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The Importance of a Character's Origin
Where a character comes from may determine their values.
It is not always necessary to explain where a character comes from. Knowing their origin may not help the audience to understand a character.
But for some stories, origins can be vital.
As an example, take a contrast story like In The Heat Of The Night. Police Chief Bill Gillespie lives in the USA's deep south and is a racist bigot. Such are his values, and for the purpose of this story also his internal problem. That he is a racist does not surprise the audience at all. It is completely credible given his origins. He comes from an area where, at the time at least, such bigotry was rife, and when the African American detective Virgil Tibbs turns up, their conflict is utterly plausible.
What we're getting at here is that the values of a character have to be made plausible to the audience, which may be achieved by making the origins of that character explicit. In many stories, where a character comes from has to be fitting to what that character is like. Their origin produces the character's values.
Setting, Origin, and Story World
Are we talking about setting? Well, only to an extent. (more…)
Why It's Important to Understand Cause and Effect When Plotting Your Story
By Lucia Tang.
Lucia is a writer with Reedsy, a marketplace that connects authors with editors, designers, and marketers. In Lucia's spare time, she enjoys drinking coffee and planning her historical fantasy novel.
Whether we're piecing together the timeline for a homicide or puzzling out the intricacies of Newtonian mechanics, cause and effect are crucial to how we make sense of, well, everything. Of course, I say "we" loosely. As writers, most of us won't actually be catching killers or solving the coefficient of fiction. But still, stories are no exception to this rule: without cause and effect, they fall apart.
At the end of the day, writers should have as tight a grasp on causality as any detective or physicist. It doesn't matter if you're working on a doorstopper to rival War and Peace, or a breezy picture book for baby bookworms: you'll need to craft a storyline that makes sense. This makes your readers want to spend time in the world you've created — and ensures they'll leave it feeling enlightened and satisfied.
Of course, you can get there haphazardly, writing juicy scenes as they come to mind and attacking the chaos of your draft with a merciless red pen. But if you want to save time during the editing process, keep cause and effect in mind as you plot. (more…)
Story Structure and Plot Beats
What do we mean when we talk about story structure?
A story is a complex entity comprising many interrelating parts. The author imposes some sort of organising principle onto the material, turning the story into a narrative. The result of this forming or shaping of the material is the story structure.
Certain structural markers are so explicit that the audience is aware of them, such as chapters in novels. Elizabethan plays are typically divided into five acts. A film script is broken down into acts, sequences, and scenes.
The beat is the smallest unit of story, below the scene in the structural hierarchy. It is the space between an action and the reaction it causes within a scene.
– Beat
– Scene
– Sequence
– Act
– Story
A plot event is not part of this traditional hierarchy, being more of a meta-unit somewhere between beat and scene.
Scenes and acts are defined in screenplays, like chapters in novels. But stories have structures that are not usually made obvious or explicit.
There are two different understandings of the term beat.
A scene may be broken down into beats – marked only by the moments when the mood or relationship the scene describes changes. Two characters are having a conversation, character A says something which makes character B react in a different way from what A expected – that's a beat.
The term beat is also sometimes used when marking such changes on a bigger scale, across an entire narrative. Some screenwriters work with so-called beat sheets; in the Beemgee outlining tool, the plot event cards are perfect for creating beat sheets, since each card is designed to stand for one plot event. In a beat sheet, a beat is one unit of plot. If you think of narrative as a chain of events, then each beat is a single link. In one school of thought, a Hollywood movie is ideally constructed of exactly 40 such beats. (more…)
The process of writing is unique to each author.
There is no right or wrong way to write a work of fiction. Perhaps the main thing is to just sit down and get on with it.
Many authors start by writing the beginning of the story and working their way through to the end. This seems intuitive, as it mirrors the way narratives are normally received – from opening to resolution. Furthermore, it allows a development of the material that feels natural, beginning probably with a setting and a character or two and growing in complexity as the story progresses.
But this isn't the only way to get a story written. The author is not the recipient, after all. The author is the creator.
Creative habits seem to differ according to medium. Most screenwriters spend a lot of time working out the intricacies of plot and complexities of character before beginning to actually write the screenplay. Some novelists, on the other hand, seem to require the writing process in order to get to grips with the material. For such authors, the act of working on text is so intimately intertwined with the craft of dramaturgy that the shaping of the story has to be performed simultaneously with the writing of it.
In some cases, a writer might have a fairly clear idea in mind where the story is headed, or already be aware of certain key scenes that ought to be included. In others, the author may not know how the story ends(more…)
Step Outline
The step outline is the scene by scene (step by step) account of what happens in the story.
Like a textual storyboard, the step outline presents the narrative in its entirety – without actually being the narrative. It is a complete report of the story – in the present tense! – that describes every plot event.
The step outline therefore makes one of the most important principles of storytelling very clear, cause and effect.
Apart from the kick-off event and the closing event, every plot event fulfils two functions, at least to an extent:
It is a precondition of events that follow it in the narrative
It is an inevitable consequence of events that have preceded it in the narrative
The step outline should make it easier to understand how the individual events relate to each other in this chain of cause and effect. The step outline may thus be read as the author's construction plan of the narrative.(more…)
Why Is Crime Fiction So Popular?
Detectives and other investigators abound on our TV and cinema screens.
In the western world, crime fiction – mystery, thrillers, suspense, whodunnits, etc. – makes up somewhere between 25 and 40 percent of all fiction book sales. Why is the crime genre so popular?
Crime is fascinating, to be sure, because most of us don't commit it. But the popularity of the genre has little to do with crime per se. It has far more to do with the very essence of how storytelling works.
In this article we will be looking at:
The Whydunnit
The Narrative Principle
Why Some People Don't Like Crime Stories
The Search For Truth, or Gaining Awareness
How Crime Is Like Comedy
Crime fiction exhibits most clearly one of the fundamental rules of storytelling: cause and effect. In crime fiction,(more…)
The Character Action that Pivots the Plot
Action is character.
So the old storytelling adage. What does that mean, exactly?
In this post, we'll consider:
The central or pivotal action – the midpoint
Actions – what the character does
Character and Archetype
More or less explicitly, the main character of a story is likely to have some sort of task to complete. The task is generally the verb to the noun of the goal – rescue the princess, steal the diamond. The character thinks that by achieving the goal, he or she will get what they want, which is typically a state free of a problem the character is posed at the beginning of the story.
The action is what, specifically, the character does in order to achieve the goal (rescue the princess, steal the diamond). In many cases, this action takes place in a central scene. Central not only in importance, but central in the sense of being in the middle.
Let's look at some examples. (more…)
A Character's Convictions and Beliefs, or Intellectual Stance
In storytelling, a character's convictions and beliefs determine his or her choice of actions – at least in his or her conscious mind.
Convictions and beliefs are effectively values put into words. They lead to a rationalised intellectual stance and can be the basis for lifechoices and actions. A set of beliefs or convictions is the articulated version of a character's values or emotional stance.
Consider story's predisposition for cause and effect. If we understand the belief-system or intellectual stance as the effect, the value-set or emotional stance is the cause. Now, it may be nit-picking to make the distinction between felt values and stated beliefs. But then again, it might be quite helpful to see by what line of reasoning a character justifies his or her behaviour.
The effect can be powerful when there is a discrepancy (i.e. conflict) between what the character thinks is the reason for his or her actions and the real reason. When the audience or readers see that the words and thoughts of a character do not match with what that character is actually motivated by, the irony can be a satisfying story experience.
The Want as Beliefs, the Need as Values
A Character's Values or Emotional Stance
A character in a story has values and passions. In short, an emotional stance. It's this bundle of feelings that make the character a character.
By emotional stance we mean a value-set. This is particularly important when one considers that often stories show value-sets in conflict. The protagonist and in particular the protagonist's journey to recognition and change may represent certain values. These will be in direct contrast to the antagonist's values. The theme of the story presents one value-set as preferable over the other.
In many stories, the protagonist starts out with a value-set that is warped or flawed. Their real need is to become aware that their value-set is harmful or negative, probably ultimately selfish, and find a way to gain new values that are more social, cooperative and selfless. For the purpose of such a story, the values are initially expressed in the internal problem and by the end have gone through a change.
Values do not emerge in a vacuum, they are instilled by environment or culture. Stories exhibit cause and effect, and the values of each of the characters are no exception. The audience looks for the causes of a character's emotional stance. By the very nature of emotions and values, their causes can be hard to pinpoint – while at the same time being somewhat obvious. In stories, at least.
Furthermore, values are emotional and therefore exist before they are articulated. A character becomes conscious of a value-set in the form of a system of beliefs. The beliefs are articulated by the character as convictions, and are determined by inner values. In some cases, the stated beliefs may actually be in conflict with the character's deeper values, of which the character may not be entirely aware. Values tend to feel right to the individual, though they may actually be wrong for the larger community or society.
A character's values have to be plausible to the audience, which may be achieved for instance giving the characters appropriate social backgrounds or origins and making these explicit. In many stories, a character's upbringing or their origin is named or described in order to explain their emotional stance.
Alternatively, values may be caused by certain specific events in the history or background of a character, conveyed as backstory in the narrative. A particular circumstance, possibly a trauma, leads the character to feel a certain way about life and the world.
Character Values in Historical Stories
In historical stories the time-setting is particularly challenging in terms of the emotional stance of the characters. Much popular historical fiction may justly be termed anachronistic in that it has characters – especially female protagonists! – exhibiting values and beliefs which do not fit into the time. For example: In the Middle Ages, the advent of humanism had not occurred yet. There had been no Renaissance, no Descartes, no Kant, no French Revolution and no American Constitution. Where is a character in the Middle Ages supposed to get ideas, values and convictions from that today we take for granted? Ideas about inalienable rights such as liberty and equality or concepts such as individualism. People in the past had different values and belief systems from people today, and it is almost impossible to put ourselves in their shoes. Historical fiction that does not at least implicitly deal with this challenging issue is more likely to be clichéd and trivial.
Which does not mean that trivial historical stories can't be wildly entertaining with strong emotional impact. After all, modern stories address the audience of today. It means simply that an author usually has some sort of attitude to the issue.
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Characters vs. People
Stories are about people. Even the ones about robots, or rabbits, or whatever.
If you're thinking about composing a story, you will probably have some characters in mind that will be performing the action of the story. In stories, action and actors (in the sense of someone who does something) are pretty much the same thing looked at from two differing perspectives, as we have noted in our post Plot vs. Character.
The most obvious difference between characters in stories and people in real life is that story characters tend to be driven. Narratives tend to be more compelling when the characters they describe are highly motivated. Rarely in life are our wants, goals, and perceived needs as clear and powerful as for characters in stories. Our real lives tend to drift rather than head in a specific direction; it is often in retrospect that we ascribe direction when we try to understand our lives by putting them into narratives. Historical personages who seem to demonstrate drive and direction (and have perhaps become historical personages because they had these qualities) make for more interesting biographies than people whose motivations were less strong.
Another aspect that sets characters in fiction apart from people in life is that characters tend to fulfil narrative functions in their story. People, on the other hand, live their lives by acting naturally according to the dictates of their personality. A story is a more or less enclosed unity, while an individual's life is part of a greater whole. Only in retrospect do we sometimes overlay a narrative onto the biography of an individual – because we tend to feel happier when we perceive structure or direction in the lives of others or indeed our own. We can extract more meaning out of a life that can be told with structure and direction. In fact, there is no way of recounting a person's biography without making choices concerning structure. If we're honest, even the choice of which events to relate and how to relate them injects a fair amount of fiction into the story of a life, especially when that life is our own as we tell it to others or ourselves.
Many stories focus primarily on one protagonist. In fiction at least, the protagonist is often wiser at the end of the story than at the beginning. The(more…)
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Erich Wichmann-Harbeck (born 27 October 1900, date of death unknown) was a Chilean sailor. He competed in the O-Jolle event at the 1936 Summer Olympics.

References

External links

1900 births
Year of death missing
Chilean male sailors (sport)
Olympic sailors of Chile
Sailors at the 1936 Summer Olympics – O-Jolle
Place of birth missing

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


You wake up on a Tuesday Morning. Bed hair and eyes still slightly out of focus. What you need at that precise moment is an app, that takes your photo, sends it to Google Vision, runs some analytics on your beautiful face to determine your emotional state, stress and fatigue levels, then dispense a calculated amount of caffeine via your IoT connected Coffee Machine, Not got that app? Well, we do!
The Cisco team in Tokyo built this powerful solution to demonstrate the integration of Cisco Webex, Hyperflex and GCP. (Don't expect it on the Cisco GPL anytime soon though).
Pedro and Stuart. Human Barista APIs.
We had a blast at GoogleNEXT! Cisco had a big booth showcasing DEVNET, Cisco Hybrid Cloud Platform, Stealthwatch for GCP along with our super coffee app. I did not get to one session because we were so busy at the booth, which was disappointing and great at the same time, as it does show how relevant we are to this community.
I delivered a session titled "The Story of the Infrastructure Developer and the App Developer" highlighting the emergence of these two distinct roles and how both are very influential in any business. Sequoia recognizes it and so do we.
Cisco DevNet is an organization created for the App and Infrastructure Dev. We show App Devs how they can integrate Cisco solutions into their apps, and we show Infrastructure Devs how to build Hardware and Software stacks upon which, they can deploy those apps, whether it be on-premise, in public cloud or at the edge.


Is Your Copier Being Hunted by Wolves?
Babe's in the wood (pun intended) need to watch out for wolves.
Wolves? Riding Hood? What are you talking about, Dave?
Wolves, like hackers, are smart – that's why they're excellent hunters. They don't go after the strong – they go after the weak and the slow.
Hewlett-Packard created a mini-movie series, starring Christian Slater, about the security perils of unsecured office equipment – your copiers and printers particularly.
The series is call The Wolf. And, unlike the wolf in the song, bad wolves won't be good.
Why should you care? If your copiers and printers are "walking in the woods alone," you could be stalked by a wolf.
Setting aside the metaphor for a moment, if you don't include your copiers and printers in your security strategy then your network could be hacked and your business could lose information, be held for ransom, or suffer whatever harm the hacker chooses to inflict.
There are four ways your copiers and printers can expose your company to a data breach.
Any time confidential documents are left in the print output tray, there's a risk of a data breach. Anyone can walk up, remove the document, and do with it what they will. This could be embarrassing – HR leaving everyone's salary at the copier. It could also be damaging – what if an office visitor grabbed a spreadsheet with personally identifiable information about your customers?
Follow me printing is a great way to ensure prints are released at the device. Watch the video for an overview of how it works.
The hard drive on your copier, if not secured, is a potential goldmine of information for cybercriminals. Copiers cache images of prints, scans, and copies – think criminals would like to get their hands on copies of checks and credit card numbers? Read more in 6 Potential Security Cracks Caused by Your Copier.
If you don't lock down your copier, print jobs can be altered or rerouted as well as access documents on the hard drive. Different attacks could download copies of scanned documents, emails, and user access credentials (like passwords).
Don't treat your network-connected copiers and printers like babes in the wood. Include them in your security plan. Not convinced any real harm could come from cybercriminals hacking into your copiers? Take a peek at the video. You might be surprised at how vulnerable you could be.
For anyone interested, Little Red Riding Hood has been covered by quite a few acts since Sam the Sham & the Pharaohs: The Animals, The Royal Guardsmen, 999, and The Meteors to name a few. And, no, I don't ALWAYS listen to Jimmy Buffett!


62nd Spiritual Function During 13th – 16th April 2019. All are requested to inform all satsangis of the Center as well as to take the necessary feed back to inform Pujya Bhaiyya ji accordingly.
In this regard the following points are to be noted for necessary immediate action and follow up action.
1 Names of Volunteers and Contact MOB nos.
3. The type of services to be carried out i.e. Department of Services as usual in Bhandara Programmes.
Kindly intimate the above information to Satsang Center Organiser as well as all satsangis in your contact.
Further it is requested to intimate the feed back from your center concerned or Satsangis in your contact.This also be an act of service in turn.


Opening up the doors for original, innovative, violent shows to live on basic cable networks, FX's The Shield—which premiered 15 years ago today—helped to change the TV landscape in the first decade of the 21st century. Starring Michael Chiklis as corrupt cop Vic Mackey, the show followed the Los Angeles Police Department's "Strike Team," an anti-gang unit modeled after the real LAPD Rampart Division's CRASH unit. In 2003, it became the first ad-supported cable series to win a Golden Globe for Best Drama Series. Here are some facts about The Shield that are a different kind of cop.
1. THE CO-CREATOR OF LOST THOUGHT THE NETWORK WOULD CHANGE THE PILOT.
2. IT WAS ORIGINALLY TITLED THE FARM, THEN RAMPART.
"The Farm" was the nickname for the fictional Farmington district, where the Strike Team was based. FX thought the title would confuse potential viewers. Rampart was named after the inspiration of the series—the LAPD's Rampart Division, which became embroiled in a scandal when more than 70 police officers were implicated for murder, framing suspects, drug thefts, bank robberies, and planting evidence.
3. THE SUCCESS OF TRAINING DAY SAVED THE SHOW.
FX officially greenlit The Shield on August 30, 2001. But following 9/11, network executives worried that the series might now seem inappropriate, given the political climate. But when Training Day, which came out on October 5, 2001, was met with great reviews and strong box office numbers, everyone involved with The Shield decided to proceed without fear of a backlash for portraying cops in a negative light.
4. ERIC STOLTZ WAS OFFERED THE LEAD.
Eric Stoltz was offered the lead role and—and almost took it.
FX wanted Eric Stoltz to play Vic Mackey. Made him an offer, almost took it. RT @crocdogg: what kind of story do you have about The Shield?
5. FX EXECUTIVES WERE NOT SOLD ON MICHAEL CHIKLIS.
6. CLAUDETTE WYMS WAS ORIGINALLY WRITTEN AS A MAN.
Claudette Wyms was Charles Wyms in the original script. Creator Shawn Ryan changed his mind on the gender of the department captain after talking with CCH Pounder's agent. Pounder asked that Wyms' masculine dialogue not be changed at all.
7. THEY USED SOME GUERILLA FILMMAKING TECHNIQUES.
While shooting the pilot, director Clark Johnson spotted a pack of stray dogs; he grabbed some salami from the craft services table, threw it into the frame, and yelled "Shoot the dog!" as the dogs ran to the food. In a season three episode, Chiklis threw himself into actual East L.A. traffic, with a Steadicam operator following him.
8. DAVID REES SNELL WAS PAID THE SAME AS AN EXTRA.
Snell was a friend of Shawn Ryan's, and agreed to play Detective Ronnie Gardocki for $85 per day (the amount paid to an extra) with the promise that he would get more lines in later episodes. Gardocki ended up in all but six of the series' 89 installments.
9. FAMILY MEMBERS HELPED IN ROUNDING OUT THE CAST.
Ryan's wife, Cathy Cahlin Ryan, portrayed Vic's wife Corrine. Vic and Corrine's oldest daughter was played by Autumn Chiklis, Michael's daughter.
10. RYAN USED SAN FRANCISCO COP STORIES THAT WERE TOO DARK FOR NASH BRIDGES.
Shawn Ryan rode along with San Francisco cops and put together a collection of "dark, twisted" stories he could never use for the Don Johnson-starring CBS series he was employed on. Ryan used them for The Shield, along with the Los Angeles Rampart police scandal plots. Ryan said that, structurally speaking, Nash Bridges and The Shield were "pretty similar."
11. THERE WAS A POSSIBLE NOD TO DRAGNET.
Detective Shane Vendrell (Walton Goggins) had the same badge number as Detective Joe Friday on Dragnet, number 714.
12. GLENN CLOSE BASED MONICA RAWLING ON A COMMANDING OFFICER IN THE NYPD.
13. RYAN HAD THE IDEA FOR SERIES' END FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS.
"I've actually had in my head for a couple of years, the idea of Vic in a suit, in an office somewhere, consigned to Hell," Ryan admitted in a post-mortem interview. "I knew that, but I had no idea how to get there." Ryan also knew he wanted to end the series on the Concrete Blonde song "...Long Time Ago." Vendrell's ultimate fate was decided "around episode three or four" of the final season.
14. THE WRITERS WERE PICKETING WHEN THE SERIES FINALE WAS FILMED.
While The Shield's cast and crew were filming "Family Meeting," the series' finale, the show's writers were picketing in support of the 2007-08 Writers Guild of America strike. "We still finished it the way we set out to, but what was missing was the familial aspect," Chiklis told the Los Angeles Times. "We weren't together to do it, and that was disappointing because we've been such a great team during the entire run of the series." Ryan was able to see his wife's final scene by being the lone member of a one-person picket at the same place where Vic was checking in on Corrine and his kids for the last time.
15. THE LAPD WERE SECRETLY FANS.
"If you asked the LAPD formally even now, they would still have to denounce the show to some degree," Chiklis told The Telegraph in 2009. "But if you ask the rank and file, they love it—they'll tell you it brings to life the ambiguity of the job. Things aren't as cut and dried as people like to think—sometimes things get dodgy."
This post originally appeared in 2016.


Motorola Atrix accessories to become the norm?
Motorola's CEO has promised to bring the Webtop OS, the internal platform activated when the phone is plugged into a large-screen accessory, will be coming to all top-end devices in its range.
The Motorola Atrix has both the laptop and media dock for connection to HDTVs on offer with the handset, and when connected a new OS (called Webtop) pops up on the screen.
This platform offers a desktop-like experience with the phone's home screen in a separate window; essentially, it offers the best of both worlds.
And while it's currently only available on the Motorola Atrix, Motorola CEO Sanjay Jha has confirmed that it will be coming to all of Motorola's high-performance phones in the second half of 2011, according to Engadget.
This means Motorola will have a tidy line in accessories if each one is proprietary to the device - but we think it's more likely a laptop dock will be offered with an interchangeable dock for each new phone.
What's more interesting is Motorola believing that this extra level of functionality - made possible by dual core power - is something the average consumer will come to expect, so let's hope it's a gamble that pays off and brings even more tech toys to our favourite smartphones.


text:
Q: Optional source code generation using Autotools (C/C++)? I have a header file named api.h which contains my library's public functions. I would like the function void func_xxx(); to be declared in api.h only if the user enables it using ./configure --enable-xxx. Is this possible? Ideally I do not want to use #ifdef for this? I know how to implement the --enable-xxx flag in my configure.ac script but I do not know how to add the function declaration to api.h if --enable-xxx is used.
Thanks for your help

A: What you want to achieve is not good practice because, as you mentioned, you would need #ifpreprocessor macros, dragging config.h to the public interface, and hence, having to install it. Config files are not meant to be installed.
I suggest that you do that at runtime, this is suggested practice in books like API design for C++, a very recommende read, by the way:
bool isFuncXXXEnabled();
void funcxxx();

Your code:
if (isFuncXXXEnabled()) {
}
else {
}

In your .cpp file you can disable the body of the function, because `config.h will not be exposed in the public interface.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he's not worried that Moscow will meddle in the upcoming midterm elections because the U.S. will take steps to prevent it. "Whatever they do, we'll counteract it very strongly," the president said.
Top intelligence officials, however, have said that so far, the U.S. has responded weakly to Russia's disinformation campaign to sow discord in America and raise doubts about the integrity of the presidential election.
Trump, who has refrained from pointing a finger at Moscow, acknowledged that Russia interfered in the presidential election, but said it had no impact on the U.S. vote tally. "Certainly there was meddling and probably there was meddling from other countries and maybe other individuals," he said at a news conference with Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven at the White House.
Trump said his administration is conducting a deep study and will have strong suggestions on protecting the midterms and beyond.
Adm. Mike Rogers, the outgoing director of both the U.S. Cyber Command and National Security Agency, said the U.S. response to Russia has not been strong enough to change Moscow's activities.
Rogers told Congress last week that he's taken steps to respond to the threat, but that neither Trump nor Defense Secretary James Mattis has granted him any additional authorities to counter Russian efforts to sow discord in the United States.
In January, the Trump administration was harshly criticized for not imposing new sanctions when a list of 114 Russian politicians and 96 oligarchs was released to comply with a law Congress passed to punish Moscow for interfering in the 2016 U.S. election.
Questioned about why no new sanctions have been issued, National Intelligence Director Dan Coats said Tuesday that they were forthcoming. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin "is going to be announcing those within a week," Coats told members of the Senate Armed Services Committee where he testified about worldwide threats.
Coats said sanctions are expected against at least some of the 13 Russians accused in an indictment of an elaborate plot to disrupt the election. The indictment issued by the U.S. special counsel charged them with running a huge but hidden social media trolling campaign aimed in part at helping Trump win.
The federal indictment represents the most detailed allegations to date of illegal Russian meddling during the campaign that sent Trump to the White House. The criminal charges are also the first against Russians believed to have secretly worked to influence the outcome. Putin said they didn't work on behalf of his government.
Coats suggested that sanctions also could be imposed on additional individuals as well.
Last week, Lt. Gen. Paul Nakasone, the next head of U.S. Cyber Command and the National Security Agency, also has told the Senate committee that nations including China and Russia that launch cyberattacks against the U.S. don't fear retribution and see no reason to change their behavior.
The committee voted during Tuesday's hearing to confirm Nakasone to his new position.
As they did with Nakasone, frustrated committee members peppered Coats with questions about what the U.S. was doing to punish nations that infiltrate government networks, steal data from contractors or try to influence American elections.
Coats agreed that the U.S. must do more to deter attacks. Coats said there were things the administration is doing, but they could only be discussed in a classified session.
Democrats also have criticized Trump for not doing more to punish Russia for its activities during the 2016 election.
"When are we going to expect an actual cyber plan from this administration?" Heinrich asked.


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How Should Advisors Be Charging Now?
The venerable model of charging a percentage of assets under management faces challenges from a variety of contenders, including variations on flat fees, hourly billing, and charging on a percentage of other financial metrics.
This Practice Management article is intended for financial advisors only (registered representatives of broker/dealers or associated persons of Registered Investment Advisors).
For two decades and counting, Savant Capital, in Rockford, Illinois, has charged its clients a percentage of assets under management (AUM).
"We were charging 1% of AUM 20 years ago, and were considered the low-cost, high-value provider," says Brent Brodeski, the firm's chief executive. "Today, we're still charging 1%, but we're doing more to earn our money, and I still think we're the high-value provider."
But the competitive landscape is changing, notes Brodeski, a prominent industry executive. And that change is largely because of the emergence of automated investment services that charge 35 basis points (bps) or less.
"Five years from now, if you're only doing asset allocation, it will certainly be hard to retain good clients. If a robo advisor charges 25 bps for digital service and another 25 bps for a person on the phone, am I worth much more than 50 bps?"
How Advisors Are Changing Compensation
Savant still wants to be able to charge 1% on AUM, he notes, but—as with many firms—"value" has emerged as the key for the traditional fee model's future iteration. "We may end up being the high-cost provider," Brodeski concludes. "I'm OK with that, if it means we remain the highest-value provider."
Indeed, when it comes to pricing, charging clients a percentage of AUM—often around 1%—remains the heavyweight champion of the independent financial advisory world. Yet the venerable model faces challenges from a variety of contenders, including variations on flat fees, hourly billing and charging on a percentage of other financial metrics.
Roughly 59% of independent financial advisors surveyed by Financial Planning magazine in February 2015 charged on a percentage of AUM. That share rose to three-quarters among fee-only registered independent advisors (RIAs)—although another 13% charged fixed fees and 6.5% charged by the hour.
Yet about a quarter of fee-only advisory firms in the survey said they'd changed their fee structure in the past year (as did 20% of all independent firms), and another 13% said they were likely or somewhat likely to alter fees this year. (Nearly 350 advisors were surveyed.)
Over the longer term, the most significant test the popular standard will confront is likely to be from the proliferation of lower-cost, direct-to-consumer robo advisors. But it's not clear that online rivals are at the root of many recent shifts.
When advisors who'd made a change in the past year were asked to explain their reasons, almost a third said they did so to increase profitability; 25% cited changes in operating costs; and almost 21% pointed to competition from other advisors. Less than 15%, by contrast, cited "competition from online advisory platforms." (Advisors could choose multiple answers.)
A slightly larger group of those advisors who expected to make a change this year cited digital competition as a factor, yet other issues—profitability and rival advisors, again, as well as the implementation of a minimum—still took precedence.
Change Needed?
A recent TD Ameritrade Institutional report on pricing trends also confirmed that "downward pressure on the fee levels of independent advisory firms resulting from low-cost offerings is yet to be proven."
Yet even if online competition isn't turning up the heat on client fees, that doesn't mean there aren't good reasons for firms to rethink their pricing model.
As the industry evolves, "pricing models should evolve with it," says Tom Nally, president of TD Ameritrade Institutional. Traditional advisors need to think of themselves more as financial life coaches, and consider charging on total net worth, or by the hour or project. "You want to advise on all things financial, not just assets," Nally argues.
Indeed, the TDAI report concludes that, for many firms, "a pure asset-based pricing model may be limiting control over operating profit margins."
"The AUM-linked fee has got to change and be supplemented with other pricing schemes," argues Dan Inveen, director of research at industry consulting firm FA Insight, and co-author of the report with business partner Eliza De Pardo.
Most firms charging by percentage of AUM add many more services over time, but don't change their pricing structure, Inveen says. What's more, "there's a disconnect between advisory firms' published rates and what they actually charge," he says.
Firms should conduct an annual review of how and why they charge clients, but fewer than one-quarter actually do, Inveen says. Options they should be looking at include retainers, an hourly rate, a minimum or flat fee, and charging on a percentage of total assets under advisement, he says.
"Firms don't have to jettison the AUM model entirely," Inveen says. "They can layer other fees on a percentage of AUM. But if they only charge on AUM, it puts them in a tough position versus robos, who typically offer investment management only, on prices [advisors] will never be able to compete with."
A number of firms are already using other pricing methods. Bason Asset Management, based in Lakewood, Colorado, for example, charges nearly every client a flat $4,500 annual fee.
"I came from a traditional wealth management background, and saw that other than numbers on a spreadsheet, the services provided were usually not related to the size of the client," says James Osborne, the firm's owner. "We were spending the same amount of time on most clients, and it seemed like charging 1% made more for the advisors than it [delivered] to the client."
In explaining his fee structure, Bason's website cites a "falsehood of the financial services industry: that the relative value of an investor's portfolio ought to determine the fees and charges the investor is subject to... [resulting in] unconscionable profit margins. Our services do not vary appreciably between clients with larger or smaller portfolios, so our fee structure reflects this," the site continues. "This fee [$4,500 per year] is based on our costs and reasonable compensation for a professional service provider."
The flat fee has helped differentiate Bason in the Denver market since Osborne founded the firm in 2012, he says. The firm is profitable, has about $73 million in assets under management and a waiting list for clients—who come primarily from referrals and attention generated from Osborne's blog and Twitter feeds, he adds.
Income and Net Worth
In Moline, Illinois, the Planning Center also offers clients an unusual pricing proposition. The fee-only firm's annual retainer is based on a combination of half of the client's net worth up to $2.5 million (0.25% up to $10 million, and 0.10% beyond) and 1% of the client's adjusted gross income. There is also a minimum fee.
Charging on a percentage of AUM "wasn't representing what we believed our value was to the client," says Marty Kurtz, the firm's founder. What's more, the net worth and gross income model, which the firm instituted in 2008, eliminates what Kurtz says are conflicts of interest embedded in the AUM model—when, for instance, a client should be using assets to pay off a mortgage or build an emergency fund.
The firm's net worth/gross income model charges the same whether emergency fund assets are in a bank or in an AUM portfolio, and taking money out of an investment account to pay down debt won't cut the fee, Kurtz explains.
Reaction from clients has been extremely favorable, says Andrew Sivertsen, one of the firms' six principals. "It's slightly changed who we have as clients," he says. "There's more of a commitment because they have to really buy into the value of our services."
The firm's model also attracts younger clients, Kurtz says, and "filters out clients who are not fee averse."
Internally, the pricing model has normalized the firm's revenue stream, adds its chief compliance officer, Eric Kies. He explains that traditional advisors might wind up doing some planning work they won't be adequately compensated for—and then get a spike in income after, say, a 401(k) rollover raises AUM.
"During a working career, an AUM advisor might manage a small portion of the investable assets," Kies says. Instead, with his firm's model, "the revenue stream will be a much more steady curve that more closely aligns with the financial planning work that we do."
Hybrid Options
Other advisors have opted for less drastic breaks with tradition, creating hybrid fee models that incorporate AUM charges as well as other discrete fees.
FPA president Ed Gjertsen II, for instance, uses a hybrid compensation model that includes a flat minimum fee of at least $2,500 as well as a percentage of AUM, says Gjertsen, vice president of Mack Investment Securities, based in Northfield, Illinois. Charging only the latter can too easily lead advisors to give away planning work for free in hopes of gaining more business, he says. Gjertsen's flat fee is based on planning complexity; he also offers clients the option of a $250 hourly fee.
"My impact on a client as a true planner will far outweigh what may be a blip on their portfolio as an asset manager," he says.
At Lincoln Financial Group, planning director Dianna Parker also advocates a separate planning fee based on a client's needs. Some of the IBD's advisors bill a planning fee based on 10–20 basis points of net worth; clients also pay a percentage of AUM. Some advisors also get additional revenue from selling commission-based products.
"We want to work with clients on their entire financial picture," Parker says. "We haven't felt any pressure to change [our fee model]. Our pricing is very reasonable, and account sizes have gotten higher."
Substituting new pricing models for the tried-and-true AUM percentage, however, is easier said than done.
"Clients want to keep it simple," says Marty Bicknell, CEO of Leawood, Kansas, firm Mariner Wealth Advisors, which has more than $10 billion in AUM. Nearly all of Mariner's clients are charged on a percentage of AUM, he says; while they "want to understand what they're paying for, they don't want fees to be unbundled."
Clients are often uncomfortable with the hourly billing and project-based fees they pay for other professional services, adds Steve Rehmus, principal of the Silicon Valley wealth management firm Brownson Rehmus & Foxworth. "It's a constant refrain that we hear," Rehmus says. "The hourly numbers seem high, and projects take longer than expected."
It's also harder for clients to pay separately than to simply have a percentage taken out of their account every month, Gjertsen says. "The AUM model is less painful," he says. "It's like using a credit card. Unbundling fees is a harder sell."
When reassessing what to offer and how to charge clients, advisors must weigh what the competition is doing, the cost of the service and the value of the service based on outcomes, experts say. "Change should be based on how you're helping clients achieve life goals, which has a bigger realm of value than portfolio performance—although more subjective," Inveen says.
For those advisors who do stick with a traditional fee model, a relentless focus on value to the client will be critical, Bicknell says: "There's no question that advisors who want to charge on assets going forward are going to have to articulate and prove their value."
David Canter, executive vice president of practice management and consulting for Fidelity Institutional Wealth Services, agrees. "The non-commoditized elements of advice—that's where the puck is going," he says.
Whatever changes are made to a firm's pricing model and service offerings, a transition plan centered on communication and review meetings with clients (and preparing for their objections) "is key to supporting the implementation," the TDAI report concludes.
Or as Canter puts it: "All fees can be appropriate—as long as they are explained by the advisor and understood by the client."
— Charles Paikert
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text:
Houston Methodist Scholars Home
Results of the Women's Health Study of Accra: Assessment of blood pressure in urban women
Rosemary B. Duda, Min P. Kim, Rudolph Darko, Richard M.K. Adanu, Joseph Seffah, John K. Anarfi, Allan G. Hill
Academic Institute
Lynda K. and David M. Underwood Center for Digestive Disorders
Weill Cornell Medical College
Background: The Women's Health Study of Accra was conducted to determine the burden of illness in a representative sampling of adult urban women. Methods: This community-based survey selected study participants by a 2-stage cluster probability sample stratified by socioeconomic status based on the 2000 Ghanaian census data. It included a comprehensive household survey and medical and laboratory examination for 1328 women. Hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure measurement ≥ 140 mm Hg or a diastolic of ≥ 90 mm Hg. Results: A positive review of systems for hypertension was reported in 309 (23.7%) with only 52.5% using anti-hypertensive medication and only 4.4% had a normal blood pressure. The blood pressure measurement was elevated in 712/1303 (54.6%). Significant risk factors for an elevated blood pressure included age ≥ 50 years (OR = 14.24 [10.74,18.8], p < 0.001); BMI ≥ 30.00 (OR = 2.89 [2.26,3.70], p < 0.001); parity of three or more children (OR = 5.16 [2.90,9.19], p < 0.001); menopause before age 50 years (OR = 5.88 [1.11,31.17], p = 0.037); elevated fasting blood glucose (OR = 3.98 [2.38,6.64], p < 0.001); elevated fasting cholesterol (OR = 1.69 [1.24, 2.30], p = 0.001); no formal education (OR = 2.75 [1.70,4.43], p < 0.001) and first degree family history of hypertension (p < 0.001). There was no association with income level, diet or activity. Significant protective factors include young age, nulliparity, normal BMI, and a lower than normal fasting LDL-cholesterol. Conclusion: The prevalence of presumptive hypertension is greater than anticipated. Public health initiatives to increase awareness of hypertension and to initiate and maintain treatment regimens will serve to improve the health of the women and the urban community.
International Journal of Cardiology
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijcard.2006.05.004
10.1016/j.ijcard.2006.05.004
Dive into the research topics of 'Results of the Women's Health Study of Accra: Assessment of blood pressure in urban women'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.
Women's Health Medicine & Life Sciences 100%
Hypertension Medicine & Life Sciences 61%
Fasting Medicine & Life Sciences 45%
Parity Medicine & Life Sciences 38%
Urban Health Medicine & Life Sciences 25%
Sampling Studies Medicine & Life Sciences 24%
Cost of Illness Medicine & Life Sciences 22%
Duda, R. B., Kim, M. P., Darko, R., Adanu, R. M. K., Seffah, J., Anarfi, J. K., & Hill, A. G. (2007). Results of the Women's Health Study of Accra: Assessment of blood pressure in urban women. International Journal of Cardiology, 117(1), 115-122. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijcard.2006.05.004
Results of the Women's Health Study of Accra : Assessment of blood pressure in urban women. / Duda, Rosemary B.; Kim, Min P.; Darko, Rudolph et al.
In: International Journal of Cardiology, Vol. 117, No. 1, 12.04.2007, p. 115-122.
Duda, RB, Kim, MP, Darko, R, Adanu, RMK, Seffah, J, Anarfi, JK & Hill, AG 2007, 'Results of the Women's Health Study of Accra: Assessment of blood pressure in urban women', International Journal of Cardiology, vol. 117, no. 1, pp. 115-122. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijcard.2006.05.004
Duda RB, Kim MP, Darko R, Adanu RMK, Seffah J, Anarfi JK et al. Results of the Women's Health Study of Accra: Assessment of blood pressure in urban women. International Journal of Cardiology. 2007 Apr 12;117(1):115-122. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijcard.2006.05.004
Duda, Rosemary B. ; Kim, Min P. ; Darko, Rudolph et al. / Results of the Women's Health Study of Accra : Assessment of blood pressure in urban women. In: International Journal of Cardiology. 2007 ; Vol. 117, No. 1. pp. 115-122.
@article{da2f710d29b24d9fb07d1af98d6c5165,
title = "Results of the Women's Health Study of Accra: Assessment of blood pressure in urban women",
abstract = "Background: The Women's Health Study of Accra was conducted to determine the burden of illness in a representative sampling of adult urban women. Methods: This community-based survey selected study participants by a 2-stage cluster probability sample stratified by socioeconomic status based on the 2000 Ghanaian census data. It included a comprehensive household survey and medical and laboratory examination for 1328 women. Hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure measurement ≥ 140 mm Hg or a diastolic of ≥ 90 mm Hg. Results: A positive review of systems for hypertension was reported in 309 (23.7%) with only 52.5% using anti-hypertensive medication and only 4.4% had a normal blood pressure. The blood pressure measurement was elevated in 712/1303 (54.6%). Significant risk factors for an elevated blood pressure included age ≥ 50 years (OR = 14.24 [10.74,18.8], p < 0.001); BMI ≥ 30.00 (OR = 2.89 [2.26,3.70], p < 0.001); parity of three or more children (OR = 5.16 [2.90,9.19], p < 0.001); menopause before age 50 years (OR = 5.88 [1.11,31.17], p = 0.037); elevated fasting blood glucose (OR = 3.98 [2.38,6.64], p < 0.001); elevated fasting cholesterol (OR = 1.69 [1.24, 2.30], p = 0.001); no formal education (OR = 2.75 [1.70,4.43], p < 0.001) and first degree family history of hypertension (p < 0.001). There was no association with income level, diet or activity. Significant protective factors include young age, nulliparity, normal BMI, and a lower than normal fasting LDL-cholesterol. Conclusion: The prevalence of presumptive hypertension is greater than anticipated. Public health initiatives to increase awareness of hypertension and to initiate and maintain treatment regimens will serve to improve the health of the women and the urban community.",
keywords = "Ghana, Hypertension, Obesity, West Africa, Women",
author = "Duda, {Rosemary B.} and Kim, {Min P.} and Rudolph Darko and Adanu, {Richard M.K.} and Joseph Seffah and Anarfi, {John K.} and Hill, {Allan G.}",
doi = "10.1016/j.ijcard.2006.05.004",
journal = "International Journal of Cardiology",
T1 - Results of the Women's Health Study of Accra
T2 - Assessment of blood pressure in urban women
AU - Duda, Rosemary B.
AU - Kim, Min P.
AU - Darko, Rudolph
AU - Adanu, Richard M.K.
AU - Seffah, Joseph
AU - Anarfi, John K.
AU - Hill, Allan G.
N2 - Background: The Women's Health Study of Accra was conducted to determine the burden of illness in a representative sampling of adult urban women. Methods: This community-based survey selected study participants by a 2-stage cluster probability sample stratified by socioeconomic status based on the 2000 Ghanaian census data. It included a comprehensive household survey and medical and laboratory examination for 1328 women. Hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure measurement ≥ 140 mm Hg or a diastolic of ≥ 90 mm Hg. Results: A positive review of systems for hypertension was reported in 309 (23.7%) with only 52.5% using anti-hypertensive medication and only 4.4% had a normal blood pressure. The blood pressure measurement was elevated in 712/1303 (54.6%). Significant risk factors for an elevated blood pressure included age ≥ 50 years (OR = 14.24 [10.74,18.8], p < 0.001); BMI ≥ 30.00 (OR = 2.89 [2.26,3.70], p < 0.001); parity of three or more children (OR = 5.16 [2.90,9.19], p < 0.001); menopause before age 50 years (OR = 5.88 [1.11,31.17], p = 0.037); elevated fasting blood glucose (OR = 3.98 [2.38,6.64], p < 0.001); elevated fasting cholesterol (OR = 1.69 [1.24, 2.30], p = 0.001); no formal education (OR = 2.75 [1.70,4.43], p < 0.001) and first degree family history of hypertension (p < 0.001). There was no association with income level, diet or activity. Significant protective factors include young age, nulliparity, normal BMI, and a lower than normal fasting LDL-cholesterol. Conclusion: The prevalence of presumptive hypertension is greater than anticipated. Public health initiatives to increase awareness of hypertension and to initiate and maintain treatment regimens will serve to improve the health of the women and the urban community.
AB - Background: The Women's Health Study of Accra was conducted to determine the burden of illness in a representative sampling of adult urban women. Methods: This community-based survey selected study participants by a 2-stage cluster probability sample stratified by socioeconomic status based on the 2000 Ghanaian census data. It included a comprehensive household survey and medical and laboratory examination for 1328 women. Hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure measurement ≥ 140 mm Hg or a diastolic of ≥ 90 mm Hg. Results: A positive review of systems for hypertension was reported in 309 (23.7%) with only 52.5% using anti-hypertensive medication and only 4.4% had a normal blood pressure. The blood pressure measurement was elevated in 712/1303 (54.6%). Significant risk factors for an elevated blood pressure included age ≥ 50 years (OR = 14.24 [10.74,18.8], p < 0.001); BMI ≥ 30.00 (OR = 2.89 [2.26,3.70], p < 0.001); parity of three or more children (OR = 5.16 [2.90,9.19], p < 0.001); menopause before age 50 years (OR = 5.88 [1.11,31.17], p = 0.037); elevated fasting blood glucose (OR = 3.98 [2.38,6.64], p < 0.001); elevated fasting cholesterol (OR = 1.69 [1.24, 2.30], p = 0.001); no formal education (OR = 2.75 [1.70,4.43], p < 0.001) and first degree family history of hypertension (p < 0.001). There was no association with income level, diet or activity. Significant protective factors include young age, nulliparity, normal BMI, and a lower than normal fasting LDL-cholesterol. Conclusion: The prevalence of presumptive hypertension is greater than anticipated. Public health initiatives to increase awareness of hypertension and to initiate and maintain treatment regimens will serve to improve the health of the women and the urban community.
KW - Ghana
KW - Obesity
KW - West Africa
KW - Women
U2 - 10.1016/j.ijcard.2006.05.004
DO - 10.1016/j.ijcard.2006.05.004
JO - International Journal of Cardiology
JF - International Journal of Cardiology


This multi-purpose center has two meeting rooms, kitchen facilities, a computer lab with controlled internet access and Wi-Fi and a games area. A small meeting room also serves as a library with a variety of adult and children's books. There is also a small outdoor playground, volleyball net and basketball courts adjacent to the facility.
We're excited to announce that Parks & Recreation has been awarded a one-year grant from the Blount Community Fund, an affiliate fund of East Tennessee Foundation. This grant will support the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center Computer Learning Lab Enhancement program.
We look forward to sharing news and photos of updates to our Computer Learning Lab. This grant will expand opportunities for students at the center with access to online educational programs, as well as accessing supplemental school work. In addition to supporting students, we will be able to offer additional technology assistance to local community members, including seniors.
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This program is available for Kindergarten students through Grade 12 to offer technology, STEM, and seasonal recreational activities. Maryville College Bonner Scholars, Foster Grandparents and faithful volunteers assist children with homework, tutoring, and school-related projects.
Recreational activities for seniors 55 & older including line dancing, games and recreation, sports, health and fitness, a variety of clubs, educational classes and special events.
Summer day camps for Ages 6–12 years. Monday through Friday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Activities include STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics), Literacy program, Computer Lab, swimming, field trips, games, arts & crafts, and more. Cost $35.00 per child per week, $60.00 for 2 children. Breakfast and lunch provided. Pre-registration and payment are required before the start of each camp week.
For more information regarding Center activities and events or rentals please call 983-1954.


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Welfare Reform and Universal Credit
Changes to Housing Benefit from April 2013
Helpful Links to Welfare Reform Websites
All Welfare Reform information is available at www.dwp.gov.uk at a click of a button. There are easy links from the title page to tailored information for customers. Other direct links to information on the key elements of the forthcoming changes are listed below:
As the Welfare Reform Bill progresses through Parliament, you can find notes to set out key elements of policy relating to Universal Credit to provide greater clarity at http://www.dwp.gov.uk/policy/welfare-reform/universal-credit/
For published briefing notes that set out key elements of policy and delivery about Personal Independence Payment look at www.dwp.gov.uk/pip as well as for links to updates on the assessment criteria. A list of frequently asked questions, including some 'myth busters' can also be found at: www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/personal-independence-payment-faqs.pdf
ESA time-limiting
More information on ESA time limit can be found on the DWP website at www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/esa-changes.pdf
From April 2013, a cap will be introduced on the total amount of benefit that working age people can receive. Details can be found at www.dwp.gov.uk/adviser/updates/benefit-cap/
Get Britain Working
For details of the Get Britain Working measures and the Work Programme go to www.dwp.gov.uk/policy/welfare-reform/get-britain-working/#britain
Changes to State Pension age: effect on concessionary benefits
Includes a State Pension age calculator to find out when someone can get their State Pension and also when they can get their free bus pass:
www.dwp.gov.uk/adviser/updates/changes-to-sp-age/
The Citizen's Advice Bureaux also publish information and advice at:
www.adviceguide.org.uk/england.htm
■ DWP information for Universal Credit
■ DWP information for the Benefit Cap
■ DWP information for ESA time limit
■ DWP information for Personal Independence Payment
■ DWP FAQ on the Personal Independence Payment
■ DWP information for Get Britain Working
■ Citizens Advice Bureau
■ DWP website


At 47, Eileen Ryan of the Southside was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, a disease of the heart muscle, that led to congestive heart failure. She was put on medication and began the journey toward an eventual heart transplant…I was referred to Mayo Clinic and to Dr. Daniel Yip. He and the wonderful Mayo Transplant Team took over and began searching for a donor heart…Ryan encourages everyone she meets to consider becoming an organ donor and sings the praises of the Mayo Clinic.


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BBC TVs new series on servicemen and woman who have died while in Iraq and Afghanistan will feature music by artists from the Touch Music label including Oren Ambarchi, Biosphere, Fennesz, Ryoji Ikeda, Jacob Kirkegaard, BJ Nilsen, Rosy Parlane and others. The documentary by director Morgan Matthews - which according to the BBC records every single death over the past 7 years - will air on Saturday 15 November 9pm (GMT) BBC 2.
New York City's Roulette have recently released their television series about new music onto DVD format. This years episodes feature interviews and performances with Marilyn Crispell, Andrew Cyrille, Oliver Lake, Lois V Vierk, Joan La Barbara, Blue Gene Tyranny, Kathleen Supove, Phoebe Legere, Margaret Leng Tan, and David Behrman. You can purchase the films at Roulette's website or you can watch them (along with older episodes) on UbuWeb for free.
Don't forget, The Wire present The Scope at London's South Bank tonight
This Friday night (7 November) The Wire will present The Scope, a free, late-night event as part of Klang (see UK Festivals) programmed by The Wire with performance by a crew of laptop technicians led by John Wall plus an Improv session with Pat Thomas, Mark Sanders and John Coxon bookending a rare screening of The Brothers Quay's In Absentia (which visualises Stockhausen's music), as well as the sounds of Radio Cologne in the lobby.
Come along to The Purcell Room at The South Bank Centre on 7 November at 9.30pm onwards - and it's free. More info here
For the aspiring contemporary musician: London's City Lit are running two courses beginning January 2009: 'New Music - Composition and Performance' will be taught by Phil Wachsmann, violinist and improviser, 16 January to 20 March. The second course 'An introduction to Max/MSP' will run from 15 January through 20 March. For more details or to enrol either check out the attached links or ring the City Lit Music Department on 020 7492 2630
Trensmat Records are to release a series of Hawkwind covers on 7". Tracks covered include Bardo Pond "Lords Of Light" Kinski "Masters Of The Universe" and Mudhoney "Urban Guerilla"
For more info go to: Trensmat Records
On Saturday 1 November the second Sound:space symposium on sound art will take place in South Hill Park, Bracknell, UK. Speakers this year are Jana Winderen, Ray Lee, with Mike Harding of Touch moderating a panel discussion with Tony Myatt, Peter Cusack and Jana Winderen. Along with the talks, a variety of sound works will be installed throughout South Hill Park Mansion including a surround sound piece by Chris Watson and a closing performance by Peter Cusack and Max Eastley inside Eastley's installation.
Jan Jelinek's new label releases a first album, "Ursula Bogner: Recordings 1969 - 1988"
Jan Jelinek's new label Faitiche has just released its first album. The release Recordings 1969 - 1988 is a compilation of work by Ursula Bogner (1946 - 1994) until now an unknown German musician and artist. Bogner developed her interest in avant garde music - apparently an avid follower of the Cologne based Studio für elektronische Musik and Musique Concrète - along with an enthusiasm for synthesiser's for which she built a home studio. Bogner (a pharmacist) was also interested in the work of psychoanalyst and sexuality researcher Wilhem Reich: according to the Faitiche.de website even building an Orgonakkumulator which she kept in the back garden.
Future Sound Of London are to be one of the headlining acts at next year's BLOC weekend (13 to 15 March 2009) in their first live show in ten years. This follows news of the imminent release A Monstrous Psychedelic Bubble Exploding In Your Mind a mix album under the moniker Amorphous Androgynous. Other headliners at the weekend include Jamie Lidell and the Super Ape himself, Lee Scratch Perry.
NOW Orchestra, Vancouver New Music and Western Front are presenting a Sonic Playground workshop on circuit bending
NOW Orchestra, Vancouver New Music and Western Front are presenting a Sonic Playground workshop on circuit bending open to both adults and children. Workshop attendees should bring a cheap battery powered electronic sound toy with them to fiddle with. Admission is free but interested parties should email giorgio@newmusic.org by November 1.
A London listening to the MC5 manager and White Panther Party man.
Former MC5 manager and White Panther Party leader, John Sinclair, will be giving a talk in anticipation of his two new books "Headpress 28: The Gospel According to Unpopular Culture: An Anthology", which Sinclair has edited, and "It's All Good: A John Sinclair Reader" which is a collection of interviews, reviews and other work from the last forty years - set to be released April 2009 by Headpress. Free admission but book in advance by ringing +44(0)207 636 1577. The talk and signing begins at 6:30pm on the 12th November at Waterstone's,
82 Gower Street. London WC1E 6EQ.
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Despite calls from the Prime Minister to keep the coal-powered Liddell Power Station open, AGL has announced it will close the plant and repurpose it with a commitment to clean energy.
Investments will be made in gas, renewables and battery storage as part of the NSW Generation Plan, with AGL confirming it will close the Hunter Valley station in 2022 as planned.
AGL said along with the NSW Government, it is also exploring the feasibility of a pumped hydro project in the Hunter region.
The Federal Government wanted to delay the closure of the plant for at least another five years, but AGL said a replacement electricity generation plan was far more affordable.
AGL chairman Graeme Hunt said the investments reflected the changing needs of the market and improvements in technology.
"This plan demonstrates that old power plants can be replaced with a mixture of new, cleaner technology, while improving reliability and affordability," he said.
An efficiency upgrade will also take place at Bayswater Power Station as part of the plan, which will create more capacity, without using additional fuel.
Malcolm Turnbull said the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) was looking at the plan to ensure there was not an energy shortfall.
"AGL has got a plan which they have produced for the first time which they say will meet that gap. It is being examined by AEMO now and we will look forward to discussions with AEMO," he said.
However, Mr Turnbull fought a hard fight to urge AGL to find a buyer for Liddell to ensure a stable supply of electricity.
Australian Conservation Foundation chief executive Kelly O'Shanassy said the decision was great news.
"We need to listen to AGL here, we need to switch off coal and move to renewables as fast as we can," she said.
Ms O'Shanassy said the Turnbull Government must now drop its obsession with coal and end its delaying tactics on climate change action.
"Keeping Liddell polluting for another five years was nothing more than a poorly informed thought bubble from the Prime Minister.
In September former AGL chairman Jerry Maycock warned the 45-year-old Liddell station was nearing the end of its lifespan and was not at peak reliability.
"While it may be technically possible to extend the life of the power station, the costs of doing so in a way to ensure the plant is even moderately reliable are certain to be substantial," he said.
AGL announced in 2015 that as part of its greenhouse gas policy, its coal-fired power stations including Liddell would close by 2022.
A commitment has been made by AGL to its employees that it will not use forced redundancies when Liddell retires.


Huge double bedroom available from 1st March in beautiful 3 bedroom apartment in Haymarket area.
Me (student, 25) and my flatmate (worker, 26) are looking a like-minded person to complete our lovely flat in central Edinburgh.
The bedroom, the biggest of the house, comes with double bed, desk, huge wardrobe and chest of drawers.
it comprises of a super spacious kitchen and living room, with a 42 inches TV for all your Netflix binging, hallway with shoe wardrobe, a storage cupboard, bathroom with shower-bath, and two other bedrooms.
There is centralised heating which means we can control what temperature we want the house to have.
Anything you could ask for, basically.
It is less than a minute walk from Haymarket, and less than 10 mins walk from P. street, with plenty of shops, supermarkets nearby, and a 24-hour grocery + two bus stops literally in front of the house.
We are 2 clean, responsible but very sociable, both into film-making and music.
Students are welcome, however you'd need to be okay with sharing a third of the council tax.
Feel free to message me with a bit about yourself and what you are looking for in a home.
The rent is £525 and total price is £620, with all bills and Council Tax included. Deposit is £330.
Feel free to message me for any questions or if you're interested.


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Crestwood officials stop short of saying services would be cut if voters reject tax hike
Proposed hike won't be used as threat of cuts in service, Foote says
By BURKE WASSON
If Crestwood residents reject a tax-rate increase proposed for August, aldermen indicated last week they would have to make tough choices, but stopped short of saying services would be cut.
During a May 8 work session, Crestwood aldermen reached a consensus to seek a six-year, 35-cent tax-rate increase to help offset declining revenues and increasing expenses.
As another reason for the proposed tax-rate increase, city officials have also identified three town-hall meetings that took place this year in which residents indicated they would prefer that the city maintain the same level of services that it now offers.
But city officials reported at an April 30 town-hall meeting that "the city may not have enough revenue to cover those expenditures" in 2008.
Because of a 12.6-percent drop in sales-tax revenue from the first quarter of 2007 compared to the first quarter of 2008 along with the city spending $2 million in reserve cash on hand to fund first-quarter expenses, aldermen see a need for a tax-rate increase.
But Ward 4 Alderman John Foote said that just because city officials are asking for a tax-rate increase does not mean they are threatening to cut services if it is not approved. While he acknowledged that city officials would have to "look hard at what we can provide" if the proposal fails, he emphasized that the ballot measure is "not threatening" services.
"When we put this tax forward to the residents, this is not a threat that if we don't get this, we're going to have to cut services," he said. "The previous administration said: 'Well, either give us this money or we're going to cut services.' This is not that kind of a statement. We're merely saying the city has been supported by sales taxes. Every sister city has gone into the sales and retail business. We're in competition for shoppers. And our income is substantially down.
"So we either start putting a little more money into our city or we're going to have to look hard at what we can provide. So, we're not threatening. But we're going to have to put everything under a microscope. I think nothing is going to be sacred," Foote added.
The Board of Aldermen was slated to vote Tuesday night — after the Call went to press — on whether to place that tax-rate increase on the city's Aug. 5 ballot.
If approved, the measure would tax residents an additional 35 cents per $100 of assessed valuation and generate an estimated $1,130,528 per year. Residents already pay a combined 37.4 cents per $100 of assessed valuation through the city's municipal tax and 2006 Proposition S tax. If the 35-cent tax-rate increase is approved, residents would pay a total tax rate of 72.4 cents until 2012, when Prop S expires.
A comparison of tax rates among nearby cities shows that Glendale is 45.5 cents, Rock Hill is 55 cents, Kirkwood is 65.1 cents, Richmond Heights is 69.6 cents and Webster Groves is 80.4 cents. While Sunset Hills' municipal tax rate is 5.4 cents, its residents also have to pay for fire protection through either Mehlville's 55.9-cent rate or Fenton's 62-cent rate.
But while Sunset Hills residents now pay for fire protection through another district, Foote and Mayor Roy Robinson both emphasized last week that Crestwood officials hold the city's emergency services in the highest regard.
"Our Fire Department is one of the reasons why we existed," Foote said. "If we went into the Mehlville district or some other place, we'll lose total control over any increases that go in to support our Fire Department. Our Fire Department is doing an outstanding job. There are many other areas in our city services that are doing outstanding jobs. But some are more important than others. And when it gets right down to it, there are core services that we signed up to provide and we're going to have to provide some of those fringes."
Robinson agreed and said, "The safety of this community, whether it's fire or police, there's nothing more important than that. I love our parks and I love our public works and public services. I love them, too. But when it comes to safety, there's nothing like it. And I don't want to live amongst a bunch of thugs like I've told you before.
"That's what comes in when you don't have adequate police protection. And I don't want people burning up because there was a 20-minute response instead of the two-and-a-half or three-minute response that we get today. I think when you stop and think about how good this safety part of our city is, there's nothing like it. And we'd better ensure that we protect the people in this community because you don't have a community without safety."
Ward 3 Alderman Gregg Roby and Foote said that with continual drops in sales-tax revenue and expected drops in property-tax revenue, they are worried that a 35-cent tax-rate increase still would not be enough to maintain existing city services.
Roby estimated that based on a modified-accrual accounting basis and trends from the first four months of 2008, the city will end the year $917,080 below budget in sales-tax revenues.
With the proposed 35-cent tax increase projected now to bring in just more than $1.1 million per year, Roby is concerned that if sales-tax revenues drop at a steeper rate and if property-tax revenue also falls, that extra revenue from a tax-rate increase would fall short.
Foote agreed, adding that with the pending redevelopment of the Crestwood mall and an uncertain economy, he and city officials are "not able to predict how bad it's going to be."
"Thirty-five cents is $1,130,528 (per year)," Foote said. "I frankly don't think even with that increase we're going to be able to cover what we need to cover. So I have to agree with Gregg Roby that there is going to have to be a very strong look at our costs. Painful as it is, we're really going to have to look at it and come to the reality that until our sales taxes can support us, we're going to have to get by on this $1,130,000 … So I don't think anything's going to be sacred on the budget. It's a question of trying to survive."
"… In 2009, is it going to get better? Is it going to get worse? We don't know. But if you take the same fall that we experienced between 2006 and 2007 and what we seem to be experiencing currently in our fiscal year, by 2009 if we don't get a patch on it of some sort, we're going to be in over our heads … And if we don't give the residents a chance to vote on this, I think we're absolutely going to be betraying them.
"They need to vote on the increase that's put forward. If they elect to move forward with it as we've suggested, that's their prerogative. They may do so. If they don't think our reasons are strong enough, they may reject it. That's all right. But for this board not to move forward and give the residents a vote, that's wrong."
BURKE WASSON
Farwig moving out of Green Park, resigning as Ward 2 alderman


In a collaboration, the galleries BodhiBerlin and Volker Diehl present the monographic exhibition "Shilpa Gupta: BlindStars StarsBlind". In this video Volker Diehl talks about Shilpa Gupta and the solo show at his gallery, his second exhibition space in Berlin and his newly opened branch in Moscow. Galerie Volker Diehl has recently moved into a new 400 m2 venue on Lindenstrasse in Berlin-Kreuzberg. The former space on Zimmerstrasse in Berlin's art district Mitte was rededicated to show now young, emerging artists and guest-curated shows under the label "Diehl Projects". Volker Diehl Gallery Berlin. Opening reception, June 13, 2008.


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Singapore's climate change plan needs more ambition
The island nation is looking to update its climate pledge under the Paris Agreement. A bold pledge is necessary to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Maegan Liew, Asean Today
Each person in Singapore produces more greenhouse gas emissions than their counterpart in Indonesia, China or the United Kingdom. The city-state may be responsible for just 0.11% of total global emissions, but Singapore ranks 27th out of 142 countries in terms of per capita emissions.
At the annual United Nations (UN) climate conference in Madrid last December, or COP25, Singapore's Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Masagos Zulkifli announced that an update to the Republic's low emissions strategy was imminent.
Under the terms of the Paris Agreement, signed in 2015, nations have to update their climate pledges every five years, to align climate action plans with the latest scientific and technological developments. Nations will update plans 9 to 12 months before 2020's climate change conference in Scotland—or in the first quarter of this year.
IN - Indiana Mulls Law Aiming to Give Up State's Ownership of Large Swaths of Lake Michigan Shoreline
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USVI - FEMA has approved over $2 billion in Public Assistance funds for the US Virgin Islands
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A row of destroyed oceanfront homes on Topsail Island on Sept. 7, 1996 after Hurricane Fran roared through the area. ROBERT WILLETT NEWS & OBSERVER FILE PHOTO
NC - Federal disaster relief is being wasted on NC beaches
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A great way to carry around a small gun or weapon is to fasten it to a holster. Holsters can be worn under the arm, or even strung on belts. The general material that is used in the making of holsters is leather. However, you will find many variants in the market today. It is even possible to string a holster on a saddle, in a vehicle making it an extremely useful accessory.
Evidently, one can identify the perfect holster by the weapon in use. Small guns or knives need only to be clasped and sealed to make it convenient for carrying around. Larger guns and knives need holsters to be more secure and hence will have more support. It acts as a safety net and secures the weapon in place making it less likely for injury through accidental movement. Blades and Triggers have a spectacular collection of holsters available online.