text:
City Council Agenda
Forms / Permits
Keesler Air Force Base
Planning / Zoning
Voter Information 2017
Biloxi Visitors Center
The Biloxi Visitors Center, which opened in July 2011 in the shadow of the Biloxi Lighthouse on U.S. 90, fuses the city's architectural heritage with state-of-the-art technology and multi-media exhibits to give visitors and residents alike a feel for the Biloxi of yesterday and today.
Besides offering a wealth of information about visitor amenities in Biloxi, the visitors center is also a museum of sorts, housing nearly a dozen multi-media exhibits that tell the story of Biloxi, its people, its connection to the water and its cultural diversity. You'll find a gift shop offering all sorts of Biloxi memorabilia, with many of the items created by local artists and craftsmen.
Among the attractions on the second floor is a 67-seat movie theater with continuous showings of the 10-minute film "We are Biloxi." And stepping out onto the second-floor porch, you'll be eye level with the beacon of the Biloxi Lighthouse, enjoying the cool breezes off the Gulf of Mexico, or soaking up the panoramic view of the Biloxi beach and Mississippi Sound.
The 24,000 square-foot center bears a striking resemblance to the Dantzler House, a two-story city-owned structure that stood on the site until Aug. 29, 2005, when it was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. Among the features inspired by the Dantzler: two-story porches, a grand staircase, and floor-to-ceiling windows.
The visitors center, which is open seven days a week and available for private parties or corporate functions, is also home to the Biloxi and Biloxi Bay chambers of commerce.
The city constructed the $11 million facility with federal and state funds and insurance proceeds.
Telephone: (228) 374-3105 or 1-800-BILOXI-3
Location: 1050 Beach Blvd. At U.S. 90 and Porter Avenue, just west of I-110 loop and Beau Rivage Resort & Casino.
Hours: Open daily, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Email: visitor@biloxi.ms.us
Harbors/Marinas/Piers
BNews Monthly
Gaming Revenues
Int. Building Code
Restore Biloxi
City of Biloxi Privacy Policy · Trademark Policy


Thank You for visiting this page. Please take some time and go through the following pages which I believe would be of great interest to you.
• What To Do With Trees & Shrubs After The Storm Damage?
• Dursban: Is it harmful to humans & animals?


text:
The Fiji national under 20 rugby team is for Fijian rugby union players aged 20 or under on January 1 of the year during which they are selected.

Under 20 age grade rugby came into existence, as a result of the IRB combining the Under 19 Rugby World Championship and Under 21 Rugby World Championship into a single IRB Junior World Championship tournament.

Since 2014, the Fiji under-20 team has been invited to compete at the Australian Under 20 Rugby Championship.

Junior World Championship / Trophy

Overview
 2008 World Championship: 14th
 2009 World Championship: 12th
 2010 World Championship: 8th
 2011 World Championship: 6th
 2012 World Championship: 11th
 2013 World Championship: 11th
 2014 World Championship: 12th
 2015 World Trophy: 6th
 2016 World Trophy: 3rd
 2017 World Trophy: qualified

2008

In June 2008 Wales hosted the 2008 IRB Junior World Championship. Fiji lost all of its pool matches, going down to England 41-17 then losing to Australia by 53-17 before going down in a close match against Canada by 10-17. In the 13th-16th Places Playoffs, Fiji beat USA before going down to Tonga and finishing 14th overall out of 16.

2009
In June 2009, Japan hosted the 2009 IRB Junior World Championship. Fiji lost its first two matches against South Africa (36-10) and France (48-25) before defeating Italy by 20-14 with tries to Ledua and Matawalu. Fiji lost out to Scotland in the semifinal playoffs and then losing to Argentina in the 11th place play off and finished overall at 12th position and due to its 12th finish, qualified for the next championship in 2010 which was reduced to 12 teams.

2010
In June 2010, Argentina hosted the 2010 IRB Junior World Championship. Fiji played its first game against 2 times winners New Zealand going down 44-11 with tries to Christopher Nasiganyavi and 2 penalties to Josh Matavesi. They were thumped 31-13 by Wales but accounted for Samoa beating them 15-12. In the 5th place play-off, Fiji were beaten 44-9 by France before losing to Wales again in the 7th place play off by 39-15 and finishing 8th overall.

2011
In June 2011, Italy hosted the 2011 IRB Junior World Championship. Fiji played its first game against France losing 24-12 before getting thrashed 50-25 by Australia. Fiji then went on to beat Tonga 36-18. In the 5th-8th place play-off, Fiji thrashed Wales by 34-20 before getting thrashed by South Africa by  104-17 who scored 14 tries to 2. Even after the loss, Fiji finished at its best ever position of 6th.

Squads

2015
Squad to the 2015 World Rugby Under 20 Trophy:
Pateresio Beramaisuva
Timoci Bulitavu
Jone Jordan Cama
Kaveni Dabenaise
Waisea Vasuitoga Daroko
Filipo Daugunu
Rupeni Laganikoro
Ratu Josefa Logavatu
Eroni Mawi
Serupepeli Momo
Seveci Nakailagi
Peniami Narisia
Leone Nawai
Ilisavani Nasemira
Mateo Qolisese
Josaia Raboiliku
Tevita Ratuva
Viliame Ravouvou
Jone Seuvou
Asaeli Sorovaki
Lekima Tagitagivalu
Sela Toga
Vatiliai Tuidraki
Manuele Tuiqali
Seremaia Turagabeci
Filimoni Savou

Team Management
Coach – Viliame Gadolo
Assistant coach – Kele Leawere
Technical Trainer – Mosese Rauluni
Strength & Conditioning Coach - Mathew Dooley
Team Doctor – Dr Josefa Dakuinamako
Physio – Talisa Whippy
Manager – Jone Nute

2014

Notable former coaches
  Iliesa Tanivula (2010)
  Inoke Male (2011)

Notable former players
  Nikola Matawalu (2009)
  Metuisela Talebula (2009)
  Noa Nakaitaci (2008)
  Maritino Nemani (2010)
  Josh Matavesi (2010)
  Tevita Kuridrani (2010)
  Semi Radradra (2011)
  Samu Kerevi (2012)
  Ben Volavola (2012)

See also

References

Under-20
Oceanian national under-20 rugby union teams

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Most phone repairs can be done within 30-45 minutes.
We proudly warranty our products and services.
Need a quote or more info about our services? Fill out the info below and we'll get back to as quickly as possible.
Now with 2 Locations in Lafayette!
...more than just iPhone Repairs!
If you are looking for the very best in computer, tablet, and smartphone repairs in Lafayette, LA, then you have come to the right place. Express Phone Repairs & Screen Repair Pros have serviced the Acadiana area since 2011 with fast and professional Computer, iPad & iPhone repair services. We have two locations to serve you in Acadiana and both are now under the name Express Phone Repairs. We are still the screen repair pros, but can repair so much more. Come see us for all your iPhone, iPad, smartphone, tablet, laptop, and computer repairs. We always deliver great customer service and quality repair services.


text:
package org.reldb.ldi.sili.exceptions;

import org.reldb.ldi.silt.parser.ast.Node;
import org.reldb.ldi.silt.transpiler.BaseASTNode;

/**
 * This exception is thrown when semantic errors are encountered.
 */
public class ExceptionSemantic extends Error {

	static final long serialVersionUID = 0;

	public ExceptionSemantic(String message, Node node) {
		super(message + "\nAt line " +
				((BaseASTNode)node).first_token.beginLine + " column " +
				((BaseASTNode)node).first_token.beginColumn + " near " + ((BaseASTNode)node).tokenValue);
	}

}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


What began several years ago as a hugely ambitious project to blanket Luxembourg with a World beating fibre optic network is now within sight of completion. Soon, every one of the country's 550,000-plus citizens will have the opportunity to benefit from the ultra-high-speed capability of a nationwide network connected to every household, and the latest fibre to the home technology from HUBER+SUHNER is playing a key part.
Network speeds of up to 1Gbps remain a pipe dream for most countries and their consumers, but the Technologies Department of Post Group Luxembourg is well on the way to offering this superfast capability to every Luxembourg household.
The final stage of the fibre to the home (FTTH) programme to connect every dwelling to an underground fibre optic network began in 2010 and, by the end of this year, installation will be completed to half the country's population. Those who subscribe to Post Luxembourg's top of the range LuxFibre XL service will benefit from download speeds of 1Gbps and upload speeds of 500Mbps – comparable with the very best services worldwide, and easily capable of handling the most demanding internet applications such as HD channel downloading, recording and gaming. Even those that chose the basic level LuxFibre S can expect download speeds of an impressive 30Mbps!
The company is deploying the FTTH network in a point-to-point (P2P) structure using a multi-fibre network with open access. Homes are being connected via two point-to-point fibres to an optical distribution frame within a local point of presence (POP) and these POPs are being rolled out across the country. For the home, the fibre will normally enter the property underground at a building entry point (BEP), where fibre to the home becomes fibre in the home. Here, Post Luxembourg and its installers have called on HUBER+SUHNERs expertise in fibre optic distribution and termination by specifying one of the company's Optibox enclosures designed to simplify the installation process.
OptiBox enclosures fulfil all of the typical fibre cable requirements such as the bending radius limits, fibre overlength storage and the secure attachment of spliced connections. The chosen Optibox 4 enclosure is an easy to install mounting, splicing and patching box that consists of a base, fibre tray and cover which offers protection to IP54. Conventional loose tube cables, microcables or micro ducts can be secured within the housing so that the fibres are protected from bending and from any adverse environmental issues. Up to four SC format adaptors can be accommodated and the enclosure provides one cable entry and four cable exit points, one of which is bend-radius protected.
HUBER+SUHNER's Optibox distribution and termination enclosures are currently being specified throughout the World as the deployment of FTTH networks increases to match the needs of the consumer.


text:
Home → Work with us→ Auditors→ Meet our Auditors
Bamiro Abimbola Oluwatoyin
"I am always guided by the principles of competence, integrity, thoroughness, fairness, and adherence to excellence, and whatever is worth doing, it is worth doing well."
About Mr. Abimbola
Bamiro Abimbola Oluwatoyin, holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Chemistry (1993) and a Master of Science degree in Analytical and Environmental Chemistry from the University of Ibadan (1997).
He joined Jawura Environmental Services Ltd. in Lagos (1997–2001) and worked as an environmental and technical officer. After that, for a year, he worked at Hexon Environmental Consultants and Engineers Ltd. as a Senior Environmental Services Manager.
Mr. Abimbola went into private practice as an industrial, environmental, quality, and water treatment (design and installation) consultant to small-scale water factories, food, and manufacturing industries. He joined Pioneer Oil Nigeria Limited (a vegetable oil refinery and distribution company) in 2004 as Chief Analyst/Quality Assurance Manager. From 2004 to 2005, he served as a technical manager at Environmental Accord Nigeria Ltd.
Further on, Mr. Abimbola worked with May & Baker Nigeria Plc. (pharmaceuticals, food, and beverages) as Quality Assurance Manager (2006–2014) and management systems consultant to Tenol Alpha Ltd. (ISO management system training, auditing, and certification services) since 2009.
He became a member of the Institute of Public Analysts of Nigeria (IPAN) in 2005 as a public analyst and an industrial, analytical, environmental, safety, quality, water, and management systems consultant. Moreover, he is experienced in regulatory compliance, environmental and quality management systems (EMS&QMS), LMS, cGMP, HSEMS, HACCP, and GLP training and audits.
About the experience in auditing
My auditing experience started in 1997, when I was working as an Environmental and Technical Services Officer at Jawura Environmental Services Limited, an analytical laboratory services and environmental management consultancy firm in Lagos, Nigeria. I was involved in environmental auditing, remediation, pollution studies, and environmental assessment in the manufacturing and oil and gas industries for about 4 years.
Afterward, I joined and worked with two other environmental consulting firms involved in similar activities. I got involved in the cGMP audit (1st and 2nd parties) when I joined May & Baker Nigeria Plc. as a Quality Assurance Chemist in 2006. In 2007, I had internal auditor training on ISO 9001:2000 and was appointed as the Lead Internal Auditor for the four factories of the company, including the pharmaceutical, food, and beverage/water factories. I helped to prepare the company for certification and then transition to ISO 9001:2008.
In 2009, I began consulting for MS firms on internal audit, mock audit, and pre-certification for manufacturing, banks, financial institutions, internal revenue, information technologies, and other industries.
This continued until 2018 when I joined MSECB as an Interim Auditor. Since then, I am an MSECB Certified Management System Auditor with Lead Auditor Certificates and over 15 years of audit experience, which includes Environmental Audit, Environmental Assessment, ISO 14001, ISO 9001, ISO 22000, ISO 45001, ISO/IEC 17025, ISO 13485, IMS, and cGMP.
Although, sometimes, digging to find sufficient evidence from the auditee can be challenging, every part of auditing is always interesting to me. My goal for the future is to acquire more expertise and audit experience in other ISO standards.
Mr. Abimbola's experience with MSECB
Within the last two and a half years alone, my experience with MSECB has been awesome.
Conducting audits for MSECB has been very interesting and rewarding. It has helped me achieve formal recognition of my competence and I have met people I would have had no chance to meet otherwise.
Moreover, working with MSECB has helped me maximize my career potential and meet my professional objectives.
I would gladly and without hesitation recommend to other auditors to join MSECB.
MSECB is blessed to have such a talented and professional team that has built effective processes and documentation that are always up-to-date.
MSECB Auditor Profile
In 2018, Bamiro Abimbola Oluwatoyin joined our MSECB Auditors Network. During these years, he has conducted many ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 13485, and ISO 22000 audits for many large and medium enterprises. He is a well-educated and highly professional auditor who always reflects positivity and has great communication skills. Mr. Abimbola's sharp focus on details and facts make him stand out as an auditor.
We are honored to have him as part of our team!
Build endless connections and professional networks by joining our team of over 500 MSECB Auditors.
We welcome you on board!
Apply to become an
MSECB Auditor
Lead Auditors certifate(s)
Number of audits performed
Secondary level Bachelor's degree Master's degree PhD

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Everyone tells him to move on. But for Jake, there can be no closure. A message appears in his dreams—a warning he is reluctant to heed.
The omens ignored, Jake finds himself caught between the desire to see his beloved wife again and disrupting the delicate balance of life and death. The technology he developed has shown him the path, and others will do anything to use it, but at what price?
He must choose, and the consequences may ultimately shatter his world.
Today, we get a sneak peek of author Rosanne Dingli's Encore.
Meant for the mid-life mob (or older) these are atmospheric stories, all themed around music and musical concepts. The emotional imbalance of couples finding a new kind of compatibility – or otherwise – is explored in these narratives. What happens to relationships when a different tune is played? What happens to the sharpness and newness of the music with the passing of years?
Rosanne Dingli's short fiction has been awarded for its subtle ability to evoke nostalgia and stay in the memory.
Encore is available in print and eBook at Amazon.com and other online stores.
The following excerpt is from a story called "Walking into the Sea", which is in the middle pages of Encore.


Salford Quays is located to the south of Salford and on the banks of the Manchester Ship Canal. Once well-known for its industry, nowadays however, after extensive regeneration in the area spanning nearly two decades, the warehouses have been renovated or knocked down and replaced with state of the art office space, apartment blocks, plus flats to rent in Salford.
The area is linked to Trafford - the home of Manchester United Football Club - by the Lowry footbridge, and houses such attractions as The Imperial War Museum, The Lowry Museum and is close to the Lowry Outlet Village. There is also a centre that offers water sport activities such as canoeing, kayaking, power boating and wind surfing.
A few radio stations have made The Quays their home, and with the BBC having also now moved to the specially-built MediaCityUK from London, as far as media and entertainment goes this creative and digital hub is certainly the place to work, live and play. Salford Quays also has its fair share of bars and restaurants, as well as coffee shops, and the canal is ideal for walking and jogging along the waterside.
If you are thinking about the current list of apartments to rent in Salford or are interested in letting a flat, this area is most suitable for couples and young professionals. Transport is at its best in Salford Quays as the Eccles branch of the Metrolink Tram runs along Salford Quays. In addition there is a regular bus service into the city.


text:
'Mom' and 'Dad' Are 'Cancelled' at NYC Private School
Home » 'Mom' and 'Dad' Are 'Cancelled' at NYC Private School
Maybe it was only a matter of time in an unyielding "cancel culture," but right now, the elite Grace Church School in Manhattan is directing its students away from the use of the words "mom," "dad," and even "parent" to refer to their—um, parents.
Why? Because those terms supposedly don't represent "diversity" or "inclusivity" today.
Among other dictates, the school's 12-page guide for staff and students notes that "families are formed and structured in many ways. At Grace Church School, we use inclusive language that reflects this diversity," the guide says.
So instead of referring to their parents as "mom" and "dad," students at this school should now say "grown-ups," "folks," or "family," the guide insists.
Related: Mr. Potato Head Is Going Gender-Neutral
Even the terms "nanny" or "babysitter" are discouraged.
Not just very discouraged. Verboten.
Instead, students are coaxed to say "caregiver" or "guardian" when referring to the adults who watch them while their parents are working or away.
Regarding sexual orientation, the school's guide says that "human sexuality exists along a spectrum. At [our school], we use inclusive language that acknowledges all orientations and identities."
Given that, the guide goes on, students now must "be conscious of heteronormative assumptions; i.e., boys have or want girlfriends, girls have or want boyfriends. Avoid phrases like 'ladies' man,' 'boys will love those eyelashes,' or 'your mom and dad must be so proud.' People get to love who they want to love," the guide continues. "Avoid making assumptions about how adults identify themselves in the present or how children might identify themselves in the future. Sexuality can be fluid along the course of a person's life."
For starters: Oh, boy. (Can we even say that anymore?)
Related: 'We Can Help Our Families Realize Our Godly Heritage'
What if a child wants to refer to his mom as his "mom" or his dad as his "dad"? That's a problem?
As The New York Post Editorial Board pointed out about this troubling development, "This is an actual trend. In the UK, the University of Manchester has also scrapped the words 'mother' and 'father' for 'guardians.' Its guide also nixes 'elderly,' 'pensioners,' and 'youngsters' for sterile terms such as 'over-65s, 75s and so on.'"
It's all a bit much.
As one letter writer told The Post, "To create a disconnect between how young children refer to their family members at home and at school will only cause more confusion and anxiety."
The school is defending its language guide. "The Inclusive Language Guide at issue in the press, which we shared with you this fall, comes from that place in our hearts and mission," read a statement from George Davison, the head of school, as USA Today reported. "It is designed to help the adults in the community find words to affirm and unite."
Check out these tweets for more information and reaction.
Woke $57k-a-year Grace Church School (@GCSchoolNYC) is telling students to stop referencing "mom" & "dad" — at their own homes! Also, students can't ask each other "where are you from?" or use polite terms like "ladies & gentlemen."
And, of course, no "Merry Christmas." pic.twitter.com/e78yd0qEWN
— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) March 11, 2021
Woke $57k Manhattan Grace Church school bans students from using terms mom and dad https://t.co/MEmjCcdXM6
— Daily Mail US (@DailyMail) March 10, 2021
Share your thoughts on this story and other news stories on Christian News Journal's Facebook page here.
For more news and stories of the day from Christian News Journal, click here.
Maureen Mackey is a writer, editor, web content executive, and regular contributor to Christian News Journal.
Trending In Back stories
Billy Graham Rapid Response Team Deploys to Maryland After Shooting at Senior Living Facility
As We Mourn the 20th Anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001, May We Return to the Lord
Where Was God on Sept. 11, 2001?
California's Future in the Hands of the Few
Parent Takes Action After Atlanta Elementary School Allegedly Segregated Kids by Ethnicity
U.S. Capitol Police Tell Group They May Be 'Subject to Arrest' for Having Demonstration on the Steps of the Capitol
Informed Consent Action Network's Attorneys Challenge DOJ Mandatory Vaccination Opinion
Former Bethlehem Baptist Pastors Say Church's Culture Breeds Fear, Tolerates Abuse
6 Physical Activities for Kids That You Can Do as a Family
Parents of Tweens and Teens: The Dangers of Sexting
Bondage Promoter Recommended to Choose Curriculum in the Fifth Largest School District in the Nation
Arizona School Board President Refuses to Resign Over Dossier Kept on Parents
John Kennedy Scolds AG Garland Over School Board Memo | 'This Isn't La-La Land!'
Antonio Sabato Jr. | 'Our Politicians Do Not Care About the American People'
Fewer Children… Because of "Climate Anxiety"?
Today's 'Gender Bending': Three 'Woke' Developments All Families Must Know About
Parent Serves $200 Million Dollar Lawsuit to Nevada School District


text:
UK Election media review: are our politicians tackling the issues?
March 25, 2015 March 25, 2015 ~ Kim	~ Leave a comment
We are five weeks away from the UK General Election. That's right, five weeks.
A shock, given that we have yet to see any real debate or discussion from our future leaders on any of the things that actually matter to people's lives. Or have we?
I decided to test this hunch. I reviewed the media coverage from the past week to uncover whether the key parties bothered to say anything of real substance and interest on the big issues that matter to the electorate. Or have they just spent the week joshing and jockeying between themselves for kicks. Let's see shall we.
> So what matters to the electorate?
ComRes/ITV, March 2015
First, the election issues. According to the latest poll by ComRes/ITV, the big issues people care about are: the NHS, immigration, the economy, and welfare/benefits — in that order. That list broadly matches a BBC/Populus survey from January, which showed that the issues the electorate most want the media to cover are: NHS, the economy, immigration, welfare/benefits/pensions, and jobs and pay. I decided to go with ComRes as it's more up to date. And shorter.
> How do we know if politicians have said anything substantive on these issues?
A quick and dirty method. I reviewed the front pages of three newspapers — The Guardian, The Telegraph and The Sun — for the week 17 March – 24 March — to see if an announcement had made the headlines. Big thanks to Nick Sutton's Tomorrow's Papers Today tumblr…it was surprisingly hard to find an archive of front pages.
To be honest, I didn't have time to review articles beyond the front page, but I figured that if the party/politician is announcing something of real substance, it should make it onto the front page. (Admittedly, there are many arguments that challenge this assumption. Having been a government press officer for a time I know first hand just how much news from government totally fails to get media pick-up. But that's another blog.)
Anyway. To get a bit more 24/7 coverage in the sample and to make up for my front page bias, I also reviewed the Facebook feeds for C4 News, ITV News and BBC News for the same period. What I was looking for was any policy announcement-led news from any party on any one of these big issues over the past week.
> Here are the results.
Hot issue number 1 – the NHS (number of pieces of coverage: 4)
There was nothing at all from any party on any of these media channels until today. This evening, Channel 4 made a valiant effort to get the parties to say something of interest on healthcare. They invited both the health secretary, Lid Dem Health minister and shadow health minister on the show for a '#YourNHS debate'. They served three Facebook posts on the matter over the course of this evening (as well as an earlier post on Cameron being shouted at at an Age UK event.) There was some discussion between the parties on how to meet the £8billion shortfall in the NHS budget by 2020. Few clear differences emerged however, with Jeremy Hunt and Andy Burnham largely agreeing with each other that treating cancer is 'a good thing'. Thank god.
But aside from that moment on Channel 4 today, a deafening silence from the politicians on the NHS.
Hot issue number two – immigration (number of pieces of coverage: 0)
Nothing at all from the politicians on these chosen media channels all week. The Guardian is however running its own special report on the benefits of immigration, presumably in the absence of anyone else making a cogent argument on the matter. But putting aside this media-led reporting, none of the major parties have tackled immigration in any way this week. Probably this is a good thing – at least it keeps Farage off our screens for a little longer. So let's not complain too much on this one.
Hot issue numbers three and four, the economy and welfare (number of pieces of coverage: 24)
The budget announcement on Thursday managed to put a big tick in the 'Economy' box, and a bit of a pencil mark in the 'Welfare' box. Well done George — front page and Facebook news points across all outlets for a pile of measures including cutting income tax rates, ISA benefits, some changes to pension pots and extra funding for mental health services.
Admittedly, this a bit of a cheat, as the budget isn't strictly a manifesto pledge from a potential new government. But still; I was becoming a bit depressed by they sheer lack of announcements on the issues (without the budget we would have been on zero again). So I'm including it. Policies were announced and plans were made, all on issues that people actually care about, and in a substantial enough way to make it onto all three front pages. The Sun's effort was particularly entertaining. (It's worth noting this was the ONLY political story to make The Sun front page all week. Zayn Malik's hiatus from 1D has been much bigger news in their world.)
And what about all the general leadership / coalition / candidate based shenanigans? (number of pieces of coverage: 14)
Setting aside the coverage on the budget, it's here that we see the biggest overall volume of front page and FB news across all media outlets. Whether it's Boris pretending to look flattered that Cameron has named him a potential successor; Salmond boasting about all the power-broking he will be able to do in a Labour-SNP voting bloc; or Cameron finally acquiescing to a 7-way TV debate, these 'news stories' made the front page of all but The Sun (of course. see above.), and into the newsfeeds of all three TV stations.
What does this tell us?
Nothing good. But maybe they just haven't really gotten started yet? Here's hoping.
Dinner with a North Korean defector
March 1, 2014 March 6, 2014 ~ Kim	~ 3 Comments
We're in a back room of a Korean restaurant, sat around a low table contorting Western knees into a cross legged position that probably hasn't been attempted since school assembly days. For most of us that was a very long time ago.
We're here to listen to this man's story of how and why he escaped North Korea, and what he thinks about things there, and here, in this leafy Surrey suburb just a 20 minute train ride from London Waterloo.
He's a youngish looking forty-something year old. He nods at our English-speaking questions, then looks to the women on his right to translate them into Korean. Even with the 'lost in translation' translation, his speech holds to a regular pace. Then she translates his words about "escaping from hell" in the same way – with the even tone you might use for giving directions or reading a shopping list.
He grew up trusting the system, he says. He grew up learning that it was good, and that South Korea and America were bad. It was only when he joined the army and travelled around the country that he realised that it wasn't just his village that was suffering.
He began to experience doubt. When asked to cook a meal for the soldiers, the only way to get food is to steal it from a nearby farm. "How could this be good?" he says. When he visited his sister, she deprived her daughter of food so he could eat. He didn't know she had done so – only finding out when his niece, left alone, came across a bag of corn supplies, ate and drank water too quickly for her malnourished stomach, so it bloated and burst. She died, and it was then he knew he could not stay in North Korea.
He didn't know if it would be better somewhere else. He didn't know anything about what it would be like on the other side of the river. He couldn't tell anyone he was thinking of trying to get out. Every third or forth person was a spy. Army personnel were required to 'confess' once a week on anything they had heard or seen that was suspicious.
He says he felt he had to try anyway. He says he was curious.
His crossing took four and a half hours. The water was shallow and every 50 metres there was a guard. At one point he bumps into a rock, and finds it is a soldier sleeping.
I ask him if he thought he would make it.
He says no. But he was willing to take the risk.
In one pocket he had a knife, and in the other a candy bar. You die or not, he says. Had he been caught – and he thought he would be caught – he would have killed himself. And the candy bar? He says he thought he might need to do a lot of walking if he made it to the other side. He would need it for energy.
When he reached the other side, he says he saw an apple tree, and it was then he knew he had been deceived by his country. The ground beneath the tree was scattered with rotting apples. This was unthinkable to him, he says. That food would be so abundant that it would be left to over ripen and rot on the floor.
He says that escaping takes courage. He says that that river to him represented the difference between heaven and hell.
He says he has no regrets. He says though that he thought the regime would change within 10 years and he would be able to see his parents again. It's been nine years now, and it hasn't changed. And his parents are getting older.
And so the story ends, and we walk back out onto Kingston Road in South West London, bellies full and collars turned up against the February cold.
I can't stop thinking about the guts of the man – to go it alone, with a knife in one pocket and a candy bar in the other, with no idea what it would be like on the other side. Just in the curious hope it might be better.
For the latest news on North Korea, visit www.nknews.org/. To visit North Korea there are a number of tour operators who will take you in from China. Try Political Tours for an in-depth look at the place and its people.
The Path to Peace in the Middle East? A Documentary Review
May 13, 2012 ~ Kim	~ 4 Comments
In a packed cinema in Tel Aviv, the screen is filled with the image of Adriaan Vlok, South Africa's former Minister for Law and Order, washing the feet of a grief stricken mother whose son's death he ordered (one of the "Mamelodi 10"), during the Apartheid years, while saying "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry for what we did to you people." The women next to me hands me a tissue, and I turn round to look at the audience behind me, noticing that I'm far from the only one struggling to maintain their composure.
Photo Credit: Erez Laufer
This is day five of the Docaviv film festival and the Israeli premiere of One Day After Peace – a documentary following the journey of Robi Damelin, an Israeli peace activist, who is investigating the South African Truth and Reconciliation process after her son is killed by a Palestinian sniper in the West Bank while he was serving at an Israeli military checkpoint. Her aim is to see whether this process, which has been applied after conflicts in Ireland, Rwanda, and in Canada and the United States (between the state and Native American populations), could one day work in Israel and Palestine. She is also wrestling with her own grief, seeking a meeting with her son's killer in the hope that by understanding why it happened she might gain some closure.
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) process, we learn, is a radical one. Perpetrators of violence and killings from each side of the conflict are invited to testify before a commission (and often the families of victims) and speak honestly about the events of the time, focusing how it happened and who was involved. They do not need to apologise – although some do – and families do not need to forgive – although some do that too. What they do need to do is speak honestly and acknowledge what happened, on the record, without omission. In return, they receive amnesty from prosecution, while the involved parties hope this process will end the cycle of violence.
The film makes it clear that the process isn't perfect. Damelin speaks to victims like Shirley Gunn who was initially framed by Vlok for the bombing of Khotso House, who feel the TRC didn't go far enough, as well as perpetrators who rejected the process and faced prosecution because they felt their actions were justified; "it was war, it was necessary". Damelin also journeys into Palestine, meeting and bonding with mothers of Palestinians killed in the conflict, while facing the criticism at home for doing so.
The main message of this film however is that for peace to come, this kind of process is absolutely essential. As one of the men who testified before South Africa's TRC says, "it is painful to touch a scar, but sometimes you need to touch it so that, slowly, it can begin to heal".
However, we are also left feeling we are a long way from that kind of resolution in the Middle East. Robi's son's killer agrees to meet her, but makes it clear that he thinks she is crazy to want to reconcile with him. And Robi herself admits that Truth and Reconciliation can only come as part of a genuine peace framework, which is currently sorely lacking.
Seeing the reactions to this movie in the Tel Aviv Cinemateque however provided some pause for hope. On Bishop Desmond Tutu's final words – that the TRC is based on the premise that it is possible for people to change, and that one day that change will come to Israel and Palestine – the cinema erupted in applause. As Robi herself took to the stage, this applause turned into a standing ovation.
Peace may be difficult to imagine, but this brave and inspiring film puts the process in a global, historical context that helps us glimpse what might be possible. It happened in South Africa after nearly fifty years of Apartheid and 200 years of white rule. It happened in Rwanda after nearly a million Tutsis were murdered in just 100 days. So, as the audience left Cinemateque 3 and walked back into Tel Aviv's streets, we were left with one challenging question; if reconciliation can happen there, under those circumstances, then why not here?
This post was originally published on the Urban Times on 8th May
Around the World in Street Art: My 7 Super Shots
April 24, 2012 April 28, 2012 ~ Kim	~ 4 Comments
Last week the Kit from the lovely Seek New Travel blog tagged me to participate in HostelBookers 7 Super Shots.
So here are mine. I've chosen a bit of a street-art/graffiti theme and stuck to the suggested titles in only the very loosest of ways.
1. A photo that…takes my breath away
This shot was taken in early 2005, a few months after George Bush had defeated John Kerry in the US Presidential race. It was my first time in the USA and I had hired a monster of a car to drive down Highway 1 from San Francisco to LA. I'd never driven on the right hand side of the road before, or driven an automatic, so large portions of this trip were spent with me trying to navigate roads while not veering into the wrong lane while pumping the Chemical Brothers on full blast. Driving through the university town of San Luis Obispo I came across this stop sign and had to pull over the car to take a photo. As someone who thought Bush was a total imbecile, it was great to come to the USA and see that a whole heap of Americans thought so too.
2. A photo that…makes me laugh or smile
I found these patterns and paintings down several of the laneways in Jerusalem's Arab quarter. They instantly made me smile – they seemed so fun and colourful. I asked one of the guys selling coffee next door to this one what they meant, and he told me they were there to commemorate that someone from that house had embarked on the Hajj – the pilgrimage to Mecca which all Muslims are required to make once in their lifetime. I loved that this was an example of 'graffiti' being used to celebrate a religious tradition.
3. A photo that…makes me dream
What you can't see in this shot is that I'm staring at the London Olympic Stadium directly in front of me. I had honestly thought that at this point – July 2011 and a year before the Games – that the stadium would still be long off completion. But it wasn't. It looked sorted. I was impressed and happy. Meanwhile, behind me is one of Stik's biggest projects; a huge huge stick man painted on the floor of what was a bit of no man's land in Hackney Wick. I was there with my friend Heather dancing the night away at a local art and music festival – I don't think it's on this year because of the Games.
4. A photo that…makes me think
I was working on a UN event called 'Cartooning for Peace' in 2006 when I first heard of Palestinian cartoonist Naji al-Ali, whose work regularly featured the image of Handala, a barefoot child with his back to us, silently watching what's going on in his homeland. In 1987 al-Ali was gunned down in London; Ismail Sowan was arrested for his murder although it was never clear whether he was acting for the PLO or Mossad – both of whom he admitted working for as a double agent. The image lives on however – it's painted here on the Palestinian side of the Separation barrier near Bethlehem.
5. A photo that…makes my mouth water
Slightly tenuous, but I was starving when I took this photo. I had just climbed to the top of Lycabettus Hill in Athens – everyone had told me there was a cafe at the top, but no one mentioned how expensive it was. By this point my stomach was really grumbling, but I liked that someone had bothered to draw the words 'Antifa Hooligans' on the stone slab – I remembered someone telling me once that this was an anti-fascist football song of some kind. The view was gorgeous, and here I was thinking of anti-fascist football songs. With a rumbling stomach.
6. A photo that…tells a story
This mural is right around the corner from my house and was painted way back in 1985 based on the Hackney Peace Carnival two years earlier. I love it because it has loads of energy – something which the area still has in bucket-loads. Here, Ray Walker's mural show the community coming together against the bomb and the threat of nuclear war. There are a lot of things Hackney residents come together on here in 2012, but CND isn't usually one of them.
7. A photo that…I am most proud of (aka my worthy of National Geographic shot)
I'm not sure it's so much this particular photo I'm proud of – it's not like the composition or even the subject matter are particularly unique now. I do however like it for personal reasons. While at uni in Bristol we saw Banksy stencils and artwork pop up all over the city, so it was great to see how, ten years later, similar images of resistance and satire were finding themselves on the Separation Barrier between Israel and the West Bank. Quite a long way from the rat stencils he printed outside our local Somerfield.
And now it's your turn…
>;;;;;;;;;;; Mums Do Travel
>;;;;;;;;;;; LIVE SIMPLY, TRAVEL LIGHTLY, LOVE PASSIONATELY & DON'T FORGET TO BREATHE
>;;;;;;;;;;; Taste of Slow
>;;;;;;;;;;; Hectic Travels
>;;;;;;;;;;; Kendall in Paris
Alternative Athens: Air BnB and Exploring Exarchia
April 18, 2012 April 27, 2012 ~ Kim	~ 1 Comment
At first glance, Athens' off-centre neighbourhoods do not look particularly enticing. Beyond the hubs around Monastiraki and Syntagma squares, neo-classical architecture quickly gives way to a mishmash of concrete buildings, narrow laneways and uneven pavements. Add in persistent strikes, protests and the occasional burning building and it's perhaps understandable that tourists tend to hole themselves at the base of Acropolis in picturesque Plaka and Thissio, conveniently bypassing today's Athens in favour of the spectacle of millenniums past.
Admittedly, as I'm waiting for the lift in the ubiquitous apartment block near the less than salubrious Larissa train station, there is moment where I too think that opting to stay in the city's Northern sprawl instead of its Greek island-esque historic centre might not have been the best plan. This doubt lasts for about three seconds however, until the moment Air BnB host opens the door to the place I'll be staying for the next few days.
The apartment is lovely, and I instantly feel happy to be here. There is a bright open plan living area, floor to ceiling windows and huge terrace all creating a warm and welcoming Mediterranean feel, while the avant-guard fashion photography on the walls looks oddly similar to that in my own Hackney houseshare. The best bit however is Eleni, my host and housemate for the next few days, who is friendly and open, immediately inviting me to make myself at home while handing me a cup of tea and an epic supply of fresh fruit from the local Carrefour. She's just returned from a weekend in London, so we chat about how the two cities compare (Athens is smaller with better weather, beaches and outdoor cafes. London has better architecture).
AirBnB was perfectly designed for travellers who want to get a local perspective without breaking the bank. To stay in one of the large rooms in Eleni's apartment costs just £26 a night; a bargain when you think that you not only get a home from home feel but also instant access to insider knowledge. As Eleni talks me through maps of the city, I immediately see how valuable this is in somewhere like Athens, where with the perceived turbulence on the streets it would be easy for visitors like me to play it safe and stick to the obvious tourist areas. However, as we discuss the recent riots, she smiles; "That was just one day! One hour! Those areas you saw on TV – Syntagma and Exarchia – are perfectly fine most of the time! In fact you should see for yourself, walk through them at least – Exarchia is just near here. It's funny; tourists see that image of buildings burning and think it's all that Athens is. It isn't!"
She's right of course. I've done enough of these trips to know that what you see on TV rarely if ever captures the real spirit of a place, and that the crisis points upon which the media so enjoys turning the spotlight are often just one small part of a much more complex picture. Keen to explore this for myself, I pull myself off the sofa and hit the streets, waving goodbye to Eleni as she heads off to work in a local café while I aim myself firmly at Athens' anarchist hub.
Night Cafe: mkhalili, Flickr
Home to students, artists and activists, Exarchia's laneways have attracted resistance movements ever since the Polytechnic uprising in 1973 – where twenty four people were killed when military forces stormed the university – in a tank – as activists barricaded themselves inside in protest against the then dictatorship. Walking down Stournari Street and past the uni it's hard not to be reminded of the blood spilled within its concrete walls in defence of democratic ideals, though it's also clear that this defiant spirit is still alive and well today as a group of students crouch down on the pavement painting black protest banners with white lettering; Public Enemy blasting out from some nearby speakers.
While locals complain that the area is succumbing to inevitable bohemian gentrification, as a first time visitor to the area it's hard to see it. I veer left towards Kallidromiou Street the graffiti encrusted walls, crumbling pre-war townhouses and post-war apartment blocks still have an unkempt, gritty feel. And while Exarchia has been described by some as Athens' answer to Dalston or Williamsburg, it still feels quiet and residential, with bric-a-brac stores, pharmacies and grocers sitting next to occasional vinyl record shops specialising in hard rock and metal.
There is, however, a sense of the usual vintage/art/music scene that you often find in the more counter-cultural, student neighbourhoods, and soon enough I'm in second hand clothes store Yesterday's Bread – rummaging through nylon dresses and a mountain of old converse trainers while chatting to Charlie, an American student digging through the coats. I ask her about the local art and fashion scene, and while she confirms that there are other areas of Athens like Gazi and Psyrri which also have an urban edge, Exarchia is holding its own. "There's actually a new arty-style vintage store called 'Les Broderies Anglaises' opening up near Exarchia Square next weekend," she says, holding a leathery-style jacket, "There is stuff going on if you know where to look."
Leaving several Euros lighter, she points me in the direction of the Pro Art gallery down the road, and after this, several bookshops and a fat chicken souvlaki pita wrap, my post-flight head is weary and caffeine is definitely in order.
Eleni had already told me that putting the world to rights over a coffee is something of a national pastime in Greece, and when I walk into the Floral café on the corner of Exarchia Square, I see what she means. Students are squeezed onto benches piled high with papers, buzzing with conversation and surrounded by hardbacks from the alternative bookstore downstairs. A book called 'Debt-ocracy' seems popular, and as I search for a seat and order a double cappuccino, a young guy hands me a leaflet advertising a meeting on 'fighting the rise of the European dictatorship'.
It's here that I meet Yannis, a journalist friend who moved to Athens to cover the crisis. We decide to share a fresh Greek salad and as I connect to the wifi and scan the place's event listings on my smartphone, I note that with everything from live music to political debates Floral seems to be more of cultural centre in its own right than just a café. "This is typical in Athens," says Yannis, "It's just like in the time of Socrates. The food and drink is important – and of course it's excellent – but what Greeks want are places to come together and exchange ideas. Things might be difficult, but this is part of how we manage. Art, debates, music – these things are happening everywhere."
"Everywhere", I smile, nodding my head sideways to draw Yannis' attention to the table beside us, where a group of twenty-somethings are locked in an intense discussion. He gets that my lack of Greek is making eavesdropping a bit tricky, and starts talking to them, presumably explaining that the nosy British girl wants to know what they're getting so exorcised about. Luckily, this isn't seen as being particularly rude and a guy with folk trend beard immediately switches into English, "We are talking about food. That with this crisis we need to eat natural things. Not American burgers. Things we make here."
Again, I smile. After all, beyond its pretty tourist centre Athens seems fairly grey and ever so slightly decaying. And yet here I am, with just one afternoon in Exarchia showing that just through the doors of the shops and cafes there is still an undercurrent of cultural action; new ventures, political and philosophical debates, art, music. That perhaps protest isn't the only way people are responding to this crisis. And later, when I get my first glimpse of the Acropolis Hill lit up against the dark sky, it's good to know that however breath-taking the ruins, there is something more to this city than just its past glories.
Featured Image: The memorial to Aleksandras Grigorópulo, by Jose Téllez, Flickr
The Ahava Protests: A Victory for BDS?
April 23, 2011 November 26, 2011 ~ Kim	~ 3 Comments
On the sunny April afternoon I'm invited to check out the fortnightly protest against Ahava's Covent Garden store, it's clear that this week – perhaps more than most weeks – emotions are running high. It is just one day after the body of peace activist Vittorio Arrigoni was found by Hamas forces in an abandoned Gaza house, allegedly murdered by radical religious fundamentalists, and it's clear that this tragedy is serving to add yet more fuel to the animosity between the opposing sides gathered here.
I arrive on Monmouth St just after midday to the sound of one of the boycott protesters yelling "fascists" at the Israel supporters. A few minutes later a minor scuffle breaks out, ending with several police officers holding one of the pro-Palestinian activists against a wall while two of the Israel supporters begin shouting "Hamas terrorist" in his direction. Moments later one of them guffaws "Vittorio sleeps with the fishes," and soon, the handful of protesters on either side of the metal barricade are trading insults; "No Nazi boycott in Covent Garden!" shouts an Israel supporter. "That's right; go home" retorts someone from the Palestinian side.
Having researched the Boycott Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement before coming here – a movement that advocates non-violence – I have to admit the level of agitation on display from both groups of protesters takes me aback. While the passion on both sides is undoubtedly emblematic of how much the activists care about the Israel-Palestine issue, at several points the trading of insults between the two groups seems almost comical; at one stage three men stood watching the commotion next to me whisper to one another "is this actually serious?"
And yet, as curious as these scenes might seem to the average Londoner, this is serious. Ahava is the target of this boycott action not simply because it is an Israeli-owned company, but because the beauty products it sells in over thirty countries worldwide are manufactured in Mizpe Shalem, an Israeli settlement roughly six miles inside the Israeli occupied Palestinian Territories. As Rose, one of the pro-boycott activists tells me a little later in a quieter café on Shaftsbury Avenue, "every time someone purchases those products they're supporting that illegal settlement, and helping to entrench the occupation of Palestine. This conflict does not happen in a vacuum, it persists in part because this kind of economic support from the West."
And that is the point of the BDS movement – to stop international complicity in the sustained Israeli occupation of the West Bank which both undermines the human rights of Palestinians and holds the region back from attaining a meaningful peace. But more importantly, it wants to remind us that it is a conflict we can do something about, in this case simply by being more conscious about where we shop.
But is it working? The Palestinian solidarity protesters say yes. For a start, just two weeks ago Ahava announced that this particular shop will close in September as a result of the protests which, Rose tells me, the boycotters see as a victory; "this will be one less place taking money from London shoppers and investing it in supporting Israeli settlements".
What is more significant perhaps is that Israeli authorities are taking notice of this campaign. Last year, Tel Aviv's Reut Institute presented a report to the Israeli Cabinet singling out the BDS movement as one of the most significant global forces threatening the security of the Israeli state (something I blogged about at the time). Furthermore, when I asked Omar Barghouti – one of the movement's founders – about the Reut Report at last month's 6 billion ways conference, he stated that Israeli authorities had responded by tabling a motion in the Knesset last year stating that any boycott activity targeting Israeli companies should be made illegal. The law hasn't passed, yet, but with that kind of alarm-bell it's no wonder some pro-Israel supporters are working hard to fight the movement.
However, when it comes to Ahava, it's worth questioning whether this 'success' is as clear cut as it may seem. For a start, the closure does not reflect a decision on the part of Ahava to pull out of the UK altogether; in this case their landlord has simply decided that the protests are causing too much disruption to the wider area. Ahava may simply relocate elsewhere, which suggests that this is perhaps a somewhat less noble victory for civil disruption caused by the animosity between these two opposing groups of protesters, and not a true signal that the BDS message is succeeding in educating people and affecting public opinion.
Furthermore, as I stand watching the taunting from both sides, I can't help but think that were the tone of these protests more consistently in line with the reasonable and non-violent aims of the movement, even in these trying circumstances, it might be more successful in doing so. And half way through the protest, something powerful happens which proves this point.
For just one minute, the boycott protesters turn their backs on their pro-Israel opposition and hold silent vigil in honour of Vittorio Arrigoni. The street, previously noisy and chaotic, packed with the sound of offensive jibes and campaigners enthusiastically thrusting leaflets in the hands of bemused passers-by, becomes deafeningly quiet. The Israeli supporters stop shouting, watching the vigil with what seems to be a mixture of interest and confusion, and a group of London shoppers approach a police officer and ask him what's going on. He explains in hushed tones that people are protesting against Ahava because they support the Palestinians. That someone from the protests was killed in the region, which is why everyone is more upset than usual. And for a moment, it feels like we all get it.
Ahava is important. But isn't finding reasonable means of educating people about the situation in Palestine, of engaging in intelligent discussion and rising above the knee-jerk reactions that have fuelled this conflict for decades, even more so? Shouldn't our protest movements reflect this ethos, and not just in words and grand statements, but in behaviour too? I think so. Regardless of the provocation. And particularly when Londoners are watching.
Separation, Settlements and Guerilla Graffiti: The West Bank in Pictures
April 8, 2011 July 8, 2012 ~ Kim	~ 2 Comments
With construction beginning in 2003, the Israeli authorities erected the 8m concrete wall with incredible speed. It's aim, they say, is to help stop Palestinian suicide bombings on Israeli soil. Since then, the number of attacks has declined by more than 90%.
Banksy at the Bethlehem Checkpoint
However, the wall makes life for many Palestinians even more difficult. For a start, Palestinians cannot get through the checkpoints and onto the other side of the wall without a permit, and permits are very difficult to come by. If you have a job on the Israeli side, and you have kids, it can be easier, but your permit will still only last 3 months, meaning that people have to withstand constant questioning and bureaucracy in order to go about the simple business of getting to work.
Wall Graffeti
What's worse for many however is the fact that the wall separates them from family and friends. I met one woman – Sarah – who used to live next door to her aunt, but now the wall travels along what was once the fence between their homes. Sarah is now only able to get a permit to travel across the border to see her family-member once a year.
Annexed Olive Groves
The wall also habitually separates Palestinians from their land. These olive groves have been split in two by the wall, with a substantial portion annexed into the Israeli side.
In this case, the diversion from the 'Green Line' is due to the fact that Rachel's tomb happens to be several hundred yards into the Palestinian territory. Rather than stick to these UN agreed boundries, Israeli authorities simply built the wall into Palestinian land, annexing the tomb and the olive groves around it. The farmers have not received compensation.
Aida refugee camp is just within the boundaries of the wall on the outskirts of Bethlehem. It homes around 5000 Palestinians, most descended from the original 800 or so that fled to the UN led camp in the 1948 "war of independence".
All in all, around a million Palestinians fled their homes in what is now Israel, and most have resettled in the West Bank, where they now number at around 2 million.
The boys school in Aida Refugee Camp
Aida isn't what you might imagine from a refugee camp. There are buildings, streets, schools and community centres holding theatre classes and dance workshops for kids.
One organisation in particular, Al Rowwad, does some amazing work teaching young people photography, theatre and journalism – it aims to help Palestinians tell their story to the world's media.
Still, the walls are covered in bullet holes and barbed wire. Not sure anyone would choose to live here.
Banksy – Separation Wall Graffiti
The wall has become a canvas for political graffiti, communicating messages of peace, anger, hope and despair. Banksy set the trend, coming out here a couple of times over the past few years, usually with a crew of 4-5 other graffiti artists
This one (above) is one of his. Some argue that this trend is a bad thing, as it somehow trivialises people's traumas and injustices.
Separation Wall Graffiti
For others, it is an essential way means of protest for Palestinians; taking this symbol of oppression and, somehow, making it their own.
Meanwhile, Israeli authorities continue to build towns ('settlements') and roads on the Palestinian side of the wall.
Palestinians are not allowed to travel on many of the Israeli built roads or enter the settlements, which are most often populated with ultra-orthodox Jews from America and Eastern Europe who see this land as their own, as promised by Abraham in the Torah and captured by Israel in the 1967 'six day war'.
Israeli roads and settlements
Settlements continue to be built at an incredible pace, despite pleas from the international community, including America, to freeze this activity in order to give the peace process a chance of success. It seems like a peculiar brand of craziness (not to mention a double injustice) to go to the trouble of building a mammoth barricade between these two peoples, only to continue colonising the land on the other side.
Four Ways Israel and Palestine Defies Expectation
February 26, 2011 May 9, 2016 ~ Kim	~ 4 Comments
Having escaped the bustling streets in favour of nursing a strong macchiato in the wonderful Educational Bookshop in East Jerusalem, I got talking to a girl on the next table who, it turned out, worked for the Palestinian News Network. Mentioning this blog, we got talking about the challenges of writing about the conflict here in the Middle East.
"The easiest thing to do is just choose a specific, small incident and use that as a way of reflecting the wider issues. Otherwise there are just too many angles; it's tempting to want to write about the whole damn thing, but you'll only end up losing your reader, and probably your argument, in the process."
I'm therefore approaching this article with some trepidation. Having had such a mind-blowing experience, with my understanding and viewpoint evolving and shifting on virtually a daily basis with every new conversation, it's proving difficult to know where to start.
However, what's top of mind for me right now is the massive number of ways this place challenges and defies any and all expectations and prejudices you might hold about this land and its people. Here are a just a few of the ways my eyes have been opened, which might help you too if you're thinking of travelling to this region.
Expectation 1: Israel is unsafe for travellers.
Wrong. Wrong, wrong. I can honestly say I have never felt more safe travelling around a country than I have here. When I asked whether I should be careful about pick-pockets in Jerusalem's bustling old city (as you would in London, Barcelona, New York…) I was laughed at. And when a friend mentioned that a couple of rockets had just hit Be'er Shiva from Gaza, I looked around the chilled Tel Avivian bar we were in and realised that these kind of occurances didn't even register on people's nervous systems.
Maybe it's because everyone speaks English. Maybe its because people are pretty friendly and always keen for a chat. I don't know. But I can honestly say that the only time security crossed my mind was when a friend from England might text / email imploring me to 'stay safe'.
Expectation 2: People of different religions can't live alongside each other
At sunset every Friday, hundreds of Jewish people from the secular to ultra-orthodox pour into the Muslim Quarter of Jerusalem's old city and make their way on mass towards the Western (Wailing) Wall. When they have finished their prayers, finished off their catch-up chats with friends and rounded up their children, they walk back towards Damascus gate to the soundtrack of the Muslim call to prayer.
The next day, at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre (which is said to have been built on the place where Jesus died and was resurrected), Greek Orthodox monks wait for the midday call to prayer for the Omar Mosque to finish before ringing the church bells, while pilgrims step in the (alleged) steps of Christ down the Via Dolorosa, dodging Arab market stall owners intent on selling them scarves/sweets/really good shwarma.
I'm not saying it's a vision of multi-cultural harmony. I'm not saying people from different religions and backgrounds sit around in circles holding hands and singing "all you need is love". But every day, the most hardcore followers of the world's three theistic religions go about their business with a respect and tolerance for one another which, I think, is a pretty amazing achievement.
Expectation 3: Israel is a bit scary
You'll be interrogated for hours at the airport. There are eighteen year olds carrying guns on public transport. The people who live there hate all 'Arabs'. These were all things I had been told before heading off on my trip, and I would be lying if I said it hadn't coloured my perception of what Israel might be like.
Imagine my surprise.
Yes, I was asked more questions at Ben Gurion airport security than I would have been if I was departing from, say, Frankfurt or Rome, but to be fair I had just travelled in from Egypt just after the revolution. And the security guards seemed really sorry about having to hold me up and made sure I was fast tracked through the rest of the airport so I didn't miss my flight. And on my way into Israel over the land border with Egypt at Taba, the major question the guy at Passport Control wanted to know the answer to was whether I liked Cliff Richard. Because he did. A lot.
Yes, the military kids carry their guns with them on public transport, which is undoubtedly a bit weird, but as one of them told me; "we get really shouted at if we don't look after them. And we travel a lot – what are we supposed to do; dismantle them and pack them in our back packs? Where would we put our clothes?"
And as for the attitude of Israeli citizens towards the 'Arabs', saying all Israelis hate all Arabs is like saying all Brits hate all immigrants. If you read the Daily Mail you'd probably think it's true, but speak to anyone with half a brain and you realise that most people aren't that one dimensional.
Expectation 4: The West Bank is a war zone
Let's be clear; there is some very dark stuff happening in the West Bank. People's homes are bulldozed. Some children's classrooms are covered in bullet holes. The Separation Wall has cut ordinary people off from their land, or worse, their families. There are still many UN supported refugee camps. Unemployment is rampant. Everyone knows someone who has been killed.
But the thing that struck me most about the West Bank is the incredible power people have to carry on as normal under trying, sometimes desperate conditions. Given these are a people under occupation, people are still starting businesses, going to school, relaxing in cool bars and cafes, sending their kids to dance classes. Parents I spoke to talk about how they hope their children will go to university one day. Children I spoke to were desperate to test our their English and talk about football.
I'm about to use a massive cliche, but I don't care. Here it comes. People are people are people. It doesn't matter where you're from or what you're going through. For the most part, people pretty much want the same things; happiness, a relative degree of security, a good life for their children and something to laugh at once in a while. Even in a 'war zone'.
What Egyptians think about the revolution
February 16, 2011 October 4, 2013 ~ Kim	~ 4 Comments
I have spent the past 5 days in a quiet, peaceful corner of Egypt, where the only real signs that a revolution has occurred is the fact that is very little money left in any of the cash machines. It seems the country pretty much ground to a halt over the past three weeks, and now the army and the people are working very hard to get things (including the bank clearing system) moving again. So much so that when my iphone finally started working yesterday my first text message was from the armed forces, telling me and everyone else on the network to 'go back to work'. It was in arabic, and the man who translated it was kind enough to reassure me that this particular instruction did not apply to me.
One of the other quirks of arriving in Egypt the day that Mubarak finally stepped down is that I have fast developed a reputation for being pretty much one of the only English tourists in the Red Sea town of Dahab. Every other country in the world stopped flying here as soon as the protests started – easyjet seem to be the only airline not to have halted their flight schedule. This means of course that everyone in town seems to know my name and is keen to sit me down and share their views over several cups of Bedouin tea. Everyone is talking about the revolution, keenly aware it seems that the eyes of the world are on them.
"People need freedom," one man just told me as we sat in his coffee shop watching protests erupting in Libya, Bahrain and Algeria on an old 24inch tv. "And now, we know we can have it. We didn't know this before. Now, we know. And they know."
Although, while most seem happy, the overall level of jubilation has been more under-stated than I expected. This, it seems, is not a part of the world where it pays to be overly confident about what the future might hold. For the most part however, people seem happy that Mubarak has gone, and happier still that it was the people that forced him to leave. On my first day here, I met a man called Aimon who, typically, owns an Egyptian rug shop. He was the first to tell me that Mubarak had left and when I asked him if he was happy his response was positive but measured; "it is a good thing he is gone, yes. It was very bad for the country – you cannot make money unless you know someone in government. Now, maybe, it will be better." Aimon used to be a teacher in Suez, but because he could only earn 1200 Egyptian Pounds (around 130 GBP) a month he decided he could improve his prospects by moving to the Red Sea, opening a shop and capitalising on the ever growing tourism industry. His family, including his wife and four children, are still in Suez. He has worked here in Dahab – about a 5 hour drive away – for 11 years. "If I knew a government person, I could earn much more. Maybe now things will change. We need teachers, so it is important they can live on what they earn."
Among the younger Egyptians, rumours of their bright new futures abound. "Now Mubarak is gone everyone will get 50 dollars a day from the Suez Canal! Before, Mubarak take it all. Now, it will be given to the people." When we questioned them on where they had heard this news, they simply said "everyone is saying this".
Others however are more concerned. I talked at length with a guy called Zavvi – a friend of a friend – who was asking the same question I was asking – what next? He is heading to Berlin to study for degree in electronics in March having served in the army for two years. He met Mubarak on two occasions and when he heard the news of his leader's departure, he cried. "Yes, he should go, but why now? He said he will go in 6 months, why can't we trust him to do this? Now we have no leader, and many people want power. It is dangerous for us, for the country. But the young people can't see the consequences – they are not educated and they just want action now. But Egypt is too important for there to be uncertainty."
Much like everyone else here though, Zavvi has absolute faith and trust in the army. "They are for the people. They are educated and they want the best for this country – I think we will be safe with them for a while. But they have many jobs to do; they can't run the country forever." Furthermore, everyone is incredibly proud of the way the people have conducted themselves in the global media spotlight. "Now, everyone knows about Egypt because of the the strength of the people, not just the pyramids," everyone is saying.
Maybe it is easier for people to rest easily in this beautiful place. Hours away from any of the major protests, Dahab has been relatively untouched by the chaos and while the reduction in tourists is proving difficult, everyone is confident that in a few weeks the industry will be back in full flow. From what I've seen, it's the people arriving here from Cairo who have be most affected. Ben, a British journalist, arrived here yesterday, delighted to be somewhere where he was going to be kept awake at night not by gunshots but by the sounds of the crashing waves. He said Cairo felt like a warzone these past three weeks, and that many people have been killed. Foreigners were targeted and quickly fled. He thinks it's starting to settle down, but I couldn't help but think that it's not often you see a journalist look so nervous. It was a reminder that while Dahab remained peaceful, other parts of Egypt have had to suffer to achieve this revolution, and for some it will take a long time to recover from the experience.
Picture Credit: Denis Boquet on Flickr
The Reut Report: Why criticising Israeli policy just got tougher
April 16, 2010 May 9, 2016 ~ Kim	~ 2 Comments
Those of you following the Israel-Palestine situation closely will have noticed the development of a new conflict in recent months – that between Israel's Reut Institute think tank and the prominent author and Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) activist, Naomi Klein. The debate centres on the fundamental issue of legitimacy; under what circumstances is criticism of Israel legitimate? And what can the Israeli state legitimately do to counter this criticism?
On 14 February this year, the Reut Institute in Tel Aviv published a paper entitled The Delegitimization Challenge: Creating a Political Firewall which was immediately presented to the Israeli cabinet. This landmark paper centres on the fundamental conclusion that Israel's existence and security is facing a emerging threat – the threat presented by 'the forces of delegitimacy' comprised of two parallel developments.
The first of these is the change in strategy of Middle Eastern based resistance networks such as Hamas and Hezbollah who, the report outlines, seek to undermine attempts to end Israel's control over the Palestinian population in order to pursue a one state solution. The second, and arguably more intriguing development highlighted in the paper, is the rise of solidarity and resistance movements based in the West such as the BDS movement. These movements bring together organisations and individuals who object to Israel's policies and activities on grounds of achieving justice and human rights for the Palestinian population, launching campaigns such as boycotting Israeli goods from illegal settlement areas in order to make their point. This growing movement is tarnishing Israel's reputation among the general public and elites and, more dangerously the paper argues, risks the advancement of the one state solution and the eradication of Israel altogether.
This paper flies directly in the face of the standard discourse of Israel's political elites, who have traditionally perceived the most urgent threat to Israel as being potential physical attack from their enemies in the region. As a consequence, the preferred strategy and policy to counter this threat has always been a military one. To this extent, the fact that this paper was published at all reflects a shift in the discourse. Israel's policymakers, finally, are starting to realise that the fact their policies are the focus of increasingly vocal outcry across the major cities of the West is probably something they need to take seriously. This in itself is a small victory for the BDS movement – they are gaining strength and forcing their way onto the Israeli government's agenda.
However, as Naomi Klein argued on her blog a few weeks later, the response recommended by the Reut Institute to this emerging threat is seen by some as "most worrying".
…the report explicitly urged Israeli intelligence agencies like Mossad to take unspecified action against peace activists using entirely legal methods: "Neither changing policy nor improving public relations will suffice…Faced with a potentially existential threat, Israel must treat it as such by focusing its intelligence agencies on this challenge; allocating appropriate resources; developing new knowledge; designing a strategy, executing it." The think tank also called on the Israeli government to "sabotage network catalysts" – defined as key players in the "delegitimization network."
Klein it seems was in part goaded into this response ("I've gotten a taste of Reut-style "sabotage" myself"). Eran Shayshon, a senior analyst at Reut, explicitly names her as being one of the key players in Toronto's 'deligitimization hub' and makes the claim (denied by Klein) that she is working to undermine the existence of the Jewish state.
What follows is a bit of a 'he said, she said' altercation, played out on Mondoweiss and on their respective blogs. Klein states she has never advocated any particular outcome in Israel-Palestine. Shayshon points to examples where Klein suggests a one state solution (essentially ending the Jewish state) might be a way forward. Klein laughs at Shayson's attempts to drag up statements she made in a student newspaper over 20 years ago, and puts the rest of her quotes in context, while landing some Reut body blows by pointing out that she does not single out Israel for BDS style tactics; she uses the same style in any fight against injustice including against her own government in its violation of the Kyoto Protocol. Shayson takes a week or so to regroup, and responds with a discussion on the rise of what he terms 'Kleinism'; "a simplistic, artificial view of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that has led many who consider themselves human-rights activists to focus their criticism nearly exclusively on Israel".
No response from Klein, as yet. But what this altercation demonstrates quite clearly is that lines on what the Israeli government considers legitimate in terms of comment on its policies from Western critics are being restated and reinforced. While Shayson states this is only his opinion, he lists the following as 'no go areas' from the Israeli side of the debate; challenging the two state solution, singling Israel out, demonising Israel, or suggesting that Israel is "a state born in sin".
Moreover, if the Reut report is taken seriously by the political elites, no longer will such criticisms and viewpoints go (relatively) unnoticed or unaddressed by the Israeli intelligence services. In future we're likely to see even more coordinated and strategic attempts to counter and discredit the major international critics of Israeli policy. Battlelines are being redrawn.
Top 5 videos on Israel-Palestine
Try talking about Israel-Palestine


Let's indulge this holiday season in some of the customers' favorite dishes! This weekend we are bringing back delicious and popular Thai Lettuce Wrap and Chicken Jungle!
ground pork mix in medium spice ga-prow sauce with thai chiles and thai basil, served with bibb lettuce and wonton crispies | add a scoop of white rice for an additional charge to make it a meal!


Links to race reports, in reverse chronological order. Updated, you know, when I get around to it.
28 January: The Egyptian (slightly more than) half marathon Yes, I got stranded in Egypt and had to be evacuated because of this race There was no clock at the finish so they told me to look online for my time but then the Egyptian government cut the internet (true story) so I'm not sure how long it took me but it was 22k anyway so what does that even mean?
21 November: The Flying Monkey Marathon Unfinished business. I'm going to try to do it again this year if I can. Um, it's not about time, right?
22 August: Battle of Brooklyn 10m I was injured. It stunk.
24 June: AHA Wall St. Run 3m I hit a WALL on WALL Street. 29:59 or something like that.
12 June: Mini 10k I'm racing too much. Not a very good one.
2 May: Riverdale Y the Ramble 10k. This race was tough. 1:10:53.
14 February: ALA Fight for Air Oakbrook Terrace Tower Extreme Climb (62 flights) Great job!


text:
World Spot
Panthers, Broncos could still take quarterbacks at eight, nine
May 8, 2021 May 5, 2021 amhroorg
The Panthers traded for quarterback Sam Darnold, and they could still take a quarterback at No. 8. They have now traded a quarterback to the Broncos, who could still take one at No. 9.
By trading for Teddy Bridgewater the day before the draft, the Broncos acquire protection against not getting a quarterback at No. 9, if one of the quarterbacks they'd take isn't there. Ditto for the Panthers, who previously bought protection against not getting a quarterback in round one by giving up a sixth-round pick this year and a fourth- and second-round pick next year for Sam Darnold.
It makes the decisions at No. 8 and No. 9 even more fascinating, if one or both of the quarterbacks who remain after the 49ers complete a three-for-three run to start the draft linger beyond No. 7. It also leaves the door open for the Broncos potentially hopscotching the Panthers in a deal with the Lions, if Justin Fields and/or Trey Lance remain through six picks.
With Bridgewater reducing his pay to $11.5 million and, in return, having his 2022 contract year wiped out, the Broncos could indeed keep him and draft a first-rounder for 2021 — especially since Denver is only paying $4.5 million of Bridgewater's salary. The Panthers could do the same with Darnold, if they don't pick up his 2022 option at $18.858 million.
It also remains possible that the Panthers will draft a quarterback at No. 8 and then try to flip Darnold to a new destination. It would make more sense, given that Darnold makes roughly $4.8 million this year, for Carolina to make him the starter while the rookie learns the ropes, if they end up drafting a quarterback with the eighth pick.
Regardless, neither team will be left holding the bag if they don't get a first-round quarterback. The Panthers have Darnold, the Broncos have Bridgewater, and now both teams can let the board play out in front of them.
Ten of the best essences
Soldier who tried to kill wife in skydive 'accident' in sick hunt for new lover
Easy And Fast Organic Gardening Tips For You
George Paton: Teddy Bridgewater adds competition and experience
My mum tells me too many details about my abusive dad
Top six takeaways from Apple's spring event
Apple iPhone Users Capture SpaceX Crew-2 Mission Launch, Check Stunning Photos


HOME > Topics > DRIFT > D1 GRAND PRIX SERIES IN CHINA Round CHAMPION !
On January 28, China held the local final round of the D1 Grand Prix series in China round at the Tonkan circuit in Shenzhen.
In the D1 Grand Prix it is a competition that is said to be the true point of the competition and is said to be "follower", a tournament format that decides winning and losing one to one.
The opponent and the opponent are decided based on the rank determined by a single race, and it is a rule to carry out precedence and follow-up in order, but the follow-up must drift to match the preceding machine.
It is exactly the place of the arm.
With that follow-up, WORK support driver Akino Utsumi (DIXCEL with TOYO TIRES) won the championship!
Let's expect from the future Utsumi players!


text:
Thomas Power
Thomas Power (Newfoundland politician)
Thomas Power may refer to:
Thomas C. Power (1839–1923), American politician
Thomas S. Power (1905–1970), U.S. Air Force general
Thomas "Ta" Power (died 1987), Irish nationalist
Thomas Joseph Power (1886–1959), Roman Catholic priest and bishop of St. John's, Newfoundland
Thomas Power (Newfoundland politician) (1830–1893), Newfoundland merchant and politician
Tom Power (1869–1898), American baseball player
Tom Power (musician) (born 1987), Canadian musician and broadcaster
Thomas Power O'Connor, Irish nationalist
Thomas Powers (disambiguation)
This page contains text from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia -	https://wn.com/Thomas_Power
Thomas Joseph Power (December 12, 1886– 1959) was a merchant and politician in Newfoundland. He represented St. George's in the Newfoundland House of Assembly from 1924 to 1928.
The son of Michael Power and Margaret Kelly, he was born in St. John's and was educated there. Power worked as a cooper in the family cooperage and then, in 1914, set up a herring packing business and barrel factory at Woods Island, Bay of Islands. He was elected to the Newfoundland assembly in 1924 as a Liberal-Conservative. In 1925, he was named government representative on the board of directors for the Newfoundland Power and Paper Company in Corner Brook. He was defeated when he ran for reelection in 1928. He later managed an insurance agency in St. John's.
In 1927, Power married Maude Aylward.
This page contains text from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia -	https://wn.com/Thomas_Power_(Newfoundland_politician)
Power, Thomas Filmography
2006, role: actor , character name: Blazer Zombie
The Making of 'Mutant Chronicles'
2009, role: actor , character name: Himself
2008, role: actor , character name: Principal Mutant
Famous quotes by Thomas Power:
"Communities that insist on clinging to traditional, extraction-based economies are asking for stagnation,"
"Communities that insist on clinging to traditional, extraction-based economies are asking for stagnation, ... Those industries will inevitably mechanize, exhaust their resources and decline, eliminating jobs and stalling out economies in their wake. In order to stimulate lasting economic growth and ensure a strong future for coming generations, jobs, industry and income sources must continually diversify."
"Those industries will inevitably mechanize, exhaust their resources and decline, eliminating jobs and stalling out economies in their wake. In order to stimulate lasting economic growth and ensure a strong future for coming generations, jobs, industry and income sources must continually diversify."
"Communities that insist on clinging to traditional, extraction-based economies are asking for stagnation. Those industries will inevitably mechanize, exhaust their resources and decline, eliminating jobs and stalling out economies in their wake. In order to stimulate lasting economic growth and ensure a strong future for coming generations, jobs, industry and income sources must continually diversify."
"In the history of Grand Traverse County there is no lawyer or jurist with a more distinguished career than that of Justice Griffin."
"I think it is important to emphasize that Montana's economy has been growing at an above-average rate compared to the rest of the nation for most of the last decade, so people's perception of the Montana economy as failing is distorted."
powerthepower.com
greenpowersolarpower.com
solarpowerpower.com
omanpower.com
africanpower.org
silverpowerpacks.net
aztecpower.net
llcpower.com
solarpowergo.com
universalpower.com
stateforpower.net
fortworthpower.com
saltwaterpower.net
powergenetic.com
powergroupe.com
taiwanpower.org
nigerdeltapower.com
solarpoweredseawaterdesalination.net
artsolarpower.com
saudiarabiapower.com


Looking for a team of gas contractors from the Enfield / North and East London area?
We are A & P Gas Contractors Ltd, leading the way in affordable and reliable gas companies in the Enfield / North and East London area. All aspects of gas work undertaken at competitive prices.
We pride ourselves on offering a hassle free and affordable service where the customer needs always take priority, as do excellent quality workmanship and operating to modern standards. As a company we are confident that we can meet all your requirements on your next gas project and also exceed your expectations when it comes to quality and affordable Boiler Repairs/Installation in the Enfield / North and East London area. All of our team are highly skilled in the gas trade and have built up a wealth of experience over the last several years, so no job is too demanding for us as we have all been trained to deal with every situation that the gas trade can offer.
A & P Gas Contractors Ltd have been providing the people of Enfield / North and East London and the surrounding areas with a wide range of customer focused gas services for over 35 years years!
A & P Gas Contractors Ltd have many satisfied and returning customers because we provide the best and most comprehensive gas services in and around Enfield, with a friendly service from start to completion, and a time served and highly skilled team, you can rest assured that you are getting both excellent value for money and a personal service at each and every job we attend.
So if you're looking for a gas company in the Enfield / North and East London area with many years experience in the gas trade then look no further than A & P Gas Contractors Ltd. Whether it's a query or a quote, pick up the phone and call 02088026969 / 02083662714 / 02083662236 today or visit our contact page or send us an email.


text:
Music producers contracts In Chicago
The Best Place in Chattanooga For Music producers contracts
Music service contracts play a crucial function in the process of music production. Every artist or band in the music service signs one or more music service contracts when they sign an offer to produce their music, and/or album. These contracts enable them to protect themselves from legal liability should someone sue them for using their copyrighted music without permission. Music contracts cover every element of the music industry, from the talent included to the legal specifics involved in the production and publishing of music. While many artists work individually and individually with little or no input from label agents, it is not unusual for an artist to have a long list of individuals who are greatly involved in the music industry, which they have actually constructed a relationship with over years. If you need music contracts, I suggest you get them from UJober the freelance market today.
When you're checking out music service contracts, you will see that they are available in all sizes and shapes, covering everything from musical instruments to vocals. Depending upon your goals and financial requirements, you might be limited by whether you need to sign non-exclusive contracts, which just enable you to sell your songs to other companies, or unique contracts, which enable you to sell your music to just specific companies. Other contracts might likewise cover your use of samples and plan ideas from other individuals's works. The majority of these contracts will have a long title, page number, and a short expression such as "structures copyrighted" at the bottom of the page. This act of publishing this details on the contract serves no legal purpose, however it does enable the artist or band to enjoy some financial benefits should a suit take place because someone utilizes their music without permission.
Prior to signing any contracts or contracts, it is very important to look for legal guidance to make certain you comprehend what your responsibilities are and that you are covered sufficiently. It's never a good idea to just blindly agree to whatever requires the music industry is tossing at you. Rather, looking for legal guidance early on is recommended, as picking these kinds of contracts can frequently result in long-lasting contracts, where you're stuck with them for many years – even years, which isn't essential in many cases. With the appropriate legal guidance, you can prevent being locked into an agreement that's not in your benefit.
The terms of many music service contracts, particularly those dealing with master recordings, are rather complicated and difficult to comprehend for the average person. Master recordings are the outcome of hours, often years, of work by an artist or band. Normally, these recordings are protected under copyrights, which approve the right to sell the songs or albums to anybody over the age of 18 who purchases them legally. However, there are many exceptions to these laws, mainly related to licensing. Under these circumstances, you might have the ability to sell the music product as your own, however you still need to pay royalties to the rightful owner.
In addition to music service contracts worrying master recordings, among the most common concerns is concerning sound recordings or overdubs. Under these circumstances, a party will agree to make a "2nd release," which means they agree to launch another copy of their recording if the original copy ends up being lost, harmed or taken. Sometimes, this takes place because an artist or band wants to include "something extra" to the album in order to raise the general production worth. Other times, it's due to the logistics of touring, where a band wants to reduce their production expenses. Despite the factor, at any time a musician signs a music contract, they are putting their complete innovative control behind the creation of a tape-recorded track.
Possibly the most popular type of music service contracts is the songwriter contract and the management contract, which pertain to the musical composition itself. Both contracts contain the information of the licensing and sale of the work, and all royalties that need to be paid. Normally, the songwriter contract and administration contract have a section that explains about any modifying, vocals, or overdubs that need to be performed on the recording. Depending upon the contract, some of these expenses might be reimbursed by the publishing business or a label who funds the album. The terms of the contract will differ, so checking the fine print is necessary.
Another popular piece of music service contracts is the master recording contract, which is utilized for artists who record their own songs instead of hiring a 3rd party. Mastering contract spells out the specifics of the master recordings including royalty payments, perk payments, and clearance expenses. These information are determined according to the recording artist's budget and financial requirements. In addition, recording artists need to enter into a certification/hawking contract with the labels they're working with; this assurances that the record labels will disperse their album in a reasonable way.
Music service contracts are absolutely nothing new; even prior to the age of the music industry, professional contracts were prevalent in all kinds of industries. Today, the internet has actually made it much easier for businesses to get their music contracts online. While music industry contracts were when difficult to come by, thanks to the internet, they can be quickly downloaded from reputable sites for a modest cost. This makes them accessible to any artist or label wanting to acquire legal security for their musical productions. Don't forget to get your music contracts on UJober today. You will not be dissatisfied.


Looking for a good HVAC contractor in Brazos County, TX?
Are you looking for a HVAC contractor in Brazos County, TX?
Do you need a company providing commercial and residential air conditioning or heating services, repair and installation in Brazos County, TX? Stop searching - we have detailed information, unbiased customer reviews and recommendations about local contractors.
We are a full-service company licensed by the State of Texas since 1983 with the ability to service and install complete air conditioning and heating systems. We are fully insured and a member of the Better Business Bureau. In addition, our technicians carry the Seal of Safety which means they are drug tested, criminal background checked and trained.
We are air conditioning and heating rescue serving Katy TX. We provide the best HVAC in the area. Give us a call for more information! HVAC contractor, air conditioning repair, replacement and installation. We have dedicated our time and efforts to polishing and perfecting our long standing air conditioning repair, replacement, and installation services in our aim to bring you complete satisfaction.
We are a local hvac service provider that is well capable in both the commercial and residential aspects of the industry. Our contractors arrive when they are scheduled, fully equipped with the parts and tools needed to diagnose and repair any damages or issues. We gladly accept all sized jobs from inspections and maintenance to the installation of commercial air conditioners, we do the job correctly. Our business is fully licensed and committed to completing each job to the full satisfaction of the customer.