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My Father, Christo Wiese, On What Defines Happiness, What Doesn't Matter & What Keeps Him Grounded
A few years ago (OK, if I were to give away my age and be brutally honest, I would confess it was about 14 years ago), I found myself working as a naive, annoyingly enthusiastic intern at Marie Claire magazine in South Africa (think Anne Hathaway in The Devil Wears Prada. Pre-makeover). This internship took place during my three-month summer break from my last year of studying journalism in London.
I was about 20 years old at the time and ended up getting my 'big break' in the world of glossy magazines, in a very similar way to how I ended up on a film set with Colin Farrell. I had nothing to lose, took a wild, impulsive chance and "fortune favoured the brave". I simply picked up the phone one day, called Cosmopolitan magazine and told them I was a journalism student looking for an internship. The lady who answered the phone said they didn't have any vacancies for me but she knew that Marie Claire happened to be looking for extra help. The rest, as they say, is history.
As time progressed during my stint at Marie Claire, then deputy editor Kate Wilson and editor Suzy Brokensha gave me increasing responsibility. I eventually suggested we interview my father for the "What I've Learned" section which, at the time, was published every month on the very last page of the magazine. The team had mostly interviewed celebrities, artists and people in the creative world for this section, but I felt my dad would be the perfect interview subject for this particular page (even though his most "creative invention" to date has probably been the Panado box he keeps in his car for spare change to give to car guards. He simply cannot recommend this nifty little trick highly or frequently enough to any passengers who happen to catch a ride in his car).
My father had been interviewed countless times before, but with an always-similar line of questioning: what are the keys to success and serious wealth? Today, over a decade later, this question has become: "how did a barefoot boy from Upington (a small arid town in South Africa) manage to get onto Forbes magazine's global rich list, in one generation?"
The Marie Claire interview (which was, as the name of the page suggested, about "what life had taught" him) turned out to be a huge hit – at least insofar as I was aware. He was inundated with calls from friends and relatives, who had found his comment about "the secret to a successful marriage" particularly entertaining. I will repeat it hereunder, as it's just too good to leave out.
This past week, over the course of some deep conversations, my father's illuminating philosophies on life, loss and everything in between, once again struck a cord with me. As much as the world sees my dad as one of the big bosses of South African business, I feel his greatest wealth lies in the sum of his experiences, the priceless life lessons he has taken from them and his discerning outlook on the world. Perhaps this is why I always turn to him first when life throws me lemons.
Remembering the Marie Claire interview we did so many years ago, I decided it was time for a refresher course; an updated "What I've Learned". This piece is, at the heart of it, really just for me (a type of "dear diary"entry, if you will). However, I nevertheless wanted to publish it here on my blog, with the simple intention of sharing some of my dad's personal life hacks, just in case some of them might strike a cord with you too.
So, here they are:
What gives life meaning is the love of family and friends, and one's love for that which is yours, like your country and your people.
What keeps me down-to-earth is my family (I have three very strong-willed children) and my very cheeky dog, Kimbey, who treats me like her personal servant – I have to carry her wherever she goes and, 90 per cent of the time, she ignores me when I call her.
The most impressive people are those that are not overwhelmed by their perceived success and therefore do not become a legend in their own minds.
I combat stress by regularly having fun with my friends over lunch at my favourite Capetonian restaurant, Magica Roma, and playing matches to determine who has the privilege of paying the bill. I used to play under the name "Champ" and now play under the name "Prince". Let's just say, we all have our noms de guerre.
It's frustrating when things go wrong that can so easily be put right and those in positions of power lack the courage or political will to do so.
Growing up in Upington is something I am very grateful for because of the life lessons I learned in a beautiful but harsh part of the world, one of them being that life is not always a bed of roses and sometimes you just have to get on with it.
How you treat people says a lot about who you are and will determine, in most instances, how they treat you.
It's OK to make mistakes, to fail and to try again.
My mother taught me that one should not concern yourself with things you can do nothing about. Rather focus on those things you can do something about and then go ahead and do something.
My father taught me to treat people from all ranks, creeds and races, equally. He got on with everyone.
The three biggest lessons I wish to impart to my children are: be your own person, never allow others to determine your horizons and accept that "life is a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get" (as the movie character, Forrest Gump, so eloquently put it).
Happiness is achieved when you consider all your blessings.
The secret to a successful marriage is, inter alia, learning what your spouse's air conditioning preferences are, prior to tying the knot.
The hardest lesson I have had to learn is that there are circumstances in life which are simply beyond our power to change.
The measure of a successful life is when you leave the world a better place than you found it.
I try not to fall into the trap of focusing on the negatives.
Age makes you realise that patience is a great virtue.
I thank my lucky stars that I grew up in a loving and nurturing home, and that I in turn am the father of a happy family.
My children have taught me that there is something like limitless love.
Dogs are undoubtedly man's best friend (it's a cliché for a reason).
My wife has taught me that I am allowed to decide the big issues (like what the gold price should be and whether America should go to war in Iraq) but all other decisions will be made by her.
All of us should try to give more than we take. And all of us can do that.
What helps me most during turbulent times is my belief in a higher authority whose guiding hand determines our way through life.
I look up to so many people that it's impossible to name them all. The qualities I admire most in others include compassion, humour and having a sense of direction.
It doesn't matter if your dreams don't all come true. What does matter is that you do have dreams.
Our little gang at my father's festive yet informal 75th birthday party at our family's wine estate, Lourensford. Clockwise from left: my sister Bella, myself, my father, my brother Jacob, my beautiful mother Caro, my sister-in-law Ty and my husband Marco (aka Planet).
PS thank you, Jani B, for the beautiful photographs of my dad's 75th birthday "boerefees" used throughout this post.
This interview, translated into Afrikaans, was re-published with permission by Huisgenoot.com.
Author Clare Wiese-WentzelPosted on March 16, 2017 Categories Interviews, My WorldTags Christo Wiese, Inspiration, Life, Philosophy, Truths, Wisdom2 Comments on My Father, Christo Wiese, On What Defines Happiness, What Doesn't Matter & What Keeps Him Grounded
Jo-Ann Strauss on Finding Balance, Handling Self-doubt & Flirting with George Clooney
Jo-Ann Strauss is one of those girls it would be easy enough to hate. Not only is this former beauty queen and university graduate a self-made media mogul and one of South Africa's most iconic faces, but she is also married to an almost uncomfortably attractive surgeon (her very own McDreamy) with two gorgeous toddlers filling their home in one of the most beautiful cities in the world, Cape Town. Oh, and I forgot to mention, she's had personal interactions with the likes of George Clooney and Nelson Mandela – yep, that should do it.
However, as someone who has known Jo for a few years now and seen her go from strength to strength without ever losing sight of what really matters, I can see why she is (on the contrary) adored by so many: both those that know her on a personal level and the South African public, at large.
She exudes that rare and delicate combination of aspirational glamour and down-to-earth authenticity that simply makes her, well, impossible to hate. Instead, she can't help but inspire. It's for that very reason that I asked Jo to share some of her personal stories with us, right here on The Global Critic. Of course, being the supportive friend that she is, she graciously obliged (whilst being out of town for work on a super tight schedule).
Despite her insanely busy life, Jo-Ann always makes time to pause and celebrate life's special moments: this was taken at her birthday lunch in 2015 at the fabulous Grand Beach Cafe in Cape Town.
Jo-Ann, you stepped into the spotlight in 2000 when you were crowned Miss South Africa. Many beauty queens are one-hit-wonders and disappear from the scene after their reign, yet you have steadily maintained your position in the spotlight. Was this always the plan?
I never planned on staying in the spotlight, so this was not quite a focus for me. Before I had entered Miss SA, my long-term goal was to work in the media industry, so I knew that the pageant would be a good move strategically and I leveraged my contacts and networks accordingly.
I had initially planned to become the MD of a huge media company. Now, when I look at how things have turned out, I enjoy the flexibility that being a media entrepreneur affords me, as I have time to travel and spend time with my family.
What was the first step you took towards fulfilling your dreams of working in the media?
After my reign as Miss South Africa, my immediate priority was finishing my Bachelor of Commerce degree at Stellenbosch University and so that's what I did. My career in media actually started during this period. When I wasn't in class, I was television presenting, while other students had jobs as waiters and waitresses.
What was your very first job in television and how did you land it?
My first job in television was for the SABC lifestyle show, Pasella. I started working on 1 April 2001 and thought it was quite an apt date (being April Fool's Day) as they had me in a ballgown and stilettos, prancing about in the Cango Caves in Oudtshoorn. But, like everyone else, I first had to audition.
Were you nervous as a newbie television presenter or did it come rather naturally?
I had been exposed to some television work through Miss SA, so I was ok, but not quite a natural.
From there, how did your career evolve to where it is today?
After my time at Pasella, I started presenting for Top Billing and ZDF, Germany's largest television channel. From there, my reach into the media world steadily expanded: I started my own television production company, became an ambassador for large international brands like Lux and Samsung and launched an online presenter search (www.socialstar.me), which quickly morphed into a huge social media competition and has been running for three years now. Through this, I have helped many youngsters break into the media world, including Mishka Patel who has presented for Pasella. I am currently producing a new reality series, to be unveiled soon.
Everyone has dreams. What do you think differentiates those who have dreams from those who go out and make them reality?
I live by a mantra, "if it's to be, it's up to me." I think some people wait on others to fulfil their dreams. That way, their dreams remain dreams.
It would be easy for the public to look at your life and assume you have it all: a gorgeous husband, two healthy kids and a dynamic career. What makes you human and what do you struggle with from time to time?
I am constantly struggling to juggle everything and am so grateful for my husband being a supportive man … and a damn good-looking one at that;) When I have moments of self-doubt, which I do, he pours me a big glass of red wine and tells me to put on my big-girl panties! Overall, however, I do feel super blessed and say thank you every day.
What are your moments about self-doubt about?
I had a major impostor-complex as Miss SA, as I never felt I was the prettiest girl in the competition. I experienced some hurtful media scrutiny from radio DJ's who said some nasty things about me, when I was still 19 and wearing the sash. But, I soon adopted the attitude that I simply couldn't let others' perceptions of me detract from my own truth and living my life. I am older and more confident now, but I definitely still have my moments.
Who have you most enjoyed meeting during your career as a media personality?
I was honored to have met Nelson Mandela a few times; his humility made a lasting impression.
Name some other celebrities you have had the opportunity of meeting.
George Clooney, Bono, Kim Kardashian, Elton John, Heidi Klum … there have been quite a few, so it's impossible to list them. An "occupational hazard," I guess;)
Which celebrity surprised you the most and why?
George Clooney was hilarious and so kind. He threw in some unexpected answers to my questions, containing the odd sexual innuendo, which made me blush. But, luckily, I managed to hold it together and make him blush in return with a few witty retorts.
What is Kim Kardashian like in person?
I met Kim at a fashion gala in Monaco. She was initially quite aloof, but after she realised we were seated at the same table, she became curious and a bit more chatty.
She was actually quite sweet, but I understand why she is so stand-offish.
Thousands of people were staring at her every move and her huge engagement ring. This was just after she became engaged to Kris Humphries.
What is the craziest interview question you have ever been asked?
I was asked which celebrity I'd want to sleep with.
And…what was your answer? You can't leave us hanging!
I said Angelina Jolie. I figured I might as well make the interviewer's jaw drop too;)!
If you could interview one person (dead or alive) who would it be and what would you ask them?
I'd interview Reeva Steenkamp and ask her what happened that fateful night.
What has been your favourite fashion moment of all time?
My wedding dresses. I had asked my friend and one of my favourite local designers, Gideon, to design them and he created three incredible dresses that perfectly reflected my personality.
Who is your fashion icon and why?
Jessica Alba. She understands subtlety and effortless style.
What are your best spots in Cape Town?
for the best coffee: our Tamboerskloof neighbourhood hangout, the Blue Café;
for a weekend breakfast with the family: the Camps Bay Retreat or The Roundhouse;
for a casual lunch with girlfriends: Beluga or Willoughby's;
for a fancy date night: the the Camps Bay Retreat;
for a relaxing spa treatment: the nineteenth-floor spa in the Westin Cape Town Hotel. The views from there are epic.
Which beauty products can you not live without?
I love everything from La Mer. Their Renewal Oil is amazing. I also love The Mist and, of course, their iconic Crème De La Mer.
Finish these sentences:
I never leave home without my Samsung Galaxy S7 smartphone. It takes the best pictures.
I would hate to be in a closed room with a praying mantis. I'm terrified of them!
My favourite book of all time is The Winner Stands Alone by Paulo Coelho.
My favourite movie of all time is Zoolander.
Is there a down-side to fame in South Africa?
I think maybe the fact that it's not as financially rewarding as in the States, but on the flip-side, it's also not as intrusive as elsewhere and you can still live a "normal" life.
You recently started a blog about the challenges of being a mother in modern times.
I started my blog, Modern Mommy, in 2014 and try to spend as much time as I can on it, but it's hard to focus fully on it as I have a few other businesses and a family that require my attention. I would however like to use my blog as a tool to empower "mompreneurs" and share useful tips with other mothers. I have been encouraged by the response the blog has received thus far.
What is the biggest challenge facing modern mommies today and how do you handle being a mom, a businesswoman, a friend and a wife?
The challenge is the guilt. You feel guilty when working too much and being away from home. When you're at home with the family, you feel guilty for not working. Even now, as I am sitting, typing these answers (at 05h35), I am trying to make sure that the tapping of the computer keys doesn't wake up my baby.
There are simply not enough hours in the day, so I work when I can, often sacrifice my beauty sleep and rely heavily on concealer and eye drops!
What is the most valuable lesson you've learned from your mother?
Don't take yourself too seriously.
If you could teach your kids one indispensable lesson about life, what would it be?
What are your rules for living a well-rounded, happy life?
There are no rules, but I try to make a conscious decision every day to focus on that which makes me and those important to me, happy. You can't please everyone, so it's pointless trying.
Like The Global Critic on Facebook or follow me on Instagram @clarewiesewentzel to stay up to date with my latest posts.
Author Clare Wiese-WentzelPosted on March 2, 2017 Categories InterviewsTags Celebrity, Entrepreneur, Jo-ann Strauss, Media, Presenter, South African, TelevisionLeave a comment on Jo-Ann Strauss on Finding Balance, Handling Self-doubt & Flirting with George Clooney
Makeup Maestro Reneé De Wit Reveals Her Best-Kept Beauty Secrets
Meet Reneé De Wit, makeup artist extraordinaire. I first came into contact with this insanely talented creature when she painted my face for my 21st birthday party. Since then, I have come to rely on Reneé for many more of those momentous occasions when faces had to be painted, perfectly.
It's no wonder then that she holds a very special place in my Little Black Book but also in my heart. Believe me, I wouldn't have let just anyone do my makeup on my wedding day. This self-proclaimed Bridezilla certainly held no prisoners (I still don't know how she put up with me, one makeup trial after the next, but I wouldn't be surprised if some mild tranquillisers were involved).
As gorgeous as she is talented (a double threat for sure), Renee's portfolio is both vast and impressive. Her work has been featured in several leading international magazines (including Vogue and Marie Claire UK) and she has beautified the cover girls of over 30 print publications (including Cosmopolitan and Sports Illustrated). Last but not least, her magic hands have transformed the faces of serious celebrities like Petra Nemcova, Steffi Graff, Julie Walters and Bonang Matheba, to name a few.
Makeup by RDW
Here, Reneé divulges (super generously, I might add), some of the beauty industry's best-kept secrets, her personal must-have makeup products and some really nifty tricks of the trade.
What led you to becoming a professional makeup artist?
As a child i was the youngest of four daughters and and I grew up doing my sisters' makeup for parties and matric dances. My natural love of makeup artistry eventually developed into a career and, by the age of 21, I was spending half of my time in London and the other half in Cape Town, working on fashion editorials and catalogues.
Makeup by Renee De Wit
Tell us about your big break?
I was 19 years old and working as a fashion assistant to the late Sue Ferrier, then fashion director of Elle magazine in South Africa. Sue encouraged me to follow my dreams and gave me the opportunity to do makeup on an Elle fashion editorial.
Who has been your makeup mentor?
I was mentored by Algria Ferreira, widely regarded as the doyenne of the South African makeup world. I first met Algria when, at age 16, I was booked as a model on a knitwear shoot. That day, Algria's makeup made me feel more beautiful than I had ever felt! I realised then the effect that makeup can have on a woman's confidence and my love affair with makeup grew even stronger. I am so grateful for my years in the modelling world, where I got to learn the tricks of the trade first-hand, from the best in the business.
What is your signature skill as a makeup artist?
I do a killer smokey eye. My favourite eyeshadow palette right now is Bobbi Brown's Bobbi's Cools Eye Shadow Palette (limited edition).
Makeup by Renee De Wit (note the smokey eye perfection)
What is your favourite mascara?
Sensai 38 Degrees and MAC Extended Play Lash.
What is the best trick for keeping makeup on all day?
Before applying makeup, I always prime my skin with a good moisturiser (by Bioderma or Skinceuticals) containing sunblock. This prevents makeup being absorbed by dehydrated skin.
I finish with a light dusting of pressed or loose powder on my t-zone and a fixing spray like Bobbi Brown's Face Mist.
What is the most universally flattering eye pencil for green/blue eyes?
Teddy Eye Kohl liner by MAC.
What is the most universally flattering eye pencil for brown eyes?
Either a dark grey colour like Industry Powerpoint Eye Pencil by MAC or a deep navy like Blooz Eye Kohl liner, also by MAC.
What are your favourite makeup brands of all time?
Bobbi Brown, Charlotte Tilbury, NARS and Giorgio Armani Beauty.
A selection of best-selling products by Charlotte Tilbury. The stuff that makeup dreams are made of.
What is the quickest way to make a tired face look fresh?
Invest in a good under-eye colour corrector and concealer (try Bobbi Brown or Sensai).
What are the best lip colours for fair, medium and olive skin tones?
For fair skin tones | The iconic Charlotte Tilbury's Lip Cheat Pillow Talk lip pencil and Penelope Pink lipstick are two of my favourites;
For medium skin tones | Viva Vlam 5 by MAC; and
For olive skin tones | Raisin Berry by Bobbi Brown.
With which red lipstick can a woman conquer the world?
Chanel Rouge Hydrabase Crème Lipstick 60 New York Red is the ultimate red!
What is the most common beauty faux pas women make?
Wearing too much makeup. It looks unnatural and ageing. I also detest the "Instagram brow" that is currently so popular.
Which are the three makeup products no girl should ever be without?
Sensai's under-eye concealer brush, Armani's Maestro foundation and Bobbi Brown's Shimmerbrick bronzing compact series.
Armani's Maestro Foundation
Who is your makeup icon?
Pat McGrath, she is a visionary and pushes creative boundaries like it's nobody's business. I just adore her newly launched makeup range.
Which famous face would you most love to paint?
Madonna!
Who is your beauty icon?
Monica Bellucci. She is a timeless beauty with perfectly proportioned features.
What is the best makeup advice you can give to women over 30?
Always curl your eyelashes and apply at least two coats of black mascara. It has an immediate lifting effect.
What is the secret beauty weapon in your makeup kit?
Lansinoh Breasfeeding Salve nipple cream – it's amazing for chapped lips.
When you're not waving your magic makeup brushes, which other creative outlets do you enjoy?
Baking (especially with my girls) and interior decoration.
A few years ago, you launched a mobile makeup agency called Gorgeous2Go, which has become a huge hit with the Cape Town crowd (myself included). What prompted you to start this business?
Renee, in her element
There was a demand in the Capetonian market for a high-end makeup, hair and beauty concierge service. We thus offer clients an array of services, including makeup applications (for social events), hair styling, personalised makeup lessons, spray tans and manicures, all of which can be performed in the comfort of your own home.
The artists we represent have been hand-selected and all of their portfolios are available on our website. Our aim is to be a one-stop mobile shop for all things beauty-related. You can visit our website for more information.
Author Clare Wiese-WentzelPosted on February 9, 2017 Categories Best In Beauty, Cape Town City Guide, InterviewsTags Beauty, MakeupLeave a comment on Makeup Maestro Reneé De Wit Reveals Her Best-Kept Beauty Secrets
Ida Elsje on Designing Fine Jewellery & Her Favourite Cape Town Hangouts
Ida Elsje is arguably at the forefront of South African contemporary jewellery. Not only is her work regularly featured in South Africa's top glossy magazines, but high-profile international publications such as Brazil Vogue and New York's Superior Magazine have also filled their editorial pages with some of her handmade masterpieces. At the same time, her oversized earrings and elaborate head pieces have graced the catwalks of New York and London Fashion Weeks. Every piece of Ida Elsje Jewellery is created in her small studio on Cape Town's bustling and centrally located Church Street (where her beloved dog Elvis keeps her company on a daily basis).
I spent five minutes talking to this jewellery genius about what inspires her, where she likes to hang out and her tips for aspiring jewelers:
What are your biggest vices? Records, Norwegian and Art Deco furniture and Fire King crockery.
Where does your design inspiration come from? Mostly natural shapes I see on my walks with my dogs, the shapes of flowers and tree tops, the curves of the mountains and pods. I love old and modern buildings and often find inspiration in the structure and detail thereof, such as tiling and railings.
What are your favourite eating/drinking/coffee spots in Cape Town?
There are so many…
Jason's for the world's most addictive croissants;
Loading Bay for their truffle fries and the best mint tea with a ginger shot on the side;
Dear Me for fresh and healthy food;
The Potluck Club for the best views and their popcorn ice cream;
For coffee, Deluxe Coffee Works, Espresso Lab and &Union (Lindile makes the best cappuccino in town);
Zucchini's does a variety of warm homely vegetarian take-away lunches and juices;
Harbour House in Kalk Bay followed by a drink at Polana;
Skinny Legs And All makes the best shortbread and pea pasta;
Maria's for the great chocolate cake and wonderful dog-friendly owner;
Kyoto Sushi Garden for Zen vibes;
And my newest favourite is the Oranjezicht City Farm Organic Market which is open every Saturday morning: go for the fresh veggies, breads, organic compost, juice and great coffee from Tamboerswinkel.
Advice for young aspirational jewelers? Grow your business organically, let the demand for your work determine the growth of your business. Listen to your customers' dreams and create your own style.
Favourite way to spend a weekend? A weekend away with friends, long walks in nature, cooking together and sitting around long dinner tables and fires talking till the sun comes up.
Favourite city to travel to and why? Srinigar, Kashmir: where heaven meets earth. It is very peaceful and beautiful there, especially when you go into the mountains. I love the jewellery shops there – they are all covered in gold mirrors from wall to ceiling and have counters with chairs. You have to sit down and drink tea with kashmiri biscuits, before they start bringing out the trays of 22ct gold jewellery. I aslo love Berlin and Tel Aviv.
Ida's work:
Ida is the head designer for my luxury jewelry brand Paka Paka.
Ida's own jewellery collation (Ida Elsje Jewellery) is stocked at Olive Green Cat, Church Street, Cape Town, South Africa.
Fashion Photography Stephan Glathe, Styling Michael Cooper, Model Bailey, Hair and Makeup Alba Frei. Product Photography Tim Atkins.
Author Clare Wiese-WentzelPosted on October 16, 2013 Format GalleryCategories InterviewsTags Cape Town Bars, Cape Town RestaurantsLeave a comment on Ida Elsje on Designing Fine Jewellery & Her Favourite Cape Town Hangouts


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SEASON SPOTLIGHT: Van Gogh & Me
Welcome to SEASON SPOTLIGHT! Here we will take an in-depth look at the shows in the 2017-18 season and give you a little insight into what you can expect in the upcoming season.
By Rose Artistic Director Matthew Gutschick
In Van Gogh & Me, Rose artistic director Matthew Gutschick paints an endearing story in this original play about artist Vincent Van Gogh and his friendship with a young girl living in a provincial French town.
Based on actual events, Van Gogh & Me looks at the colorful and sometimes challenging creative career of the artist famous for such iconic works as "The Starry Night" and "Sunflowers." When Van Gogh retreats to a small town with citizens are puzzled by his eccentricities, he is befriended by a reluctant child named Adeline. Slowly Van Gogh and Adeline navigate the fragile waters of friendship as she learns how he created his greatest paintings, giving audiences a new appreciation of the artist and his beautiful post-impressionistic works.
"Van Gogh's paintings evoke a sense of childlike wonder and kindness. When I learned that this young girl went on in adulthood to correct the world's mistaken impression of Van Gogh as a moody and even cruel person, I knew this story had to be put onstage," says Gutschick, who wrote the piece specifically for The Rose stage.
Van Gogh & Me will be directed by guest director John Hardy, who most recently led the production of The Jungle Book during the 2016-17 season and Jackie & Me during the 2013-14 season. His work has also been seen in The Merry Wives of Windsor and Othello at the Nebraska Shakespeare Festival.
While younger children may not comprehend the play's plot lines about bullying, cruelty and the challenges of mental illness, audiences ages ten and up will find the biography of the great artist compelling. In the end, Van Gogh & Me leaves an impression about respecting human differences, appreciating art and finding friends.
The show runs 60 minutes without an intermission. Van Gogh & Me will be presented November 3-12, 2017, on Fridays at 7 pm, Saturdays at 2 and 5 pm, and Sundays at 2 pm. A bonus performance will be offered on Sunday, November 12 at 5 pm. Interpretation for the hearing impaired and audio description services for the blind will be offered at the 2 pm show on Saturday, November 11. A sensory-friendly performance will be offered on Saturday, November 11 at 5 pm.
Click here to visit the Van Gogh & Me show page where we will post photos, cast lists and other information about the show as it becomes available.
In the News, Shows
2017-18, drama, in the news, mainstage, news, shows, therose, world premiere

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Zelotes mandlaensis är en spindelart som beskrevs av Benoy Krishna Tikader och Gajbe 1976. Zelotes mandlaensis ingår i släktet Zelotes och familjen plattbuksspindlar. Inga underarter finns listade i Catalogue of Life.

Källor

Plattbuksspindlar
mandlaensis

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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BDC hires retail vice president
The Bartlesville Development Corporation announced the hiring of Jared Patton for the newly-created position of vice president, retail development, during a BDC board meeting Thursday morning.
Patton will take the leading role for the BDC's implementation of the recommendations of the Retail Subcommittee approved by the Bartlesville City Council last month — to expand existing business offerings and recruit new retail brands to the community.
"We're excited to have Jared join our team," said BDC President David Wood. "His extensive experience in advertising, marketing, and digital communication provides immediate value. He also served as a volunteer on the retail committee, so he is familiar with the details of the new incentive offerings as well."
Patton, a Bartlesville native, currently works as eCommerce Analyst for Truity Credit Union, analyzing online user data and researching ways to expand membership through multimedia channels. Formerly, he served as interactive art director for PDG+creative. He holds a bachelor's degree in advertising from Oklahoma State University, and is a graduate of Leadership Bartlesville Class XXII.
"Having grown up in Bartlesville, I'm thrilled to be a part of an organization that is working to boost the quality of life in Bartlesville, by providing the community with more retail and restaurant options," Patton said.
Patton will receive a salary of $60,475. His employment with the BDC begins Nov. 18.


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Celebration of JP Patches and actor Chris Wedes
Sep. 8, 2012 Updated: Oct. 12, 2020 12:09 p.m.
JOSHUA TRUJILLOBob Newman, who played almost the entire supporting cast, including JP Patches' girlfriend Gertrude, offers a salute during a celebration of JP Patches after the July death of Chris Wedes, the actor who played the iconic character. Thousands gathered in McCaw Hall on Saturday, September 8, 2012 to honor Wedes and the beloved character he gave to children and their parents.
JOSHUA TRUJILLOGregg Tirk of Seattle hoists a rubber chicken during a celebration of JP Patches after the July death of Chris Wedes, the actor who played the iconic character. Thousands gathered in McCaw Hall on Saturday, September 8, 2012 to honor Wedes and the beloved character he gave to children and their parents.
JOSHUA TRUJILLOMusician Chris Ballew, a Patches Pal himself, performs a song he wrote about JP Patches during a celebration of JP Patches after the July death of Chris Wedes, the actor who played the iconic character. At right is "Ggoorrsstt the Friendly Frpl," one of the characters from the show. Thousands gathered in McCaw Hall on Saturday, September 8, 2012 to honor Wedes and the beloved character he gave to children and their parents.
JOSHUA TRUJILLOKIRO FM radio host Dori Monson takes the stage during a celebration of JP Patches after the July death of Chris Wedes, the actor who played the iconic character. Thousands gathered in McCaw Hall on Saturday, September 8, 2012 to honor Wedes and the beloved character he gave to children and their parents.
JOSHUA TRUJILLOPeople watch a video presentation during a celebration of JP Patches after the July death of Chris Wedes, the actor who played the iconic character. Thousands gathered in McCaw Hall on Saturday, September 8, 2012 to honor Wedes and the beloved character he gave to children and their parents.


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The third segment — in which a reporter reflects on his time as a radio advertising salesman — also perfectly illuminates the interpersonal dynamics and moral ambiguities of being a successful salesperson. Is it right to sell someone a product he doesn't need and that isn't actually good for him? Of course it's legal, but is it right? If he buys it, is it his fault . . . or yours? What do you do when your skill at getting people to like you* causes your potential clients to open up to you in ways that are not in their interests?
In between, the second segment is screamingly funny.
* A skill I don't really have, by the way.
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You're too modest. All of your regular readers adore you.
Selling. Don't get me started. Personally, I think "selling" — in the form of all-pervasive advertising designed and produced by psychological experts — is largely responsible our irrational culture of greed. In the way it inundates our daily lives, it is the equivalent of giant Mao pictures and Mao sayings on every wall. Perhaps North Korea would be a better example. Its effect on our mentality has been building, generation after generation, for most of a century. A thousand years from now I think people will shudder at this psychic pollution, and wonder how we could have been so blind to the damage it caused to our social fabric. How could we not see that it is inherently corrupt to manipulate another person for gain, and to tacitly permit it, and even encourage it, destroys trust and cooperation ?
We have built-in, ancient social reflexes which urge us to respond to a face which is looking at us intently, yet over and over each day we glance at, and must ignore, ad pictures of such faces. The effect is to deaden a reflex which is essential to social interaction, because we are defending ourselves from persuasion. In this and many other ways, ads mine and hollow out the very substance of our social bonding. Just as, person-to-person, the manipulative salesman mines James Kwak's natural response to what seems an offer of friendship.
. . on the other hand . . advertising does indeed have its funny side. Here in Canada CBC Radio has a weekly program about the history and practice of advertising, called The Art of Persuasion (I think that's the right name). You can download the podcasts. They make great commute listening, and a lot of them are a riot.
Sorry — that's THE AGE OF PERSUASION.
When I am out to buy something big, like a house or a car, I always dress in my grubbiest blue jeans and sweatshirt. It is the salesperson who takes me seriously who generally gets the sale. This has led to some enduring friendships. During sales calls at work, any sales person who did not treat the most junior person in the meeting with equal respect was out the door, and if we were seriously interested in the product we asked for a different sales person.
Superb comment, oldgal. And you are very right, not all sales persons are corrupt.
is the reporter / salesman in segment 3 adam davidson?
"Selling" is a little different from "marketing". Marketing like what you talk about does use a lot of psychological research, but being aware of being marketed to makes it rather easy to get around it. A good salesperson though, even if you KNOW they're going to try selling you, makes you feel (as James noted) a personal and friendly connection to them. THEN they sell.
It's a little different, but the devil is truly in the details. Marketing is somewhat impersonal compared to selling the product directly to the customer one on one.
For the record though, I agree with your general assessment of the proliferation of modern marketing as psychological pollution!
I rule it OUT, rather.
Unfortunately, without selling, all of us would still be living in caves. To be intelligent is to retain a sense of proportion about the inevitable. Why is it too much to expect that people understand their own interests? I find television advertising annoying and idiotic and am ruthless with the mute button. I hang up on unsolicited sales calls and do not feel one bit guilty when some poor dope says, hi, jake, my name is blunder and I am calling about your stock portfolio.
Life is unavoidably a complex affair. People with no real understanding of CDS should not be buying them for school districts and money market funds. Banks with insured deposits should not be leveraging them 50 or 100 times and being rewarded for failure with free money while the real economy implodes. All of these things are obvious. Focus on the real problem which is deeply imbedded corruption of people who are supposed to be representing the legitimate interests of others.
We need a constitutional convention, not pie in the sky ethics and collectivist altrusist fantasy.
I came from a technical background, and got into sales after starting a software business. When I started, I had a negative impression of sales as a shady business in which you tried to make friends with, or manipulate, potential sales.
I have since learned that selling 'techniques' that manipulate people are ineffective. I have found that acting as a consultant (being extremely knowledgeable about the product you work with, learning about each customer's needs and common practices in the industry, and then explaining which needs can and cannot be met) is by far the most effective strategy.
I also found that the kinds of sales that can be made through manipulation, but not through consulting, are sales that you do not want. You are pushing your product into a situation where it will not be successful, and will be a headache.
I think if you are selling a commodity, it is probably different. But if you are selling a differentiated product to a business customer, I don't think sales needs to be shady at all.
. . "deeply imbedded corruption" — connect the dots, Jake.
We get the leaders we deserve. And you get the financial system you deserve. You were the ones who bloated the monster when you opted to play their greed games. Who cared if the banks and corporations were exploiting someone somewhere, as long as it wasn't you ? Only now it's you.
Not all societies are so skewed toward greed, materialism and competition. Even nature keeps a fine balance between competition and cooperation. That is no fantasy. And as for collectivism, your very body is a collectivist colony. To participate in this complex modern world, to use the internet, and dis the collective and cooperative aspect — that is a kind of insanity.
As for "selling", I am not talking about superficial irritants which can be tuned out. I am talking about invasive and pervasive propaganda which expertly exploits the sources of social cohesion.
I am a hard realist, and I like to take the long view to get perspective. If that appears to be pie in the sky or fantasy to you, then maybe you are a cave man yourself. And not a very polite one either.
People make the mistake of thinking selling is something you do to someone rather than something you do with them.
The Art of Selling could be viewed from many directions.
From a fellow bloggers as he stated prior, there are two attempts to get the soul of a consumer.
The first is done with well crafted "Marketing Campaigns". Second, are "Selling by Direct or Indirect Contact Attempts". Contact to get another to actually buy in or purchase what is being sold or actual tangible item.
In this post I will bring out a third form of Selling that involves the battle between "Deception or that of Truth". Looking deeper behind the promises and words of the ones who peddle their desire to have the receiver accept and willing to consume what is being offered.
At the root to this thought are best drawn out by introducing why so many blog sites exist. The simple fact that why are their a rise in so many voices Selling or if we choose to call it The Greatest Marketing Campaign in our modern world today.
This very Selling and Marketing Campaign sits within the very soul of our structures we call our government and corporate structures. These structures that would use this institution of public sales and campaigns for Good and/or Evil intentions. The ultimate goal; to get the end consumer who will either buy in, or as witnessed, the incredible amount of passion by so many bloggers and journalist, refuting the deliver campaign or selling with a clear resounding call of, "No Sale Today or Any Day".
The following video clip certainly will bring forward one of our salesman that has risen to the top of our radar these days.
His sales and marketing abilities seem to far out do many that would be his contemporaries or opposition to what he is selling these days.
Watch the video and let me know what your thoughts of Selling mean in relation to a global picture.
Hi Min –Sorry, I don't quite understand your last sentence.
Anyhow thanks for the info. I am sure person-in-the-flesh is a more powerful effect than a picture. Me, I just notice this in myself. I can feel the effect when an ad is on the side of an internet page I am reading. If it is one of those pesky flashing ads it is merely irritating, but if it is a face with eyes seeming to look directly at me, I can feel it drawing on my human feelings, my social feelings. I have also noticed this rather powerful reflex when passing by those full-sized cardboard "people" they use in supermarkets . . and I find myself dampening it so the ads don't catch me. ( Interestingly, some of the simpler moving ads on the net draw my attention on a more primitive level, kind of like how you notice a spider moving across the floor.) I really don't know how typical I am in this — I am very intuitive and, like most intuitive persons, I have a bit of social anxiety. But Mad Ave. sure spends a lot of money on this stuff and if their looking-face ads are indeed effective, we will inevitably be erecting defenses against them.
Very interesting. I never thought of that before. Why do you think that is?
Yes. In a "venerate but verify" sort of way.
I teach radio advertising account execs (yes, radio advertising) that Selling = Educating.
If you do have a product or service that will add to the prospects' lives, your job is to educate people the point where they understand how and why it will help them.
"Conning" or "Lying" are not synonyms for "Selling." At least, they shouldn't be.
This is true. My best friend, somehow, is a very good salesman. I think the most frustrating thing in our friendship is not how often he's trying to sell me on something, but how often I listen to him selling *himself* on something just before he tries to sell it to me. It's kinda scary the things he can talk himself in to if money is involved.
The best salesmen seem to be the ones that can sell anything to themselves first.


The role of civilians during ongoing operation Pillar of Defence is traditional one: Hamas and other Palestinian terror organizations intentionally target Israeli civilians and use the population of Gaza as human shields, storing and firing rockets from within populated areas. In stark contrast, Israel does not intentionally target Palestinian civilians; in opposite the Israel Defence Force (IDF) takes extraordinary measures to avoid Palestinian civilian deaths. Israel uses early warnings and sophisticated missile defence system to protect its own population while the role of civilian population in Gaza seems again to be that of cannon fodder and their value only propagandist.
Hamas has systematically fired rockets over 12,000 at the Israeli Home Front for the past 12 years. Since November 14, over 350 rockets fired from Gaza hit Israel, many of them directed at densely populated areas. Over the past months Hamas has armed itself with the Fajr-5 missile, an advanced weapon with a range of over 75 kilometers, which places 3.5 million civilians at risk. Out of 824 rockets fired from Gaza at Israel over the past few days, 270 of which were intercepted by the Iron Dome anti-missile system and 100 have landed in Gaza itself, IDF statistics show on18th Nov. So one part of civilian deaths in Gaza might have come from their own rockets.
The Operations of Hamas are targetted to kill Israeli civilians. Thanks to sophisticated early warning system and Israeli missile defense the casualties of Israeli civilians are small. The oposite is true with civilian population in Gaza due the fatal tactics of Hamas. Hamas (like Hezbollah in Lebanon, like the Taliban in Afghanistan and like al-Qaida and the Shi'a militias in Iraq), use their own people as both tactical and strategic weapons of war.
Hamas has intentionally used the civilian areas of Gaza as staging grounds for their attacks on Israel. Knowing that the IDF wishes to avoid civilian casualties, Hamas places its own civilians in the line of fire in order to hide and protect its own operations. Women and children, victims of the Hamas human shield tactics, usually ignore warning signals to evacuate buildings prior to an IDF strike. The victims remain in the house with Hamas members, knowing ahead of time that the IDF will not target civilians. Many innocent bystanders are killed as a result of Hamas' abuse of its own civilians. Instead of keeping its citizens out of harm's way, Hamas encourages and even forces its population to join the violent resistance against Israel, sometimes forcing women and children to remain in the positions that they would use to launch attacks from. Hamas used their people too on the strategic level, luring IDF troops to attack and kill them. People whose deaths would be callously exploited in the media as a means of discrediting the IDF.
There are several reasons for this: Hamas, of course, operates from within a civilian population and conceals its arsenals in built-up areas. The same is true of missile launchers, rockets and more. In addition, most Hamas militants make sure not to remain above ground most of the day. They stay in the network of tunnels built by Hamas beneath the Gaza Strip in recent years and, in effect, are at very low risk compared to the vast majority of the Gaza population. And the process of launching the rockets is extremely quick and is sometimes done by remote control, so that the ability to strike at those militants is very limited.
The following are some ways the IDF uses in order to avoid civilian casualties. While these warnings ruin the element of surprise and can help the enemy escape, the IDF believes that it must take these steps whenever possible in order to avoid harming innocent bystanders.
Phone calls: During the last 24 hours of the operation, thousands of Israeli phone calls were made to residents of the Gaza Strip, warning them of IDF strikes in the area.
Diverting missiles in mid-flight: During Operation Cast Lead in 2008-09, the IDF aborted many missions seconds before they were to be carried out, due to civilians being present at the site of the target.
Roof Knocking: "Roof knocking" is when the IAF targets a building with a loud but non-lethal bomb that warns civilians that they are in the vicinity of a weapons cache or other target. This method is used to allow all residents to leave the area before the IDF targets the site with live ammunition.
Of the thousands of patients that requested permits to enter Israel for medical treatments, 99.3% were approved. Patients were only denied permits when it was determined that they could receive necessary treatment inside Gaza (Sept 2012). This year (2012)more than 14,500 permits were issued by the Gaza CLA for patients and their chaperones to leave Gaza through the Erez Crossing.
All the requests for medical supplies (equipment and medicine) submitted by the international community to the Gaza CLA have been approved for entry into Gaza.
Since September 2012, international organizations, in coordination with the Gaza CLA, have impoted 32 trucks of drugs and medical supplies through Kerem Shalom Crossing. This has included spare parts for dialysis machines, helium for MRI machines, and three fully equipped ambulances. An additional five loads of medicine were imported into Gaza through the Erez Crossing through special coordination.
According to the World Health Organization, the process of referrals for patients from Gaza to receive treatment in Israel, the West Bank, and Jordan was suspended for nearly 10 days due to disagreements between the Ramallah and Gaza Health Ministries. As a result, a 38% reduction in monthly referrals left several hundred patients without necessary treatment. The WHO reports that due to the failure of the Palestinian Ministry of Health to pay its accruing debts to Jordan, Jordanian hospitals refused to accept government referrals of patients from Gaza. Medical suppliers are often reluctant to sell supplies to Gaza since there are issues with non-payment.
Despite the problematic security situation due ongoing operation Pillar of Defence and the ongoing rocket fire, the help from Israel to Gaza continues. On 18 November 2012, 10 Red Cross trucks with medical supplies and one UNRWA truck entered Gaza via Kerem Shalom Crossing. Two trucks have been designated as being of particular importance as they are carrying much needed anesthetics and bandages.
The original massacre, in Syria.
The "recycled" massacre, transplanted to Gaza.
Whatever the measures the residents of the Gaza Strip will continue to be the ones to pay the price and if ground operation starts, this price will be much higher than so far. As a result of Hamas' strategy of using civilian areas for military purposes, it is inevitable that there will be civilian casualties in Gaza. Nonetheless, the IDF goes to great lengths to avoid civilian casualties and to minimize collateral damage.
As a result of Hamas' strategy of using civilian areas for military purposes, it is inevitable that there will be civilian casualties in Gaza. Nonetheless, the IDF goes to great lengths to avoid civilian casualties and to minimize collateral damage. IDF however notes that despite all precautions, IDF forces may have mistakenly targeted sites and hurt Palestinian civilians. According IDF it is fully committed to ensuring that every allegation of wrongdoing be fully and fairly investigated, though this will happen after the conclusion of the operation.
As example Col.Kemp probably has earlier Gaza operation Cast Lead (2008-2009). I think that Hamas has learned some lessons from this and now, if Israel goes to ground maneuvers, the ratio of civilian to combatant deaths will be considerable higher. This makes the threshold to start next phase much higher than before.
Enough is Enough. The escalation of events over the past few days forced Israel to react to the Hamas attacks.The civilians of southern Israel have been under sustained attack from Gaza since last Saturday, November 10th. More than 120 rockets were fired before Israel launched Operation Pillar of Defense on 14th Nov 2012. An Israeli ground offensive is now almost assured. Hamas probably assumed that Israel won't launch broad military campaign before Israeli elections, it seems that they made a serious and for many a fatal miscalculation.
The toll the rockets from Gaza have taken on Israeli citizens is heavy. Over one million civilians has lived in range and their lives are threatened with every launch. Now with use of Fajr-5 missiles even two million Israelis are under thread. Approximately 800 rockets and mortar shells have launched since the start of the year a record amount since the end of Operation Cast Lead (January 2009). This peak is similar to the attacks that occurred in 2007-8. Daily life in southern Israel has been totally disrupted. Some 200 rockets were fired at Israel on Thursday 15th, with about 30 intercepted by the Iron Dome system, including between one (IDF version) and three (Hamas version) Fajr rockets fired at Tel Aviv. However, the escalation of events over the past few days forced Israel to react to the Hamas attacks.
For the first time since the Gulf War, a rocket has hit Tel Aviv by Fajr-5 rockets, Iranian-made weapons which can reach a lot further than the ordinary Grad missile. Both Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad have claimed responsibility for the attack. This strike is the furthest Hamas has ever struck into Israeli territory and signals a major escalation.
More about terrorism from Gaza see the report Terrorism from the Gaza Strip since Operation Cast Lead: Data, Type and Trends, by The Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center.
Aircraft dropped leaflets in Gaza stating that the residents should "keep their distance from Hamas terror operatives". There were similar warnings also via twitter a a couple of days ago. These early warnings were not enough.
This operation – Operation Pillar of Defense aka Amud Anan – was planned months ago, but an official launching of it was on Wed 14th when Israel targeted Ahmed Jabari, Hamas' military chief in Gaza who was responsible for all Hamas terrorist activity emanating from the Gaza Strip in the past decade. Marwan Issa has been named the new commander of Hamas's military wing. Issa was the deputy of Jabari. Issa headed the Hamas military delegation that traveled to Tehran and Beirut last September and signed secret mutual defense pacts with Iran and Hizbollah. Mr. Jabari (Israel's OBL) was the first target.
The second phase of the operation was an aerial attack which targeted 20 different targets, all underground, which served as launching pads for various kinds of rockets. So far the IDF has targeted some 70 underground, medium range rocket launching sites in Gaza, and some 200 launching sites in overall. IDF special forces which are already inside Gaza, and another which says that armored battalions are already situated around Gaza, ready to go in. The IDF also deployed more infantry troops to the Gaza Strip, as well as armored combat units that largely comprised Merkava Mark IV tanks fitted with Rafael's Trophy active protection system that effectively neutralizes the threat of antitank missiles. More and live updates from IDF.
The Israel Air Force carried out precision strikes on the bunkers where Fajr-3 and Fajr-5 rockets had been stored as well as on other caches and launching sites, reducing Hamas' ability to launch these long-range missiles which are capable of hitting Tel Aviv. As in the 2006 Second Lebanon War, which began with Israel destroying Hezbollah's long-range rockets, the most pressing objective was to deny Hamas (and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad) the ability to disrupt the lives of those in the greater Tel Aviv area and central Israel by means of long-range rockets.
The aim of Operation Pillar of Defense is to remove a strategic threat to Israeli citizens including by reducing the capabilities of Hamas' long and short range rocket forces. Additionally, Israel is acting to impair Hamas' command and control system. According IDF all options are on the table, including ground maneuvers. IDF has not yet confirmation that one part of these rockets have been launched from Sinai, Egypt, which would bring new international aspect on the table.
The role of civilian population in Gaza seems again to be that of cannon fodder and their value only propagandist. Hamas and the other terrorist organizations hide among the civilian population of Gaza. They also direct their fire at the civilian population of Israel. These actions constitute a double war crime.
I well understand that Israel as no other state would allow a million citizens to be targeted by terrorist organizations without responding. Despite Israel left the Gaza Strip in 2005 , Hamas has continued to attack Israel, so one could conclude that they are not fighting against Israel's (non-existent) presence in Gaza but against Israel's very existence. Presuming Israel is not about to re-take Gaza permanently, some experts and commentators in Israel have been recommending the latter option.
I really don't understand the strategy of Hamas during last weeks. In my opinion Hamas is closing the window of opportunity which was opened this autumn. Arguably one of the most powerful men in modern Arab political affairs, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani personally broke the politico-economic blockade in place over Gaza. His meeting with Haniyeh, along with the $400 billion he brought with him, is the first event of this kind since the Islamist movement gained power in 2005.
The official visit of an Arab head of state in Gaza should be considered as a trigger of a developing inclination which will likely alter the Israeli-Palestinian equation. Along with Qatar, Sheikh Al Khalifa, Bahrain's ruler, is rumored to prepare his own trip to the Gaza Strip. This would in fact echo an implicit blessing of the Saudi royal family in regards of a new policy aimed at effectively fracturing the Arab-Palestinian relations.
In my opinion these visits could give both a recognition and the boost for Hamas to show political leadership in Gaza. To be recognized as political force – instead to be a terror organization – Hamas could be the partner to negotiate a peace deal with Israel. However Hamas made opposite choice, it started again a military campaign. The reasons for this are unknown to me but might it be so, that Hamas has lost control to more aggressive organizations?
In addition to these diplomatic shifts, Prince Hasan Bin Talal of Jordan stated at the beginning of the month of October that the West Bank is historically linked to the Hashemite Kingdom, thus opening the road again to the integration of these territories to Jordan. By empowering Hamas, Al Thani may be successful in terminating the two–state solution while providing to the Jewish state the possibility to have a multi-faceted approach toward peace negotiations, directly separating the talks with the West Bank from the ones with Gaza, effectively opening the road to a three–state solution. Palestinian statehood in Judea and Samaria would be possible through mutual recognition and far reaching security agreements. Such a deal should no longer be attached to the situation in the Hamas-ruled Gaza strip.
The history of Gaza conflict is known. Israel left the Gaza Strip down to the last soldier, settler and to the last square mile. Hamas, an organization committed to the destruction of Israel, seized control of Gaza. Since the rocket fire continued, an (light) embargo was put in place. Hamas and its satellite organizations proclaim war without end, fire rockets at population centers. The Palestinians could have taken advantage of Israel's departure from the Gaza Strip in order to prove to the world that they are capable of doing something for themselves – in human development, industry, education, social welfare, etc. Capital is flowing but it is hard to see it on grassroots. But Hamas leadership seems to have different priorities than capacity building of civil society. From my point of view this is their fatal miscalculation.
While secret war between Israel and Iran has been going on already years with assassinations, Stuxnet and other cyberwar projects, war games, military demonstrations etc its pleasure to find out that secret diplomacy has also been implemented. The delegations from Israel and Iran led by senior officials had secret talks during a nuclear non-proliferation meeting in Brussels this week.
Officials from Israel and Iran had an informal discussion with representatives from about 10 Arab states, US officials and European moderators to explore the possibility of holding a UN-sponsored conference on establishing a WMD-free zone in the Middle East. The secret talks in Brussels, Belgium,two-day event was billed as an academic seminar.
70 buses rode the streets of TelAviv carrying message for peace.
According an article in The Guardian a historic conference bringing Iran and Israel together with Arab states to discuss a ban on nuclear, chemical and biological weapons in the Middle East is scheduled to take place in Helsinki in December, it has emerged. The Finnish organisers of the UN-backed bid to establish a zone free of weapons of mass destruction are said to be cautiously optimistic that the conference will go ahead despite high tensions in the Gulf. The Finnish team has held about 70 meetings with officials in the region and made repeated trips to Israel and Iran since the veteran diplomat Jaakko Laajava was appointed "facilitator" of the consensus in October. So far, none of the countries invited to Helsinki has turned the invitation down.
A media blackout was imposed on the discussions but according some leaks in contrast with the saber rattling of both sides' leaders the event went in a businesslike manner without denunciations and empty rhetoric at the conference.
On 5th November 2012, Israeli daily YNet reported that Barack Obama's senior advisor, Valerie Bowman Jarrett, is secretly assisting the U.S. administration to communicate with the representatives of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatullah Ali Khamenei. Last month, The New York Times reported that the US government is engaged in secret talks with Iran aimed at establishing a direct line of communication once the US presidential elections are over.
In August 2012, Iran converted some 38 per cent of its uranium enriched to 20 per cent into fuel rods for its civilian research reactor. This move somewhat postponed the critical moment after which Israel would evaluate that Iran has enough uranium to produce a nuclear weapon. Defense Minister Ehud Barak estimates that Israel 'postpones' nuclear Iran red line by '8 to 10 months'.
While military strike still is a serious thread the secret war has been going on the whole time. From Israeli side well known actions are assassinations of some key figures in Iran's nuclear program, Stuxnet and some strange blasts and explosions in Iran's nuclear facilities.
On Aug. 15, a cyber-attack hit Saudi oil giant Aramco with devastating results, 30,000 computer workstations were rendered useless and had to be replaced. A few days later in Qatar, a similar virus attacked the RasGas natural-gas company, a joint venture between Exxon Mobil and the state-owned Qatar Petroleum, which operates the world's largest natural-gas field. Hizbullah followed up the cyberattack with a drone mission on 6th Oct. 2012. An Iranian-built surveillance drone dubbed Ayoub flew from Lebanon into southern Israel before being shot down by the Israeli air force. Officials from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Force told the Al Arabiya newspaper that the target was the Israeli nuclear reactor at Dimona, the centerpiece of Israel's nuclear program.
Of course its is unrealistic to wait that there would be a Middle East ban on nuclear, chemical and biological weapons in near future. However from my point of view even discussing the possibility between Iran and Israel at the anticipated Helsinki event would be giant progress and will give hope that a non military development might be possible.
Article (short version) first published as Palestinians Put Jordanian Option on the Table on Technorati.
Farouk Kaddoumi, a veteran PLO official, dropped a political bomb (on 31st Oct. 2012) with a call for "returning" the West Bank to Jordan during an interview with the London-based Al- Quds Al-Arabi newspaper. Kaddoumi, who is based in Tunisia, said he supported the idea of a federation or confederation between the West Bank and Jordan. His remarks are the first of their kind to be voiced by a senior PLO figure in decades.
Kaddoumi's remarks about returning the West Bank to Jordan apparently came in response to recent statements made by Jordan's Prince Hassan bin Talal, who served as crown prince between 1965 and 1999. Recently in a meeting with Palestinian citizens in Jordan, Prince Hassan bin Talal made an unusual statement, saying that the territories of the West Bank are actually part of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. He added that the two state solution is irrelevant in the current stage.
From Israeli point of view many Israelis view the involvement of the two Arab states that have signed peace treaties with Israel as central in providing security and stability in the territories from which Israel has departed.
Palestinians are now implementing a diplomatic offensive to get votes in favor of their partial statehood bid, or better say in favor of giving Palestinians non-member observer status, at the United Nations. Palestinians say they intend to ask the U.N.'s General Assembly to vote on the matter on either 15th or 29th Nov. 2012.
Israel and the United States are opposed to the move, saying Palestinians should negotiate their statehood with Israel, not conduct unilateral moves. Also if a Palestinian state is established there, many fear that it would be taken over by Hamas. Last year Palestinians tried and failed to achieve status as a full member state at the U.N. Security Council.
PLO had obtained membership in the international organization in 1974. Mr. Kaddoumi made quite good remark during his interview, mentioned above, that the UN had recognized the Palestinian state declared by Yasser Arafat in 1988, adding that 105 countries had since lent their own recognition. "By going back to the UN, Abbas is falsely creating the impression that he is making achievements that were already achieved," he said.
As possible solutions for Israeli-Palestinian conflict there has been 3 (Israel, WB, Gaza), 2 (Israel, Palestine) and 1 (Isralestine) state scenarios, then of course allways easy option is a "status quo" scenario. Here I connect three-state scenario (sometimes described also as nostate option) with Egyptian-Jordanian solution aka Jordan-Egypt option aka Shared Jordanian-Egyptian rule: Amman rules the West Bank and Cairo runs Gaza.
I have been advocating long Three State Option as the most pragmatic solution to Israeli-Palestinian conflict. For 19 years, Judea and Samaria were part of Jordan, its population Jordanian citizens, and the geographic juxtaposition between Israel and Jordan should make delineating the border between the two countries in an agreement considerably easier than reaching a deal on a border between Israel and a Palestinian state that might be established in the area. If three state solution will be implemented so Israel would receive security guarantees from Jordan's monarchy, which made peace with Israel in 1994, rather than from a politically enfeebled Palestinian president as well from Egypt, which has peace deal with Israel since 1978, rather than from outside supervised Hamas.
I generally ignore Israel's biblical rights (e.g that the borders of Israel in accordance with the divine promise in the Bible: from the Euphrates to the river of Egypt) related to Judea and Samaria aka Westbank but as they explain one part of Israeli's arguments today I would like to mention from historical rights the era of tribal periods when the Israelite tribes lived as a confederation. The Torah traces the Israelites to the patriarch Jacob, grandson of Abraham, who was later renamed Israel. Jacob's twelve sons "Israelites" (also the "Twelve Tribes" or "Children of Israel") means both the direct descendants of the patriarch Jacob/Israel as well as the historical populations of the United Kingdom of Israel.This united monarchy was established in around 1020 BCE when the tribes united.
David, the second King of Israel, created a strong unified Israelite monarchy in c. 1006 BCE and also established Jerusalem as its national capital 3,000 years ago. Beginning in the 5th century BCE, the remnants of the Israelite tribes came to be referred to as Jews.
Contemporary history gives more relevant view to present conflict. From Israeli point of view the legal rights to the land are based to the Balfour Declaration of 1917 and the League of Nations San Remo Conference of 1920. The geographical area called Palestine was to become a homeland for the Jewish Homeland. The land was administered as British mandate. Britain split off 75% of Palestine to establish the Emirate of Transjordan split off 75% of Palestine to establish the Emirate of Transjordan on the eastern bank of the Jordan river. This part is now known as the modern Kingdom of Jordan. The Peel Commission of the late 1930's endeavored to partition the western portion of the original Jewish Homeland into Jewish and Arab mini-states, the latter to mollify Arab rioters fomented by the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, Haj Amin al Husseini, an close ally with Hitler during WWII.
In 1948, Arab armies and volunteers – from Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Morocco – attacked the newborn State of Israel. Transjordan annexed the area intended for an Arab state, and renamed itself the Kingdom of Jordan, calling the annexed area the "West Bank". Egypt took over Gaza. These areas controlled by Jordan and Egypt from 1948 to 1967 came under Israeli control during the Six Day War of 1967.
As a result of the 1978 Camp David accords – in which Egypt recognized the right of Israel to exist and normal relations were established and Sinai was returned to Egypt. A peace treaty was also made with Jordan and which officially renounced its claim to the West Bank in 1988 when the late King Hussein announced his kingdom was cutting off its administrative and legal ties to the area.
You are currently browsing the Conflicts by Ari Rusila blog archives for November, 2012.


MKR's Lyn: "Manu is a bit naughty"
Gardening Australia host Costa Georgiadis celebrates the ABC institution's 30th anniversary with a special episode on Fri., Feb. 15 at 7.30pm. Watch the show's trailer below.
Why has Gardening Australia been so enduring?
That's a simple one. It has remained true to the [initial] charter: practical, accessible gardening know-how and ideas. That's not rocket science but it hasn't wavered off this path into trends and fads that are gone before you know it. Giving people the power to learn and grow with their garden is the start and finish of it. It's like we set people off on their gardening road and then feed the addiction.
How different is the show these days?
As far as content goes, facts, figures and techniques haven't changed a lot but what you notice when you look back is just how much the technology to film and capture the details has exploded exponentially. We can use drones now to illustrate the location and context of where we are and when we use a gimble and walk through a landscape or garden the viewer is not looking at me walking with the gardener they are actually walking with us. And then of course there is some fashion and coiffure back at the beginning that is simply priceless!
How have attitudes to gardening changed?
The big changes have been around garden size. More people are living in apartments, townhouses and dwellings on smaller allotments. The classic big Aussie backyard is no longer standard issue so we have a generation of gardeners who are now interested in small space gardening, and utilising balconies, verandahs, rooftops, vertical space and container gardening. And there is a wonderful drive because of this limited space for people to get into indoor plants. And I didn't even mention community gardens, city farms, school gardens and verge or streetside gardens.
Gardens can be a lot of work. How can people stay motivated to keep on top of things?
Include others in your gardening. Get the kids or grandkids involved with the activities and regular tasks. Bust out of the definition of a garden being something that you own into something that you can contribute to.


Familiarize yourself with the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta. This 4 door, 5 passenger sedan will allow you to take command of the road with confidence! It features a front-wheel-drive platform, an automatic transmission, and an efficient 4 cylinder engine. A turbocharger further enhances performance, while also preserving fuel economy. Volkswagen infused the interior with top shelf amenities, such as: delay-off headlights, variably intermittent wipers, a blind spot monitoring system, front bucket seats, power windows, remote keyless entry, and air conditioning. Audio features include an AM/FM radio, steering wheel mounted audio controls, and 4 speakers, providing excellent sound throughout the cabin. Take assurance in side curtain airbags, providing head protection in the event of a severe collision. We pride ourselves in the quality that we offer on all of our vehicles. Please don't hesitate to give us a call.


Thanks to research and development the 1973 founded manufacturer Fiam Italia is one of the few companies who is able to produce products in curved glass shapes, an advanced craftmanship that has revolutionised the applications of the elegant and pure material.
With 'Next' by Ludovica and Roberto Palomba Fiam Italia presented a new series of tables – the twisted legs show again the technical possibilities of the material.
Ludovica and Roberto Palomba's latest project for Foscarini is the result of a long research process that has led to the creation of Fly-Fly; a hanging lamp created with a polycarbonate injection moulding technique that guarantees 360° lighting.
The lamp features a special form that recalls an elegant hat, with wings that create a sensation of lightness and a satin finish that renders it a discrete, elegant presence that will enhance any environment with its aerial feel.


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/ Seamus Bellamy / 11:00 am Sat Aug 4, 2018
This castle has been 20 years in the making--and it's not even finished yet
In the north of Burgandy, France, a group of history buffs are hard at work building a castle, from scratch, using traditional building methods and materials--and they've been at it for TWENTY YEARS. The project is supported entirely on the backs of donations and hard, dedicated, manual labor.
carpentry / castles / construction / DIY / france / stone work / Weekend projects
How To: play Vlad Taltos in an RPG
Vlad Taltos is the (anti)hero of Steven Brust's stupendous, longrunning fantasy series (which is nearly complete, a generation after it was begun!); Issue 220 of Dragon magazine (August 1995) included a feature by Ed Stark explaining how to play the human assassin and witch who lives amidst a race of nearly immortal elves, against whom […]
Podcast: Occupy Gotham
In my latest podcast (MP3), I read my essay Occupy Gotham, published in Detective Comics: 80 Years of Batman, commemorating the 1000th issue of Batman comics. It's an essay about the serious hard problem of trusting billionaires to solve your problems, given the likelihood that billionaires are the cause of your problems. A thousand issues […]
Clayton Morris -- a former host of Fox & Friends -- was part owner of Oceanpointe, a company that sold turnkey landlord services in Indianapolis to investors who could send Oceanpointe money, which the company would invest in properties that they would repair and rent out.


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Investors will be glad to say goodbye to 2018, and especially the final month of last year, which turned out to be the worst December for the stock market since 1931. December is usually a solid month for the market historically, which is probably why so many investment managers were caught off balance by the swiftness of the downdraft that occurred. We had been discussing the prospect of getting more defensive in our portfolios, but believed it would be a task for 2019.
Another odd thing about last year was how strong the market was at the start of the year. In the first three weeks of January, the S&P 500 Index surged +7.5% before experiencing a sharp correction. The middle part of the year saw a fairly steady stairstep higher pattern into October, and then the market swooned into year-end. So far this year, 2019 has also gotten off to a solid start. The S&P 500 has rallied over 5% in the first two weeks of January, but we are mindful not to be lulled into a sense of complacency by the early market action. Rather, we think a bit of caution remains warranted.
As we entered 2018, we cautioned that the lack of volatility seen in the previous year (2017) was unlikely to be repeated and to expect a pickup in volatility. That prognostication came through in spades, more so than we would have liked. We still think that the elevated levels of market volatility that surfaced last year could persist for a while. For many reasons, the strong growth that the U.S. economy experienced since the November 2016 election is moderating, and the degree of said moderating growth will help determine the path for financial markets in the year ahead.
The first area on which we are focused is corporate profits (earnings). Earnings estimates for 2019 peaked last August, and have been trending lower since. The estimate cuts at about -3% aren't huge, but it is the direction that is important. Earnings estimates had been continually revised higher for a couple of years previously, so the change in trend is worth noting. Remember that earnings growth is the biggest driver of stock prices.
When it comes to earnings growth, we also look at the rate-of-change. That is, is earnings growth accelerating or decelerating. Last year saw a huge spike in earnings growth owing in large part to the corporate tax cut that was enacted. Each quarter last year saw yr/yr earnings growth in excess of +20%, peaking in Q3 when earnings surged +32%. The flip side of that is that this year the comparisons will be very difficult, due to the fast pace of growth last year. As such, the law of large numbers almost guarantees that earnings growth will slow in the coming quarters.
The second area of interest to us is economic growth (GDP). Recall the chart below that we have shown before, which displays the streak of 9 consecutive quarters of accelerating GDP growth in the U.S. That is quite a streak, again with the aid of strong fiscal stimulus initiatives from the new Administration after the 2016 election. Those fiscal stimulus measures had their desired effect, but now they are beginning to fade and that will make future comparisons to those strong quarters of GDP appear more difficult on a yr/yr basis – similar to the earnings comparison we described above.
Another component of economic growth comes from consumer and business confidence, which translates into spending. The consumer ended 2018 on a fairly positive note: unemployment is at record lows, wage growth is solid, inflation is benign, and the wealth effect has been positive. Mastercard recently indicated that this past holiday shopping season was the best it has seen in six years. But while consumers are feeling good, business confidence is seeing some weakness.
To wit, in a recent New York Times poll of 134 CEOs and CFOs, almost half believe that a recession will arrive sooner than the consensus among economists. They also cited concerns about the instability across Europe. If corporate managements lose confidence, they may slow spending and hiring, which would trickle down to the consumer level and thus exacerbate any economic slowdown. So the business and consumer confidence surveys bear monitoring going forward.
So far the signs of economic slowing in the U.S have been modest, but slowing growth in China, Japan, and Europe have been more pronounced. China is trying to help with stimulus measures, but on a far smaller scale than we have seen them do in past years. And Europe faces continued uncertainty in the form of ongoing Brexit negotiations, an upcoming election of a new EU president, and also a new president of the ECB to be named in the fall after Mario Draghi's 8-year term ends.
And last but not least is the Federal Reserve here in the U.S., and the current state of monetary policy across the globe. As a reminder, in 2008 the Fed and several other central banks in Europe and Asia began large scale asset purchases – known as quantitative easing ("QE") – to help support financial markets and the economy. The Fed's balance sheet ballooned over time from $870 billion in 2007 to nearly $4.5 trillion by 2015. The Bank of Japan and the ECB grew their balance sheets in excess of the U.S. In total, there have been over $15 trillion of assets purchases. But now comes the tricky part—the unwinding.
The process of shrinking the balance sheets has been dubbed "quantitative tightening" or QT. The Fed embarked on its QT campaign in October 2017, but with only a nominal amount ($10 billion) rolling off each month. Over time it allowed the monthly amount to grow, reaching $50 billion by October 2018. Some market strategists think the increase in QT in October 2018 may have exacerbated the selloff in the stock market. We should find out more going forward, as QT is set to continue in the near-term. Chairman Powell reversed earlier comments about a set path for QT, and said the Fed will be flexible and may 'pause' if conditions warrant. But no time frame has been offered at this point.
For their part, the Bank of Japan and ECB have said they will end QE purchases, but have not given any timetable for reducing their balance sheets. Our lingering concern is that if it took $15 trillion in global QE to help sustain the bull market over the last decade, what happens when that stimulus is withdrawn? For this reason, as well as the big picture slowdown effects about which we wrote earlier, we continue to look for opportunities to adopt more conservative allocations in our portfolios.
This market monitor is provided for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as investment advice.


The City of Calgary's Bylaw Services are responsible for active bylaw enforcement and public education campaigns.
Please have your name, address, phone number and alternate phone number ready, as well as the address and exact location of the property for which you wish to register a complaint.
Information will remain confidential but no anonymous complaints will be accepted.


This was NBC Entertainment President Jennifer Salke's response today to a TCA reporter's query about the network's struggle to find footing for the critically acclaimed comedy, The Carmichael Show which announced its cancellation back in June.
NBC Entertainment Chairman Robert Greenblatt added that it was notable for a comedy series in this current era on NBC to find its way to three seasons, so Carmichael had a good run. "Superstore is getting a third season, and we cancelled six or seven of these (comedy) shows in their earlier life," said Greenblatt.
The Carmichael Show was an NBC Universal production with Fox as the leading studio. Last year the comedy series scored a last minute third season renewal in the 11th hour.
The Carmichael Show would tackle timely issues, read one episode focused on the N-word and whether white people can say it on the heels of the controversy surrounding comedian Bill Maher's use of the word on his HBO show. Another episode dealt with a mass shooting as it fell on a day of two real-life mass shootings in the U.S. — including the one at a congressional GOP baseball practice. NBC postponed the episode's airing to late June. The network's decision to push the episode was publicly criticized by Carmichael at the time who called it "criminal".
Deadline's Senior Editor Dominic Patten wrote this morning that last night's 9 PM air of The Carmichael Show (0.7/3) was +17% in the key demo over the last week facing CBS' Salvation and Fox's The F Word in the time slot.


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Masters in Business of Fashion kicks off new academic year with style
Fri, September 11, 2020
The Rutgers Master of Science in Business of Fashion Program 2020 academic year kickoff welcomed new and returning students virtually and featured a steampunk-themed design competition.
Students with an education and background in design were able to submit designs, and the designers were free to be as creative as they wanted with the concept.
The competition was judged by Justin Farnham, a 2019 alumnus of the MSBF program, who currently works as design development and account manager at Stylus Apparel. He also makes custom wedding gowns by hand for private clients.
Farnham holds a B.A. in Fashion Design from Parsons. He has worked as a freelance menswear designer for more than 10 years for brands such as Tommy Hilfiger, Ralph Lauren, and UNTUCKit. Justin's next project is launching his own line of men's swimwear made of vintage fabrics from the 1950s, 60s and 70s.
Farnham chose Elizabeth Stapel as the winner of the design competition. A poll offered to the MSBF students selected Andrew Staunton as the winner with 34 percent of the votes. Elizabeth Stapel and Ashley Saeli both tied in the student poll with each receiving 33 percent of the vote.
About the winners and their designs:
Designer: Ashley Saeli
Education: BFA Fashion Design, Kent State University
Employment: Associate Designer, Happy Threads Apparel
Statement: "As a children's wear designer, I wanted to create a design that fits my expertise, so I
landed on the concept of Mommy and Me. From there, I always imagine who the consumer would be – in this case, a mom and daughter power team who love wearing fun trendy dress-up to play looks.
While this category of "dress-up" clothing is typically only for children, I wanted to explore the idea of the mom and daughter bonding over the shared experience of escaping reality together into the fantasy world of steampunk.
My main goal as a designer is to foster creativity in our future leaders, as I believe creativity leads to innovation and progress. These looks do just that through encouraging the duo to enter a world built by their imaginations alone."
Fun fact about Ashley: "In my free time, I love to take ballet classes."
Ashley Saeli's design.
Designer: Elizabeth Stapel
Education: BFA Fabric Styling, Fashion Institute of Technology
Employment: Customer Associate, Anthropologie
Statement: "When I think of steampunk, I am often drawn to the ideas of the industrial revolution and the Victorian era. For this design, I wanted to keep the aesthetics of these time periods in mind, while also drawing from the ideas of retro futurism and utilitarian design. I also wanted to make sure that I made the design modern and relevant to today in order to create a look that is clearly steampunk, but still sellable in today's market.
It was also important to me that I include a mask in the look because it incorporates elements of steampunk, while also being the latest essential in fashion. I designed the print on the pants, which includes gear motifs, and it is my modern take on the machinery of the industrial revolution. The ribbed top with ruffled lace details is a contemporary nod to the corsetry of the Victorian era, and the leather strapping and pockets throughout the look bring in touches of industrial and utilitarian design. The color palette of this outfit largely comes from machinery, and I wanted to include mostly browns and neutrals, as well as metal tones that are unmistakably steampunk inspired. Each part of this design was carefully thought out to create a look that is modern and wearable, and that pays homage to and is inspired by the steampunk style."
Fun Fact about Elizabeth: "I love to travel and have been to almost 20 countries and counting."
Design submitted by Elizabeth Stapel.
Designer: Andrew Staunton
Education: B.A. Fashion Design, Kingston University
Employment: Former Design Director, DKNY Men's Sportswear
Statement: "The design submitted is named "Urban Steampunk" as I felt it should live in a more modern vein applicable to current trends. In researching steampunk, many factors come to the surface. I caught onto this Amelia Earhart, aeronautical look, as well as looking to designers who have been inspired by steampunk. You can see threads of the concept weaving through collections from Burberry, Versace, and Yohji Yamamoto.
I illustrated a layered look starting with are a cropped shearling flyer jacket. The proportion is modern and intentional, with an exaggerated statement collar and minimized authentic details. Under this is a cotton-wool twill weave blouse, featuring a ruffle at the neck and center front. This nod to Victoriana as a theme runs throughout the more feminized pieces seen in steampunk, referencing the concept's historical origins. The trouser is more military-inspired, with a punctuated cuff at the calf, a silhouette that has stood out in recent trends and the Steampunk universe.
The color palette is monochromatic, made up of greys and browns, again being led by what I saw in the inspiration while also feeling modern and relevant.
Given the current situation, a face mask is necessary but plays back to the overall concept and complements it. Finally, no steampunk outfit is complete without a pair of goggles, again reinforcing the origins of steampunk as an inspiration."
Fun Fact about Andrew: "I was born in Australia, grew up in London, but I am 100 percent Irish."
Andrew Staunton's design.
Business of Fashion program fostered student's entrepreneurial dreams
Tue, June 23, 2020
Graduate of Master in Business of Fashion program finds new opportunity
Wed, September 25, 2019
Business of Fashion program suited for entrepreneurial-minded students
Mon, July 08, 2019


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http://presscorp.org/news/trans-activist-gets-woman-fired-for-following-libs-of-tiktok-on-twitter
Trans Activist Gets Woman Fired for Following Libs of TikTok on Twitter
National File
Eric Clary
Trans Flag by Dustin Perry is licensed under Public Domain
Last Friday, the video game company Limited Run Games fired their community manager, Kara Lynn, after a transgender activist reported that she followed right-wing users on Twitter, including Libs of TikTok. The far-left activist, using the name "Purple Tinker," demanded the company either fire Lynn or lose them as a customer. Limited Run Games ultimately chose to fire their employee.
"The community manager for @LimitedRunGames, [Kara Lynn], is a transphobe who follows a veritable who's who of right-wing transphobic creeps," tweeted the far-left account. "Unless and until she is fired from the company permanently, I am not giving them another single dime."
The tweet garnered hundreds of likes and replies from dozens of like-minded left-wing extremists, who called on Limited Run Games to fire their employee. After a short period, Limited Run Games issued a statement announcing that Kara Lynn had been fired.