text:
The disappearing art of Duckpin Bowling
Emma Patti Harris 0 Comment Maryland duckpin bowling, Shenandoah
MOUNT JACKSON, Va. (AP) — The pins and balls in duckpin bowling aren't as forgiving to beginners as the larger, heavier 10-pin bowling, but according to competitor Jerry Middleton it is what keeps him coming back to Shenandoah Bowling Lanes. The sport is believed to have started in Baltimore, and while duckpin enjoyed its peak in the 1960s, only around 60 alleys remain in the United States.
"It's like a mind game," says Middleton during a decidedly low-key tournament at Shenandoah.
Six bowling lanes are squeezed inside the second floor of the old brick building at the alley, which has been open since 1948. Its maple wood floors and vintage fixtures still largely intact, the only thing that is out of mid-century character is the Black Keys and Alabama Shakes playing on the radio.
More photos: Duckpin bowling at the Patterson Bowling Center
Duckpin bowling at the Patterson Bowling Center
Algerina Perna 0 Comment Maryland, Photo essays, The Baltimore Sun Baltimore, duckpin bowling, Patterson Bowling Center
Duckpin bowling was once a sport synonymous with the city of Baltimore. In its heyday during the 1960s, more than 1,200 lanes could be found throughout the region. Now the Patterson Bowling Center in East Baltimore is one of just a few facilities in the area keeping the sport alive.


There was only so long I could use scraps from my stash instead of buying new fabric. I may have gone on a bit of a spree. But at least I have a plan for every single yard purchased!
I plan to use this pattern to make an A-Line Skirt out of this unicorn houndstooth fabric.
Yep, I'm branching out and attempting (or at least planning an attempt) to sew clothing!
It all started when I saw a photo of the unicorn houndstooth on Instagram. I saw it was almost sold out and felt pressured to get some right away; I have waited to buy some really great fabrics in the past and missed out, to my regret! Some of this most recent fabric was even on sale… so I've decided not to berate myself for my fabric-buying weakness as long as these projects are finished in one year or less!
Categories: Other Sewing | Tags: a line skirt, a line skirt pattern, alexia abegg, christmas tree skirt, clothing, dress pattern, free christmas tree skirt pattern, liberty fabric, liberty love, mccalls, mccalls m3341, mccalls m3341 pattern, mccalls skirt pattern, michael miller, michael miller fabric, michelle my belle, michelle my belle dress, novelty fabric, quilt, quilting, reversible tree skirt, sew, sewing, skirt pattern, tree skirt, unicorn houndstooth | Permalink.
Yay! Clothes! Yay! Unicorns! Yay! Vintage!
Hip, hip, Hooray! for the New and Growing fabric stash!!!


text:
Sabyasachi Chakrabarty Mobile Number (Personal Assistant Phone Number & Manager Contact Number) with Real Whatsapp Number
December 03, 2021 Contact Details No comments
If you're looking for the personal contact number of Sabyasachi Chakrabarty then you are on the right page. Here Sabyasachi Chakrabarty fans will get Sabyasachi Chakrabarty Mobile Number, Sabyasachi Chakrabarty Contact Number, Sabyasachi Chakrabarty Phone Number, and also you can get here Sabyasachi Chakrabarty Personal Assistant Phone Number and Sabyasachi Chakrabarty Manager Contact Number. Also, people who are using whatsapp nowadays can also get Sabyasachi Chakrabarty Real Whatsapp Number on our website.
Please note that this data might not be correct or false as all the celebs might not disclose all their personal details such as mobile number, personal whatsapp number, email id etc.
How to get Sabyasachi Chakrabarty Mobile Number?
Fans of Sabyasachi Chakrabarty can get the contact details of Sabyasachi Chakrabarty Mobile Number, Sabyasachi Chakrabarty Contact Number, Sabyasachi Chakrabarty Personal Phone Number, Sabyasachi Chakrabarty Real WhatsApp number from this page. Also, fans can find Sabyasachi Chakrabarty social profiles and other details.
Sabyasachi Chakrabarty Contact Details
Sabyasachi Chakrabarty's Phone Number/Mobile Number - N/A
Sabyasachi Chakrabarty's Whatsapp Number - N/A
Sabyasachi Chakrabarty's Office Contact Number - N/A
Sabyasachi Chakrabarty's Email ID - N/A
Sabyasachi Chakrabarty's Official Website - N/A
Sabyasachi Chakrabarty's Manager Mobile Number - N/A
Sabyasachi Chakrabarty's Personal Assistant Mobile Number - N/A
Sabyasachi Chakrabarty's House Address - 60/145, Scheme 118, Haripada Dutta Lane, Tollygunge, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Sabyasachi Chakrabarty Social Profiles
Don't worry if you have not got above Sabyasachi Chakrabarty info, which you need. This is the common thing that no one wants to share their personal information with anyone. But, Sabyasachi Chakrabarty also thinks about their fans and allows fans to use or contact through Sabyasachi Chakrabarty Instagram accounts, Sabyasachi Chakrabarty facebook accounts, and other social pages.
Sabyasachi Chakrabarty's Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Sabyasachi-Chakraborty-166056273470346/
Sabyasachi Chakrabarty's Instagram - N/A
Sabyasachi Chakrabarty's Twitter - N/A
Sabyasachi Chakrabarty's Youtube Channel - N/A
Sabyasachi Chakrabarty Biography
Sabyasachi Chakrabarty is an Indian actor of theater, films and television. He is best known for portraying iconic Bengali detective characters, Feluda and Kakababu.
FAQ regarding Sabyasachi Chakrabarty Phone number
Where to get Sabyasachi Chakrabarty's mobile phone number??
Sabyasachi Chakrabarty's phone number will be found in this article.
Want Sabyasachi Chakrabarty WhatsApp Number?
If we were able to find the Sabyasachi Chakrabarty WhatsApp Number it would be present in the article above.
Can We Meet Sabyasachi Chakrabarty? If Yes Then What Is The Procedure.?
Yes, You Can Meet Them. Sabyasachi Chakrabarty Is A Simple And Great Person. He Gives Time To Everyone So You Can Meet Them.
Is The Information Given Above Correct?
Yes, All This Information Is Correct. We Have Collected All This Information After A Lot Of Hard Work, But If You Find Any Wrong Information Then You Must Tell Us We Will Try To Correct It.
Conclusion on Sabyasachi Chakrabarty Mobile Number
I hope we have solved your query of Sabyasachi Chakrabarty's Contact Number. Generally we try to gather as much data as we can to provide crisp and clear information to our fans. But some of the details present above might not be true as the data is not public. If you feel any grievances please let me know in the comments.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Mr. Mironov also briefed the President on the current socioeconomic situation in the region.
Vladimir Putin with Acting Governor of Yaroslavl Region Dmitry Mironov.
0 Comment to "Putin met with Acting Governor of Yaroslavl Region Dmitry Mironov"


text:
Urzila Carlson - All The Rage
Wed 16 Dec '20, 7:00pm
Michael Fowler Centre, 111 Wakefield Street, Wellington
Related Artists:
Urzila Carlson
One of New Zealand's biggest names in comedy, the award-winning URZILA CARLSON, has announced a nationwide tour for her brand-new show, All the Rage.
Urzila will be bringing her trademark deadpan humour and cheeky wit to audiences in Auckland and Wellington.
Tickets for all shows go on sale at 2pm Wednesday, February 10.
My Live Nation pre-sale starts 2pm on Tuesday, February 11.
Commenting on the show, Urzila says: "The world is getting hotter and we are getting hotter under the collar. I can't remember a time in history when we as a people were ever as angry as we are now. We have apps to help us meditate, watches that tell us how long and restful we slept, we do yoga and pilates, we stretch and think about things more and yet we are FURIOUS, we are limber and fit and RAGING OUR TITS OFF!"
"What's getting our rage up? Why can't we shake the fury? I have managed to crack it and I know why we are so angry, think of me as the Greta of your Hottest Emotions, we'll get to the bottom of your rage and why we need it to function in today's world," continues Urzila.
All the Rage arrives hot on the heels of Urzila's NETFLIX debut as part of the streaming service's unprecedented stand-up comedy event series. Urzila was one of 47 comedians handpicked from around the world. 2020 will see the release of her first solo full hour NETFLIX special, recorded in Melbourne in December. Urzila also cleaned up the Melbourne International Comedy Festival in 2019, taking out the MICF People's Choice Award for most tickets sold across the festival.
Carlson is a much-loved series regular on TVNZ's smash-hit panel show, Have You Been Paying Attention?!, and is a regular on the Australian edition of the show.
Urzila continues to sell out her seasons in both NZ and Australia, and the awards stack up year after year. Most recently she was awarded the 2019 Rielly Comedy Award by the Variety Artists Club of NZ. Urzila has won the NZ Comedy Guild's Best Female Comedian award six times, as well as the coveted People's Choice Award at the NZ International Comedy Festival two years in a row. In 2018 she was a nominee for Australia's Helpmann Award for Best Comedy Performer, and she took out the 2017 Sydney Comedy Festival's Director's Choice Award.
Buy soon, buy quick. The proof is in the pudding. Carlson is a guaranteed sell-out. Catch her while you can.
Best Foods Comedy Gala
Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre - Aotea Centre, CBD, Auckland
Fri 30 Apr
Zirka Circus
Appleton Park, Wellington
Lucky To Be Here
Circus Bar, Wellington
Pro Night - Premium Live Comedy
The Classic Comedy Club, CBD, Auckland
Thu 4 Feb – more dates
The Classic Comedy All-Stars 2021


text:
set -e

run_tests () {
  echo "*** Running tests for Drupal $GDT_DRUPAL_CORE ***"
  ./test/create_working_copy.sh
  cd test/working_copy/
  grunt --quiet
  grunt drush:liteinstall --quiet
  grunt serve:test >/dev/null &
  until curl -I -XGET -s $GDT_TEST_URL 2>/dev/null | egrep -q '^HTTP.*200'; do sleep 0.5; done
  grunt test
  sleep 1; while (ps aux | grep '[b]ehat' > /dev/null); do sleep 1; done
  for pid in `ps aux | grep drush | grep runserver | awk '{print $2}'`; do echo "Stopping drush pid $pid"; kill -SIGINT $pid; done;
  # end-to-end tests
  mocha node_modules/grunt-drupal-tasks/test/build.js
  # unit tests
  mocha node_modules/grunt-drupal-tasks/test/library.js
}

# Drupal 7
export GDT_DRUPAL_CORE="7" GDT_TEST_URL="http://127.0.0.1:8080/misc/drupal.js"
run_tests

# Rinse and repeat
cd ../..

# Drupal 8
export GDT_DRUPAL_CORE="8" GDT_TEST_URL="http://127.0.0.1:8080/core/misc/drupal.js"
run_tests

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


1. Don't get Hooked !!!
When people behave towards you in a manner that makes you feel angry, frustrated or annoyed - this is known as a Hook.
We can even become "Hooked" by the way people look, how they talk, how they smell and even by their general demeanour.
If we take the bait then we are allowing the other person to control our behaviour. This can then result in an unproductive response.
We have a choice whether we decided to get hooked or stay unhooked.
2. Don't let them get to you.
We often allow the other persons attitude to irritate or annoy us. This becomes obvious to the other person through our tone of voice and our body language. This only fuels a difficult situation.
When dealing with difficult people, stay out of it emotionally and concentrate on listening non-defensively and actively. People may make disparaging and emotional remarks - don't rise to the bait!
Look and sound like you're listening. - When face-to-face you need to look interested, nod your head and keep good eye contact. Over the 'phone - you need to make the occasional "Uh Hu - I See"
If the other person senses that you care and that you're interested in their problem, then they're likely to become more reasonable.
4. Get all the facts - write them down.
Repeat back (paraphrase) the problem to ensure your understanding and to let the other person know that you are listening.
A persons name is one of the warmest sounds they hear. It says that you have recognised them as an individual. It is important not to overdo it as it may come across as patronising to the other person. Make sure they know your name and that you'll take ownership for the problem.
6. DON'T blame someone or something else.
" Don't say, "Calm down".
Too often we think the "difficult" person is making too much fuss. We think - "What's the big deal; I'll fix it right away". It is a big deal for the other person and they want you to appreciate it.
You don't necessarily need to agree with the person however you accept the fact that it's a problem for them.
We often exacerbate a situation without realising it. Our tone of voice and our body language can often contradict what we're saying. We may be saying sorry however our tone and our body language may be communicating our frustration and annoyance. People listen with their eyes and will set greater credence on how you say something rather than what you say.
It's also important to use a warm tone of voice when dealing with a difficult situation. This doesn't mean being "nicey- nicey" or behaving in a non-assertive manner.
Sorry is an overused word, everyone says it when something goes wrong and it has lost its value.
How often have you heard - "Sorry 'bout that, give me the details and I'll sort this out for you." Far better to say - "I apologise for …."
And if you really need to use the "sorry" word, make sure to include it as part of a full sentence. "I'm sorry you haven't received that information as promised Mr Smith." (Again, it's good practise to use the person's name).
Deal with their feelings - then deal with their problem.
Using empathy is an effective way to deal with a person's feelings. Empathy isn't about agreement, only acceptance of what the person is saying and feeling. Basically the message is - "I understand how you feel."
Obviously this has to be a genuine response, the person will realise if you're insincere and they'll feel patronised.
Examples of an empathy response would be - "I can understand that you're angry," or "I see what you mean." Again, these responses need to be genuine.
Sometimes it's useful to add another phrase to the empathy response, including yourself in the picture. - "I can understand how you feel, I don't like it either when that happens to me" This has the effect of getting on the other persons side and builds rapport.
Some people get concerned when using this response, as they believe it'll lead to "Well why don't you do something about it then." The majority of people won't respond this way if they realise that you are a reasonable and caring person. If they do, then continue empathising and tell the person what you'll do about the situation.
Whatever you say to resolve a situation, don't make a rod for your own back. We are often tempted in a difficult situation to make promises that are difficult to keep. We say things like - "I'll get this sorted this afternoon and phone you back." It may be difficult to get it sorted "this afternoon". Far better to say - "I'll get this sorted by tomorrow lunchtime." Then phone them back that afternoon or early the next morning and they'll think you're great.
Remember, everyone gets a little mad from time to time, and you won't always be able to placate everyone, - there's no magic formula. However, the majority of people in this world are reasonable people and if you treat them as such, then they're more likely to respond in a positive manner.
These notes are primarily designed to help deal with difficult people when we have made a mistake. We often have to deal with other people where we have not made a mistake however the people we're dealing with often prove to be difficult and unwilling to accept what we say.
We therefore need to demonstrate assertive behaviour that helps us communicate clearly and confidently our needs, wants and feelings to other people without abusing in any way their human rights.


Liverpool Ladies have today completed the signing of defender Leighanne Robe from Millwall Lionesses.
The 24-year-old joins Neil Redfearn's side having come through the ranks at Arsenal Women before moving to Watford Ladies in 2014.
Following two years with Watford Ladies, Leighanne then moved to Millwall in 2016, helping the Lionesses to third place in WSL2 last season.
On moving to Merseyside, Robe said: "I am absolutely delighted to be joining the club and I'm really looking forward to working alongside Neil. It is a massive opportunity to make the step up to WSL1 and I am really excited for the new season.
Reds manager Redfearn said: "I am delighted to have secured the signature of Leighanne as she is a quality defender who is also a real leader. Leighanne is a tough tackling defender who is equally comfortable playing at full-back so gives us more options in defence.


The Health Challenge is a great opportunity to become more active, lose weight and waist girth and participate in a fun initiative with colleagues, community members or friends. If you are not yet a member, sign up now!
3. Enter your health information to get started.
Enter in your height, current weight, weight goal, current waist measurement and waist measurement goal.
4. Choose which Health Challenge you would like to join.
Select which Health Challenge you would like to join from the drop down menu.
6. View your weight and waist measurements.
Now you can view your weight and waist measurements, add new entries (6/7), and use the Weight and Waist tabs (8) to view your progress.
7. View the Challenge Leaderboard.
Scroll down on the Health Measures page and select the View the Leaderboard link to keep up with the latest Challenge progress.
You can also view the Challenge progress from the Health Challenge dashboard card which will appear on your Dashboard after you complete the Health Measures Getting Started form.


If you are reading this and you are a parent of a child who has been bullied my heart goes out to you. If you are the student I want to empower you. My name is Lisa and I was bullied in school. Looking back I think many kids were it just wasn't as known as it is now. I was made fun of for my clothes, beat up because I played with one set of sisters and not the other, rejected as a Junior in High School because a guy told a terrible lie about me and so on and so on. What I want to tell you is that it gets better.
And that most of these people who hurt me? They didn't have half the life I've had nor a fraction of the success I have. None of them invented products or traveled on stages around the world, or have a ministry or an amazing 54 acre home or any of it….. Well maybe one of them might but if they do I can't tell it.
Please know that I'm not braggin on the things God has blessed me with, all I am saying is that the words a person says about you or speaks over you have ZERO to do with your future. And I do mean ZERO. And honestly they will probably grow up and do very little in life.
So here we go. Do those words hurt? Yes, yes they do. But we can't fix a dumb person. And we can't fix a broken person. And someone who bullies another is broken. They have major issues and only God can help them or a smack from their parents. So I want you to write down on a sheet of paper 10 amazing things about you.
Like: I am a great reader, I'm kind to others, I have hazel eyes etc; Once this list is made I want you to speak this over yourself EVERY day.
The only words on earth that can stop you are your own. Listen I had a dad that spoke some terrible things over me. "You'll be nothing, you'll never succeed, you'll be broke, You're going to have 12 kids and you won't be able to take care of them." He was a very sick person mentally. He's dead now.
But my point is that NOT one word he spoke over me…. NOT A single one ever came to pass. So I hope you look in the mirror and tell yourself: I am NOT defined by what a broken confused person speaks over me. I speak words of life over myself. I am successful and I will have a great future!
Parents: You speak this over your child daily as well. And I believe this is a great way that you can beat a bully. You beat them by not allowing them to steal your joy or by allowing them to speak words over you that come to pass. ONLY you can make a difference in your own life. And God.


text:
Staff Reports,
05:18PM / Friday, January 14, 2011
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Ronnell Garmie, who killed a North Adams man in 2008, has been sentenced to prison on drug charges.
Garmie, of Bronx, N.Y., pleaded guilty on Thursday afternoon in Berkshire Superior Court in Pittsfield to single counts of cocaine trafficking and consipiracy to violate drug laws (distribution of cocaine). Judge Daniel Ford sentenced the 21-year-old Garmie to five to 5 1/2 years at Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Cedar Junction on the trafficking charge and a concurrent prison sentence on the conspiracy charge.
The charges stem from the night of Aug. 20, 2008, when authorities believe Walter tried to steal cocaine from a residence at Wheel Estates
Pittsfield Woman Pleads Guilty in Husband's Slaying
03:52PM / Friday, June 04, 2010
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A Pittsfield woman pleaded guilty to a single count of involuntary manslaughter on Friday morning in Berkshire Superior Court in the stabbing death of her husband, Arthur Martin, a year ago.
Sentencing for Charlene Grandson, Martin, 46, of West Street, was continued by Judge John A. Agostini until 2 p.m. on July 8.
Arthur Martin, 49, died Feb. 8 at Berkshire Medical Center from a stab wound inflicted the night before. Grandson Martin had told police her husband had the knife and they were joking around when he was struck by the knife as she pushed is arm away.
Police said an investigation found her story didn't match the facts.
For last year's
Two Charged in Pittsfield Stabbing
09:42AM / Sunday, March 07, 2010
Two men were arrested and charged with the Saturday morning stabbing death of Jahda M. Martin.
Trevor L. Pryce Jr., 28, of Spring Street, North Adams, and John C. Spratling, 26, of Cherry Street, Pittsfield, were arraigned on single counts each of murder and assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon.
The two appeared before Judge Paul Vrabel on Monday morning in Central Berkshire District Court. Both had not-guilty pleas entered on their behalf and were ordered held at the Berkshire County House of Correction without the right to bail.
They are scheduled to return to court for a pretrial hearing on April 8.
Investigators have also applied for and received an arrest
Assaults Accident Buglaries Missing Persons Heroin Search Break-ins Drug Charges Fire Hit & Run Motorcycles Pedestrians Homicide Armed Robbery Larceny Injuries Crime Watch Fraud Drugs Fatal Scam Veremko Shooting Rape Structure Fire Firearms Murder Motor Vehicle Vehicle Police Investigation Robbery Assault Motor Vehicle Accident Stabbing Mvi


Bluwater is new ultra-luxurious condominiums in Oakville. These condominiums are developed along the shores of Lake Ontario by Pemberton Group.
There are 204 suites in three eight floor buildings.
A pristine lakeside location, innovative lifestyle amenities infused with a philosophy of wellness and a commitment to beautiful, creative surroundings distinguishes Bluwater and sets it apart.
With all of the charm and amenities of a 5-star luxury resort, summer months are glorious times at Bluwater. Dine al fresco, sunbathe beside the plunge pool and enjoy the beauty of the magnificent outdoor fireplace.
Inside, Bluwater is dedicated to the health and well being of its residents. A fully equipped fitness centre, spa, party room and resident's lounge are beautifully designed and appointed to reflect the ultimate in luxury.
Great care and thought has gone into the design of the suites at Bluwater. Beginning with spacious 9' ceiling heights and commanding windows, the suites at Bluwater are nothing less than majestic.
Add to this, spacious floorplans that provide exceptional layout opportunities for furniture, and you have tremendously livable space that can accommodate full size luxury living.
There are studio, 1 bedroom, 1 bedroom plus den, 2 bedroom, 2 bedroom plus den suites available in these condominiums. Condos range from 355 to 2,685 square feet in size.


A beautiful project in collaboration with Remy Meijers. The Amsterdam office was decorated with furniture from the Odesi collection. Additionally, several tailor-made pieces were specifically designed and manufactured for this project.
A grand project by the Dutch architectural firm Heyligers to refresh the large company restaurant of Rabobank in Utrecht (Netherlands). Odesi contributed to the project by delivering several round Solid tables and a series customized Slide tables.
The showroom of the company van Hoecke, expert supplier of furniture fittings, was renovated and refurbished by Studio Kees Marcelis. Several designs that Kees Marcelis created for Odesi were incorporated into the project.


text:
The Omicron variant: What we know so far
The World Health Organization named a new strain of the coronavirus, B.1.1.529, known as the Omicron variant, a variant of concern on Nov. 26, 2021. Since then, the Omicron variant has spread around the world. It is now the most common strain of the virus in the United States.
What does that mean for you? Here's what we know so far, based on information from WHO, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other experts.
Q. What is the Omicron variant?
A. The Omicron variant is a new strain of the coronavirus. It was first detected in South Africa. The virus that causes COVID-19 mutates, leading to new strains. The Omicron variant appears to have more mutations than most other strains, including Delta. These mutations may change the virus's behavior.
Q. Is the Omicron variant more dangerous than other variants?
A. The Omicron variant causes similar symptoms as other strains of the virus. Scientists are working to learn more about Omicron infections. But many Omicron infections may be less severe than infections from earlier strains of the virus. That does not mean this variant is always mild. Omicron can still make people very sick. It can lead to hospitalization or even death.
Q. Is the Omicron variant resistant to vaccines?
A. COVID-19 vaccines are expected to be effective against the Omicron variant. They can prevent severe illness, hospitalization or death. But some people who are vaccinated will still get sick. The Omicron variant may be more likely than other variants to evade the immune response from vaccines or past infections. And people may be able to spread the Omicron variant even if they are fully vaccinated and have no symptoms. The good news: A booster shot can increase your protection.
Q. What can I do to protect myself from the Omicron variant?
A. You can reduce the risk of getting sick from any strain of the virus with a few simple steps:
Wash your hands frequently.
Wear a mask when you are indoors or in a busy outdoor space.
Stay at least six feet away from other people.
Make sure to get your COVID-19 vaccine. If you're already vaccinated, get a booster shot.
Do you have questions about COVID-19? You can find more advice and information in our Coronavirus topic center.
Reviewed 1/4/2022
Read more breaking news Related stories


We study the world that we may understand Scripture, and Scripture teaches us to truly read the world. Is this a conflict of principle or a vicious circle? No, it is the ordinary course of human learning elevated to a glorious pitch.
God is pleased to use the things of His creation as a tutor unto Him, that knowing Him, we may come to truly know the creation and how we are to live in it.
The problem is that if Scripture is the rule and measure of Christian practice, it becomes a matter of first importance to interpret and understand it correctly. But how are we to do this? We need human knowledge, including knowledge of grammar, history, literature, and everyday life in order to understand Scripture.
When we read the Bible, how else do we know what is a man or a woman, a father or a mother, a town, a desert, a law, etc., unless we have previously encountered or learned about these things.
And how can we read of such things unless we have learned the alphabet, the grammar, the syntax, and literary style of which we study.
The Bible is not a set of golden tablets that fell from heaven. It speaks not in some magical or divine language which bypasses human forms of learning and knowing. Nor does it present to us other-worldly realities, if by other worlds we mean something alien to the creation.
Rather, the Bible is a book in this world, even if it speaks with the voice of the Author of this world.
For the Medieval, God is the Author of two great books. First, the creation which by his Word he spoke into being. Second, the Scriptures which are his Word and which teaches us not only of the world, but of the Author Himself. Yet unique as they are, teach us of the Author by means of nothing but the creation (even if the power by which we come to know knowledge is the Spirit of God).
The bible uses human words to speak of divine things, and uses ordinary human experience, such as love, fatherhood, and redemption, to prepare readers to learn about their nature and source, that is about divine Love and Fatherhood.
This makes sense because what God redeems is not merely a spirit, but man; he renews not merely our minds, but the whole world, a world which He himself created. And so it follows that it is not only possible, but logical that God would communicate to us not in some alien or divine language, or merely about spiritual things strange to us, but through and concerning the world we live in.
Indeed, the bible is a literary object in this world, just as are the works of Shakespeare, the Iliad, and all the works of all the other authors. Just as rocks and trees and people exist and are objects in our world, so to is the Bible.
The Bible indeed exists as one thing among many, until the power of God discloses to us that it is uniquely real, uniquely true, uniquely authoritative, and that it does not merely speak to us about the world, or exist in the world, but does so perfectly and redemptive. It not only speaks through created things, but in doing so and in teaching us of their Author, it teaches about them in a new and more perfect manner.
We may learn about love from our family and from those around us, from literature and the impulses of our hearts, but we learn definitively about love in the Scriptures.
The same love which structures our hearts, which forms the structures of human relation, is the Love which created the whole word. It is this love that speaks to us in the Bible.
By the Spirit of God, we can recognize that Scripture speaks with the very voice which spoke all creation into being.
And God created with the very intention that the creation would have the structure of word!
That is, creation is made to speak about the creator (Psalm 19; Romans 1).
Therefore, knowledge of the creation has been made by God materially necessary to understand His Word. What we know about and by the world and in the ordinary course of human education serves as a tutor unto Scripture and makes the reading of Scripture possible, even while it is not ultimately the principle by which we understand the Word of God.
Such knowledge is indispensable because God has ordained and ordered the creation that it should speak of Him, point to Him, and prepare us by way of analogy for what we are to know of Him.
Human knowledge does not make spiritual knowledge impure. It points us to God, even as it proclaims it is not God. It shows us that which is like the Spiritual, and it does this by being like God, while simultaneously being that which falls infinitely short of Him.
Creation is the letters and language through which God speaks to us. In it and through it, He communicates His love to us.
How is it possible to move with purity from the creation to the Creator? If we remember that we never arrive at comprehension of God through such knowledge, we might at least arrive at an image of such by considering the analogy of learning to count.
We learn to count by numbering things. We see a bunch of trees and with the help of words we are taught, we begin to number. We begin by becoming familiar with the fact that there is a plurality of things (trees, people, goats, pencils) and we begin to number.
At first, we make mistakes in our reckoning, but as we practice, we eventually come to a full knowledge of number. Eventually, the principle by which we count aright comes to be known to us.
When this principle of number is established, we begin to count in a new and authoritative manner.
Such a person no longer needs to use the trees to count, but can begin to consider number in itself. She may forever have recourse to trees, or pencils, or any number of numbered objects, but no longer looks at those objects as the principle of numbering.
This is in fact the manner of all learning. Children do not begin life with a perfect science of number, or with any perfect science. Counting is provoked by the diversity of the creation. It is in the practice of counting, often guided by teachers, that one comes to possess a science of numbers–a knowledge of the principle.
But notice, even the first rudimentary attempts to count, the first distinctions, verbal or pre-verbal, are possible only because we possess some share in the principle of number and differentiation. We are made in the image of God and so can attain to such knowledge, already having the seed and likeness of this power in us.
For this reason, though science of number is not first to any one human being, the principle of number is prior to any act or attempt at numbering, such that we can say that man always and everywhere counts by nothing but number.
We do not count by trees, or sheep, or people (though we may count them), but are provoked to count by the plurality of such beings, even while the true principle of counting remains pure.
So though we arrive at clarity about the principle and knowledge of numbering through an interaction with the world, we come to know the principle itself, and we never could have come to know it unless it were already in some sense guiding the whole educative process.
It is in this manner that we come to know God. We encounter the world in all its distinct and various modes: the natural, cultural, logical, personal, abstract, moral, etc. Each of these aspects of our experience gives us material by which we can come to know God and self.
Yet none of these modes or aspects of existence perfectly reveals God to us, (or reveals us to our selves). They provide analogic clues, signs, images and language, but do so with imperfect clarity. It is by these clues that we gain the tools to read scripture and in reading scripture, by the power of God's Spirit, we come to know the meaning and truth about what we have seen.
We do not know such things perfectly, or as we ought, but we come to know them with increasing clarity through the world and the Scriptures, until the Scriptures begin to correct and perfect our knowledge of them.
Just as we began to count until we came to know the principle of numbering with clarity, so too are we students of the world and do we know the things of the world, albeit imperfectly.
But in our study, guided and informed by Scripture, we can become more and more familiar with the principle and meaning of the world.
This is possible because the Bible presents us with a story about the world and about its Author–an Author who then entered into the world to redeem it by His death and resurrection..
In Scripture, we come to know God, and in knowing Him, in hearing his voice, we hear the same voice that speaks in our hearts, and brought the creation into being by His Word–a Word which continually upholds all things visible and invisible alike.
Therefore, God speaks both by means of his creation and by Scripture, but with particular clarity and power in Scripture. The words by which he speaks in creation are things created, but in Scripture the words he uses are human words which speak about things created and things divine.
Divine things are spoken of by means of created things, that is Scripture uses figurative language or natural concepts and realities to stand for divine. Therefore Scripture speaks both negatively and positively. When we hear God is love, we know something of what is meant, for we have experienced natural love and because the love of God has been poured into our hearts. But simultaneously, God in Himself, that divine nature in itself, is so infinitely far above what we have yet tasted, that Scripture speaks simultaneously in a negative sense–He is like this, and yet utterly beyond this. He is the source and yet distinct. What we shall one day know of Him is over and abundantly more than we can imagine, quite literary.
Previous Previous post: Work or Rest?


Both the varsity and middle school competitive cheer teams travelled to Lawton for their Blue Devil Invitational this weekend and both came away with hardware. The South Haven varsity team placed second in the Invite, while the middle school team placed third. This was their first competition of the season.
team does not compete until December 19 when they travel to Lawrence (with the varsity) for the Tiger Rumble.
Congratulation to the Lady Rams on this great start to their season.


Gorgeous Outfit! Love the Stylish Coulette with beautiful embroidery on shirt. Excellent Customer Service Along with Quick Delivery! Keep it Up Sarosh!
Very nice stitched outfit,as other reviews much nicer in person.Execellent customer service!


text:
Andrew O'Hagan accuses European powers of contravening human decency
More articles Saturday 29 August 2015 11:20am
At his Book Festival event yesterday, author Andrew O'Hagan accused European powers of being "in convention of the most fundamental human decency" by not doing everything possible to save migrants fleeing war and poverty in their home countries. He also revealed that the Ministry of Defence tried to stop him travelling to Afghanistan to research his latest novel.
The Scots writer said that a rising sense of nationalism was getting in the way of an 'absolute obligation' to help the influx of desperate people travelling by boat from Libya and Syria to Europe. He said: "When people get possessive and jingoistic, and over-privileged in their sense of what belongs to them and exclusionary as a result, I think it's a bad day, and there's a bad day happening all over Europe at the moment, when we've watched those people drowning in front of us, I mean literally. And these people are Christians, land-loving Christians, looking into the water and saying 'Ah, f*** you', that's what they're saying. 'We have the means to save you, we have the means to rescue you, but we are in convention of the most fundamental human decency by letting you drown'.
"We are Christians, and you have an absolute obligation to put your hand out to these people, and I'm sorry if it makes us uncomfortable to have an influx of people depending on our facilities and our benefits system, I'm sorry, but that's the world, that's what it's like."
O'Hagan was at the Book Festival to promote his new novel The Illuminations, which follows the twin stories of Anne, an 82-year-old woman with dementia who lives in sheltered accommodation in Saltcoats, Ayrshire, and her grandson Luke, who has served with the Army in Afghanistan.
The writer, who has been critical of British involvement in the war, revealed that when he wrote to the MoD requesting to be embedded with soldiers in Afghanistan his reputation went before him when he was knocked back. "The MoD really didn't want me there," he said. "It was like they opened up a second front trying to stop me from seeing the war. When the person got my friendly request to be installed on the front line, they Googled me, and I got a reply saying 'We're definitely not letting you go because you'll only write negative things about the war'."
O'Hagan said that instead he 'sneaked in' with the relief charity Unicef, with which he has a long-standing relationship, and accompanied soldiers under its auspices. He said that it was absolutely necessary to experience 'the fear' of being there first hand: "It's an absolutely tangible fear, on an afternoon, as you're bumping along a dirt track thinking 'is this next bump going to be the IED'. I don't know how many times I said to myself 'you complete idiot, why couldn't you just make it up? Why are you here, about to lose your leg for a novel?'."
He said, though, that as a serious writer he had to "feel the temperature, see the dust, taste the salt on your lips", adding "there's things that are in the novel that could never have been there, and it's to do with the reality of the danger and the absolute physical nature of their day-to-day experience."
O'Hagan also spoke out out against what he saw as a current culture among literary criticism of 'rubbish or rave', especially when it comes to new authors. He said: "It's either fantastically good and worthy of Tolstoy at his best, or it should be burned. Everyone is so extreme in their view. That wonderful vista in between, where things used to be promising. Remember promising? Nothing ever gets to be promising, a first novel is either Tolstoy or it should be shot. And you think 'that's not fair', what about 'promising', what about 'the next one will probably be better', 'they'll grow, they'll mature', and writers very often do."
O'Hagan, a former film critic, went on to say that he was unhappy with the critical hysteria surrounding Benedict Cumberbatch's performance as Hamlet in Lyndsey Turner's production of Shakespeare's iconic tragedy. He said that critics had been wrong to attend early performances of the production, before it had time to refine itself.
"The celebrity culture has wiped out some of the common decencies when it comes to this. The critics have almost been in competition to take it down, you know? It's a play, it's not a new peace accord at the UN." He added that the scathing reviews had "said more about the critics than they did about the production".
Look, Listen & Read
Andrew O'Hagan (2017 Event)
In this keynote lecture recorded live at the 2017 Edinburgh International Book Festival, the country's foremost essayist and one of our most astute commentators, Andrew O'Hagan, speaks for the first time on the future of Scotland and seeks to define …
Scotland, Your Scotland: Andrew O'Hagan Delivers Keynote Lecture at Book Festival
Wed 16 August 2017
Britain "has mismanaged itself out of existence", says the writer Andrew O'Hagan, and Scotland is now "free to succeed or to fail in its own terms"…
A magnificently intelligent essayist, novelist, critic, and a mesmerising speaker. Andrew O'Hagan talks to Magnus Linklater in this 2008 event about politics, Scotland and his recent collection of reportage on a declining Britain and a rising America, Th…
Why I Call Myself a Feminist (2015 Event)
In this event entitled "a Rally, a Rant, a Story, a Song, a Protest, a Poem", women – and men – take to the mike for five minutes each to tell us why they call themselves feminists. Authors Val McDermid, Christopher Brookmyre, Eli…


A Canadian activist who has cycled over 10,000 kilometres to raise awareness of the human rights crisis in West Papua is scheduled to arrive in Melbourne on 1 December for a concluding solidarity protest/celebration.
Jeremy Bally will be joined by a crew of local solidarity cyclists to celebrate West Papuan Flag Day as well as the 12000 km and 7 countries he has cycled for West Papua.
People are encouraged to join the ride at 11am at Clayton station, or to join in along the Yarra trail at 2pm for a Community rally and bbq at Birrarung Marr for music and speakers.


text:
Feltmann family celebrates 100 years of Modern Auto
Sophie Koritz, Editor-in-Chief|March 18, 2019
Modern Auto celebrates 100 years of business. "It makes me feel proud to be a part of it because so many people know who we are," Joseph Feltmann Jr. said, "and what we have done for the community." Four generations of Feltmanns have worked for Modern Auto.
Sophie Koritz
The year is 1919. Men once in distant battlefields in Europe are slowly returning to a small town along the Missouri River with only a population of 3,000 called Washington. John Feltmann was among one of the World War I soldiers arriving home, and with the knowledge acquired at Sweeney Automobile School in Kansas City, he opened an automobile repair shop called Modern Auto in a barn on Fifth and Elm Street.
The repair shop established in 1919 became a Chevrolet dealership in 1924 and over the past 100 years obtained Buick, GMC and Cadillac franchises, making it the oldest dealership in Washington. Throughout the expansion of Modern Auto, the Feltmann family's presence has been constant and influential.
"I think it all comes down to customer service," Brian Feltmann said. "When you get to a lot of car dealerships, everything centered around the sales department—selling cars is the end all be all. Since my great grandpa started as a service shop, service and customer service has the overall theme of taking care of customers, and I think that goes a long way with people."
Since the acquisition of the Chevrolet dealership in 1924, Modern Auto has sold hundreds of cars.
"We've sold families generation after generation of cars," Joseph Feltmann said. "We've sold their grandfathers, their parents, and now they're here buying cars. I think we try to take care of people as best as we can."
Modern Auto's economic stability throughout its 100-year history has assisted in the development of the community of Washington. In 1919, Modern Auto had only three employees. In 2019, Modern Auto has approximately 50 employees with jobs varying from service technicians to secretaries to salesmen. This expansion has forced Modern Auto to switch locations from Washington's historic downtown to west Hwy 100 in 2004.
"You miss the nostalgia of being down there," Jim Feltmann Jr. said, "but everything was so compartmentalized because it was added onto how many times. Now it's nice to have everything in one big spot."
Modern Auto occupied multiple buildings in downtown. The only one still standing is on the corner of Main and Jefferson streets.
"Everything on one floor makes it a whole lot easier," Joseph Feltmann Jr. said. "The parts department was on three different levels and two different buildings, so we put a few less miles on our legs being here rather than there…Down in the basement, when we were downtown, you had the body shop on one side and the new and used car clean up area on the other side, and then you came upstairs you had the shop and the showroom and parts. Then you went upstairs, and you had more parts and the offices."
Joseph's son Brian and his cousin Matthew began working for Modern Auto when they turned 18, similarly to the Feltmanns that came before them as well as other Washington citizens who have Modern Auto as the first job on their resume.
"Over the years, we've had a lot of employees who have started working for us in high school washing cars, sweeping floors and that, and they have stayed with us for a number of years and moved on. A lot of them have their own businesses now and have raised families," Joseph Feltmann Jr. said. "I think we have helped mold some of these people into some good citizens for the town."
Along with helping teach core values and ethics to the youths that worked there, members of the Feltmann family have had a history of influential effect on the growth of Washington outside of their family business.
"Grandpa John was one of the founding members of what is now the 353 Redevelopment," Jim Feltmann Jr. said. "There was a need to cultivate industry to come to Washington back in the late '40s, early '50s, to help bring industry back to Washington. Washington now has a vital living economy now that we are not all depending on one thing for everyone's livelihood."
John Feltmann's desire to improve the people of Washington's lives was most evident, however, in his work with the Lions Club, which he co-founded, as well as how he raised his children. His children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren have continued his work with the Lions Club and other community service outlets—making community involvement an important aspect of Modern Auto.
For 100 years, Modern Auto has been a cornerstone of the Washington economy and society. The Feltmann family and Modern Auto have watched Washington grow from a population of 3,000 in 1919 to approximately 14,000 in 2019. And though the world around Modern Auto has changed, their commitment to customer service and community involvement has not halted.
"For me, it's just very interesting to be part of a family business where you get the tradition, the history, and for me, it's a very good feeling when somebody knows who you are…" Joseph Feltmann Jr. said. "It makes me feel proud to be a part of it because so many people know who we are and what we have done for the community."
As the third generation of Feltmanns begin to transition leadership and responsibilities to the fourth, the ideals and lessons taught by their fathers, grandfather and great-grandfather will guide these cousins through the challenges and triumphs that come with managing a family business.
"…There's a lot of pride involved with something running that long and having your last name attached to it and you working for it," Matthew Feltmann said. "There's also lots of anticipation. A lot of it comes down to a legacy. Each Feltmann is trying to leave their own legacy and leave their own mark on the business side. I'm excited to get my shot at some point of time."
Sophie Koritz, Editor-in-Chief
This is Sophie's third year on staff for The Advocate. She was previously features editor before becoming Editor-in-Chief with Madilynn Kipp. Sophie covers...
A future firefighter among the flock
Brinker embraces artistic talent
WHS Sixth Man tailgates become a success
Influential 19
Making Music in Advanced Woodworking
Things to do during the fall season
French Club continues escape room tradition
Historic Homecoming
Kicking off the 2019 football season
The student news site of Washington High School


The Lamy Logo Ballpoint Pen is made of stainless steel with limited edition cliff grey finish. It features a metal button and point with a spring mounted steel clip. Its design also features an integrated push mechanism with clip-button unit. The Lamy Joy Ballpoint Pen fills by Lamy ink refill LM16.


text:
Phase 4 Guidelines
Home Resident COVID-19 Phase 4 Guidelines
All Regions of Illinois are currently operating in Phase 5. The information on this page is for your reference.
Phase 4 Information:
The Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity issued Phase 4 guidelines. DCEO also provides information for each sector.
Last updated May 28, 2021.
City of Highland Park Presentations, Q&A, Video/Audio Recordings
June 22, 2020: City Council/Committee of the Whole (COVID-19 Economic Impact Report; Video)
May 26, 2020: City Council/Commitee of the Whole (Coronavirus Economic Impact Report Presentation; Video)
May 22, 2020: Virtual Town Hall for Business (City Report; Q&A; Video)
May 20, 2020: Virtual Town Hall (Video)
Phase 4: What's New?
FAQ: Block Parties & Garage Sales
In Phase 4, Illinoisans may resume activities that were previously limited in scope or not permitted. This includes block parties and garage sales. In keeping with State of Illinois guidance on gatherings, attendance at garage sales is increased to 50 individuals or fewer with health and safety measures in place. Block parties may resume with social distancing guidelines in effect and maximum attendance of 50 individuals.
Please be sure to review the public health guidelines issued by the State of Illinois before hosting these events. As a reminder, both block parties and garage sales require applications to be submitted to the City. Several frequently asked questions regarding block parties and garage sales appear below; if your question is not answered, please email us.
What is the maximum number of individuals permitted to gather in groups?
Gatherings are limited to 50 individuals or fewer, including children.
What health & safety guidelines should be followed when hosting a garage sale?
Limit attendance to no more than 50 individuals.
Avoid placing sale items in indoor spaces, including inside garages.
Discourage visitors from touching items, and sanitize all items that have been touched.
Sanitize high-touch surfaces frequently.
Ensure all visitors wear a face covering.
Consider using touchless payment methods instead of cash.
How can the garage sale application be accessed?
Complete a garage sale application on the City's website. Please note that the Highland Park Police Department must be notified in writing three days prior to the sale date.
What health & safety guidelines should be followed when hosting a block party?
For any event attended by individuals from different households, remind all guests to keep a six-foot distance from others, wear a face covering, and wash/sanitize hands frequently. Block party attendance is limited to 50 individuals or fewer. If food will be served, avoid family-style or buffet service where possible, and encourage families to bring their own water and treats. While the State of Illinois permits buffet-style self-service dining to resume, guidelines for safe buffet/self-service dining are strict. Remind guests not to attend if they feel unwell or have been diagnosed with or exposed to COVID-19.
What information must be submitted as part of a block party application?
The block party application must be completed and returned to the Highland Park Police Department 21 days prior to the block party. Questions may be directed to 847.432.7730. Information required to complete the block party application includes:
Contact information for the designated person-in-charge, who must be at least 21 years of age or older. A phone number that will be manned throughout the party must be provided.
Date, time, and location of block party.
Signatures of at least residents (ages 21 or older) from at least 75% of homes affected by the road closure indicating that they have been invited to or have no objections to the block party.
The application also includes notice of the City of Highland Park's Ordinance Pertaining to Noise.
Is the Fire Department able to visit block parties?
At this time, due to COVID-19 health and safety protocols, the Fire Department is unable to visit block parties. Your kind understanding is appreciated.
The State of Illinois provides more information about the provisions and expansions of Phase 4, and industry-specific guidelines for reopening.
Applications for Temporary Expansion of Outdoor Settings
Below, please find applications to allow temporary outdoor dining and other expanded uses of outdoor space consistent with state public health guidelines within the City of Highland Park. Business owners may submit an application to expand use of outdoor settings adjacent to their businesses, such as adding outdoor dining, seating, displays, merchandise, etc. Fitness businesses may apply to use City-owned outdoor property for outdoor classes. There is no fee for this application or permit.
The City is committed to supporting our local business community. Questions regarding these outdoor expansion applications should be directed to the Office of Business Development, at 847.926.1027.
Temporary Outdoor Expansion for Restaurants, Retailers, Service Businesses and Fitness Businesses
Map of Downtown and Ravinia Outdoor Dining AreasRoad closure & detour map
Temporary Outdoor Expansion for Fitness Classes on City Property
CBRE COVID-19 Resources
CBRE Corporate Real Estate Playbook
National Restaurant Association COVID-19 Opening Guidance
Phase 4 Industry-specific Guidelines
On Tuesday, August 25, Governor JB Pritzker announced a new, statewide face covering requirement for patrons of restaurants and bars, including carryout or drive-thru customers. The new guidelines require patrons to wear face coverings when interacting with all restaurant or bar employees. These measures are effective Wednesday, August 26, 2020, and are aimed at protecting workers and slowing the spread of COVID-19. The new guidelines were developed in consultation with the Illinois Restaurant Association and other hospitality industry partners.
The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity has released an updated toolkit to assist business owners in implementing these new guidelines. Signage announcing this requirement is available for download.
Guidelines for each industry will be updated on the DCEO website as necessary. Find all the Phase 4 guidelines and toolkits here. Guidelines and toolkits are available for the following industries:
Meetings & Social Events
Indoor & Outdoor Recreation
Indoor & Outdoor Dining
Service Counters
Theaters & Performing Arts
Youth & Recreational Sports
Phase 4 Capacity Limits by Sector
Please refer to the Phase 4 guidelines issued by the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity. DCEO also provides information for each sector.
Facility & Supply Resources
Business PPE Supply Resource Guide
Water System Precautions for Idle Facilities
Archived News Updates:
January 26, 2021: Region 9 (Lake and McHenry Counties) has advanced to Tier 1 of resurgence mitigations.
January 20, 2021: The State of Illinois has released updated guidance for Phase 4. Click here to view the updated overview.
January 18, 2021: Region 9 Moves to Tier 2 Mitigations (more information). Click here for detailed information about the tiered mitigations. Click here to view the full FAQ from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.
November 17, 2020: All Regions in Illinois Move to Tier 3 Mitigations Effective November 20, 2020 (IDPH media release)
November 17, 2020: City Limits Gathering Size to 10, Closes Workout Facilities & Dance Studios (Media Release)
October 28, 2020: IDPH Implements COVID-19 Restriction Mitigations for Lake, McHenry Counties Effective 12:01 AM Saturday, October 31, 2020
Aug. 25, 2020: Office of the Governor announced a new, statewide face covering requirement for patrons of restaurants and bars, including carryout or drive-thru customers. The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity has released an updated toolkit to assist business owners in implementing these new guidelines. Signage announcing this requirement is available for download.
Aug. 3, 2020: Office of the Governor launches new campaign to promote face coverings
July 15, 2020: Office of the Governor and IDPH release COVID-19 Mitigation Plan (News Release; Plan)
June 26, 2020: Illinois enters Phase 4: Revitalization (Executive Order)
June 22, 2020: State of Illinois Issues Phase 4 Guidelines for Reopening. An overview of changes from Phase 3 has also been released.


text:
Tallahassee giving big to Jeb Bush
Jeff Burlew, and Yoonserk Pyun
Tallahassee may not be known as GOP territory, but it's giving big to former Gov. Jeb Bush and the super PAC supporting him.
His biggest local donors — including those giving large amounts to the Right to Rise super PAC — are some of the Capital City's most influential movers and shakers.
About $344,000 from Tallahassee and the surrounding area has flowed into Bush's campaign, according to the latest Federal Election Commission reports. And about twice that amount — roughly $681,000 — has gone into the coffers of Right to Rise, which can't coordinate with his campaign but can spend millions on TV ads designed to boost his sagging poll numbers.
The amounts dwarf the cash from Tallahassee that's gone to Bush's GOP rivals or his potential Democratic opponents in the general election, if he makes it that far.
Behind Bush, the candidates getting the most campaign cash from Tallahassee-area donors are former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, with over $68,000; Bush's former protege, Sen. Marco Rubio, with about $35,000; Sen. Bernie Sanders, with about $19,000; Dr. Ben Carson, with about $14,000; and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, with about $7,500.
None of the other candidates have cracked the $5,000 mark, at least from individual area givers. Billionaire Donald Trump, who's dominated the GOP race so far, has gotten a comparative pittance, less than $2,000.
Once the presumed GOP front-runner, Bush, who's struggled to find breakout moments in the debates or the 24-hour news cycle, is in fifth place and single digits in national polling averages. And he's faring no better in early primary states Iowa and New Hampshire.
A big unknown in an already unpredictable election cycle is whether Right to Rise, the biggest of the super PACs with more than $103 million, will be able to move the needle on Bush's candidacy.
"That's the big question," said Richard Skinner, policy analyst for the Sunlight Foundation, a nonpartisan group tracking campaign fundraising and spending. "We don't know. So far it really hasn't."
Six-figure checks to Right to Rise
The Bush campaign, not surprisingly, has raised more money in Florida than any other state, according to FEC reports. And of all the presidential campaign money coming from Florida, Bush has the most.
Of the $24.8 million his campaign has raised, nearly a fifth, some $4.7 million, comes from Florida. Clinton has the next biggest amount, about $4 million; followed by Rubio, with nearly $2.3 million; Carson, with about $844,000; and Cruz, with about $842,000.
Bush himself appeared at a Tallahassee fundraiser for Right to Rise in February, months before his long-assumed candidacy became official.
Ron Sachs, CEO of Sachs Media Group and a longtime Democratic contributor, was among donors who gathered at the Hotel Duval event. Sachs, who cut a $10,000 check to the super PAC, called Bush a "truly tested, vetted leader" who can emerge as the GOP nominee.
"This was just a way to show support early, which I wanted to do," he said. "I wanted to be among those encouraging him to make the run."
Southern Strategy Group, a lobbying firm with longtime ties to Bush, gave $107,000 to Right to Rise, and its principals, including Chris Dudley, chipped in more.
D&D Funding II, a corporation with ties to Tallahassee businessman Christopher Diamantis, donated $100,000 to Right to Rise. Diamantis also is giving personally to Democrats, including U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham of Tallahassee. Super-lobbyist Brian Ballard gave $20,000 to Right to Rise and another $2,700, the maximum individual amount, to the Bush campaign.
Notable local contributors to Clinton include Martha Barnett, former president of the American Bar Association; Mehran Ghazvini, whose family has given to local candidates for years; Don Hinkle, a prominent Tallahassee attorney; and former Mayor John Marks. All gave $2,700 individually. The most well-funded super PAC supporting Clinton, Priorities USA Action, has no Tallahassee-area donations.
'Money isn't everything'
Super PACs have some advantages over the candidate's official campaigns — they can raise unlimited sums, and they can take money from certain sources that can't give directly to campaigns, including corporations and unions.
But they also have drawbacks — they don't get discounted rates for television ads, and they can't pay for campaign staff or overhead.
Viveca Novak, a spokeswoman for the Center for Responsive Politics, which runs the Open Secrets campaign-finance website, said the presidential hopefuls are increasingly relying on both.
"We've seen several candidates drop out because they have not been able to raise sufficient campaign cash to pay their staff, pay their overhead and just pay for many of the basic functions of the campaign," she said. "Super PACs can help in that they can buy ads and do certain things that maybe the campaigns traditionally have done themselves. But you kind of need both these days."
Lance deHaven-Smith, professor of political science at Florida State University, said money can be a decisive factor when one candidate has a much larger bankroll than the others, like Gov. Rick Scott in 2010 and 2014. Running in Florida alone is expensive because of the multitude of media markets.
"If you have a lot of money, you can buy up all the airtime," he said. "However, money isn't everything. In the 1994 gubernatorial election, Jeb Bush outspent Lawton Chiles 2-to-1, but Chiles won — albeit by a very close margin."


LONDON: EDF Energy, the British arm of French giant EDF, will extend the life of four of its UK nuclear power stations by up to seven years, it said today.
The announcement, revealed alongside annual results from its parent firm, comes with EDF yet to make a final investment decision over the construction of a vast new nuclear power plant at Hinkley Point in Somerset, southwest England.
"EDF Energy has announced new scheduled closure dates for four nuclear power stations," it said in a statement.
The four stations comprise Heysham 1 and Heysham 2 in Lancashire, northwest England, Hartlepool in Teeside in the northeast and Torness in East Lothian, Scotland.
Heysham 1 and Hartlepool were due to be decommissioned in 2019 but will continue to operate for another five years until 2024. Power generation at Heysham 2 and Torness will be extended by seven years to 2030.
EDF added it had made the decision to extend operations following "extensive technical and safety reviews of the plants" that it has shared with the industry regulator the Office for Nuclear Regulation.
Together, the four power plants supply electricity to about one quarter of homes in Britain, according to EDF, employing a total of 2,000 permanent staff and 1,000 contractors.
"Our continuing investment, our expertise and the professional relationship we have with the safety regulator means we can safely prolong the operating life of our nuclear power stations," said EDF Energy chief executive Vincent de Rivaz.
"Their excellent output shows that reliability is improving whilst their safety and environmental performance is higher than ever," he added.
EDF added that it hoped to begin building Hinkley Point C - Britain's first new nuclear power plant in decades - "very soon".


I am so excited to finally get to share my new heirloom albums I am offering to clients. Finally! I have wanted to offer these for so long but have gone back and forth for forever over the perfect album. I am not a sales person. Like, not at all. I will forever be all inclusive in my pricing because I always feel like my sessions tell the story of your family and I want you to have every single image! But I also want my clients to have the option to purchase beautiful professional prints and products to perfectly display the images I've created for your family. That's why every client get's an online gallery to purchase prints and canvases and now ALBUMS! Can you tell I'm excited? I mean, ya'll, they are gorgeous. They come in a variety of leathers and linens and are available with these gorgeous cutouts to display one (or 3!) of your favorite images from your session. My press printed albums are flush mounted on ultra thick pages so your images can span across the spread without being split at the spine. They are so pretty! I love having digital files to share with family and friends but in years to come, you probably aren't going to pull out your computer and go through all those files. However, you will pull an album off the shelf and cuddle up with the ones you love and flip through it remembering how little your newborn was or how funny your children were when they were toddlers or how you felt during your labor and delivery and the first time you held your baby. I think these are the perfect way to have a beautiful heirloom of your session to share with your family for years to come. I am completely in love with them. Can you tell? ha! So, have a look for yourself.


text:
NKHIDDENGULAG
About the Camps
Kwan-li-so vs. Kyo-hwa-so
HRNK Reports
UN Commission of Inquiry
Disappeared Persons
HRNK
HRNK Insider
NK Hidden gulag blog
Using Proactive Information Campaigns to Break the North Korean Regime's Information Suppression
By Junsoung "Steve" Kim, HRNK Research Intern
Edited by Rosa Park, HRNK Director of Programs and Editor and Benjamin Fu, HRNK Research Intern
Freedom of information is a universal right. However, to maintain absolutism and the ruling class' vested rights, the Kim family—North Korea's reigning regime—has attempted to completely prevent the acquisition of outside information by its citizens. Kim Jong-un's desire to retain autocracy has made North Korea the most reclusive country in the world. However, the rapid growth of information technology has weakened the North Korean regime's control mechanisms over the communications infrastructure.[1] According to Martyn Williams, author of Digital Trenches: North Korea's Information Counter-Offensive, the regime uses information and communication technology to maintain social and political control. Pyongyang applied information technologies to build a "mosquito net" surveillance system, which blocks outside information from flowing in. For example, North Korea only allows digital communication through the state-run intranet and internet (for a select few elites), media platforms, and software operating systems.[2] Therefore, the North Korean regime uses information technology to maintain an Orwellian society that strictly monitors its own people.[3]
The Arduous Lives of North Korean Fishermen
By Timothy Goo, HRNK Research Intern
As demonstrated by Kim Jong-un's frequent visits to fishing towns and examinations of fish repositories, the regime highly values its fishing industry.[1] This industry plays an essential role in attracting foreign currency and funding the state's nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs.[2] Data from 2017 indicates that mollusks were the third largest export for North Korea.[3] With the passing of resolution 2371 in August 2017, the United Nations (UN) Security Council instituted a series of stricter sanctions that included targeting the North Korean fishing industry. Resolutions 2371, 2375, and 2397 prohibited the procurement of seafood from North Korea, joint ventures between North Korea and other countries without UN approval, and North Korea from selling or transferring fishing rights.[4]
Eroding the Regime's Information Monopoly: Cell Phones in North Korea
By Kathryn Wernke, HRNK Research Intern
The North Korean regime and its control over its population rely heavily on the propagandized version of both the state and the world that it feeds to its people. However, as outside information flows into the country, a shift in the internal climate is providing a unique opportunity for social change. While generally seen as closed off and heavily controlled, North Korea has seen an increasingly available influx of information about the rest of the world.[1] Lately, illegal Chinese cell phones and other technologies smuggled across the border and spread throughout the nation via informal, grey markets have driven this trend. Likewise, the number of officially registered cellular devices in the country has drastically increased. Currently, North Korean mobile networks cover areas with approximately 94% of its population, thus connecting North Koreans in an unprecedented way.[2] Isolation and fear have been key components in the regime's survival, but, as external media becomes more widely available, the Kim family faces a looming threat of an evolving society.[3]
Three Things the U.S. Government Can Do Now to Ruin Kim Jong-un Financially
By Jeune Kim, HRNK Research Intern
On the third anniversary of Otto Warmbier's passing, HRNK hosted a conversation with Warmbier's mother, Cindy Warmbier. Mrs. Warmbier and her husband, Fred, have been actively chasing North Korean financial assets and raising awareness about the Kim regime's human rights abuses. During the conversation, Mrs. Warmbier emphasized the need to sustain pressure on North Korea and expressed her frustration with the U.S. government's inability to properly respond to Pyongyang's transgressions and illegal activities.
HRNK staff members and interns wish to dedicate this program to our colleague Katty Chi. A native of Chile and graduate of the London School of Economics, Katty became a North Korean human rights defender in her early 20s. Katty was chief of international affairs with the North Korea Strategy Center (NKSC) in Seoul from 2010 to 2014 and worked with the Seoul Office of Liberty in North Korea (LiNK) from 2019 to 2020. A remarkable member of our small North Korean human rights community, Katty brought inspiration and good humor to all. Katty passed away in Seoul in May 2020, at the young age of 32. She is survived by her parents and brother living in Chile. With the YPWP series, we endeavor to honor Katty's life and work.
Greg Scarlatoiu
If you have any questions or would like to write for us, contact us at outreach@hrnk.org.
Submit a Blog Post or Ask a Question:
김일성 초상휘장
생활총화
청년동맹위원장과 청소년지도원
2010 World Cup Team
AllSource Analysis
Arduous March
David Hawk
DPRK Sanctions
DPRK Sports
FEMA Conspiracy Theory
Gender Repression
Global Programme On Cybercrime
Gulags
Hidden Gulag
Informal Markets
Jangmadang Generation
Kim Il-sung Badge
Kim Il-sung Cho-sang-hui-jang
Kim Jong-suk
Kim Regime
Kwan Li So
Kwan-li-so
Kyo Hwa So
Kyo-hwa-so
Laogai
May Day Stadium
NK Athletes
North Korean Athletes
North Korean Economy
North Korean Markets
Prison Camps
Prisoner Testimony
PyeongChang Olympics
Red Youth Guard
Saeng-hwal-chong-hwa
Self-criticism
The Game Of Their Lives
Trump Kim Summit
U.S. Treasury Department
Wanna Cry
Youth Alliance Chairman And Youth Instructors
© 2022 Committee for Human Rights in North Korea. All rights reserved.


text:
The Bronx Ink
News and features from New York's greatest borough
Tag Archive | "Brooklyn"
Bronx mom takes cops to civil court for failure to protect her son
Posted on 13 September 2011. Tags: Antony Velez, Bronx, Brooklyn, Residential confidential informant, The Daily News, Towanda Velez
Residential confidential informant, 20 year old Antony Velez, was doing is job when he tipped off two cops to the location of guns and drugs inside a Brooklyn apartment. The agreement was that he would be protected in return. But on that day in 2004, Velez was shot just two hours after giving police the tip. Velez's mother Bronx woman Towanda Velez, according to The Daily News, has decided to sue the two police officers in a civil case, for what she sees as negligent conduct.
Posted in NewswireComments (0)
Top Stories of the Day
Posted on 13 September 2011. Tags: Anthony Velez, Art, Bronx, Bronx Documentary Center, Brooklyn, Brownsville, civil court, informant, Judge Lee Holzman, Melrose, Michael Lippman, Officer Rudolph Hall, police, Sgt. Michael Ruggiero, The Daily News, The State Commission on Judicial Conduct
New gallery to open in the Bronx in memory of slain journalist
Tim Hetherington, photojournalist, was killed while reporting in Libya last April. He dreamed of opening a film and photography gallery space in the Bronx. Soon, reports The Daily News, his dream will be realized. Fellow photojournalist Mike Kamber plans to open the doors to the gallery in tribute to his heroic friend.
Judge Lee Holzman gives advantages to his chief campaign fundraiser
The Daily News reports that Surrogate Judge Holzman allowed his lawyer friend, Michael Lippman, charge fees for work he didn't do on the estates of deceased Bronx residents. The State Commission on Judicial Conduct recommends disciplinary action against Holzman.
Moshe Piller: How a New York Landlord Works the System
Posted on 18 May 2010. Tags: Bronx, Brooklyn, Daniel Fastenberg, Department of Housing, Eta Eckstein, housing, landlord, Moshe Piller, Selamawit Gebrekidan, Sonia Dasgupta
Selam Berhe, Sonia Dasgupta, Dan Fastenberg, The Bronx Ink
Laura Kusisto, Clare O'Connor, Thorsten Schier, The Brooklyn Ink
After 18 months of rehabilitation for a broken hip, all that Eta Eckstein wanted was to go back home to her Brooklyn apartment. The 92-year-old Holocaust survivor had lived at 8750 Bay Parkway for 40 years, but when her son visited her apartment while she was still at the Shore View Rehabilitation Center, he found a red eviction notice on the door.
Her son, Zvi Eckstein, continued to pay her monthly rent, but the landlord, Moshe Piller, evicted the long-time resident, claiming she had vacated the apartment. The building superintendent had told the neighbors she was dead. But according to her son's affidavit, his mother could instead not move back in because the apartment was in such disrepair.
With the help of her family, Eckstein fought the eviction all the way to Housing Court. Piller settled the case after Judge Candy Gonzales warned him: "You're playing with fire."
Along with the right to live in her apartment, Eta Eckstein won the right to reclaim belongings that had been stored in an unlocked basement or scattered on the building's landing. But she also won the right to live with faulty wiring in the living room, a collapsed ceiling in the bathroom, and clogged plumbing, according to her son's affidavit. Victory for Eta Eckstein meant being allowed back into a building that currently has 99 open violations with the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development, or HPD.
Why would anyone fight so hard to get back into 8750 Bay Parkway? Since Piller took over the building in 2005, tenants say that conditions have deteriorated. But five years of decline do not matter as much to a 92-year-old woman as a lifetime of familiarity. "It's been her home for over 40 years," said her grandson, Idan Eckstein.
Like Eta Eckstein, tenants all around the Bronx and Brooklyn live in buildings that have rodents, collapsing ceilings, no heat in the winter and windows that don't open in the summer, and unlocked security doors that allow people in to urinate and do drugs in the stairs. The system makes it almost impossible to demand better.
They are afraid to make trouble because they lack the language skills to make sense of the complaint process or because their work schedule makes it impossible to go to housing court during the day. The city's housing bureaucracy struggles with a system that makes aggressive enforcement difficult. And landlords learn how to fly under the radar, paying fines or making minor repairs rather than making expensive improvements.
Eckstein is hardly an isolated victim, and her landlord, Moshe Piller, is not unique. In fact, there are far worse landlords: Piller does not appear on the Village Voice's list of "10 Worst Landlords," nor do any of his holdings appear on the HPD's list of the 200 worst buildings in New York City. Piller, who occupied a berth on the HPD's 2003 "Major Problem Landlords List," with 7,313 open violations at 29 buildings, now escapes the agency's sanction, and his current violations are down to over 1,700.
In an effort to understand how landlords like Piller work the New York housing system, The Brooklyn Ink and The Bronx Ink spent several months following the same process that many tenants do. Like them, reporters from the two websites talked to the Department of Housing Preservation and Development, the Department of Homeless Services, the Department of Buildings and the district attorney's office. They all provided different versions of the same answer: He hasn't broken the law; there's not much we can do about the condition of housing for many tenants.
Also like many tenants, we went to Piller's office to talk to the landlord himself. We made several trips and finally spoke with his property manager, Mike Ross. Ross said they constantly making improvements to the properties, including beginning renovations in three apartments at 119 East 19th Street in the last month since we began investigating the building for this story.
"We're trying our best," said Ross. "There's always more, more and more work."
When a faucet is leaking or the oven is broken, the first step for tenants is to phone the landlord or superintendent and ask him to come fix it. But if residents wait and remind him and nothing is done, the next step is to complain to the HPD.
Under New York law, a landlord is not fined—even if a violation isn't fixed—unless a tenant or the HPD takes the landlord to housing court. But often tenants cannot take time off work to go to court, according to Legal Aid chief litigator Judith Goldiner, who represents tenants in housing cases. Legal aid can only represent about one in eight tenants who come to complain, due to a lack of resources. For those who go to court unrepresented, the success rate is low.
Numbers don't tell the whole story of what it means to live in a Piller building, but they do tell a compelling part of it. The Piller apartment buildings we identified in Brooklyn have 829 open HPD violations . Of those, 219 are Class C violations, which include lead paint and a lack of child safety bars. The buildings in the Bronx have 995 violations, with 297 Class C violations, the most serious violations.
(To see the violations by building, click here)
Piller's tenants have taken him to court more than 95 times in Brooklyn and the Bronx since 1989. Many of these cases settled, with the landlord agreeing to perform repairs.
Still, the extent of the landlord's holdings, and therefore the number of violations in his buildings, is impossible to determine, even for city officials. New York City keeps records of all the buildings in the city, but not of the individuals who own them. One of the problems that organizations like HPD face in regulating a landlord like Piller is that he registers his holdings under a corporation, not individual, name. He registers most of his holdings under separate corporations. Eckstein's building, 8750 Bay Parkway, for example, is registered as "8750 Bay Parkway L.L.C.," which we confirmed by checking the sign in the lobby.
The Brooklyn Ink identified 14 buildings that Piller owns in Brooklyn and seven in the Bronx. The buildings that are listed under his name were purchased in the early 90s. Most of them are small two- or three-story brick homes in the Borough Park area. They have no violations, and tenants we spoke to generally said he's a good landlord.
But after the early 2000s, Piller stopped registering buildings under his own name. We searched the names of Piller's family and his employees, but nothing came up. The only way to know for sure is to visit the buildings themselves, where the registration on the wall says the name of his company, "MP Management," and his name, Moshe Piller.
After hours of searching city records, old news clippings, and reports by city agencies we found as much as we could about the buildings he might own. Then we went to the boroughs to confirm which buildings are still his, and to find out what it's like for the people who live there.
Life at 119 East 19th from Brooklyn Ink on Vimeo.
From the outside, nothing seems amiss at 119 East 19th Street, in Prospect Park South, Brooklyn. The railing protecting the flowerbeds outside is freshly painted and the building's light brown facade has been redone recently, according to the building's manager, Mike Ross.
Inside the lobby, on white paper with black marker is noted the name of the landlord for the building: "Moshe Piller."
In the stairwell, the smell of urine is overpowering and at the bottom of the stairs, there's a rat hole, just one variety of the vermin—such as bedbugs, cockroaches and mice—that crawl throughout 119 East 19th.
The elevator had been out of order for a month when we visited—not for the first time, according to residents. When we came back two weeks later it was still not working.
The building on 19th Street has 152 open violations as of this week, according to HPD. Of those, 52 are Class C, the most serious violations. This is more than twice the number of violations in any other building in the neighborhood, and three times the majority of buildings in general.
Piller purchased the building for $218,000 in 1995. He currently has over $9,000 in Department of Buildings' fines, mostly for the broken elevator. He charges most tenants between $900 to $1,200 in rent. He pays some of his fines, enough to stay out of trouble with the department.
The first thing that's noticeable when entering Desmond Fontenelle's small one-bedroom apartment 6J is a chair placed awkwardly in the middle of the room, which conceals a gaping hole big enough for a person's foot. "I don't wanna break my neck walking to the bathroom at night," said Fontenelle, a gregarious man in his early 40s, with pale brown eyes and a St. Lucian accent.
In the bathroom, a broken faucet has been dripping water into a bucket for years. The floor is soaked and a towel has been placed over the wet patch where the bath leaks. When Fontenelle showers, it floods the apartment of the neighbor below him, so he tries to bathe as little as possible.
The bedroom windows are barred with a locked metal gate and the smoke detector does not have a battery. The stove has also been out of order for years. "I eat mostly at mother's place these days," said Fontenelle.
But for other problems, such as the disarray in the apartment and rotting food in the refrigerator, Fontenelle also bears responsibility.
Fontenelle has been living at 119 East 19th for 20 years, before Moshe Piller purchased it 15 years ago. He said he has confronted the landlord numerous times about the repairs. In the last week, men have brought paint buckets up to his apartment and the building manager, Ross, has arranged for someone to come fix the broken oven door.
Fontenelle has tried withholding his $900 rent to pressure Piller to fix the apartment, but this has led to numerous court cases and eviction notices in the mail. Piller has taken him to court 16 times in 15 years for late rent payments – although Ross said they only do this once the rent is at least three months overdue. Fontenelle always agrees to pay, but also uses the opportunity to complain to the judge about the lack of repairs in his apartment, according to court documents we read.
Finally, at the beginning of this year he contacted HPD, which gave Piller a month to do some of the repairs. More than a month later, nothing had changed, so Fontenelle took the landlord to housing court.
"He's gonna keep taking you to court until you move out," said Fontenelle. "Then he'll fix up the place a little bit for the next people and jack up the rent.
"I mean the man deserves his money, but he's got to give me some services."
In a phone interview, Ross said that keeping on top of all the repairs in a building with 50 units is a challenge, but that they are constantly working to make conditions better for their tenants. Since we began working on this story, management has renovated two of the units. They've arranged for workers to come and paint Fontenelle's unit and fix the broken stove door.
But the need for repairs is ongoing. Since these problems were fixed, the number of HPD violations in the building went from 148 to 152 this week.
The building has 50 units. Three complaints per unit is standard for buildings around the city, said Ross. But of the buildings in the neighborhood of similar size, most we found had around one-third of the violations in Piller's buildings.
Life at 2860 Grand Concourse from Bronx Ink on Vimeo.
At 2654 Valentine Ave. in the Bronx, men loiter in front of the grilled gate that closes off the front courtyard. The front door of the building gapes open, as if by a strong wind.
Many windows in its upper floor windows are broken and what glass remains is covered with blue-ink graffiti. Rodent feces are visible on the ground floor. On a recent Saturday, a woman sat on the steps leading up to the fourth floor with a syringe beside her, bobbing her head and mumbling, too lost to notice the disdainful look a tenant shot at her as he climbed down the stairs.
Inside the apartments, tenants complain of mold, caving ceilings, crumbling walls, mildew and sinking floors. The building has 164 open HPD violations, of which 44 are hazardous Class C violations. These include rodents, lead wall paint, cascading water from a seventh floor bathroom leak, and lack of heating, among others.
Piller owns 2654 Valentine Ave. and the adjacent 237 E 194th St., registered under Valentine Apartments L.L.C. He owns more buildings under different company names—2860 Grand Concourse and 2874 Grand Concourse, five blocks away, and 2501 Davidson Ave., on the other side of the Grand Concourse. But of all the buildings Piller owns in North Fordham, Valentine Apartments is the most visibly distressed.
William Plasenia and his wife have lived in apartment 4D for the past 13 years. A corner of the ceiling in one bedroom has burst open. The adjacent wall bulges with the weight of water pushing down. The kitchen floor slopes towards toward the center, like an upturned roof pitch. Plasenia says it is sinking. The bathroom ceiling sags and its peeled plaster flails mid air.
Plasenia, who hails from Cuba, speaks little English. He gestured to say that he fears the bathroom ceiling will collapse on his head soon. None of the violations in his apartment, however, show up in HPD files because he doesn't know enough English to understand the system so said he does not file complaints.
At the buildings we visited, many tenants were non-English speakers who were unwilling to open their doors to strangers. In other cases, tenants were confused about the process for filing violations. Many said they simply call 311, which does not keep track of the number of complaints.
How can landlords get away with scores of violations? from Brooklyn Ink on Vimeo.
Even if tenants complain to HPD—Piller's tenants have made thousands of complaints—there is nothing the HPD can do to bar a landlord from owning or renting property out to tenants.
Under HPD's Alternative Enforcement Program, introduced in 2007, the HPD can enforce repairs on buildings it deems "distressed" or "hazardous." Failure to comply could result in a lien being placed against the building. Of the 200 buildings on the most recent list, published on Feb. 15 of this year, none were Piller's.
HPD can also refer buildings on this list to the district attorney for prosecution. The Kings County DA's office could find no record of Moshe Piller in their referral files. The HPD declined to comment on whether they had referred Piller to the prosecutor.
In the meantime, the city continues to send some tenants to buildings we identified as Piller's as part of its housing program for the homeless.
"You know, it's very bittersweet sometimes as we send people into these buildings," said Juanita Fernandez, a housing specialist at The Concourse House Shelter, who sent tenants to 2860 Grand Concourse, a Piller building, as recently as four months ago.
"We have no choice but to move people out after six months," she said. "But yes, some of the places we send them to. I wouldn't want to live there."
In the absence of a clear enforcement mechanism, some tenants have organized to put pressure on Piller to fix the buildings.
In 2006, tenants drove two school buses to Piller's home in Brooklyn and picketed there for a day, according to Xiamara Mejias, 40, who lives in apartment 3B at 2654 Valentine with her husband and three daughters. She's the tenant organizer for the building and has been fighting the landlord for the past 10 years, relaying tenants' grievances to authorities and the mortgage holder.
When they went to Piller's house, his neighbors poked out of their homes to ask what was going on. "We told them your neighbor is a slumlord," Mejias said. "And they started throwing eggs on us. Eggs!"
Since tenants took their paperwork and pictures to the building's mortgage holder, the New York Community Bank, Piller has gotten better at repairing violations, according to Mejias. The open violations listed at the HPD today are half what they were in 2006.
Mejias said her bathroom still leaks and the hair salon beneath her apartment has complained. "This has been broken for a year," she said pointing to her front door, which looks like someone had broken in. What is worse, the front door still doesn't lock.
But Mejias also sometimes makes it impossible for repairs to get done. The piping in her bathroom is so old and rotten that it needs to be replaced. But when the super agreed to repair it, she told him, "I got three daughters who need to bathe every day. You can come in this morning … you can dig whatever, but when I come back home. I have to find a bathroom in there.'"
The hair salon eventually installed a ceiling to remedy the problem, but full repairs were never done.
Other tenants also get in the way of keeping the building in good repair. A week ago, all the hallway walls were painted a fresh round layer of brown yellow but someone has already sprayed graffiti on the fourth floor walls.
"It is like [the tenants] see this disrepair and they add on it," said Mejias.
Moshe Piller was once one of the city's most notorious landlords and has now become one of dozens that the city's agencies just don't have the time or resources to deal with. But though he may have receded from the public gaze in the last few years, for his tenants the problems in his buildings are real and unlikely to go away any time soon.
More shocking is that these problems are common in far too many buildings in Brooklyn and the Bronx. Like Eta Eckstein, many of the city's residents have decided that for reasons of financial necessity and fear they'd rather make due than make trouble. Thanks to the weaknesses in a system that was meant to protect them, a place doesn't have to be comfortable, clean or even safe to call it home.
Posted in Bronx Neighborhoods, Housing, MultimediaComments (1)
VIDEO – Health Care Reform – Bronx and Brooklyn React
Posted on 22 March 2010. Tags: Bronx, Brooklyn, Health Care
by the staff of the Bronx Ink and the Brooklyn Ink
Video by Dan Lieberman and Rania Zabaneh
Text by Matthew Huisman
First came the campaign for healthcare, then a year of debate in Congress. Yet at the end of a nine-hour deliberation and a vote that will send the bill to the president's desk this week, people seem unclear about what the law means to them.
On Monday morning the reaction of hospitals, businesses, politicians and people in the Bronx and Brooklyn was one of confusion. Jennifer Brookland examined the numbers, breaking down people enrolled in Medicaid and what it could mean for the people of the borough. We found that the majority of small businesses won't be adversely effected by the bill, as business leaders greeted it with optimism.
State and local politicians added their own input on the legislation. Brooklyn Republicans were disgruntled, calling the law a slippery slope toward socialized medicine. State Assemblyman Joseph Lentol who represents Fort Greene, Williamsburg and Greenpoint praised the bill. Fellow Democrat Charles Barron, City Council representative of Brownsville and Canarsie as well as parts of East New York and Flatbush, had some harsh words for "blue dog" Democrats who watered down the bill.
The legislation also sent ripples through the Health Care Industry where Brooklyn pharmacists reacted with apprehension and confusion. Nursing homes faced similar confusion about the insurance coverage for seniors and those on Medicaid. One Brooklyn doctor with a 25-year career feared an increase in the number of patients which could mean less one-on-one time between doctors and their patients. At the Montefiore Medical Center, some are concerned funding will be cut for low-patient care. While legal immigrants will enjoy the benefits of the law, undocumented immigrants won't have access, which, many say, runs contrary to the goal of greater access to health care.
One of the lesser known facets of the bill is the revamping of the college loan system. The government would be the direct lender rather than going through private banks.
Posted in Bronx Life, Bronx Neighborhoods, Health, MultimediaComments (0)