First-grade teacher Sandra Davila quit her job over the conditions for English learners in Cicero's elementary schools. The federal government is investigating the program.
Cicero teacher Sandra Davila quit her job in December to draw attention to what she considers deep problems in the school district's bilingual program.
Her training didn't match the curriculum, she said, and the curriculum didn't seem to match the goals of the bilingual program. She was pushed to teach without the proper manuals and materials, Davila added.
Davila started in Cicero School District 99 in August after teaching earlier in her career at a highly respected dual-language program in the Chicago Public Schools. She left Cicero after only four months due to "alarming issues and concerns with student intimidation," she said.
Davila said she saw kids berated for speaking with an accent in English, which is one of a host of concerns echoed by a community group that filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights. Parent Gerardo Vences said his six-year-old daughter doesn't want to go to school anymore because her teacher gets mad that she can't speak English.
Now, the federal government is looking into possible civil rights violations across all of Cicero's elementary schools, investigating claims that its bilingual education students are being discriminated against.
The investigation by the Education Department's Office for Civil Rights was launched Dec. 30, just before President Barack Obama left office. Its fate under President Donald Trump's administration is uncertain. Civil rights advocates nationwide have expressed fear that the Trump administration could dramatically shrink the role of the Office for Civil Rights and severely limit federal investigations. Trump's recent decision to rescind protections for transgender students in schools further stoked those fears.
This could impact Cicero's school district, which is 93 percent Latino. More than half its 12,470 students are considered English-language learners, one of the highest percentages in Illinois. The school district has struggled before with complaints about its ability to adequately educate these students. A 2013 audit by the state found a laundry list of problems, and the feds investigated once before, in the late 1990s.
A spokesman for the U.S. Department of Education said it is still monitoring the district as a result of that case.
The Cicero case also highlights broader demographic and civil rights dynamics that go far beyond this suburb.
"People need to pay attention to this," said Delia Barajas, co-founder of the community group Ixchel, which filed the complaint last summer that sparked the federal investigation.
Barajas points to growing Latino and English-learner populations in the suburbs that are reshaping schools there.
The majority of Illinois' 200,000 bilingual education kids live in Chicago's suburbs. The number of English learners in Chicago has actually declined over the last decade, but in the rest of the state, numbers are up 60 percent, according to state data.
Barajas had six children attend Cicero schools. When they hit college, they were unprepared, she said. She was disturbed to see recent state test results showing just 4 percent of Cicero's bilingual students are proficient in English. The statewide rate for bilingual education students on the same exam was 9 percent. Among all students in Illinois, 36 percent were proficient in English.
Earlier this month, parents of bilingual students in Cicero packed a lunchroom for a parenting workshop. Barajas was there, passing out flyers about the civil rights investigation, which many Cicero parents had not heard about.
Cicero District 99 Supt. Rudy Hernandez was there, too. He told parents the district is making changes to its bilingual education program. Until now, he said, the goal of the program has been to transition children from Spanish into English-only classes.
Hernandez said he wants to move the district toward a dual-language model.
"Now we're going to be able to do what you're asking us to do — teach my kids Spanish, and the values of the culture. But also teach them English at the same level, with the values of the American culture. So that they can have two languages and be dominant in two languages," he told one mom.
Hernandez said that requires re-training for teachers, a process he said the district has already begun. The district will pilot the dual language approach at two schools next year, he said, adding that the goal is to eventually expand to all 16 schools in the district.
Hernandez said he's proud of the district's current bilingual program. And he said he would never tolerate a lack of materials or children being ridiculed.
"Our teachers are the most caring and kind people," said Hernandez, who felt the sting of discrimination himself as a schoolkid in a bilingual program in Chicago, where he said kids like him were seen as an "add-on," as strangers.
He said Cicero is cooperating fully with the Office for Civil Rights investigation. The district denies any wrongdoing.
This is not the first time government monitors have looked into how Cicero educates its English learners.
The Illinois State Board of Education found a long list of problems during a 2013 audit of Cicero's bilingual education program.
The district wasn't testing or tracking bilingual kids properly.
Bilingual teachers may not have been present to help determine whether bilingual students needed special education.
The bilingual program itself didn't consistently include all the components required by law, such as the mandate that core subjects be taught in both English and students' native language.
Spanish language-arts instruction did not follow standards.
Cicero quickly submitted a plan for correcting those problems, and the state signed off and closed the case just two months after its initial review, during summer vacation, with no further monitoring.
The U.S. Department of Education will be examining many of the same concerns raised in the state audit. But it emphasizes that the existence of an investigation doesn't indicate any findings.
The Cicero case is one of more than 4,000 open investigations nationwide involving race, gender or special education civil rights issues. President Obama's administration handled an unprecedented number of these cases. His administration also issued high-profile guidelines concerning civil rights in education, forcing colleges to wrestle with sexual assault policies; trying to prevent schools from handing out harsher punishments to black and Latino kids; and ordering schools to treat transgender students consistent with their identity.
Conservatives considered many of those actions an overreach by the federal government and are pushing for a rollback, as the Trump administration did this week with protections for transgender students in schools.
But Sarah Schottle, an attorney with the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund in Chicago, said the Office for Civil Rights plays an important role in the civil rights landscape in education. Growing numbers of English learners in the suburbs is not really a protection against civil rights violations, she said.
Schottle said the feds can get information and demand accountability without resorting to a lawsuit. That's something individuals and civil rights groups cannot do alone.
Shockingly, there is an older civil rights case in Cicero dating back to 1996, also alleging discrimination against bilingual education students. The district and the Office for Civil Rights came to an agreement about what should be done in 1999; the federal government is supposedly still tracking Cicero to make sure it complies.
District officials did not respond to questions about the 1999 case.
Barajas, the community leader who helped get the current investigation going, had no idea about the older case when she started all this.
Barajas now feels like her little community group has got to keep everybody accountable -- Cicero, the state, and the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights.
Linda Lutton covers education for WBEZ. Follow her @WBEZeducation.


text:
End of session statement presented at the 41st session of the Human Rights Council 12 July 2019 Various
Organisations representing civil society around the world present their end of session statement at the 41st session of the Human Rights Council.
APC at the SIF: Tackling the many forms of "denial of service" to keep the internet free, open and secure 03 June 2019 APCNews
At this year's Stockholm Internet Forum (SIF), as in years past, the APC network was actively engaged, by organising, co-organising, speaking at and participating in sessions and workshops. The theme of SIF 2019 was "Shrinking Democratic Space Online".
UNESCO's IPDC gives go ahead for Internet Universality Indicators 27 November 2018 UNESCO
Work on the project to define Internet Universality Indicators was led for UNESCO by the Association for Progressive Communications (APC) on behalf of the Internet Indicators Consortium, which included, apart from APC, ict Development Associates, Research ICT Africa and LIRNEasia.
Global Information Society Watch 2018: Community Networks 12 November 2018 Various
The 43 country reports and eight thematic reports in this year's GISWatch focus on community networks, defined as "communication networks built, owned, operated, and used by citizens in a participatory and open manner."
UNESCO: Open Forum on "Measuring a free, open, rights based and inclusive internet" 18 October 2018 UNESCO
The Internet Universality Indicators have been developed through a process of desk research and global multistakeholder consultation, undertaken by UNESCO with the support of a consortium which has been led by the Association for Progressive Communications.
APC Annual Report 2017 22 September 2018
APC's year of transition has been a year of learning and change for all of us. We've had a good year, made possible by the spirit, hard work and commitment of the APC staff, the engagement of our members, the guidance of our board of directors, and the support of our partners.
New APC member Rudi International: Working with children who were robbed of their opportunity for development in the DRC 28 August 2018 APCNews
Rudi International focuses on education, health, literacy, trauma healing for survivors of gender-based violence, and improved and safe access to ICTs. We talked to co-founder Alain-Daniel R. Wa-Baguma about their work and the future ahead.
Action Steps: A decade of civil society advocacy in the information society - A baseline review of the Global Information Society Watch country reports (2007-2017) 06 August 2018 Alan Finlay
The purpose of this review was to look back over the past decade of country reports published in Global Information Society Watch (GISWatch) and attempt to identify trends in civil society perspectives on what needed to be done to create a people- centred information society.
Community Networks and Local Access Monthly Newsletter - Number 7 27 June 2018
Welcome to the seventh monthly round-up of developments impacting your local access networks.
New toolkit for researching women's internet access and use 23 May 2018
A new resource launched by GSMA, in collaboration with the Alliance for Affordable Internet, the World Wide Web Foundation and APC, provides an introductory guide for researchers to collect comparable and accurate data on women's and men's internet access and use.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Q: Can I add widgets to the new Unity lock screen in Ubuntu 14.04? When I lock my screen using Linux Mint 17, there is a giant clock on the lock screen. I got used to this, and now I'm wondering if I can also add a giant clock (or any widget, for that matter) to my Ubuntu 14.04 lock screen. Is there a way for me to do this with relative ease?

A: +1 on this: I'm currently working in an environment where you need to lock your workspace if you're not at your desk, but I have reporting stuff going to a second monitor. It'd be a neat workaround if I could just load a webpage as a widget so people could still see that even if my screen is locked.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Rev Sci Instrum. 2013 Dec;84(12):125003. doi: 10.1063/1.4838615.
Direct current force sensing device based on compressive spring, permanent magnet, and coil-wound magnetostrictive/piezoelectric laminate.
Leung CM1, Or SW1, Ho SL1.
Department of Electrical Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
A force sensing device capable of sensing dc (or static) compressive forces is developed based on a NAS106N stainless steel compressive spring, a sintered NdFeB permanent magnet, and a coil-wound Tb(0.3)Dy(0.7)Fe(1.92)/Pb(Zr, Ti)O3 magnetostrictive∕piezoelectric laminate. The dc compressive force sensing in the device is evaluated theoretically and experimentally and is found to originate from a unique force-induced, position-dependent, current-driven dc magnetoelectric effect. The sensitivity of the device can be increased by increasing the spring constant of the compressive spring, the size of the permanent magnet, and/or the driving current for the coil-wound laminate. Devices of low-force (20 N) and high-force (200 N) types, showing high output voltages of 262 and 128 mV peak, respectively, are demonstrated at a low driving current of 100 mA peak by using different combinations of compressive spring and permanent magnet.


Animation EffectBox creates GIF and AVI animations on the base of predefined effects (such as moving objects, small particles, running text, wave, shake, appearance, explosion, changing brightness). You define sequence and parameters of separate effects to get peerless animations quickly and easy. Also you can create GIF, AVI-files from command line in batch mode. This program has optimization tools for making your GIFs smaller. Version 1.4 allows using PNG files for background pictures, adds a track bar to the main window to see each frame of animation, and stores background pictures and images of moving objects inside scripts (in AME- files).


Wow! What a great Helmet. Encouraged by my recent acquisition of the 5Xl Open Face Vega I thought I would risk a couple of dollars on the AFX and I'm delighted I did.
* An aerodynamic shell design constructed using fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP).
* A helmet liner and cheek pads made with a hypoallergenic and anti-microbial nylon, all of which are removable and washable.
* Provides ample ear cavity space for speakers.
* A flush-fit, side-coverless face shield that is optically correct, compound-curved, scratch-resistant and protects against UV-rays.
* Same outer shields, optional shields and ratchet kits as our FX-90/FX-100 helmet model.
* 7 points of ventilation with chin, side, rear & forehead vents.
* AFX DOT/ECE-approved cam buckle quick-release chinstrap retention system.
* A clear coat finish to protect paint & graphics.
* Comes with a cloth carrying bag.
* Comes with a Limited Lifetime Warranty.
* This helmet model meets or exceeds both ECE 22.05 and DOT FMVSS-218 motorcycle helmet safety standards.
This is the biggest and most comfortable helmet I've found yet.
It's Full Face and feels about 10% bigger than the Arai Signet 3XL.
Even though its marked as 4Xl it feels about the same size as the 5XL Vega but is in my preferred standard full face race helmet style.
I'm so pleased, I have already ordered a second one just to keep it as backup.


text:
Research details functioning of key protein for development of citrus canker | AGÊNCIA FAPESP
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Brazilian scientists' discovery of ways in which bacterium Xanthomonas citri modulates plant cell growth paves way for novel methods to control the disease (photo: R. Anson Eaglin / USDA / Wikimedia)
Research details functioning of key protein for development of citrus canker
By Karina Toledo | Agência FAPESP – Researchers at the National Bioscience Laboratory (LNBio), in Brazil, have revealed details of the structure and function of a key protein for the development of citrus canker, a disease that affects the commercially most important species of citrus fruit.
Caused by the bacterium Xanthomonas citri, this disease is characterized by runaway plant cell growth that produces lesions on leaf, fruit and branch surfaces. The bacteria spread via these lesions, and when the infection is severe enough, the disease can cause leaves and fruit to drop prematurely, decreasing crop yield.
"For the lesions to develop, the pathogen must neutralize a host cell protein called MAF1, which is responsible for controlling cell growth. Our research explored the MAF1 regulation pathways in citrus as well as the regions of the plant's molecular structure that are important for anti-tumor function," said Celso Benedetti, principal investigator for the study, which was supported by FAPESP. The results were published in the journal Structure.
Benedetti's group has investigated the mechanisms by which X. citri causes disease in citrus plants for over ten years at LNBio, which is attached to the National Energy and Materials Research Center (CNPEM) in Campinas, São Paulo State.
Above all, the researchers have studied the "factors of pathogenicity", molecules released by bacteria to circumvent the host cells' defense system and favor infection. "In a previous study, we showed that bacteria inject host cells with proteins known as TAL (transcription activator-like) effectors, which reprogram cell growth in the plant. Our results for citrus suggest this reprogramming is driven largely by inactivation of MAF1," Benedetti said.
The MAF1 protein family has been widely studied in yeast, fruit flies and mammals, especially humans and mice, because of its involvement in diseases such as cancer and obesity.
Evidence in the scientific literature suggests MAF1 controls gene transcription and cell growth by binding to RNA polymerase 3 (also known as Pol III), a protein complex that produces the "ingredients" needed for protein synthesis.
"Cells need proteins in order to grow and use RNA polymerase 3 to make ribosomes and tRNAs, transfer RNAs, for protein synthesis," Benedetti explained. "MAF1 is a regulator of RNA polymerase 3 activity, and cell growth and division increase when it stops working."
Until publication of the article in Structure, the scientific literature offered only a description of the structure of human MAF1, obtained by X-ray diffraction crystallography (a technique that consists of crystallizing proteins and observing how the crystal scatters a beam of incident X-rays).
The crystal structure of citrus MAF1 now obtained by the group at LNBio has structural elements not found in human MAF1. In addition, this structure maps regions of the molecule that are important for its interaction with Pol III.
"The activity of MAF1 depends on a process known as phosphorylation [addition of phosphate groups to polypeptide chains]. When MAF1 is phosphorylated [receives phosphate adornments], it 'uncouples' from RNA polymerase 3, which therefore becomes active. Our findings show that citrus MAF1 phosphorylation is mediated by TOR, one of the most important kinases," Benedetti said.
Kinases are proteins whose main function is to phosphorylate other proteins and thereby regulate their activity. According to Benedetti, the cell signaling pathway mediated by TOR had been described for human MAF1, but it was not known whether the process in plants was similar to the process in humans.
The new findings enabled the LNBio group to elucidate the signaling cascade associated with plant cell proliferation, which is ultimately controlled by auxin, a hormone known since the pioneering experiments performed with plants by English naturalist Charles Darwin (1809-1882).
"Auxin has long been known to control plant cell growth, but exactly how it does so has been poorly understood," Benedetti said. "Our findings suggest auxin regulates the activity of the kinase TOR, which in turn regulates MAF1-mediated repression of RNA polymerase 3 transcription. This knowledge has major implications for research on biomass energy production."
Knowledge applied
To demonstrate the central role of TOR in plant cell growth regulation, the group performed an experiment with leaves of the orange tree (Citrus sinensis), which were infected with X. citri and exposed to a solution containing a compound that inhibited the activity of this kinase.
"Treatment with the TOR inhibitor prevented citrus canker formation almost completely, while lesions developed as expected in infected leaves treated with a solution containing only placebo," Benedetti said.
The LNBio group are currently investigating the possibility of using the inhibitor – as well as other compounds that act on the TOR/MAF1 regulation pathway – to control citrus canker.
"However, any substance that may have an inhibitory effect on TOR in citrus must be shown to be innocuous to the plant and also to humans, animals and the environment," Benedetti said. "Moreover, to be economically feasible, the compound's production cost must be low. Otherwise, it would considerably raise the final price of the product, making its application to citrus groves unviable."
Today, there are no totally effective ways to eliminate citrus canker, which is managed by growers by using a risk mitigation system in accordance with Ministry of Agriculture rules in force since March 2017.
The rules require copper spraying of citrus groves, replacement of infected plants with healthy saplings and more resistant varieties, windbreaks, and control of the citrus leafminer (Phyllocnistis citrella), an insect that facilitates the spread of citrus canker.
While the new legislation allows growers to leave plants with citrus canker standing and does not require eradication, it prohibits the sale of fruit with lesions or other symptoms of the disease. "New control measures are important in this new scenario of living with the disease," Benedetti said.
The article "Crystal structure and regulation of the citrus Pol III repressor MAF1 by auxin and phosphorylation" (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.str.2017.07.004) by Adriana Santos Soprano, Celso Eduardo Benedetti et al. can be retrieved from: sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0969212617302198!.
Agência FAPESP licenses news reports under Creative Commons license CC-BY-NC-ND so that they can be republished free of charge and in a straightforward manner by other digital media or by print media. The name of the author or reporter (when applied) must be cited, as must the source (Agência FAPESP). Using the button HTML below ensures compliance with the rules described in Agência FAPESP's Digital Content Republication Policy.
By Karina Toledo | Agência FAPESP – Researchers at the National Bioscience Laboratory (LNBio), in Brazil, have revealed details of the structure and function of a key protein for the development of citrus canker, a disease that affects the commercially most important species of citrus fruit. Caused by the bacterium Xanthomonas citri, this disease is characterized by runaway plant cell growth that produces lesions on leaf, fruit and branch surfaces. The bacteria spread via these lesions, and when the infection is severe enough, the disease can cause leaves and fruit to drop prematurely, decreasing crop yield. "For the lesions to develop, the pathogen must neutralize a host cell protein called MAF1, which is responsible for controlling cell growth. Our research explored the MAF1 regulation pathways in citrus as well as the regions of the plant's molecular structure that are important for anti-tumor function," said Celso Benedetti, principal investigator for the study, which was supported by FAPESP. The results were published in the journal Structure. Benedetti's group has investigated the mechanisms by which X. citri causes disease in citrus plants for over ten years at LNBio, which is attached to the National Energy and Materials Research Center (CNPEM) in Campinas, São Paulo State. Above all, the researchers have studied the "factors of pathogenicity", molecules released by bacteria to circumvent the host cells' defense system and favor infection. "In a previous study, we showed that bacteria inject host cells with proteins known as TAL (transcription activator-like) effectors, which reprogram cell growth in the plant. Our results for citrus suggest this reprogramming is driven largely by inactivation of MAF1," Benedetti said. The MAF1 protein family has been widely studied in yeast, fruit flies and mammals, especially humans and mice, because of its involvement in diseases such as cancer and obesity. Evidence in the scientific literature suggests MAF1 controls gene transcription and cell growth by binding to RNA polymerase 3 (also known as Pol III), a protein complex that produces the "ingredients" needed for protein synthesis. "Cells need proteins in order to grow and use RNA polymerase 3 to make ribosomes and tRNAs, transfer RNAs, for protein synthesis," Benedetti explained. "MAF1 is a regulator of RNA polymerase 3 activity, and cell growth and division increase when it stops working." Until publication of the article in Structure, the scientific literature offered only a description of the structure of human MAF1, obtained by X-ray diffraction crystallography (a technique that consists of crystallizing proteins and observing how the crystal scatters a beam of incident X-rays). The crystal structure of citrus MAF1 now obtained by the group at LNBio has structural elements not found in human MAF1. In addition, this structure maps regions of the molecule that are important for its interaction with Pol III. "The activity of MAF1 depends on a process known as phosphorylation [addition of phosphate groups to polypeptide chains]. When MAF1 is phosphorylated [receives phosphate adornments], it 'uncouples' from RNA polymerase 3, which therefore becomes active. Our findings show that citrus MAF1 phosphorylation is mediated by TOR, one of the most important kinases," Benedetti said. Kinases are proteins whose main function is to phosphorylate other proteins and thereby regulate their activity. According to Benedetti, the cell signaling pathway mediated by TOR had been described for human MAF1, but it was not known whether the process in plants was similar to the process in humans. The new findings enabled the LNBio group to elucidate the signaling cascade associated with plant cell proliferation, which is ultimately controlled by auxin, a hormone known since the pioneering experiments performed with plants by English naturalist Charles Darwin (1809-1882). "Auxin has long been known to control plant cell growth, but exactly how it does so has been poorly understood," Benedetti said. "Our findings suggest auxin regulates the activity of the kinase TOR, which in turn regulates MAF1-mediated repression of RNA polymerase 3 transcription. This knowledge has major implications for research on biomass energy production." Knowledge applied To demonstrate the central role of TOR in plant cell growth regulation, the group performed an experiment with leaves of the orange tree (Citrus sinensis), which were infected with X. citri and exposed to a solution containing a compound that inhibited the activity of this kinase. "Treatment with the TOR inhibitor prevented citrus canker formation almost completely, while lesions developed as expected in infected leaves treated with a solution containing only placebo," Benedetti said. The LNBio group are currently investigating the possibility of using the inhibitor – as well as other compounds that act on the TOR/MAF1 regulation pathway – to control citrus canker. "However, any substance that may have an inhibitory effect on TOR in citrus must be shown to be innocuous to the plant and also to humans, animals and the environment," Benedetti said. "Moreover, to be economically feasible, the compound's production cost must be low. Otherwise, it would considerably raise the final price of the product, making its application to citrus groves unviable." Today, there are no totally effective ways to eliminate citrus canker, which is managed by growers by using a risk mitigation system in accordance with Ministry of Agriculture rules in force since March 2017. The rules require copper spraying of citrus groves, replacement of infected plants with healthy saplings and more resistant varieties, windbreaks, and control of the citrus leafminer (Phyllocnistis citrella), an insect that facilitates the spread of citrus canker. While the new legislation allows growers to leave plants with citrus canker standing and does not require eradication, it prohibits the sale of fruit with lesions or other symptoms of the disease. "New control measures are important in this new scenario of living with the disease," Benedetti said. The article "Crystal structure and regulation of the citrus Pol III repressor MAF1 by auxin and phosphorylation" (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.str.2017.07.004) by Adriana Santos Soprano, Celso Eduardo Benedetti et al. can be retrieved from: sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0969212617302198!.
This text was originally published by FAPESP Agency according to Creative Commons license CC-BY-NC-ND. Read the original here.
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text:
pxhere.com
When Will Freedom Arrive In The U.S.?
Feb. 1 is the Danes' new independence day. On Tuesday, Denmark rid itself of all of its remaining pandemic restrictions. But liberty in America, the nation that pioneered the guarantee of freedom to its people, is still under assault.
Denmark is the first country in Europe to reopen its boxed-in, abused, and drained society. No more indoor mask mandates, or vaccine passports for entry into private establishments. Other European nations have lifted some restrictions, as well, but only Denmark has gone all the way and dropped a self-isolation requirement for those who test positive.
Apparently the Danes learned the lesson that after nearly two years most nations haven't been able, or willing, to figure out. Finland isn't far behind.
But not America.
Yes, most U.S. states have freed their residents. Yet much of the country is still under the government boot.
California, the biggest state, with nearly 40 million government subjects, is still ruled by a do-as-I-say (but-never-as-I-do) governor, and local lawmakers and bureaucrats who slip on their jackboots every morning. This same governor called the pandemic an "opportunity for reimagining a progressive era … to reshape the way we do business and how we govern." Which means "we're going to further suppress your liberties."
Politicians in New York are in a legal battle over mask rules, with the governor and attorney general fighting to keep as many faces covered as they possibly can.
Washington, D.C., is under the rule of a mayor who has issued more vaccine mandates and requirements than the average person can hope to keep up with.
Chicago also has a show-us-your-papers vaccine passport regime. So does Boston.
In Utah, Salt Lake County's mask rule is a heated topic in the capital, where the Senate approved a resolution that would kill local mask mandates.
Oregon still requires everyone 5 and older to mask up indoors, vaccinated or not. Washington has a similar rule that includes outdoor venues when 500 or more are present.
An indoor mask mandate that disregards vaccination status and age is still in effect in New Mexico.
Social gatherings in some Hawaii counties remain subject to limits set by government.
Notice any commonality among these outposts where freedom no longer rings? They are all run by Democrats. If there is any indisputable fact in today's politics, it's that Democrats are anti-freedom. Quick, name a single liberty that Democrats support either through legislation or in the abstract.
It can't be done because the party of the left is the party of central planning, reflexive intervention into private affairs, ever-expanding government, higher tax burdens, suppression of speech, stifling regulatory regimes, political society over civil society, violations of the Second Amendment, the accrual of raw political power, and fealty to its rule.
While that's an exhausting but not exhaustive list, we know readers will get the point. The Democrats would rather reign than constitutionally govern. It's a derangement they can no longer cover up.
— Written by the I&I Editorial Board
covid restrictions Denmark Featured freedom lockdowns mask mandate vaccine mandate
Canadian Convoy Movement Goes Global — Next Stop, U.S.?
This Is Not America, Part II
Why can't I see comments?
John Merline says:
Once approved by the editors, comments appear at the bottom of the page.
ExGOPTexas says:
Wow these I&I people have vivid imaginations! Many people in the US are trying to save the lives of their fellow citizens and the I&I people go crazy. They think that a preference for masks will affect the 2nd Amendment? How, can people wearing a mask not recognize a firearm? If you are wearing a mask does that automatically impose higher taxes?
No, the I&I people want to grab power for themselves other right wingers and want to use the uncertainty about the COVID virus to help them. They don't care that thousands of Americans die when they could have easily been saved – the I&I people want political influence. They don't care that their fellow right wing lunatics like Jimmy DeYoung, Marcus Lamb, etc die – they are willing to spare them.
So parts of America are under the "government boot" so that means we cannot hold jobs, we don't have freedom of the press? No, that is a huge lie that the I&I people are telling people.
Rob Allen says:
exgoptexas You don't know what your talking about . People who got the vaccine are still getting cov-19 and your still spreading it. I have had covid-19 twice now it's affected about like having a cold. I am not going to take a vaccine to get over a cold.
It's more like the flu – and you would recommend that no one get a flu vaccine, right? You should call some of the right wing people that refused to get a vaccination – like Marcus Lamb. Or Jimmy DeYoung, and ask how it worked out for them. Oh you can't because they died of COVID?
CA Conservative Teacher says:
I am a teacher in California. If I refuse to vaccinate, I will lose my job on July 1 due to Governor Newsom's order. And this for refusing to take a vaccine that does not prevent disease or disease transmission. So yes, we cannot hold the jobs we currently have unless we submit to government forcing us into medical treatment that we do not want or need.
California will do just fine without you, switch to a career that suits you better.
David R Cavall says:
Facemasks are useless–read the unbiased science that doesn't follow what seems to be a greater agenda.
Otto Q says:
Wow… I guess your mask wearing has cut off the oxygen to your brain so you have lost all ability to comprehend the written word and what is being said. You should try reading actual scientific studies and not just parroting what the talking heads on CNN and MSNBC feed you. 0 proof masks do anything. Fraudci himself basically admitted it is just a psychological boost to get people out of their homes. The restrictions never worked to control the pandemic, and if anything only made it way way worse. The democrats keep these unlawful mandates in place for control – control of sheep like yourself. But, keep bahhhing your way to the slaughterhouse.
Douglas Proudfoot says:
Hi, I'm an Expert! When I say that there's no possible way the Covid-19 virus leaked from a lab in Wuhan, you can trust me. When I say you don't need a mask, you do need a mask, you don't need a mask if you're fully vaccinated, and you need two masks, whether you're vaccinated or not, you have to follow along and do exactly as I say, because I'm The Science (TM). If I tell you not to use drugs 79 other countries have approved for use against Covid-19, you have to remember I'm infallible, and they're not.
You should remember how happy everyone was in 1984, with the Ministry of Truth filtering information so you don't have to do it yourself. With the privatized Ministry of Truth, run by friendly oligarchs, censorship is no longer a First Amendment problem, even for Marxists, because it's private companies who do it. Also, you should know that words like "colorblind" and "meritocracy" are the dog whistles of white supremacy. Make sure your kids judge everyone by their skin color, not their character or accomplishments. Call the AFT for details. Insist that all schools be run without gifted programs, since they only help Asian immigrants anyway.
Jonathan Galt says:
"When I say that there's no possible way the Covid-19 virus leaked from a lab in Wuhan, you can trust me."
You left out, "…leaked from a lab in Wuhan >that I funded<…"
Brother John says:
I'm curious, what name(s) do you troll under like this at other sites?
"Many people in the US are trying to save the lives of their fellow citizens and the I&I people go crazy."
What you believe you are TRYING to do (and not all people supporting your position actually have such good intentions), and what you are actually accomplishing, are diametric opposites. Lock downs had only a 0.2% impact on the virus (statistically insignificant). Masks, similar. In the meantime, tens of thousands of people are dead because of depression, substance abuse, and just plain loneliness. In other words, totalitarianism kills more people than it saves.
Then there's the fake vaccine, for which they literally had to change the clinical definition of "vaccine" for it to qualify. People are more likely to contract Covid Omega if they are triple vaxxed than completely unvaxxed. While all long term effects of the vaccine are certainly not known yet, there are already huge upswings in cancer, neurological disorders, myocardium, and other life threatening or permanently debilitating effects.
And, your comment about "right wingers" wanting to grab power is sheer projection. Right wing and centrists want to end central control of these (and most other) personal life issues, and are simply saying it is OUR choice to make, not yours. This is why Democrats / totalitarians will suffer immense losses in the 2022 election from which they will likely not recover in a generation. We won't forget what you did to us.
America is in the process of crashing and burning.
It's days as a dominant and leading nation are over.
Anyone who knows history and is even halfway aware can see this. It happens to all once great nations.
It sounds like you have given up on the USA, we can help you pack and get to the border.
In decline, certainly. History also shows we can have a renewal, like Augustus did for the Roman Empire. His renewal was brief, sadly, as he was unable to reverse the social rot – but it is possible.
It's only impossible if we give up.
drzmanDrZ says:
We need mask mandates to protect the millions of unvaccinated, illegal immigrants that the Biden administration is shuttling into the states.
Steve Rodriguez says:
Here in the south we have no idea what you are talking about. We have been in normal world through most of covid.
Depends on how close you get to the city. In true hilarity, there is a "zone" about halfway from the sticks to the metro where about half the people are wearing the face diapers while others don't.
GK says:
Unfortunately I can name one liberty the Democrats support- abortion on demand up to birth (and maybe after).
It's clearly not a liberty for the baby. There's that whole sticky point about "your rights end where someone else's begin," the primary problem being that neither our Constitution nor Federal laws have clearly defined exactly when a baby becomes a "person" protected by the Constitution. Personally, I believe they should create a Constitutional Amendment for any such pressing social issue that comes down to a matter of degree, demanding that there be a national referendum each 10 years allowing We the People to express in great detail (conception, <=1 week, <=2 weeks, … <=birth, <=1 week post birth…) where we as a society feel the line is, and draw it where 75% of the people agree it should lie within. That would be the law of the land until the next referendum, or until things change (i.e. "perfect birth control") makes the referendum irrelevant.
When will Freedom arrive in the US?
Never, if Democrats have their way.
adamofca says:
So few people grasp that our American politics is about the elected millionaires bathing in the wealth of an entire country.
Hence, the elected (the Chosen Ones) only serve themselves. That self-centeredness is the path that will usher in a sole World Government.
Politics is always about the elected becoming more elite. American politics bathes in the wealth of America. So too, a World Government will exist to bathe in the world's wealth.
Meanwhile, outside the political realm, the rest of society will be harnessed by countless laws to exist as the working poor (slaves).
Rome is resurrected before our eyes.
Adam of CA.
Biden Has Blood On His Hands At The Border, Says … Biden?
Joe Biden's 'Souvenirs'
Biden: Making America Worse Again


Say what you will about Pixar releasing two original films in one year, but you can't deny how great it is that they're also giving us two original shorts on top of those films.
Lava (the short attached to Inside Out) certainly struck a chord among audiences, but it's looking like Sanjay's Super Team will have an even stronger effect. The short film premiered back in June, but Pixar has given lucky Comic-Con attendees an early screening, and the response is excellent so far.


text:
>D-16278
On Some Counterproductive Aspects of Tactical Force Employment in South Vietnam
Interviews with Vietnamese Prisoners and Civilians
by Greg Carter, Marvin Schaffer
Purchase Print Copy
Add to Cart Paperback52 pages $10.00 $8.00 20% Web Discount
An analysis of Vietnamese attitudes toward U.S. and GVN air and ground support operations in villages that were either under attack or occupied by the Viet Cong. The data were obtained from 46 RAND interviews with prisoners and defectors and a CBS public opinion survey in which some 1,400 Vietnamese civilians were interviewed. The analysis indicates that the villagers seem to understand the support operations and tend, in the ratio of more than two to one, to blame the Viet Cong rather than the GVN for civilian damage.
This report is part of the RAND Corporation Document series. The RAND Document (D), a product of the RAND Corporation from 1948 to 1970, was an internal working paper written as a step in a continuing study within RAND, which could be expanded, modified, or withdrawn at any time.
Copyright: RAND Corporation
Print Format: Paperback
Paperback Pages: 52
Paperback Price: $8.00
Document Number: D-16278
Series: Documents
RAND Corporation Style Manual
Carter, Greg and Marvin Schaffer, On Some Counterproductive Aspects of Tactical Force Employment in South Vietnam: Interviews with Vietnamese Prisoners and Civilians. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 1967. https://www.rand.org/pubs/documents/D16278.html. Also available in print form.
Carter, Greg and Marvin Schaffer, On Some Counterproductive Aspects of Tactical Force Employment in South Vietnam: Interviews with Vietnamese Prisoners and Civilians, RAND Corporation, D-16278, 1967. As of January 11, 2023: https://www.rand.org/pubs/documents/D16278.html
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This notice relates to all aquarium hoods for Kids 60 starter kit (product no. 0340670 or 0340675 or 0340680) bearing the model number 0520618 and with a date of manufacture 01.06.2003 to 08.01.2004.
The model number and the date of manufacture are printed on a blue sticker situated on the underside of the hood by the light fitting.
The model number is printed just to the right of the word "Typ". The date of manufacture is stamped in larger numbers to the right of the model number in the format: month/day/year. Eg. 082903 means 29th August 2003.
Despite careful quality control, it has been established that under certain unfavourable conditions the light unit can overheat in use. In extreme cases this could result in the hood catching fire.
For security reasons Muller & Pfleger has decided to carry out a product recall for these aquarium hoods.
After taking your address details at your aquatics retailer or at Muller & Pfieger, a new hood will be provided free of charge with our apologies for any inconvenience caused.


text:
A step forward for agriculture at the UN climate talks – Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture
Also available in Français
Photo: G. Smith (CIAT
Dhanush Dinesh, Bruce Campbell, Lini Wollenberg, Osana Bonilla-Findji, Dawit Solomon, Leo Sebastian, Sophia Huyer (CCAFS)
Momentous decision on agriculture at COP23 opens the door to bold, transformative action to make farmers' livelihoods and food supply more resilient, while mitigating climate change
The 23rd Conference of the Parties (COP 23) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), concluded last week in Bonn, Germany. COP23 marks a milestone for negotiations on agriculture. COP 17 brought agriculture into the negotiations, by asking the UNFCCC's technical body (Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice - SBSTA) to consider issues relating to agriculture. Since then, SBSTA has convened in-session workshops and meetings to discuss the topic. CCAFS has actively engaged in the process, by making submissions to SBSTA and supporting meetings of African, South East Asian and Latin American countries, and a global meeting of negotiators in 2016 – these are also good learning environments for CCAFS, helping to shape research around topics considered important for stakeholders. Negotiations have been tortuous due to differences among countries. Now, COP23 has broken the deadlock, and reached a decision on next steps for agriculture within the UNFCCC framework, the Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture.
But what does this decision mean, and what next steps should stakeholders take?
From science to implementation
A key feature of the decision is that while so far negotiations have remained in the technical body of the UNFCCC (SBSTA), the COP has now asked SBSTA and the UNFCCC's implementation body (Subsidiary Body for Implementation – SBI) to jointly address issues related to agriculture through the Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture. This will bring greater focus on implementing climate actions in the sector as opposed to negotiations focused on scientific and technical aspects only. This expands the scope of recommendations that countries can make to COP. However, the modalities of this proposed collaboration remains similar to the process undertaken by SBSTA, i.e. convening workshops and expert meetings.
Securing inputs from countries and stakeholders
The COP decision enables countries and stakeholders to share their views on the elements to be included in the work ahead of the next session of subsidiary bodies in April-May 2018. This presents an opportunity for countries and observer organizations to air their views on a number of issues, "starting with but not limited to the following":
Modalities for implementing the outcomes of the in-session workshops organized over the past years.
Methods and approaches for assessing adaptation, adaptation co-benefits and resilience.
Improved soil carbon, soil health and soil fertility under grassland and cropland as well as integrated systems, including water management.
Improved nutrient use and manure management towards sustainable and resilient agricultural systems.
Improved livestock management systems.
Socioeconomic and food security dimensions of climate change in agriculture.
While this list excludes several key areas for climate action in agriculture, such as agroforestry, aquaculture, stress tolerant varieties, climate information services, and weather index-based agricultural insurance, the words "starting with but not limited to" indicate an opening to make the case for other priority topics.
Priorities for the agricultural development community
The the Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture offers an opportunity for the agricultural development community to coordinate and consolidate experience and information to date to support each of the focal areas.
Methods and approaches for assessing adaptation, adaptation co-benefits and resilience: Measuring and monitoring results of climate actions in agriculture is challenging, but there are many emerging examples of work on this topic. CCAFS developed a framework of readiness, process, and progress indicators to do this at different scales, through taking stock of indicators used by major agencies including DFID, World Bank, CCAFS, USAID, IFAD, GIZ and FAO, to achieve common ground on the topic. There is an opportunity to build on such work through UNFCCC processes, particularly achieving synergies with the Global Stocktakes, and through supporting the alignment of private sector efforts geared towards sustainability and resilience building. Measurement and monitoring will require improved data sharing among ministries, new statistical data, and sufficient detail to capture adaptation co-benefits. Indicators may require periodic updates to reflect changes in production systems and productivity.
Improved soil carbon, soil health and soil fertility under grassland and cropland as well as integrated systems, including water management: Healthy soils can help rural communities become resilient to climate change, while also sequestering carbon. Practices such as use of contour stone bunds, composting, and intercropping with legumes can help improve soil fertility and health, and sequester carbon. The 4 pour 1000 initiative launched by France at COP21 is a key initiative to catalyse ambitious action to improve soil health and fertility and generate mitigation co-benefits.
Improved nutrient use and manure management towards sustainable and resilient agricultural systems: Inefficient use of nitrogen inputs by plants contributes to GHG emissions from agriculture. Manure from livestock can be another source of emissions if unmanaged. However efficient use of plant nutrients and good manure management can turn this challenge into an advantage by reducing costs and re-using waste to generate energy or crop nutrients. Site-Specific Nutrient Management and integrated manure management are practices, part of integrated crop management, that can be scaled out to improve use of nutrients and manure.
Improved livestock management systems: Improved feed and fodder management, breeding for resilience, and improvement of animal health are interventions that can improve the resilience of smallholder livestock systems, while also helping countries transition to low-carbon development pathways. Improved management in dairy systems is as a quick win area for agricultural actions under climate change. The Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases is working to support improved livestock and manure management that also reduce emissions.
Socioeconomic and food security dimensions: Climate action in agriculture is not only about technical interventions, but also about supporting social and institutional structures that increase the resilience of smallholders and help achieve food security. The capacity of women and youth to adapt to climate variability, for example, is restricted by lack of access to capital, limited land ownership and access, and limited participation in decision making in households and communities. In the context of increased urban migration, these gender and youth gaps take on increasing significance. At the village level, approaches such as climate-smart villages are promising, and are currently being scaled up in India and Nepal.
From decisions to decisive action: Transforming agriculture under climate change
The work under the Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture is only due for reporting back to COP26 (November 2020). In view of the climate change challenges – both adaptation and mitigation – faced by the agricultural sector, bold actions are needed within the next decade. We therefore need urgent and transformative actions, led by countries, farmers, researchers, investors and the private sector. Actions on the ground – and learning from them – can inform the discussions that will take place. In order for this transformation to occur, agriculture has to be seen in a broad sense as including policies, services and institutions. Public private partnership will be a cornerstone for this transformation, together with efforts to scale up climate financing to the sector, transforming agricultural research for development, and building capacity, including through South-South cooperation mechanisms.
Working Paper: 10 best bet innovations for adaptation in agriculture: A supplement to the UNFCCC NAP Technical Guidelines
Dhanush Dinesh is the Global Policy Engagement Manager of CCAFS. Bruce Campbell is the Director of CCAFS. Lini Wollenberg is Low Emissions Development Flgship Leader of CCAFS. Osana Bonilla-Findji is the Science Officer of Climate-Smart Technologies and Practices Flagsip of CCAFS. Dawit Solomon is the East Africa Regional Leader of CCAFS. Leo Sebastian is the Southeast Asia Regional Leader of CCAFS. Sophia Huyer is the Gender and Social Inclusion Flagship Leader of CCAFS.


text:
Sunniest May on record
According to the Meteorological Office, spring begins every year on March 1st and ends on May 31st. Let's look back at 2020's meteorological spring.
It was a record breaker: the sunniest spring in the UK since records began in 1929. There were 626 hours of bright sunshine, which exceeds the previous record set in 1948 by over 70 hours. In fact, spring 2020 was sunnier than most summers: only the summers of 1976, 1995, and 1989 were sunnier.
Despite the sunshine, 2020 was only the eighth warmest spring on record and the fifth driest. These are figures for the whole country; some counties in the north east of England and the east of Scotland recorded their driest spring since 1862.
The position of the polar jet stream is one of the main drivers behind the variability of our weather in the UK. The jet stream is a narrow band of fast moving air at high altitude, usually (but not always) travelling from west to east. It is the outcome of Earth's rotation on its axis and the temperature of the atmosphere and it separates cold polar air to its north and the warmer air to its south.
In late winter, the jet stream was stuck to the south of the UK, resulting in the wettest February on record. In contrast however, during March, it moved and became anchored to the north of the UK, allowing high pressure and sunshine to dominate our spring.
Global heating is changing the way in which the jet stream moves. A spokesperson from the Royal Meteorological Society, said: "It's unprecedented to see such a swing from one extreme to the other in such a short space of time. That's what concerns me. We don't see these things normally happening with our seasons."
So … watering a new-planted hedge, during lockdown, to save it from a spring heat wave may become commonplace in whatever our future turns out to be.
Header picture: the polar jet stream over Canada taken by NASA
Climate change, global warming
One thought on "Sunniest May on record"
Also the soil has been so dry that birds such as blackbirds are finding it hard to find worms etc. to feed their fledglings, so we put soaked sultanas out in our garden to help them through the dry times.


With BOC, you can easily place an order online and rent different cylinder sizes and types of gas without having to put down a deposit on the cylinder. We offer a very broad range of products and you can even choose our lightweight GENIE® cylinders if portability is a priority for you.
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When using gas over a longer period, renting your cylinders could save you money. There's zero up-front cost, as you don't need to put a deposit down for the cylinders, easing your cash flow.
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Also, some suppliers may distribute cylinders of lower pressures, but when you rent your cylinders from BOC you can be sure that the pressure is high and consistent. That means more gas and more value for your money.
If the amount of gas you need changes regularly, renting could be your best option. And with BOC, this can be managed easily.
If you have regular high gas consumption, renting could work out cheaper for you. We'll take care of your testing and maintenance, and you can replace cylinders as and when you need to using the BOC Online Shop.
If you only need gas occasionally, you won't have to commit to putting down a deposit or storing cylinders you're not using. And, if you don't know how much gas you'll need in the future, renting gives you greater flexibility. Instead of holding on to a cylinder that you don't need, return your cylinder to us and you won't pay rent for the remaining months.
If you handle gas for your customers, renting could work out better for both parties. You can rent as much or as little gas as your customers need and receive it quickly. That means you won't need to pay upfront costs to meet unexpected requests.
BOC deliveries are fast and reliable. When you need cylinders quickly, you can depend on BOC to deliver them on time, often the next day.
We have a UK-wide delivery network, meaning we are able to support numerous businesses across the nation.
We'll take care of the whole delivery, dropping off your new gas and collecting your used cylinders. If you're ready to exchange your empty cylinders at the same time you receive a fresh delivery, we'll combine the cost of delivery and collection, so you only pay one price for the two services. The more you rent from us, the more you can save by combining these costs.
When you rent with BOC, you can be sure that every gas cylinder you receive has been thoroughly tested by us to the highest industry standards.
Not only can this save you money on maintenance, it means you can always trust the quality and safety of your cylinders and protect your business.
To see the types of gas we have available to rent, visit the BOC website now.
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text:
The MTC established the Paull Mines Award for Contributions to State Tax Jurisprudence in 2007 to honor the memory and achievements of Paull Mines, who served as MTC general counsel for eight years until his death in 2002. Paull was a recognized authority on state taxation, with a unique and rich perspective developed over a long career involving work from multiple vantage points, including state government, tribal government, private practice, and academics. MTC's memorial to Paull says: "He described his professional passion to be 'Preserving Federalism' by developing state tax systems that are understandable, administrable and fair for taxpayers and States alike, with the view to avoiding post-transactional assessments."
The award recognizes an attorney who has made significant contributions to state tax jurisprudence, and who exemplifies Paull's qualities of leadership, legal excellence, and professional integrity in the best traditions of the profession. Winners are nominated by state tax agency employees and chosen by an MTC selection committee.
2022 Recipient of the Paull Mines Award
Rick Handel – South Carolina
Rick received his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan, a master's degree from Michigan State University, and his law degree summa cum laude from Ohio State University. He earned an LL.M. in Taxation from New York University.
After NYU, Rick taught tax and estate planning courses at the University of South Carolina's School of Law, during which time he received the Outstanding Professor Award. He then became a partner in two law firms.
Rick left private practice to head the Policy Section at the South Carolina Department of Revenue. After 23 years, he retired as a Senior Administrator and the General Counsel for Policy. Rick currently teaches state and local tax at the University of South Carolina's School of Law and assists the South Carolina Department of Revenue with training.
During his career Rick has been active in the American Bar Association, previously serving as vice chair of the State and Local Tax Committee. In 2015, the ABA Section of Administrative Law and Regulatory Practice awarded Rick the Mary C. Lawton Outstanding Government Service Award.
Rick has continued to be a noted author on SALT matters. He was the major author of a now out of print BNA Tax Management Portfolio, South Carolina's Corporate Income Taxes, and continues to write "Both Sides Now," a recurring column for State Tax Notes.
Past Recipients of the Paull Mines Award
2021: Robert (Rob) Plattner
New York State Department of
Taxation and Finance (Retired)
2020: Clark Snelson
Utah Attorney General's Office
2019: Donita (Dee) Wald
North Dakota Department of Revenue
2018: Sheldon Laskin
Multistate Tax Commission (Retired)
2017: Alan Friedman
2016: Phil Horwitz
Colorado Department of Revenue
Wood Miller
Missouri Department of Revenue
2015: Joe W. Garrett, Jr.
2014: C.A. Daw
Montana Department of Revenue
2013: Shirley Sicilian
Multistate Tax Commission
2012: Michael T. Fatale
2011: Ted Spangler
Idaho Attorney Generals Office,
assigned to the Idaho State Tax Commission
2010: Ben Miller
2009: Marshall Stranburg
2008: Jim Peters
AT&T and California Franchise Tax Board
Dee Wald accepts the 2019 Paull Mines
Award for Contributions to State Tax Jurisprudence.
Sheldon Laskin accepts the 2018 Paull Mines
2021 – Robert D. (Rob) Plattner – New York
Rob started working on tax issues in 1981 while working for the New York State Assembly, eventually serving as Counsel and then Director of the Legislative Tax Study Commission. He joined the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance in 2007, serving as the Deputy Commissioner for Tax Policy when he retired in 2018. He currently serves as senior adviser to the chair of the New York State Senate Finance Committee.
Rob is a visionary in his field, earning a reputation among public and private sector tax attorneys across the country for finding practical solutions to difficult tax issues. He was Tax Analysts State Tax Person of the year in 2014. He has written dozens of articles and has presented in numerous forums. Rob is open to ideas, willing to share his perspective with other states, and unfazed by criticism.
Rob was instrumental in overturning the Quill case, advocating for the limitation of that case through insightful legal writing. He was co-author of an influential 2010 State Tax Notes article which eschewed seeking federal legislation and instead advocated, presciently, that the states aggressively take on Quill through action under their own laws. In 2007, he courageously pioneered the innovative associate "click-through" nexus statute that was passed in 2008 and unsuccessfully challenged in the Overstock.com case.
Rob also pioneered the concept of requiring marketplaces to collect tax on behalf of their marketplace sellers. That all states with sales and use taxes have adopted marketplace laws is monumental and owes much to Rob. In 2021, Rob crafted a proposal to tax companies that collect digital information—an idea that may help to initiate further major state tax reform. Rob was also instrumental in corporate tax reform that led to the enactment of combined reporting and market-based sourcing, as well as other major initiatives that are very influential in the states.
2020 – Clark Snelson
Clark devoted nearly his entire career to state taxation, representing the Utah State Tax Commission for 30 years as a member of the Utah Attorney General's Office and retiring in August 2020. He consistently handled complicated tax matters and was involved in both tax policy work and tax litigation. He served as section chief of the tax litigation section in the Utah AG's office for a number of years, and argued tax cases at all levels, from administrative hearings to the Utah Supreme Court. Clark has long had a passion for sharing knowledge and promoting cooperation among state tax attorneys, serving as a member–and eventual chair–of the MTC Litigation Committee. He was always willing to engage in the most complicated tax litigation matters, devising new ideas based on a firm grasp of the subject matter and legal practice.
2019 – Donita (Dee) Wald
Dee Wald is one of those state tax attorneys who has seen it all. Upon graduation from college, she worked for the North Dakota Office of State Tax Commissioner from 1984 until 1988. She left to go back to attend University of North Dakota Law School where she received her J.D., with Distinction, in 1991. As Dee tells it, the day after graduation her car broke down so the then Tax Commissioner, Heidi Heitkamp, offered her a job as an Assistant Attorney General with the Tax Department so she could buy a car, get back to Bismarck, and do the dirty work on Quill v. North Dakota. It was also as part of the Quill litigation that Dee began to work closely with the Multistate Tax Commission and its Litigation Committee, on which she has long served, including in the role of Vice Chair. Dee has worked as General Counsel for the North Dakota Tax Department for six different (elected) Tax Commissioners. Because their legal office has a total of three attorneys, Dee's focus has been on all state taxes (income, sales and use, property, etc.). She has worked closely with industry groups in the state and with state lawmakers on tax policy issues. She has also provided support to the North Dakota's Legislative State-Tribal Taxation Committee. And, in addition to participating in the MTC Litigation Committee, Dee has served on the Uniformity Committee and in various work groups, providing insight and expertise on a host of state tax issues—including heading up a group to study the effectiveness of the committee's work in 2014.
2018 – Sheldon Laskin
Sheldon worked for the Commission from 1998 to 2017, at which time he retired and ran a grassroots campaign for Maryland State Senate. He garnered 30% of the votes despite having no political experience. His former coworkers at the MTC were unsurprised by his passion and appeal, because they had seen it in action for almost the past decade. Sheldon held various positions within the MTC—Director of Nexus, Counsel, and Interim Acting General Counsel—and he approached all of them with diplomacy and a level head. Tax law was not Sheldon's initial pursuit: he has represented migrant and seasonal farmworkers, litigated employment discrimination cases for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, argued and won an employment discrimination case in the US Supreme Court, and served as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Maryland. At the 2018 annual meeting, Sheldon's friends and former coworkers celebrated his drive, tenacity, and devotion to fairness.
2017 – Alan Friedman
Alan worked for the Commission from 1983 to 1995, serving as general counsel for more than half of that period until his retirement. He was a leader and a driving force with respect to sales tax nexus, and was actively involved in the efforts behind Quill. He was also involved in other important cases of that period including Wrigley, Allied Signal and Barclays. In addition, he shepherded several uniformity projects, including the first model financial institution rules, undoubtedly the most complicated set of special industry rules that the Commission has ever issued. On that project, Alan proved his political skills as well as his management and legal acumen. And he was instrumental in establishing the process for the Commission's alternative dispute resolution—an idea that he was clearly well suited to champion. In 2017, at its 50th annual meeting, the Commission honored Alan for his passion for state tax policy.
2016 – Phil Horwitz & Wood Miller
In 2016, the Commission gave the Paull Mines Award to two deserving individuals, Phil Horwitz of the Colorado Department of Revenue and Wood Miller of the Missouri Department of Revenue. Wood Miller took over as chair of the Uniformity Committee when Ted Spangler retired. Prior to that, he was the chair of the Income and Franchise Tax Subcommittee. Under his leadership, the Commission completed The Sales & Use Tax Notice and Reporting statute, the model for Administration of Telecommunications Transaction Tax, the Compact Art. IV amendments, the Section 18 Model Regulation (for Distortion Relief), the Withholding for Multistate Employee model, the rule for Entities with Affiliates that are Not Subject to Corporate Income Tax, the Financial Institutions Allocation and Apportionment rules, the Add-back Statute for Captive REIT Payments, and the Combined Reporting Tax-Haven Provision. The most common words used to describe him were professional, courteous, and effective. According to Phil Horwitz, our other award recipient, Wood "has always been a steady hand at the tiller, doing the best anyone could be expected to do both to extract comment from the teeming multitude and keep the committee or subcommittee on course." Phil Horwitz is perhaps best known for being the mastermind behind the DMA case and the statute that gave rise to that case. Both Michael Fatale and Nancy Prosser wanted to give Phil special credit for his general contributions over the years to matters involving policy and litigation strategy. Phil was celebrated for his knack for just the right kind of disruption – that is – for looking at an issue and seeing what no one else sees—at least until he points it out—and for saying the thing that, as it turns out, needs to be said at a time when it needs to be said, even if it means that we have to adjust or make changes.
2015 – Joe W. Garrett, Jr.
The Litigation Committee selected Joe W. Garrett, Jr., Deputy Commissioner for the Alabama Department of Revenue for the Commission's 2015 Paull Mines Award, citing his long commitment to the Uniformity Committee and the ALAS project and his willingness to travel and speak publicly at seminars and conferences on the perspectives of state tax administrators. Joe was a fixture at MTC meetings for over ten years. He made substantial contributions to the uniformity process and participated in litigation committee meetings and attorney trainings. He devoted significant amounts of time heading up the MTC's SITAS project, working with other interested states, Executive Director Greg Matson, and past Executive Director, Dan Bucks, on a project of substantial importance to the states: how to deal with complex intercompany pricing issues. Joe was hailed as not only a strong advocate for the states, but an example of a thoughtful and reasonable public servant.
2014 – C.A. Daw
On July 30, 2014, the Commission awarded the 2014 Paull Mines Award for Contribution to State Tax Jurisprudence to the late C. A. Daw, chief counsel for the Montana Department of Revenue, who lost a battle with cancer in May of that year. His wife, Mari, was present to accept to the award. Helen Hecht, MTC's general counsel, presented the award, and drawing from the nomination letter, noted that "C. A.'s leadership in state taxation was based on the same foundation as Paull's: incredible intellectual ability and curiosity, an open and egalitarian spirit toward people, an encyclopedic knowledge of taxation at all levels, and a bedrock commitment to tax fairness matched by an equally strong commitment to taxpayer rights."
Dan Bucks, former director of the Montana Department of Revenue and former executive director of the Commission was also present, and provided some remarks on C. A.'s work in the state tax field. C.A.'s legal career began with the Idaho Tax Commission and continued for more than two decades in private practice defending states in centrally assessed property and 4-R Act cases. Dan pointed out that C. A. "could easily have chosen the other side of the courtroom, but he chose instead to use his considerable talents for what he believed was the greater public good. In 2007, he joined the Montana Department of Revenue as chief counsel."
Nomination letter, Dan Bucks
Remarks, Dan Bucks
2013 – Shirley Sicilian
On July 27, 2013, Shirley Sicilian, General Counsel of the Multistate Tax Commission, was presented with the Paull Mines Award for Contribution to State Tax Jurisprudence. The nominations universally praised her excellence in pursuit of working with many states in her role as the Commission's general counsel. Her efforts with regard to the Commission's Compact Article IV (UDITPA) amendments – which began with her work with the Uniform Law Commission in their consideration of possible broader UDITPA revision project – drew high praise. Her advocacy in defense of the Compact and her counsel to the states with regard to the ongoing litigation over the Compact's Article III election provision—was been described as "expert navigation." Executive director Joe Huddleston noted that Shirley was highly deserving of the award this year, "Over the past several years, no one has been more involved in providing legal support for multistate tax administration than Shirley Sicilian."
2012 – Michael T. Fatale
Michael T. Fatale, Chief, Rulings & Regulations Bureau, Massachusetts Department of Revenue, was awarded the Paull Mines Award for Outstanding Contribution to State Tax Jurisprudence at the annual meeting of the Multistate Tax Commission in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on August 1, 2012.
Mr. Fatale's outstanding contributions include a number of influential law review articles, several of which have been cited for important propositions in landmark state appellate decisions, such as Kmart Props., Inc. v. Taxation & Revenue Department, Tax Comm'r v. MBNA America Bank N.A., and KFC Corp. v. Iowa Department of Revenue. His most recent publication, Common Sense: Implicit Constitutional Limitations on Congressional Preemptions of State Tax, like his earlier publications, contributes an insightful and sophisticated analysis that moves forward the discussion on an important topic in a constructive way. Mr. Fatale's willingness to share his insight at national conferences and during Commission meetings, teleconferences, and training sessions has helped shape the debate and the resolution of some of today's most complex issues in state taxation. In 2005, his leadership role in a significant multistate bankruptcy matter on behalf of a large number of states was recognized in a feature article by the Boston Globe titled "Hooray for the Taxman," a sentiment rarely expressed and truly deserved by Mr. Fatale.
Mr. Fatale joined the Massachusetts Department of Revenue in 1992. He has been the Chief of the Rulings and Regulations Bureau, the Bureau responsible for public pronouncements on the state's tax laws, since 2006. Before joining the Department, Mr. Fatale worked in private practice. He holds an undergraduate degree from Columbia University and a law degree, with honors, from Boston College Law School.
2011 – Ted Spangler
When Ted Spangler won the Multistate Tax Commission's 2011 Paull Mines Award, it was the culmination of four distinguished decades in the state and local tax field. Spangler, who earned his law degree from the University of Idaho College of Law after doing undergraduate work at Boise College (now Boise State University), joined the Idaho state administration in May 1974 after three years in private practice. While technically employed by the attorney general's office, he was assigned to the Idaho State Tax Commission full time, a position he held until retiring as the commission's deputy attorney general on March 30, 2010. During his tenure, Spangler not only argued 25 cases before the Idaho Supreme Court but also served as the chair of the MTC's Uniformity Committee from 1989 until his retirement. Spangler's MTC affiliation, however, stretched back to the year he accepted a position with the Idaho tax commission, making him one of the longest-serving officials (36 years) in the commission's history.
2010 – Ben Miller
Ben Miller is widely considered one of the national pioneers in the unitary method for taxing corporations. Ben joined the California Franchise Tax Board in 1970. During his tenure with the FTB, Ben has represented the state of California before the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Congress, the U.S. Department of Treasury, and other venues at the state, federal and international levels concerning issues in state taxation of multistate and multinational income. He served the Multistate Tax Commission in a number of capacities, such as California's designated alternate on the Executive Committee as well as the Commission, as an advisor to the Commission's legal staff in drafting amicus briefs, as Chair of the Uniformity Committee's Subcommittee on Income and Franchise Tax, as California's representative in the Commission's lobbying efforts before Congress, and as faculty for the Commission's training courses. His especial contribution to the work of the Commission was as a founding member of the Litigation Committee, established in 1989, for which he served as its Chair from the Committee's inception until 1992. The Commission expressed its gratitude and admiration for Ben's work, and acknowledged that the knowledge and expertise Ben has shared with the Commission has played a significant role in this organization's evolution into a nationally and internationally known resource on multistate tax policy.
2009 – Marshall Stranburg
On July 29, 2009, Marshall Stranburg, General Counsel for the Florida Department of Revenue, was presented with the second annual Paull Mines Award for Contribution to State Tax Jurisprudence. The Florida Department of Revenue described Marshall as a recognized expert on even the most complex tax issues and the calm voice of reason and compromise in a room full of passionate views. Marshall was celebrated for the generosity of his time and intellect in multistate venues. He provided leadership in the streamlined sales tax effort and, as chair of the MTC Litigation Committee, directed his talents and energy to fostering cooperation and shared knowledge among state tax attorneys.
2008 – Jim Peters
On July 30, 2008, Jim Peters was presented with the first annual Paull Mines Award for Contribution to State Tax Jurisprudence. The Commission recognized Jim's outstanding contributions to state and local tax legal practice. Jim began his career as a private practitioner. He then worked 28 years for AT&T, spanning the period of the AT&T breakup. Later, Jim was counsel with McDermott, Will & Emery. He then worked for the California Franchise Tax Board for a number of years before retiring. Throughout his career, Jim gave selflessly of his time and intellect as a professor at New York University Law School, Editor of the Journal of Taxation, and chairman of many state tax committees and organizations, including Tax Executives Institute, Counsel on State Taxation, and the American Bar Association's State and Local Tax committee. Jim also served on several advisory boards, including State Tax Notes and Prentis Hall.
Jim's thoughtful research and commentary—through more than one hundred publications—has been illuminating the nooks and crannies of the state and local tax field for more than five decades and has raised the level of discourse across the entire tax profession. Jim continues to devote his enormous talent and energy to fostering cooperation and shared knowledge among state tax attorneys.


text:
Picking Out A Great Robe With Marc Rebillet
John Reinhold | December 20, 2018
Topics: comedy, Idealogue, Loop daddy, Marc Rebillet, one man bands, programmed loops, Reggie Watts, The Camel
Marc Rebillet is a one-man show, a performance artist and "loop daddy," and altogether one wild and funny man. Many will know him from his YouTube channel, which has been making the rounds on social media with such unforgettable hits as "Look at that ass," "Chaos and Destruction", and "Stop the Rape." Videos like these have propelled him into sold-out shows on his current tour, which hits Richmond on Sunday night at The Camel.
If you get a chance to check out any of his "Idealogue" videos, you will see exactly what makes him so appealing and popular. Rebillet is, in a lot of ways, the perfect performer for today's social media world. His performances are funny and exciting, and what's more, he has real piano and singing chops. Despite the humorous approach, his music seriously gets hype, with banging beats that run the gamut from trap to funk and R&B. His live performances are ad-libbed on the spot, and often include audience participation.
As soon as I found out Rebillet was coming to Richmond on December 23, I jumped at the chance to speak with him. I learned that he is very approachable, and genuine in his love for what he does. I was excited to ask a few quick questions and talk a bit about his trip to Richmond. Speaking of which, the show is quickly heading for a sellout, so get your tickets right now. See you there — let's get wild!
Check out this amazing live set below (start at 38 seconds to jump right to a great part), followed by our interview with Marc:
Can you help me say your last name. I have been going with Mark Reb-il-it, just like that. But it's French, I believe, and I need help with this.
Before we go on, my first name is Marc with a "C"! The French way. The last name is pronounced "Rub-ee-yay." Also extremely French.
Would you say the Reggie Watts is one of your biggest influences? What other loop-based artist or musicians have influenced you?
Reggie Watts is absolutely one of my biggest influences, especially regarding the live show. I don't watch or listen to many other looping artists, to be honest. Lots of musical influences, but not too many that loop. I've seen some cool stuff from Moses Sumney, a few others whose names escape me. But Reggie really inspired the format of the show.
Is a good robe important? And what do you look for in that? I feel like you could guide me in finding this.
A good robe is extremely important. I only own one, but I find lots of satisfaction in hotel robes. I sometimes wear them to shows. You just feel good with one on.
How does one go from hype to ratchet? Can we make some kind of device that would measure this correctly? We can share the copyright on this.
I hear Lockheed Martin is developing a hype-to-ratchet converter, very excited to try that out. For me, I usually just start screaming. Tends to work.
You have been working on your sound and performance for a while now. How did you develop the current video format with performance and humor? Do you mostly ad-lib on the spot, or plan things out a bit more than people know?
The videos are just slightly more planned out than the live shows. The live shows are 100% improvised. I have no plan going in and whatever happens, happens. I'll usually make one or two songs from my online videos but the rest is unique to that night's show. For the videos I mess around for a bit until I have a good idea, and then I do a few takes to make sure I'm performing it efficiently. The early takes are the best, because there's an energy there that's lost in the later ones. Words and melodies are more or less made up each take.
Will this be your first time in Richmond VA? What do you know about Richmond (RVA – slang)?
Yes it will be! I don't know about this slang but now I'm probably going to bring it up onstage.
What idealogue are we on here? Can we get a general number or idea on it? How did you start with this series?
We're in the 40s. We'd be in the 50s if I kept the first ten online. But they were different — I was just talking to the camera about stupid ideas I've had written down for years. The 10th one is when I started filming myself using the looper.
Do you talk to yourself in the mirror? Like do you get up and look at yourself and say "I'm fucking Marc Rebillet…" I'm not sure how to finish that exactly, so you tell me.
Hahaha, I don't say that, but I definitely talk to myself in the mirror. Doesn't everybody? It's one of those alone things that we all do but rarely discuss.
Whats your favorite thing about connecting to an audience and playing live?
It's exactly that. The experience of connecting with a crowd that's giving me big, big energy is irreplaceable. When the audience meets me there, I give it right back to them as big as I can… The audience truly makes the show what it is. Plus I never have to plan anything. It's a great job.
See Marc Rebillet at The Camel, located at 1621 W. Broad St, on Sunday, December 23, with special guest DJ Harrison. Doors open at 8, music starts at 9. Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 at the door, and can be purchased at this link. For more info, click here.
Check out Marc Rebillet's website, learn all you need to know about him in one BIO, or follow him on Facebook.
Music Sponsored By Graduate Richmond
John Reinhold is a CEO, shareholder, and President of Inkwell Ventures. Inkwell is the founding company of RVA Magazine, Inkwell also owns GayRva.com and RVA On Tap.
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