Financing your college education will require budgeting and careful planning, but it is an investment in your future that far outweighs the cost. Financial aid can be a combination of scholarships, grants, loans and waivers.
Students wishing to pursue federal financial aid are encouraged to create and submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) according to FAFSA deadlines for the relevant academic year. Federal financial aid (Title IV), administered in conjunction with laws and rules, emanates from the U.S. Department of Education.
Students wishing to be considered for federal aid, stafford loans, PELL grants or other aid, must submit the FAFSA. Once the FAFSA has been successfully submitted, the Office of Financial Aid will access the application and process after verifying enrollment and registration. Additional information can be found at the Texas A&M Office of Financial Aid website.
Scholarships are available to both incoming transfer students as well as continuing Texas A&M students who moved into nursing from another major.
Transfer students (including Second Degree-BSN applicants) apply for university level scholarships through the ApplyTexas Transfer Admissions or Coalition Application. When completing this application while in the application process, the student should indicate when prompted that they wish the ApplyTexas or Coalition Application to be applied for scholarships as well. The college awards scholarships in late spring or early summer for the next academic year; so college awards are not available to spring-entry students in their first spring term, however, students entering in the spring are encouraged to apply for scholarships as outlined above (ApplyTexas application during application time frame and College and Departmental Scholarships by the February 1 deadline) if they wish to be considered for funds the next academic year (fall/spring). Transfer and Second Degree BSN students may view other eligible University scholarships from the website. All applicants should have a current year FAFSA on file with Texas A&M as many awards have it as a requirement.
Texas A&M students who moved into nursing from another major may apply for available continuing students scholarships if they have attended the university for at least one long semester. To be eligible for College of Nursing funds, students should complete the College and Department Scholarships application. Students may also wish to apply to other University Scholarships as noted on the scholarships website. Current TAMU students who completed scholarships application prior to being accepted into the College should go back into the application and complete additional information after major has been updated in order to be eligible for College of Nursing funds. See timeline for scholarship submission below.
In keeping with University Rule 13.03.99.M1, scholarships are awarded either on the basis of academic criteria or any combination of academics, financial need, campus/community activities, leadership positions, work experience and special donor indicators. Scholarships are designed to reward, encourage and assist students in pursuing academic excellence and leadership roles.
Graduate students are eligible to apply for funding by completing the College and Department Scholarships Application after they have attended the university for one long semester. Qualified applicants who desire to work in rural or underserved areas may be eligible for grant funding. At this time, no assistantships are available through the college. For additional support, view other Texas A&M University graduate student scholarships.
Both undergraduate and graduate new students may be eligible for College of Nursing funds. New students must fill out the College application form by February 1.
There are numerous scholarships available to nursing students from outside sources. Outside scholarship sources include government/military sponsored, business sponsored, ethnicity/minority, practice area, state, federal, corporations, and local area clubs and organizations. Each fund is administered differently and can vary as to criteria for selection, availability of funds and application requirements. The Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board offer a Faculty Loan Repayment Program for those seeking a career as a faculty member at a health professions school. Students pursuing healthcare careers who intend to work in underserved areas may be eligible for scholarships, loans, and forgivable loans through National Health Service programs.
The NURSE Corps Scholarship Program offers resources for RN to BSN and NP students to receive funding. The application opens each year in March and is offered through HRSA.
The list that follows provides a few of the resources to help begin the search. Nursing.org provides good information for military and veterans. In addition, students can contact the Texas A&M Veterans Resource Office.
Students may apply for these funds by completing the College and Department Scholarship Application. For further assistance, email CON-scholarships@tamhsc.edu or contact an academic/admissions adviser.


text:
Melillas flagga antogs den 13 mars 1995. Den visar Melillas stadsvapen.

Se även
 Ceutas flagga

Externa länkar
 Flags of the World - Melilla (Spain)

Melilla

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


"Two- photon exchange correction to 2S-2P splitting in muonic He-3 ions" by Carl E. Carlson, Mikhail Gorchtein et al.
Carlson, Carl E.; Gorchtein, Mikhail; and Vanderhaeghen, Marc, Two- photon exchange correction to 2S-2P splitting in muonic He-3 ions (2018). PHYSICAL REVIEW A, 95(1).


text:
Ray McGovern
Ray McGovern revisits Russia-gate to show us all how someone expertly takes down that nonsense:
Four years ago today, on June 15, 2016, a shadowy Internet persona calling itself "Guccifer 2.0" appeared out of nowhere to claim credit for hacking emails from the Democratic National Committee on behalf of WikiLeaks and implicate Russia by dropping "telltale" but synthetically produced Russian "breadcrumbs" in his metadata.
Thanks largely to the corporate media, the highly damaging story actually found in those DNC emails — namely, that the DNC had stacked the cards against Bernie Sanders in the party's 2016 primary— was successfully obscured.
The media was the message; and the message was that Russia had used G-2.0 to hack into the DNC, interfering in the November 2016 election to help Donald Trump win.
Almost everybody still "knows" that — from the man or woman in the street to the forlorn super sleuth, Special Counsel Robert Swan Mueller III, who actually based indictments of Russian intelligence officers on Guccifer 2.0.
Blaming Russia was a magnificent distraction from the start and quickly became the vogue.
The soil had already been cultivated for "Russiagate" by Democratic PR gems like Donald Trump "kissing up" to former KGB officer Vladimir Putin and their "bromance" (bromides that former President Barack Obama is still using). Four years ago today, "Russian meddling" was off and running — on steroids — acquiring far more faux-reality than the evanescent Guccifer 2.0 persona is likely to get.
Here's how it went down:
1 — June 12: WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange announced he had "emails related to Hillary Clinton which are pending publication."
2 — June 14: DNC contractor CrowdStrike tells the media that malware has been found on the DNC server and claims there is evidence it was injected by Russians.
3 — June 15: Guccifer 2.0 arises from nowhere; affirms the DNC/CrowdStrike allegations of the day before; claims responsibility for hacking the DNC; claims to be a WikiLeaks source; and posts a document that forensic examination shows was deliberately tainted with "Russian fingerprints." This to "corroborate" claims made by CrowdStrike executives the day before.
Adding to other signs of fakery, there is hard evidence that G-2.0 was operating mostly in U.S. time zones and with local settings peculiar to a device configured for use within the U.S., as Tim Leonard reports here and here.)
Leonard is a software developer who started to catalog and archive evidence related to Guccifer 2.0 in 2017 and has issued detailed reports on digital forensic discoveries made by various independent researchers — as well as his own — over the past three years. Leonard points out that WikiLeaks said it did not use any of the emails G2.0 sent it, though it later published similar emails, opening the possibility that whoever created G2.0 knew what WikiLeaks had and sent it duplicates with the Russian fingerprints.
As Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity (VIPS) told President Trump in a memorandum of July 24, 2017, titled "Was the 'Russian Hack' an Inside Job?":
"We do not think that the June 12, 14, & 15 timing was pure coincidence. Rather, it suggests the start of a pre-emptive move to associate Russia with anything WikiLeaks might have been ready to publish and to 'show' that it came from a Russian hack."
Be sure to read the whole article. It is an indepth article and, even if you have followed the story from day one, you will probably find something in his article that you had missed or forgotten.
Here is video of Ray McGovern discussing Russia-gate:
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_j1qOs0dE4I" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Again, Mr. McGovern is an expert on this subject and has been covering it from the beginning.
Tuesday, June 16, 2020. Turkey continues to terrorize Iraq, the new prime minister of Iraq is good at gathering the press but not good at actually demonstrating anything that they should cover, US House Rep Tulsi Gabbard introduces legislation regarding burn pits, and much more.
Starting in Syria where hundreds took part in a demonstration in Aleppo to protest Turkey's continued bombing of northern Iraq.
Dropping back to yesterday's snapshot:
This morning, Zhelwan Z. Wali (RUDAW) notes the Turkish government is yet again claiming that they targeted terrorists, however . . . :
PKK-linked Firat News Agency claimed the strikes targeted a refugee camp and a hospital.
" The Turkish state has launched a wave of air raids in southern Kurdistan, northern Iraq tonight. The strikes targeted several positions in the regions of Qandil, Maxmur (Makhmour) and Shengal (Sinjar), including a refugee camp and hospital," it said.
Makhmour camp hosts more than 12,000 Kurdish refugees who have fled persecution by the Turkish state, largely in the 1990s. The camp has a governing council and an armed force, the Makhmour Protection Units, established in 2014 when Islamic State (ISIS) militants attacked the area. The units are believed to have ties to the PKK.
Bedran Pirani, co-mayor of the Makhmour Camp Municipality, told Rudaw that strikes near the camp left several children unconscious, who were then rushed to hospital.
"The airstrikes lasted an hour from 12:10am to 01:10am. They were a large number of unmanned drones and jets hovering overhead," Pirani said.
XINHUA reports:
The Iraqi Joint Operations Command (JOC) condemned on Monday the Turkish airstrikes against suspected positions of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in several areas in northern Iraq.
A JOC statement said that 18 Turkish warplanes carried out a series of airstrikes late on Sunday night on refugee camps in Sinjar, some 100 km west of Nineveh's provincial capital Mosul, and Makhmour, about 60 km southeast of Mosul.
The Turkish warplanes also flew over the areas of al-Kuwayr, Erbil and al-Shirqat, with 193 km deep inside the Iraqi territories, the statement said.
The JOC described the Turkish airstrikes as "provocative act and is inconsistent with the good-neighborliness in accordance with international conventions and is a flagrant violation of Iraqi sovereignty."
Iraq called on Turkey to stop the violation of Iraqi territories and said that it is "fully prepared for cooperation between the two countries to control the security situations on the common borders," the statement added.
When will other government join the Iraqi one in condemning the terrorism that Turkey continues to carry out? When will Turkey be forced to respect Iraq's sovereignty?
The Turkish government calls it Operation Claw-Eagle, the world should be calling it what it is: terrorism. And it continues daily including today. This morning, THE JERUSALEM POST notes:
Turkish aircraft and Iranian artillery targeted the town of Haji Omeran in the Erbil Governorate of Iraq on Tuesday, according to Sky News Arabia.
Haji Omeran is located along the Iran-Iraq border in northeastern Iraq.
The district mayor of Haji Omeran, Farzang Ahmed, told Rudaw that Iranian artillery has targeted Iranian Kurdish opposition groups in the area before, but that Turkish strikes on the area were unheard of.
"We suspect that the two sides are in coordination, because this is the first time that Turkey has bombed this region," said Ahmed to Rudaw. "This region is frequently and every year under Iran's shelling, on the grounds that they are targeting Kurdish opposition parties."
This is terrorism. The US government remains silent. The world remains silent. Day after day, year after year, Turkey violates Iraq's sovereignty and terrorizes people who live in northern Iraq. Hiwa Shilani (KURDISTAN 24) reports:
The Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday announced that it had summoned the ambassador of Turkey in Iraq and handed him a complaint memo condemning the violation of Iraqi sovereignty and its airspace after recent Turkish airstrikes in the Kurdistan Region.
A statement from the foreign ministry announced that Iraq had "summoned" Turkish Ambassador Fatih Yildiz "against the backdrop of the Turkish bombing that affected a number of regions in northern Iraq, causing terror to the population, and spreading panic among them."
"Ambassador Abdul Karim Hashim met the Turkish ambassador and delivered him a protest note, which included the Iraqi government's condemnation of violations of the sanctity, sovereignty, and Iraqi airspace."
Twitter is more alive than the corporate media.
Karmen Jossif Tweets:
The Terrorist Turkish strikes in Iraq reflected Turkey's underestimation of international law and its relations with its neighbours
Fabiian Tweets:
All of us condemned Turkey's airstrikes on several areas of northern Iraq as part of a pattern that had become a cause for concern, The strikes represent an attack on Iraqi sovereignty and are taking place without coordination with the government in Baghdad.
Ambassador Dr Muhammad Shahid Amin Khan Tweets:
Help Iraqi refugees to reach safety by delivering their voice to the whole world to rescue them from the 4to8 years of harsh wait in the host countries(like Turkey). Tell countries to receive their files to save their future.. They lost everything in Iraq&during the long wait.
May 7th, Mustafa Al-Kadhimi became prime minister of Iraq. June 10th, he took a press gaggle to Mosul. John Davison of REUTERS published his report on June 11th. Today, Alissa J. Rubin (NEW YORK TIMES) offers her report:
Mr. Kadhimi is in many ways a Western-style leader. He has a message for every event, and he stayed on schedule through a 12-hour day. His chief of protocol ensured that everyone with him was constantly supplied with disinfectant gel.
But nothing could prepare Mr. Kadhimi, 54, for the anger and grief that people called out to him every chance they got.
Among his first stops were the Mosul Museum, its collection hacked to pieces by ISIS, and the Al Nuri Grand Mosque, a renowned Iraqi landmark with an intricately carved leaning minaret.
The wind blows through the lower part of the mosque now, which was badly damaged in the fighting., During the Islamic State takeover of Syria and Iraq, the militant leader Abu Bakr al Baghdadi declared himself the group's caliph from its pulpit.
If ever there were a place where the stones have voices, it is Mosul. The destruction is almost audible. Whole blocks are piles of debris, chunks of concrete are massed three and four stories high, and clinging to them are shacks, tacked together out of scrap metal and canvas. This is what passes for homes today in Mosul.
The prime minister only glimpsed this chaos as he swept through the city in a motorcade of cars and army vehicles, tearing down streets emptied of people to ensure his safety.
It's been a little over a month. Not seeing much change. Not seeing any effort to get moving on holding elections -- that is the primary job he is tasked with. His is not supposed to be a four year term. He is supposed to quickly set a timetable for elections.
Human Rights Watch Belkis Wille just offered a look at censorship in Iraq (here) and we noted it yesterday. Today, we'll note Paul Aufiero's interview with Belkis about the report:
What is different about this moment in Iraq?
In October 2019, a massive protest movement hit the country, with millions of people in the streets. Young people in the center and south of the country came together through a non-sectarian lens to call for basic human rights for all Iraqis, regardless of ethnicity, language, or belief. Their demands and the wave of protests they sparked forced Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi to resign in November, marking the first time popular protests in Iraq led to a change in power.
In May, a new prime minister, Mustafa al-Kadhimi, took over. Al-Kadhimi is a former journalist and went into exile under Saddam Hussein. When he came back to Iraq, he became the head of the Iraqi National Intelligence Service. Since becoming prime minister, he has been vocal about tackling some of the most difficult and sensitive human rights issues in Iraq, which is quite incredible. So with this new leadership, there is an opportunity to realize one of the loudest demands of protesters: that authorities reengage with the public.
This is also one of the first times since 2003 where the violence in the country has diminished to the point that Iraqis can start talking about things not related to war. The country has endured years of conflict, through the United States-led invasion and occupation, a civil war, and the Islamic State (also known as ISIS). Now Iraqis can finally demand politicians engage in issues affecting their human rights not through the lens of national security.
But there is another story taking place alongside this. What does your report describe?
Since the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003, those he oppressed have been interested in opening the country in terms of elections and free speech. But things took a turn in the opposite direction over the last decade. Authorities have dealt with critics not only through violence, which we have seen when protesters were beaten and killed, but also through campaigns using laws to prosecute speech they don't like, intimidating people into silence.
Who is being targeted in this campaign? Why?
In the autonomous Kurdistan Region in the north, like in Baghdad-controlled areas, there is almost no money for independent media, so most of the outlets are funded by one of the two main Kurdish political parties, or smaller groups. Journalists working for the outlet of one party are often sent to cover protests instigated by that party in territory controlled by another and are sometimes arrested or beaten by Kurdish security forces, or even killed. And prosecutions against journalists are also happening in Kurdistan along political lines.
But this is happening across the country, also in Baghdad and the south. Authorities are using vague legal provisions to target journalists, activists, and frankly, anyone posting criticism on social media, including people writing on their own Facebook pages. This should not be illegal.
In Baghdad, the penal code has provisions that broadly deal with defamation. You could be prosecuted if you say anything that "insults" an Arab country or someone in power, for example. But there is no definition of what constitutes an insult, so these provisions are extremely opaque. Another set of provisions deals with incitement, and authorities use these against people they claim posted something online that could either incite someone to carry out a criminal act or threaten national security. But there is no standard for what this means in practice.
And in addition to being arrested, a lot of these people are getting threatening messages on their phones saying, "You're next. We'll kill you if you keep writing about this [topic]." And there is a systemic problem in Iraq where if those receiving threats go to the police, the police do nothing to protect them.
What penalties do people face if found guilty of these vague charges?
Depending on the provision someone is charged under, they could face up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to about US$800, or both. And some say security forces beat them while interrogating them. But what is interesting is that we documented very few cases where someone is forced to serve an actual prison sentence. Authorities are clearly not interested in filling prisons with these people. I suspect that the point of these prosecutions is to intimidate people so much that the next time they want to post something critical of the government on Facebook, they don't. It's about harassment and silencing.
In the course of your research, were there any cases that particularly stood out to you?
One man, Haitham Sulaiman, is a 48-year-old protest organizer based near Baghdad, who got involved taking on corruption in Iraq. In early April, after hearing that the local health department might be making exorbitant profits off the cost of paper masks amid the Covid-19 pandemic, he posted the allegation on Facebook and called on authorities to investigate. The next day, intelligence officers from the Ministry of the Interior came to his house and left a warning that he had to stop writing about corruption. A few days later, four men in plain clothes arrested him and took him to the intelligence office, where they beat him and forced him to sign a document saying the Iraqi protest movement of 2019 had been bankrolled by the US. They then charged him under the penal code for willfully sharing false or biased information that "endangered public security."
Another woman, "Amal" (not her real name), has protested corruption in Basra for years, been openly critical of different political parties online, and had posted videos of herself protesting in 2018, at the time of large-scale protests in southern Iraq. Around that time, while at home one night, she saw three masked men open gunfire on her house. She fled the city with her children but came back three weeks later. A few days after returning, an armed man came to her house and threatened that if she didn't leave with her family, they'd all be killed. She has since fled the country.
What hope does the new government offer to address these issues?
The first thing the government should do is institute legal reforms and amend the penal code and other problematic laws to limit the abusive impact of these vague provisions. Security forces should investigate threats and acts of violence against journalists, activists, and social media critics.
But the prime minister, having seen the power of the country's protests firsthand, should send the message down through Iraq's government structure that he will no longer put up with those who abuse their powers to go after people who said something they don't like, and will punish them. And maybe for the first time in Iraq's history it's possible this could happen.
We'll close with this from US House Rep Tulsi Gabbard:
More than a million of our brothers and sisters who served in the military are suffering every day as a result of being exposed to toxic burn pits during their time overseas. This is the Agent Orange of our post-9/11 generation of veterans. Yet, the Department of Defense and the VA have so far failed to ensure every veteran and servicemember dealing with health issues related to their exposure to these toxins gets the care and benefits they deserve.
This is why I've introduced H.R.7072 — the SFC Heath Robinson Burn Pit Transparency Act — and other legislation to prevent another generation of veterans from suffering in the way that our brothers who served in Vietnam did.
LEARN MORE ABOUT H.R. 7072
Heath Robinson was one of too many servicemembers who deployed to the Middle East, only to come home and fight another battle — for Heath, a 3-year battle with lung cancer. A father, husband, and patriot, he recently lost that battle with cancer and died as our nation's leaders failed to acknowledge the link between his diagnosis and his toxic burn pit exposure.
Photo source: Heath Robinson's GoFundMe
This is an egregious failure to those who serve. Our veterans deserve better. Their families deserve better. Our veterans deserve care, compensation, and disability benefits.
It is too late for some like Heath, but more are suffering and more need help. Congress must act now.
New content at THIRD:
Truest statement of the week
Truest statement of the week II
A note to our readers
Editorial: Remember Iraq?
Media: Free Speech
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The Narrative of the Leakers: Collateral Murder and the Assange Indictment
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Queer As Punk: A Guide To LGBTQIA+ Punk
GI Rights Hotline - News Archive
"Selective Objection" and "Conscientious Objection"
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CNN and NPR parade their bias against General Flynn
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What makes YOUTUBE think it knows me?
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Don't believe the polls
Stevie Nicks' "The Tower"
Thoughts on R.F.K. and J.F.K.
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I CAN GET IT FOR YOU WHOLESALE
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She doesn't want to testify
Comfort food and Rev. Jesse Jackson
Laura Nyro

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


In the movie City Slickers, Billy Crystal, playing someone in a middle-aged slump, sums up life's stages. In his depression he cannot see much point to life at any age, but the latter years seem particularly dull. "At 50 you'll have a minor surgery, but you won't call it that. You'll call it a 'procedure,' but it's still a surgery. Sixties, you'll have a major surgery. The music is still too loud, but it doesn't matter because you can't hear it anyway. In your 70s, you and your wife retire to Fort Lauderdale. You start eating dinner around two in the afternoon, eat lunch at ten, breakfast the night before. You start spending all of your time wandering around malls looking for the ultimate soft yogurt, muttering, 'How come the kids don't call? How come the kids don't call?' "
But two Jesuits, Frs. James Conroy and Charles Costello, are betting that plenty of retired men and women are more interested in serving the poor than in finding the ultimate soft yogurt. With a belief in the prayerful good will of older Americans, the two are starting and codirecting the Ignatian Lay Volunteer Corps (ILVC), officially under way this September.
That is when about fifteen volunteers, five in each of the pilot cities of Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, will form the first groups of ILVC volunteers. They will be doing everything from working at an AIDS hospice to developing a public-relations program at a community service center.
ILVC follows the tradition of the Jesuit Volunteer Corps (JVC): both organizations seek those willing to commit to a year or more of voluntary work, helping the poor and taking time to reflect on their experiences.
But there is a special twist to ILVC. While the JVC is designed for people in their 20s, ILVC is geared toward those 50 or older. And, unlike the JVC, whose members live with fellow volunteers in a community, ILVC volunteers will normally live at home while working about 20 to 30 hours per week.
One such volunteer is Frank Keevers, 59, a Georgetown grad ('57) and a semiretired urban planner and community organizer from New Orleans. He was looking for spiritual development tied to service when he learned about ILVC, and he has signed on to work from September to December this year as an urban planner with North Capitol Neighborhood Development in Washington, D.C. Keevers is one of ILVC's exceptions to the live-at-home rule; he will live and work for those months in D.C., with the blessing of his wife, Suzanne, also a Georgetown grad ('59), who will stay in New Orleans to run her law practice.
Keevers's forthcoming volunteer effort is a prime example of how ILVC hopes to channel expert talent into needy communities. In return for only a modest living stipend for his four-month D.C. stay, North Capitol will benefit from the expertise Keevers honed during the 25 years he spent in public planning and development. North Capitol, like most community development groups--nonprofits that breathe economic life into depressed areas-- cannot afford the luxury of a full-time urban planner.
"Most organizations don't develop a plan as much as they react to opportunities for development," says Paul McElligott, executive director of North Capitol Neighborhood Development. "Frank will develop a framework for the physical improvement of the neighborhoods," says McElligott. "It will include commercial, retail, residential, and light industrial improvements in view of the city's plans and zoning, which are more general. It will be very helpful to us. No plan exists now."
Another ILVC volunteer is Margaret Dickerson, the first person to sign on as an ILVC volunteer (her affiliation began in spring 1995). She brings her own brand of expertise to her setting. The mother of five grown children and a widow in her 60s, she shares her decades of child-rearing experience with homeless families at Philadelphia's Mercy Hospice, working about fifteen hours a week with the children there.
"I'd worked with the young people of the JVC, and I thought it would be good to have a group like that for people my age," says Dickerson. "Many of them, widows and widowers alike, are lonely. ILVC is a good way for them to get involved; there's so much out there to do."
Indeed, there is plenty to be done. ILVC's founders hope to channel the energy, wisdom, and skill of retired and semiretired Americans toward addressing some of the nation's thorniest social problems. "All across the country there are enormous numbers of lower-income people in the cities. Federal programs are getting cut, so groups addressing the problems are strapped for financial and human resources," says Conroy. At the same time, he continues, there are older adults with polished skills "who want to do service, who want to be helping other people."
Conroy first ran into older Americans with the same desire to serve that Keevers and Dickerson have when he was novice director for the Jesuits' Maryland Province. He used to give talks to parents and friends of novices about the Jesuit vocation. "I would speak about the things the Society did, and people would say, 'That's what I want to do.' They were talking about a desire to take seriously the experience of God in their lives and to manifest it through some kind of service."
Costello, with 30 years' experience in educational administration, has been impressed by the number of lay people working in Jesuit schools who are committed to Ignatian ideals of service and justice. "I've run into remarkable people who have an Ignatian sense of the world," he says.
Keevers's and Dickerson's interests melded so well with the ILVC program in particular because both are eager for the spiritual nourishment the program offers with its emphasis on prayerful reflection as much as the "doing" side of service.
"It's extremely important," Dickerson says about reflection. At the shelter she deals daily with families and individuals torn apart by drugs, violence, and poverty; "I bring so many mixed emotions from work," she says. "I need to be close to the Lord." Dickerson already meets regularly with Costello to discuss and pray over her experiences.
"I felt a need for more spiritual formation, both for my sake and for those I work with," says Keevers, a father, grandfather, and longtime community leader. "You can't give what you haven't got. And when you come down to different issues, people need a deeper motivation to persist in the search for solutions than you get from being a good citizen. That's where spirituality becomes indispensable. For me, the motivation has to be a spiritual one."
Conroy likes to quote T. S. Eliot's poem "The Four Quartets" when talking about the reflection side of the ILVC: "I had the experience but missed the meaning." Conroy and Costello don't want volunteers to miss the meaning.
"It's on the level of reflection that our greatest hope lies because that's where the human heart is transformed," says Conroy. He sees the transformation of each volunteer--through prayer and reflection--as tied to social transformation. "When volunteers begin to see things differently, by the work they do and by the communion they enter into with other people, that's a spiritual communion. God is deeply immersed in the human experience. The more we get people to reflect on that, the richer it's going to be."
Although Dickerson and Keevers will expend great skill and energy in this new program, they are not concerned about being among the first guinea pigs. Dickerson had already decided years before ILVC to dedicate her remaining years to helping the poor "in gratitude for my many blessings." And Keevers, who is leaving a community-organizing job for his Washington position, says, "ILVC is an adventure. That's what this point in my life ought to be like. I'm not a flaming nonconformist, but I don't mind breaking new ground, either."
Costello points out that ILVC's birth flows from the Jesuits' renewed commitment to cooperating with the laity, voiced at last spring's general congregation. "When lay and Jesuit incarnations of Ignatian spirituality come together, a whole new dynamism is created," he says. "ILVC has great potential. What we've already experienced with the first volunteers is wonderful."
Within America's retired population lies tremendous untapped energy for serving the poor and growing spiritually. Most of the more than 200 church-based volunteer groups are designed for young, single people or younger married couples without kids. While many lay mission and religious volunteer programs accept people over age 55, no other such program is organized exclusively for older adults.
"There are tremendous reserves of skill, talent, energy, and money out there," Keevers says about the retired population, whose ranks are growing larger as baby boomers age. "There is a great desire for fulfilling activity."
Jim Conroy and Charlie Costello are betting on that.
Carol Schuck Scheiber is a writer and editor based in Toledo and a previous contributor to Company magazine.


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Parents' sacrifices drive first-generation USC student to succeed
Seeing her mom and dad work tough jobs to survive motivates USC Mork Family Scholar Jacqueline Martinez to provide them and others in similar circumstances with a better life
BY Eric Lindberg
USC Mork Family Scholar Jacqueline Martinez is pursuing a degree in nongovernmental organizations and social change. (USC Photo/Eric Lindberg)
USC freshman Jacqueline Martinez can still smell the stale popcorn and sticky soda-stained floors, a lingering reminder of her tough childhood.
When she was only 11, she began accompanying her parents to their job cleaning a movie theater. They would leave their South Los Angeles home at 1 a.m. for the graveyard shift. As Martinez got older, she pitched in, sweeping screening rooms and scrubbing hot dog and popcorn machines. It was exhausting.
One night as Martinez and her mom got coffee at a convenience store to stay awake, a gunman stormed in and threatened the cashier. The man fled and no one was harmed, but Martinez left shaken.
With no education beyond fourth grade, Martinez's parents had few options to escape the nightly grind. But they wanted better for their children. So they took them to the theater on weekends and during summer breaks to witness their work firsthand, hoping it would compel the kids to do well in school.
It worked. Martinez's success in high school earned her a spot in the 2018 entering freshman class at USC, along with a Mork Family Scholarship. The coveted scholarship goes to 10 high-achieving students each year, covering their tuition and providing a stipend for living expenses. Martinez is grateful for the support, and she plans to use the opportunity to help her parents and others like them.
"Being in their shoes, seeing the extent of their sacrifice for us, ingrained my drive to improve not only their conditions, but also the conditions of other families with backgrounds similar to mine," she said. "It makes you see there's only one option, and that's to move forward."
USC Mork Family Scholar makes the most of her time as a Trojan
Sitting in the shade of a towering jacaranda tree near Taper Hall on the University Park Campus, Martinez flips opens her planner. Each day is neatly segmented into dozens of tasks and activities, painstakingly scheduled to the minute. She needs that level of careful organization because of her many pursuits at USC.
Martinez keeps track of her busy schedule in a detailed planner. (USC Photo/Eric Lindberg)
Martinez is working toward a degree in nongovernmental organizations and social change at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences. She is also eyeing minors in the entertainment industry and justice, voice and advocacy.
Beyond her classwork, she is already involved in student organizations that promote animal rights, environmental sustainability, women in cinematic arts, feminist media and business in entertainment. Oh, and she also plays trumpet in the Trojan Marching Band.
"This works so well for me because it breaks things down by the hour," she said as she riffled through the color-coded pages of the planner. "I try to make sure I'm using my time as wisely as possible. My biggest regret would be that I didn't use the resources here enough."
A USC fan since childhood realizes her dream
Martinez has been prepping for this moment for years. She knew by middle school that USC would be her top college choice. Living in nearby Willowbrook, a small community sandwiched between Compton and Watts, influenced the decision.
She would attend events on campus like panel sessions featuring women in leadership roles. And as her interests condensed around improving diversity in cinema and launching an educational nonprofit, it felt natural to stay in Los Angeles — the hub of the entertainment industry and home to a robust nonprofit sector.
When I say I really wanted to go to USC, I mean it. I geeked out to the point that I lived and breathed USC.
Jacqueline Martinez
By high school, at Ánimo Watts College Preparatory Academy, Martinez was dashing home after class to watch YouTube videos by USC students, seeking tips for aspiring Trojans. She regularly checked the USC website for the latest news stories. She daydreamed about the classes she would take and the clubs she would join.
"When I say I really wanted to go to USC, I mean it," she said. "I geeked out to the point that I lived and breathed USC."
Still, when she arrived home from school one day to find her sister holding a thick cardinal-and-gold package and her mom wielding a camera, Martinez went into denial. She was convinced the university had just sent some brochures. It couldn't possibly be an acceptance letter.
"Once I opened it, I just started screaming," she said. "My mom and I were crying — it was emotional. She said, 'See, all this sacrifice was for a reason.'"
First-generation student and USC Mork Family Scholar finds her place
Martinez is in the first generation of her family to attend college. Her older sister takes classes at a community college, and Martinez is the first to enroll at a four-year university. So learning she had been accepted to USC's most competitive class ever proved a little intimidating. Then Martinez found out she would be a Mork Family Scholar.
The honor brought relief about her finances. But it also created anxiety. She met other recipients of the prestigious scholarship and worried that she wouldn't measure up.
"I got imposter syndrome. I just thought, I'm sure they are all more qualified," she said. "It's a mentality that plagues a lot of people from communities like mine."
But for people who know Martinez from her high school days, there was never any question she belongs at a place like USC. Samantha Levra first met Martinez while working in her school as a community engagement coordinator with an education-based nonprofit.
She was immediately struck by Martinez's intelligence, kind demeanor and drive to succeed.
Not only is she really hard working and dedicated to advancing herself, but she also wants to bring everyone with her.
Samantha Levra
"Not only is she really hard working and dedicated to advancing herself, but she also wants to bring everyone with her," Levra said. "She wants to give back to the community. She understands and appreciates the sacrifices her parents have made to help her get to where she is now."
Levra had earned a degree in political science and sociology at USC in 2016, so she offered some advice as Martinez prepped her college application. Levra also provided suggestions and resources when Martinez organized a major event — a local TED Talk — in high school. She recalled receiving a handwritten thank-you note days later. She keeps it on her desk for encouragement.
Martinez was active with the Children's Defense Fund before coming to USC; here she is seen at far right with fund founder Marian Wright Edelman and other scholars at the organization's Beat The Odds Awards. (Photo/Alex J. Berliner, ABImages)
"She makes me want to be a better student," said Levra, who is currently pursuing her master's in public administration at the USC Price School of Public Policy. "If Jackie Martinez is on campus, I need to be working really hard, too."
Future plans include helping others follow her path
Now that she has spent a semester as a Trojan, Martinez feels more comfortable in her USC surroundings. And she already has a clear vision for the future. Her involvement with a creative filmmaking initiative in high school led to a mentorship program with Erika Olde, a producer who strives to open doors in the industry for young women.
The experience inspired Martinez to pursue a career that would help her to promote diversity in media. Her dream job is working in corporate responsibility at a major movie studio. She is encouraged to see more media companies unveiling policies to increase diversity on and off screen, but she also sees room for progress. Martinez also envisions working in the nonprofit sphere to support children with backgrounds like hers, especially low-income kids from South America.
"I'm excited to see what she does," Levra said. "I have high expectations for her, but only because I know she's ready for the challenge. She's incredibly resourceful, she's innovative and she really takes the initiative. I think she's going to have an international impact."
Reconnecting with her roots helps USC student stay focused
It can be tricky to find free time, but Martinez likes to take the occasional trip home to Willowbrook. She enjoys relaxing with her family and her dog, a Shih Tzu and Yorkie mix named Osito, which means baby bear in Spanish.
Watching movies with her siblings helps Martinez feel recharged and refreshed when she returns to campus. And catching up with her parents helps her stay grounded and remember what she is fighting for.
"I'm here now, but they are still working the theater," she said. "It just serves as a constant reminder that I gotta get it right. I have to make the best of my time here, so none of those nights are in vain."
More stories about: First-Generation Students, Scholarships, Students
John and Julie Mork greet students arriving for a retreat on Catalina Island. (Photo/Tim Rue)
Mork Family Scholars Program sets students up for success
John and Julie Mork's generous gift ensures ongoing support for USC's top asset: its talented undergraduates.
Policy/LawUniversity
Thanks to a City Plants. (USC Photo/Eric Lindberg)
Summer scholarships help students afford career-boosting internships
Rent and other expenses often keep students from pursuing unpaid summer internships. USC Career Center's Dream Dollars initiative offers much-needed relief.
USC undergrads Shaliz and Nikki Aflatooni, from left, have dedicated themselves to community service. (USC Photo/Eric Lindberg)
Sisters embrace a spirit of service at USC
Nikki and Shaliz Aflatooni immersed themselves in volunteer opportunities as undergrads — their way of giving back after receiving merit scholarships.
Mork family gives historic gift of $110 million to undergraduate scholarships
John and Julie Mork on campus, outside Mudd Hall
USC has received $110 million – the single largest gift in the university's history for undergraduate scholarships and one of only seven gifts to USC of $100 million or more – from USC supporters and devoted philanthropists Julie and John Mork.
Top stories on USC News
A weeklong camp in the San Bernardino Mountains creates lifelong memories for students who become part of the USC community. (Photo/Malika "Mapquest" Mohan)
Troy Camp kids return to forest years later — as USC students
They created unforgettable memories as children in USC's mentorship program. Now these Trojans are helping the next generation of campers build confidence and make lifelong friends.
The Tibuck brothers reunited at Washington Dulles International Airport in November, thanks to the work of USC Gould's Immigration Clinic. (Photo/Courtesy of Jean Reisz, USC Immigration Clinic)
USC Gould Immigration Clinic helps reunite Cameroonian brothers
Clinton and Gerard Tibuck — who had been separated since 2015 — spent Thanksgiving together after a USC law student helped Clinton win asylum.
Zane Durante is developing natural language processing tools to identify truthful language in child forensic interviews.(Photo/Kayly Luong)
Is a testifying child telling the truth? This USC student's research could help courts predict
USC Viterbi student Zane Durante is developing natural language processing techniques to identify truthful or deceptive speech in child forensic interviews.


Compare the 2014 Chevrolet Sonic Sedan to similar green Sedans. Click any of the suggested green cars at right to compare features side-by-side with the Sonic Sedan.
The 2014 Chevrolet Sonic Sedan is a High MPG green vehicle, a Sedan with 4 passenger doors and seating a maximum of 4 people, with a price starting at $14,170. Running on Gasoline, the Sonic Sedan gets 29 MPG City, 40 Highway MPG, a combined 33 MPG.


The people at Nissan take the successful formula of Dacia, and announce their entry into the low-cost car segment with the Datsun brand relaunch, dedicated initially only to the emerging markets of Russia, India and South Africa.
The Nissan Motor Company announced the resuming of production for the Datsun, after 30 years of stopping production, intended to be introduce in the low-cost car segemnt on a few emerging markets in 2014. The relaunch idea came after the rivals from Tata Motors announced plans to build a car under 3,000 dollars.
Executive Director of Nissan, Carlos Ghosn, believes that "The Datsun brand has a global mission". However, that doesn't mean the whole world will see the car at first. Only Indonesia, India and Russia will get the car at first, and if all fares well, it will expand its field of activity. Indonesia's economy grew by almost 6% per year, making the country rank fourth in the world by number of inhabitants, with the 250 million people.
The Nissan Motor Chief Executive Carlos Ghosn, believes reintroducing Datsun to the world will create excitement and help assist in his expectations of boosting the Nissan global market share from its current six percent to eight percent by 2016. He also expects emerging markets to take a larger share of auto sales and hopes that Datsun will reap the most benefits from increased demand.
The Datsun debuted in Japan in 1923, but was closed in 1980 in the context in which the company has focused on the middle-market buyers and the Infiniti line, launched in 1989. The new line will keep the price low in the tradition of the Datsun sports car in which the idea for developing economies was that young drivers buy their first car. The company plans to include a line of ecological Datsun cars.
Nissan plans to invest 400 million dollars in production in Indonesia, leading to the creation of 3,300 jobs and producing 250,000 cars by 2014. Nissan sales will increase to 150% in Indonesia by 2015, or so goes their hopes.
According to the Wall Street Journal, prices will vary between 3,000 and 5,000 dollars. Currently, the cheapest model of Nissan is Tsuru, sold in Mexico for 8,000 dollars.
The carmaker will launch six models of the Datsun, which will be presented in early 2014, at prices that will not be overtaken except for a few manufacturers specializing in small models from China and India.
The new Datsun will not be based, as originally thought, on the B0 platform of the Renault-Nissan Alliance, currently used by sister brand Dacia, but on the technical architecture of the current Lada Granta. This choice allows maintaining the basic price of future models in the famous Datsun psychological threshold of 5,000 euros, exceeded by new generations of the Logan / Sandero, especially the better equipped versions.
The investment in the new model development will be costly, without releasing the exact figures, most likely in the 1 billion dollars range.


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Q: Matplotlib showing x-tick labels overlapping Have a look at the graph below:

It's a subplot of this larger figure:

I see two problems with it.  First, the x-axis labels overlap with one another (this is my major issue).  Second. the location of the x-axis minor gridlines seems a bit wonky.  On the left of the graph, they look properly spaced.  But on the right, they seem to be crowding the major gridlines...as if the major gridline locations aren't proper multiples of the minor tick locations.
My setup is that I have a DataFrame called df which has a DatetimeIndex on the rows and a column called value which contains floats.  I can provide an example of the df contents in a gist if necessary.  A dozen or so lines of df are at the bottom of this post for reference.
Here's the code that produces the figure:
now = dt.datetime.now()

fig, axes = plt.subplots(2, 2, figsize=(15, 8), dpi=200)
for i, d in enumerate([360, 30, 7, 1]):
    ax = axes.flatten()[i]
    earlycut = now - relativedelta(days=d)
    data = df.loc[df.index>=earlycut, :]
    ax.plot(data.index, data['value'])
    ax.xaxis_date()

    ax.get_xaxis().set_minor_locator(mpl.ticker.AutoMinorLocator())
    ax.get_yaxis().set_minor_locator(mpl.ticker.AutoMinorLocator())

    ax.grid(b=True, which='major', color='w', linewidth=1.5)
    ax.grid(b=True, which='minor', color='w', linewidth=0.75)

What is my best option here to get the x-axis labels to stop overlapping each other (in each of the four subplots)?  Also, separately (but less urgently), what's up with the minor tick issue in the top-left subplot?
I am on Pandas 0.13.1, numpy 1.8.0, and matplotlib 1.4.x.
Here's a small snippet of df for reference:
                                    id scale  tempseries_id    value
timestamp
2014-11-02 14:45:10.302204+00:00  7564     F              1  68.0000
2014-11-02 14:25:13.532391+00:00  7563     F              1  68.5616
2014-11-02 14:15:12.102229+00:00  7562     F              1  68.9000
2014-11-02 14:05:13.252371+00:00  7561     F              1  69.0116
2014-11-02 13:55:11.792191+00:00  7560     F              1  68.7866
2014-11-02 13:45:10.782227+00:00  7559     F              1  68.6750
2014-11-02 13:35:10.972248+00:00  7558     F              1  68.4500
2014-11-02 13:25:10.362213+00:00  7557     F              1  68.1116
2014-11-02 13:15:10.822247+00:00  7556     F              1  68.2250
2014-11-02 13:05:10.102200+00:00  7555     F              1  68.5616
2014-11-02 12:55:10.292217+00:00  7554     F              1  69.0116
2014-11-02 12:45:10.382226+00:00  7553     F              1  69.3500
2014-11-02 12:35:10.642245+00:00  7552     F              1  69.2366
2014-11-02 12:25:12.642255+00:00  7551     F              1  69.1250
2014-11-02 12:15:11.122382+00:00  7550     F              1  68.7866
2014-11-02 12:05:11.332224+00:00  7549     F              1  68.5616
2014-11-02 11:55:11.662311+00:00  7548     F              1  68.2250
2014-11-02 11:45:11.122193+00:00  7547     F              1  68.4500
2014-11-02 11:35:11.162271+00:00  7546     F              1  68.7866
2014-11-02 11:25:12.102211+00:00  7545     F              1  69.2366
2014-11-02 11:15:10.422226+00:00  7544     F              1  69.4616
2014-11-02 11:05:11.412216+00:00  7543     F              1  69.3500
2014-11-02 10:55:10.772212+00:00  7542     F              1  69.1250
2014-11-02 10:45:11.332220+00:00  7541     F              1  68.7866
2014-11-02 10:35:11.332232+00:00  7540     F              1  68.5616
2014-11-02 10:25:11.202411+00:00  7539     F              1  68.2250
2014-11-02 10:15:11.932326+00:00  7538     F              1  68.5616
2014-11-02 10:05:10.922229+00:00  7537     F              1  68.9000
2014-11-02 09:55:11.602357+00:00  7536     F              1  69.3500

Edit: Trying fig.autofmt_xdate():
I don't think this going to do the trick.  This seems to use the same x-tick labels for both graphs on the left and also for both graphs on the right.  Which is not correct given my data.  Please see the problematic output below:

A: Ok, finally got it working.  The trick was to use plt.setp to manually rotate the tick labels.  Using fig.autofmt_xdate() did not work as it does some unexpected things when you have multiple subplots in your figure.  Here's the working code with its output:
for i, d in enumerate([360, 30, 7, 1]):
    ax = axes.flatten()[i]
    earlycut = now - relativedelta(days=d)
    data = df.loc[df.index>=earlycut, :]
    ax.plot(data.index, data['value'])

    ax.get_xaxis().set_minor_locator(mpl.ticker.AutoMinorLocator())
    ax.get_yaxis().set_minor_locator(mpl.ticker.AutoMinorLocator())

    ax.grid(b=True, which='major', color='w', linewidth=1.5)
    ax.grid(b=True, which='minor', color='w', linewidth=0.75)

    plt.setp(ax.get_xticklabels(), rotation=30, horizontalalignment='right')

fig.tight_layout()

By the way, the comment earlier about some matplotlib things taking forever is very interesting here.  I'm using a raspberry pi to act as a weather station at a remote location.  It's collecting the data and serving the results via the web.  And boy oh boy, it's really wheezing trying to put out these graphics.

A: Due to the way text rendering is handled in matplotlib, auto-detecting overlapping text really slows things down. (The space that text takes up can't be accurately calculated until after it's been drawn.)  For that reason, matplotlib doesn't try to do this automatically.
Therefore, it's best to rotate long tick labels.  Because dates most commonly have this problem, there's a figure method fig.autofmt_xdate() that will (among other things) rotate the tick labels to make them a bit more readable.  (Note: If you're using a pandas plot method, it returns an axes object, so you'll need to use ax.figure.autofmt_xdate().)
As a quick example:
import numpy as np
import pandas as pd
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt

time = pd.date_range('01/01/2014', '4/01/2014', freq='H')
values = np.random.normal(0, 1, time.size).cumsum()

fig, ax = plt.subplots()
ax.plot_date(time, values, marker='', linestyle='-')

fig.autofmt_xdate()
plt.show()

If we were to leave fig.autofmt_xdate() out:

And if we use fig.autofmt_xdate():

A: For the problems which don't have date values in x axis, rather a string, you can insert \n character in x axis values so they don't overlap. Here is an example -
The data frame is
somecol               value
category 1 of column   16
category 2 of column   13
category 3 of column   21
category 4 of column   20
category 5 of column   11
category 6 of column   22
category 7 of column   19
category 8 of column   14
category 9 of column   18
category 10 of column   23
category 11 of column   10
category 12 of column   24
category 13 of column   17
category 14 of column   15
category 15 of column   12

I need to plot value on y axis and somecol on x axis, which will normally be plotted like this -

As you can see, there is a lot of overlap. Now introduce \n character in somecol column.
somecol = df['somecol'].values.tolist()
for i in range(len(somecol)):
    x = somecol[i].split(' ')
    # insert \n before 'of'
    x.insert(x.index('of'),'\n')
    somecol[i] = ' '.join(x)

Now if you plot, it will look like this -
plt.plot(somecol, df['val'])

This method works well if you don't want to rotate your labels.
The only con so far I found in this method is that you need to tweak your labels 3-4 times i.e., try with multiple formats to display the plot in best format.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
ENDANGERED SPECIES - IRRAWADDY DOLPHIN
ENDANGERED SPECIES - IRRAWADDY DOLPHINID92920050
IRAWADI RIVER DOLPHIN A.P.E. COIN
On the obverse, in a central circular area, an image of Irawadi river dolphins (Orcaella brevirostris) is reproduced in colour. At the bottom, in a circular descending direction and in capital letters, the legend IRAWADI RIVER DOLPHIN. On the outer part of the coin, a series of floral motifs and animal tracks and, at the bottom, in a circular direction and in capitals, the legend ESPAÑA (SPAIN) and the year of issue 2022.
On the reverse (common to all the coins), inside a central circle, the words ANIMALS IN DANGER OF EXTINCTION appear at the top, in a circular shape and in capital letters; below, the value of the coin, 1.5 EURO, in two lines and in capital letters; and, below, the mintmark
IRAWADI RIVER DOLPHIN, (Orcaella brevirostris):
From its name, Irawady River Dolphin, one might think that it is a dolphin that inhabits only this river, but it is a saltwater species that lives mainly in rivers close to the coast, in estuaries and mouths of some large Asian rivers, such as the Irawady, Mekong, Ganges or Mahakham, among others. Their range extends from the Bay of Bengal to New Guinea, the northern coast of Australia and the Philippines.
These marine mammals live in small groups of only 5-6 individuals. Adults are about 2.5 metres long and can weigh up to 130 kg, and can live to be 30 years old. They are particularly respected and protected in some coastal human populations, as they assist fishermen in their catches by directing schools of fish towards their nets.
They are slow-swimming dolphins compared to other dolphin species, but their expressive mobile head and ability to spit water when surfacing has unfortunately made them an attractive and popular dolphinarium animal.
Although strict conservation measures have been taken by some countries, this dolphin species is in serious danger of extinction. Pollution, habitat reduction and destruction, and accidental death in fishing nets are some of the threats facing this endemic Southeast Asian dolphin species.


On Jan. 2, 1997, the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) was amended to reflect design-build procurement procedures. The amendment, which took effect immediately, brought the FAR in compliance with the Clinger–Cohen Act of 1996. That act allowed agencies to use design-build, if appropriate, and established a two-phase source selection procedure.
The 1997 amendments contained in FAR 36.3 guide government acquisition of design-build services. The first phase of the selection aims at identifying the most highly qualified competitors. Initial evaluation factors include, "specialized experience and technical competence; capability to perform; past performance of the offeror's team (including the architect-engineer and construction members)": and any other factors deemed "appropriate." Cost or price related factors are specifically excluded by the FAR in phase one as a means of limiting the cost of proposing.
These 1997 changes to the FAR codified a two-phased best value selection of design-build services by the federal government, which continues its trickle down to the state level.
Swinerton Builders: Design-build contract for repeat client Douglas County, Calif.
March 18-22, Design-Build in Transportation Conference, Orlando, Fla.
Sept. 30 - Oct. 4, Cal Poly State University Boot Camp, San Luis Obispo, Calif.


Every Monday in 2013, I'll be sharing a different way you can save $100 this year. If you do all of these things, you'll be able to save over $5,000 this year alone! Many of these things will likely be things you're already doing, but hopefully all of you will pick up at least a few new ideas or some inspiration from this series.
If you buy a lot of a particular item, you can often get a discount if you buy in bulk. If you're going to be using a lot of something over the next four months and you can freeze or store it for an extended time period, see what kind of discount you can get if you buy enough to last you for three to six months.
For instance, if you go through a lot of organic butter, ask the health food store you typically purchase them from if they could give you a discount if you purchased a case of butter. If they say "yes", buy the case and store it in the freezer to use as needed.
My dad did this when we were building our house when I was growing up. He went to the local lumber stores and told them he was going to be buying a lot of supplies for building our house and what kind of discount could they give him if would buy all of the items from their store. If I'm remembering correctly, one store almost immediately offered him 15% off everything he purchased from them over the next six months. That simple step of asking saved us thousands of dollars!
Many stores are happy to give you a discount on almost-expiring groceries. All you have to do is ask.
One time, I found some bananas that were past their prime at Aldi. I went and asked if they'd give me a discount on them. They did better than that; they said I could have them for free!
If you have a membership to a local gym or other club and it's something that you are regularly using (if you're not regularly using it, cancel it today, okay? There's no use in paying for something you're not using!), ask them if they have an discount opportunities. If you volunteer once a month or help with a certain project, you might be able to get a sizable discount.
When it comes to your monthly bills, always call and try to re-negotiate fixed rate bills at least once per year. Things like internet and phone packages are often negotiable — and we've saved hundreds of dollars over the years by asking annually if they have a better rate they can give us.
So take the time to make that simple phone call. Schedule it on your calendar or just go do it right now. It could result in savings of $100+ per year — just for taking the time to ask!
Have you asked for a discount on something before? If so, tell us about your experience(s).
Looking for more? Read more posts about 52 Different Ways to Save $100 Per Year.
Don't forget asking for a discount on cable/telephone/internet etc if you pay for those.
I got a $5/mth discount ($7 effective June) by calling and asking.
Yesterday, my Keurig Mini B31 brewer stopped working. I went to their website and followed the troubleshooting steps and it still didn't work. I called their customer service, expecting that they would give me the old 'too bad, so sad' because my machine was 1 month past warranty (it sat unused for 6 months while I was pregnant and having morning sickness, so it was only used for about 7 months of time, only by me, to brew two cups per day).
They are sending me a new brewer at no charge! I do have to send them the k-cup holder from the defective one as proof of ownership. So if you have something go wrong with an appliance and it's out of warranty, it never hurts to call customer service to see what they will do for you.
That's a cool story! Thanks for sharing!
Keurig are wonderful about that! My brewer had developed a leak, which eventually got to the point where it was leaking too much to use. I took it apart as much as I could, figuring I could fix it (former engineer here–I've fixed quite a few things over the years :-)), but came to a point where I needed schematics to dismantle it further. I couldn't find plans online, so I called Keurig customer service to ask if I could get a diagram or something; the CS rep. made the same offer to me (and mine was more than a year past the warrenty expiring!). I was astounded (and very glad I hadn't gone out & bought a replacement, lol).
A friend of mine, as part of her bachelorette party, had a gathering at a winery. She ordered somewhere around 9 bottles of wine and I thought that deserved a discount, so I asked and they gave us 15%. We would not have gotten a discount otherwise if I hadn't asked.
We would give larger than our usual discounts for wine bought bought at our winery to be served at a wedding.
woohoo! i just called our phone/internet provider, & they're giving us a "promotional" discount for the next 12 mos.; $10/mo. for 12 mos.=$120! thanks for sharing this tip!
call again in 12 months for whatever the current promo is at the time. i call every 6 months like it's my job. some promos are better than others, but i haven't paid full price for cable and internet in years.
Don't forget to ask about insurance discounts. Many times, you can save hundreds by asking for a different insurance carrier.
If you carry a military ID, whether active duty, dependant, or retired, always ask if they have a military discount. Most places don't advertise this but do offer it if asked, from restaurants (even fast food) and stores up to hotels and other travel deals like cruise lines.
Same with college ID's if you live in a college town. Also my husband gets 10% off most of the restaurants near where he works by showing his badge.
Great tip! One of the few reasons we were sad the day my husband finished law school and no longer was a student was that we had to say so long to student discounts!
Both the mouth pieces on our 2 Camelbak water bottles broke last year at the same time. Not wanting to replace the bottles completely I set out to look for a replacement piece. After looking a few places with no luck I spoke with the camping manager at a sporting goods store and he told me to call Camelbak and they would be "good to me". And to my surprise they were! They sent two brand new tops and straws for my bottles Free!! Very impressed with their Service!
I love it when customer service is truly "service"!
We were at Home Depot the other day and I looked up the product I was buying on the company website. It was $1 cheaper but a different brand. I asked the cashier about it and he met the price for me! It never hurts to ask!
Ask for a discount on services if you pay at the time of the appointment (doctor, lab, dentist, etc.).
Ask if they offer senior discounts and what age they start the discount.
Ask for a discount for paying cash instead of credit card/check.
For lodging, ask if they give a discount for AARP, AAA, etc.
Also ask for a discount on scratch and dent appliances at the big box stores!
We need our walk-behind lawn mower tuned up/blades sharpened, etc this year. My two neighbors also need this done. The small engine repairman is coming to my home to service all three mowers and each of us will have a 20.00 discount on the service which is normally 80.00! It pays to ask! We made it worthwhile for him by saving his gas expense.
In June, we are moving back to the area where both my husband and I grew up. We will be in the rental property that we got for at least three years while he finishes his last three years of medical school. I asked the landlord if he would give us a discount for committing to a three year lease and he did! The place was listed for $675/month and we are going to be paying $650/month. It never hurts to ask…the worst thing that will happen is hearing "no"!
I saved 20% on my hospital bill after having our daughter! All I did was call and ask for it. (We just needed to pay the balance within 30 days).
When you make a hotel reservation, ask "what is the lowest price you can give me?". I have successfully gotten cheaper prices a few times. Also compare prices on-line and then call in person to make the reservation.
Also Colombia will take jackets that need repair and either repair them or send you a replacement for the price of shipping it to them. I sent in two coats and received free ones within a few weeks…that will save me many dollars to use them instead of having to buy new next winter.
Omg! I am queen of this. Of course, i always embarress my family! This year i asked for a discount on our xmas tree and they gave me one! The worse they can say is no!
We use Samaritan Ministries for health care and after an emergency c-section for our son I called each Dr. (neonatolotists, anesthesiologists, OB, radiologist) and the hospital/lab itself and got each to agree to 40% off if I paid within 30 days. I put them all on the credit card right away on the phone and then paid those off as soon as they came from our emergency fund. Then it was submitted and we were completely reimbursed by Samaritan members. Overall I know it was at least $13,000 off the original bills. And some were totally set up for that discount and some I just mentioned that the others were all doing 40% off and they then agreed…it paid to ask! And it is funny to hear them scramble to take your money since most offices NEVER have someone actually pay for something right away. Sometimes I had to be transferred, sometimes they just had to figure it out, but it shows how removed people are from the actual payment/cost part of health care.
Bonus was that the credit card had rewards so we built up a little extra cash with it and were able to use that during a rougher than expected delivery/recovery period.
It definitely pays to ask doctor's offices and hospitals for discounts – their prices are artificially inflated because they usually expect insurance companies to negotiate them down. I am glad that Samaritan Ministries came through for you on such a big bill – I had wondered how it worked on the larger ones.
Samaritan can handle anything! Well, God can handle anything and Samaritan ministries members do their part.. We are part of the Save to Share as well (for needs that get above $250,000) and when we first signed up there had just been a heart transplant that cost about $1 million that had been shared with more than enough left to share from those in the program. It is growing quickly with all the health care issues going on and we are so, so grateful for this wonderful blessing!
What a blessing! The hospitals here only give 10% off if you pay in 30 days. I am amazed that you got 40%!
For the hospital/lab it was just their policy. Most of the doctors would honor that same level when I mentioned it. One office had to have a copy of our hospital bill that showed they gave us that discount in order to honor 40%, but the others just did it when I told them. Really, they give much, much more of a discount to those who are insured and wait months for payment…they came out ahead of that with me and my prompt payment!
Our pediatrician does the same thing. The standard there is 20, but he writes it up at 40%. When we had insurance they got about the equivalent of 30% of the TOTAL from our insurance company so when we pay 60% on that day they are still ahead of what they got when we used insurance.
We always ask for discounts if paying in cash and for paying a bill in full. We also got a free month of garbage service for paying in full. I always ask at places like Kohl's if they have any coupons I could use, especially if I forgot mine. It have saved a lot of money for just asking if that is the best deal and then being quiet, it works!
I have asked for discounts on things probably 20 times, but people always say no. I usually take it personally and cry when I get off the phone. Is there some tip to doing this? I'm 30, but have a very young sounding voice so people don't take me seriously. Most recently, I ordered a case of formula for my baby from Target, and they all came crushed and leaking. I asked for a discount and they said $5 off was the best they could do–on $250 in damaged product which required me to drive 20 minutes to the closest store to return.
I've heard of people doing this, but it's never worked for me.
I am young but I use that to my advantage, especially when it comes to "guy things" such as auto parts purchased, repair work, ect. I straight up tell them I'm on a tight budget and the only way I could make it work is if there is a discount.
I think part of it is just asking if it is the best they can do with a sincere, nice voice and then just being quiet. Sometimes they hem and haw, but when it comes down to it most people want to help and want you to be their customer. I state my case, ask and then wait. And if they say no you lost nothing…don't worry about it, they sure aren't!
My husband is a teacher, and I'm amazed at all of the businesses that offer discounts to teachers. If we made a habit of searching out those discounts and shopping at those retailers when possible, I feel certain we could save $100 a year that way alone.
These are all great and I've done all of them in the past – much to my husband's embarrassment. 🙂 I would encourage people to ask for a discount period. I often get quotes for services and say, "I don't want to pay more than X. Can you do that?" It's amazing how often they do. I've also asked for a discount on an item in a store. Just ask if they're able/willing to take less. The worst they can do is say no!
My husband is good about this. When we bought our laptop fairly recently, he asked how much better they could do since we bought the store model (last they had in stock). Just for asking, he got an extra 10% off plus we had store coupons(Staples) and it was on sale!
When buying cars, he'll ask for certain discounts and waiving fees that they say they have to charge–some say no but many say yes. Doesn't hurt to ask! Paying cash helps too!
I'll admit this doesn't come easily for me–I'm rather shy– but when buying produce to can in the summer, I'll ask what their best price is if I buy x amount of tomatoes or green beans, etc. Already being a regular farmer's market customer helps too! I've gotten really good deals this way. One farmer quoted me a good price once and then when I picked up the tomatoes, he charged half of what he'd quoted. The tomatoes were very ripe and perfect for canning but he would've had to throw them out the next day otherwise–he was thankful that I had asked for them!
This isn't a discount that is repeatable, but recently we were faced with a rather steep doctor's bill after our insurance refused to pay a portion of it (we didn't realize part of my husband's surgery was specifically excluded in the policy). We had already gone through the appeals process and gotten the bill down as low as we could on our insurance's end, but when we saw how much our doctor's office reduced the insurance company's portion (by over 70%) we asked if they could give us a discount on the portion the insurance wasn't paying. They said that they would meet us 50/50, which saved us $1,100.
We had major driveway work done last Fall. Grading and two trucks of crushed concrete spread and graded. I asked if they would give a cash discount, and they knocked $75 off the quoted price.
I noticed two hams at the grocery store had the expiration date of the day I was shopping so I asked if the meat manager could discount them. First he said that normally another person handles that but when I asked if he could discount them he said he could if I could wait while he repackaged them. I was going to ask if he could mark them down to $1 a pound, but he suggested 69 cents a pound–definitely worth a few minutes wait!
I have had great success with this. I save a lot of money by asking for employer discounts. Typically I work for large health care systems that partner with community businesses.
I've saved 10% off of apartment rent, cell phone bills, gym memberships, car repairs, and car parts.
One tip I wanted to share is stopping into auto parts stores for things like replacement wiper blades, new batteries, air filters, ect. I've saved the money a third party would mark it up and most times 10% off the item. If its a simple replacement of a product your buying from them, and their not busy, I've found they will usually help.
Teachers!! We get so many discounts (often 10-20%) at a ton of businesses just by showing our teacher ID! You can find a list of stores that offer discounts at http://thefrugalgirls.com/teacher-discounts (hope it's okay to post a link!). I use mine at Michael's all the time (15% off total purchase).
Homeschoolers can often get the teacher discount if you show a student ID card (if you buy curriculum). I've heard of people who make their own student ID cards for their homeschooled kids to get these discounts.
We've purchased "demonstration" models of DVR's and TV's that were offered with a discount because they were "used".
The very same thing happened to us, and within days we had a new Kindle at our door. I agree, excellent customer service!
I recently got an $80/yr discount on our car/home/life insurance (on top of our 'renewal discount rate), and will receive another 'discount' when I pay the premium in full:) Joann Fabrics offers a student discount (LOVE IT), which can be used with other coupons and promotions for an additional 10% off everything in the store. I also ask for discounts on dented cans at the grocery store (my Fred Meyer location LOVES that I help them clean their shelves:) , and near-date meat and dairy! I have yet to try asking for a case discount, but I will now for everything we do buy!
Ask for discount for cash. Go for at least 5%.
Cash is very reliable – it can't bounce or be dishonored – and the merchant needn't pay credit or debit card fees. So if you want to pay cash, as many readers here do, you should get some of the benefit as well.
Another time while on a date we realized that it was the night for the coffee shop to have discounted coffee. We stopped in for a treat. The cakes in the display looked so tempting and we decided to splurge. There were two kinds and I left it up to DH to decide. He opted for the cake of which there was only 1 slice left. I'm not sure what inspired me, but I asked if they would give us a discount on it, as it was the last slice. (my thinking was that if we didn't eat it, they would have to have that space taken up in the morning for the one left over piece of day old cake, rather than a whole line from a new one they would cut up.) They said yes and gave us half off. It was a great date, and my husband laughed at me the whole time.
Now we are looking to have our house painted and some other work done. One of the first things my husband asked, when I said I was going to get quotes for the work, was "Did you ask them for a cash discount?" I didn't, but plan to once we get the quotes back. I also need to call the electrician who recently did work for us and see if they would give us a discount for paying cash. It is well worth it for me to run to the bank and go pay a bill that day if they are willing to give me a discount.
My cable company refuses to give promotional discounts meant for new customers to existing customers. If we had an alternative for high speed internet, I would move away from them entirely but we don't (the phone company can't even keep a basic phone line working – I'm not about to trust them with DSL). I do occasionally get a small break from the cable company by telling them that I won't agree to additional services without a break on the cost, reminding them that I've been a loyal customer for a long time.
If your credit report has changed recently, don't forget to call up all your services and ask about discounts again! My husband and I have worked very hard over the last seven years to clean up his credit and as of November, it is immaculate. I called our auto insurance and our premium is dropping $40/month and we're getting better coverage!!
I once worked in a store where if people asked if we had a discount for X, the response was always supposed to be, "Yes," and we'd give them a 10% discount on the cost of labor, just for asking. Once a woman told me the story of how a bird dropping broke her windshield that had us both laughing until we couldn't breathe. She was shocked when she joked, "Do I get a discount for making you laugh?" and my response was, "Yes!" As a customer service rep, even when the answer's, "No," I'm not offended when you ask, so why not try?
We have been ruthlessly trying to reduce our expenses for the past few years. Switching auto insurance last year saved us $700 a year! Doing a streamline mortgage on our home shaved 1 year off our term, and reduced our payment by $100 per month ($1200 per year). Every year we get a notice from our phone/internet/cable company informing us that they have to raise prices due to blah, blah, blah. Every year my husband calls and points out how long we've been excellent customers, and that we recently received information regarding the newest promotional rate they're offering new customers. Every year they discount our service to keep it at the same rate, and for some reason, this year, they actually discounted it an extra $10 per month, so it went down! This alone saves us tons, because by now it would be about $50 higher per month if he didn't call every year.
After our most recent blizzard, my husband totalled his truck on the way to work. We were determined to find something comparable or better with the amount our insurance paid out on the truck. We had JUST paid off our mini-van, had no car payments, and didn't want another one. It took a few months, but my husband found a slightly older truck with 40,000 fewer miles, and power options (didn't have on old truck), in much better shape than his had been. He took the new (used) truck to be checked out by a mechanic before purchasing, and got $300 dollars knocked off the price for a repair it needed. Even after the repair, he got the truck for a total of $300 LESS than our insurance paid out!
Next up for reduction? Our cell phone plan.
I saved $76.32 on our cell phone bill by emailing our cell phone provider and asking if they would waive the upgrade fees from when we bought new cell phones. I sent a polite email stating that we had been long-time customers. It turnes out my work discount covers these fees and they waived them immediately. $36 per phone + tax: $76.32 back in my pocket for spending five minutes sending a courteous email! I am learning more and more every day that it never hurts to ask!
I just wrote a post the other week about evaluating our current bills. I've been able to get one time credits on my cell phone bill by simply calling them and letting them know I was looking for ways to reduce my monthely expenses.
When I purchased new furniture, a few years back, I asked them if they would give me a discount if I paid in full with cash.
During college I would carry my ID with me and get discounts at a ton of places. Lots of restaurants give college discounts and even some theatres, gyms, and salons. It never hurts to ask.


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Newly elected judicial board holds its first meeting
Following the election of new members to the Board of Judges and Prosecutors (HSK), the board has held its first meeting of the new term in Ankara under the chairmanship of Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gül.
During the first meeting of the board since the general assembly of parliament chose seven members and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan chose four, Gül said that it was good news for democracy that both the ruling and main opposition parties came to an agreement.
On May 20, political parties in the Turkish Parliament reached an agreement on the election of HSK by agreeing that four members will be determined by the People's Alliance led by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and the other three by opposition bloc, the Nation Alliance.
Gül thanked the previous HSK members for their fight against the terrorist group and for clearing covert FETÖ members serving as prosecutors and judges from the judiciary.
He pointed out that the HSK has an important duty in preserving trust in justice.
"The prerequisite for a state of the law is an independent and impartial justice. The fact that justice is independent and impartial is a guarantor that all rights and freedoms are protected," Gül noted, highlighting that Turkey was a state of law.
He also added that the board was preparing to implement the Human Rights Action Plan announced by the president on March 2 while also working on a new framework to promote prosecutors and judges.
The HSK is the disciplinary body of the legal system of Turkey and acts as the national council of the judiciary of the country.
Couple live in 'caravan' they converted from clunker bus
Heli-skiing season starts in Rize with 19 international thrillseekers
Warrants issued for 64 suspects with ISIL links
Ministry to from 'national disability program'
Meteorologists declared warnings for 26 provinces
Cargo operations help THY weather fallout from pandemic: Aycı
At least 90 migrants rescued in Aegean Sea


Jessica Biel Jealous: Afraid Justin Timberlake Will Cheat During Britney Spears Music Collaboration?
Jessica Biel Divorcing Justin Timberlake: Reports of Baby Stress and Controlling Singer Destroying Marriage?
Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel Plan Second Child?
Pregnant Jessica Biel Threatens Justin Timberlake With Divorce – Will He Stop Partying and Commit to the Marriage?


Roger Gladwell Landscape and Construction can undertake driveway landscaping and paving in Suffolk, South Norfolk, North Essex and East Cambridgeshire. Roger Gladwell Landscape and Construction provide a complete garden landscaping service. Our garden designers can work with you to plan a beautiful new garden. Roger's own professional team of designers, landscaper and pavers undertake all work so our clients can be assured of quality work completed within schedule.


UPDATED @ 9:21 8:30 PM..... Motor Vehicle Accident at East Main and Beverlye :: RickeyStokesNews.com!
DOTHAN: Dothan Fire, Dothan Police and local EMS responded to a report of a motor vehicle crash at East Main and Beverlye.
On the arrival of Dothan Fire Engine 5 ( Eastside ) they reported two vehicles with one in the ditch.
Two people suffered injuries and were transported by ambulance to the hospital. The area where the crash occurred is closed until it can be cleaned up. The cause of the crash is under investigation by the Dothan Police.
None of the injuries appeared to be life threatening.


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film, review, television
Murder By Television (1935)
Posted by stacia on October 3, 2007 December 16, 2014
Like most of my film entries, this post contains spoilers.
"Murder by Television" is a public domain mystery movie, shown occasionally on TCM and available in various compilation sets. This 1935 z-grade flick starring Bela Lugosi is a well-known cult favorite. My first impression of the movie was that it was a very early talkie, possibly made in 1929 or 1930. I was surprised to find it was made as late as 1935; many of the bad elements of early sound movies are present in this low-budget film. There was little music in the soundtrack and I swear I saw props that were hiding microphones. The entire movie was shot with static cameras and stiff-as-a-board actors plastered to their marks. The majority of the characters were rich white folk sporting formal dress and fake British accents.
As you can see, they managed to get a cast of men who all look alike. Bravo.
There's quite a bit of confusion about the plot in online reviews of "Murder by Television", and it's no wonder. The plot, simply put, stinks. The film is a convoluted whodunnit with what I suppose is a hint of science fiction thrown in the mix, although I am perhaps too kind. The movie begins with James Houghland, an inventor who has created what is essentially satellite television. Arthur Perry (Bela Lugosi) is apparently Houghland's representative, and knows that some sneaky capitalist swine want to buy Houghland's invention and make gajillions of dollars. Perry tells the capitalist swine that Houghland won't sell his invention for anything, he wants to use it to better mankind, not simply to make money.
Meanwhile, a man who looks exactly like Perry sees Perry's face in the newspaper and hatches a scheme. Both Perry and the lookalike are played by by Lugosi, of course. The lookalike somehow manages to procure the exact same suit as Perry without knowing anything other than what was in the paper, and returns to the capitalist swine's office pretending to be Perry. He says Houghton now will sell his television invention, and takes the swine's money.
At a fancy party, Houghland reveals his invention. Everyone gathers around an enormous big screen TV and watches a crystal clear image, live from various countries around the world. Because of the poor print it's hard to see, but the photo to the right is of a man adjusting the image on a huge television with a live image from Asia being broadcast. These images are shown without live sound, but Houghland is narrating.
It's interesting to note that we didn't actually achieve this kind of visual technology until the 1950s or 60s. To see what television was really like in 1935, see this gallery and this site for examples. Televisions were tiny screens in large wooden cabinets that resembled radio/record player sets of the same era. There were no big screens or clear images. When this movie was made in 1934, images on television looked like this baseball game.
Houghland is on camera in another room in the mansion, narrating these impossible images, when he suddenly grabs his chest and falls to the floor. The guests panic and don't do anything because they are ineffectual twits, and only Perry goes to the camera room, where he discovers Houghland dead. Perry is seen taking some papers, which provides the only bit of intrigue in the movie, as you don't know if it's really Perry or the lookalike. Finally Houghton's wife and daughter enter the room and, as is typical for early 1930s murder flicks, neither seem much bothered by their dead loved one on the floor.
A police inspector shows up, determines Houghland was killed by a blow to the head, and questions everyone. Why no one questions him is beyond me: there was no blow to the head. I know. I rewound. Twice. And presumably the guests know this as well, since they were all watching the television when Houghland fell to the floor, but no one mentions it.
The questioning of suspects begins a segment of the movie I like to call "Racist Stereotypes on Parade". The Houghland's butler is Ah Ling (Allen Jung), a Chinese actor sadly forced to quote Charlie Chan and Confucius constantly. Jung delivers his lines with almost no trace of an Asian accent at all, which makes his faux Confucian broken English platitudes all the more unlikely. The maid is Isobel (Hattie McDaniel), who spends all her time rolling her eyes and shouting "Lawdy lawdy!" There's also an Irish cop, inept of course, with a thick brogue.
During questioning, Isobel is asked about her whereabouts for a few moments. She gets embarrassed and the inspector lets her go, with a comment about how he understands what's going on. Unfortunately, the audience has no idea; was Isobel in the bathroom? Making sweet love to her man? Whatever the reason she was too embarrassed to say where she was, she leaves the inspector's room only to ask the Irish cop, "Is my face red?" The joke being that she's black and therefore cannot blush.
It's all so very, very sad.
The police inspector can't figure out who might have murdered Houghton, so one of the guests, Doctor Scofield (played by improbably-named actor Huntly Gordon), retrieves his "brain apparatus". Scofield is also an inventor and the apparatus is one of his inventions. Simply put, it reads everyone's brain.
This "apparatus" — seen here next to Lugosi — is a large wooden box with some whatnots and fiddly bits glued to it. It somehow proves every one of the house guests' brains are incapable of murder. Sound idiotic? It is. Scofield says of brains that, from person to person, "the only significant difference is the size, and scientifically, that has no significance."
Of course, the inspector believes everything this so-called apparatus reveals. No one is allowed to leave the home and eventually Perry ends up dead. Minutes later Isobel arrives in a panic, screaming "Lawdy lawdy, I done seen a ghost!" and falling to her knees. She's seen Perry, who was supposedly dead; Houghland's daughter has as well. Lugosi shows up and reveals he is, indeed, Arthur Perry, secret FBI agent. The lookalike is the one who was murdered. Perry reveals the now-dead lookalike was his evil twin brother whom he hadn't seen in decades, and who was trying to scam the corporate swine. Being his twin brother, I suppose, explains the lookalike's precipitous choice in suits earlier on.
Lugosi stands in the drawing room and blandly begins to explain to the guests and audience the solution to the murder.
The only entertaining part of this snoozefest is catching Lugosi's occasional inappropriate facial expressions. According to Perry, Dr. Scofield (inventor of the brain apparatus) had made a phone call to some voice-activated device which sent "waves" to Houghland's studio. These waves mixed with the television signal and created "interstellar waves… or, the death ray!"
The death ray. Not a death ray, nor "a deadly ray of some sort", but THE death ray. Of course.
Scofield's motive was to get the patents for this amazing new invention and sell it to some corporate pigs for big bucks. Perry exposes him, Scofield goes with the cops, and all is well in Whiteyland.
This is a poorly-made movie that I still cannot believe was made the same year as such classics as "Mutiny on the Bounty", "Dangerous", and "Golddiggers of 1935". As the old joke says, if you only have an hour to live, see this movie: it's less than 60 minutes but it feels like a lifetime.
INTERESTING STUFF:
New York Times entry via AllMovies
Watch "Murder By Television" on MySpace Videos
"Murder by Television" is public domain, and available in compilation sets as well as individual DVDs.
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Dutchy says:
This was a really good review. I'm watching the film now on TV – I keep getting confused, your synopsis is proving invaluable!
Thanks! I'm glad it's helpful. The plot is so convoluted that it's easy to get confused, and I found myself rewinding a lot.


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Development Services Meetings & Agendas
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Newton County Planning Commission
Meetings are held at 7 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of the month at the Historic Courthouse in Covington.
Conditional Use, Rezoning, Overlay special Exemption, Future Land Use Plan Amendments Deadlines & Meeting Dates
Link to Applications for Planning Commission
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Planning Commission Meeting Staff Reports
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Newton County Board of Zoning Appeals
Meetings are held at 7 p.m. on the fourth Thursday of the month at the Historic Courthouse in Covington.
Variance Application Deadlines and Meeting Dates
Link to Applications for Zoning
Board of Zoning Appeals Agendas
Newton County Board of Commissioners Meeting
This zoom meeting is only for the Zoning Cases Public hearing section of the BOC.
Everything You Need to Know About Inspections
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Change of Business Ownership, Location or Activity
Completing a Business Application
Notification of Business Closure
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2023 Comprehensive Plan


As my Tune Tuesday posts tend to be about recent songs, I thought I'd do something a bit different this week. I recently created a Spotify playlist dedicated to my favourite songs from childhood films and musicals, so it seemed like a good idea to share them with you.
Yes, I know I included 'Let It Go'. I loved it at first, and then it got a bit annoying since it was played so much, but I do love Idina Menzel's voice, and Demi Lovato's version is incredible too! I've loved the songs I've included from 'The Sound Of Music', 'Grease', 'The Little Mermaid', ' The Wizard Of Oz', 'Pocahontas' and 'Aladdin' since I was like 5! I can pretty much recite the lyrics to all of these songs, particularly 'Over the Rainbow', 'Once Upon a Dream' and 'Hopelessly Devoted to You'.
Of course, there are so many other songs I could've included on here, such as those from 'The Lion King', 'Beauty and the Beast' and 'Mary Poppins', some of my favourite Disney movies. I definitely need to sit down and rewatch these films and musicals!
What are your favourite songs from musicals and Disney films?
Great selection of tunes there, I always need a few recommendations for my playlist! I love listening to musicals.
Some great songs on there! Might have to add a few to my playlist!
wow those cats so so so so cute!
I love all of these songs!
This is a great list! My favorite Disney songs are "Everybody Wants to be a Cat" from The Aristocats and "I Won't Say I'm in Love" from Hercules. Have you heard The Last Five Years obc? It's amazing. Great blog!