and raised fist from terrorist
Carlos the Jackal, the world’s most infamous terrorist of the 1970s and 1980s, began his trial in typically defiant fashion on Monday: with a smile and a raised fist.
Keystone pipeline: State Department agrees to investigate charges
Inspector general launches investigation after conflict of interest charges from environmental groups and politicians
—-
Barack Obama announces fresh aid for US war veterans
President joined by veterans at White House Rose Garden as he seeks to push congressional Republicans to pass tax credits
—-
Occupy Wall Street: a primer
In nearly two months, reams have been written in the media on Occupy Wall Street. If you missed some, this is a brief guide
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2011/nov/07/occupy-wall-street-primer
—-
Finally some justice for his children and family. Hopefully a warning to others who do the same with impunity.
————
Conrad Murray guilty over death of Michael Jackson: as it happened
Coverage of the trial in Los Angeles of Dr Conrad Murray, as the jury finds him guilty of the manslaughter of Michael Jackson.
—-
Threats and arrests in Uganda
A report by Amnesty International warns that the government crackdown on its critics could worsen under proposed new laws
—-
Australian Senate passes carbon tax
Vote is a victory for Julia Gillard, who staked her government’s future on the most comprehensive carbon price scheme outside Europe
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/nov/08/australia-senate-passes-carbon-tax
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Still, I wish he would intervene to halt them. This self destruction will leave hardly a dent in the Chinese stance, even with continued international outrage. It just highlights the utter futility of their plight.
————
Dalai Lama blames suicide protests on Chinese ‘cultural genocide’
The Dalai Lama has blamed a recent wave of Tibetan self-immolations on a policy of “cultural genocide” being carried out by the Chinese government.
—-
China to join Mekong river patrols after murder of sailors
Beijing announces plan to help protect cargo ships in ‘Golden Triangle’ area after 13 were killed on Chinese vessels
TRIVIA QUIZ
Yesterday’s answer.
Shampoo(campo was an instructional verb form of the word press, used in old Turkish bath massage methods)
Looks like Khirad couldn’t contain himself, even though his answer is correct.
Today’s question.
—-
The 1% are the very best destroyers of wealth the world has ever seen
Our common treasury in the last 30 years has been captured by industrial psychopaths. That’s why we’re nearly bankrupt
—-
Pensions dispute gives academics work-life balance
Many lecturers who are ‘working to contract’ over a pensions dispute are finding that they suddenly have time for their families
—-
A fate worse than death: displaying criminals’ corpses
The desire to see the bodies of criminals and despots put on public display reaches across cultures and across time
11/08/2011 at 12:56 PM
Good morning/evening Kalima!
I am so confused by the time change! I wake up at 4am and can’t go back to sleep. My “tribe” wants to go out…in the dark! It will take a couple of weeks to get my internal clock back on track.
Great collection of articles today! I noticed another article about the online abuse of female bloggers. This is a lousy state of affairs! I still believe we should invite these ladies to publish their work here at PPOV.
As for the trivia question, I believe that would have to be King Arthur’s father who, with Merlin’s assistance, took on the form of another man to sleep with his wife…nine months later, we had the “once and future king”! I loved these stories! Guess I’m just a silly romantic at heart.
BTW, last year there was a new series on TV here in the States called “Camelot”. It was the story of how Arthur came to be king. It was quite well done, but I have not heard anything about the second season.
As we were discussing a few days ago, that drumbeat for war with Iran is getting louder. I’m very worried about this. Nothing about it could end up with a good outcome for anyone. I don’t know much about the science of nuclear weapons, but it has occurred to me that there could be contamination from a strike on Iran’s facilities. Maybe I’m wrong…I certainly hope so. In any event, it is being discussed on American TV much more in the past 10 days or so. Troubling!
Anyway, thanks again for your usual great collection of stories. I especially liked the photos from space…fascinating to see the planet like that.
Take care…see ya’ tomorrow!
11/08/2011 at 8:18 PM
Hi Emerald, I’m doubly confused about the time zones. The U.K. went back an hour last week, you guys went back on Sunday and I have friends on the EC, the WC and in between like AK and TX. We have friends in Europe, Peru, Brazil, Argentina, Hawaii, Australia, Hong Kong and Tunisia, my world clock for phoning them is always upside down, especially if they change their time.
About the women bloggers Em, I have no idea if they they are payed, and we certainly wouldn’t be able to pay them here. They should ask the people who they blog for, to look into better security against trolls, it’s not really all that hard.
As I mentioned here before, my biggest concern is Israel, who seem to be having a panic attack before any real information is out there to be had about Iran’s nuclear capabilities, and are advertising it for all they are worth, which I think is a bad idea. If you are actually planning to attack a facility, why shout about it?
As always, thanks for stopping by to read, glad you found something of interest.
11/08/2011 at 8:32 PM
Thanks, Kalima! I didn’t think about the lady bloggers being paid for their work. You are right. They need to have a zero tolerance rule for the trolls. We seem to do just fine here!
I don’t understand Israel either. This makes no sense. They also did not guarantee that they would give the US any advance notice of their intentions. I read that several days ago. Apparently Leon Panetta tried to convince them to coordinate with the US, but received no commitment.
Practically every major newscast has mentioned the possibility of war with Iran lately, but America is so caught up in its own problems that it doesn’t pay much attention. Perhaps the MSM is down-playing the story. I’m not sure of what to make of it, but I know that I don’t like the possibilities!
Thanks again for all your hard work! It must take an amazing amount of time to put this all together. I appreciate it so much!
11/08/2011 at 12:24 PM
Gila Bend, AZ--Party Town, USA 😆
Sorry Kalima interrupting all your Important news but while reading them and tweeting them I saw this from Telegraph!
Prince Harry warned over ‘fornicating’ in Christian US town
The mayor of a US town where Prince Harry is staying during helicopter training has warned him to be on his best behaviour with its young women.
Ron Henry, mayor of the 1,700-strong town, has put the fun-loving royal on notice that dalliances with the town’s daughters are unlikely to go down well among the staunchly-Christian community.
Mr Henry, 64, said: “There are probably some fathers here in Gila Bend who would go to extremes to protect their daughters.
“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and we have some very pretty girls here. Some of the dads won’t take too kindly to a Prince fornicating the night away and drinking into the small hours.
“It is a very quiet town with a lot of good Christian people. This isn’t a party town.”
11/08/2011 at 9:08 AM
Good morning/evening, Kalima!
The Tories seem to be inducing a health care system meltdown in Britain, don’t they? Terrible numbers of deaths due to errors. Granted humans are humans and not infallible, but when the “assembly line” is constantly sped up, it compounds the likelihood of errors many times. And having elderly patients either thrown out of the hospital prematurely or “warehoused” there while awaiting the establishment of a decent home care set-up is beyond risky.
Charlie Brooker writing for TV! Look out U.K.! I’m sure it’ll be hilarious and edgy.
I just had to Tweet the article on the scientific evidence that the top 1% are in fact wealth destroyers, and are no smarter, no more hard working than say the mom in Africa who struggles to feed her kids. So well-written!
“Shampoo!” As I said to Khirad: doh!! OK, today’s trivia: I’m gonna guess that King Uther was King Arthur’s dad. 😆
I agree, Kalima. As my dad said of Cain: “Stick a fork in him. He’s done.” Next!
Oh how I love cherries, too. Unfortunately, my favorite version of them is cherry pie. Does that cancel out their cherry-healthful-goodness?
11/08/2011 at 8:32 PM
I’m late as usual kes, you must be at work, come home soon.
What the Tories are doing to our country is unforgivable, anyone voting for them in the next elections should have mental health checks or just be thrown into a padded cell anyway. 8,000 deaths in 13 years, when even one would have been too many.
Looks like The Italian “Viagra” Stallion” is done too. Italy is not out of the woods, but their clown has gone taking his circus with him as he leaves I hope. I’ve heard that Cain blames the Democrats for his problems, and am still trying to figure that bit of nonsense out. No luck yet.
Love Charlie Brooker, never fails to make me laugh out loud. Love cherries too, but straight from the trees, or cold, just out of the fridge.
Greece locked in coalition talks as Italy’s borrowing costs soar -- live
• Negotiations over a new Greek unity government continue
• Italian 10-year bond yields hit 6.66%
• Today’s agenda
—-
US entrepreneurs cash in on Occupy movement
T-shirts, coffee mugs and other merchandise being offered on campsites that have sprung up in cities across country
—-
Herman Cain’s popularity sinks after sexual harrassment allegations
Republican presidential candidate denies claims relating to when he was head of the National Restaurant Association
—-
Arab League warns of ‘disastrous consequences’ for the Middle East after Syria peace plan fails
The head of the Arab League warned of “disastrous consequences” for the Middle east on Sunday as the Assad regime heightened fears of civil war in Syria by inflicting a fresh round of bloodshed on its people.
—-
Syria crackdown continues prompting urgent Arab League talks
Arab League arranges emergency meeting to discuss Assad’s failure to stick to peace plan after death of 13 on Islamic holy day
—-
Ehud Barak refuses to rule out military strike against Iran
Ehud Barak, the Israeli defence minister, refused to rule out military action against Iran yesterday, heightening expectations that his government is preparing to authorise an attack on Tehran’s nuclear facilities.
—-
IAEA due to expose Iranian nuclear weapons design and testing facility
The UN nuclear watchdog will unveil details of an advanced warhead blueprint and a site where it may have been tested, reports say
—-
Imran Khan predicts ‘a revolution’ in Pakistani politics
Former national cricket captain vows to fight corruption and negotiate with the Taliban in address to 100,000 at Lahore rally
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US warns of attacks on luxury Nigerian hotels after 150 killed
The US has warned that a militant Islamist group is planning to bomb three luxury hotels in Abuja after 150 people were killed in coordinated attacks in northeast Nigeria.
—-
Somalis revel on Mogadishu’s safe beaches for first time in three years
Roads are being repaired and air and sea traffic has increased after the retreat of the militant group al-Shabaab
—-
Members of FARC ‘ collaborated in murder of commander-in-chief’ Alfonso Cano
Members of Farc, Colombia’s Marxist rebel group, collaborated in the operation that killed Alfonso Cano, their commander-in-chief, according to President Juan Manuel Santos.
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Retired general Otto Perez wins Guatemala presidential election
Rightwinger takes victory in runoff ballot after promising to send army into battle against drug cartels
TRIVIA QUIZ
Yesterday’s answer.
Baseball.The city has produced an amazing number of major league ballplayers, many of them All-Stars, and some who return from November to February to play winter league games.
Today’s question.
The Hindi word campo, meaning press, is the origin of what word for a modern consumable product and related verb?
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Who knows where the occupations are going – it’s just great to be moving
As Wall Street wormed its way into everyone’s life, so Occupy protests grow everywhere: symbolic for now, but changing debate
—-
Inside the unit for the UK’s most disturbed female offenders
The Orchard is a medium-security hospital that rehabilitates women with convictions for violence. Sarah Boseley talks to some of them
I have been murdered and replaced with a suspicious facsimile. In running shoes
I’m jogging, exercising, using gyms – a betrayal of everything I stand for
—-
Featured photojournalist: Navesh Chitrakar
Navesh Chitrakar was born in Kathmandu in 1986, into a family of artists, photographers and journalists. After college, Navesh worked for the Himalayan Times, and two years ago joined Reuters. Here he captures the spirit of the Chhath and Tihar festivals in Nepal, which took place this week
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Eid al-Adha around the world -- in pictures
The festival is an important religious holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide to commemorate the willingness of the prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience
11/07/2011 at 3:39 PM
Good evening/morning, Kalima!
Had to run a few errands and I was mulling that tricky trivia question while I was in the car. (Yes, I am weird.) I’m having a tough time with this one. It’s a consumable AND has a verb form? Could it possibly be something related to champagne/campaign? The word “campo” is the puzzler… Can’t wait to see the answer on this one.
LATER EDIT: Just realized I forgot to add this great comment on that article on the decline in TV watching in Japan:
I think another reason for loss of interest in television is that people used to the internet or entertainment-on-demand have no reason to sit and wait while other people choose the time, items and then spool it out ever-so-slowly in a tired old formula.
I visited my parents’ house last year and was amazed to find them looking at the clock and saying “oh, the news is coming on..” Then they filed into the living room, sat down and proceeded to watch a feverish man wearing makeup and sitting under hot lights reading from a teleprompter, with a false hammy urgency, a very small selection of stories, chosen out of all the things that happened on the planet that day to fit a half-hour format…and spending 10% of the precious half hour making forced, idiotic “personal” chatter with co-anchors and weathercasters. It was exactly as I remembered it all from 1977. Unbelievable.
Well, Charlie Brooker has done it again. If anyone wants to see how much hilarious self-loathing can result from picking up the habit of running, Charlie’s your man. What a way with words. AND he forced me to look up Keyser Soze on Google.
A very interesting article on the fact that the Japanese are turning off their TVs at a rapid rate. Boy, do I get that. Now that I don’t have cable anymore, I realize how much I do not miss it — except for the occasional Rachel Maddow or Colbert show. But when I remember how much is available on line, I know that I’m saving money and enjoying a little more peace and quiet around the house, too. For the dozens and dozens of cable channels out there, there’s very little that’s worth watching.
It was eerie to read about the use of light in treating cancer. Before she died three years ago, my good friend predicted that light would eventually kill cancer. At the time I more or less humored her, but truthfully could not think how on earth that would ever be the case. I knew she was smart, but she was smarter than I knew.
Silvio really should have been a ME dictator. He clings to power and to the power of denial, exactly the way MoMo did. He’d be well-advised to start planning his escape route right now. But somehow, I suspect it will all come as a bi-i-i-g surprise when he is toppled. Bunga-bunga Berlesconi….
These time zones have us all confused. It will get better right around the time it’s time to spring forward, I’m sure. 😉
EVEN LATER EDIT: Well, I’m not sure how that last edit ended up in the middle of my comment, but trying to fix it made it even worse. So I think I’ll leave not quite well-enough alone! 😳
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Chopsticks
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What large corporation's annual conference is called 'f8'?
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Morning Blog | PlanetPOV
Morning Blog
Morning Blog
Kalima On May - 30 - 2011
Good morning everyone! I hope that when and if you have the time, MB will be the place for you to catch up with friends before you leave for work or start your new day. A place to relax and take a break from serious topics and discussions during your day.
You are free to talk about anything here. Introduce your favourite news stories, videos, photos, funny stories or recipes. Think of it as your space, whether you wake up with the birds or chose to have a lay in, MB is open 24/7. By 5 am EST-2 am PST, I will update MB each morning, posting links and sometimes brief comments to many international news stories and opinions I hope that you might find interesting.
Please feel free to drop in anytime, you are always welcome here. Looking forward to meeting you in your mornings, afternoons and evenings. Have fun.
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Written by Kalima
Long time resident of Tokyo --- "Where is this woman I once knew so well? Memories fading or hurtling by like a howling wind at a speed I can't fathom or define. A star hangs like a teardrop from her eye, quivering but never falling. I search the empty corridors of my soul in hopes of catching just another glimpse of who she once presumed herself to be. Where is this woman who trod with such certainty, where is she now? I mourn her passing as another dawn breaks in my restless heart."
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A quick reminder about the 2nd anniversary edition of MB updates. I’ve just downloaded a photo for tomorrow morning’s updates, and I will be posting a new post. The first 3 people to send me the correct answer to [email protected]
will receive a MB mug of their choice of colour and size, from me. I will leave the photo at the top of the MB post for 24 hours.
GOOD LUCK!
11/20/2011 at 9:29 AM
Kalima
Because we don’t have calendars in our house, I thought today was the 20th and I came in my craft room to see what the quiz was today only to find out I am a day early. But now I know what the quiz is going to be about. I will be checking to see it posted. Oh and for next year we already have a calendar on the side of the fridge lol. Every month I will see a different dolphin but they are all Flipper to me. All those years ago that movie started my love affair with dolphins can you believe it? My aunt and I sat through two showings of it on the same day, that is how much I loved it. I also tried never to miss a showing of the regular series lol.
K, don’t do that, it will be up for 24 hours, or until the next morning’s updates.
I didn’t know that, I mean that you wanted one. Keeping my fingers crossed for you.
Well now I’m confused, 2nd anniversary gifts calls for cotton in the US, paper in the UK and what’s it Japan? No matter you deserve precious jewels for a fantastic job--DAILY!
Thank You Kalima!
11/19/2011 at 6:28 PM
As do you my friend, as do you.
No idea if there is even such a thing in Japan, but if I could choose one, it would have to be NATTO. 😀
😆 K, you caught me dancing on the table again. Old habits die hard.
Two years tomorrow, my how time flies when you are having fun.
Thank you so much, and don’t forget to send your answer, ok?
As you can see, I’m finally back.
11/18/2011 at 10:35 PM
Good Morning from Kalima.
She is having some major computer problems ans she is unable to do her Morning Blog today, she sends her regrets and I’m sure we wish her the best and will miss her “bits and bobs” from around the world.
So from Kalima, “Mata ashita ne”
Kalima, you are missed. And I hope your computer problems are resolved quickly.
Hurry back!
11/18/2011 at 1:53 AM
Good morning everyone.
I’m heading into my weekend in the morning, another day will be spent in cleaning up the house ready for the big cat’s day off on Sunday.
Japan continues with almost daily stories about radiation fallout being discovered all over the northern regions of the country, and as the cooler weather grips us, I wonder and worry about those who have lost their homes and how they will cope in temporary housing. They will be spending their usually festive New Year’s celebrations, an important time for renewal for the Japanese, wondering what the future holds for them, when they can get their compensation, find work, and if and when they can rebuild their homes, their schools and their broken lives.
Hoping you have a good Friday wherever you may be, take care and be safe.
Sayonara from my corner of Tokyo, where the sky now grows dark at about 4:30 every afternoon. Mata ashita ne
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A few stories and opinions from around the globe.
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Simulation determines much of east, northeast likely contaminated
Cesium fallout widespread
Schools in deprived areas stand to lose most in budget shakeup
Thinktank issues warning about single national formula to calculate funding for under-16 pupils in England
http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2011/nov/18/schools-budget-shakeup
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Of course this will only work if you increase the taxes of the rich and filthy rich at the same time George.
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Working pensioners can show George Osborne the way out of this crisis
Tax cuts for the low paid will reduce unemployment by encouraging people back to work.
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Ex-head of MI5 calls on government to decriminalise and regulate cannabis
Change policy and look at alternative ways of combating UK’s drugs culture, says Eliza Manningham-Buller
They must be kidding of course.
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Phone hacking: NI asks judge to strike out exemplary damages claims
Publisher’s lawyer seeks to avoid punitive fines in civil actions brought by Steve Coogan, Sky Andrew and other victims
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Cameron warned his eurozone stance risks forcing two-speed Europe
Angela Merkel wants quick revision of Lisbon treaty to underpin euro and will advise Cameron to table only modest proposals
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/nov/17/cameron-two-speed-europe-concessions
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Looks as if this disgusting creep is in free fall, and this is the man who had a rape case against him dismissed. Just your average family man in the middle of a smearing campaign they said.
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The French call girl, the 11 orgies and Dominique Strauss-Kahn
A French call girl took part in 11 orgies over six years with Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the fallen International Monetary Fund chief, it has been claimed.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/dominique-strauss-kahn/8896606/The-French-call-girl-the-11-orgies-and-Dominique-Strauss-Kahn.html
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Would someone remind this guy that he left the office in disgrace, and that his words are now lower than pond scum.
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Berlusconi says he’ll back his successor – for now. Not a very cheery scenario
The deposed prime minister can deprive the new government of parliamentary support whenever he likes
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Greece: Athens uprising anniversary demonstration descends into violence
Running battles between police and protesters marred a march to commemorate the date of a student uprising in the country in 1973, which saw 50,000 people take to the streets of Athens.
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US man charged with trying to assassinate Barack Obama
A man accused of opening fire on the White House with an assault rifle has been charged with attempting to assassinate President Barack Obama.
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Occupy Wall Street eviction: live
Around 177 people have been arrested in New York as protesters across the United States mount a day of action.
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Extradition request for fugitive George Wright denied by Portugal
Americans want Wright – who was captured by the FBI after 40 years on the run – to serve rest of jail term for 1962 killing
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/nov/17/extradition-request-george-wright-denied
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My first thought when I read this in my morning was, what an elaborate way to distract from his scandals and foul ups. My second thought was, why the waste of taxpayers money, a few guys in clown suits would be much more appropriate.
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Herman Cain assigned Secret Service bodyguards
Herman Cain has become the first Republican presidential candidate to receive protection from the US Secret Service.
Egypt and Syria protests -- live updates
• New draft UN resolution to end human rights abuses in Syria
• Protester return to Cairo’s Tahrir Square
• Fury over Reuters Yemen reporter who also works for Saleh
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World must ‘hear screams’ from Syria
The world must urgently ‘hear the screams” from Syria and do something to stop the bloodshed, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey’s prime minister has said.
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Egyptian activist’s family call for Tahrir Square protest against military trials
Detained revolutionary Alaa Abdel Fattah backed by mother, who is continuing hunger strike until military release him
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Qatar, the tiny Gulf state that has turned into a big player in the Great Game
Qatar has emerged as the pea-sized power behind the Arab League’s tough new stance over Syria.
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Kuwait security crackdown after crowd storms parliament
Emir denounces protest as threat to country’s stability and calls for ‘stricter measures to confront chaotic behaviour’
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Foreign Office admits failings in case of Briton allegedly raped in Egypt
Guidelines on helping victims of torture updated after peace activist claims diplomatic staff failed to help
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Palestinian Authority ‘willing to delay UN statehood bid’
The Palestinian Authority is willing to countenance a brief delay in its United Nations bid for statehood, but only if Israel frees hundreds of prisoners and lifts financial sanctions, diplomats said on Thursday.
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Iran fires up voters with partial lifting of water pipe ban
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s government reverses unpopular ban on smoking in tea houses -- but only for men
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Adml Mike Mullen confirms Pakistan army plot letter
Relations between Pakistan’s president Asif Zardari and the country’s powerful army were plunged deeper into crisis on Thursday after Adml Mike Mullen, America’s former top military officer confirmed he had receiving a letter urging Washington help oust the country’s top generals.
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Husain Haqqani, Pakistan’s US ambassador, offers to resign
Ambassador made the offer over a letter supposedly sent to the US military requesting help after the killing of Osama bin Laden
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Colombian Marxists plotted to sell uranium to Venezuela for ‘distant friends’
Colombian Marxist rebels plotted to sell uranium to Venezuela in the belief that they would pass it on to “friends from distant lands”, according to leaked emails.
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Aung San Suu Kyi says change is on the way
Burma’s freed opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has abandoned her principled demands for the isolation of the regime and believes she can now work to bring five decades of military dictatorship to an end.
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TRIVIA QUIZ
Yesterday’s answer. James Dean for “East of Eden” in 1955, and”Giant” in 1956. Dean died in September 1955. KT got it right, well done.
Today’s question.
How many square feet of lawn does it take to provide a day’s oxygen needs for one person? Hint. More than 550 and less than 630.
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Protest and survive: the Greenham veteran who refuses to go away
Thirty years ago, Helen John was the first full-time member of the Greenham Common peace camp. Now 73, she’s still hard at it, trying to stop drones operating from a UK air base
11/18/2011 at 1:11 PM
Good afternoon/morning, Kalima!
“In a few more years 90% of all internet content will be cat videos,”(said as the bar on the graph flies right past the category labeled “porn.”) 😆
I have to say that the vid of the geese following the drummer may give the cats a run for their catnip, though. That one’s pretty cute.
Boy, the myths that antibiotics can kill the common cold or influenza really do die hard, don’t they? I wonder if it’s partly because everyone wants so badly for it to be true. In this era, in which people simply can’t afford to be sick — ever — they really want to be able to take a pill and have whatever it is GONE in 12 hours. The trouble with miracle drugs is that they lead us to expect miracles. All the time. Sometimes Mother Nature just sets us back on our heels and insists that it is not always business as usual. And there’s not much we can do about it. Other myths that I wish would go away: that pneumonia comes from getting chilled, that hand washing doesn’t matter in the era of antibiotics, and that lying in bed completely immobile for days after surgery is the best way to get well. Nope.
And furthermore…! 😆 While I’m ranting! Not only should “mixed wards” be banned in Britain’s NHS, “wards” in general should be banned! The move here is toward all private rooms, which makes complete sense. A hotel would never book two unknown people to a room — even when they’re healthy! Why in the world would hospitals in the 21st century put complete strangers in — basically — one big bedroom? To facilitate germ swapping? This is a recipe for an infectious disease disaster. There may have been an era in which this was thought to reduce steps and work-time for nurses. But hospitals are not supposed to be for nurses! They’re for patients!
Years ago there was a 5 bed ward for “the poor” in a hospital in CT. The wealthy went to a special 10 bed unit — all private rooms. I thought those days were over with. Just think what the nights must be like on those wards. People coughing, moaning, calling out, getting up to go to the bathroom. Never any privacy. Terrible!
Well, I’ve ranted so long, I’ve left only a minute for my trivia guess, which I will put smack-dab in the middle at 590 sq. ft.? 😀
Well fancy that George. What, no plan B?
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Osborne to miss deficit target as UK economy stalls and unemployment rises
Eurozone crisis hits home as Bank of England cuts growth forecasts and makes grim predictions of a weak recovery
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Coalition sheds crocodile tears over young jobless
Youth unemployment has risen above 1 million, but the eurozone crisis and slow global growth aren’t to blame – the coalition is
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Hands Off Our Land: Now even National Parks are at risk
Restrictions on building in some of the most beautiful parts of the country could be relaxed under new Government plans, The Daily Telegraph can disclose.
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Labour pledges to repeal NHS bill
All provisions that turns health and social care services into a market-based system will be removed, says Andy Burnham
Huh? Thank the Lord that we were married in Brixton.
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Half of population could be barred from bringing in a foreign partner under family visa reform
Up to half the population will no longer be able to bring a foreign bride, groom or relative to the UK under tough new proposals to reduce their burden on the state.
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MI6 foiled suicide bomb assassination plot in Libya
British intelligence foiled a plot by Col Muammar Gaddafi’s henchmen to assassinate Western diplomats and Libya’s revolutionary leadership, the Foreign Secretary has revealed.
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Iraq war inquiry report delayed
Chilcot inquiry panel cites refusal by Whitehall departments to disclose sensitive documents as one reason for delay until summer 2012
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Leveson inquiry told hacking of Milly Dowler’s phone ‘despicable’
NoW’s illegal deleting of murdered teenager’s voicemails gave false hope to her parents she was alive, says lawyer
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Police pepper spray Occupy Seattle protesters
Members of Occupy Seattle clash with police in downtown Seattle over a protest march and are met with pepper spray.
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Occupy protesters prepare for day of ‘solidarity’ across US
Series of events planned to support evicted Zuccotti Park activists by highlighting growing inequality and need for jobs
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99% v 1%: the data behind the Occupy movement -- animation
It has been the rallying cry of the Occupy movement for the past two months -- but is the US really split 99% v 1%? As poverty and inequality reach record levels, how much richer have the rich got? This animation explains what the key data says about the state of America today
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Syrian rebels warn Assad regime they can strike ‘anywhere and anytime’
Syrian rebels warned the government that they could strike “anywhere and anytime” on Wednesday after they exposed the vulnerability of its security apparatus with a string of unprecedented attacks on military targets around Damascus.
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Tunisia’s Islamists hail arrival of the ‘sixth caliphate’
The Islamist politician likely to become Tunisia’s first democratically elected prime minister has alarmed liberals and secularists by claiming the arrival of the “sixth caliphate”, a controversial term for a Muslim empire.
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Kuwaiti protesters storm parliament
Protesters took over Kuwait’s parliament building last night as a demonstration against the prime minister spiralled into violence.
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Iran says missile base blast was not caused by Israeli intelligence
Tehran dismisses reports that Mossad or US was behind the explosion that killed the architect of country’s missile programme
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/nov/16/iran-missile-blast-israel-mossad
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US must stop night raids if it wants to keep bases in Afghanistan past 2014, Hamid Karzai warns
America must stop night raids and house searches and close its military prisons in return for keeping troops in the country after 2014, Hamid Karzai told a national assembly.
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Bombs target Kenya’s aid workers
Two policemen and two security guards escorting aid workers in the world’s largest refugee camp in Kenya were injured when a remote-controlled bomb exploded beneath their vehicle.
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Global campaign to decriminalise homosexuality to kick off in Belize court
Lord Goldsmith involved in attempt to overturn law in country which is first of 80-plus targeted by new rights group Human Dignity Trust
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New Zealand prime minister seeks to block recording
John Key claims he was illegally recorded in a private conversation with an ally just days before the upcoming election
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Chinese man sets himself on fire in Tiananmen Square
A Chinese man set himself on fire in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square in what is thought to be the first act of self-immolation at the scene of the 1989 pro-democracy protests for more than a decade.
11/17/2011 at 7:48 AM
Good morning/evening, Kalima! Another work day here in corn country, so I’ll have to make the most of the little bit of time I have on the Planet this morning.
Shocking story of the neo-Nazi group in Germany that got away with so much for so long. 10 murders and 14 bank robberies in 13 years? Scary, scary stuff. But the really worrisome aspect of the whole thing is the fact that they are suspecting that at least one member of the German intelligence organization (which is supposed to be monitoring this sort of thing) was actually involved! Although the fact that someone who was in something like our Homeland Security/FBI department would also have right wing leanings shouldn’t be a total surprise, I guess. Some “police type” personalities, I think, don’t have far to go to make that leap.
Smoking in one’s own car? Please. I’m not a huge fan of smoking but really, this is too much. The only possible exception I can see is if there are children in the vehicle who are not allowed to open the windows. As a kid I remember being held hostage in the back seat while my grandfather smoked his dreadful cigars and my grandmother resisted any window-opening. That was pretty awful. But when there are only adults in the car? Or the driver is alone? Good grief! Smoke ’em if you’re inclined.
Trivia: Oh, Em! Now you’ve gone and put me on the spot! I really don’t know this one. I think you’re on to something with Larry Olivier, but just for novelty’s sake I say Sir John Gielgud.
11/17/2011 at 8:15 AM
I, as a smoker sees some wisdom in it though. My worst chain-smoking I ever did was driving! There
is just something about driving that lends itself to it with my left hand dangling out the window, my right hand on the wheel. 😆
As such, I now keep the car smoke-free and cut down significantly on cigarettes (and smell) in the process. I always had the front window down though, and cracked down the rear one to try and siphon any extra smoke out. Can’t imagine smoking with the windows closed, and can’t imagine the thick pungent cigar smoke at all. My friend and I tried a slim once and my friend put his out and made me put out mine fairly quick--it was just stinking up his car bad, with our windows all the way down and blowing out of them.
And it should be outlawed when children under legal smoking age are involved. No question about that.
But other than that, this is absurd on its face, of course (I coyly built to this). Are they trying to lampoon the “nanny state”? Is this like an art project?
11/17/2011 at 12:29 PM
Khirad, about two weeks ago I tried E-Cigarettes for the first time. They are great and about half the cost of smoking real cigarettes.
Actually, they are little cigarette sized (slightly larger than real cigarettes) vaporizers. The “cigarette” portion of the device is the battery, with a miniature circuit that activates the cig when you take a puff. The “filter,” part is a little cartridge filled with a nicotine soulution and the solution vaporizes with each puff. No smoke, (just water vapor) no stink, no ashes and no ashtrays. And it tastes and feels like you’re smoking a real cigarette. 98% safer than tobbacco cigs.
11/17/2011 at 1:23 PM
Sue, I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised. I was. It’s almost exactly like smoking a real cigarette, but like I said, no smoke (just vapor), no stink, no ashes, no ashtray, no lighter or matches needed.
I live in a small apartment and just got really tired of stale tobacco stink. Now my apartment smells much, much better, no stinky hair or clothes or breath. And I spend about half as much on E-Cigs than I did on real cigs. Ain’t technology great? Oh, and I am starting to feel better and my sense of smell has greatly improved. 😉
11/17/2011 at 3:26 AM
Good morning/evening Kalima!
I share your smile this morning. The weather is cold and rather nasty today here. Time for those warm sweaters and a bowl of hot soup. We are forecast for mixed snow and rain, and the only problem I have is that I have to make a 100 mile drive to see yet another doctor for the unrelenting headaches. I would much rather stay in with the puppies.
As I scrolled through the articles, one caught my attention…the neo-Nazi problem in Germany. It is shocking that they are rearing their ugly heads again. I know nothing about German law concerning individual freedoms there, but history should be their guide. This group should be banned and wiped out. Germany has suffered enough from the stigma left from WWII. I recently watched a History Chanel program about a kind of “national guilt” that many older people still feel there. Sixty-odd years since the end of the war, we can take some consolation in that most of the Nazis from Hitler’s era are dead. Germany certainly doesn’t need any “new” ones.
The other item was the demand by a member of the medical establishment in the UK to ban smoking in cars! OMG! This sounds exactly like something the republicans would try to do in the US! They are all about “small government” but insist on putting watchdogs into every aspect of our lives, including our bedrooms and our wombs! I hope that none of our right-wingers in this country sees this article! It will only give them the idea about yet another way to control our individual behaviors while ignoring the legitimate and urgent need for jobs! Big Brother is alive and well!
As for the “loo paper”, Six squares should certainly do the job! We must be frugal!!
As for the trivia question, I don’t have a clue so I’ll make a really lame guess…Laurence Olivier! We’ll have to ask Kes! She’s amazing and will know, I’m sure!
Thanks for your hard work! Great, as usual! Have a wonderful evening/day!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Party_Germany
No symbols are allowed. It’s so strict it’s even gotten ridiculous how serious they take these anti-Nazi laws when anti-fascist protesters with swastikas in a crossed out circle have received fines, and Hindus have had to get exemptions to use what was their symbol in the first place!!!
As such, the remarkable part of this story is how they existed underground and committed terrorist acts for upwards a decade in the most unfriendly country to neo-Nazis, and anti-Semites (outside Israel). Many neo-Nazis feel so stifled and complain so bitterly about the “oppressive” laws of Germany (I leave the irony of that to you) that they emigrate to neighboring countries with laxer laws on free speech.
But indeed, as tempting as it is, I think our First Amendment is the way to go. I’d rather have the idiots out in public and freely posting away on the internet. The downside is that they can infect more minds, but the upside is we can freely monitor and stop them before they were to commit such terrorist attacks here, knock on wood.
As an aside, during the 2006 World Cup hosted by Germany, it was the first time German flags were brought out in force. They’ve been so shy and reticent about such colorful patriotic demonstrations ever since WWII, and I quite frankly cried a little to see such joy and the ocean of Schwarz-Rot-Gold being waved. They’re so scarred and ashamed at times (fully self-aware of where excessive nationalism has landed them in the past). I thought it was beautiful that they finally found it was ‘okay’ to be proud again. It was healing not only for getting past some of the neuroses and sensitivity to a Nazi past, but still patching up the wounds after Reunification.
11/18/2011 at 2:07 AM
These groups exist all over Europe, they are also in the countries previously known as the Eastern Block. When it happens in a country where for generations we have faced our collective guilt and shame, it’s big news.
I would rather that this scum was banned from the beginning as we have done. If anyone publicly denies the holocaust they will be arrested, it’s the way we have tried to make up for the horrors of our past. I would rather be in a country that comes down hard on these groups than give way to some idea that everything goes in the name of free speech. How can the vile protests of military funerals be free speech for instance?
This is normal for people living in the U.S.. the same way as any Tom, Dick and Harry carrying a gun, it’s not normal for those of us born and bred in Europe, so I don’t think it’s possible to compare the two. If you are saying that your country is safer because of your free speech, then I would have to respectfully disagree with you because I see no evidence that the U.S. is safer than any other country in Europe, and we don’t own guns.
The swastika symbol is/was used throughout Asia as a symbol for shrines and temples long before the Nazi’s got their claws on it.
Indeed, not comparable.
Both Constitutions are just explicit/implicit in their own ways.
There’s no way to outlaw groups like that in the US because of the slippery slope Voltaire type argument. We all agree those groups are sick and dangerous, but are wary of the precedent to any other group that might be deemed unacceptable to the state in the future. Though we can implement hate crime laws and threats, we can’t prosecute thought crimes, even though Holocaust denial is like collective slander.
With Germany and Europe there is no such compunction because it is a very specific and immediate concern (particularly when it was written after the war) that doesn’t carry those broader lofty philosophical questions. When they say no Nazis, they mean no Nazis. It was its own precedent already. Nie wieder.
I also like the part in the German Federal Constitution that behooves citizens to resist by force any leader trying to subvert democracy and allowing for no powers of emergency law.
11/18/2011 at 3:05 AM
We had the same problem with the Aum Shinri Kyo here in Japan after the Tokyo sarin attack. To ban or not to ban a group who claimed to be a religious group, so would banning them outright, infringe on religious freedom?
Most of them, including their nutty leader Asahara were arrested, and the meager bunch left, decided not to pursue a group as before. They ended up in smaller groups, but were often asked by local authorities to move away because the population didn’t want them in their cities and towns. I believe that they are still being monitored, in fact I’m sure that they are.
11/17/2011 at 3:05 AM
Why has this neo-Nazi thing not taken off here? I mean, not only does Der Spiegel have a big spread on it, but the Guardian is covering it, etc.
Do we, as the SPLC has shown, really think this far-right terror is unrelated to us in the states?
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Also, good article on Self-Harm. Not that I could finish it. Anything like that triggers a flood of memories and a minor quasi-panic-attack in me, and I don’t know why. I of all people should be able to handle it. But as long as it’s out there more and more I think is important.
11/17/2011 at 3:38 AM
Good morning, Khirad! You’re up early too, I see.
We must have been typing at the same time. Your comment about the neo-Nazis was not there when I stared mine. I believe we’ve had some skin-head neo-Nazis here, but they have been pretty much ignored and marginalized. At least, I don’t think they are actively targeting their enemies. I’m sure the FBI keeps a close watch on their activities. I guess there will always be those crackpots and with our rather messy freedom of speech rights in this country, it’s hard to stop them.
Nick Clegg: one million unemployed young people ‘must not be ignored’
More than a million young people are unemployed, figures out today are expected to show.
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Hundreds of thousands of public sector workers to announce plans to strike
Hundreds of thousands of public sector workers are set to announce plans to strike at the end of this month in what will be biggest industrial action for decades.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/8892461/Hundreds-of-thousands-of-public-sector-workers-to-announce-plans-to-strike.html
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That’s fairly obvious Nick. Taxpayers money for anything but improving the lives of the public, is “not right” at any time.
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Taxpayer cash for political parties ‘not right’ during spending cuts, says Clegg
Nick Clegg has become the first party leader to rule out state funding for political parties ahead of an official review due to be published next week.
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These border tensions mask a greater scandal
Britain’s transport infrastructure is creaking -- a new London airport is needed to cope with the huge number of passengers.
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Solar giant ‘could quit UK’ after Government cuts to subsidies
The world’s biggest solar panel maker may pull out of the UK, following the Government’s controversial decision to slash subsidies.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/journalists/rowena-mason/8892601/Solar-giant-could-quit-UK-after-Government-cuts-to-subsidies.html
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There he goes again about the food and drink firms, wasn’t there an episode with a “conflict of interset” angle?
I recently linked to a story about the rise in obesity in the U.K., go figure.
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Obesity advisory group disbanded by government
Panel’s members criticised health secretary’s decision to tackle obesity through ‘responsibility deals’ with food and drinks firms
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Leveson inquiry warned of threat to media freedom
Phone hacking hearing told by News International and Mail group to avoid overreacting with a stringent system of regulation
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-15752168
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Good Lord, I will be so happy when this spineless wimp finally goes away, and preferably to a Swedish jail cell.
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Julian Assange seeks to take extradition fight to supreme court
WikiLeaks founder will ask permission to appeal against high court ruling that he must face sex crime charges in Sweden
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Germany shocked by secret service link to rightwing terror cell
Undercover officer was at scene of Turk’s murder as rightwingers killed 10 times but stayed free for 13 years
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Unions battle PSA Peugeot Citroën over 4,000 French job losses
Carmaker confirms plans to axe more than 5,000 jobs – up to 4,000 in France – after previously stating no full-time French workers would be affected
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Mario Monti to announce new Italy government
Prime minister-designate says he has ‘defined picture’ of administration amid concern over possible role for Berlusconi ally
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Euro crisis: voters prepare to eject Spain’s Socialists for Mariano Rajoy
Mariano Rajoy is poised to become Spain’s new prime minister at the weekend after an election in which voters angry at austerity measures have spurned the incumbent Socialist Party.
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Tens of thousands of businessmen forced to flee Russia claims former top banker
UP to 30,000 bankers, businessmen and financiers have been driven out of Russia by Vladimir Putin’s ever-tightening grip on the country’s political and commercial life, according to a prominent exile at the centre of a major banking controversy.
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Occupy Wall Street: judge backs mayor Michael Bloomberg’s move to evict camp
Occupy Wall Street, the New York protest camp that inspired anti-capitalist demonstrations across the world, has been demolished after protesters were evicted by police.
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Brookfield Properties’ letter to Michael Bloomberg
Read the letter from Brookfield CEO Ric Clark on the ‘substantial adverse impact’ the property firm believes the Occupy Wall Street camp is having on the local community
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Occupy Wall Street protesters return to Manhattan park despite ruling
New York mayor wins legal battle to have them removed, but activists make Zuccotti Park their base again
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Former Navy Seal’s book on Bin Laden’s death branded ‘fabrication’
US special operations command says claims in Chuck Pfarrer’s Seal Target Geronimo are ‘categorically incorrect’
Syria: Arab League meets as defectors attack -- live updates
• Free Syrian Army attack bases near Damascus
• Arab League mulls sanctions at meeting in Rabat
• Political prisoner shot hours after being released
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Fledgling Libyan army steps in to subdue inter-militia violence
Hundreds of men in uniform deployed to bring end to feud that cast doubt on government’s ability to keep order, officials say
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Syrian army defectors attack intelligence base near Damascus
Attacks on President Bashar al-Assad’s military bases come two days after rebels kill 34 soldiers and security officials in Daraa
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Syrian Free Army resistance attacks reported in Homs
Amateur footage from Homs is reported to show evidence of resistance to the brutal state-sponsored crackdown against protests as the Syrian Free Army target government tanks and personnel carriers.
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Syria to ‘boycott Arab League summit’
Syria will boycott today’s Arab League meeting in response to its decision to suspend Damascus from the organisation, according to reports.
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Veteran human rights activist chosen as Tunisia’s new interim president
Moncef Marzouki, a veteran human rights activist, was selected as Tunisia’s new interim president on Tuesday, an official has claimed.
Jerusalem mayor battles ultra-orthodox groups over women-free billboards
Female models erased from advertisements across city after religious lobby brands the images as offensive
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Palestinian protesters dragged off Israeli bus riding into Jerusalem
Six Palestinian activists, clutching national flags and surrounded by dozens of reporters, were dragged off an Israeli bus they planned to ride into Jerusalem after a standoff with police Tuesday.
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Turkey on brink of open confrontation with Syria
Turkey was on the brink of open confrontation over its border with Syria on Tuesday night, announcing its first economic sanctions against Damascus and saying President Bashar al-Assad’s regime was “on a knife-edge”.
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Vulture funds await Jersey decision on poor countries’ debts
Pressure grows to end trade that has made $1bn for speculators but has been blamed for delaying recovery of war-torn countries
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Vulture funds – how do they work?
Funds who buy up debts of countries mired in war and chaos have received payouts of $1bn and are due a further $1.3bn
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Julia Gillard welcomes Barack Obama to Australia
The US President is set to visit Canberra and Darwin on a brief 26-hour visit to the country.
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Britain demands release of Burmese political prisoners
Britain demanded the release of leading Burmese political prisoners on Tuesday, as Andrew Mitchell, the International Development secretary became the first senior figure to meet with the regime president and top leaders.
Good afternoon/night, Kalima! A quick note before I run to the pet shop to replace a goldfish before you-know-who gets here. 😳
Whyyy did I ever got started on this? ‘Nuff said…
Sad as it is to say it, I think that if I lived in Japan I would be grateful to have the iPhone geiger counter. Have we come to this?
I hope justice is finally done in the Stephen Lawrence murder case. And you’re right about the faces of the alleged killers: “dead man eyes.”
Oh those Christmas ads. So many millions spent on persuading us to spend so many millions… Christmas… What was the original cause of all the hoopla? Poor little kid born during Occupy Bethlehem? Anchor baby? Un-wed mother? Remember, folks?
Trivia: Oh gosh…no idea whatsoever! A parrot?
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Libya seeks UK firms to develop oil sector and construction industry
Nuri Berruien, head of Libya’s National Oil Company, said the government would ‘favour our friends’ to develop its reserves
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Syria: Bashar al-Assad ‘increasingly isolated’, says US
The United States has welcomed a strengthening of an international drive against the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad after the Arab League, King Abdullah of Jordan and the EU piled on the pressure.
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Turning the screw on Assad’s ailing regime
Tougher sanctions are needed against Syria to stop President Bashar al–Assad oppressing his own people.
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King Abdullah of Jordan becomes first Arab ruler to call on Syria’s Bashar al-Assad to go
King Abdullah of Jordan has become the first Arab ruler to call on Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian president, to step down.
IMF sounds warning for Chinese banking system
China’s banks face ‘steady build-up of financial sector vulnerabilities’, according to IMF report
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Spooks, suspicion and slumps, the harsh reality of investing in China
Anthony Bolton turns to private investigators after investors in Fidelity’s China fund suffer losses of 21%
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Aung San Suu Kyi marks one year of freedom in Burma
Aung San Suu Kyi, the Burmese opposition leader, signalled that she was ready for full scale engagement in the country’s military-dominated politics on Monday and insisted the president was “genuine” in his desire for change.
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Mongolia bids to keep city cool with ‘ice shield’ experiment
Geoengineering trial aims to ‘store’ winter temperatures in a giant block of ice that will cool and water Ulan Bator in summer
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Training scheme sees 900% rise in apprenticeships for over-60s
More elderly are taking up government skills programme, but youth unemployment is expected to hit one million
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UK’s oesophageal cancer rate is worst in Europe
Cancer charity attributes Britain’s poor global placing – equal with Rwanda – to high alcohol intake and growing obesity
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Our human rights are not a fad. We don’t need this Botox bill
Replacing the Human Rights Act could lead to a permanent constitutional revolution rather than a statement of basic values
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Protesters set up camp outside Exeter Cathedral
A group of “Occupy” protesters has set up camp next to Exeter Cathedral, just yards from where hundreds of people gathered to pay their respects to Britain’s war dead at a remembrance service.
11/14/2011 at 10:21 AM
Good afternoon/early morning, Kalima!
Tears of laughter in my eyes at the moment, since I saved the delectable Charlie Brooker for dessert and have just finished reading his video game review. The man almost never misses!
I don’t particularly mind the level of violence in computer games, partly because it’s absurd, and partly because I’m hopelessly desensitised. What I do object to is the dick-swinging machismo that infests games like this. If I had a penny for every time I’ve spent the opening moments of a game sitting in the back of a transport vehicle listening to a soldier called Vasquez repeatedly use the word “motherfucker”, I’d have enough money to buy the Sesame Street game instead. And even that probably starts with Sergeant Grover warning Private Elmo that “Shit is about to get real”.
It only gets better from there. He is a funny, funny man.
Fascinating story about the German musician who had nearly total amnesia, except for the area of music. For one thing, I really had no idea that herpes encephalitis could be so permanently devastating. The cases I’ve seen have cleared up fairly well over a period of a couple weeks. Apparently this does happen about 1:500,000 times, though, I learned. I recall a patient with advanced Alzheimer’s in a nursing home, who could no longer speak at all, but who could still play the piano beautifully. The mysteries of the human brain.
Rick Perry and “forewithal.” Oh, I can see why the language-astute Brits would have a field day with that one. To me, with people like Palin, Dubya, and Perry, the main problem isn’t ignorance. It’s the pretentiousness of thinking that they’re going to sound erudite if they use “big words.” So,if they don’t know the appropriate “big word” to use in any given situation, they simply make one up. And their opinion of all of us listeners is so low that they think we’ll never know the difference.
So now a number of Britain’s “care homes,” which I assume would be the equivalent of our nursing homes, are going bankrupt. Is anyone surprised? I have no wonder about the fate of the poor residents there. Sold to the highest bidder? Unbelievable.
Trivia time: Elephant’s ear? Hmmmmm. In Ohio there is a confection (of sorts) sold at county fairs called an elephant’s ear. I think they are deep fried and probably weigh about 50 pounds apiece. (Kidding!) But for some odd reason, I think I do recall seeing the figure 50 pounds attached to the weight of an elephant’s ear, so I’m going to guess that. Although why I remember silly things like that is cause for some alarm, if I do say so myself.
Don’t I have any better things to do with my mind?
11/14/2011 at 6:24 AM
Good morning/evening, Kalima!
Great work today! I’ve not come anywhere close to reading everything you’ve posted for us. There’s always that second cup and a little more time before I start the chores.
One item…no, two items…the articles about the OWS protests. I am sorry to see that the problems with the camps have caused their disruption and police action in a number of locations. I believe this was inevitable though. Problems for the cities with drugs and crime are only going to be tolerated for just so long before they take action.
We were discussing this yesterday at length. The question remains, where does the movement go from here? Perhaps their best bet is to maintain a vigorous online presence over the winter. I don’t have any other answers. Media interest has waned drastically of late, that is unless there is violence that they will readily cover. The slant by the media just perpetuates the public’s perception that the camps are a nuisance and should be shut down. It’s too bad that a lot of people view them as over-staying their welcome.
I believe that the movement can be sustained over the winter with targeted sit-ins and marches, publicized in advance over social media. That approach may garner a more positive coverage from the press. IMO, the public at large still supports the general message from OWS, but as things stand right now, the movement faces a quick decline unless they change tactics. Perhaps the groups could put a bandaid on their somewhat tarnished image by tearing down the camps and helping to repair the areas, acting as good neighbors to the cities. Moving indoors, if arrangements are possible, might also be a way to keep it alive. I know they want to maintain their visibility, but it is only going to get harder as police departments crack down.
Thanks again for your collection of articles. I do promise to read more later…those nasty little chores have to take precedence this morning. Have a great evening!
Child poverty warning as cuts threaten to close 3,500 Sure Start centres
Flagship scheme for children is in danger as budget restrictions bite, warns former government adviser
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Veterans join Occupy protest as St Paul’s canon shows support
Occupy London’s tents prevent new lord mayor from being anointed on cathedral steps for first time in 800 years
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The week that Europe stumbled to the brink of disaster… and stopped
Prime ministers fell, markets shook and there were rumours that the eurozone would split up. But it survived – for now
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Silvio Berlusconi finally resigns as Italy’s prime minister, to cheers from supporters and jeers from foes
Silvio Berlusconi has resigned as Italy’s longest-serving post-war prime minister, bringing to an end a tumultuous, 17-year political career which was marred by sex scandals, corruption allegations and gaffes on the international stage.
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It’s time for an ascetic, noble Italy to replace the crass Berlusconi version
The fetish of the ‘lovable rogue’ showed up the worst of our national character. The best may yet emerge
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Far-right Finnish politician Timo Soini bids for presidency
Timo Soini’s conversation ranges from Moses to Millwall FC as he reiterates his opposition to the euro
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Blow for Syria as Arab League votes to suspend it and threatens sanctions
The Arab League has dealt President Bashar al-Assad the most humiliating of blows by voting to suspend Syria in a move that could pave the way for UN sanctions against his regime.
And the U.S. support this government, while it drags us all into another conflict, another war?
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Israel refuses to tell US its Iran intentions
Israel has refused to reassure President Barack Obama that it would warn him in advance of any pre-emptive strike on Iran’s nuclear capabilities, raising fears that it may be planning a go-it-alone attack as early as next summer.
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Huge explosion kills at least 27 Revolutionary Guards at Iran military base
Amateur video shows smoke billowing out from an Iranian military base near Tehran following an explosion which has killed at least 27 people and injured 16 more.
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Interview: Lindwe Mazibuko, the new black face of South Africa’s ‘white’ party
Lindwe Mazibuko is the first black woman to pose a serious challenge to the ANC. But can she convince the electorate, asks Aislinn Laing.
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Brazilian police invade Rio’s biggest slum
The raid is part of a policing campaign to drive drug gangs out of the city’s slums, where the traffickers have ruled for decades
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Colombian president calls for global rethink on drugs
Juan Manuel Santos stresses vital role of Britain, America and the EU to ‘take away violent profit of traffickers’
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Eyewitness report -- inside the wreckage of Japan’s Fukushima nuclear reactor
Japan’s stricken Fukushima nuclear plant has opened its doors to reporters for the first time since the March 11 earthquake. Martin Fackler of the New York Times sent this pooled dispatch.
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Japan opens doors to crippled Fukushima nuclear plant
Japan’s notorious Fukushima nuclear power plant opens its doors to the media for the first time since it was damaged in the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.
11/13/2011 at 6:22 PM
Good evening/morning, Kalima! Hope that Robin Hood turned out to be 2 interesting hours and not a prolonged nap. The rob-from-the-rich-to-give-to-the-poor concept does sound pretty timely!
Mr. Kawasaki is an amazing guy. The fellow who’s rebuilding his home after the tsunami. The matter-of-fact way he talks about having saved 7 people during the disaster itself, and then doing the difficult and depressing work of searching for bodies afterward. Wow. And after all the hard labor of re-building, he says that if the government tells him he must tear his house down: “I will cooperate.”
I had to laugh at the chant that greeted Silly Burlesque-only as he resigned in Italy: “Eeed-yote! Eeed-yote!” That one word says it all: “idiot.”
“Care may suffer” is the way they phrase it. Sounds so casual doesn’t it? Kind of like the way Timothy McVeigh discussed “collateral damage.” Oh well. On the relentless march to profiteer off of the health care system in Britain through privatization “care may suffer.” Remember Chaplin’s “Modern Times”? The gigantic machine with the gears that pulled the Little Tramp into itself? I suppose there will be patients who will know exactly how he felt. These Tories really must be stopped.
Trivia time: after a weekend away from home you’d think my brain cells would be rested and I would have a snappy answer. But you’d be wrong. (Just this once.) Nuthin’ up there. So…I’ll just have to guess that if you’re in prison for voter fraud and/or tampering with an election, they won’t let you vote!? 😀
11/14/2011 at 2:05 AM
Hi kes. Well I think that “Idiot” can be understood in any language if the leader had been as bad as “Caligula” Berlusconi, I’m glad they came to see him off. 😀
I have to congratulate the Japanese on their fortitude. When you think of all they have been through since the end of WW11, they certainly know how to pick themselves up, and start all over again.
Today a few more stories about the waning health care, I find something almost every day, each one a little more shocking than the one before. Yes, they must be stopped.
Psst, you got it right kes.
11/12/2011 at 1:42 AM
Good morning everyone, and welcome to another weekend.
All my idle chatter about the cooler weather arriving here, flew out of the window when it became warmer than expected, with 81% humidity here again this early afternoon. Still waiting and still hoping.
Have a good weekend wherever you may be, take care and be safe.
Sayonara from my tired corner of Tokyo, where I’m hoping to put my feet up for a bit before hubby comes home. Mata ashita ne.
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A few stories and opinions from around the globe.
================================
Crisis worker woes, shortage another story
Calm at J. Village belies the danger
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Wounded soldiers face sack under new Army redundancy plans
Wounded soldiers are to be dismissed from the Army under plans to double the number of personnel being made redundant, a leaked memo discloses.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/defence/8885552/Wounded-soldiers-face-sack-under-new-Army-redundancy-plans.html
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So people who can only work part time because of illness or maybe because this is all they can find, are lazy?
What’s next, finding finding harrowing work for wheelchair bound invalids?
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Duncan Smith plans new crackdown on lazy benefit claimants
Part time workers will be forced to work longer hours or face losing their state benefits in the next phase of the government’s welfare reforms.
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Public sector workers to be offered further concessions in pensions row
Ministers preparing to give in to trade unions in contentious area of transferring pensions from public to private sector
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Trade unions to be offered concessions on transfer of public sector pensions
Ministers will impose a public sector pensions deal at the end of the year if trade union leaders reject final peace offering
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Police arrest EDL supporters in London -- video
Scotland Yard confirm over 170 members of the English Defence League were arrested on Armistice Day in order to ‘avert a planned attack’. Sources said repeated threats had been made to attack Occupy protesters camped outside St Paul’s Cathedral. The law states that officers can make arrests if they believe a breach of the peace to be ‘imminent’
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Police arrest EDL members to ‘avert planned attack’ in London
Three bailed and 176 released without charge after reports of threats to attack Occupy protesters outside St Paul’s
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This Veterans Day, we must remember the Iraqi interpreters
They stood by us and helped us do our job and stay alive. Now it’s time to repay the debt and resettle our Iraqi comrades
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It wasn’t me: James Murdoch, Theresa May and a mysterious world of denial
Murdoch and May have shown how people in high places can profess to know the least about the organisations they lead
Yemen’s southern rebels emerge from the shadows
Hirak leader calls for beleaguered regime in Sana’a to accept south’s self-determination demands
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Turkish forces end ferry hijack
The hijacker had seized the Kartepe ferry after it set sail from the northwestern port of Izmit with 18 passengers on board
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Turkey quake death toll rises to 25
Rescuers in Van search for two journalists trapped in collapsed hotel after second earthquake in two weeks
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/nov/12/turkey-earthquake-deaths
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I have many things I want to say about this, but for now will button my lips. I’ll just sum it up with two words, “cowards and hypocrites”, and I don’t mean the Palestinians.
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UN vote on Palestinian state put off amid lack of support
Palestinians to decide whether to press statehood issue after mustering only eight of nine votes needed to win approval
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Sudan bombing of South amounted to a war crime
A Sudanese airforce bombing run on a refugee camp in South Sudan was yesterday condemned as a crime against international law by UN agencies.
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US report warns Sudan’s military is upgrading air bases
Satellite monitoring group says build-up of air resources could be precursor to wider bombing campaign in south Sudan
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India’s Supreme Court denounces Pakistani jail term discovery
India’s Supreme Court has denounced the detention without trial of more than 250 Pakistanis who illegally crossed the border, including four prisoners who have spent more than forty years in jail.
Aren’t you glad that you don’t live in China? 😯
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China tries to stay in control of the web with new rules for reporters
China has banned journalists from publishing information culled from the internet without verification, in its latest attempt at diluting the influence of social media.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/8884120/China-tries-to-stay-in-control-of-the-web-with-new-rules-for-reporters.html
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Here in Japan and even in Tokyo, many years we have had months of everything covered with a fine yellow dust which blows in from China. Researches have suggested it causes many respiratory problems.
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China concedes it underestimates air pollution levels
After a wave of public anger at Beijing’s atrocious pollution, the Chinese government on Friday promised to make its misleading readings of smog levels more accurate.
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China’s chequebook diplomacy runs deep in the Pacific
The opening of a Chinese embassy in the Maldives in the Indian Ocean fits into a long-established pattern by Beijing of pursuing better relations with small island nations in the Pacific Ocean in a bid to win support at the United Nations vis a vis Taiwan, and as a bulwark against American influence.
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TRIVIA QUIZ
Yesterday’s answer. Magnum Opus, and kes in her late night/early morning dash got it right. Well done kes. 😀
Today’s question.
In 2011 street thieves were filmed in Chinese cities using what innovative pickpocketing tools: Fishing rods; Barbecue tongs; Portable vacuum cleaners, or Chopsticks?
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Yuan drain as China’s rich move west
Up to half of China’s millionaires considering emigrating for better education, cleaner air and greater stability
Artistic relations: how family portraiture changed through the ages
An exhibition exploring the portrayal of the family in British art provides some surprising contrasts
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Leonardo da Vinci: ‘An artist who deserves every bit of his fame’ – video
The National Gallery’s Leonardo exhibition promises a once-in-a-lifetime chance to view the artist’s finest paintings and drawings. Jonathan Jones takes a look at this unprecedented show, the most complete display of Leonardo’s rare surviving paintings ever held, and discovers an artist who looks deeply into the human experience
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Rebecca Coriam: lost at sea
When Rebecca Coriam vanished from the Disney Wonder in March, hers became one of the 171 mysterious cruise ship disappearances in the past decade. So what happened? Jon Ronson booked himself a cabin to find out…
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Affairs of the heart, part one: the story of a single heartbeat -- video
In the first of four scientific tours of the heart, Prof Michael Shattock of King’s College London tells the story of a single heartbeat. How does a tiny electrical signal from the pacemaker cells kick off the tightly coordinated series of muscular contractions needed to pump blood around the body?
11/12/2011 at 4:09 PM
Oh that is so sweet of you Sue, and I will try to remember the next time, I promise. Our garage, where I feed the outside tribe is built onto the house, so it was a quick dash out because my hands were full. You are right, I don’t want to take any chances, if I get sick with something that might be in the rain, which is the way it has been carried to Tokyo from Fukushima in many cases, who would feed my tribes when hubby is out at work. I’ll be careful the next time, and thank you for caring.
11/12/2011 at 11:09 AM
Kalima, in going back to read more of your MB today, the article on Capitalism was most interesting. I came across something that bears some thought…
“The big mistake made by libertarians is to assume that economic and social liberalism go together. Liberal capitalism requires social conservatism. It needs the virtue-generating institutions or there’ll be no thrift, no duty, no honesty, no Protestant work ethic.”
Liberal capitalism requires social conservatism…exactly what the teabaggers would like! Unregulated markets and over-regulation of everything else in our private lives.
I would reject the idea that social liberalism does not generate duty, honesty, etc. Who gave the social conservatives the high ground here? Maybe I’m reading this the wrong way.
Interesting article! Thanks for posting that!
11/12/2011 at 11:55 AM
Em
Come on over. It is a simple recipe. You buy a can of green chile enchilada sauce and pour it on the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish. Simmer your chicken in water and Mexican style stewed tomatoes. Shred the chicken when done and roll it into softened flour tortillas like a closed ended burrito. Lay the burritos in the pan and spread cream cheese over the tops, not too thick but not too thin. Then sprinkle either grated sharp chedder or slices over each burrito until the tops are completely covered. Tent with foil and cook until the cheeses are melted. If you like a partially crisp burrito, spray the tops and sides with pam prior to adding cheeses. You can make a whole tray of them(that is what we call enchiladas made in a baking dish) and freeze them with spanish rice to eat later in the week. My husband and I do it every so often so we don’t have to cook during the week. I hate to cook and so does he, unless it is the BBQ.
11/12/2011 at 9:31 AM
K: I have a friend, a Palestinian artist (Salwa Arnous -- check her out; her paintings and prints are amazing), who actually has PALESTINE as the country of her birth on her passport. You should hear what she went through to get that.
When people say “Palestine was never a ‘country'”, I remind them to look at maps that show that land marked Palestine BEFORE 1948.
Honestly. Makes me so nuts. Deny it, and it will go away. Or shoot it if it doesn’t. Bibi Nuttyyahoo is as big a dick as Cheney.
I wish for all Palestinians as safe and secure a home as I wish for all Jews. I just want a more level playing field for them.
11/12/2011 at 5:33 PM
AB, thank you so much for sharing the work of your friend, the paintings show the face of what I have always imagined life to be like for the Palestinians, their suffering and their constant grief. Like you, I want both sides to live in peace, I want the land stolen from the Palestinians returned to them, and I’m am very disappointed in the U.S. and their stance on this, and the European countries who promised the Palestinians they would stand behind their bid for statehood, then bowing to the decision of the U.S. I’m mad, very mad.
I’ve said it here often enough, the U.S, and their mollycoddling of Israel when they behave like tyrants, is contributing to more and more tyranny against a proud people. Instead of cutting funds to the Palestinians, cut the aid to Israel until they can actually do something positive for peace in that region.
Thanks again for the link, the paintings are outstanding, and the music touched my heart.
11/12/2011 at 5:38 PM
Oh, K! I will share with Salwa. I now only see her about once a year, which saddens me. But I love her like a sister. The Blov went to Palestine WITH Salwa that year that forever changed us both on the issue.
Send me an email and a postal for you; I will eventually get you an amazing video.
The one painting I love most is the one of the man covering his face. She painted a duo -- Grieving Father and Grieving Mother. Mother sold, and if I ever have extra cash, I’m buying Father.
One of my host moms had “discovered” Salwa, and had purchased one of her paintings BEFORE I ever met her. We have a woodblock print of boats along the Nile. Simply beautiful, and probably our favorite piece of art.
Thanks again, and I know Salwa will appreciate it. -- AB
11/12/2011 at 6:22 PM
On this issue I can only speak the truth, it is amoral what is being done to and has been done to these people, generation after generation, and things becoming worse, not better, I feel very strongly about it, and always have, even though I was against the terrorism. They deserve their stolen land back, more was stolen to make Israel’s own “Berlin Wall”, and they deserve an equal place at the table.
I’ll send you my address, but will be upset that you will have to pay for the postage. Can’t you find some healthy pigeon, or a flying mule?
11/12/2011 at 7:28 PM
Ok, sweet dreams and all that crap then.
We would make a great team then, you and your mouth, me and mine. I remember you talking often about the Blov’s trip over there, and then I thought you had lost most of your data when your computer crashed, happy that something as important as this was saved.
Can’t really imagine having to buy friends, I’d be forever looking over my shoulder or having to make lame excuses whenever they embarrassed me.
In the end it won’t be that they feel any shame from the international outrage whenever they do something that demands it, it will come from their own citizens, who when polled recently, were quite high in percentage for “Yes” to a Palestinian statehood.
Rest well you ultra busy girl, take a close look at those sheep you are are counting about now, one might have my face and be waving at you, please wave back.. 😀 Good night AB.
K: I don’t mind at all. Really. Trust me, it’s so nice to be able to pay postage and get something somewhere, as opposed to having to find couriers to take things to AFG.
I agree -- the Blov has an outstanding PPT on the Wall in Palestine/Israel and the Berlin Wall.
I will never stay quiet about the matter; as good old Jesus said: Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free. And I have photos and the Blov’s first hand experience; and I have a mouth the size of Russia, so keeping quiet on the subject doesn’t work.
But I have to say: since 2003, when the Blov went, I have seen a marked increase in people here in the U.S. who are now tuned into the issue, and who are questioning our motives. For the first time, ever. Makes me have that hope thingy-ma-bob.
When you have to pay someone to be your “friend”, you’re not really that well liked. It goes to our relationship with Israel, and our relationship trying to buy them friends in Egypt and Jordan.
To quote Stephen Bruton (RIP) from Rich Man’s War -- “when you buy an ally, you can treat ’em like a whore”. Guess who “bought” us????
We give Israel $8.2 million a DAY in military aid. That sucks. No other way to put it.
Now, off to bed for me. Sweet dreams and all that crap. It’s a rich man’s war, but it’s a poor man’s fight. -- AB
11/12/2011 at 9:07 AM
Yell-o K & Em!
Open house tomorrow. The horrid chirren in the McMansion behind us were screaming as usual. Blov shouted Shuddup, at which point they lined up at the fence and screamed even more loudly. I then told the Pup to look and see: it makes so difference how much $$ you have, you can still be white trash. The little darlings then yelled in unison: We’re calling the police! And I replied “FOR WHAT??” That made the never present mummy and dada come usher the little darlings inside.
This man was one of the Obama haters from WAAAYYY back, and proudly and stupidly kept his No Socialism sign in the yard way past its due date.
GRRRRR. I love children, but hate it when parents allow them to harass and bother those with whom they share no DNA. They -like their rich trash dad -- are rude. AB is gonna nip ’em next time….
SO: I’m guessing the Chinese used the Popeil Pocket Fisherman fishing rod. Just cuz I wanted to say “Popeil”.
Trust your weather will change soon, dear Ms. K.
And Em: SO fun on VOX wit ya last night…..
11/12/2011 at 9:45 AM
HELLO, AB! It was great fun indeed! You are a gem and I love it when you are there on VP!
Sounds like trouble in paradise! I am so glad that I live out in the “boonies” with virtually no neighbors within earshot! Now, if I can keep my shih tzu from barking at NOTHING! She is incorrigible! She watches TV with me and barks at things like jelly fish and men in hoodies!
I figured chopsticks for today’s trivia question, just because they are so prevalent in China, an easy and cheap little tool! Come to think of it, there are lots of easy and cheap little tools in our politics lately! Ha!
I really do wish we could do VP more often than once per week! It is so much fun and I love our conversations without having to wait for the usual reply to comments.
I trust you will have a good weekend! Keep ’em all in line, the Blov and the Pup alike!
11/12/2011 at 9:22 AM
HA, Sue -- fooled ’em. Had the uterus yanked out when I was in my 40s. Best thing I ever did -- can wear white any day I want, swim without worry of sharks, etc.
No, these people have nothing about the Pup or the others. They are just those “my little darlings are so precious everyone will love to hear their screams at 8AM, so Mummy and Dada can get some more sleep” type.
I truly love kids -- have been “Auntie” (or now, Khala) for so many. But there are well mannered children, and there are brats. And sometimes well behaved children ACT like brats. But these children are, I believe, JUST brats. I’ve seen little of them that belies that.
OK, enough. Too nice a day to spoil it sulking.
11/12/2011 at 7:30 AM
Good morning/evening, Kalima!
I would send you the cold weather from here if that is what you would want! It has dawned clear and cold…time for my fuzzy socks too. I let my tribe out early and they both made a quick retreat back to the door to come in from the cold, tails wagging and expecting a doggie treat. What pleasure they bring me!
I started to write a comment about the child sex abuse scandal, but decided to do a piece about it instead. This story has so many implications that we need to examine.
For today’s question, I would have to guess…chopsticks?? I cannot imagine using a vacuum cleaner to steal a wallet out of someone’s pocket!
Thank you again, for putting so much thought and effort into MB! As usual, many very interesting articles. I have so much to read today!!
11/11/2011 at 1:46 AM
Good morning everyone.
A rather rainy and miserable day here in Old Edo today. Where I would usually quite enjoy a day like this, now going out in the rain holds too many “I wonder ifs” for me and I suppose for many living here. Contrary to my promise to always wear some protection, when you have a hungry tribe complaining just a few feet from you outside, thoughts of yourself seem to fly right out of the window.
Hope you have a good Friday wherever you may be, take care and be safe.
Sayonara from my still rainy corner of Tokyo. Mata ashita ne.
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A few stories and opinions from around the globe.
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INTERNATIONAL NEWS
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Lowering taxes on the rich will save the economy, right. Now where have I heard that before? 😆
So 50 pence, which won’t even buy you a cup of coffee, axed from the higher income earners, will save us, I have a bridge to sell you. The British delusional “trickle down”. Who is advising them, George Bush?
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Debt crisis: ‘axe the 50p tax rate now to save the economy’
George Osborne should “accelerate” plans to scrap the 50p higher rate of income tax and increase personal tax allowances to help the economy during the euro crisis, business leaders will warn the Chancellor.
They are really all the same, just some of them speak with a different accent.
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Hague facing questions over Libya deal
William Hague, the Foreign Secretary, is facing questions over his role in a controversial oil deal in Libya involving a company run by a Conservative donor.
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Is it any wonder that the country is in a mess?
What happens now to people with genuine claims when someone has been to lazy to do the job they are payed to do?
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£300 million of disability benefits paid ‘without checks’
Hundreds of millions of pounds are being paid in disability benefits to people without a face-to-face assessment of their needs, figures have revealed.
‘Schoolboy mentality hampers political debate’
Westminster is a bizarre microclimate in which old-fashioned gender stereotypes are revived with alarming regularity
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Muslims Against Crusades to be banned from midnight
Home secretary announces ban on group, which burned poppies last November and was planning Armistice Day protest this year
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Murdoch shows aptitude for apologies
Smart political leaders have a special way of saying sorry. Essentially it involves apologising while at the same time emphasising that whatever they’re apologising for wasn’t their fault. James Murdoch, to go by his performance in front of the Commons select committee yesterday, shares this vital skill.
James Murdoch: never has one man known so little, and so often
News Corp chief executive displays total lack of recall when appearing before Commons culture committee
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Occupy London protesters ‘will not obstruct remembrance events’
Activists at St Paul’s Cathedral say they will not overshadow ceremonies on Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday
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Cameron’s ‘blame Europe’ strategy is full of holes – but so far it’s working
Blaming the eurozone crisis for Britain’s economic ills will play well with the Tory faithful, and have Labour on the back foot
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/nov/10/cameron-blame-europe-strategy-eurozone
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Kudos to her. After all of Cameron’s grandstanding and blaming for the crisis in the U.K. which started long before the crisis in Europe, it’s good to see her slap him down. Very good.
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Angela Merkel to David Cameron: support us or we leave UK behind
German chancellor told prime minister that eurozone countries are prepared to draw up their own treaty without Britain
Well the French are great at making excuses. and Sarkozy lacks the backbone to fight on.
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France plots eurozone ‘breakaway group’
France is drawing up plans to create a breakaway organisation of eurozone countries with its own treaty, parliament and headquarters – a move that could significantly undermine the existing European Union.
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Crucial vote for eurozone due in Italian senate
Upper house expected to pass austerity measures, with Silvio Berlusconi to resign as prime minister afterwards
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Berlusconi’s exit – what does it mean for Italy?
Seventeen years of Berlusconi has meant rising poverty, rampant price-fixing, strengthened organised crime, a burgeoning black market and a shocking brain drain. So what next for troubled Italy?
Syria accused of crimes against humanity -- live updates
• Human Rights Watch details systematic abuses in Homs
• Activists say 39 people killed in Syria in the last 24 hours
• Panetta warns against attacking Iran
• Palestinian bid for UN statehood fades
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/middle-east-live/2011/nov/11/syria-middle-east-unrest-live-updates
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Oh I don’t know, after all the people he has ordered killed, imprisoned and tortured, a “fate” like Momo sounds very fitting.
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Syria: Bashar al-Assad urged to take up offer of asylum in Arab world
Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian president, has been urged to spare himself the fate of Col Muammar Gaddafi in Libya by taking up an offer of asylum elsewhere in the Arab world.
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Young girl among 12 killed in Syria
A young girl and six soldiers were among 12 Syrians killed on Thursday as security forces pressed a crackdown on protests and in clashes between troops and army deserters, a rights group said.
Moan, moan, and bitch, bitch. Everyone hide under your bed.
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Iran’s supreme leader warns West of ‘strong slap and iron fist’
Iran’s supreme leader has warned Israel and the United States that Tehran would respond with “a strong slap and iron first” if either launched a military strike aimed at crippling the country’s nuclear programme.
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Moshe Katsav rape sentence upheld
Ex-Israeli president convicted of raping one woman and molesting two others loses appeal against seven-year jail term
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Palestinian Authority to push for UN non-member state status ‘within weeks’
The United Nations General Assembly could be asked to admit the Palestinian Authority as a non-member state within weeks after officials in the West Bank conceded that their bid to win full statehood from the Security Council would have to be put on hold.
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Hamas support on the wane amid crackdowns on political dissent
Prisoner swap boosted popularity but disillusionment grows over corruption and focus on conflict with Israel rather than jobs
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Sirleaf victory in Liberia marred by boycott and violence
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf wins election by landslide thanks to opposition boycott, but insists polls were legitimate
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Rio favelas: key facts and figures
Police in Rio de Janeiro are seeking to take back control of many of the cities main favelas from drug gangs before playing host to matches in the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympic Games.
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New Zealand coal company chief faces criminal charges
Pike River Coal’s former chief executive Peter Whittall faces 12 charges following the explosion that killed 29 miners last year
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‘Burning martyrs’: the wave of Tibetan monks setting themselves on fire
Monks and nuns say leaflets are circulating in monasteries in China listing names of those ready to carry out suicide protests
TRIVIA QUIZ
Yesterday’s answer.
Sleight of hand (it means great manual dexterity, as a conjuror would use, or figuratively refers to deception -- sleight is an old English word from the Norse root sloegr, meaning sly)
Well done again to kes and Emerald.
Today’s question.
What Latin expression, meaning ‘great work’, described the search for the secret of alchemy?
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Richard Nixon claimed Watergate tapes erased ‘accidentally’
Richard Nixon claimed to investigators that an infamous White House recording must have been erased accidentally during the Watergate scandal and that he “blew his stack” when he found out, secret testimony has disclosed.
11/10/2011 at 2:07 AM
Good morning everyone.
Although as yet missing the crispness of Autumn air, today was feeling very close, and I believe that our cooler weather is now here to stay. Roll on the fluffy socks days.
Hope that you will have a good day wherever you many be, take care and be safe.
Sayonara from a very happy corner of Tokyo, after finding our favourite Welshman doing well, and looking better than he has for a very long time.
Mata ashita ne.
A few stories and opinions from around the globe.
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Tepco told to revise Fukushima road map
Utility ordered to remove spent fuel a year earlier
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
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He backed George Osborne on a plan that is failing. He backed Liam Fox when his scandal came to light. He let Andy Couson have first hand information about sensitive issues he had no business knowing about. I hope that he doesn’t bet on the horses, he seems to have an uncanny knack of backing the losers.
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David Cameron backs Theresa May on border control pilot
The Prime Minister is accused of running “a shambolic Government” by Labour leader Ed Miliband as he defends his Home Secretary’s pilot scheme to relax border controls.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/david-cameron/8878935/David-Cameron-backs-Theresa-May-on-border-control-pilot.html
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Widen the drain holes, the flood of disasters are starting. When I hear the word “private” in context to health care, I can’t help but cringe.
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Private company to take over ‘failing’ NHS hospital
A private company will today become the first to be given the go-ahead by the Treasury to take over the management of a “failing” NHS hospital, The Daily Telegraph can disclose.
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The elderly deserve far better from the NHS
Making sure that older patients get decent care is the next great battle for the health service.
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A filthy shame
Hospitals will have a greater number of older people to care for in future and must resolve the scandal of inadequate care.
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Politics is bad for our health
Cancer survival rates in the NHS are excellent. But without costly meddling they could be even better
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Head teachers back national strike action over pensions
Millions of children face being turned away from school after head teachers overwhelmingly backed plans for a national strike.
Of course they will oppose this.
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Tories to oppose £10,000 individual party donation cap, leak reveals
Proposal is central recommendation of report into party funding designed to end abuse of big money in politics
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London protests: police put a stop to Trafalgar Square ‘tent city’
Police stepped in to prevent another “tent city” being set up in central London yesterday after protesters attempted to occupy Trafalgar Square.
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London student protests: a street-level view
Thousands of students and protesters marched from outside University College London to protest against tuition fee hikes and the ‘privatisation’ of the higher education system.
The march passed off peacefully, with only a handful of arrests but many protesters complained of intimidation tactics by the police
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Syria: Arab leaders willing to provide safe haven for Bashar al-Assad
Some Arab leaders have told the United States they are willing to provide safe haven to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to hasten his “inevitable” departure from power.
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Syria opposition figures pelted with eggs by angry protesters
Demonstrators accuse Syrian opposition figures of working covertly for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad ahead of their meeting in Cairo with the Arab League.
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Turkey earthquake kills seven and leaves dozens trapped in rubble -- video
Dozens are trapped awaiting rescue as 25 buildings collapse, including two hotels and a school, after 5.7-magnitude earthquake. The quake hit late on Wednesday with its epicentre in the Edremit district, 10 miles south of Van. The disaster comes less than three weeks after a much stronger quake in the same area killed 600 people and left thousands homeless
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Turkish Roma make way for property developers in historic Istanbul district
Sulukule ‘urban regeneration’ programme sees new townhouses advertised at 10 times the price paid to evictees
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Why Iran wants the bomb
Iran’s unanimous desire to have the security of nuclear weapons puts it on a collision course with the West.
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Iran nuclear report: Britain and France push for new sanctions
Iran came under mounting diplomatic pressure on Wednesday following a UN report that it may be trying to develop nuclear weapons, with Britain and France issuing a joint statement calling for new and strong sanctions.
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Iran: bolting the stable door
It really is time to drop the pretence that Iran can be deflected from its nuclear path
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70 Taliban fighters killed
Up to 70 Taliban fighters were killed after trying to attack a foreign troop base in eastern Afghanistan, according to officials.
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Sonia Gandhi’s cancels speech fuelling succession to Rahul speculation
Sonia Gandhi, India’s most powerful politician, has cancelled her first public speech since undergoing suspected cancer surgery, fuelling speculation she will hand power to her son, Rahul.
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Sudan warns it is ready to return to war with South Sudan
Omar Al-Bashir, Sudan’s president, has criticised “continued provocations” by South Sudan and says his country is ready to return to war with its neighbour.
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‘Nigerian Taliban’ threat prompts US military training
US embassy in Abuja refuses to confirm whether help focuses on growing threat from Boko Haram militants
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Raul Castro’s daughter indulges in Twtter spat with dissident
Raul Castro’s daughter and an anti-government Cuban blogger have engaged in a prickly argument on Twitter.
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Charges laid over deadly New Zealand mine blast
Charges over alleged safety failures at the Pike River Mine, where 29 men died in an explosion, have been laid in a New Zealand court.
Yesterday’s answer. Rigmarole and kes was correct.
Today’s question.
Spell the expression: Slieght of hand; Slyte of hand; Sleight of hand; or Slight of hand?
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Brain scanner brings new hope for patients in vegetative state
Patients previously believed to be in vegetative state respond to basic questions through portable bedside brain scanner
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Medicinal tree used in chemotherapy drug faces extinction
Annual IUCN ‘red list’ of endangered species includes upgraded threat to tree whose bark is harvested for cancer treatment
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IUCN red list 2011 – in pictures
The latest update of the IUCN ‘red list’ of threatened species illustrates the efforts undertaken by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to expand the number and diversity of species assessed, improving the quality of information in order to build up a better picture of the state of biodiversity
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Tasers: ‘If officers have a new toy, they like using it’
Tasers are part of the modern police’s arsenal. But how safe are they and why are the guidelines for their use so vague?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-15659821
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Oh absolutely, and to acquaint yourself with a country, their customs and what might be considered bad manners by the locals.
I remember many years ago after hubby returned from a trip to Italy with a good Japanese friend of ours. He told me of his embarrassment as our friend almost emptied a whole restaurant when he began making loud slurping noises while eating his pasta. In Japan it is normal to slurp while eating hot ramen and noodles, in Milan it was an unforgivable faux pas. Not wanting to embarrass our friend in front of the few remaining customers, hubby explained it when they returned to their hotel later.
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The history of table manners
Mealtime etiquette has relaxed hugely since Mrs Beeton’s time. Do manners still matter?
Note: Hi Kalima! Just as I was about to post a reply to you this morning, the site went down. I saved the comment and here ’tis…
Good morning/evening, Kalima!
Good collection of stories, as usual! Plenty to chew on here.
The item about table manners is quite interesting to me. When I was a young “lady”, my grandparents sent me to a rather posh preparatory school. Every meal was served at a “high table”, complete with white linen tablecloth and napkins, and a full setting of silverware. I learned very quickly how to dine, rather than just to eat. No elbows on the table, where to place the knife and fork after using it, proper use of the napkin, etc. These things sound silly now when I think about it. It was stiff and confining to a teenage girl at the time. We were required to eat even fried chicken with a knife and fork, strange for Southerners!
The preparation that I received at that school has served me well over the years in various social situations. I may never be invited to a state dinner at the White House, but if it should happen, at least I will not embarrass myself! I will know how to dress, how to introduce others and converse in “polite” society, and how to dine. I’ve tried to pass these old-fashioned manners on to my grandchildren. Good manners are a gift that I can give them, knowing that it will benefit them in the years ahead. A price cannot be placed on the value.
The answer today would be “sleight of hand”. I always have to stop and think about the “i before e” rhyme.
Thanks for posting the article. It brought back some memories of a more gentile time, and of my beloved grandmother who taught me so much! Have a great day/evening!
Now, I’ll try it again! So far, so good!
11/10/2011 at 4:04 PM
Glad that you saved your comment Em, sorry, the site went down.
It was the same with my grandparents, and no one sat at the breakfast table in their pajamas, you had to be dressed and ready to go. If my grandmother could see me now, she might be cross, then again she might be proud that as of now and in all the years since I left her, I always use a plate, and have never eaten anything straight out of the box or container, except for newspaper wrapped fish and chips in England, and that was only nibbling until I got them home to put on a plate. Eating spare ribs with my fingers for the first time as a teenager, I felt as if I had let the side down. Still, try eating those with a knife and fork. 😀
Again, my pleasure that you found something of interest, that’s what I like to hear. Thank you.
11/10/2011 at 4:22 PM
Kalima, this really did give my memories a little jolt. I guess that happens when one gets older! I will always be grateful for my grandmother’s teachings. She was a great lady and I miss her so much.
While I have no illusions about the “good ol’ days”, there is still something to be said for using good manners, dressing appropriately and conducting yourself in a civilized way. I am certainly not stodgy, prim and proper at all, but there is a time for jeans and a time to get dressed up. I love to dress and go out for a nice dinner at a good restaurant. At least, I know which fork to use!
And you’re 100% correct…spare ribs just cannot be managed with a knife and fork! And the bib is not particularly attractive either! Would never have done at my posh school!
Thanks again for all your hard work to enlighten us! You have succeeded beautifully!
11/10/2011 at 11:35 AM
I’ll rattle on as fast as I can, Kalima! It was nobody’s fault (that we know of…heh…heh…) that the Planet was down for a while earlier in the day. But — blast — why did it have to happen just when I was going to comment on MB!? 😀
Last things (literally) first: If you check out the skulls that are decorated and carried to Mass in Bolivia, you see the funniest things: like stocking caps (skulls get chilly?), cigarettes stuck between their teeth (cause of death?) and military caps (slightly more logical?) Well — funny in a gallows humor sort of way, anyhow? (Too many years in nursing?)
Speaking of nursing, I’m glad Britain is getting a grip on understanding the problem of poor care for the elderly, at least. I know I shouldn’t generalize, but in my limited experience the elderly who don’t have dementia are among the most pleasant people to take care of. (And if there are difficulties because of dementia, it’s certainly NOT the patient’s fault.) The alert members of that generation often have amazing patience and endurance. Having been through the Depression and WWII, they accept the concept of sacrifice without whining — almost to a fault! Often you have the urge them even to take Tylenol. You have to offer food/beverages at bedtime, because they will not ask! They’ve been taught: “don’t complain; don’t make a mess; don’t impose.” Sometimes I wish they hadn’t learned those lessons so well.
The Queen of Schadenfreude. C’est moi. Rick Perry’s flame-out was a sight to behold last night. Forgive me, but the way he kept looking frantically to a bemused Ron Paul to bail him out was priceless. Game over, Senor Perry.
Wasn’t that picture of the guy who murdered the man in the Hawaii McDonald’s creepy? The eyes of a cold-blooded killer. And to think that a man like that was going to have a hand in managing security for high level attendees at a conference — including OUR PRESIDENT! Scary, scary stuff.
Now trivia: This could be embarrassing because I just used this phrase recently, and if I discover that I’ve been misspelling it all along, I’m gonna feel pretty silly. I spelled it “sleight of hand.” Izzat right? (Gonna hafta Google again!)
11/10/2011 at 4:19 PM
Hello kes, you are having a bad break in choosing to comment when we go down, and I’m so sorry, we are working on the problem with our server.
So glad you saw those hilarious skulls too kes, it seems like such a fun way to remember your dead.
Perry’s fall from grace was pure delight, the man is obviously very dumb, now more people will know that, but for some, they of course won’t be able to join the dots. The press and the blogs however, had a wicked field day. Prosit! 😀
Yes I’m so glad that the neglect in nursing and care is being exposed on almost a daily basis, makes it harder for the blasted Tories to deny it, or leave it rotting on some musty shelf.
With you on that guy’s eyes, who hires these crackpots anyway?
I suppose when you said you were just rattling through, that it means you are working again today. Have a safe journey home, and then I want to see those tired feet up.
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One in five staff passholders in the House of Lords linked to lobbying
Guardian survey shows that, excluding obviously junior outside interests, 172 of 646 staff working for lords have lobbying links
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Nick Clegg vetoes Conservative donor’s idea to help firms sack workers
Deputy PM blocks plan backed by No 10 guru Steve Hilton to promote growth but Lib Dems open to other labour reforms
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Student fees protest: who is behind latest London demonstrations
Thousands of students and demonstrators are expected to gather for protests against tuition fees on Wednesday. Here is a look at some of the groups involved in the large scale demonstration.
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Met accused of trying to scare off protesters with warning letter
Force writes to anyone previously arrested for public order offences before demonstration in central London on Wednesday
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/nov/08/met-accused-scare-protesters-letter
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These reports are coming fast and furious, but what will be done about it with the Tories in charge?
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‘Age discrimination within NHS’ leaves elderly neglected
Appalling standards of care on some NHS wards have led to complaints of neglect of elderly patients increasing by more than a third over the past year, according to a new report.
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NHS care quality comes under fire
Report highlights how some patients were denied pain relief by nurses and were sometimes left without food and water
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So they can’t find work, but it’s alright to use them as forced unpaid labour.
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Jobless to be forced into community work
People unemployed for more than two years could be forced to do compulsory community work or have their benefits cut, David Cameron has announced.
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Britain can’t afford to bet its future on shale gas -- wind turbines are here to stay
Diversity of energy sources increases our security: renewables, fossil fuels and nuclear power are not mutually exclusive.
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Italy greets Silvio Berlusconi’s resignation with relief and concern
Rome grinds to a halt as prime minister announces decision to step down later this month following vote on budget
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Silvio Berlusconi: the rise and fall
Timeline: the political ups and downs of the media magnate’s career as Italy’s leader
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Greece to announce new government ‘today’ as markets hail Berlusconi exit -- live
Eurozone debt crisis: The search for Greece’s next prime minister might finally end in the next few hours, while Italy will also soon have a new leader to replace Silvio Berlusconi
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Russian Mars probe stuck in Earth’s orbit after engines fail to fire
Spacecraft was to visit Martian moon of Phobos and bring back soil sample but looks like joining list of failed red planet missions
Is everything back to normal then?
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BP to end cleanup operations in Gulf oil spill
Focus will turn to restoring areas damaged in the oil spill, which the coast guard says represents an important milestone
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Occupy protesters plan 300-mile march from NYC to Washington
Protesters to set off from Wall Street to meet up with other Occupy movements on the way to DC
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Herman Cain is a monster, says second woman
A second woman who claims she was sexually harassed by Herman Cain identified herself last night, as the Republican presidential hopeful said he would undergo a lie detector test to prove his innocence.
The pot calling the kettle black.
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Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad calls head of nuclear watchdog a US ‘puppet’ -- video
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad rejects the International Atomic Energy Agency’s ‘serious concerns’ about research and development work by Iran, which the agency described as ‘specific to nuclear weapons’. In its report on Iran’s nuclear programme, the IAEA said it had accumulated more than 1,000 pages of documentation that led it to believe suspected nuclear weapons work was carried out under a ‘structured programme’ until 2003, and ‘some may still be ongoing’
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Iran’s nuclear programme: the IAEA report (pdf)
Read the November 2011 IAEA report warning that Iran appears to be on a structured path to building a nuclear weapon
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Pakistan floods: why are donors not giving?
There may be several reasons why there is a funding shortfall for the Pakistan floods of 2011.
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Afghan soldiers disarmed after attack on Australian allies
Soldier turned his weapons on colleagues at base in Uruzgan province, seriously wounding three of them
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Liberian polls deserted after election violence
Nobel laureate Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf is expected to retain Liberia’s presidency even though polling stations were deserted and atmosphere tense on Tuesday, following clashes which saw up to four people killed.
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Ugandan president Museveni says US troops will not engage in battle
Barack Obama has dispatched 100 military personnel to aid in fight against rebel group the Lord’s Resistance Army
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TRIVIA QUIZ
Yesterday’s answer. King Arthur’s father. His full name was Uther Pendragon. We have two winners, Emerald and kes, well done ladies.
Today’s question.
What English expression for a long complex procedure derived from a old legal document called a ragman roll?
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Aung San Suu Kyi admits she does not have courage to watch film of her life
Aung San Suu Kyi, Burma’s freed democracy leader, has admitted she has yet to summon up the courage to watch a film portraying her life, as it contains scenes depicting the deaths of her father and British husband.
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‘Sun Biofuels have left us in a helpless situation. They have taken our land’ – video
The collapse of British company Sun Biofuels has left thousands of Tanzanians landless, jobless and in despair for the future. Residents of villages in Kisarawe district thought their dreams had come true as they were promised payments, jobs, water wells and more, but after the company went bust, they were left with nothing. Damian Carrington investigates what went wrong
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Israel Shamir and Julian Assange’s cult of machismo
That Shamir ever gained access outraged many at WikiLeaks. Now Assange’s dictator-admiring friend has surpassed himself
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Social networking aside, how many close friends do you have?
So much for Facebook and Twitter, most of us have only two real friends. How many do I, and the others we asked, admit to?
Consumer ripoffs amount to £7bn a year, government committee warns
Public accounts committee says methods of protecting consumers fail to keep pace with fraudsters
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Multiple gene test allows more targeted treatment of cancer
SNaPshot test looks for mutations in key genes of patients with cancer so they can be given the most effective drugs
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Turner prize 2011 contenders: George Shaw -- video
George Shaw’s The Sly and Unseen Day show has been nominated for this year’s Turner prize. Painted in Humbrol enamel, these works look at the landscape of his adolescent life, depicting locations near his childhood home in Coventry.
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The story behind the V&A’s new Photographs gallery – audio slideshow
The V&A has been involved with photographs since the 1850s. Now the London museum is bringing together its extraordinary collection in a new dedicated gallery, opening on 24 October. The curator of photographs, Marta Weiss, talks about some of the highlights including work by Julia Margaret Cameron, Roger Fenton, Eugène Atget and Alfred Stieglitz
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
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Unbelievable, and then they have the nerve to complain about suspected terrorist infiltration. Great job you are doing in keeping us safe Ms May
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UK Border Agency staff: passport checks were ‘suspended daily’
The suspension of passport checks on foreigners at ports and airports occured almost daily and lasted several hours, workers claimed ahead of an emergency Commons statement by Theresa May.
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1 million to lose incapacity benefits under Coalition reforms
Almost one million people will be stripped of their incapacity benefit payments and forced to look for jobs under major reforms to the welfare system over the next three years, research has found.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-15198431
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Imagine what 8 billion pound could buy, or how many people it could save from poverty or contribute to their medical needs.
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Taxman accused of letting Vodafone off £8 billion
The taxman was yesterday accused of letting Britain’s biggest phone company off paying up to £8 billion in a “sweetheart” deal not available to ordinary people.
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Retail sales slump amid fears over euro and job losses
Spending on furniture, clothes and other non-food items declined by 1.8% from September while food held up with 1.8% growth
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/nov/08/retail-sales-slump-job-losses
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Amazing, the government witl use taxpayers money to do something that the taxpayers in the regions are against in the first place. The government seems to like to pay money to help anyone except it’s tax paying citizens, even already rich developers.
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Government pledges £500m to developers to finish stalled housing projects
Half a billion pounds of public money will be used to help developers complete stalled housing projects, ministers will announce today.
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Students are fighting not just for education, but the welfare state
Our protest on Wednesday could mark the start of the resistance that breaks the coalition’s cuts and privatising agenda
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As a war in Iran draws closer, Britain should press for peace
Tough diplomacy and sanctions rather than an Israeli air strike remain the best option for dealing with the global pariah.
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News of the World hired investigators to spy on hacking victims’ lawyers
Exclusive: Investigators followed and filmed lawyers of hacking victims in apparent attempt to gather material on private lives
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Société Générale cuts dividends and bonuses amid eurozone crisis
French bank to scrap payouts to investors and reduce bonuses after it was ordered to preserve capital during the bank stress tests
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Carlos the Jackal trial begins with a smile and raised fist from terrorist
Carlos the Jackal, the world’s most infamous terrorist of the 1970s and 1980s, began his trial in typically defiant fashion on Monday: with a smile and a raised fist.
Keystone pipeline: State Department agrees to investigate charges
Inspector general launches investigation after conflict of interest charges from environmental groups and politicians
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Barack Obama announces fresh aid for US war veterans
President joined by veterans at White House Rose Garden as he seeks to push congressional Republicans to pass tax credits
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Occupy Wall Street: a primer
In nearly two months, reams have been written in the media on Occupy Wall Street. If you missed some, this is a brief guide
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2011/nov/07/occupy-wall-street-primer
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Finally some justice for his children and family. Hopefully a warning to others who do the same with impunity.
————
Conrad Murray guilty over death of Michael Jackson: as it happened
Coverage of the trial in Los Angeles of Dr Conrad Murray, as the jury finds him guilty of the manslaughter of Michael Jackson.
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Threats and arrests in Uganda
A report by Amnesty International warns that the government crackdown on its critics could worsen under proposed new laws
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Australian Senate passes carbon tax
Vote is a victory for Julia Gillard, who staked her government’s future on the most comprehensive carbon price scheme outside Europe
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/nov/08/australia-senate-passes-carbon-tax
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Still, I wish he would intervene to halt them. This self destruction will leave hardly a dent in the Chinese stance, even with continued international outrage. It just highlights the utter futility of their plight.
————
Dalai Lama blames suicide protests on Chinese ‘cultural genocide’
The Dalai Lama has blamed a recent wave of Tibetan self-immolations on a policy of “cultural genocide” being carried out by the Chinese government.
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China to join Mekong river patrols after murder of sailors
Beijing announces plan to help protect cargo ships in ‘Golden Triangle’ area after 13 were killed on Chinese vessels
TRIVIA QUIZ
Yesterday’s answer.
Shampoo(campo was an instructional verb form of the word press, used in old Turkish bath massage methods)
Looks like Khirad couldn’t contain himself, even though his answer is correct.
Today’s question.
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The 1% are the very best destroyers of wealth the world has ever seen
Our common treasury in the last 30 years has been captured by industrial psychopaths. That’s why we’re nearly bankrupt
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Pensions dispute gives academics work-life balance
Many lecturers who are ‘working to contract’ over a pensions dispute are finding that they suddenly have time for their families
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A fate worse than death: displaying criminals’ corpses
The desire to see the bodies of criminals and despots put on public display reaches across cultures and across time
11/08/2011 at 12:56 PM
Good morning/evening Kalima!
I am so confused by the time change! I wake up at 4am and can’t go back to sleep. My “tribe” wants to go out…in the dark! It will take a couple of weeks to get my internal clock back on track.
Great collection of articles today! I noticed another article about the online abuse of female bloggers. This is a lousy state of affairs! I still believe we should invite these ladies to publish their work here at PPOV.
As for the trivia question, I believe that would have to be King Arthur’s father who, with Merlin’s assistance, took on the form of another man to sleep with his wife…nine months later, we had the “once and future king”! I loved these stories! Guess I’m just a silly romantic at heart.
BTW, last year there was a new series on TV here in the States called “Camelot”. It was the story of how Arthur came to be king. It was quite well done, but I have not heard anything about the second season.
As we were discussing a few days ago, that drumbeat for war with Iran is getting louder. I’m very worried about this. Nothing about it could end up with a good outcome for anyone. I don’t know much about the science of nuclear weapons, but it has occurred to me that there could be contamination from a strike on Iran’s facilities. Maybe I’m wrong…I certainly hope so. In any event, it is being discussed on American TV much more in the past 10 days or so. Troubling!
Anyway, thanks again for your usual great collection of stories. I especially liked the photos from space…fascinating to see the planet like that.
Take care…see ya’ tomorrow!
11/08/2011 at 8:18 PM
Hi Emerald, I’m doubly confused about the time zones. The U.K. went back an hour last week, you guys went back on Sunday and I have friends on the EC, the WC and in between like AK and TX. We have friends in Europe, Peru, Brazil, Argentina, Hawaii, Australia, Hong Kong and Tunisia, my world clock for phoning them is always upside down, especially if they change their time.
About the women bloggers Em, I have no idea if they they are payed, and we certainly wouldn’t be able to pay them here. They should ask the people who they blog for, to look into better security against trolls, it’s not really all that hard.
As I mentioned here before, my biggest concern is Israel, who seem to be having a panic attack before any real information is out there to be had about Iran’s nuclear capabilities, and are advertising it for all they are worth, which I think is a bad idea. If you are actually planning to attack a facility, why shout about it?
As always, thanks for stopping by to read, glad you found something of interest.
11/08/2011 at 8:32 PM
Thanks, Kalima! I didn’t think about the lady bloggers being paid for their work. You are right. They need to have a zero tolerance rule for the trolls. We seem to do just fine here!
I don’t understand Israel either. This makes no sense. They also did not guarantee that they would give the US any advance notice of their intentions. I read that several days ago. Apparently Leon Panetta tried to convince them to coordinate with the US, but received no commitment.
Practically every major newscast has mentioned the possibility of war with Iran lately, but America is so caught up in its own problems that it doesn’t pay much attention. Perhaps the MSM is down-playing the story. I’m not sure of what to make of it, but I know that I don’t like the possibilities!
Thanks again for all your hard work! It must take an amazing amount of time to put this all together. I appreciate it so much!
11/08/2011 at 12:24 PM
Gila Bend, AZ--Party Town, USA 😆
Sorry Kalima interrupting all your Important news but while reading them and tweeting them I saw this from Telegraph!
Prince Harry warned over ‘fornicating’ in Christian US town
The mayor of a US town where Prince Harry is staying during helicopter training has warned him to be on his best behaviour with its young women.
Ron Henry, mayor of the 1,700-strong town, has put the fun-loving royal on notice that dalliances with the town’s daughters are unlikely to go down well among the staunchly-Christian community.
Mr Henry, 64, said: “There are probably some fathers here in Gila Bend who would go to extremes to protect their daughters.
“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and we have some very pretty girls here. Some of the dads won’t take too kindly to a Prince fornicating the night away and drinking into the small hours.
“It is a very quiet town with a lot of good Christian people. This isn’t a party town.”
11/08/2011 at 9:08 AM
Good morning/evening, Kalima!
The Tories seem to be inducing a health care system meltdown in Britain, don’t they? Terrible numbers of deaths due to errors. Granted humans are humans and not infallible, but when the “assembly line” is constantly sped up, it compounds the likelihood of errors many times. And having elderly patients either thrown out of the hospital prematurely or “warehoused” there while awaiting the establishment of a decent home care set-up is beyond risky.
Charlie Brooker writing for TV! Look out U.K.! I’m sure it’ll be hilarious and edgy.
I just had to Tweet the article on the scientific evidence that the top 1% are in fact wealth destroyers, and are no smarter, no more hard working than say the mom in Africa who struggles to feed her kids. So well-written!
“Shampoo!” As I said to Khirad: doh!! OK, today’s trivia: I’m gonna guess that King Uther was King Arthur’s dad. 😆
I agree, Kalima. As my dad said of Cain: “Stick a fork in him. He’s done.” Next!
Oh how I love cherries, too. Unfortunately, my favorite version of them is cherry pie. Does that cancel out their cherry-healthful-goodness?
11/08/2011 at 8:32 PM
I’m late as usual kes, you must be at work, come home soon.
What the Tories are doing to our country is unforgivable, anyone voting for them in the next elections should have mental health checks or just be thrown into a padded cell anyway. 8,000 deaths in 13 years, when even one would have been too many.
Looks like The Italian “Viagra” Stallion” is done too. Italy is not out of the woods, but their clown has gone taking his circus with him as he leaves I hope. I’ve heard that Cain blames the Democrats for his problems, and am still trying to figure that bit of nonsense out. No luck yet.
Love Charlie Brooker, never fails to make me laugh out loud. Love cherries too, but straight from the trees, or cold, just out of the fridge.
Greece locked in coalition talks as Italy’s borrowing costs soar -- live
• Negotiations over a new Greek unity government continue
• Italian 10-year bond yields hit 6.66%
• Today’s agenda
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US entrepreneurs cash in on Occupy movement
T-shirts, coffee mugs and other merchandise being offered on campsites that have sprung up in cities across country
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Herman Cain’s popularity sinks after sexual harrassment allegations
Republican presidential candidate denies claims relating to when he was head of the National Restaurant Association
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Arab League warns of ‘disastrous consequences’ for the Middle East after Syria peace plan fails
The head of the Arab League warned of “disastrous consequences” for the Middle east on Sunday as the Assad regime heightened fears of civil war in Syria by inflicting a fresh round of bloodshed on its people.
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Syria crackdown continues prompting urgent Arab League talks
Arab League arranges emergency meeting to discuss Assad’s failure to stick to peace plan after death of 13 on Islamic holy day
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Ehud Barak refuses to rule out military strike against Iran
Ehud Barak, the Israeli defence minister, refused to rule out military action against Iran yesterday, heightening expectations that his government is preparing to authorise an attack on Tehran’s nuclear facilities.
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IAEA due to expose Iranian nuclear weapons design and testing facility
The UN nuclear watchdog will unveil details of an advanced warhead blueprint and a site where it may have been tested, reports say
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Imran Khan predicts ‘a revolution’ in Pakistani politics
Former national cricket captain vows to fight corruption and negotiate with the Taliban in address to 100,000 at Lahore rally
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US warns of attacks on luxury Nigerian hotels after 150 killed
The US has warned that a militant Islamist group is planning to bomb three luxury hotels in Abuja after 150 people were killed in coordinated attacks in northeast Nigeria.
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Somalis revel on Mogadishu’s safe beaches for first time in three years
Roads are being repaired and air and sea traffic has increased after the retreat of the militant group al-Shabaab
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Members of FARC ‘ collaborated in murder of commander-in-chief’ Alfonso Cano
Members of Farc, Colombia’s Marxist rebel group, collaborated in the operation that killed Alfonso Cano, their commander-in-chief, according to President Juan Manuel Santos.
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Retired general Otto Perez wins Guatemala presidential election
Rightwinger takes victory in runoff ballot after promising to send army into battle against drug cartels
TRIVIA QUIZ
Yesterday’s answer.
Baseball.The city has produced an amazing number of major league ballplayers, many of them All-Stars, and some who return from November to February to play winter league games.
Today’s question.
The Hindi word campo, meaning press, is the origin of what word for a modern consumable product and related verb?
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Who knows where the occupations are going – it’s just great to be moving
As Wall Street wormed its way into everyone’s life, so Occupy protests grow everywhere: symbolic for now, but changing debate
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Inside the unit for the UK’s most disturbed female offenders
The Orchard is a medium-security hospital that rehabilitates women with convictions for violence. Sarah Boseley talks to some of them
I have been murdered and replaced with a suspicious facsimile. In running shoes
I’m jogging, exercising, using gyms – a betrayal of everything I stand for
—-
Featured photojournalist: Navesh Chitrakar
Navesh Chitrakar was born in Kathmandu in 1986, into a family of artists, photographers and journalists. After college, Navesh worked for the Himalayan Times, and two years ago joined Reuters. Here he captures the spirit of the Chhath and Tihar festivals in Nepal, which took place this week
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Eid al-Adha around the world -- in pictures
The festival is an important religious holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide to commemorate the willingness of the prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience
11/07/2011 at 3:39 PM
Good evening/morning, Kalima!
Had to run a few errands and I was mulling that tricky trivia question while I was in the car. (Yes, I am weird.) I’m having a tough time with this one. It’s a consumable AND has a verb form? Could it possibly be something related to champagne/campaign? The word “campo” is the puzzler… Can’t wait to see the answer on this one.
LATER EDIT: Just realized I forgot to add this great comment on that article on the decline in TV watching in Japan:
I think another reason for loss of interest in television is that people used to the internet or entertainment-on-demand have no reason to sit and wait while other people choose the time, items and then spool it out ever-so-slowly in a tired old formula.
I visited my parents’ house last year and was amazed to find them looking at the clock and saying “oh, the news is coming on..” Then they filed into the living room, sat down and proceeded to watch a feverish man wearing makeup and sitting under hot lights reading from a teleprompter, with a false hammy urgency, a very small selection of stories, chosen out of all the things that happened on the planet that day to fit a half-hour format…and spending 10% of the precious half hour making forced, idiotic “personal” chatter with co-anchors and weathercasters. It was exactly as I remembered it all from 1977. Unbelievable.
Well, Charlie Brooker has done it again. If anyone wants to see how much hilarious self-loathing can result from picking up the habit of running, Charlie’s your man. What a way with words. AND he forced me to look up Keyser Soze on Google.
A very interesting article on the fact that the Japanese are turning off their TVs at a rapid rate. Boy, do I get that. Now that I don’t have cable anymore, I realize how much I do not miss it — except for the occasional Rachel Maddow or Colbert show. But when I remember how much is available on line, I know that I’m saving money and enjoying a little more peace and quiet around the house, too. For the dozens and dozens of cable channels out there, there’s very little that’s worth watching.
It was eerie to read about the use of light in treating cancer. Before she died three years ago, my good friend predicted that light would eventually kill cancer. At the time I more or less humored her, but truthfully could not think how on earth that would ever be the case. I knew she was smart, but she was smarter than I knew.
Silvio really should have been a ME dictator. He clings to power and to the power of denial, exactly the way MoMo did. He’d be well-advised to start planning his escape route right now. But somehow, I suspect it will all come as a bi-i-i-g surprise when he is toppled. Bunga-bunga Berlesconi….
These time zones have us all confused. It will get better right around the time it’s time to spring forward, I’m sure. 😉
EVEN LATER EDIT: Well, I’m not sure how that last edit ended up in the middle of my comment, but trying to fix it made it even worse. So I think I’ll leave not quite well-enough alone! 😳
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