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Tag Archives: populist
Is the Morrison government 'authoritarian populist' with a punitive bent?
Scott Morrison's government may be more authoritarian populist than strictly conservative.
AAP/Lukas Coch
Carol Johnson, University of Adelaide
In a recent interview Malcolm Turnbull raised the possibility that these days many so-called "conservatives" in the Liberal Party might be better described as "authoritarian populists".
It would be easy to dismiss his comments as being those of a bitter former leader. But maybe Turnbull has a point, and perhaps it might even be applied more broadly to the Morrison government.
Although the term "authoritarian populism" is often associated with far-right parties, it has also been used to describe mainstream governments, such as those of Margaret Thatcher (1979-1990).
Why a code of conduct may not be enough to change the boys' club culture in the Liberal Party
Thatcherite populist rhetoric mobilised the people against big government and elite special interests, which was combined with authoritarian measures such as increased policing of ethnic minorities and militant unions.
Authoritarian populist is a term now sometimes applied to Donald Trump. So it is well worth asking whether the Morrison government also has some authoritarian populist tendencies.
This is particularly the case given Morrison's recent embrace of a Trump-influenced anti-globalist rhetoric, which seems partly aimed at asserting Australian independence from international human rights frameworks.
The populist tinge to Morrison's politics was obvious during the 2019 election campaign. Morrison countered Labor's own populist arguments (standing against the "top end of town") by using an alternative populism that mobilised the people against big-spending, big-taxing Labor governments. He argued that Labor would rip off ordinary citizens, run up big debts and ruin the economy, costing jobs in the process.
Morrison's election persona of "ScoMo", the warm and friendly daggy dad from the suburbs, might not seem authoritarian. However, even then, there were authoritarian tendencies creeping in to his populism. This is not just in his attitudes to asylum seekers, but also to Australians. For example, Morrison's slogan: "A fair go for those who have a go" implied that some welfare recipients didn't deserve the benefits they were getting.
Morrison's 'daggy dad' persona may not seem authoritarian, but there are strains of it in his populism.
AAP/Craig Golding
Indeed, the Morrison government's authoritarian policy agenda also has a punitive element that has become more evident since the election. Not only has the government emphasised it won't increase Newstart (despite even business groups calling for an increase), but welfare recipients have been increasingly demonised.
The social services minister reportedly rejected increasing Newstart on the grounds that many welfare recipients would just spend the money on drugs and alcohol. The government has instead revived punitive mandatory drug-testing proposals for welfare recipients.
The government has also supported an expansion of the cashless welfare card, despite trenchant criticisms from the Australian Council of Social Service.
Meanwhile, Peter Dutton has suggested climate change protesters should face mandatory imprisonment and lose their unemployment benefits.
Morrison has dismissed calls for greater media freedom with the populist argument that journalists should not be "above the law". (In doing so, he implies journalists are an elitist group demanding special privileges denied to ordinary people.)
Yet it is governments that make the law, including authoritarian and punitive laws that can shield them from proper democratic scrutiny. Suggesting that the attorney-general should have the final say on whether police proceed with prosecutions against journalists compounds, rather than reduces, the problem.
It is not just powerful media organisations facing the government's authoritarian streak. Attacking higher energy prices is a popular move (and easier for the Liberals than developing a full energy policy, given internal divisions).
But businesses have expressed their concern at the "big stick" potentially being wielded against them. Predictably, though, it is unions that face the government's most authoritarian measures, with the ACTU arguing the proposed new laws are designed to bust them.
Admittedly, as I have argued elsewhere, none of these authoritarian tendencies are totally new. The Howard government had a history of tough legislation against unions and of defunding advocacy groups.
Australian governments have introduced increasingly authoritarian measures that the United Nations and human rights organisations have criticised previously for undermining Australian democracy, including under Turnbull's watch.
Many moderate Liberals who remembered Turnbull from his libertarian spycatcher days, opposing British government secrecy, were sadly disappointed by his failure to stand up to the right-wingers in his party on such issues. (Admittedly, Labor often capitulated on so-called national security issues as well.)
Nor is it unusual for conservatives in the party to demonise protesters. Indeed, a NSW Liberal premier once reportedly urged a driver to run them over.
Win or lose the next election, it may be time for the Liberals to rethink their economic narrative
However, the attitudes towards Newstart, for example, are very different from the days when Robert Menzies was proud of increasing unemployment benefits. The authoritarian industrial relations measures are also a far cry from the social liberal traditions that used to influence the Liberal Party. The eroding of civil liberties will be concerning to many small-"l" Liberal voters, as well as to more left-wing voters.
Some Turnbull supporters would have felt relieved when he was replaced by Morrison rather than the Coalition's hard man, Dutton.
However, perhaps "ScoMo" is just a more personable Dutton in some respects. Whether his government's punitive measures will eventually undermine Morrison's warm and friendly election image remains to be seen.
Carol Johnson, Adjunct Professor, Department of Politics and International Relations, University of Adelaide
Posted in Australia, Liberal Party, National Party, news, Politics, Scott Morrison	| Tagged article, Australia, authoritarian, bent, Coalition, Liberal Party, National Party, news, Politics, populist, punitive, Scott Morrison | Leave a comment
George Brandis warns Liberals against rise of populist right
Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra
Former attorney-general George Brandis has warned of the challenge that right-wing populism poses to the Liberal Party, in his valedictory speech to the Senate ahead of taking up the post of high commissioner in London.
Brandis, a Liberal moderate, also strongly cautioned the Coalition against listening to those who said it should use national security as a political weapon against Labor, and criticised attacks on the judiciary from his own side.
With Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull looking on, Brandis told the Senate that classical liberal values were under "greater challenge than at any time in my memory".
"Increasingly, in recent years, powerful elements of right-wing politics have abandoned both liberalism's concern for the rights of the individual and conservatism's respect for institutions, in favour of a belligerent, intolerant populism which shows no respect for either the rights of individual citizens or the traditional institutions which protect them."
Brandis was attorney-general throughout the Abbott and Turnbull governments, leaving the ministry in the December reshuffle.
He became increasingly outspoken as a voice of the moderate strand of the Liberal Party toward the end of his time in parliament. Within the government, he was critical of the hardline conservative Peter Dutton, now the home affairs minister.
In his speech Brandis targeted "right-wing postmodernism". "A set of attitudes which had its origin in the authoritarian mind of the left has been translated right across the political spectrum," he said.
"This presents a threat both to liberalism and conservatism, and a profound challenge to the Liberal Party as the custodian of these philosophic traditions."
Brandis – who once set off a political storm by declaring that people had the right to be bigots – said being a liberal wasn't easy.
"It means respecting the right of people to make choices which we ourselves would not make and of which may disapprove.
"It means respecting the right of people to express their opinions, even though others may find those opinions offensive.
"It means respecting the right of people to practice their religion, even though others may find the tenets of that religion irrational.
"It means, in a nation of many cultures, respecting the right of people to live according to their culture, even though, to others, that culture may seem alien.
"It means respecting the right of everyone to marry the person they love, even though others may find their understanding of marriage confronting."
Brandis was a prominent figure pushing for same-sex marriage, which was legislated late last year.
In a pointed reference including some (unnamed) ministers who have criticised the judiciary, Brandis said he had not disguised his concerns at attacks on the institutions of the law – the courts and those who practised in them.
"To attack those institutions is to attack the rule of law itself. And it is for the attorney-general always to defend the rule of law – sometimes from political colleagues who fail to understand it, or are impatient of the limitations it may impose upon executive power – because although the attorney-general is a political official, as the first law officer he has a higher duty – a duty to the law itself.
"It is a duty which, as my cabinet colleagues know, on several robust occasions, I have always placed above political advantage."
Brandis also was blunt in his rejection of those who want to see the government seek to inject more partisanship into national security.
He observed that eight tranches of national security legislation he had overseen were passed with opposition support after parliamentary committee scrutiny.
"It was a fine example of government and parliament working hand-in-hand to protect the national interest.
"I have heard some powerful voices argue that the Coalition should open a political front against the Labor Party on the issue of domestic national security.
"I could not disagree more strongly.
"One of the main reasons why the government has earned the confidence of the public on national security policy is that there has never been a credible suggestion that political motives have intruded.
"Were it to do so, confidence not just in the government's handling of national security, but in the agencies themselves, would be damaged and their capacity to do their work compromised.
"Nothing could be more irresponsible than to hazard the safety of the public by creating a confected dispute for political advantage. To his credit, the prime minister has always resisted such entreaties."
https://www.podbean.com/media/player/99z29-862eb3?from=site&skin=1&share=1&fonts=Helvetica&auto=0&download=0
Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra
Posted in Australia, George Brandis, Liberal Party, news, Politics	| Tagged article, Australia, George Brandis, Liberal Party, news, Politics, populist, right, rise, warning | Leave a comment
Deliberative democracy must rise to the threat of populist rhetoric
Can we avert a populist apocalypse through good old-fashioned deliberation?
Richard Hopkins/flickr, CC BY-NC
Nicole Curato, University of Canberra and Lucy J Parry, University of Canberra
This article is part of the Democracy Futures series, a joint global initiative between The Conversation and the Sydney Democracy Network. The project aims to stimulate fresh thinking about the many challenges facing democracies in the 21st century.
This is the first in a series, After Populism, about the challenges populism poses for democracy. It comes from a talk at the "Populism: what's next for democracy?" symposium hosted by the Institute for Governance & Policy Analysis at the University of Canberra in collaboration with Sydney Democracy Network.
We are "living in the end times", or so Slavoj Žižek tells us. We have seen the arrival of the "four horsemen of the apocalypse": the global ecological crisis, sharp inequalities in the economic system, the biogenic revolution, and exploding social divisions.
The global rise of populism, it seems, is only a symptom of these long-standing tragedies in the making.
Populist claims – the grand promises that prey on unrealistic expectations, those that dodge responsibility by conjuring "alternative facts", and the kind that leaves citizens committed to the project of Enlightenment dazed and breathless — are both outcomes and drivers of Žižek's apocalyptic vision.
How should we make sense of these realities? Wicked problems and intractable conflict have indeed marked the past few decades. But these have also been times of widespread democratic experimentation.
Participation in "traditional" politics such as voting and party membership may be declining, but there has been an explosion of activities that seek to "do democracy differently".
The promise of deliberative democracy
Deliberative democracy could once have been dismissed as pie in the sky with no bearing on the world of practical politics.
More recently, practitioners of deliberative innovations have generated compelling evidence to show the democratic virtues of mini-publics. These involve small(ish) groups of randomly selected citizens who meet several times to deliberate on an issue.
Random selection, similar to the logic of jury selection, underpins this process such that the forum represents a microcosm of the wider population.
In recent years, the case for mini-publics has been articulated more boldly, by David van Reybrouck and then, just this year, by Brett Hennig. Both make a case for sortition, where a group of citizens drawn by lot are given a mandate to deliberate and propose, if not decide, policies that bind the rest of the polity.
Given the enthusiasm for mini-publics, why has this not been enough to avert "the apocalypse"? There are three ways of looking at this.
1. We haven't scaled up enough
The application of mini-publics has been disparate, inconsistent and small-scale.
Had people, especially the so-called "pissed-off white men", had more opportunities to participate in deliberation, they would have, potentially, taken a more complex view of issues that they feel threaten their identities, such as immigration or gay rights.
Had "smug cosmopolitan liberal types" engaged in deliberation with "pissed-off white men", societies could have developed a shared vocabulary to cohabit a world with meta-consensus on the range of legitimate discourses.
Forms of deliberative democracy are not only effective, but also much needed in deeply divided societies.
Joe Flood/flickr
There is evidence that mini-publics work in deeply divided societies. Examples include deliberative polls in Northern Ireland and deliberative forums involving ex-combatants and paramilitaries in Colombia.
We can only wonder how the US elections or the UK's Brexit referendum might have turned out had they convened a "deliberation day" where citizens deliberated systematically before the vote.
2. We are scaling up incorrectly
One could argue that mini-publics, by themselves, are not the answer to mass democracy's legitimacy deficit. Even where well-resourced, excellently designed and high-quality deliberations unfold, these have little bearing if the epistemic gains and civic virtues developed in these forums do not spill over into the broader public sphere.
To scale up deliberation is not simply to host bigger mini-publics (mega-publics?) but to think of ways in which mini-publics can be linked to the broader public discourses.
What use is it if we replace politicians with a randomly selected group of citizens if the public sphere is mostly still characterised by partisan point-scoring, cheap political tactics, spin-doctoring and market-driven media?
The reforms of deliberative politics must equally focus on reforming the broader structures that shape public discourse.
3. Mini-publics are not the answer
The logic of mini-publics primes participants to be respectful, public-spirited, other-regarding and open-minded. Unsurprisingly, citizens who harbour deep scepticism, strongly held views and defensiveness in their private interests may not find these forums to be the most understanding and supportive spaces.
In other words, mini-publics may have inherent limitations in processing populist rhetoric. This is because they, by design, aim to keep loud and insistent voices out of the room to celebrate the voice of the "average reasonable person".
Discursive enclaves such as those found online, or in assemblies of populist supporters, may provide a more hospitable stage for impassioned, confrontational and sometimes bigoted discourses.
While mini-publics enable citizens to carefully reflect on their prejudices, one must take a step back and consider that some do not want to reconsider their views.
Research on climate change deniers provides evidence for this. Australian studies have revealed how deliberation not only fails to dispel scepticism but also makes the deniers feel like they are not listened to, so they become more dogmatic and belligerent.
Other research data demonstrate how people with a "social dominance orientation" tend to see participatory processes as rigged if the forums do not produce their preferred outcomes.
ABC's Q&A often illustrates the limitations of some forms of deliberation.
The issue of trust compounds such alienation. Mini-publics typically rely on information presented by expert witnesses and resources persons, and we now know that many people have simply had enough of experts.
Beyond expertise, public trust in Australian politics and politicians is at a staggering low. Recent research suggests the public has little trust in any level of government in Australia. For the most part, mini-publics in Australia are instigated by or at least associated with government.
Even though the best-designed forums are independently organised and facilitated, we have to recognise that people may simply not trust the process, organiser or the expertise presented. "Micro" deliberative events don't exist in a political vacuum. We cannot design out the broader context and power relations.
How can things go right?
There are many reasons to consider populist rhetoric as the opposite of deliberative reason. Populism appeals to base instincts. It sacrifices intellectual rigour and evidence to the promise of quick solutions.
The polarising speech style of populism creates information silos, which bond rather than bridge, opposing views. Inherent in the populist logic is the division of the "virtuous people" versus "the dangerous other". This inflames prejudices and misconceptions, instead of promoting public-spirited ways of determining the common good.
Given the coming populist apocalypse, then, it is worth revisiting how deliberative democrats conceptualise power and its relationship to knowledge.
The populist moment reminds us of the insidious legacies of power, the kind we generally take for granted, but experience every day. Drawing on the "epistemologies of ignorance", the solution is not simply to offer facts, but to lay bare the structural phenomenon that disables people from seeing in a certain way. We undeniably find ourselves facing:
… an ignorance that resists … an ignorance that fights back … an ignorance that is active, dynamic, that refuses to go away.
Deliberative democracy may have been the punching bag of those who remain sceptical of the virtues of participation governed by reason. But it has also been a beacon of hope for visionaries who keep on asking how we can make democracy better.
This field of democratic theory and practice has a lot more to offer, especially when we set our gaze towards spaces for reform beyond the forum.
Nicole Curato, Postdoctoral Fellow, Institute for Governance & Policy Analysis, University of Canberra and Lucy J Parry, Research Assistant, University of Canberra
Posted in news, Politics	| Tagged article, democracy, news, populist, rhetoric, threat | Leave a comment
Christian Official's Death in India Called Divine Punishment
Hindu nationalists say Andhra Pradesh chief's 'conversion agenda' led to copter crash.
NEW DELHI, September 14 (CDN) — Hindu nationalists are calling the helicopter-crash death of Andhra Pradesh state's chief minister, a Christian, divine punishment for his so-called conversion agenda. The same allegation of a "conversion agenda" fueled persecution in the state for more than five years.
Yeduguri Sandinti Rajasekhara Reddy, a second-generation Christian in the Church of South India, and four officials were confirmed dead when their helicopter was found on Sept. 3 in the state's dense forest area of Nallamalla.
Since Reddy, an official with the left-of-center Congress Party, became chief minister of the southern state in 2004, right-wing Hindu groups had been accusing him of helping Western missionaries to convert economically poor Hindus in the state. Hindu nationalists have been flooding the Internet with extremist comments saying the death of the 60-year-old Reddy, popularly known as YSR, was divine retribution.
"This is divine justice by Lord Srinivasa [One of the names of Hindu god Venkateshwara, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu]," commented Jayakumar on the Express Buzz news website. "It is good that it happened so swiftly. Obviously, [Congress Party President] Sonia Gandhi is worried that her plans of completely converting India into a Christian country have received a setback. Let all Hindu-baiters of this country perish like this. Very, very soon."
A person who identified himself only as Prakash on the website of The Indian Express daily wrote, "Anti-god demons like YSR need to be punished like this." Another writer identified as Kumar chimed in, "YSR is the ringleader for Christian conversions in Andhra Pradesh." Enthused a writer identified only as Ravi, "It's the best thing that happened to Andhra Pradesh in a long time, and Andhra Pradesh people must celebrate," and Suman Malu exclaimed, "Thankfully our country has been spared of one anti-national, anti-Hindu chief minister. Thank God for that!"
Right-wing groups also have accused Sonia Gandhi, a Catholic born in Italy, of having a "conversion agenda" since she became president of the Congress Party in 1998. The rise of Christian persecution in India coincided with her appointment as party chief.
Dr. Sam Paul, national secretary for public affairs of the All India Christian Council, said two years ago that Hindu nationalists launched a massive campaign in 2004 to raise fears that Christian conversions would skyrocket in Andhra Pradesh due to the appointment of a Christian chief minister.
"Six years later, it is fully proven that those allegations were part of a political agenda to belittle the chief minister and his party," Paul told Compass, adding that Reddy never preached his faith, "not even once."
He pointed out, though, that the Indian Constitution permits all people to practice and propagate their faith.
Calling the extreme comments "very unfortunate," Paul recalled that Reddy attended Muslim and Hindu functions and participated in ceremonial traditions such as offering Pattu Vastrams (silk dresses) to Lord Venkateshwara in Tirupati every year, a long-time tradition in the state.
In addition, in June 2007, the Reddy administration enacted a law prohibiting the propagation of any non-Hindu religion in the temple town of Tirupati-Tirumala, believed to be the abode of Lord Venkateshwara. At the same time, however, he had faced criticism for tightening government controls on the state's numerous temples.
Official Condolences
Reddy had led his party to a second successive victory in Andhra Pradesh in May 2009. He was seen as a leader catering to the masses thanks to populist measures such as financial and power programs for farmers.
In stark contrast to the hostile sentiment voiced in the cyber-world, more than 60 admirers died of shock or committed suicide following news of his death. Indo-Asian News Service reported that the deaths of Reddy's supporters occurred in 19 of the state's 23 districts. While most of them suffered cardiac arrest after watching the news of his death on television, others committed suicide.
"Reddy dedicated his life to people, I am dedicating my life to him," a young man wrote in his suicide note before consuming poison, reported the news service. A physically handicapped couple, pensioners under a welfare scheme, jumped into a river to try to end their lives, but fishermen saved them.
Officially, even Hindu nationalist groups offered their condolences, including the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), India's largest conglomerate of right-wing groups, and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), seen as the political arm of the RSS.
"We all share this unbearable pain with his family members, people of Andhra Pradesh and workers of the Congress Party," the RSS announced in its weekly mouthpiece, the Organiser. "All the BJP-ruled state governments declared a two-day state mourning as a mark of respect to the departed soul."
Reddy, along with his special secretary P. Subramanyam, the chief secretary ASC Wesley and Indian Air Force pilots S.K. Bhatia and M.S. Reddy, died in the crash as they flew from the state capital of Hyderabad to Chittoor district for a political function.
Hot-bed
Anti-Christian sentiment has fueled persecution in Andhra Pradesh for the last five years.
Most recently, suspected Hindu extremists burned down a newly built church building of the Best Friends Church in Mahasamudram area in Chittoor district on Aug. 20. On Aug. 1, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (World Hindu Council or VHP) attacked Christians in Mahabubnagar district, accusing them of forceful conversion; they forced the Christians to wear tilak, a Hindu symbol on the forehead, and threatened to kill them if they went ahead with church construction.
Andhra Pradesh has witnessed three brutal murders of Christian workers since 2005. The body of a 29-year old pastor, Goda Israel, was found with stab wounds on Feb. 20, 2007 in a canal near his house in Pedapallparru village in Krishna district. In May 2005, two pastors, K. Daniel and K. Isaac Raju, were killed near Hyderabad, the state capital. Daniel went missing on May 21 and Raju on May 24. Their bodies were found on June 2 of that year.
The New Indian Express on June 27, 2005 quoted a man identified only as Goverdhan claiming that he and two friends had murdered the two preachers.
"I am not against Christianity, but Raju and Daniel converted hundreds of Hindu families," Goverdhan said. "They enticed them with money. We have done this to prevent further conversions. This act should be a lesson for others."
According to the Census of India 2001, Andhra Pradesh has a population of more than 76.2 million, of which only 1.18 million are Christian.
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we will surely meet, I know.
In Kuniyoshi's print, the emperor stands on a boulder that emerges from turbulent rapids. The dark tones of the water and the stormy sky intensify the powerful emotions of separation and longing expressed by the poem. The desolate, unsettled imagery chosen by Kuniyoshi for this illustration may allude as well to the emperor's abdication and exile following his unsuccessful challenge of his successor Emperor Go-Shirakawa (1127-1192).
Ann Yonemura with contributions by et al. Masterful Illusions: Japanese Prints from the Anne van Biema Collection. Seattle and Washington. cat. 123, pp. 300-301.


Map out your intentions and goals for 2019 with a vibrant vision board. Vision boards are powerful tools used to bring about the things you desire most in your life; they serve as a visual representation of what you want to create in your life and act as a constant reminder of the actions you must take to achieve your goals.
December is the ideal time to reflect, refocus and get clear about what you want to create in the year to come. In this workshop, Melinda Quesenberry will guide you through a Yoga Nidra practice specifically designed to release the things that are keeping you stuck, while simultaneously opening you to your hearts desires. You will then create your very own vision board to take home with you.


This stewed apple recipe is part of a series of posts that are focussed on specific foods which have been scientifically shown to improve the health of our guts and reduce intestinal inflammation.
Stewed apples can be eaten as dessert, a snack, or a meal substitute (no more than on substitution per day), and can be cooked in the evening and stored in the fridge to be eaten the next day.
Cinnamon can be added as it is anti-inflammatory and helps balance blood sugar spike that is seen after eating apples.
Peel the apples if desired. The peel contains fibre, minerals, and other nutrients so it's best nutritionally not to peel.
Core the apples and chop them into small evenly sized pieces.
Cook until soft with rough shapes, no longer identifiable as apple slices. The colour should be a russet brown with the cinnamon effect.
Add any desired Optional Extras once the apples have been taken off the heat (so as not to damage active enzymes /probiotics).
Eat warm or cold. Delicious with yoghurt.
The nutrients (polyphenols) in apples protect the tissues of the gut by reducing inflammation and helping the immune system to handle perceived threats, and increasing immune system tolerance to things that it should not react to.
Clinical Education have an excellent pdf which goes into the science as to how stewed apples provide these benefits.
Soluble fibre, such as derived from stewed apples, is resistant to digestion (it's a prebiotic) and passes through the small intestine and is eaten by bacteria in the colon. The quantity of the beneficial Bifidobacteria and Lactobacillus bacterial species in the gut has been shown to increase when 2 apples a day are eaten.
This is great as these bacteria produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs).
Butyrate is an important type of SCFA that has been shown to regulate intestinal permeability (leaky gut) (1) and acts as a fuel for the cells that line the gut. It can also affect the expression of a large number of genes and affect many pathways within the body. Butyrate may protect the brain and enhance plasticity for example (2).
Hummus Recipe What is Functional Medicine anyway?


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SEAT Insurance is a trading name of Volkswagen Insurance Service (Great Britain) Limited, an appointed representative of Volkswagen Financial Services (UK) Limited registered in England number: 2835230 (registered office: Brunswick Court, Yeomans Drive, Blakelands, Milton Keynes MK14 5LR). SEAT Insurance motor insurance is sold, underwritten and administered by Allianz Insurance plc., registered in England number: 84638 (registered office: 57 Ladymead, Guildford, Surrey GU1 1DB). Volkswagen Financial Services (UK) Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Financial Services Register No 311988. Allianz Insurance plc is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. Financial Services Register No. 121849. Volkswagen Financial Services (UK) Limited and Allianz Insurance plc are not part of the same corporate group.


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Two years into his presidency, and with the 2020 presidential election on the horizon, Trump used Tuesday's State of the Union address to argue he's kept his word.
But the results have been uneven.
Tariffs on steel and aluminum, for example, appear to have stabilized industries that were on the decline. But other import taxes on Chinese goods have cut into farmers' bottom lines and cost American consumers in the form of higher prices.
The 2017 Republican tax law temporarily boosted economic productivity and led to some additional hiring in the manufacturing and construction sectors, but tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations increased the nation's deficit and companies said they were not necessarily investing more in workers, as Republicans had promised.
Trump has staked much of his presidency on the economy, and on Tuesday, he aimed to convince Americans that the benefits of his policies far outweigh the downsides. It's a message he is likely to repeat many times before 2020, when voters will decide whether they want to continue those policies for another four years.
Here's a closer look at the issues Trump highlighted in the State of the Union, and how they are playing out across the U.S. and global economies.
The U.S. unemployment rate sits right around 4 percent, as it did for most of 2018.
January marked the 100th consecutive month of jobs gains. Wages are rising. Inflation is near 2 percent, a level most economists view as ideal.
Whether Trump or President Barack Obama, who was in office when the economic recovery began, should get the credit for those job gains remains up for debate.
Regardless, job growth is strong, although Trump stretched the numbers in his State of the Union address.
Employers have added 4.9 million jobs since Trump took office–less than the 5.3 million Trump cited in his speech.
Manufacturing added about 450,000 jobs, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with the mining and logging sectors experiencing particularly strong growth. Trump said Tuesday night that 600,000 manufacturing jobs had been created.
He also often takes credit for the stock market, which has risen about 25 percent since he took office, though it did experience a major a downturn last December.
"When things are good, politicians always take credit, and when things are bad, they try to blame their predecessor," said Michael Farren, a research fellow at the George Mason University Mercatus Center who focuses on government and economics.
The job news under Trump hasn't been all positive, though — a reminder that presidents have limited control of the economy.
General Motors announced late last year that it would lay off about 14,000 workers, with the latest round taking place Monday. The construction equipment manufacturer Caterpillar announced a series of layoffs last year, as did Carrier, the air conditioning company Trump said he convinced to reverse its plans to move production to Mexico.
The last two years have been a roller coaster for workers like Tom Wolikow, who was laid off from GM's Lordstown, Ohio, plant after working there for nine years. He recently landed a job at another GM plant in Flint, Michigan, but to get the job he had to leave his family in Ohio. Wolikow did not vote in the 2016 election but said he was excited when the president came to Youngstown, Ohio, in 2017, promising jobs would come back to the region.
White House officials insist they are doing everything they can to save manufacturing jobs, pointing to Foxconn's decision last week to go ahead with a manufacturing facility after Trump intervened.
While the number of women who are working is at an historic high at about 76.6 million, the rate of women in the labor force remains at about 57 percent, below the peak of 60 percent reached in 1999.
The Republican tax bill Trump signed into law in December 2017 arguably remains his biggest legislative achievement as president, although the deal only received a passing mention in the State of the Union.
The tax overhaul reduced the corporate income tax rate form 35 percent to 21 percent, lowered taxes for the wealthy and some middle class families, gave tax write-offs to businesses that invested in the U.S., and doubled the standard deduction for individuals.
The tax cuts did boost the GDP for two quarters in 2018, but those effects are starting to wane. The construction and manufacturing industries reported in a recent survey that the tax cuts did cause them to boost hiring and investment, but more than 80 percent of all U.S. businesses said the tax overhaul did not change their hiring or investment decisions.
Businesses are also increasingly worried that U.S. trade policy is dragging down the global economy.
The Trump administration has also rolled back a number of Obama-era regulatory measures, another top campaign promise from Trump during the 2016 election. Those include restrictions on oil and natural gas production and power plant emissions, regulations that aimed to increase protection for employees, as well as a number of rules on smaller banks.
"I think the tax cuts and the deregulation are definitely pro-growth and have helped. But we're going to have to deal with the aftermath of that as well," said Dan North, the chief economist at Euler Hermes North America.
The "aftermath" includes a bigger deficit, and, potentially, more income inequality.
"The most massive parts of the tax cut went to wealthy families, not the middle class," said Jared Bernstein, a senior fellow at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities who was an economic adviser to Vice President Joseph Biden in the Obama Administration. He added that the tax cuts for the middle class are set to expire in 2025, while the corporate tax cuts are permanent.
The U.S. economy is expected to stay strong in the coming months, but economists are increasingly predicting a slowdown at the end of the year as the stimulus from the 2017 Republican tax cuts and increased federal spending wears off.
Trump reiterated in his speech Tuesday what has become a key focus of his economic agenda: trade.
"To build on our incredible economic success, one priority is paramount: reversing decades of calamitous trade policies," Trump said.
Last year, Trump implemented a host of new tariffs in an effort to gain leverage with countries he viewed as taking advantage of the U.S. China has been the main target of the import taxes, but U.S. allies, including Canada and the EU, have also been impacted.
The first set of tariffs, put in place last June, was a 25 percent tax on imported steel and a 10 percent tax on imported aluminum.
A report from the left-leaning Economic Policy Institute found last year that the tariffs have boosted aluminum production by about 60 percent.
Mark Glyptis, the president of the United Steelworkers Union Local 2911 in Weirton, West Virginia, said the tariffs are a "welcomed relief" to an industry that has long been in decline. Before the tariffs, mills were shutting down every year across the country, but now, Glyptis said, prices are rising and the industry is stabilizing.
"President Trump has given us an opportunity to bounce back," Glyptis said.
But in response to Trump's tariffs, China imposed a 25 percent tax on U.S. soybeans, which caused a 94 percent drop in soybean exports to China. American Farmers took a major hit, prompting the Trump administration to offer them $9.6 billion in direct payments to help make up for the losses.
Many farmers live in traditionally conservative states and still support the president. Yet others have grown increasingly frustrated at his suggestions that farmers should be willing to take a short-term hit for a longer-term gain.
Some good news came for farmers last week when the European Union approved U.S. soybeans for use in biofuels, fulfilling a deal Trump and EU Commissioner Jean Claude Juncker made last year. Industry analysts say the move opens up a new market to U.S. suppliers, but will only lead to a modest boost for farmers overall.
On the campaign trail, Trump repeatedly called out China, which is threatening to replace the U.S. as the world's largest economy, for "unfair trade practices." As president, he has put the U.S. relationship with China at the heart of his economic policy.
He put pressure on the country in 2018 in the form of tariffs, prompting China to impose retaliatory tariffs. Tensions threatened to spiral out of control until late last year, when Trump and China's President Xi Jinping agreed to a temporary truce.
Now, Trump has set a deadline of March 1 to make a deal regarding tariffs, the forced transfer of technology from U.S. firms that operate in China to state-owned enterprises, and access to China's consumer market. If a deal is not reached, he has threatened to imposes more tariffs on nearly all Chinese goods.
Coming to an agreement will not be easy.
"We are asking the Chinese to switch to a market economy that will undercut the [Communist] Party's control," said Bill Reinsch, an international business scholar at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
Reinsch predicted the two parties will come to some sort of smaller agreement, perhaps one that would change some of the rules U.S. companies in China have to follow. But the changes will most likely be cosmetic, he said.
Trade experts say Trump's trade dealings with China are working out better than many of them expected. U.S. consumers often pay the cost of tariffs in the form of higher prices on goods. But American companies have been able to absorb some of the cost themselves or switch to suppliers based in companies outside of China.
Some companies such as Apple are expecting sales in China to drop because of the retaliatory tariffs China put on U.S. goods. But China's economy has taken the harder hit, potentially giving the U.S. a leg up in the most recent round of negotiations.
The Trump administration has "certainly been successful in creating a lot of leverage," said Tim Keeler, a former chief of staff to the U.S. trade representative in the George W. Bush administration. The question, Keeler said, is: Are they going to spend that capital too soon by accepting a bad deal?
In reality, the new U.S. Mexico Canada Agreement, as it's called, largely mirrors NAFTA–a deal Trump called an "historic trade blunder" and "catastrophe" on Tuesday–with some increased protections for workers. Some economists are also skeptical about whether the new agreement will actually lead to more cars being made in the U.S.
The three countries' leaders agreed to the deal last year, but it has to be approved legislatively before it goes into effect.
In the U.S., the trade pact must be ratified by Congress, but it faces opposition from Democrats, who are pushing for more enforcement provisions to ensure Mexico complies with rules to boost pay and support organized labor.
"This thing is not doomed. If you handle it right, you can get it through, but it will take some patience," Reinsch said of Congress ratifying the deal.
Trump appears increasingly impatient. Trump has previously to repeal NAFTA if the Democratic-controlled House does not approve the new trade deal. That would leave the U.S. with no agreement governing its trade with Canada and Mexico, which would cause a major disruption for businesses in all three countries.
If that happens, "it's a very big deal," Keeler said.


The Livery and Awards Dinner will be held at Haberdashers' Hall, which is one of the good sized "modern" Halls, almost opposite St Bartholomew's Hospital.
It is our Company's annual business dinner, and is the occasion when we present all our awards.
The receiving line will open at 6.15pm and Dinner will be called at 6.45pm.


Thanks so much. I'm rather sporadic with my posts but I hope you will enjoy them.
Nice to find you again.
I am rarely on facebook but received an e-mail notifying me of messages on my timeline and saw your latest photography which I think is stunning and unique!! I love how you captured the cedar waxwings and especially the leaf positioned against the one bird's breast. It almost has a trompe d'oeill effect where it seems we are looking inside the bird's heart or soul. The light burning there like a sacred spirit or Holy Ghost. Just a beautiful shot and one taken with a keen eye and imaginative flair.
Also, I wanted to share with you, since you are such a fine photographer and superb poet as well, this month's issue of poetry over at http://www.poetryfoundation.org.
It is dedicated solely to poetry by Afghan women. Their form, style and themes are surprising & startling at times. But even more stunning, perhaps, is the photography by a British artist who captures their life style and stance from different angles. I was fascinated by this June edition of the magazine. I thought you might enjoy it as well.
I love reading anything you write, Brenda..we do not know each other very well but I always like to read your opinions and discussions. Even though people do not always agree with each other I find there is much to learn from one another and gives us all pause to perhaps review our own thoughts.
Thanks, Helen – how lovely to read this post! I'll do my best to share my thoughts and hope they contribute something of value, somehow. We do learn through debate, discussion and disagreement. This type of blog strikes me as a better way to interact than on the free-for-all that is the Facebook feed.
I'm looking forward to writing my posts – if not every day, at least four or five times a week – and sharing photos as well.


text:
Q: store data by click on selected div in reactjs I have a data that map on my div I want to change state(useing useState) by click and store data of selected div
this is my component that show data

export const data = [
  { symbol: 'ddd', stockNum: '2700', EPS: '234', PE: '11.2', iid: 'IRO3SAIZ0001' },
  { symbol: 'ggg', stockNum: '2700', EPS: '258', PE: '11.2', iid: '71483646978964608' },
  { symbol: 'ttt', stockNum: '2700', EPS: '266', PE: '11.2', iid: '46348559193224090' },
  { symbol: 'qq', stockNum: '2700', EPS: '211', PE: '11.2', iid: '10' },
  { symbol: 'iii', stockNum: '2700', EPS: '222', PE: '11.2', iid: '90' },
];

            {data && data.length > 0
              ? data.map((item, index) => {
                  return (
                    <>

 selectStockAction(item)}>

{item.symbol}

                             (0.25)
                            {item.stockNum}

                            EPS:{item.EPS}

                            P/E:{item.PE}

                    </>
                  );
                })
              : 'no data'}

A: Are you looking for something like this
  export const data = [
  {
    symbol: "ddd",
    stockNum: "2700",
    EPS: "234",
    PE: "11.2",
    iid: "IRO3SAIZ0001",
  },
  {
    symbol: "ggg",
    stockNum: "2700",
    EPS: "258",
    PE: "11.2",
    iid: "71483646978964608",
  },
  {
    symbol: "ttt",
    stockNum: "2700",
    EPS: "266",
    PE: "11.2",
    iid: "46348559193224090",
  },
  { symbol: "qq", stockNum: "2700", EPS: "211", PE: "11.2", iid: "10" },
  { symbol: "iii", stockNum: "2700", EPS: "222", PE: "11.2", iid: "90" },
];

const Test = () => {
  const [selectStockAction, setSelectStockAction] = useState();

  return (
    <>

        {data && data.length > 0
          ? data.map((item, index) => {
              return (
                <React.Fragment key={index}>

 setSelectStockAction(item)}
                  >

{item.symbol}

                         (0.25)
                        {item.stockNum}

                        EPS:{item.EPS}

                        P/E:{item.PE}

                </React.Fragment>
              );
            })
          : "no data"}

        Selected Stock Action

{`Selected Stock Action ${
            selectStockAction?.symbol ? selectStockAction?.symbol : ""
          }`}

    </>
  );
};

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


He's faced down cavalrymen at full charge and can capture a shot while riding flat out.
has been chronicling the Indian army's horsemen at work and play.
The Iran-born, London-based equine photographer recalls capturing Queen Elizabeth, as well as some of his most challenging charges.


A striking loose powder with multifaceted pigment that creates a rainbow, mermaid effect upon application. Ideal for use on the face and body this highlighter can change from pink to purple to gold, depending where the light hits. Creating a supreme prism effect it can be easily layered for ultimate allure.


text:
2022-12-20 00:00:00 2022-12-20 00:00:00 https://avenuemagazine.com Avenue Magazine The Notorious Leona Helmsley, New York's "Queen of Mean"
Bah, humbug!
By Todd Kingston Plummer
NO CHECK OUT The federal prison cell in which Leona Helmsley served approximately 18 months
Photo by Mario Ruiz/Getty Images
It was a scene out of a Hollywood movie. On a raw March day in New York City in 1992, 71-year-old Leona Helmsley was admitted to New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center, the very hospital to which her family had donated the Helmsley Medical Tower just years prior. Earlier that day, having been convicted of evading $1.7 million in taxes, a federal judge sentenced her to four years in prison plus 750 hours of community service, and ordered her to pay a $7.1 million tax-fraud fine. Hours after hearing the news, the self-made billionaire collapsed. Her heart was literally giving out. Just months prior, she had confessed to the gossip columnist Cindy Adams in a rare, televised interview that the stress of the lawsuit was taking a toll. "I cry a lot," said Helmsley.
Hers had been a swift rise, advancing from humble beginnings to become one of the wealthiest women in the world. It was an even swifter descent, creating enemies left and right along the way, eventually earning herself the iconic nickname "Queen of Mean." But ultimately — despite the society gossip, the press frenzy, the lavish displays of '80s wealth and excess — who was Leona Helmsley?
Born Lena Mindy Rosenthal to Polish-Jewish immigrant parents in Ulster County, New York, in 1920, she changed her name several times as a young woman before landing on Leona Roberts. She changed husbands several times, too, before finding one that suited her. At 18, having relocated to New York City, she married attorney Leo Panzirer, with whom she had one son, Jay. Leona divorced Panzirer, then went on to twice marry and twice divorce a garment industry executive, Joseph Lubin. By 1960, Leona found herself a thrice-divorced single mother — and the only way to go was up. She eventually gravitated towards that quintessential New York career that can make or break fortunes overnight: real estate.
THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT The real estate tycoon leaving court after being charged for illegally evading millions in taxes
Photo by Allan Tannenbaum/Getty Images
Leona specialized in Upper East Side condos in a period of rapid gentrification for the city when new money was pouring in, turning swathes of rental buildings into condominiums. By the end of the '60s, she was a self-made millionaire in her own right — and was able to catch the eye of Harry Helmsley, who was a veritable real estate legend of the era, managing some of Manhattan's top commercial properties, including the Empire State Building.
In 1972, having divorced his wife of 33 years, the way was cleared for Harry and Leona to marry, becoming one of the wealthiest and most talked-about couples in New York society. Their romance was not without its hitches, however. Leona had encountered her first real spat of drama in 1971, when several of her tenants sued her for forcing them to buy condominiums. As part of the judgment, her real estate license was suspended. But luckily for Leona, her marriage to Harry arrived at just the right time: she joined Harry's company as an executive and began working on his growing hotel business.
In 1981, the defining tragedy of her life occurred, one which would haunt her for decades and which ultimately cemented her legacy as the "Queen of Mean." Her only son, Jay, passed away from a heart attack at the age of 42. Jay's widow and child, who lived in a property that Helmsley's business owned, were evicted soon after his funeral, for reasons that remain unclear. Helmsley also sued her son's estate for money she alleged was a loan, and a court awarded her almost $150,000 after years of litigation. With no son to live for, and a troubled relationship with his widow and heirs, there was nothing left for Leona to love except her husband, her career — and her money.
By the end of the '80s, Leona Helmsley oversaw about 30 hotels, including the Park Lane Hotel and the Helmsley Palace Hotel on Madison Avenue (today the Lotte New York Palace). She appeared in advertising campaigns for the hotels, posing tongue-in-cheek as a queen, sometimes wearing tiaras. But with this corporate success, a public fascination followed, and so did a miserly reputation. Leona became known for firing staff on the spot if beds were not made properly or lampshades were crooked, and for creating what, by any modern measure, would be called a hostile work environment.
WHAT A MUGSHOT Helmsley photographed by the United States Marshals Service in 1988 at the age of 67
Photo by Jimlop Collection/Alamy
Rumors of her tax avoidance began to swirl. A number of contractors and vendors during this period claimed that the Helmsleys often paid invoices late, if they paid them at all. Leona allegedly ordered a jeweler to rewrite a bill to save herself four dollars in sales tax, and would often purchase jewelry in New York City and carry the baubles home, only to have empty jewelry boxes shipped to an address in Florida to ostensibly avoid sales tax. During this period she famously told a housekeeper, "We don't pay taxes; only the little people pay taxes."
In 1988, then U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Rudy Giuliani indicted Leona and Harry Helmsley for illegally evading $4 million in taxes, in a scheme that included billing renovations of their personal home in Connecticut to the hotel business, and using furniture purchased through the business for their homes. By the time the trial concluded, and she was sentenced four years later, her legacy as the stingy "Queen of Mean" had been cemented forever. Leona Helmsley served 21 months, 18 of which were spent in federal prison.
After her release, she drifted into isolation and obscurity, estranged from most of her family and with very few friends. When Harry died in 1997, he left his entire $5 billion estate to her. As New York does not allow convicted felons to hold liquor licenses, she was forced to give up control of the Helmsley hotels empire, and she spent her final years largely alone with her dog in a penthouse atop the Park Lane Hotel. There were still the odd incidents here and there — such as in 2002, when a former employee sued Helmsley for firing him solely because he was gay. A jury sided with the former employee, and a judge ruled that Helmsley pay him over $500,000 in damages. Eventually, Leona Helmsley passed away from congestive heart failure at the age of 87 in 2007.
Although the "Queen of Mean" lived a melodramatic life of dizzying highs and heart-wrenching lows, the final years of her life were marked by enormous charitable donations which suggest a sort of penance: she donated $5 million to help the families of New York City firefighters and police after September 11th; she left $25 million to NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital for medical research; and she famously established a $12 million trust fund for the care of her beloved Maltese, Trouble. But even in death, Leona made it clear that crossing her had painful consequences, both emotional and financial. For reasons that still are not widely known today, the billionairess left nothing to two of her four grandchildren, nor anything to her estranged daughter-in-law. Her remaining two grandchildren received cash gifts of $5 million each — and that's still less than the dog got.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
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text:
Upside Writer September 13, 2020 Music
THERE ARE 'BETTER DAYS' AHEAD WITH BRISBANE GROUP SUNFLOWER
With a myriad of influences and youth on their side, Brisbane-based Indie-rockers SUNFLOWER pull us into a dreamy world of good vibes and optimism as they continue to make their impact on the music scene.
Lawson Doyle (singer/songwriter) explains what it is like to be making music in this weird time of uncertainty.
"It's such a hard time for everyone right now, and it's a time where we are all being introspective. There's such a struggle to connect," he says.
And connection in times of social distancing, no live performances and rules changing daily, it seems to be taking a toll on all, including musicians.
"It's a struggle to write when you keep thinking, what's next?" says Lawson, but also agrees that in uncertain times, music can always be the answer.
"Our first track ('Better Days') was my baby, so to speak. It was philosophical for me, and really made me think of my nan, she was always reminding me to hope, to be inspired to believe in things. That is the kind of music we like to make."
And it feels like 'Get yourself Together' really emphasises others to get their inspiration flowing.
"Kahlia wrote this song about someone who meant a lot to her, and who wanted to take things in their relationship to the next level, she needed to express to them that their needed to be a bit work done on their end. This song is Kahlia's baby but, I think it speaks to all on many different levels. Maybe it could be waking up with a hangover, not remembering much of the night before, thinking to yourself- man I really need to get myself together," Lawson says.
This new melodic jam brought across SUNFLOWER's first video clip, where the 5-piece group got to work with the likes of Alec Schultz and Anna Wareham.
"They were honestly a dream team. It felt so professional, so well done," says Lawson. "We were really happy with how it came out."
Keeping things forward and moving, SUNFLOWER will be performing at the Black Bear Lodge in November, and they could not be more keen.
"We miss basking in performance to be honest. Any stage with good vibes and people singing back, it's so rewarding, it's so good," he says
Get grooving with SUNFLOWER Saturday October 24 (Thirsty Chiefs Brewery) and Saturday November 19 (Black Bear Lodge).
Grab your tickets and info HERE
By Kirra Hussey
Posted in Music. Bookmark the permalink.
ALL EYES ON ADELAIDE AS AUDIENCES RETURN TO HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE
ULTIMATE GUIDE TO ADELAIDE'S BEST APEROL SPRITZ


text:
Listen 9 min
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Exhibit celebrates Latin American influence on art and culture in LA
The massive arts series called Pacific Standard Time officially launches its latest series next week. It's called "PST: LA/LA," and it runs through January. There will be more than 80 exhibitions in museums and galleries across Southern California. It won't just be visual art. There are concerts on the schedule, too. The organizers call it "an exploration of Latin American and Latino art in dialogue with Los Angeles."
Firecrackers, a striptease scandal and more moments of change from the Hammer's 'Radical Women'
How Mexico's súper rudas 'Radical Women' are rewriting the history of Latin American art
Carolina Miranda - LA Times columnist - @cmonstah
Madeleine Brand
Quinn O'Toole, Gina Pollack, Sarah Sweeney, Michell Eloy, Amy Ta, Christian Bordal, Luke Vander Ploeg
More from Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Police brutality video footage: Does the public need to see it? Press Play with Madeleine Brand Jan 30 Lisa Marie Presley's death is a heart health wake-up call for women Press Play with Madeleine Brand Jan 26 Caring less will liberate you, says 'Subtle Art of Not Giving a F' author Press Play with Madeleine Brand Jan 25 Back-to-back mass shootings in CA: What to do about sense of futility? Press Play with Madeleine Brand Jan 24
Uncertainty over DACA: What will Dreamers and Congress do?
Dreamer: Keep pushing Congress to pass legislation on DACA
The 800,000 or so young people whose future was put into question yesterday -- when the Trump administration announced an end to DACA -- are now trying to figure out what to...
How might schools protect Dreamers enrolled on their campuses?
The leaders of California's universities and colleges are trying to figure out what they can do to help Dreamers. Yesterday, the heads of five school systems sent a letter...
The politics of DACA: Can Democrats force Republicans to act?
Congress has got a lot on its plate: Raise the debt ceiling, fund hurricane relief, and take care of DACA. All of this is linked and playing out in typical political...
Danzy Senna's new novel, 'New People,' takes on race
In the 1990s, there was a popular idea that people of mixed race would lead the way to the promised land of a post-racial America. Danzy Senna's new novel takes on that...
The massive arts series called Pacific Standard Time officially launches its latest series next week. It's called "PST: LA/LA," and it runs through January. There will be...
Resilience in Alhambra: Community gathers for Lunar New Year after shooting Greater LA
Police brutality video footage: Does the public need to see it? Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Another mass shooting in California. Can anything stop the violence? Left, Right & Center
This LA native produces music for J. Lo, Mary J. Blige. Meet Rogét Chahayed Greater LA


Jim Zuckerman left his medical studies in 1970 to pursue his love of photography and turn it into a career. He has taught creative photography at many universities and private schools, including UCLA, the Hallmark School of Photography, the Palm Beach Photographic Center, and Kent State University. He also leads many international photo excursion to exotic destinations such as Kenya, Tanzania, Namibia, Burma, Ethiopia, Indonesia, India, Eastern Europe, Peru and Turkey. Thus far, he has been to 83 countries.


HA NOI (VNS)— Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc yesterday requested relevant authorities and localities to work in close co-ordination to ensure security and safety during the United Nations Day of Vesak (UNDV).
UNDV is annually observed to commemorate the birth, enlightenment, and passing away of Gautama Buddha. The celebrations will be held in the northern Ninh Binh Province during May 7-12.
The deputy prime minister made the request at a meeting with the leaders of several ministries, branches, and localities, and representatives of the Viet Nam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) to oversee the preparations for the event.
At the meeting, Phuc was informed that the plans for security, traffic safety, and fire prevention have been devised.
The government's Committee for Religious Affairs has partnered with the related agencies to guide the VBS in carrying out essential tasks.
In accordance with the theme "Buddhist Perspective towards Achieving the United Nations Millennium Development Goals," the event, which is scheduled to take place in the Bai Dinh Pagoda, is being organised by the VBS in collaboration with the International Council for the Day of Vesak.
Around 5,000 guests, including 1,500 from 95 countries and territories worldwide, are expected to attend the event.


The sad truth is, bikes get worn out. When they do, they communicate their distress through squeaks, creaks and all manner of other weird noises. If your bike's been extra chatty lately, it might be time for a little TLC. We spoke to Mike Yozell, a former pro-team mechanic, about how you can learn to speak your bike's language and get it back into working order.
Want to learn the basics of wrenching from home? Check out our online mechanic course!
If you've heard squeaking from your bike, "it could mean that it has a dry chain or bearings," Yozell says. Cleaning and lubing your chain is usually a good place to start with any weird noise, but if it doesn't solve the squeak, you may need to maintain or replace some bearings (see "creaking" below).
Your chain should also be the first thing you check if you hear a rattling noise. "It's most likely loose or not shifting properly," Yozell says, which causes it to rattle against your frame. Chains stretch over time, and you can adjust the tension with your derailleur—but if it's really stretched already, you might need to remove a link or replace it altogether.
Yozell cautions that a rattling sound could also come from a loose headset, which can make your bike handle poorly or even dangerously. To tighten your headset, first loosen the side bolts on your stem, then tighten the top bolt. It should be tight enough to pull the fork, headset, stem and any spacers snugly together, but not so tight that the bars can't turn freely. Once you get the center bolt to a tightness that feels good, you can tighten the side bolts again. If the rattling still doesn't go away, take your bike to the shop to be safe—you don't want to be losing any loose parts mid-ride.
Creaks can be frustrating and mysterious, but the most common cause is bearings. There are several places on your bike that use bearings to rotate smoothly, including your headset, bottom bracket, and some suspension linkages. To isolate your bottom bracket, stand next to your bike, grab both your brakes, and put your foot on the pedal closest to you. If the bike creaks when you put your weight on the pedal, the problem is likely coming from your bottom bracket. If you don't hear anything, the problem is likely your headset, hubs or linkages. Bearings wear out after a season or so, especially if you live somewhere wet or sandy. Your shop can help you order and install new ones.
"Diagnosing where the sound's coming from can be tricky," Yozell says. Sometimes a thorough wash and lube is all it takes to set everything right again. But if you can't figure out the problem, or aren't sure how to fix it when you do, it's always a good bet to take your bike to your local bike shop— they'll be fluent in Bike.


Yang SH, Park JO, Lee JH, Jeon BH, Kim WS, et al. (2004) Cloning and characterization of a new cysteine proteinase secreted by Paragonimus westermani adult worms. Am J Trop Med Hyg 71: 87–92.
ABSTRACT: Background Paragonimiasis is a food-borne trematodiasis, a serious public health issue and a neglected tropical disease. Paragonimus skrjabini is a unique species found in China. Unlike paragonimiasis westermani, it is nearly impossible to make a definitive diagnosis for paragonimiasis skrjabini by finding eggs in sputum or feces. Immunodiagnosis is the best choice to detect paragonimiasis skrjabini. There is an urgent need to develop a novel, rapid and simple immunoassay for large-scale screening patients in endemic areas. Methodology/Principal Findings To develop a rapid, simple immunodiagnostic assay for paragonimiasis, rabbit anti-human IgG was conjugated to colloidal gold particles and used to detect antibodies in the sera of paragonimiasis patients. The synthesis and identification of colloidal gold particles and antibody-colloidal gold conjugates were performed. The size of colloidal gold particles was examined using a transmission electron microscope (TEM). The average diameter of colloidal gold particles was 17.46 nm with a range of 14.32–21.80 nm according to the TEM images. The formation of antibody-colloidal gold conjugates was monitored by UV/Vis spectroscopy. Excretory-secretory (ES) antigen of Paragonimus skrjabini was coated on nitrocellulose membrane as the capture line. Recombinant Staphylococcus protein A was used to prepare the control line. This rapid gold immunochromatographic strip was assembled in regular sequence through different accessories sticked on PVC board. The relative sensitivity and specificity of the strip was 94.4% (51/54) and 94.1% (32/34) respectively using ELISA as the standard method. Its stability and reproducibility were quite excellent after storage of the strip at 4°C for 6 months. Conclusions/Significance Immunochromatographic strip prepared in this study can be used in a rapid one-step immunochromatographic assay, which is instantaneous and convenient.


text:
Minnesota Wild Vs. New Jersey Devils
OTHER EVENTS IN SAINT PAUL
A Soldier's Play
Minnesota Wild Vs. New Jersey Devils Bruce SpringsteenMadonnaA Soldier's PlayMy Fair LadyNate BargatzeDude PerfectBlink 182
February 2023 February 2023
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