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Taxpayer Beware
You're Facing a Taxing Issue. Now What?
January 20, 2022 California Tax Education Council Season 1 Episode 1
Jan 20, 2022 Season 1 Episode 1
California Tax Education Council
It can happen to the most honest of us. It could be fraud. It could be a financial issue. But it happened. You're facing a tax issue. Is there anywhere you can go to for help?
CTEC Chair, Brandon Chanley, chats with Steve Sims - former Taxpayer Advocate for the Franchise Tax Board and nationally-recognized state tax expert. Hear stories of how he's helped taxpayers with taxing situations and who you can trust for help.
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Thank you for downloading taxpayer beware. This podcast was created by the California Tax Education Council, a nonprofit organization required by the state of California to protect you against fraud and help you find a legally qualified tax professional. There are 40,000 tax preparers registered with the council, also known as CR TPS, CR TPS are one of only four tax professionals approved by the state to do your taxes. Anyone doing business who hasn't met state requirements is breaking the law. And there are 1000s doing just that. Now, here's your host, Brandon Chanley.
Hi, I'm Brandon Chanley, Chair of the California Tax Education Council or C tech for short. Welcome to the taxpayer beware podcast. Today's episode, you're facing a tax issue now what? So it can happen to the most honest of us, it could be fraud, it could be a financial issue, but it happened, you're in a taxing situation. And I think the first thing anybody would ask is Is there anything I can do about it? What can be done? Joining joining us for more insight today, Steve Sims. So I'm going to go through Steve's resume here in case people don't know who Steve is, but I have a feeling by this most of you probably have heard the name. Steve's an award winning nationally recognized California income tax expert. He's also an enrolled agent and has over 32 years of experience with the Franchise Tax Board, most notably his seven years as the tax payer advocate. He also served as the director of state and local tax controversy and KPMG. Sacramento office for two years. Steve is now an independent consultant helping taxpayers facing state tax problems. Some of this includes helping clients get certain penalties waived or helping them through collection issues. Issues a lot of us didn't even know we could negotiate. And let's be honest, California's income tax laws are definitely complicated. Oh, definitely. Yeah, in some cases, you really do need a professional to help you out. If not, in all cases, I think it's advantageous to have a professional. So let's we want to bring you on just kind of talk about your experience seeing things that you've seen. So let's kind of start out with, you know, your work as a tax payer advocate for the Franchise Tax Board. So you did that for about seven years, if you could to share with the audience, what were some of the typical issues you dealt with, and maybe the most common that people people may have?
Okay, well, first of all, I became Taxpayer Advocate in 2008. And the advocates been around a lot longer than that. But once I became an advocate, you know, they wanted to advocate to be a little more visible, want to be out working with the public with business owners, with tax practitioners, I participated in a lot of, you know, a lot of speeches throughout the years. So I basically put myself out there and in a position to kinda like hear many of the issues that you're referring to. First of all, it's important that that people understand the role of the Taxpayer Advocate, basically advocate is to make sure taxpayers rights are protected, right, I mean, just, they have what's called the Taxpayer Bill of Rights, I'm not going to get into that I'm gonna allow you to go to the website, or I think one of the other podcasts is going to have the actual advocate on current advocate, you know, on the cast, but they have the Taxpayer Bill of Rights. So what that means that means different things to different people. Unfortunately, for the most part, before you like involved advocate, you're supposed to have tried normal channels, when normal channels fail, you go to the advocate, because it's not that big of a unit. And if all the taxpayers that are having issues go straight to the Taxpayer Advocate, they be overwhelmed. So in many cases, you know, you may try to go to the advocate. And if you haven't taken certain actions on your own, if you came straight to them, then they might redirect you to another resource, which is which they actually have to do, because otherwise they wouldn't be able to, to handle their workload. Now, excuse me. Now, as advocate some of the cases that I got involved in, they were, there's, there's definitely a need just to give you some of the ones that, that I that I really felt good and being able to help out, you know, attach pair. There was one employer, this guy, he wasn't he was an employer. He had tax issues with regard to his business. He had balances due but he also had maybe like about 15 employees. And what he would do by on when it's time to do payroll, he would move money to his bank account, so that the money would be able to cover the payroll for the employees. Well, Franchise Tax Board, the involuntary collection cycle, basically, that's when, you know, it's pretty much computer science, you know, it'll check bank accounts, and other you know, properties. And it's done automated, it doesn't really, you know, know that you have employees, the bottom line is Franchise Tax Board, pretty much Levy, his bank account, and his employees we're getting ready to go and try to catch Tax and money wasn't there. So, Franchise Tax Board and the IRS basically, we have a provision that basically prevents them from levying funds that were intended for payroll. So he was able to come to the advocate, he didn't have time to go to collections, because payroll was the very next day. So fortunately, he was able to get hold of myself. And we were able to, of course, requests and documents like prior payroll to show that okay, how much did you pay in payroll last week, or last pay period? Because I mean, it you know, the amount of the current payroll is 20,000. And then we in the Franchise Tax Board takes 40,000. And he then we go to him and say, Well, how much is your payroll, and he says, 40,000, if you can't show that he paid 40,000, prior, then there are only released the amount that he paid before, unless he's able to show that there were new hires. So that was a situation where payroll was basically delayed just one day to get that money freed up. But that that was a good example, right there.
So that was an example where the business owner actually came to you as well.
Well, here's the deal. Yeah, I was a small business owner. Yes, I understand. I mean, there's, this guy was not a big employer, he's a small business owner, which a lot of your people listening, probably everybody almost owns a small business now of some sort, right? Not all of them have employees, but most people have small businesses. And a mistake he made also was, he had some personal taxes doing, he didn't separate his bank accounts. He had his personal stuff in his business bank account, it was kind of a mess. But, you know, again, we was able to get the payroll done prior period and freed up the money. Another case involving an individual is there's a taxpayer, a lady, she's older, elderly, course, senior citizen. She's on Social Security only. And that's how she survives. However, she needs the help of her son. So her son basically was on her bank account, to help write checks and, you know, get the funds that she needed. But what she didn't know is that the son had his own tax liabilities. And she didn't have anything to do with it. And so his name was on that bank account. So they contacted me because they didn't know what to do, because it was time for her to pay her rent, and they took the son's tax liability out of her bank account. So they came to me, and we were able to show that No, he's just on that count, to help take care of his his mom, and that the funds that went into that account, were only social security. So I did have to get like at least one month's bank statement to show what was deposited in there. Because once again, you have people that will try to use, you know, the grandmother's bank account to put their own money in their thinking that they won't touch it, because it's not my bank account. So you know, we're there is, if someone has tax liabilities do, don't put them on your bank account,
guilt, guilt by association, right?
You're all gone. Right? You know, because this whole product inventory collects, it's automated, no one's gonna call you up and say, Hey, is this your money? No, they're not gonna do that they see the money there, your names on the account, they're gonna, they'll hold it, though, they don't just transfer the money over, what happens is the bank puts a hold on the money, and they notify you and you have a certain number of days, usually seven to 10 days to get back to the bank and say, hey, you know, that don't don't send that money over there. And then the bank is gonna say, well, you're gonna have to get released from Franchise Tax Board. And that basically has to happen, but sometimes they don't find out about that hold for like, two or three days as they went by before, and now you're down to like, they're gonna send the money, like three or four days, right? So you don't have time to go to collections, you don't have time to go to normal channels. Because I mean, at certain points in time, it's really difficult to get through. And I'm sure everyone's experiencing that. And, and, you know, the employees at the Franchise Tax Board and IRS, I'll be honest, they are doing the best they can. And they are quite friendly. When you get a hold of them. The only problem is, you know, you just it's just tough. They're, they're overwhelmed. In terms of calls coming in.
Yeah. And I think, you know, you hit on a good point there. You know, I think the first thing that happens if anybody's contacted by F TV or the IRS, I mean, it's instant panic, you know, you get a letter and you're like, What in the world do I do? What's going on? How can I help? You know, how can I be helped? And I think people think, well, if I just throw the letter away, or just move on, it'll just disappear. So I think it's great. I mean, like, you're saying, you know, the name name says it all advocate, you know, you're, you're there to try to help them through the process.
Right. And there's certain situations where you really, you can't help. Yeah, there's one case where this guy, he's a friend of mine, and he was in construction, and he just kind of worked under the table. Right? And just, you know, but at the same time, he had tax liabilities that were due and He met the woman of his dreams, you know, to the airline pilot, she made a lot of money. She had a lot of withholding taken up, she was used to getting anywhere between like a 15 to $20,000 refund each year. Okay, she was used to that. And he did. So they got married, and first year, they were married, they filed a joint return. Now, if you file a joint return, and there's a refund due on that return, it doesn't matter that you know, because he called me up, you know, what can you do, man? I mean, it's my liability. She she, you know, I got that before she got married. And I'm like, Look, dude, you filed a joint return that refund of community property. You know, he goes, oh, minutes, you know, you know, she's gonna She's gonna kill me. I'm like, Wait, you can't sleep on my couch? Because I don't want to get hit. But there was nothing I could do. And you're like, oh, no, there's nothing man. I mean, you know, she should never she should you know, she should never file a joint return, you know, file married, filing separate next time is what I told him. Needless to say she divorced him. And they never filed. He didn't disclose. He didn't prepare. He had all kinds of issues. I was at the wedding. I started to tell her but you know, not my business. Yeah.
No, but yeah, that's a good point, too. I mean, there's, you know, you're there to help. But there's you sometimes you can't help. I mean, that's plain and simple. It still needs to be within the regulations of the IRS and Franchise Tax Board and California state law for sure. Oh, yeah.
Yeah, I mean, the advocate basically has a lot of attitudes, it's a very powerful office, and there's things that you can do you have direct contact with all of the program areas, you can actually shine light on an issue that really needs to be resolved as soon as possible. You know, many times I kind of disagreed with the action that had been taken. But just because I disagree, doesn't mean they change it, you know, a couple times I give some additional information, and a change gets made. And then sometimes it just, you know, they says, Hey, Steve, we've looked at this, and there's nothing that we can do. But uh, you know, the point you make is that, yeah, you have to operate within the parameters. It's there's, even though it's an advocate, you know, and you report directly to the executive officer, you still have certain constraints.
Let's kind of switch gears. So I, you know, that's kind of what you did as a taxpayer advocate. And I know now that you're, you know, independent and doing some things on your own doing some consulting and helping taxpayers. Let's just talk a little bit about, you know, how are you helping taxpayers now, what are some of the issues that you see and things you're helping them with?
Okay. Okay. So currently, we're not when you say taxpayers, I know our audience. There's there's just your average taxpayer hear that that's, that's, you know, maybe maybe a W two worker, but just in case we have business owners that yeah, you know, I just kind of want to give it a general description of kind of what I do. Like, although I was the California Taxpayer Advocate, as you said, in my bio, you know, I'm an enrolled agent. So I basically, I kind of handled pretty much everything I worked with issues involving the Internal Revenue Service, California Franchise Tax Board, Edd, California Department of tax and fee administration, formerly known as Board of Equalization, the only thing I don't work with is child support, because I've had some child support is really, really tough to undo. And there's nothing that's going to make that go away, you can't bankrupt it. Get the you know, you got you know, some people come to me, Hey, can you work on this? You know, my kid is 32 years old, and I'm still not paying, you haven't paid it. The problem is they're still looking for it. So I don't touch support. But some of the things I do touch I did a lot of I get a lot of work from people get filing enforcement notices, meaning California found out that you have a let me turn this off just one second. Because Alright, California has basically a filing enforcement program where, you know, you have taxpayers that just don't think they have a, they need to file or they basically know they need to file but they don't file California is very sophisticated in terms of being able to determine if you may or may not have a filing obligation, so they send notices to taxpayers, says, hey, it looks as though you have a mortgage and you paid X amount in mortgage interest, but we don't see where you file the tax return. How is it that you could pay this mortgage and not pay taxes? Of course, you know, they cleaned it up? It's a lot nicer than that. But that's basically what they're saying. That's what they because I mean, then you have to file get back to them and say, Well, yeah, but I don't pay the mortgage. Somebody else do it. There's reasons why people could have a mortgage expense and still not have a filing requirement. Their income could not be taxable, but the bottom line is they'll contact you ask you and sometimes they actually do Oh, so I get a lot of people are like I just I'm working on one Now where finally the taxpayer moved around, move around. Now they have a really good job, but they haven't filed taxes since 2013. Right, right, right, right. So then you know what happens. And this one happened at the federal level, because federal, they get their W tos and the federal, what they'll do is they'll they'll do a return. That's called a substitute return, that you actually filing it FTB does the same thing that they're filing enforcement program. But bottom line is, you don't get any deductions for the most part. So the tax is going to be, like huge. So IRS basically had set him up for 2013, all the way up to 2000, like 18, but substitute returns that basically had him owing based on because this guy was, he was a W two person, and he has a 1099 says he was self employed in construction. So this substitute returns had a total total tax liability of like $270,000, approximately a lot of money. Right. But that was based on them. You know, he, he basically had like, in one case, he had like, $150,000 1099, because he did some work. But he there's, there's expenses that are associated with that as a construction worker. Right? You you I mean, he's a general contractor. So bottom line is I had to do two returns, basically create the real returns. And basically, it changed that because with, with penalties and interest that tax liability went above 300,000. Oh, yeah. Well, I was able to get it down to like about 200,000. But at the same time, I went ahead and tried, I'm currently going through an offering compromise, trying to get them to settle for a smaller amount. Um,
you know, that's, that's a good point there too. Steve, sorry to interrupt you. But, you know, just kind of thinking about that.
I think that's okay. My wife interrupts me, okay.
No, I think you can run into those situations where, you know, the penalty and interest and things that are due and oh, looks completely terrifying to someone. However, I mean, the IRS will work with you, as long as you're showing some good faith to make it right. Is Am I accurate? In saying now, you're
extremely accurate on that? And I'll be honest, and, you know, three of the years, I didn't know where substitute returns, I was actually preparing his offer after having done some of the other years, you know, and the revenue officers. Oh, I see officer, whatever her title is, she basically says, You do realize that some of these these other older use right here, those are substitute returning, so I had to go back in? And do those three years returned. And that's what not some more money off, you know. So. So yeah, I mean, that I would not have noticed that because those were so far back, I would have missed it. And she she pointed that out, and it took care of about you know, about another 100,000? You know, or close to it, like 75 or something like that. Wow. Well, and the same Franchise Tax Board, you know, here's the thing. tax agencies, basically, they have a bad rep that goes back maybe like 40 5060 years, and I don't know if it was deserved or not. But you know, even way before I left, you know, people that work for the tax agencies, you have to understand they don't get a break on their taxes, right? Yeah. I mean, they, you know, they work for JC Penney's or Macy's, you get 10% discount or something like that you don't get anything though. And they also find themselves sometimes in tech situations where they actually owe so you know, I mean, don't get me wrong every once in a while you get a little hater, this shoot, I gotta pay my tax you pay you I mean, those are far and few in between, and I basically haven't come across any of those. And anytime I'm working with the government staff or tax agency staff, they're more than willing to help I mean, so they're there for you. I mean, even the collectors you know, every once in a while some of them might have had a bad day and you know, as a phone Hello, what do you want and I don't say it like that, but that's the feeling you get but right but the bottom line is you talk to them right? And they talk to you right the mistake that some people make and I kid you not It happens all the time, is that they try they get rough verbally rough with the person on the phone with the government agency, they're not in they're not paid to take you know, a whole bunch of screaming at name calling and you still have people that will try to do that you know threaten their you know, here's one thing they don't do anymore they don't threaten to go get their congressman cuz they know that's a waste of time
aside themselves and just kind of talking trash, you know, right. No, hang up on the government agent. Employee, they'll hang up on you in a second. But yeah,
you have to have a professional a professional navigate you through this process and help you and he gets the bottom line here is
well, okay, so now you're talking about a professional Okay, you're right in certain cases. That's a huge mistake that's made sometimes as well. A taxpayer will try to resolve something, and they'll make it worse. You know, they think that they can do it themselves, there is a definite need for our professional in certain instances, you know, towards the end now we'll talk about some things that they can do themselves. But But you brought up a good point, you know, hiring a professional, but you have to hire the right professional, you understand what I mean by that. I mean, there are people that, like, there's certain things I don't touch. Because I've worked a lot, I work a lot of different stuff, but I don't know certain like unitary issues, I don't touch and that's that's like, very complex corporate reporting in multiple states. Don't get me wrong, I can do it. But I don't trust myself to be there, that would just be too much for me, I don't have enough. I'm self employed by myself, I don't have the resources to run it through review. And so I don't take certain types of work. But you do have people that will take work, but they don't understand I'm cleaning something up right now. Someone said they needed returns done. This guy was an entertainer, he went and he got his returns done, you know, by by his cousin, sister's baby mama, I don't know who it was. But the bottom line, they basically, you know, they did tax returns. But what he didn't tell him was that he had, yeah, sure he had W tos. But he also had an escort on the side that that basically had income too. But he hadn't filed this corporate returns. And an escort basically has to blow through the income to the individual. So she did those returns based only on the W two. And so those returns are wrong. Because he didn't include, she didn't include all of the income that he has, they're all wrong. Now, I don't know what he paid. But now, this was a guy that I talked to just last week, and you know, on the go forward, I can work with him. But you know, I can't do anything with those older returns, He wants me to get his corporation back up, you know, and so, you know, suspended corporations is another things I work with, you know, or suspended LLC. But bottom line is, you know, you're right, you have to go to the tax professional, and in certain situations, and a tax professional, that kind of, you know, they're know, they know, their limitations, or certain things that they shouldn't touch.
You can you can get over your skis pretty quick. Oh, real quick,
real quick, you know, you know, just like I said, there's still stuff I don't really mess with, you know, I just don't the learning curve is too expensive for me, you know, sure, I could do it. But after doing all my research and everything out, you know, I'm paid $3.50 an hour for doing that. You know, like, I can't I can't work like that.
Yeah, I think I think people jump into situations like oh, yeah, I can do this return. And then it's holy cow. What am I doing? Well, we'll see if this sticks.
Well, sometimes it's it's really not the practitioners problem. And sometimes it's just the taxpayer, not disclosing everything that they have going, you know, I basically do my consultations, not in writing I do over the phone, and I'm telling them I like look, you need to tell me, you know, you need to tell me don't don't think that you can tell me and make up an excuse. I'm going to find out, I'm going to do a transcript. I'm going to find out what sources of income the government thinks that you have. Oh, don't don't tell me tell me now. Because I mean, it's like, it's not like I'm gonna give you a price and the facts change that price is gonna stay the same. Because if I you know, if you're gonna like, shortchange me in terms of information and I'm having to do additional steps that I didn't know I was gonna have to do, then you've got a choice to make, you know, tax cut, you know, tax controversy work is something that you don't you know, you don't put that you don't put it on layaway, you get a retainer or a fixed fee paid in advance because you know, they haven't paid the government you know, they're not gonna pay you so always be upfront when you're talking with your tax professional, if you're going to have one so that they can properly diagnose that sounded pretty good I don't like a doctor but properly diagnose your situation or your problem and make sure that they can move forward with what's actually needed to get you you know, back in good standing
like there's like a movie quote somewhere right? Like help me help you help you.
Yeah, show me the money
that would fit in this situation. And I've
actually used that line before help me to help you to help you Yeah,
yeah, I mean, at the bottom at the end of the day, you and the taxpayer presenting something to the IRS to be received by them and scrutinized by them so to speak, but you're presenting it to them. Right. I'm gonna give a tip to for ya. So it's gonna I was gonna lead in that's great. Give us some some some tips our audience can leave with here for sure. Yeah, cuz I don't
know how long we have, you know, and um, but but some tips First tip, that's a continuation of what I was getting ready to say was well, first step. Like I said, this could be up front and sometimes you know, just make sure you explain your situation. You know, tell them that you don't know what you don't know, if you don't guess I was talking to the guy. Just yesterday on another issue, I says, are you an S corp or a C Corp? And he goes, Uh, so let's just said, I know, he didn't know, you know,
come to break up. No,
don't don't say, Yeah, I think I will see corporate No, no, you don't think what I do going forward, we can we can figure it out. But don't don't get information, if you don't know. So you don't know, when you're working with people, you know, when you're working with someone that's trying to work with you make sure you do not try to, you know, just just not share some information, it's best to be up front. Now, also, keep in mind that as a tax professional, we're, there's certain things that if you tell us, you know, we might have to walk away from it, just because of our ethics, you know, you know, it's like, well, you know, I, I got this drug business on the side. And I don't want to, like, well, you know, I don't want to hear that, you know, right. I like cuz I can't mean, basically, I can do a tax return, because, you know, illegal income still has to be reported, but you can't deduct any expenses. But no one, no one wants to do that. So you have to be careful, you know, I'm not advocating hide your money, but I'm saying if I'm your tax professional, I want you to be honest, but but make sure you understand that I can't move forward with anything that's going to jeopardize my license or put me in a situation where, you know, I'm culpable. And, you know, I can get in trouble too. So you know, that. When I say be honest, I'm also saying make sure what it is that you're telling them is something that's not going to cause them. You know, I mean, if you want to be 100% up front, but nobody is I'm going to say that nobody is 100% upfront, you just don't know. You know, you just don't know that someone's being 100% upfront. And so, as a practitioner, you have to assume that there's other stuff you don't know about. But, you know, I'm comfortable moving forward, you know, generally with whoever I'm at contact me only one time, I kind of bailed right in the middle of a representation because the tax payer basically. It was IRS, I believe they wanted the guy's financial statements. I mean, it's bank statements, right? To show that, how you spend your money. And I got the bank statements and this guy Oh, like that? Oh, no, I bet a million in taxes. So this guy had bank statements, and what's the place that shows the blue bar to Tiffany's? So there was there was receipt, bank status, Tiffany's. And it was like some huge, large amounts. And he was saying, trying to say he couldn't afford to pay. Yeah, I mean, your bank's name is you're at Tiffany's. He has a $20,000 purchase. What was that? And he goes, Well, don't send them that page. I'm like, what? Yeah. Remove that one. Yes. You know, Thanks, David. So page 110. So you know, you're gonna leave about three pages. And the guy says, No, I can't do that. So I says, I can move forward with this, but I will have to send all pages. And he goes, Okay, well, thank you very much, you know, I'm not gonna need your services. And why let him fire me,
which is not worth it for, you know, what not worth it. Plus, he
paid me up front. You know? I mean, yeah, you can't expect me and that's part of my, my statement of work agreement is like, you know, if you misrepresent yourself, and you want to pull out, I mean, I don't, I don't have to give back everything you gave me if it's if there's money left on a retainer. Sure, I'll refund that. But for the work I've done, not, you just can't, you know, pull out like that. Alright. Second thing that I want to tip I want to give is for those tax payers that are seeing those commercials that say, you know, do you owe the IRS $10,000 for just a second? Do you owe the IRS $10,000 or more? And, you know, we can settle for you for pennies on the dollar, right? You've seen that stuff, right? Yep. Yep. Um, I'm not trying to take away from their necessary necessarily from their business. But you have to keep in mind that, in many cases, what I'm finding out because I do get some residual from the pennies on 99 cents is pennies on the dollar, you understand? And there's fees that are associated with, you know, with having them represent you. And in many cases, all they're doing is putting you on an installment payment arrangement. And many times you can do that yourself. You don't need a practitioner. I mean, a lot of people don't need professional help to do a payment arrangement, especially if you don't have to do anything except, I mean, you're a W two worker you've paid you know, you filed your tax returns, you just haven't been able to pay what's due, you know, just you can go online and Do an installment agreement yourself, if you can pay it off within five years. And when you do that, make sure you set the monthly payments as something you can afford start low. It'll tell you if that's not enough, that's not enough and you put another amount in, then then, but you can do it yourself. So some of that offer and compromise, they'll it'll start out with pennies on the dollar didn't I'll take a look below evaluate your situation. And they'll come up with the fact that well, you know, we can't do an offer for you. But we can get you on a payment arrangement, something that's comfortable for you, you could have done it yourself.
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I currently have two Russian Ratsnakes, a male and female. I keep them together in the same enclosure and not only do they get along, but they actually seem to prefer each other's company. I keep mine right around 60-75 degrees, and this winter it got as low as 55 with no problems. They seem to never strike, not even at food, and really like crawling around on me. My two are very arboreal and spend as much time on the grapesticks and vines in their enclosure as they do on the ground. I have found mine to be aquatic also and spend quite a bit of time in water and will even completely submerge themselves. I read somewhere that in Russia they are called Black Water Snakes. I agree with Pulatus that they are highly under-rated. I especially like the fact that baby snakes look nothing like adults, and part of the excitement for me is seeing how they change over time and the progression into their adult colors.


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Re-publication of 'Flora of Northumberland and Durham' (1831): A dramatic account of change
The classical treatise "Flora of Northumberland and Durham" by N. J. Winch is re-published through the innovative Advanced Books platform as an example of combining modern information technology together with historical scholarship to create a new sort of resource and data re-use
The classical treatise "Flora of Northumberland and Durham" by Nathaniel John Winch is re-published through the innovative Advanced Books platform as an example of combining modern information technology together with historical scholarship to create a new sort of resource and data re-use. This publication will be supporting ongoing research on the botany of the region, which can be seen as a model for other regions in Europe. The on-line semantically enriched re-publication marries the meticulous detail of old books with the interconnectedness of the internet bringing advantages of the digitization and markup efforts such as data extraction and collation, distribution and re-use of content, archiving of different data elements in relevant repositories and so on. "Historic biodiversity literature is not just of cultural interest, it can be used to chart biogeographic change and help us understand the impacts of environmental change on biodiversity. Even if we are trying to predict future scenarios for biodiversity, understanding the changes of the past will help understand the changes we should expect in the future" said Dr Quentin Groom from the Meise Botanical Garden, Belgium, who initiated the project and marked up the original text. The North-east of England has seen many changes since the publication of Winch's Flora. In the 19th Century the area was a powerhouse of the industrial revolution. It was an important coal mining area and significant for the production of iron and steel. It was also a centre for industries such as shipbuilding and engineering. In contrast the uplands in the west of the region were some of the most isolated areas in England, covered in blanket bog and rarely visited. The extensive efforts of Quentin Groom from the Botanic Garden Meise and editor of this re-publication combined with the cutting-edge technologies for semantic enhancements used by Pensoft's Advanced Books platform, have resulted in additional details including links to the original citations and coordinates of the mentioned localities. In some cases the habitat that Winch described for a locality differs dramatically from what can be found in the same location nowadays. The flora, for example, frequently mentions Prestwick Carr, an area of lowland bog, once full of rare species. Sadly it was largely drained just thirty years after the publication of the flora. Yet in recent years the Northumberland Wildlife Trust has been working to restore the bog to its former glory. "When reading Winch's flora, it is easy to see what has been lost, but more importantly what remains to be conserved", comments Groom. The re-publication of Winch's flora is just one step towards fully understanding all the impacts on wild plants of all the environmental changes that have occurred since the 19th century. Nevertheless, digitization of this flora not only tells us about plants but also about the history of science. Between the lines of this flora one can see a rudimentary understanding of ecology and the beginnings of research on phytogeography. The re-publication is supported by the FP7 funded EU project European Biodiversity Observation Network (EU BON). Original Source: Winch N (2014) Flora of Northumberland and Durham. Advanced Books: e4002. doi: 10.3897/ab.e4002
Belgium, Bulgaria, Brazil, Switzerland, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Greece, Spain, Finland, France, Israel, Italy, Norway, Philippines, Sweden, Slovakia, United Kingdom
Last update: 23 September 2014
Permalink: https://cordis.europa.eu/article/id/115875-republication-of-flora-of-northumberland-and-durham-1831-a-dramatic-account-of-change

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


A cold, grey, drizzly day in Augusta, Georgia today — a day that reminds me of my six months spent in the Aleutian Islands in 1990. The gloom was unrelenting. Soldiers stationed there during the Second World War often developed the "Aleutian stare," eyes set at a thousand-mile focus as if looking through things. But I actually liked the Bering Sea environment — I think I was the only one of my squadron mates who did — for the simple fact that it was a great place to read.
"The Pretense of Knowledge" by F. A. Hayek.
Try any of these and you won't go wrong. Everyone of them has a thematic relation or vague synaptic link to my Plato project. Please share any favorites you may have.


Warner Bros. Pictures movie 'Smallfoot' has been a hit on the big screen and tonight we bring you a behind the scenes look at how some of the music for the film was created.
In this new video, we get a behind-the-scenes look at the making of "Let It Lie" – an original song from the film by hip-hop artist COMMON who plays the Stonekeeper. SMALLFOOT features an all-star cast including Zendaya, Channing Tatum, Yara Shahidi, Common, LeBron James and more.
Checkout Common's behind the scenes look as he records the record "Let It Lie" above. 'Smallfoot' is currently on a big screen near you.


text:
The pandemic has introduced a new creative challenge for unwitting artists & treps to deal with: Boredom!
Whaaat? Artists & treps never get bored! Our minds are too active, our imagination too wild, and our non stop stream of great ideas & creative solutions never runs dry!
Still, a few creatives I work with are asking the question: What the heck am I supposed to do with something I've never experienced before?
Answer: Shift your POV.
Think of boredom as an opportunity. Because without boredom our minds could not wander and our imagination could not run free. Without it there would be no empty space for new ideas to reveal themselves. Without it our fantasies would be fleeting, our daydreams would be dampened, and the light bulb over our head would be forever dim.
Important because without our new buddy boredom we would not ask the question "What should I work on next?"
I wrote 55 blogs & stories this past year; some great, some so-so, but each of them had a prompt, a poke or a prod. Here are 5-nuggets I pulled out of my 2020 archives to help inspire you to keep your head in the game, keep your mask on your face, and keep pushing that boulder up the mountain. By the way…never forget…the boulder is real, the mountain is an illusion.
1) Revisit, reimagine and reconsider that which you say must be completed, resolved, manifested or begun. Remind yourself what it is you really want. Remind yourself what your biggest most important dream/goal is. Remind yourself what truly matters to you. Then ask yourself, "What am I committed to?"
2) Assess Your Strategy. If you continue to repeat the same work habits or marketing schemes over and over, convincing yourself that you're doing something different, your fans, customers and clients will move on to something new, your numbers will start to drop, your results will continue to decline and that dream you have of growing will eventually begin to dwindle…just when you were expecting it to peak. Not budging from your tired old strategy is a lousy strategy.
3) Review your support team and inner circle, including staff, agents, managers, bandmates, sales team, coaches, consultants, techs, partners, etc.. I know it can be a heavy scene to split with people you work with (and like). However, a heavier scene is continuously putting up with the pettiness and incompetence of others at such an emotional, physical and monetary cost to you. Don't flinch or choke on this one. If issues need to be addressed or personnel changes need to be made, don't be afraid to pull out Maxwell's Silver Hammer. Truth be told, YOU are the CEO of your world. And the goal is to work with the most talented people who are aligned with your vision and committed to the task at hand—not to wait around for people to change or grow up.
4) Don't complain about how hard it is. Everyone who has ever made it in showbiz worked hard. Rather, revel in how great it is to work hard on something worthy of giving it everything you've got.
5) Give it back! Giving and receiving are different aspects of the same energy. And in our willingness to give that which we seek, we keep that energy circulating in our lives.
Important because Don't Do Anything Stupid! You're an artist, an entrepreneur, an independent, crazy, creative genius! I know it can be tough; however, it's a GREAT life, and the only life for you! Don't screw it up!
It's a powerful honest statement. If you were sure, then you probably weren't creating something unique, or making a risky choice that could take you further along.
If you were sure, then your expectation for a specific result would be fixed, with no chance for any other outcome.
If you were sure, it would mean you probably played it safe and followed the rules of predictable protocol.
No true artist or entrepreneur is ever sure, even when we say the work is finished! It doesn't matter if we're composing music, writing a script, shooting a scene, or making a risky business decision. "Certainty" is yet another obstacle to greatness. And when we remain willfully and confidently unsure of the outcome, even a little, that leaves us wide open to unseen opportunities and unlimited possibilities.
Important because there are no sure bets when it comes to creating art or manifesting big dreams. In fact, originality demands an absence of certainty. And if 2020 has taught us anything, it's that it's okay to proceed (confidently) with uncertainty leading the way.
Somewhere in the world an exceptionally talented artist or entrepreneur, with much to contribute, wakes up in the morning to hesitation and uncertainty. However, even though the resistance is strong and the doubts are convincing, she knows that in order to succeed she needs to be a fully confident and committed participant in the game. So she proceeds to her creative space determined to do her best work.
Somewhere in the world an equally exceptionally talented artist or entrepreneur with much to contribute, wakes up in the morning and is hesitant to proceed, vacillates in indecision, and is secretly doubtful he has what it takes. He permits impatience to set his pace and distraction to steal his focus. So he proceeds to his creative space dubious and disordered.
Both are equally talented and have much to contribute. Both have doubt. Both have fear. Both are uncertain about the future. However only one is committed.
Important because "Until one is committed, there is hesitancy and the chance to draw back. Therefore, concerning all acts of (creativity) there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and plans: that the moment one commits oneself, then providence moves too." — W. H. Murray, Scottish mountain climber, writer, artist.
1. Your advisory board. Those few people (or that one person) in your life who you can count on, confide in and consult with for opinion, perspective, and inspiration. It doesn't matter if you're a seasoned actor, a successful songwriter, an independent artist, or a savvy CEO, the last person you should consult when you're stuck in indecision or faced with arduous options is YOU! You may be the one in the trenches, however the benefits of running the details by a knowledgable mentor, assures clarity, diminishes doubt, and provides the confidence necessary to make a wise decision.
2. Your incomplete to-do list of unfinished tasks, abandoned goals and postponed projects. Add to that your wildest dreams and strongest desires. They lead, you follow.
3. Your unique abilities, exceptional talents, impossible ideas, and that uncommon quirk that no one else in the world has but you. Without them you're toast! Add to that, the remarkable skill you have to create your way out of crummy circumstances. Without that, you'll be constantly stalled by crummy circumstances throughout the year.
4. You'll need some form of secure, digital proof that you got the vaccine. No matter who you are, what you do, or what you believe, you'll undoubtedly be working with others, whether it's in the studio, on the set, or in the board room. And trusting the health of those around you will now be a required asset. At this moment, several tech companies, including Apple, Google and Microsoft, are scrambling to create apps that would include vaccine and coronavirus testing info. Plus, a digital vaccine passport for travelers will soon be introduced by the International Air Transport Association. (Source: Healthline, Washington Post, CDC).
Important because the only thing you won't need in 2021 is proof that you survived 2020.
As self-reliant, independent artists & entrepreneurs, the one thing that incessantly troubles us, the one thing that mercilessly crawls under our skin, the one thing that causes us to anxiously fidget and squirm the most, is that continuous nagging voice between our ears that relentlessly reminds us of what we haven't achieved, what we haven't attained, and what we have yet to accomplish!
Important because without the coaxing of the Nag, we'd never get anything done!
It is now apparent that the dark cloud that has hung over our lives in 2020 will finally be obliterated with a painless, double shot of much needed hope! And many of the artist and treps I know are celebrating by rearranging their furniture, slapping paint on the walls and redesigning their creative space to clear out the dark energy and make room for new exciting projects in 2021.
It makes me think that you can redesign your studio with the coolest gear and the latest technology, and surround yourself with awards, citations, gold statues and platinum records. You can even create a cool creative vibe in your space with inspiring posters, meaningful artifacts and memorable chachkies. However, it's your greatest ideas that will ultimately be the most imposing energy in the room, and your most important unfinished work will be screaming at you the minute you set foot in the door!
Important because when you take a look at the genius, brilliance and talent that has come out of small, dusty garages (from tech giants to rock stars), it becomes evident that your great ideas and biggest dreams could care less whether you do your work in a small cubicle, a dusty garage or an elaborate studio. The only thing your best ideas want is to become meaningful, relevant and alive in the world.
Somewhere, between the urgent disruptions, the thought-robbing distractions, our screaming to-do list, and the continuous lure of breaking news, there are openings where we can slow down, slip through the cracks, and actually find enough peace of mind to get some creative work done. Some days, the openings are so wide we can spend long hours catching up on our most important projects and goals. Other times the days are jammed with a boatload of responsibilities or unexpected urgencies and there are no openings to be found anywhere.
However, what I've come to learn is that manipulating our busy schedule is easy, because most of us artists & treps have our own favorite software, or built-in time-management system that helps us triage the storms of the day. But finding that time to contemplate, create and manifest our imaginative ideas, can be illusive.
Important because the cracks we need to slip through, are the ones between our busy thoughts, where pure creativity lives, not the ones between our busy schedules, where time-management lives. And the only way I know to slow down my frantic thoughts, just long enough to slip through the cracks and experience that illusive, creative peace of mind, is to sit in a private space, for 10-20 minutes, close my eyes, and allow the cracks between my thoughts to open up effortlessly, so that I can slowly slip into the deep end of the pool. And for over 30-years, the balance I've found in my life between the hoopla of showbiz and the silence of my soul is astounding. I'm not sure who I would be without this one simple, daily practice in my life. As Leonard Cohen would say, "that's where the light gets in."
Nothing is more damaging to a career, destructive to a business, or catastrophic to a creative spirit than an inability to pivot, an unwillingness to change, or a resistance to remain flexible. Especially when our comfort zone, and the circumstances that we are accustom to suddenly collapse and shift.
Important because the way we have always dealt with our industry, our business, our careers and our world is in the midst of a massive paradigm shift. And by definition, "a paradigm shift calls into question the rock-solid assumptions on which the previous paradigm existed." And shrugging our shoulders at the many new eccentric ideas and unique possibilities that are currently swirling around between our ears, will continue to make it harder to thrive during this big shift.
Narrow the influence of the narrow minded.
Quiet the mantra of toxic chatter.
Reject the attraction of pointless distraction.
Resist the temptation to aimlessly click.
Important because artists and treps need all the clear, headspace we can get.
Possibility is never razor sharp. It's always a bit blurry and out of focus.
When we imagine what's possible in our life and career it looks a lot different than looking at it through the lens of reality. It also has a completely different impact on the choices and decisions we make (when we act on what's possible instead of the same o'l song & dance).
And while others strive to live in predictability, artists & entrepreneurs spend their entire lives surrounded by uncertainty, which is where possibility lives, which is actually very familiar territory for us. Kinda like when King Arthur asked Merlin the Wizard why he always wore robes with moons & stars on them? Merlin replied, "Why it's because everywhere a wizard goes he is always at the center of the universe."
When we finally come to realize that possibility and uncertainty are at the center of our universe, we find ourselves standing in a limitless, unbounded creative space, from which we can pivot at the drop of a hat, and perform our work from an absence of formula. That's what makes us different from the others. Not better, just different.
Important because fortunately for us, living, navigating and operating our creative lives in the space of possibility is actually how we come to discover what's possible in the first place.
Today presents a profound opportunity to revel in your win, succumb to your loss or sit frozen in your fear. Huh?
Today also presents a profound opportunity to wake up your creative spirit and harness your emotions, whether they are excitement, sadness or anger, and express your unique talent, produce your best work, flaunt your best art, and exploit the very best version of your creative, independent self!
I've said this before, this is what artists and entrepreneurs do: we use our emotions and "gut feelings" as a lens to see what's missing, to see what's wanted & needed. Then we use our precious gift of creativity and our incredible talent to provide it and manifest it.
Important because "I'm thinking in a brand new way…I'm starting up a brand new day." —Sting
There is a reason why us artists, writers, musicians, actors, editors, directors and creative entrepreneurs are eager for this current political season to end. And it's not about money, or the pandemic. It's about truth. All of the creative work we do is about truth. Creativity itself is all about expressing and manifesting your truth through your creative skills, talent and expertise. Heck, most of us rely on expressing our truth for our livelihood! And we all crave it like a drug. Especially during these dark days when fiction, falsehood and cock-and-bull stories are so transparent, making it clearly obvious who's trustworthy and who's not.
And if we want to send a clear, personal message to the current leaders of fabrication then voting is the best way to do it. So if you haven't voted yet, go out and vote like you've never voted before! Vote like the future of your awesome creative lifestyle depends on it. Vote like you would vote if you were the only one voting!
Important because turnout is everything and your POV matters. And we've all learned the hard way that it's not only about who votes, it's more about who doesn't.
Some interruptions are necessary, some pauses are helpful, and an unexpected break in our routine can be valuable. However, some other disruptions really suck! Like career setbacks, money loss, project flops, personal heartbreaks, pandemics, politics, media overwhelm, etc. And getting our motor running again, at top performance, during a dramatic, drawn-out slowdown can be an effort. Why? Because the brute called "mayhem" will keep you wallowing in the mire, and the thug called "resistance" will stop at nothing to prevent you from doing anything about it!
Important because if you can just get your head on straight and remind yourself what is most important to you, and reconnect with whatever it is you are committed to, then your ability to navigate the mayhem becomes effortless, and your resolve to push through resistance becomes ruthless. Once that happens, getting back in the groove becomes exhilarating…actually intoxicating…actually "heady!" And if you're really smart, the choices and decisions you make during your big "slowdown" should actually put you further down the road than you were before. Why? Because you're not starting from the beginning, you're starting from HERE.
—Asking for career direction, especially in the entertainment industry, doesn't mean you're a new kid on the block. On the contrary, it could mean you're a seasoned pro and you are once again, standing at the crossroads of choice.
—Asking for tech support doesn't mean you're unskilled or tech deficient. On the contrary, it could mean you're eager to learn something new, or figure something out so you'll know what to do next time.
—Asking for more info on how and where to vote, or where to drop your ballot doesn't mean you're dance'n in the dark. On the contrary, it could mean you just want to get it right, so you can finally move past the rhetoric and move on to the results.
Important because asking for help doesn't mean we're not ready. On the contrary, it means we're ready to move on.
If we wasted money the way we waste time, we'd all be busted, broke and bankrupt!
Important because we can always make more money!
(Inspired by experience)
Of course it's about the journey!
But "The Journey" sounds like a Sunday drive in the park, a pleasant Hawaiian holiday, or cruising up Highway 1 with the top down, listening to "Panama!"
That popular comment is usually made after someone slams into brick wall and a supportive friend tenderly says, "don't forget, it's all about the journey!"
Why don't they say the truth? "Don't forget, it's all about the bumpy Jeep ride through the forbidden jungle of doom!" Or, "it's all about the rubber raft ride up the root canal." Or better said, "it's all about a glorious quest, fighting an unbeatable foe, and dreaming an impossible dream!"
Important because while "the journey" promises an experience, which promises a boost in knowledge and wisdom, a "glorious quest" promises adventure, achievement, and a march into hell for a heavenly cause…no matter how hopeless, no matter how far!
The Los Angeles Lakers just won the NBA Championship! It's like a Grammy for best group vocal. It's like an Emmy for best series ensemble. It's like an Oscar for best picture, and it's like winning the World Series. And LeBron James also won the MVP award. It's like being voted best artist of the year.
King James joined the NBA right out of high school at age 18 (he's now 35). He's played 17-seasons, and 14 have gone to the playoffs. He just became the all-time leading scorer in the history of the NBA playoffs, surpassing Michael Jordan for the top spot, and he broke his best friend Kobe's record for most career points scored. He also has four world championship rings, and he's not done yet.
During a postgame interview LeBron was overwhelmed with lights, cameras, reporters…and emotion. And when asked what motivates him to keep playing, keep pushing, keep climbing, and keep reaching for that brass ring when he already has so many of them? King James paused, and then said, "The thing that motivates me the most is doubt."
He went on to say that he reads all the reviews about how great he is, and what a champion he is, and how he has become the greatest player of all time. But he said deep down inside he doesn't feel that way. He still has the same feelings he had when he was a kid shooting hoops in the park. "That some day I'll make it. But not today, I still have more to learn. I still need to improve." He said that doubt motivates him to work harder to be a better player, a better teammate, and a better man.
Important because for whatever reason, it's hard to get that our heros have doubt, or they procrastinate, or they question their talents or abilities. We place our heroes one level above ourselves, and then we are surprised when they reveal a side of themselves that is well…just like us. And the more you listen to the acceptance speeches of actors, musicians and champions, the more you realize that doubt follows artists & treps around like a fly on honey. A reminder to all of us, that the main ingredient in the DNA of every artist and entrepreneur is honey.
"Me and all my friends
We're all misunderstood,
They say we stand for nothing and
There's no way we ever could,
Now we can see everything that's going wrong
With the world and those who lead it,
We just feel like we don't have the means
To rise above and beat it.
So we keep waiting (waiting),
Waiting on the world to change,
We keep on waiting (waiting),
— John Mayer 2006.
That song reached number 1 on Billboard's Hot Adult Contemporary chart, and remained there for over a year. It is Mayer's most successful single to date (both in sales and chart positions).
When you listen closely to the lyrics of the song, it's spooky. They are as profound today as they were in 2006. In fact, more profound today. That's the difference between something good and something great. The moment greatness is recognized by the herd, it jettisons to the top of the heap, and stays there indefinitely. Doesn't matter if it's a song, screenplay, video, book, performance or product. If it's great, word spreads fast and we all clamor for more.
Important because throughout history, even in the darkest of times, people were inspired and enriched and often dependent on art to help get them through tough times. And thank God we have an abundance of great art and plenty of outspoken, higher-conscious artists & treps, like you, to help us get us through the tough times we face today.
"Hi diddle dee dee, an actor's life for me,
A pot of gold in a sea of glee,
It's great to be a celebrity,
Hi diddle dee dee, an actor's life for me!"
—Song from the 1940 Disney movie, Pinocchio.
Sorry Jiminy Cricket, Pinocchio was right: The independent life of an artist/trep is truly an extraordinary, worthwhile adventure. Actually, a lifetime career in any area of entertainment is more like a magnificent, meaningful mission. A mission that is filled with unpredictable chutes & ladders, which lead to an illusive, ungraspable brass ring. Like the song says, it's a great life, and the only life for you and me!
That said, every single minute of every single day during this dark time, we have the choice to either sit it out and watch, wonder and wait for our industry to recover and our lives to reset. Or, we can re-adjust our focus, modify our circumstances, and start making the tough choices and decisions that will ultimately manifest our own new future. Not like Marvel fantasies or Disney magic. More like every wobbly stand we take, and every uncertain choice we make sets off a chain reaction of interrelated events that ultimately link together and determine the outcome of our goals and dreams. No wonder people are always so fascinated by, and in awe of artist & entrepreneurs!
Important because while you're manifesting your destiny be sure you are registered to vote!
The problem is not that you're not talented enough. In fact, by now, you've probably mastered your craft, and your level of talent far exceeds the level at which you are currently playing. The real problem is a personal, deep-seated trepidation that has always stopped you from going any further, playing any bigger or making it to the pinnacle of your particular profession. And if you're not willing to take the plunge into the deep end of the pool and discover what it is that's really blocking the road forward, then you'll forever be parked on the side of the road where you're sitting right now, which for some may be further down the road than others.
Important because where most people stop has less to do with gatekeepers, management, timing, age or connections, and more to do with some long-standing, deeply personal reluctance to advance to "the bigs." And now is the perfect time, while we're in the midst of this pandemic, and while our awesome industry is in the midst of reinventing itself, that you could take steps to reinvent yourself too. Only from the inside out! Perhaps you could go deep with a trusted confidant, a reputable coach, or a personal consultant. Anyone but you! Because the last person you should consult with about this is you!
Someday, it will happen. At least that's what we tell ourselves. It's the mantra of every artist/entrepreneur: "Work hard, never quit, and someday I'll get there."
Back in the day, it was the gatekeepers that got in our way. More recently, it's the challenge of mind-numbing, non-stop, exponential technology, and the total transformation of our entire industry, caused by the disruption from the global pandemic.
However, for an aging artist or entrepreneur it's the challenge of time—the push to achieve our big goals & dreams before we run out of gas. Many artists & treps find themselves growing older with an ever increasing fear that the biggest opportunities have already passed them by, and the only thing left to do is settle-in or toss the towel. To others it's no longer about getting there, it's now about staying there. Even the word "dinosaur" has shifted from a jurassic zoo animal, to a personal insult to anyone approaching 50.
That said, I think the biggest time-wasting mistake we make is waiting; waiting for the economy to turn around, waiting for a vaccine, waiting for new leadership, waiting for the kids to grow, waiting for the phone to ring, waiting for an offer, waiting for things to return to normal, or waiting for that breeze to blow in, and that ol' second wind comes along!
Important because maybe it's as simple as changing our mantra, from "What's in it for me?" to "How can I continue to be relevant and offer my best work, to those who continue to want it?" Truth is, you may not have an audience of 100k, but you still have an audience. Your video may not get a million views, bit you still have viewers. Your company may not have 50k customers, but you still have customers.
In the meantime, Elton John continues to shout his own timeless mantra from the mountaintop: "I'm still Standing, better than I ever did, Looking like a true survivor, feeling like a little kid."
This year, for many, Rosh Hashanah will be acknowledged without the close embrace of family. Perhaps, making it an even more profound experience, since it is a time of personal introspection and private reflection. Kinda like when you're sailing in the ocean at sunset, and no one else is in sight…not even land, when your mind starts to deconstruct the day as it slowly reconstructs a new tomorrow.
And as an independent, crazy, creative artist/entrepreneur, reconstructing a new tomorrow is what you do best. And only you can motivate yourself to get up in the morning and construct something that matters. Then, at the end of the day, at sunset, it's only you who truly knows what creative angst you've been through that day, what "inner" battles you've won or lost, who or what has challenged your efforts, and whether or not you caved in to resistance and vacillation, or stood your ground and followed your truth.
Important because this extraordinary, creative, independent, life we've chosen is truly all about self-motivation, self-dependence, self-discipline, self-confidence, self-validation and self-awareness. And Rosh Hashanah is the perfect time to take a solo dive at the deep end of the pool and rehash our failures, rethink our wins, and reload our impossible goals…whether we're Jewish or not.
Whatever pisses us off is precisely what we should be chopping away at (not chipping)!
Like a great idea that can't catch fire, an annoying problem that won't go away, a project (or a career) that's been stalled in its tracks, or a critical breakdown in need of a triumphant breakthrough.
Important because unfortunately, it often takes getting pissed to make right an obvious wrong, or to bring to life a worthy idea.
Inspired by civil rights activist Helen Singleton
My art teacher told me, "Don't draw past the finish line. There is a point when the picture is done. Be careful not to over design it."
Makes me think:
Don't over compose the song.
Don't over write the story.
Don't over sell your righteous opinion.
Don't over think your big problems.
As crazy, genius, artists & entrepreneurs, we are all victims of the last minute whims of our inner muse. Just when we think our best work or great idea is finally ready to launch she offers yet another option, another new idea, another POV. And as beautiful as our muse is, her ONLY job is to consistently feed us unlimited options, NOT to tell us when the project is finished or the job is done.
Important because I think being aware and conscious of where the finish line is, is just as important as knowing how to cross it (whether it's in our work or personal life).
We set goals, make plans, and with great enthusiasm proclaim our boldest intentions to the universe (and those around us): "this I shall do!"
Then we allow paltry distractions to rob our focus, divert our attention and easily tempt us off course, leaving our "bold goals" stalled on the sidelines. Do this too often and we'll never reach our destination…ever.
Important because we are fools to forget what really matters, as distractions abound and time goes by…
It doesn't matter if you're a songwriter, a screenwriter, an artist or a CEO, if you want to make something happen, take a minute and answer these five simple questions:
1) What must happen in your life, career or business?
2) Why do you think it must happen? Why else?
3) How will it happen? How else?
4) Who will be the one(s) to make it happen?
5) When will it happen?
Important because nothing will happen until you resolve these questions.
It's hard to remain motivated and excited about our big goals and future dreams when there are so many exciting and thrilling nightmares happening all around us!
That said, here are a few reminders that you may have forgotten in the heat & hoopla of these challenging times:
— Progress, growth and success are simply a consequence, an upshot, a byproduct of relentlessly doing the work.
— It's what we are not doing that could move the dial and make a difference. It's the confronting work we resist that could produce the breakthrough we so desperately crave.
— Change is not a sin. Denying it is.
— Procrastination can be ass-kicked! At any moment we have the power to quit a mind-numbing, time-crunching, useless habit and choose where to give our complete attention.
— Your Choice: Stand up on your own two feet and declare, "this I shall do!" Or, continue to vacillate in indecision and wallow in the mire.
— Behind every great jaw-dropping success there's an artist or entrepreneur who faced a difficult internal struggle at a critical moment of choice: choose risk, and possibly become a legend. "Flinch" and possibly become an unexceptional footnote.
Important because in the heat of the hoopla, never forget who you are as a crazy, creative genius. And lean on all the experiences you've had, the knowledge you've acquired, the talents and skills you've learned, and your unique ability to create, invent or dance your way out of any crummy situation.
Right in front of us, staring us right in the face, is an entertainment industry that is currently in the process of intentionally disrupting itself; rethinking, reinventing, reimagining and rebuilding a 21st century global show business aimed toward world domination. And there are crazy, committed showbiz geniuses with unlimited resources, who are right now gazing into a future beyond the pandemic, and building a bigger, stronger, more tolerant, more profitable and more (politically) influential industry. And while the dazed and doubtful scratch their heads and wonder what to do next, those crazy committed showbiz geniuses are at work extending their reach, forming partnerships, growing global relationships, improving and refining the craft of making great entertainment, in all it's forms, and hunting and gathering compelling, impactful content to produce, record and distribute to a prepped, primed and eager global audience.
Also, right in front of all of us artists & treps, starring us right in the face, is an unexpected chance to move forward. A chance to move up. To define our new normal. To return to our work with a renewed purpose; a chance to begin producing, performing and writing songs, scores, screenplays, scripts and visual content that reflect the plight of our times and the mixed feelings and jumbled emotions that we, and all of those around us (and in the world) are experiencing today.
If ever there was a time to be involved, entangled and embedded in a career in show business, today is that time. And you should be proud and excited to be part of it. And you should take advantage of these unprecedented, historical times to step up your game, master the new elements of your craft, and study, research and learn every aspect of our new, expanding entertainment empire.
Important because throughout history, even in the darkest of times, people were inspired and enriched and often dependent on art to help get them through tough times. Not just as an entertainment experience, more like a spiritual uplifting. And I think all artists, entrepreneurs and crazy, wealthy showbiz geniuses are being called up to a higher purpose at this time of global darkness. Not like a heavy responsibility, more like a profound opportunity.
Wall Street says, "The trend is your friend."
But the buck doesn't stop there. Whatever the trend is it will continue in your life until YOU alter its course.
If money and good fortune gravitates to you, most likely it will continue.
If inspiration, creativity, and good ideas easily bubble up for you, chances are they will continue.
If you enjoy the company of many friends, that trend will continue.
If good health always follows you around, it's very likely that will continue too.
It's not about being lucky, it's about being aware.
Important because unlike the stock market where you are at the mercy of social, cultural, industrial, political and global trends, YOU are in control of directing or redirecting the predictable trends in your creative career and independent lifestyle.
In the past five months of the Covid lockdown I've Zoomed with lots of clients, friends, family, artists, treps and geniuses. The only person I haven't Zoomed with yet is Billy Zoom! Here's what I've learned:
If you Zoom with musicians you'll learn that practice is paramount, success is illusive, who you know is everything, and if your audience can't come to see you perform, you should figure out creative ways to bring, stream or present your live performance to them.
If you Zoom with actors you'll learn how to bond with your agent, live with rejection, and embrace home-casting and self-taped auditions. You'll also learn the true value of Masterclass!
If you Zoom with graphic illustrators or painters you'll learn about that deep compelling tug that provokes pro artists to create with total abandon. Then you'll be envious.
If you Zoom with a screenwriter you'll learn more about creating a great pitch than creating a great character.
If you Zoom with agents or managers you'll learn more about behavioral development than career development.
If you Zoom with an Attorney you'll walk away pondering "what if" for the rest of the day.
If you Zoom with a business owner you'll realize why tiny beads of sweat dance on their upper lip when they try to explain why it's not working.
If you Zoom with a marketing expert you'll long for the good 'ol dinosaur days when simple magazine advertising worked.
Important because we should Zoom with artists & treps who are looking forward to trying new ways of doing old things. We should avoid Zooming with people who can't wait for things to go back to the way they were.


As part of the Nashville Songwriters Festival we were invited along to the Avalon Guitar sponsored spectacular featuring no less than five remarkable artists. I hope to bring you a photo post of each artist in the days ahead, the first artist being a favourite of mine Iain Archer. I interviewed Iain for a magazine a few years a back and without doubt he is one of Northern Ireland most talented songwriters.
Iain began his career with a move from Belfast to Glasgow in the mid 90's where he made two albums with Sticky Records, an Ayrshire based indie label. These early works led to him being invited to tour as support act to John Martyn, where he formed a friendship with the legend and accompanied him on vocals. He toured relentlessly and became known for his solo performances with stirring vocals and guitar work. Radio and press picked up keenly on the releases.
Still the musical traveling bug took him off to explore new territory. Archer felt he had more to say, and other ways to express it, and so a period of hiatus and collaboration ensued. He took a job working in a homeless hostel in London, which allowed him a window on another side of life and took away any pressure of touring.
He set about rediscovering his muse. During this time he worked with a number of artists including Fionn Regan, Juliet Turner, Jacob Golden, Reindeer Section and Snow Patrol. Soon Archer was asked to join forces with Snow Patrol and spent a year on the road and in the studio. During this time Iain was involved in co-writing key tracks on Snow Patrol's soon-to-be breakthrough album 'Final Straw', which would later earn him an Ivor Novello Award.


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"Who's Orb's Girlfriend?" is my favorite book because the word "Girlfriend" is grabber and got my attention. I read the book because I wanted to know what happened in the story. When I first saw the book, Who's Orb's Girlfriend, I was wondering, who was Orb's Girlfriend? I decided to read the book and see what happens. When I read the first chapter I figured out his "first" girlfriend was "Jenny Lee." His other girlfriend was "Ellen." Jenny Lee lived in Ohio. Ellen lived in the town where Orb lived. Somehow Ellen got to go to the movies with Orb. Orb's friend was once Ellen's boyfriend. Orb can't deice who he wanted to be his girlfriend. Jenny Lee was supposed to come to the town where Orb lived in, but instead Orb can go to Ohio in July to see Jenny Lee.


text:
Makulatur – 2010-2016
Manuel Raeder [see all titles]
Bom Dia Boa Tarde Boa Noite [see all titles]
Texts by Abraham Cruzvillegas, Eran Schaerf, Mela Dàvila Freire, Manuel Raeder.
Graphic design: Studio Manuel Raeder.
published in December 2016
336 pages (color ill.)
A collection of misprinted sheets originating from books designed by graphic designer Manuel Raeder: a "behind the scene" project, which documents the early stage of book production and its conventions.
Makulatur, a German word that derives from lat. maculatura "something stained", refers to misprinted paper that is discarded at the beginning of the printing process as use- and worthless. In 2010, the graphic designer Manuel Raeder started to collect and preserve misprinted sheets of all the publications he designed not only for his own publishing house Bom Dia Boa Tarde Boa Noite but also for fellow artists and institutions.
This waste paper that shows all difficulties arising in the early stage of production—trails, testy or stains—he combined to a new volume as a compilation of maculae "stains". Thus, he dissolved the spoiled material from the realm of invisibility and displays it to the public whereby he reveals and reflects on the conventions of a book.
Graphic designer Manuel Raeder lives and works in Berlin. He studied at the London College of Printing and has completed a post-graduate at the Jan van Eyck Akademie in Maastricht. His main focus lies in close collaborations with artists, designers, curators, theorists and musicians. His work has a wide range of formats from exhibitions, publications, type design to furniture design. Manuel Raeder has held workshops in various instituions (Ecole nationale supérieure des Arts Décoratifs, Paris, Hochschule für bildende Künste, Hamburg...).
A regular collaborator to Sternberg Press editions, Manuel Raeder is the co-founder of Bom Dia Boa Tarde Boa Noite, a publishing house specialized in high quality artists' books.


The Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) issued a statement expressing deep concern over the arrest of 'Adel al-Mashwakhi yesterday, 11 January 2017, by Military Police officers in Rafah after he posted a video on his "Facebook" page criticizing Hamas Movement as many civilians did due to the aggravating power crisis suffered by the Gaza Strip population for 10 years.
PCHR emphasizes that the right to freedom of opinion and expression is guaranteed under the Palestinian Basic Law and intentional human rights standards. PCHR also demands strictly complying with the Criminal Procedure Code when summoning any person.
According to PCHR's follow-up, at approximately 15:00 on Wednesday, on 11 January 2017, Military Police officers arrested 'Adel al-Mashwakhi (33) while he was near his house in al- Shaboura refugee camp in Rafah City in the southern Gaza Strip.
Adel was arrested after posting a video on his Facebook page in which he criticized the role of Hamas Movement in the electricity crisis in the Gaza Strip. Since it was published, the video was viewed by more than 500,000 people.
It should be mentioned that this is the third time for al-Mashawkhi to be arrested by the security services in Gaza.
He was arrested twice last year, the first of which was by the Internal Security Service when Adel was subjected to investigation and torture, while the second was by the Military Police. Both arrests were on grounds of criticizing Hamas Movement.
It should be mentioned that al-Mashwakhi is a member of the Palestinian police in Gaza. However, due to his self-inflicted gunshot wound to the right leg resulting in impaired mobility, al-Mashwakhi could not comply with the official working hours.
2. Emphasizes that strict application of the Criminal Procedure Code is indispensable for the protection of freedoms and also stresses that the detention pending investigation in cases of opinion expression violates the international standards binding the Palestinian Authority.
3. The Attorney General should investigate the arrest of al-Mashwakhi to establish the facts in order to hold those responsible accountable.


HONG KONG — Chinese Communist Party leaders are afraid that the Dalai Lama will not have an afterlife. Worried enough that this week, officials repeatedly warned that he must reincarnate, and on their terms.
Tensions over what will happen when the 14th Dalai Lama, who is 79, dies, and particularly over who decides who will succeed him as the most prominent leader in Tibetan Buddhism, have ignited at the annual gathering of China's legislators in Beijing.
Party functionaries were incensed by the exiled Dalai Lama's recent speculation that he might end his spiritual lineage and not reincarnate. That would confound the Chinese government's plans to engineer a succession that would produce a putative 15th Dalai Lama who accepts China's presence and policies in Tibet. Their anger welled up on Wednesday, as it had a day earlier.
The idea of Communist Party officials defending the precepts of reincarnation and hurling accusations of heresy at the Dalai Lama might have Marx turning in his grave. The party is committed to atheism in its ranks, though it accepts religious belief in the public. And President Xi Jinping has declared his fealty to Marxist-Leninist dialectical materialism.
But the dispute over reincarnation has profound implications for Beijing and its hold over Tibetan areas, where protests and self-immolations have brought into focus simmering discontent. The Chinese government is determined to manage all aspects of Tibetan Buddhist tradition, including the most sacred rituals of succession, to ensure that the restive region remains firmly under Chinese control.
Party leaders would prefer to insert themselves surreptitiously into a succession process that carries the full weight of Tibetan tradition than to install a new Dalai Lama by fiat, which would almost certainly undermine the new religious leader's credibility inside Tibet.
So if the incumbent Dalai Lama, who remains revered in Tibet more than half a century after he fled into exile in 1959, uses his clout to nullify the historic selection process, China faces the prospect of continuing discontent there after his death. It would in essence be a last act of defiance by the Dalai Lama.
The Dalai Lama has not commented on the latest warnings from China. But Lobsang Sangay, the prime minister of the Tibetan government in exile, based in Dharamsala, in northern India, was scathing on Tuesday, after the former governor of the Tibetan autonomous region, Padma Choling, told reporters that the Dalai Lama had profaned the Tibetan Buddhist faith by suggesting that he might not be reincarnated.
Since 1995, the Chinese authorities have claimed an increasingly active role in the succession of the Dalai Lama and other Tibetan Buddhist leaders, Mr. Barnett said. Under the Qing dynasty, he said, the Manchu emperors who ruled China maintained a limited role in confirming the succession of the Dalai Lama and other Tibetan Buddhist leaders, but the Communist Party has demanded an increasingly hands-on role in intricate rituals of succession.
Tibetans are sure to reject any future putative Dalai Lama picked by the Chinese government, Dicki Chhoyang, the head of the Department of Information and International Relations of the Tibetan government in exile in Dharamsala, said in an interview.
Tibetans, however, remain convinced that the Dalai Lama will ultimately continue his lineage of leading monks of the Gelugpa school of Tibetan Buddhism, a succession that dates from the 14th century, Mr. Barnett said. The Dalai Lama's warnings on succession, he said, are best understood as a way of encouraging Tibetans to focus on the issue and the options.
An article on Thursday about Chinese Communist Party leaders' anger over speculation by the Dalai Lama, the most prominent leader in Tibetan Buddhism, that he might not reincarnate gave an outdated title for Padma Choling, who told reporters that the Dalai Lama had profaned his faith by making the suggestion. Padma Choling is a former governor of the Tibetan autonomous region of China, not the current one.


The first stop on our Priorat vineyards tour was at the Costers del Siurana winery located in Gratallops. Carles Pastrana and his wife Mariona Jarque established this winery in 1979, and were one of the original five winemakers who were responsible for the revitalization of wine making in this region. Just 10 years after they began producing wine, Clos de l'Obac was recognized in the World Wine Guide as one of the world's 150 best wines, and today both Clos de l'Obac and Miserere wines are known throughout the world for their high quality.
The winery is accessed off a small road that is located just before you turn into the town of Gratallops. After being greeted by Mariona, we had the honor of touring the winery with Carles Pastrana himself. During the tour you learn about the history of the winery, and the art and the science of producing high quality wines. What you take away most of all is the passion and obsession that the family has for creating their award-winning wines. Theirs is a labor of love, and that is felt in both the tour of the winery, as well as in the wines they produce.
The visit finishes with a wine tasting that is truly a memorable experience. Tasting a selection of wines with Carles and having him share the details of a particular vintage is the icing on the cake for any wine lover.
To arrange a visit to Clos de l'Obac you must send a request via email, which can be found on their website at costersdelsiurana.com. Visits are usually scheduled in the morning and are always personalized and given by a member of the family or the oenologist (who is Mariona's brother, Joan Jarque). The tour and wine tasting lasts about 95 minutes, and at the end there is a wine tasting of 4 of their wines: Clos de l'Obac, Dolç de l'Obac, Miserere and Kyrie. The fee for the tour and tasting at present time is 25 Euros per person. You can purchase wines directly from the winery to take with you (they offer special carrying cases), or for orders of 12 bottles or more they can ship the order to the US.
If you are like us and fall in love with a particular wine (or wines), we highly recommend that you buy some bottles directly from the winery and either take them home or have them shipped (as we did), as you may not be able to find them later on when you return home. We are glad we did, as we cannot find the same vintages from any local New York City or other distributor. The shipping can take 3-4 weeks (due to regulations governing the export of wines), but you won't be sorry when the bottles arrive and you have the pleasure of enjoying the fine wines of this winemaker all over again.


Senate Bill 313 was passed on May 4th, 2017 and will go into effect on July 1st, 2017. The bill created the Maryland Energy Innovation Institute to transform basic research into new technologies while bringing together science, industry, government, and economic leaders.
View Governor Hogan's official press release.


text:
Home Policy and Advocacy Ageing
RCPI: Promoting health and wellbeing in the elderly
The RCPI Policy Group on Ageing was active between January 2016 and February 2020 and was chaired by Prof Desmond O'Neill, Consultant Physician in Geriatric and Stroke Medicine and a Professor of Medical Gerontology at Trinity College Dublin and Tallaght hospital.
Members of the RCPI Policy Group on Ageing were doctors and allied health professionals working in the Irish health system, many of whom were concerned about the gaps in policy and action as it relates to the health and wellbeing of older people.
Increasing life expectancy poses a challenge for society
Population ageing reflects the remarkable success of public health policies and socioeconomic development in increasing life expectancy across the world.
In Ireland the over-65 population is increasing by approximately 20,000 each year while the population of individuals over 80 years is growing by 4% annually.
This increase in longevity is a major advance comparable to the fall in child mortality in the early years of the 20th century. However it challenges society to protect the resulting longevity dividend through maximising the health, functional capacity, social participation and security of older people.
What is 'the longevity dividend'?
In the WHO's 2015 World Report on Ageing and Health, the authors established the concept of the longevity dividend, the increasing evidence that we have gained hugely from the increase in our lifespan.
For example, in the UK older people make a net contribution of £40 billion (€54 billion) to the economy.
Download the WHO World report on ageing and health
Old age is not synonymous with dependence, either physical or economic
The elements that make healthcare for older people different include increased diversity with age: there is no typical older person. This diversity is not random, but fuelled by income, health services, environment and inequality - All factors amenable to change.
That the ageing of our populations is a major drain on healthcare resources is a myth: to date this has not been established.
For example, in the US between 1940 and 1990, a period of significantly faster population ageing than has occurred since, ageing contributed only about 2 per cent to the increase in health expenditures, while technology-related changes were responsible for between 38 per cent and 65 per cent.
Specific challenges for Ireland
Ireland faces specific challenges for the provision of adequate healthcare to older people:
During 2014, almost 22% of all Emergency Department attendances were aged 65 or over, and almost 12.5% were aged 75 or over.
In 2014, the proportion of over 65s admitted on an emergency basis increased by 20% from 32% in January to 38% in December 2014 and the trend appears to be continuing in 2015.
Analysis of delayed discharge patients in beds in February 2015 found 86% were aged over-65, and the majority (73%) were awaiting a nursing home bed.
The average age of care recipients on the island of Ireland is 76 years. The average age of care givers for an older person is 73 years.
In 2014, there were a total of 2,592 referrals made to the elder abuse service which is an increase of 5% on referrals from 2013. The prevalence of elder abuse in community settings in Ireland is estimated to be 2.2%.
There are over 35,000 people with dementia in Ireland and this figure will increase significantly over the next 20 years.
It is not just for resources that we need to agitate: we need a broader vision of what you and I would like if and when we require nursing home care. The new models of care, such as the Green House (thegreenhouseproject.org) and the Eden Alternative (edenalt.org) replicate aspects of domestic life and provide a tantalising glimpse of what might be.
Professor Desmond O'Neill
Chair, RCPI Policy Group on Ageing
The Need to Take Action
As a healthcare organisation representing thousands of doctors on the frontline of health services, we represent a patient-focused, independent voice in the national debate on public health and healthcare.
There is compelling evidence of significant health, social and economic benefits and challenges associated with population ageing and increasing focus on health and wellbeing over the life-course.
Some progress has been made in the area of healthy ageing policy including
Healthy Ireland Framework 2013-2015
National Positive Ageing Strategy (2013)
National Dementia Strategy (2014).
Many of the recommendations and actions included in these policies, however, remain unimplemented.
The overall aim of the Policy Group on Ageing was to influence national policy on a range of healthcare issues for older people using evidence-based research and best practice from Ireland and internationally.
Our four objectives were:
To ensure that RCPI policies and guidelines take due account of developments on the scientific progress in gerontology and geriatric medicine.
To inform the college on how best to engage with older people and older Members and Fellows, with a particular emphasis on realizing the longevity dividend to the fullest extent.
To support the embedding of gerontology/geriatric medicine as a core element of RCPI postgraduate activities and life-long learning, with due reference to the continuum of education across the lifespan.
To advocate for and advise on translation and implementation of age-friendly policies, particularly in the context of the recent National Strategies on Ageing and Dementia, as well as the National Clinical Programme for Older People.
Age-Friendly Principles
RCPI Council has agreed to support the following 10 Age-Friendly Principles.
To encourage the participation of older members and fellows in all the core activities of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, including educational and research programmes.
To promote personal and career development in the second half of life and to support those who wish to pursue "second careers".
To recognise the range of educational needs of older trainees/members.
To promote intergenerational learning to facilitate the reciprocal sharing of expertise between members and trainees of all ages.
To widen access to online educational opportunities for older members and other healthcare professionals to ensure a diversity of routes to participation.
To ensure that RCPI's policy and research agenda is informed by the needs of an ageing society and to promote public discourse on how healthcare delivery can better respond to the varied needs of older adults.
To increase the understanding of RCPI's members and fellows of the longevity dividend and the increasing complexity and richness that ageing brings to our society, in particular within the practice of medicine.
To enhance access for older members to RCPI's physician wellbeing courses and workshops and to its social and cultural activities.
To engage actively with RCPIs own retired community.
To ensure regular dialogue with organisations representing the healthcare needs of the ageing population.
These principles are translated from Dublin City University's 10 principles for an Age Friendly University.
View our policy publications on Ageing
Members of the RCPI Policy Group on Ageing
Prof Desmond O'Neill Chair
Dr Emer Shelley Faculty of Public Health Medicine
Dr Deirdre Fitzgerald Faculty of Occupational Medicine
Dr Joan Power Faculty of Pathology
Dr Conor O'Brien Joint Faculty of Sports and Exercise Medicine (RCSI/RCPI)
Dr David Thomas Irish College of General Practitioners
Prof Diarmuid O'Shea National Clinical Programme for Older people
Dr Suzanne Timmons Irish Society of Physicians in Geriatric Medicine
Dr Rose Galvin Irish Gerontological Society
Dr Mia McLoughlin Faculty of Old Age Psychiatry, College of Psychiatry of Ireland
Prof Assumpta Ryan All-Ireland Gerontological Nursing Association
Patricia Rickard-Clarke RCPI Council Lay- Member
Louise Finn
Communications Executive
LouiseFinn@RCPI.IE
For general press enquiries contact Louise in our Communications Department.
Mairéad Heffron
Policy Specialist
maireadheffron@rcpi.ie
Contact Mairéad for queries relating to our policy groups or if you have an idea for a policy paper.