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Category: Universal Attitudes
Feminism, Rape, Universal Attitudes, Women's Rights
International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women – November 25th
The International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women was adopted by the United Nations resolution 53/134. The General Assembly of the United Nations agreed that "violence against women is a manifestation of historically unequal power relations between men and women, which have led to domination over and discrimination against women by men and to the prevention of their full advancement, and that violence against women is one of the crucial social mechanisms by which women are forced into subordinate positions, compared with men."
The Assembly defines violence against women as: "any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or private life."
UN General Secretary Ban Ki Moon comments on the day:
"Violence against women and girls takes many forms and is widespread throughout the globe. It includes rape, domestic violence, harassment at work, abuse in school, female genital mutilation and sexual violence in armed conflicts. It is predominantly inflicted by men. Whether in developing or developed countries, the pervasiveness of this violence should shock us all. Violence – and in many cases the mere threat of it – is one of the most significant barriers to women's full equality."
This day is also known as the White Ribbon Day also signals the start of 16 Days of Activism against violence against women, with NGOs and community groups to hold events every day until 10 December to keep the focus on domestic violence issues. These 16 Days of Activism to end violence against women involve groups all over the world who speak up for support against such violence. This year the campaign calls for overcoming challenges and obstacles to gain long-overdue results in the struggle to end violence against women. It pays particular attention to social attitudes and policies that continue to condone and perpetuate abuses.
Read more about this international day here.
Be active and make a difference!
Rwanda, Universal Attitudes
International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
Happy International Day for the Eradication of Poverty!
One of UN Millennium Development Goals is to end extreme poverty by 2015.
Since 1993, October 17 has been recognized by the UN as a day to promote awareness of the poverty, hunger, and violence happening in countries all over the world. The day calls for recognition of those victims of destitution and to remind the world that the United Nations regards fighting poverty at the core of its development agenda. World leaders have come together under this initiative and are determined to cut the numbers of people living in extreme poverty in half by 2015.
This year's theme will focus on "Ending the Violence of Extreme Poverty: Promoting Empowerment and Building Peace". This is a theme that hits close to home for Women for Rwanda, as we are well aware of how poverty and violence often go hand in hand. With nearly two thirds of the Rwandan population living below the poverty line and the ethnic tension that continues to lead to violence we promote International Day for the Eradication of Poverty in hope that the world's leaders will continue to work towards development in areas suffering from poverty and violence.
Today government officials and representatives from civil society, including those living in poverty, are meeting in the UN headquarters in New York. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has provided a message for today, "Rampant poverty, which has festered for far too long, is linked to social unrest and threats to peace and security. On this International day, let us make an investment in our common future by helping to lift people out of poverty so that they, in turn, can help to transform our world."
October 17, 2012 eradication, Poverty, UN, violenceLeave a comment
Feminism, In London, Universal Attitudes, Women's Rights
The Great Wall of Vagina
Have you heard of The Great Wall of Vagina? That's right, vagina.
It's a masterpiece of a Brighton-based artist Jamie McCartney in his latest exhibition Skin Deep. The artwork, which unfortunately was only on display for the month of May, is a 9-meter-long wall that consists of "four hundred plaster casts of vulvas, all of them unique, arranged into ten large panels."
This controversial piece can be interpreted in different ways, but many female participants themselves see it as a positive step towards demystifying the feminine.
Our media displays the female body again and again in a range of different ways, but the vulva is always left hidden and untouched in the day-to-day imagery we receive. Pornographic films, on the other hand, emphasize on displaying the vagina, but the type of genitalia shown in porn is very limited. Therefore, currently, the only representation of the vagina available is the pornographic vagina. Also, at the same time, the idea that porn films show what the rest of the media is not allowed to show, further enforce the idea that the feminine private parts are something to be hidden.
McCartney hopes his artwork will make talking about female genitalia more normal. He says he first came up with the idea five years ago when he begun to realize how many women suffer from low self-esteem because of the look of their genitals.
"I had no idea women had anxiety about their private parts. I began to wonder, as an artist, if I could take this any further."
Mardi, one of the 400 participants, describes her experiences of participating in the artwork in the following way:
"Looking at it from a cast I was quietly surprised. I was very pleased with it. Vagina is a really important piece of equipment. It's the gate way to life, really. This is a much softer way to record what your body looks like."
And the piece really is a spectacle. The sexual has become nonsexual. Mardi continues, "I like the ethos of the piece, of showing different women all the different types of varieties of vagina which one can have, which we now know is lots!"
Josetta, another participant, talks of the social significance of the wall:
"It really helps you get over any body issues, I think. Lots of women feel the shape of their vagina is a bit different, because they are all different… To bring back the idea of women's bodies, and parts of our bodies, into an art, I think is very different to women being objectified with a pornographic, sexual, or the male gaze."
Finally, she concludes in a way that also speaks for Women for Rwanda: "The whole nature of the project feels very empowering to women. That in its self can counteract the kind of damaging view of women."
The artist himself admiring The Wall.
We're interested to hear what you think. Do you find McCartney's spectacle vulgar, uncomfortable to see, or perhaps further objectifying women? Or, would you agree with Mardi and Josetta, that the artwork is empowering women, breaking patriarchal norms, and demystifying the hidden? If you'd interested to find out more, have a look at The Great Wall of Vagina film gallery here.
August 1, 2012 July 30, 2012 body image, Brighton, empower, feminine, genitalia, Great Wall of Vagina, insecurity, Jamie McCartney, representation, sexual, vaginaLeave a comment
Feminism, Universal Attitudes, Women's Rights
Indian sex workers an example of women's empowerment
This morning I read an inspiring article in the Guardian about Indian sex workers. The article was about a community of sex workers in Kolkata claiming rights and recognition with the help of a local organization called Vamp.
There's power in a collective.
Vamp is a part of a larger organization called Sangram, fighting to stop state violence against women in sex work. Founded in 1997, Vamp advocates health issues and human rights of sex workers. In the last ten years Vamp has helped sex workers in Kolkata to improve their working conditions and encouraged more and more women to use condoms with their clients.
These are great improvements, but the most impressive change has been in attitudes. Prostitution, a profession which society generally sees as the disgusting and most inferior, is liberating many women from patriarchal oppression, from institutions like marriage.
"If I had been married, I would be HIV positive by now," says Shaban, a sex worker and a Vamp supporter.
"Why? Because he would have had sex elsewhere and would have passed it on to me."
In a traditional Indian marriage, the woman has no freedom and is unable to insist her husband to use a condom, for example. In her work Shaban sets the rules. She's able to choose her clients, choose when she works. She has her own income and she's able to educate her children. "I'm free as a bird," she says.
The main message taken from this article is that Shaban and other women in the Kolkata sex worker community are not in the sex business out of desperation. Some of the women have been married and have tried other professions but eventually return to sex work by choice. The problem with sex work is the stigma and the language. As the columnist writes, if we see these women as "prostituted" we see them as less than humans, "incapable of determining their own destinies." These women don't want or need to be 'saved.'
Shaban says, "Whatever rights you have as citizens in a society we also have those rights. What is the matter if we are women in prostitution? Are we not women?"
Watch a short video about Shaban and her community here.
July 27, 2012 attitude, collective, human rights, India, Kolkata, sex worker, stigma, Vamp, women's rightsLeave a comment
Genocide, In London, Rwanda, Rwanda Today, Universal Attitudes
Peacebuilding in Rwanda
A few nights ago I attended a talk by Freddy Mutanguha at the Royal Commonwealth Society near Embankment in London. Freddy is the director of the Kigali Memorial Centre, and his speech was about Peacebuilding in Rwanda. Although there are no perfect solutions, I want to share with you what I gathered from Freddy's talk.
Freddy, the director of the Kigali Memorial Centre, was visiting London this week.
The event began with a video clip that Aegis Trust, the charity that built the Kigali Memorial Centre, had put together. The clip, called Not On My Watch, was a touching overview of the genocide and its aftermath. I picked up the following, unsettling numbers to demonstrate the totality of the genocide: in 100 days 1,000,000 people were killed, mostly by using machetes. That means 10,000 people a day, 400 an hour, 7 people every minute.
Today 18 years have passed since the genocide. The Rwandan government has taken extensive measures to encourage unity (such as forbidding public use of the words 'Hutu' and 'Tutsi'), but many still argue that these measures are ineffective, perhaps even counterproductive. Most of the audience questions had to do with how is Rwanda really coping today. One audience member raised his hand and said he had recently visited Northern Rwanda and attended a church service in a village. He pointed out that the church had consisted exclusively of Hutus, and implied that Rwandan society is still largely segregated. Freddy, who had talked a lot about unity, simply answered that a possible reason there weren't any Tutsis in that church was because there are none left in the area. There are parts of Rwanda where the genocide was completed wholly and entirely.
Another audience member asked about the psychology of the perpetrators. She had difficulty grasping the brutality of the killings and she asked whether the perpetrators today are in denial or help in Peacebuilding.
"No one really thought about psychology at first," Freddy said. Today, the perpetrators are divided: some help in Peacebuilding, some just want to forget. Freddy gave an example how on every last Saturday of every month people across Rwanda get together to clean roads of the villages and work together for a better community. This means both victims and perpetrators. Officially, no one is a Hutu or Tutsi anymore; all people are Rwandese.
The conversation then went on to discuss education. Freddy himself is a certified teacher at the National University of Rwanda. In his talk, he highlighted the importance of critical thinking. To demonstrate what he meant he used a light-hearted example of Omo, the detergent product. He said that everyone in Rwanda washes their clothes with Omo but if someone is to ask them 'why Omo' most people wouldn't know what to say. He said that the most important thing in genocide education is to teach children to critically assess their personal beliefs and those of society, beliefs no matter how small, from ideas of washing detergent, to ideas of nationality, gender, ethnicity, and race.
Someone then asked, "But is it enough?"
Freddy smiled at the immensity of the question, and said "What we can do, lets do it."
Freddy's words go hand-in-hand with the quote Women for Rwanda runs by: Just because you can't do everything, doesn't mean you should do nothing. If you can do it, lets do it!
July 20, 2012 Freddy Mutanguha, Genocide, Kigali Memorial Centre, Rwanda, Rwanda Today, UnityLeave a comment
Feminism, In London, Rwanda, Universal Attitudes, Women for Rwanda, Women's Rights
This spring, on International Women's Day, March 8th, Women for Rwanda walked through London with Million Women Rise demanding to end male violence against women. Million Women Rise is a London-based coalition, which organized its first Women's Day march in 2008. The theme this year was The Girl Child, and the featured color was purple. Purple is the color of mourning in Rwanda, thus, our group wore our purple t-shirts to bring recognition to Rwandan women, and to support all women around the world in their struggle against violence.
Together we can end male violence.
Marching to Trafalgar Square
Next year's theme is Womanist Revolution. The march will take place on March 8th in Central London. Save the date if you'd like to be involved!
June 14, 2012 June 17, 2012 International Women's Day, purple, Rwanda, Trafalgar Square, violenceLeave a comment


text:
Q: Melhor algoritmo para calcular fatorial Então, estou aprendendo a desenvolver em Java. O professor pediu para que eu desenvolvesse um método para o Fatorial. E que também mostrasse na Tela o que está acontecendo, por exemplo:
3! = 3 X 2 X 1 = 6
De fato, eu fiz isso acontecer, porém existe alguma forma de o código ficar melhor?:
    int n = Integer.parseInt(txtN.getValue().toString());
    int f = 1;
    int c = n;
    String s = "";

    while(c>=1){
        f *= c;
        if (c == 1) {
            s += c;
        } else if (c>1) {
            s += c + " x " ;
        }
        c--;
    }

    lblFat.setText(s + " = " + Integer.toString(f));

O código gera o fatorial e também deve mostrar na tela os números.
Exemplo
3! = 3 X 2 X 1 = 6
3! -> txtN (Local para o usuário inserir o número)
6 -> lblFat (local que gera o resultado)

Fatorial em Java, tem um modo melhor de escrever o código?

A: public class calculeFatorial{
  public static void main(String[] args) {
    int fatorial = 1;

    for (int i = 1;i < 11 ; i ++ ) {
      fatorial *= i;

      System.out.println("Fatorial de " +i+"=" +fatorial);
    }
  }
}

A: O mais comum é separar o cálculo da apresentação, mas em algo simples assim dá para entender. De acordo com o que foi colocado na pergunta eu faria assim (na verdade provavelmente eu usaria um for):
int f = 1;
int c = n;
String s = "";
while (c > 1) {
    f *= c;
    s += c + " x " ;
    c--;
}
s += c;

Veja funcionando no ideone. E no repl.it. Também coloquei no GitHub para referência futura.
Para fazer de forma recursiva ficaria bem mais complicado, ainda que não seja necessário.
Obviamente usando um inteiro simples há um limite restrito do máximo que poderá calcular o fatorial. Acredito que para esse exercício isso não seja problema, a intenção não é algo de produção e sim entender o funcionamento do algoritmo, mas vale saber que em certos casos um BigInteger cairia melhor, como foi comentado pelo Bruno Bermann.

A: Cara você  pode fazer recursivo.
Int FatorialRecursivo(int num){

   If(num==1) || (num==0)
      return 1;
   else
      return FatorialRecursivo(n-1)*n;
 }

Desculpa o código meio bagunçado eu to respondendo pelo APP,qualquer coisa pergunta se não entendeu a recursão.

A: Apresentando Fatoriais com for:
long fat=1;
String mult="";
for (int i=5; i>1; i--){
    fat *=i;
    mult +=i+" x ";
}
System.out.print(mult+"1 = "+fat);

Veja rodando no Ideone
É mais recomendável que a variável que acumula os valores seja do tipo long, considerando que o int possui maior limitação de espectro.
Para alterar o valor, basta mudar o 5 por uma variável e escolher a forma de alimentá-la.
Ao final, foi adicionado o 1 fora da estrutura de repetição. Por ser fatorial, a multiplicação não é afetada pelo mesmo, podendo retirá-lo, economizando uma volta nos cálculos, apenas sendo agregado na string que já havia recebido o " X " após o 2.

A: import java.util.Scanner;

public class Exercicio05For {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        Scanner sc = new Scanner(System.in);

        int resultadoFatorial = 1;
        StringBuilder multiplicador = new StringBuilder();

        System.out.println("Insira um número para descobrir seu respectivo Fatorial:");
        int fatorialDoNumero = sc.nextInt();

        while (fatorialDoNumero < 0) {
            System.out.println("Não é possível calcular o fatorial de números negativos!");
            System.out.println("Insira um número maior ou igual a zero para descobrir seu respectivo Fatorial:");
            fatorialDoNumero = sc.nextInt();
        }

        for (int i = fatorialDoNumero; i > 1; i--) {
            resultadoFatorial *= i;
            multiplicador.append(i).append(" x ");
        }

        if (fatorialDoNumero == 0) {
            System.out.println(fatorialDoNumero + "! = " + resultadoFatorial);
        } else if (fatorialDoNumero == 1){
            System.out.println(fatorialDoNumero + "! = " + resultadoFatorial);
        } else {
            System.out.println(fatorialDoNumero + "! = " + multiplicador + "1 = " + resultadoFatorial);
        }

        sc.close();
    }
}

Caso queira deixar um número fatorial (sem entrada via teclado) basta remover o
import java.util.Scanner;, o Scanner sc = new Scanner(System.in); e trocar o sc.nextInt() da variável fatorialDoNumero por um número inteiro ou por zero (nesse último caso, o resultado será 1)

A: public int metodo(int valor){

        if(valor==1)
           return 1;

        else

         return (valor * metodo(valor -1)); //desmontando o numero

    }
// UTLIZANDO RECURSIVIDADE

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
A NYC Pandemic Vignette
Posted on March 27, 2020 by connieottmann
Photo by Ahmed Zayan on Unsplash
Friday and the news is ever dire.
In one night, the death toll climbs to 100.
People respond with care. Many not so much.
Judging proves fruitless.
Taking in the sun and taking in the view. A car pulls up
an exchange is made.
Anxieties slip away like
so many droplets hitching a ride on an innocent breath.
Liquor stores are essential in a plagued economy
And my son texts,
People gotta stay medicated.
The Spring/Break Art Show in NYC is a Riotous Affair of Small Galleries and Independent Curators Representing Unknown, Emerging, and Mid Career Artists. What a Blast!
Posted on March 9, 2020 by connieottmann
Jeremy Olson/ To Scale: friends and neighbors. Oil on Panel. I met the artist!
It's the season of Art Shows in NYC right now, and the title Spring/Break certainly heralds a dizzying collection of art including installation, interactive, and video work from about 130 international curators. The show is housed in unused, unusual, and sometimes historic buildings in the city at no cost to exhibitors.
In its ninth year to NYC, the show is located on the 11th and 12th floors (formerly leased to Ralph Lauren, I was told) at the Atlantic Production Center, 625 Madison Avenue. This year's theme is "In Excess."
Two of artist David Frye's acrylic paintings.
Chatting it up with the curators and artists is the best part. The Spring/Break show is new to me, so I asked lots of questions. For instance, What is an independent curator? I arrived at booth 1036 on the 10th floor and spoke to Mary Gagler who was representing artist David Frye and his "Golden Calf" acrylic paintings in sculptural frames (above). They had painted their small space in a dramatic red color to look like paneling.
She explained that independent curators might own a gallery, work for a gallery or non profit, or free lance. Curators (many of them were also artists showing their work) act as a kind of jack-of all-trades marketing reps.
Booth 1037 entitled Tableau Vivant, part of Max's booth.
Max, an artist, in front of his circular sculpture at booth 1037.
Many exhibitors got quite elaborate with the design of their space. Curator Lauren Hirshfield recreated a small dining room to showcase her artist's porcelain ceramics, but the pieces were simply glazed, and though beautiful, got lost in the presentation.
These ceramic pieces got lost in the presentation!
Curator and artist Jeila Gueramian had just one day to install her huge, plush, crochet/ sculptural pieces that overflowed beyond her space into the elevator hallway. Fortunately, she has her daughter to help during the week.
Close up of one of Jelia's huge installations. Lots of crochet.
On my way up to the show in the elevator, a young woman exclaimed, "You gotta check out the artist known as Super Future Kid (Steffi Homa)! I did. And entered a real gingerbread house comprised of 2500 pounds of salt and gallons of pastel paint replete with toad stools and a foot bridge over a stream of pink water and paintings of colorful, cartoonish creatures.
Entry of the artist Super Future Kid.
Inside the Gingerbread universe.
One of my favorite pieces was a huge ( 90 x 120 inches) installation entitled "Unfolding," by artists Ori Carino and Lee Quinones. It consisted of two layers of stretched silk with spray paint, airbrush, and acrylic paint. Illuminated from behind, it was stunning.
"Unfolding" Spray paint, airbrush, acrylic paint on synthetic silk.
Many of the artists have sold work. Scooter LaForge's beastly banquet table of hand glazed/fired commercial dinner plates with gold inlay were selling well at $500 a piece. Entitled, "Please Don't Eat The Animals," you were asked to "Gorge yourself on the excesses of humanity's cruelty to animals." I have vegan friends who would approve.
Please Don't Feed the Animals!
Before I realized it, I had already spent two and a half hours and never even left the 10th floor. I ran in to three new friends who had just arrived, and after a brief hello, made my way to the 11th floor to squeeze in a quick walk around as sensory overload had taken over, and I just couldn't ingest another visual bite.
The show runs from March 3rd to the 9th.
(But I have to get in one more.)
Krista Klingbeil uses a pastry bag to pipe in silica paste on the surfaces of her paintings.
A "Boomer"and Tripping My Brains Out: Traveling Solo for Nine Months at 63 in New Zealand and Australia…on a Budget.
Saying goodbye to Kununurra and the Kimberley Region: The "Last Frontier"of the Australian Outback.
At Middle Springs just outside of Kununurra. During the wet season, there are waterfalls and great swimming here. Stunning photo by Landi Bradshaw.
I'm one of the lucky ones. Just getting to this remote and wild part of the world is rare for most Australians let alone Americans. A house-sitting gig for four weeks is in the realm of extraordinary. Getting to extend my stay another five weeks is unthinkable thanks to the generosity of my young friend Victoria.
This adventure has been one cliff hanger after another as opportunities have miraculously presented themselves, and I've stepped into the unknown. If I had postponed this trip for another year for whatever weak reason(s) (not enough money,not the right time, etc.), my stay here would have looked totally different or not happened at all because since my visit, my hostess has left her five year nursing job in Kununurra and moved to New South Wales to start a new chapter in her life.
When the spirit moves, don't let "monkey mind" distract and confuse the heart's quiet call to action.
I might have missed going on a sunrise photo shoot with Kununurra resident and photographer Landi Bradshaw to Middle Springs, known to most locals but not many tourists. During the summer months the Springs are flush with waterfalls and deep swimming holes, but a haunting beauty is revealed underneath like the ancient ruins of a lost civilization during the dry season.
Midland Springs with a view looking down. During the wet season when filled with water, people jump down and swim through this hole to other other side!
A view on our climb to Middle Springs.
Looking like a stairway (to heaven) this area is awash in waterfalls during the wet season.
A photo of Landi's dog and me at Middle Springs. Photo by Landi Bradshaw.
My stay in the Kimberley would not have been complete without a sunset cruise on Lake Argyle, a man-made lake and Australia's largest expanse of fresh water (Ord River Irrigation Scheme) whose water volume is forty-one times that of Sydney Harbor. The locals recommended Lake Argyle Cruises, the original tour company on Lake Argyle that specializes in observing wildlife. The lake boasts 26 species of native fish, rock wallabies inhabit the rocky crevices along the shore, and recent research estimates that 25,000 fresh water crocodiles thrive in its waters.
Along with about forty other people of all ages, we enjoyed commentary from our bearded skipper passionate about his job, along with beer,bubbly, a dip in the tepid waters, and a sunset that didn't disappoint. This is a must-do tour for anyone visiting the region!
Looking out over Lake Argyle from the infinity pool at the campground.
Rock Wallabies are a common sight at Lake Argyle.
A fresh water crocodile on the shore of Lake Argyle.
Perfect weather and sunset for a swim in Lake Argyle. Clean and warm.
Sunset on Lake Argyle.
I was really going to miss the early morning ritual of taking my house-sitting charge and new found buddy, Banjo the Australian Kelpie, to the irrigation channel for a run and a swim.
My buddy, Banjo, at the the irrigation canal in Kununurra. Photo my Landi Bradshaw.
My acrylic painting of the irrigation channel.
Plenty of bird watching at the many irrigation channels in Kununurra.
This is a popular spot for bird watching, dog walking, or jogging. I highly recommend taking early morning walks, or walks at any time of the day, free from distractions like iPods because you might miss something. Which leads me to one more salt water crocodile anecdote.
While I was away at Auvergne Station, I'd read a Facebook post by Victoria on the Kununurra Community Noticeboard about a salt water crocodile siting at the channel where I took Banjo each morning. Victoria knows a "saltie from a "freshie," yikes! After returning to Kununurra a week later, I had forgotten about it and went to the channel as always. But as I was walking along and throwing stones in the water for Banjo to swim after, I kept noticing that the hawk-like birds, normally seen on any given morning, were following and flying awfully close. At one point I was waving my arms over head feeling like human prey in a Hitchcock movie. After changing direction, I felt I was still being pursued, so I decided to leave and drove further up the road to a different channel.
When I returned, Victoria was home after working a late shift, and I relayed my unsettling experience. She looked at me wide-eyed and stated: "Didn't you hear? A friend of mine also saw a salt water croc at exactly the same location yesterday!" I was initially stunned, but not before I realized that the birds had been warning me! I honestly believe that.
This incident, along with the many hours I've spent outdoors exploring this vast and sacred wilderness have brought me that much closer to understanding the limits we impose on ourselves and our experiences with the world and nature by relying only on the five senses. What else might we be missing? There are probably little miracles happening around us all the time, yet we fail to "see"them.
"Winjinas" cave paintings in the northwestern region of the Kimberley. Winjinas were "sky beings" or "spirits from the clouds " who came down from the Milky Way during Dreamtime and created earth and all its inhabitants. They look a little like aliens.
Called Gwion Gwion or Bradshaw paintings, found also in northwester Australia. They are considered to be the oldest figurative paintings in the world.
Traveling has helped me grow my awareness in a big way, but there are lots of little ways of raising awareness. Breaking mundane habits is a start. I like this quote by author and mountaineer, Jon Krakauer:
"Joy is in everything and anything we might experience. We just have to have the courage to turn against our habitual lifestyle and engage in unconventional living."
I fly to Broome, a beach resort town on the Indian Ocean in the western Kimberly region , in a couple of days. But this time there won't be anyone to greet me. I'm on my own for a couple of weeks. This brings to mind another quote to help bolster my sometimes flagging, adventurous spirit:
"The universe will open doors where there were only walls."
Posted on August 22, 2016 by connieottmann
Darwin: The "Mostest" Little City in Australia.
One of many signs posted along the harbor esplanade in Darwin.
To say that I've learned a lot while traveling on my own is a gross understatement, but where my learning curve has shown the most dramatic rise, is on the subject of how to be a gracious host. Over and over I have been warmly greeted and then entertained by folks who have taken time out of their busy lives to make me feel welcome.
This certainly was the case when meeting Nan, the cousin of my friend Gayl's husband, Tom. What a comfort it was to be picked up at the airport in this new city, and to be free from the stresses of finding a shuttle or cab to some little known address. I've come across lots of blog posts and Facebook postings that feature stories about good deeds and kindness shown to strangers. Over and over on my travels, I have been the lucky recipient of these acts of kindness. Nan is just this kind of person. She exudes benevolence. Nan showed me incredible hospitality for three days in Darwin, and after spending time with her, I felt like I had connected with some long, lost relative. And, I learned a lot from her about the city, including history and global politics.
Nan and her husband Pete who shared their home with me.
Darwin is Australia's most northern city, and the most diverse (with more than 75 ethnic groups–10% Aboriginal). It has the youngest median age of any city, and its population is the most transient. With just under 130,000 people, Darwin also has one of the highest crime and homelessness rates.
While driving around the city, Nan pointed out the Darwin Military Museum. I didn't know that during WWII, on February 19, 1942, Darwin, seen as a key port and filled with Allied ships, was bombed by the same Japanese commander who a year earlier bombed Pearl Harbor…and they dropped more bombs on Darwin than they did on Pearl Harbor.
A view of Parliament house from the front. It is Australia's newest Parliament building.
Next, we stopped at Northern Territory Library located in Parliament House and visited an exhibit about The Stolen Generations and Kahlin Aboriginal Compound in Darwin, which existed from 1913 to 1938. While many Aboriginal children were forcibly taken there, Darwin's Aboriginal workforce and their families were required by law to live at the compound as were children of mixed descent. It's an important piece of history because the people from the compound helped to build Darwin.
We drove around Darwin's impressive harbor and stopped for a walk on the esplanade where I encountered, for the first time, crocodile warnings. All that water and no place to swim! Of all the deadly things that inhabit Australia, salt water crocs (salties) freak me out the most. I wasn't up in this part of the world more than a couple of weeks when it was reported that a 40 something-year woman, with a friend she was visiting with in Queensland, decided to go to the beach at night(stupid). Her last uttered word, reportedly was, "Crocodile!!" Authorities searched for her body for a couple of days. Nada, zip, 0…. Death by crocodile? Terrifying.
I also learned something about the importance of Darwin harbor and how it is not only strategically placed as an entry way to Asia, but it is also the base for the Royal Australian Army's border protection operations.
In 2015, the Northern Territory government(with clearance from the Defense Department) signed a deal for 506 million to lease Darwin Harbor for 99 years to the private Chinese company Landbridge, which purportedly has ties to the People's Liberation Army. The U.S. was never consulted (nor were a host of other people) and only found out about it after the fact (an article in The New York Times). It is understandable that Obama was a little angry since the U.S. is an important ally, and the port hosts annual visits of more than 1000 marines. Since 2011, Darwin has been an important staging post for U.S. Marines, and up to 2,500 are expected to be on rotation.
Some in Australia see this harbor lease as a big economic boon, others see it as holistically short sighted. Although China is Australia's biggest trading partner, it is not a major ally. (The Chinese also just bought Carlton Station also in NT for 60 million.) I point this out because a new goal of mine is to be a better informed U.S. and global citizen. I know little about foreign policy, especially from the perspective of other countries.
On a lighter note, Darwin is host to many bustling outdoor markets featuring delicious food from around the world. Nan took me to the Rapid Creek Market, one of her regular shopping stops, and my senses were overloaded with fresh, colorful, and exotic foods and produce.
Another view of fresh produce at Rapid Creek Market.
Nan, on the left at Rapid Creek Market.
Rapid Creek Market variety.
Darwin's climate is tropical, and features several "seasons:" cool dry, hot dry, build up, hot wet, cold wet. I was there the end of May, and it wasn't very cool or dry. Build up is pretty rugged as the humidity soars and the clouds fill with moisture for weeks before finally letting loose the wet season. Suicide rates rise during this time. The only thing I can compare it to in Maine is what we call "cabin fever," when spring never comes and it can be cold with snow well into April.
You have to love the warm evenings though! Sunsets in this part of the world are spectacular. Viewed from the patio of the Darwin Boat Club, or the Mindil Beach Sunset Market, pinks, oranges, and reds ignite the sky.
Sunset at the beach at Mindl Market.
Having drinks at the Darwin Boat Club and enjoying the view.
View of Mindil Market.
When previously in Alice Springs, I was advised by my airbnb host to be sure to go to Litchfield National Park, home to huge magnetic termite mounds and many stunning waterfalls that cascade into crystal clear pools. Without even mentioning this to Nan, she had already made plans to do just that the next day. The park is about a 2 hour drive from Darwin and the waterfalls are just off the main road. This is swimming at its best!
One of the many huge termite mounds.
More giant termite mounds. Somehow these tiny armies of termites build these on a north-south axis to protect the interiors from the brutal sun!
Florence Falls, my favorite. This is where you go to swim. No crocodiles here!
Florence Falls. Hidden around the corner to the right is a twin waterfall. That's Nan on the right. No crocodiles here!
A view of Tolmer Falls, which was closed that day, but I could still walk out a short distance on part of the viewing station.
Easily accessible Wangi Falls and another swimming pool to enjoy.
There is nothing more pleasing than the music of splashing water, bird chatter, and happy voices. Couple that with the silken embrace of clear, tepid water and I'm taken back to those old Johnny Weissmuller, Tarzan movies I watched as a kid where he and Jane swam in exactly such a place. The only thing missing is an elaborate tree house.
My visit wouldn't be complete without some art, and Darwin doesn't disappoint. The Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory has everything including a great collection of Aboriginal art and terrific views of the ocean from the huge veranda near the cafe. I was able to see the NATISSA winners(National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Art Awards) of contemporary and traditional media by established and emerging artists.
Sweetheart, a huge salt water crocodile that became a Top End (nickname for NT) personality after attacking several fishing dinghies.
After three great days in this cosmopolitan city, I'm off to the east Kimberley and the real wilds of Australia. I'm told that 17 people last year "disappeared" (a good place to go if you want to disappear– not so good if you get lost and run out of gas).
As I travel farther west and north, the colors and mysteries of this land are a source of wonder. This quote by one of the artists captures it best: "I am not painting for pleasure. Out in the Top End, the land is not empty. The land is full of knowledge, full of energy, full of power."
A "Boomer" and Tripping My Brains Out: My Solo Adventure at 63 Down Under…On a Budget!.
Posted on June 19, 2016 by connieottmann
It's Back to the Big City!
Melbourne, a Genteel, Well-heeled Lady with a Complexion of Many Colors.
A view of the Yarra River Bridge walking from Southbank the Arts Precinct to Federation Square and Flinders Street Station in the Central Business District, early evening.
Living with uncertainly is a skill I am slowly acquiring–on second thought– quickly acquiring.
I suddenly found myself in Australia's other big city of about 4.5 million people, Melbourne, for close to three weeks. And this time I didn't have anyone picking me up at the airport. ( But I did learn to book flights that arrived during the daytime, avoiding late night wanderings.) All I had was an airbnb address in South Melbourne along with directions from my hosts to take the SkyBus to Southern Cross Station in the city, find Williams street, hop on tram number 55, and get off on Park Street.
Needless to say it didn't run all that smoothly. After asking LOTS of directions, I did find myself on tram number 55…but heading in the wrong direction. I have to say that people were incredibly helpful (pointing out the correct tram on the other side of the street), chivalrous (lifting my suitcase on and off the tram), and caring (one young couple getting off at the same stop, walked me to my address).
Initially, I didn't think I liked Melbourne as well as Sydney. Melbourne doesn't have that beautiful harbor, and I didn't find the trams and myki card particularly user-friendly. I was somewhat acquainted with the long-standing rivalry that exists between the two cities reading that it might have started back in the early 1900s with the intense competition between Melbourne and Sydney for the new national capital. Canberra had to be built to end the fighting. Still others posit that it began back in the 1850s during the gold rush making Melbourne for the next 40 years one of the wealthiest cities in the world.
The rivalry still exists today, and you're apt to hear little quips about the weather differences: Sydney is sunnier and has the beaches. Melbourne is colder and can have four seasons of weather on the same day, or remarks like: Sydney is "fashionable and luxurious," while Melbourne is "intellectual and cultural." I came to realize that I didn't prefer one over the other. They're both great, just different. Friends in Australia told me I would love Melbourne. They were right.
Melbourne has a way of capturing your heart. Like the beginnings of a promising relationship, you aren't necessarily dazzled by a blinding attraction. There are no immediate fireworks and adrenaline rushes. It's more a kind of like, and over time as you get to know each other, a slow, passionate burn. As you plumb the regions below the surface, more and more of the city's fascinating personality is revealed, and you slowly fall in love. This city is no light weight. There's depth here… and always something to do. The pace seems slower, and people don't appear to be rushed. Yet there's a lively, celebratory ambiance and a multi cultural beauty that makes for a great "global village."
Don't get me wrong, Melbourne is not without its deficiencies. Housing costs are exorbitant, negative gearing (investors who lose money on a property can deduct losses on income tax) and real estate investing are making it nearly impossible for young people to buy a first home. (Housing prices in Sydney are higher). Yet people want to move here like the young man with his two young kids I met on a tram who hailed from Los Angeles but recently relocated.
View of Federation Square, where there's always entertainment.
Celebrating Buddah's Day and Multicultural Festival at Federation Square.
One of the many trams in the free zone of the Central Business District.
Entrance to China Town on the corner of Swanston Street and Little Bourke Street.
Another view of Swanston Street, in the CBD.
Outside the State Library of Victoria, also home to the Wheeling Center, and a host of free activities and lectures.
Gertrude Street just outside the free tram zone. Great shopping and fashion with a hipster edge.
My first four days were booked through airbnb with hosts Christian and Sean in South Melbourne. I highly recommend airbnb and renting a private room. Sean gave me a myki card for the tram saving me six dollars, and they both were a wealth of information about getting around the city. (They also had just returned from a great weekend in Hobart, Tasmania, where I would be going next.)
The tram stopped right outside their door, and if I was up for some exercise, a thirty minute walk would take me to National Gallery of Victoria, past the Arts Precinct, to the CBD (Central Business District). I opted to walk because the best way to learn the city layout is on foot, and walking is just plain good for the soul.
Melbourne's CBD is well organized in a rectangular grid with five main streets running horizontally and seven streets that bisect vertically. The tram is free to ride within the city center, but if leaving the tram free zone, a prepaid myki card is required, and you have to touch your card on the card reader either entering or before exiting the tram. They do police this with surprise checks as I found out heading back home one night. There is a fine for not having a myki card. I'm told it's either $75.00 cash on the spot or a billable $200.00 later.
The city is fairly easy to navigate once you learn which trams take you into the CBD and which take you outside. Then there are all the Lanes and Little Streets in between. For instance, Flinders Street has a Flinders Lane, Collins Street( a mini Paris!) has a Little Collins Street, Bourke Street has a Little Bourke etc. THEN on many of the main streets, there are Arcades, like the beautiful Block Arcade, which are little mini malls stuffed with more interesting shops, cafes, and restaurants, AND particular buildings (The Nicholson Building, Curtin House) that house several floors of shops and artist studios. Hosier, Rutledge, and Union Lanes are known throughout the world for their iconic street art. Every nook and cranny surprises.
Enter down, through the red door to the fabulous shop, Christine's on Flinder's Lane. A bit of a Melbourne legend, Christine previously was a buyer at the former George's department store. I've been told it was a lot like Bergdorf Goodman in NYC.
Inside Christine's. Expensive, but merchandising at its best. A visual treat/feast for the eyes of accessories, jewelry, and clothing.
The window of the tiny, but top end flower shop, Pollon, on Flinder's Lane.
View of the Hopetoun Tea Room in the Block Arcade on Collins Street. Established in 1892, it was celebrating 124 years in business–and always a waiting line for afternoon tea.
The entrance to the Metropolis Books, at the Curtin House.
The Curtin House, home to several floors of great shops and restaurants to explore.
After getting around by myself for four days, I met up with Carol, from the BroadsAbroad website, who invited me for a total of three days at her place, also in South Melbourne. Carol, a long time Melbourne resident, is a savvy business woman who has her own HR consulting company. She, along with her very sharp 89 year-old mother, took me for a ride around the city and beyond pointing out the different suburbs (the very posh Toorak) and the many precincts.
Having breakfast with Carol from the BroadsAbroad network at St. Ali Cafe in So. Melbourne. St. Ali roasts their own coffee and gets my vote for the best coffee in Australia…so far. They also feature dinners with special pairing of coffees for each part of the meal! For the true afficionado!
Aussies love sports, and Melbourne is considered the sporting capital of Australia. The sports precinct is home to the Melbourne Cricket Ground(MCG), also called the "G", a premier venue for cricket and Australian Rules Football (footy for short), and has a seating capacity 100,000. Melbourne also hosts the Australian Grand Slam (at Rod Laver Arena), and since 1996, the Formula 1 Grand Prix, set up in beautiful Albert Park, part of the track using closed- off, city roads and a car park. The Melbourne Cup, Australia's most prestigious thoroughbred horse race with over six million in prize money is a short train ride from either station to Flemington racecourse. Other precincts include the medical, university, and arts/cultural precinct (my favorite). It makes sense to me to group these together.
After our ride, Carol's mother Doris took us to brunch at IL Vicolo in the Italian section of the CBD, near Lygon Street. Italian immigrants are credited with bringing outdoor cafes to Melbourne. Ohhh, the food…
The best sandwich to be found (only $3.00–2 for $5.00 later in the afternoon) at Boreks, in the Queen Victoria Market. Piping hot choices of lamb, spinach and cheese, and vegetable.
View of the South Melbourne market, my favorite! Not as large as the Queen Victoria but it has the same quality produce, fish, meats etc, but not as touristy with higher end shops.
South Melbourne Market. Chocolate, nuts, and dried fruits!
Novel "swings"seating at the Seratonin Cafe in Richmond a short train ride from the Melbourne CBD. Healthy, delicious food for the brain.
More comfortable seating and interesting interior at the Seratonin Cafe. Water is served in beakers, and their deconstructed sushi is served with a plastic hypodermic needle of soy souce!
Since my hosts Sean and Christian were booked for the coming weeks, I found another airbnb room in South Melbourne, even closer to the National Gallery of Victoria and the arts precinct. Sydney has its captivating harbor, but Melbourne has Southbank and the arts precinct, and most nights I found myself walking along St. Kilda Road with the opera, symphony, and theater goers, enjoying the beautiful lights and being part of a happy crowd celebrating La Dolce Vita.
Art Book Fair at the National Gallery of Victoria. I was able to browse and meet some of the most creative Australian and international publishers, designers, artists, and writers. "Zines" ( self-published magazines) are being published by many of the small companies at this fair.
The Melbourne Recital Center right around the corner from my apartment and across the street from the National Gallery and the Arts District. The Metropolis New Music Festival was going on and many of the events were free!
Melbourne Art Center, right next door to the National Gallery, Australia's busiest and largest art venues hosting opera, ballet, theater, and the symphony. Every Saturday morning, there is a craft fair along the Arts Precinct and at Federation Square.
Entrance to the National Gallery of Victoria in the Arts District.
Buying tickets for the Opera at the Arts Center, Southbank.
A view of St. Kilda's road along the Arts District, with its illuminated trees issuing a heavenly, blue glow at night.
Looking back to Southbank and the Arts Center with its beautiful spire crossing the river to the CBD.
I was definitely living the good life, with introductions to Melbourne folks from Gayl and husband Tom's friends and colleagues back in Perth. I've visited with many great people who met me in the city and took me to lunch(Maria, not pictured), to the Yarra Valley region, and to Mt. Macedon, once the summer retreat of wealthy city dwellers.
Lunch at the Cumulus Cafe with Jasmine from Perth, visiting family in Melbourne.
Meeting up for coffee with David and his wife Yasmin, both entertainment lawyers and friends of brother Jake.
Lunch at the Innocent Bystander after a lovely day visiting the Yarra Valley Region with new friends Janet and her husband Barry. Janet was the source of many insider places to visit while in Melbourne!
The TarraWarra Museum of Art in the Yarra Valley. It operates as a not-for-profit institution and displays art from the second half of the twentieth century to present. Home to a winery and restaurant as well.
A view of the landscape at TarraWarra Museum of Art in Healesville, Australia (the Yarra Valley).
Visiting Elly and Alfred in beautiful Mt. Macedon.
A pathway in the many gardens at Elly and Alfred's home. Seen in the fall, it is hard to believe that brush fires are a constant threat during the summer months.
Transported to another world up in the mountains of Mt. Macedon at the home of Elly and Alfred. Avid gardeners, they have turned their property of ten acres into a magical retreat.
I'm five months into my travels at this point, and although I miss family and friends, I haven't been lonely. This low budget trip has been rich in the relationships I've formed, even the short stays with hostel mates and airbnb hosts who have shared with me little pieces of their lives. I wouldn't swap a luxury suite for any of these experiences. (But if anyone wants to take me on a five star, we-cater-to-your-every-need cruise, I'm there). Without a traveling companion, I'm more engaged, more conscious of me viewing people viewing me. There's no one else to hide behind, act as a buffer, or take the edge off. I've gained confidence. And who couldn't use a little more confidence?
So I find myself, as I have more and more frequently, enjoying coffee at a little cafe, this time the Barista Cafe on Flinders Lane, and I'm overcome with an intense feeling of joy. It hovers and it's fleeting, but not before the molecules are vibrating and I'm infused with a happiness that life is good. Damn, I'm glad to be alive.
(And then I went to the MONA(Museum of Old and New Art)….next)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Texas State College of Liberal Arts Department of Sociology News and Events
Emrys Williams wins Employee of the Month
Emrys has won the Texas State University Employee of the Month Award. She will be in the running for employee of the year.
Dr. Bonazzo participated in the event Dialogue for Peace & Progress
The event was held on October 1st as part of Hispanic Heritage Month.
2021 College Achievement Award Winners
Teaching: Dr. Beatriz Aldana Marquez Scholarly/Creative: Dr. Toni Watt
Dr. Rachel Romero has been named a Regent's Teacher (Recognizing Outstanding Teaching and Innovation in the Classroom) by the Texas State University System!
Dr. Clement and Dr. Pino, along with Nathaniel Dede-Bamfo, GIS Services Specialist at Alkek Library, and other co-authors, explored the lagged environmental consequences of demographic and economic change
Dr. Watt's research is featured in The Conversation US.
Many of our faculty are celebrating milestone years of service!
Sustainability Studies minor starting Fall 2021!
Dr. Beatriz Aldana Marquez article published in Social Science & Medicine
Pushing them to the edge: Suicide in immigrant detention centers as a product of organizational failure
Dr. Patti Giuffre and MA Sociology alum, Courtney Caviness, discuss their research about workplace policies and practices impacting LGBTQ communities.
2021 Department of Sociology Awards & Alpha Kappa Delta Virtual Banquet
Dr. Christian Bolden (BS '03, MA '05) was honored at the 2021 College of Liberal Arts Distinguished Alumni Achievement Awards
Former graduate student Maggie Leon-Corwin (with Matthew Thomas Clement and Chad L. Smith) published an article that explores the connection between racial diversity and pollution levels in Houston are
Dr. Giuffre is the new Assistant Dean of The Graduate College at Texas State University!
Dr. Nathan Pino co-edited The Emerald Handbook of Crime, Justice, and Sustainable Development
Dr. Watt received a two-year research grant from the Greater Texas Foundation
Dr. Watt will be leading a national research team to investigate the level of campus support in Texas and to identify how these support practices relate to retention and graduation rates for SEFC.
Dr. Johnson has been nominated as one of the Alpha Chi Favorite Professors for 2020
Amanda Couve (MSDA '18) and Dr. Joseph Kotarba presented their PowerPoint on Ethnographic Methods, Music & Aging at a symposium at the GSA 2020 Annual Scientific Meeting in November.
Dr. Beatriz Aldana Márquez is in the TXST News!
"Sociology professor looks at the culture of the charro in Mexico's society"
Dr. Chris Johnson and Dr. David Dietrich published a chapter in a forthcoming book edited by a Sociology Professor from University of New Delhi, Dr. Mala Shankardass.
Presidential Distinction Awards
Teaching: Dr. Deborah Harris Service: Dr. Patti Giuffre
Drs. Martinez, Price, and Kotarba celebrate milestone years of service
Dr. Chad L. Smith, Dr. Gregory Hooks and Dr. Michael Lengefeld (BS '08, MA '11), recently published "Treadmills of Production and Destruction in the Anthropocene" in the Journal of World-Systems Research
Dr. Debarun Majumdar, Honorary Professor of International Studies
Dr. Patti Giuffre and her colleague, Dr. Gretchen Webber recently published "'Be a Gutsy Girl": Essentialism in Success-at-Work Books for Women" in the journal, Gender Issues.
Assistant Professor, Dr. Seoyoun Kim, won an Innovative aging research award from national non-profit organization, Mather Institute.
Congratulations to Dr. Gloria P. Martinez for her appointment as the Director of the Center for Diversity and Gender Studies
Drs. Michael Lengefeld (BS 2008, MA 2011) & Chad Smith recently published a timely commentary linking zoonotic spillover & sociology by exploring the role that normal accidents & treadmill theory play in un
Congratulations to Dr. Kyong Hee Chee on her promotion from Associate Professor to Professor
Dr. Deborah Harris and Dr. Patti Giuffre recently published an article about the effect of the #Metoo movement in the restaurant industry.
Dr. Beatriz Aldana Marquez, and her research team wrote an oped about immigration detention and coronavirus to highlight how the spread of the virus will lead to the mass death of immigrants.
Dr. Matt Clement and Dr. Nathan W. Pino, used a model in the shape of a Star Wars Millennium Falcon to predict if the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) were interconnected.
Dr. Anderson will receive his award at JV Educational's 18th Annual International Males of Color Empowerment and Retention Conference later this year
Texas State recognized for four top online degree programs in U.S. for 2020
MS in Dementia & Aging was ranked one of the top online graduate programs for gerontology!
Treatment for Childhood Trauma: Research in Sociology
The College of Liberal Arts features Dr. Toni Watt's compelling research on effects of childhood trauma.
Dr. Patti Giuffre on Women's Relationships at Work: Women's History Month in the College of Liberal Arts
Sociology graduate student, Maria Tahir, spoke at the 2020 TEDxTexasStateUniversity
The conference explored the idea of truth from a meaningful, critical, and curiosity-inducing perspective, noting that truthfulness comes from a variety of sources.
The Alliance The Alliance of Researchers in Aging (ARIA)
Paid Internships for All Majors
For over 25 years, the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities has partnered with organizations seeking to diversify their workforce
Texas State listed among top institutions in humanities research
"The depth and breadth of research in the humanities at Texas State is impressive," said Gene Bourgeois, provost and vice president for academic affairs.
MSDA program is ranked number 15 among online gerontology programs in the country
Student Accomlishments
College of Liberal Arts Events
University Events Calendar


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They provide coding language flexibility while in a Virtual Machine (VM) like Ethereum, one needs to learn a whole new language (solidity) to create smart contracts. The EVM is the vitual machine in which all the smart contracts function in Ethereum.
If you want to experiment with the app before learning it, we recommend you download Mist and read our introductory tutorial to how to install the app and run it. If you just want to see the whole app instead, you can download it directly from the Stake Voice Github repository .
Are you learning how to develop distributed apps (DApps) on the Ethereum blockchain network? Since DApps have smart contracts as their back-end code, you will need to know how to code smart contracts.
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Home / crime / deception / Donald Trump / fraud / impunity / kickbacks / legal settlements / perjury / A Higher Impunity - How Can we Reduce Health Care Leadership's Impunity When the President Claims His Own Impunity?
A Higher Impunity - How Can we Reduce Health Care Leadership's Impunity When the President Claims His Own Impunity?
Date - May 20, 2018 crime deception Donald Trump fraud impunity kickbacks legal settlements perjury
A Higher Impunity - How Can we Reduce Health Care Leadership's Impunity When the President Claims His Own Impunity? - Hi, friend concept blog, in this article entitled A Higher Impunity - How Can we Reduce Health Care Leadership's Impunity When the President Claims His Own Impunity?, we have prepared this article well and concise to be easy to understand for you to read and can be taken inside information. hopefully the contents of the post Article crime, Article deception, Article Donald Trump, Article fraud, Article impunity, Article kickbacks, Article legal settlements, Article perjury, that we write this you can understand and useful. okay, happy reading.
Impunity: an Introduction
We believe that unaccountable leadership is a major cause of health care dysfunction. Impunity is an extreme form of unaccountable leadership.
We have noted that despite numerous legal settlements made by health care organizations of alllegations like fraud, bribery, and kickbacks, almost never do top leaders who presided over these actions face any negative consequences. Lack of deterrence caused by such impunity appears to be a major cause of the epidemic of continuing unethical behavior, crime and corruption on the part of large health care organizations. How executives got to the point of having such impunity has never been clear.
Timidity and lenience by regulatory agencies and law enforcement seem to be factors. For example, in 2014, we noted that Attorney General Eric Holder had previously been reluctant to go after big organizations because of the economic consequences of their failure:
The attorney general angered many last year when he reiterated those concerns at a congressional hearing, admitting 'that the size of some of these institutions becomes so large that it does become difficult for us to prosecute' because of the potential nasty economic effects of a major company failure.
In general we have seen much tougher enforcement directed against relatively small health care players than against bigger ones. For example, we noted in 2014 that settlements by Merck, Eli Lilly, Takeda, and Teva, all large pharmaceutical companies, allowed the companies to pay fines to settle allegations that they pushed dangerous products, while none of the executives who authorized, enabled, or directed these actions faced negative consequences. In contrast, at that time, the CEO of a relatively tiny Sheffield Pharmaceuticals was convicted of a felonious wastewater discharge (see this post).
However, this rationale does not address the failure to pursue enforcement actions against organizational leaders who who enabled, authorized, directed or implemented misbehavior. It is not that there are no good legal tools available to do so. We wrote in 2012,
As we noted here, a Supreme Court case from 1943 empowered the government to seek penalties against responsible corporate officers (the "responsible corporate officer doctrine") who were in a position to stop a fraud that resulted in a guilty plea or conviction, particularly for the selling of misbranded or adulterated drugs into interstate commerce under the US Food and Drug Act. Despite a threat made in 2010 by the chief counsel of the Inspector General's office of the US Department of Health and Human Services to use such legal authority to "get high level executives out of companies," nothing of the sort has happened.
Later, in 2015, under the previous administration, there was a tiny sign of progress against impunity. Then, Attorney General Holder authorized the creation of a Corporate Strike Force to take strong actions in response to health care corporate fraud. However, last year the Trump administration gutted even that small effort (look here).
Why are efforts to reduce the impunity of health care corporate leaders going backward? It may be because the very top leadership of the current administration, that is, the President himself, has long personally enjoyed his own impunity.
Examples of Donald Trump and Family's Apparent Impunity Before He Became President
As a wealthy businessman, Donald Trump and his family were often linked to apparently illegal activities, but seemed to avoid any intensive investigation, much less negative consequences.
A 2016 Politico article cataloged Trump's ties to organized crime, and found "Some of Trump's unsavory connections have been followed by investigators and substantiated in court; some haven't." Also,
Trump's career has benefited from a decades-long and largely successful effort to limit and deflect law enforcement investigations into his dealings with top mobsters, organized crime associates, labor fixers, corrupt union leaders, con artists and even a one-time drug trafficker whom Trump retained as the head of his personal helicopter service.
We have found numerous examples, whic are below listed chronologically according to the time of occurrence of relevant events.
Trump Accused of Lying to Federal Investigators about his Mafia Connections in the 1980s
A WNYC piece from October, 2016, was based on an interview with a federal prosecutor who had investigated organized crime in the 1980s,
Attorney Kenneth McCallion was one of the federal prosecutors involved in that investigation. He says there appeared to be a sweetheart deal between the Teamsters Local 282 and Trump, where Trump would get a promise of cooperation from organized labor—including breaking up any strikes by minority workers—in exchange for no-show jobs, a lucrative concrete contract and a luxury apartment for the union president's girlfriend.
'After we indicted them, the Teamster leaders called a citywide strike, but there were two job sites they exempted from that. One was Trump Tower and the other was Trump Plaza,' McCallion said.
Yet despite this, Trump was never prosecuted.
'Even though Donald Trump lied to law enforcement about his relationship and lying to federal agents is a federal crime, he basically got a pass at that point,' he said.
Trump Accused in Legal Papers of Accepting Kickbacks, but the Charges were not Investigated
The 2016 Politico article also noted:
[An associate of a convicted racketeer] in court papers accused Trump of taking kickbacks from contractors, asserting this could 'be the basis of a criminal proceeding requiring an attorney general's investigation' into Trump. Trump then quickly settled, paying the woman a half-million dollars.
No further investigation ensued.
After a Judge Found that he Conspired to Violate Fiduciary Duty and Committed Fraud, Trump was able to Settle with Details Sealed
Again in Politico,
In 1991, a federal judge, Charles E. Stewart Jr., ruled that Trump had engaged in a conspiracy to violate a fiduciary duty, or duty of loyalty, to the workers and their union and that the 'breach involved fraud and the Trump defendants knowingly participated in his breach.' The judge did not find Trump's testimony to be sufficiently credible and set damages at $325,000. The case was later settled by negotiation, and the agreement was sealed.
It is not clear that Trump was personally responsible for paying whatever the settlement entailed. No criminal charges apparently followed.
Applying for a Casino License, Trump Failed to Disclose he was Under Grand Jury Investigation, but Later Kept his License
As also reported by Politico, when Trump was trying to obtain a license for a New Jersey gambling casino,
Trump was required to disclose any investigations in which he might have been involved in the past, even if they never resulted in charges. Trump didn't disclose a federal grand jury inquiry into how he obtained an option to buy the Penn Central railroad yards on the West Side of Manhattan. The failure to disclose either that inquiry or the Cody inquiry probably should have disqualified Trump from receiving a license under the standards set by the gaming authorities.
But it didn,'t. And despite the fact that
Once Trump was licensed in 1982, critical facts that should have resulted in license denial began emerging in Trump's own books and in reports by Barrett—an embarrassment for the licensing commission and state investigators, who were supposed to have turned these stones over. Forced after the fact to look into Trump's connections, the two federal investigations he failed to reveal and other matters, the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement investigators circled the wagons to defend their work. First they dismissed as unreliable what mobsters, corrupt union bosses and Trump's biggest customer, among others, had said to Barrett, to me and other journalists and filmmakers about their dealings with Trump. The investigators' reports showed that they then put Trump under oath. Trump denied any misconduct or testified that he could not remember. They took him at his word. That meant his casino license was secure even though others in the gambling industry, including low-level licensees like card dealers, had been thrown out for far less.
Trump's Casino Company Paid Multiple Fines for Violating Regulations, but Trump was not Personally Sanctioned
An Atlantic article from January, 2017, stated,
Trump has been repeatedly fined for breaking rules related to his operation of casinos. In 1990, with Trump Taj Mahal in trouble, Trump's father Fred strolled in and bought 700 chips worth a total of $3.5 million. The purchase helped the casino pay debt that was due, but because Fred Trump had no plans to gamble, the New Jersey gaming commission ruled that it was a loan that violated operating rules. Trump paid a $30,000 fine; in the end, the loan didn't prevent a bankruptcy the following year. As noted above, New Jersey also fined Trump $200,000 for arranging to keep black employees away from mafioso Robert LiButti's gambling table. In 1991, the Casino Control Commission fined Trump's company another $450,000 for buying LiButti nine luxury cars. And in 2000, Trump was fined $250,000 for breaking New York state law in lobbying to prevent an Indian casino from opening in the Catskills, for fear it would compete against his Atlantic City casinos.
Also, while Trump was attempting a hostile take-over of a rival casino,
the Federal Trade Commission fined him $750,000 for failing to disclose his purchases of stock in the two companies, which exceeded minimum disclosure levels.
Trump and Family were Accused of Self-Dealing and Accepting Illegal Donations while Operating the Trump Foundation, but were not Individually Penalized
Also reported by the Atlantic,
The [Trump] foundation appears to have broken IRS rules on 'self-dealing" by paying to resolve the legal disputes as well as buying a portrait of Trump and a Tim Tebow helmet that went back to the Trump family. In November, in tax filings posted online, the Trump Foundation said it had violated self-dealing rules in 2015 and in previous, indeterminate, years. On the donation, Trump and Bondi both say there was no quid-pro-quo, but the donation was an illegal one for a charitable nonprofit, and the foundation had to pay a $2,500 fine. Liberal watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington charges other laws may have been broken as well. New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has reportedly launched an investigation into the foundation. Schneiderman has also informed the foundation that it is in violation of rules on fundraising and ordered it to quit. Trump has announced plans to shutter his foundation, but reportedly cannot do so while it is under investigation.
Yet so far no person has been charged with any related violations. Note that it appears that Trump may have had leverage on Mr Schneiderman, who has now resigned (see below). Although there were reports in 2017 that the Foundation was going to shut down, as of March, 2018, according to an article in The Hill, the ranking Democratic member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee was still trying to get records related to the self-dealing described above from the leadership of the apparently still existing foundation (look here).
Trump's Taj Mahal Casino Was Fined for Breaking Rules about Money Laundering, but Trump Paid no Penalties
A May, 2017, CNN story stated,
The Trump Taj Mahal casino broke anti-money laundering rules 106 times in its first year and a half of operation in the early 1990s, according to the IRS in a 1998 settlement agreement.
It's a bit of forgotten history that's buried in federal records held by an investigative unit of the Treasury Department, records that congressional committees investigating Trump's ties to Russia have obtained access to, CNN has learned.
The casino repeatedly failed to properly report gamblers who cashed out $10,000 or more in a single day, the government said.
Trump's casino ended up paying the Treasury Department a $477,000 fine in 1998 without admitting any liability under the Bank Secrecy Act.
There is no record suggesting anyone looked into Trump's involvement with these violations. Note that
The 1998 settlement was publicly reported at the time, and the Associated Press noted it was the largest fine the federal government ever slapped on a casino for violating the Bank Secrecy Act.
But key details of the casino's cash reporting violations are missing from the publicly released documents, including the identities of the gamblers and casino employees involved in the transactions.
Then, in 2015, FINCEN publicly announced:
The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) today imposed a $10 million civil money penalty against Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort (Trump Taj Mahal), for willful and repeated violations of the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA). In addition to the civil money penalty, the casino is required to conduct periodic external audits to examine its anti-money laundering (AML) BSA compliance program and provide those audit reports to FinCEN and the casino's Board of Directors.
Trump Taj Mahal, a casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey, admitted to several willful BSA violations, including violations of AML program requirements, reporting obligations, and recordkeeping requirements. Trump Taj Mahal has a long history of prior, repeated BSA violations cited by examiners dating back to 2003. Additionally, in 1998, FinCEN assessed a $477,700 civil money penalty against Trump Taj Mahal for currency transaction reporting violations.
'Trump Taj Mahal received many warnings about its deficiencies,' said FinCEN Director Jennifer Shasky Calvery. 'Like all casinos in this country, Trump Taj Mahal has a duty to help protect our financial system from being exploited by criminals, terrorists, and other bad actors. Far from meeting these expectations, poor compliance practices, over many years, left the casino and our financial system unacceptably exposed.'
Trump Taj Mahal admitted that it failed to implement and maintain an effective AML program; failed to report suspicious transactions; failed to properly file required currency transaction reports; and failed to keep appropriate records as required by the BSA. Notably, Trump Taj Mahal had ample notice of these deficiencies as many of the violations from 2012 and 2010 were discovered in previous examinations.
Again, there is no record of any negative consequences for Mr Trump
Trump Made False Statements Under Oath, but was not Charged with Perjury
A Mother Jones article published February, 2016, recounted that in connection with a libel suit Mr Trump filed against journalist Timothy O'Brien alleging O'Brien under-reported Mr Trump's wealth,
In 2007—two years before a New Jersey judge tossed out the case—Trump was questioned during a deposition. Over the course of the two-day-long interrogation, Trump was forced repeatedly to acknowledge having made false statements. And at one point, a lawyer for O'Brien and his publisher asked Trump a straightforward question: Have you ever before associated with individuals you knew were associated with organized crime?'
Trump, who was testifying under oath, answered, 'Not that I know of.'
That was a clear and unequivocal response. But it was not true. Two years earlier, O'Brien had interviewed Trump and specifically asked him about Sullivan and Shapiro. O'Brien, now an editor and writer at Bloomberg, has provided Mother Jones with a transcript of the interview, and it conclusively shows that Trump believed that these two men were associated with organized crime....
Trump: They were tough guys. In fact, they say that Dan Sullivan was the guy that killed Jimmy Hoffa. I don't know if you ever heard that.
O'Brien: I have heard that. And that he was, you know…
Trump: I just was able to handle them. And I, really, I was able to handle them. I found Sullivan to be the tougher of the two. I started hearing reports about Sullivan, that he killed Jimmy Hoffa….
O'Brien: What was Shapiro like?
Trump: He was like a third-rate, local, real estate mob guy. Nothing spectacular. And I, you know, I got lucky. I heard a rumor that Sullivan, because Sullivan was a great con man, I heard a rumor that Sullivan killed Jimmy Hoffa. And because I heard that rumor I kept my guard up. You know, I said, 'Hey, I don't want to be friends with this guy.'
So here was Trump connecting Sullivan to the Hoffa murder and calling Shapiro a 'mob guy.'
The same article also asserted that Trump lied in a deposition about knowing and working with Felix Sater, who who "had once been involved in a Mafia-linked stock swindle," and who "had worked with the Trump Organization."
Ivanka Trump and Donald Trump Jr Escaped Indictment for Fraud
As reported by the New Yorker in October, 2017, despite considerable evidence that the two children of Donald Trump had misled potential buyers of Trump SoHo condominiums, Cyrus Vance, the Manhattan District Attorney overruled his staff by halting an investigation of them in 2010. Later, the Trumps' attorney, Marc Kasowitz, made a large donation to Mr Vance's campaign.
Trump University Settled Fraud Allegations, Trump Not Charged
As reported by the New York Times in 2017, "the final settlement of allegations that 'Trump University students had been cheated out of thousands of dollars in tuition through high-pressure sales techniques and false claims about what they would learn" was approved by a judge. Litigation about these allegations had gone on for years, but after his election in November, Mr. Trump reversed course and agreed to pay $25 million to resolve the litigation. He did not admit fault, and he maintained in posts on Twitter after the settlement announcement that he "did not have the time to go through a long but winning trial on Trump U."
The settlement resolved lawsuits brought by the Attorney General of New York, Eric Schneiderman, among others. However, Mr Trump was never charged with a crime by Mr Schneiderman among others. There is some reason to think Mr Trump took actions to ensure his impunity.
According to Bloomberg on May 11, 2018,
Back in 2013, Donald Trump was exploring a presidential run. His Trump University was in the crosshairs of New York's crusading attorney general. Around the same time, Trump and his personal lawyer got an interesting piece of information: Eric Schneiderman, the AG, was accused of sexually abusing two women.
The details of the accusations were not made public at that time, but later,
Trump took aim at Schneiderman in a tweet on Sept. 11, 2013, that also referred to New York politicians who'd resigned over allegations of sexual misconduct, Anthony Weiner and Eliot Spitzer.
'Weiner is gone, Spitzer is gone -- next will be lightweight A.G. Eric Schneiderman. Is he a crook? Wait and see, worse than Spitzer or Weiner,' Trump tweeted.
Mr Schneiderman never brought criminal charges against Mr Trump. Could it be that he was made aware that Trump had information about Schneiderman's sexual behavior that he could use against him? This month, the allegations of his sexual misconduct were finally made public and he then resigned. The settlement, again absent any charges against Mr Trump, was approved in March, 2017.
Summary of Trump's Pre-Presidency Impunity
While Trump's firms have had to pay multiple fines for breaking rules and laws, and Trump and the immediate family members who work with him in the Trump Organization were credibly accused of multiple types of wrong-doing, including various apparent crimes, neither Trump nor his family members were ever indicted, or apparently investigated for crimes.
President Trump's Arguments That He Has De Jure Impunity
Since he was elected, President Trump and his proxies have asserted he now has de jure impunity that seems to go well beyond the sort of de facto impunity he enjoyed as a wealthy and powerful businessman and celebrity. Note that none of these statements attempted to deny that he had or would violate laws. They were all assertions that President Trump is not subject to the rule of law.
Examples appear again in order of apparent occurrence.
Trump Said He is Not Subject to Laws on Conflicts of Interest.
As reported by CNN in November, 2016:
Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he faces no legal obligation to cut ties with his businesses, even as he described how winning the presidency has made his brand 'hotter' and acknowledged advancing his business interests during a conversation with a British politician.
'The law's totally on my side, the president can't have a conflict of interest,' Trump said in an interview with New York Times editors and writers.
Trump said he was surprised by how little was legally required of him. 'In theory I could run my business perfectly and then run the country perfectly. There's never been a case like this,' he said. 'I'd assumed that you'd have to set up some type of trust or whatever and you don't.'
It's true that federal conflict-of-interest laws exempt the president, and he'll have the power to change White House ethics rules. But there remains a constitutional ban on accepting payments from foreign governments, as well as anti-corruption laws against bribery and fraud.
Trump Stated His Personal or Family Finances Cannot be Subjects of Investigation
In an interview with the New York Times in July, 2017, he responded to a question:
SCHMIDT: Last thing, if Mueller was looking at your finances and your family finances, unrelated to Russia — is that a red line?
HABERMAN: Would that be a breach of what his actual charge is?
TRUMP: I would say yeah. I would say yes. By the way, I would say, I don't — I don't — I mean, it's possible there's a condo or something, so, you know, I sell a lot of condo units, and somebody from Russia buys a condo, who knows? I don't make money from Russia. In fact, I put out a letter saying that I don't make — from one of the most highly respected law firms, accounting firms. I don't have buildings in Russia. They said I own buildings in Russia. I don't. They said I made money from Russia. I don't. It's not my thing. I don't, I don't do that. Over the years, I've looked at maybe doing a deal in Russia, but I never did one. Other than I held the Miss Universe pageant there eight, nine years [crosstalk].
SCHMIDT: But if he was outside that lane, would that mean he'd have to go?
HABERMAN: Would you consider——
TRUMP: No, I think that's a violation.
A typical interpretation of this rather incoherent response was in The Hill,
President Trump warned special counsel Robert Mueller from investigating his family's finances beyond the scope of the probe into ties between his administration and Russia in an interview with The New York Times on Wednesday.
'I think that's a violation. Look, this is about Russia,' Trump told the Times.
Trump during the interview said he wasn't ruling out firing Mueller as special counsel on the probe into Russian meddling in the presidential election.
He did not say that he would order the Justice Department to fire Mueller or under what circumstances he would fire him, but he indicated Mueller investigating his family's finances would cross a line.
Trump's Attorney Argued that a President Cannot be Charged with Obstructing Justice
An article in Axios from December, 2017, strated
John Dowd, President Trump's outside lawyer, outlined to me a new and highly controversial defense/theory in the Russia probe: A president cannot be guilty of obstruction of justice.
The 'President cannot obstruct justice because he is the chief law enforcement officer under [the Constitution's Article II] and has every right to express his view of any case,' Dowd claims.
However, a Washington Post article published on May 18, 2018, stated that Mr Trump's current attorney is not so sure about that,
But apparently [current Trump laywer Rudy] Giuliani disagrees. Trump's own lawyer said Friday that his client is not immune from charges of obstructing justice — which is clearly the most troubling part of special counsel Robert S. Mueller III's investigation for Trump personally. While Trump hasn't been directly linked to potential collusion with Russia, he has taken many actions as president that have caught Mueller's attention and could feasibly be seen as trying to influence the course of the investigation. So whether Trump can technically obstruct justice at all is a key point, and it's one Giuliani just conceded.
Trump's Attorneys Argued He Is Immune from Civil Court Proceedings while President
They had argued that he has immunity from lawsuits as President, but as Reuters reported this month,
A New York state judge on Tuesday said U.S. President Donald Trump must face a defamation lawsuit by a woman who accused him of sexually harassing her after she appeared on his former reality TV show.
The decision by Justice Jennifer Schecter of the New York state court in Manhattan in favor of California restaurateur Summer Zervos, a former contestant on NBC's 'The Apprentice,' raises the prospect that Trump might have to answer embarrassing questions in court about his behavior toward women.
She rejected Trump's claim that he was immune from being sued, finding 'absolutely no authority' to dismiss litigation related 'purely to unofficial conduct' solely because he occupied the White House.
'No one is above the law,' the judge wrote.
Trump's Attorney Asserted He Cannot be Forced to Testify in Court
As reported by Reuters two days ago, on May 17, 2018, President Trump's current lawyer Rudolf Giuliani:
told Fox News Thursday morning not just that the special counsel cannot indict President Trump but that Mueller's team cannot even subpoena the president to appear before a grand jury. Giuliani's theory is that if the president cannot be prosecuted, he cannot be called to testify in an investigation of his conduct.
'We're pretty comfortable, in the circumstances of this case, they wouldn't be able to subpoena him personally,' Giuliani said. 'They could probably require documents to be produced. That's what was required of Nixon. We've provided 1.4 million documents. They probably could require you to testify in a civil case, possibly even as a witness in a criminal case, but they can't require you to testify in what would be your own case.'
I talked Thursday to eight lawyers who've been involved in previous probes of U.S. presidents. Every one of them said Giuliani's theory is incorrect.
Some of them had quite strong words.
George Conway wrote the Supreme Court briefs for Bill Clinton accuser Paula Jones in the case that led to a unanimous ruling from the justices that the Constitution does not shield presidents from testifying in certain civil suits. He said Giuliani's assertion that President Trump cannot be subpoenaed is 'drivel.'
Lawrence Robbins, who represented White House officials in the Whitewater investigation, said Giuliani's theory is 'facially preposterous.'
Solomon Wisenberg, who worked on the Whitewater probe of Clinton, called the theory 'delusional.'
Unaccountable leadership, particularly leadership with impunity, has been a major feature of modern US health care, and probably explains the continuing bad behavior, including criminally bad behavior and outright corrupt behavior ongoing in US health care organizations. While the US government began to address impunity in the last few years, those efforts have apparently halted during the current Trump regime. Given President Trump's long record of personal impunity during his career as a wealthy and prominent businessman, and his assertions that as President he is above the law, that should be no surprise.
Yet, true health care reform requires well-informed leaders who uphold health care professionals' values, put patient's and the public's health ahead of all other considerations, avoid self-interest and conflicts of interest, are honest and ethical, and surely are not corrupt. They need to work in the context of a government that is of, by and for the people, not of, by and for a demagogic leader.
In these times, true health reform is not possible under the current president. We will watch health care dysfunction continue to grow, and patients' and the public's health continue to decline until someone new takes the oath of office.
Thank You and Good article A Higher Impunity - How Can we Reduce Health Care Leadership's Impunity When the President Claims His Own Impunity? this time, hopefully can benefit for you all. see you in other article postings.
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If Heidi Julavits made an outline of her new novel The Vanishers before she embarked on writing it, the convoluted diagram of arrows leading from present to past, from this world to the paranormal, from mother to daughter, and from film to life, should have stopped her in her tracks. Thankfully Julavits is no ordinary writer, and the meta-heavy brilliance of her fourth novel is something akin to a Sylvia Plath poem transferred telepathically to a psychic who happens to be solving a missing-person's case while being film-followed by artist Sophie Calle. Julavits's fiction has always been immersed in clinical psychology and female bonds. Here, both play out to mind-oragami-ing effect as a young parapsychology student falls down an astral rabbit hole as she searches for clues about her suicide-victim mother and a missing renegade feminist filmmaker, all the while being tormented by a rival psychic. Several times I thought Julavits wasn't going to be able to pull off this experimental high-wire juggling act. She does.


As of July 1, 2015, all businesses and multi-family properties are required to sort their recyclables from their trash. Businesses must subscribe to recycling services for basic recyclables such as mixed paper, newspaper, cardboard, glass containers, aluminum cans, and plastic bottles.
Requirements to collect food scraps and compostable paper separately from garbage will become effective July 1, 2016.
In 2012, Governor Brown signed AB 341 (Chesbro) into law, which included a requirement for larger businesses (four cubic yards of garbage service per week and above) to obtain recycling service. The Mandatory Recycling Ordinance 2012-01, adopted by Alameda County, builds on the State's requirements by specifying which materials need to be recycled and by requiring that an adequate level of recycling service be obtained. According to the county ordinance, businesses are required to recycle even if they self-haul waste materials to a landfill or transfer station.
Call your service provider to arrange for recycling collection services.
San Leandro is a city in Alameda County, California, United States. It is considered a suburb of Oakland and San Francisco. The population was 84,950 as of 2010 census. The climate of the city is mild throughout the year.


BASSETERRE, St. Kitts and Nevis (November 2, 2012) — In an effort to continue making the Federation a safer place, stakeholders in the community through the Chamber of Industry and Commerce are introducing Crime Stoppers to the Federation. Crime Stoppers St. Kitts and Nevis (SKN) is a not-for-profit, charitable organization, which provides an avenue for the public to share information, with law enforcement agencies, about a crime that has been committed or one that is being planned, in a confidential and anonymous manner.
Crime Stoppers was created as a tripartite relationship between the media, law enforcement and the community.
Crime Stoppers St. Kitts and Nevis will work closely with, but is independent of the police and the government. Crime Stoppers is a global programme governed by the Board of Directors of Crime Stoppers International, which is the umbrella organization that establishes guidelines and oversees the development of Crime Stoppers internationally.
There are more than 1200 Crime Stoppers programmes around the world, 10 of them in the Caribbean region.
Mr. Lake indicated that when the program launches in December, if an individual is aware of a crime whether past, present or upcoming, and would like to pass on that information ANONYMOUSLY they can do so by calling the Crime Stoppers overseas based call center at 1-800-TIPS(8477).
The hotline is encrypted and information about the call will not be tracked, therefore, individuals providing information will always remain anonymous.
Mr. Lake also confirmed that all calls will be answered outside of the Federation, "in fact the number 1-800-TIPS will be forwarded to a Crime Stoppers call center in Canada where trained operators will take only the tip information, no other information about the caller will be identified.
The caller will then be provided a unique code number, which may be used 30 days later by the caller to redeem a reward if their tip leads to an arrest." This REWARD, of up to EC $1000, will be paid without compromising the identity of the caller, the process is completely anonymous.
During the month of November, Crime Stoppers SKN will begin an awareness campaign which will be highlighted by visiting various schools, community groups and other organizations in an effort to educate these groups about the program and how the community can make Crime Stoppers a success and by extension make St. Kitts and Nevis a better place to live.
Mr. Lake continued, "It is my belief that the citizens of the Federation want safer, crime-free communities, we just need a way to make it happen, and Crime Stoppers is a way that we can all participate in this process.
In December Crime Stoppers SKN will officially launch to the general public.


text:
package dns

import (
	"fmt"
	"strings"

	flowpb "github.com/cilium/cilium/api/v1/flow"
	v1 "github.com/cilium/cilium/pkg/hubble/api/v1"
	"github.com/cilium/cilium/pkg/hubble/metrics/api"

	"github.com/prometheus/client_golang/prometheus"
)

type dnsHandler struct {
	includeQuery bool
	ignoreAAAA   bool

	context *api.ContextOptions

	queries       *prometheus.CounterVec
	responses     *prometheus.CounterVec
	responseTypes *prometheus.CounterVec
}

func (d *dnsHandler) Init(registry *prometheus.Registry, options api.Options) error {
	c, err := api.ParseContextOptions(options)
	if err != nil {
		return err
	}
	d.context = c

	for key := range options {
		switch strings.ToLower(key) {
		case "query":
			d.includeQuery = true
		case "ignoreaaaa":
			d.ignoreAAAA = true
		}
	}

	labels := []string{"rcode", "qtypes", "ips_returned"}
	if d.includeQuery {
		labels = append(labels, "query")
	}

	labels = append(labels, d.context.GetLabelNames()...)

	d.queries = prometheus.NewCounterVec(prometheus.CounterOpts{
		Namespace: api.DefaultPrometheusNamespace,
		Name:      "dns_queries_total",
		Help:      "Number of DNS queries observed",
	}, labels)
	registry.MustRegister(d.queries)

	d.responses = prometheus.NewCounterVec(prometheus.CounterOpts{
		Namespace: api.DefaultPrometheusNamespace,
		Name:      "dns_responses_total",
		Help:      "Number of DNS queries observed",
	}, labels)
	registry.MustRegister(d.responses)

	labels = []string{"type", "qtypes"}
	if d.includeQuery {
		labels = append(labels, "query")
	}
	labels = append(labels, d.context.GetLabelNames()...)
	d.responseTypes = prometheus.NewCounterVec(prometheus.CounterOpts{
		Namespace: api.DefaultPrometheusNamespace,
		Name:      "dns_response_types_total",
		Help:      "Number of DNS queries observed",
	}, labels)
	registry.MustRegister(d.responseTypes)

	return nil
}

func (d *dnsHandler) Status() string {
	var status []string
	if d.includeQuery {
		status = append(status, "query")
	}
	if d.ignoreAAAA {
		status = append(status, "ignoreAAAA")
	}

	return strings.Join(append(status, d.context.Status()), ",")
}

func (d *dnsHandler) ProcessFlow(flow v1.Flow) {
	if flow.GetL7() == nil {
		return
	}

	dns := flow.GetL7().GetDns()
	if dns == nil {
		return
	}

	if d.ignoreAAAA && len(dns.Qtypes) == 1 && dns.Qtypes[0] == "AAAA" {
		return
	}

	labelValues := d.context.GetLabelValues(flow)
	labels := []string{"", strings.Join(dns.Qtypes, ","), fmt.Sprintf("%d", len(dns.Ips))}
	if d.includeQuery {
		labels = append(labels, dns.Query)
	}
	labels = append(labels, labelValues...)

	if flow.GetVerdict() == flowpb.Verdict_DROPPED {
		d.queries.WithLabelValues(labels...).Inc()
		labels[0] = "Policy denied"
		d.responses.WithLabelValues(labels...).Inc()
	} else {
		if flow.GetReply() {
			labels[0] = rcodeNames[dns.Rcode]
			d.responses.WithLabelValues(labels...).Inc()

			if len(dns.Rrtypes) > 0 {
				labels := []string{"", strings.Join(dns.Qtypes, ",")}
				if d.includeQuery {
					labels = append(labels, dns.Query)
				}
				labels = append(labels, d.context.GetLabelValues(flow)...)

				for _, t := range dns.Rrtypes {
					labels[0] = t
					d.responseTypes.WithLabelValues(labels...).Inc()
				}
			}
		} else {
			d.queries.WithLabelValues(labels...).Inc()
		}
	}
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Targeted Student - We are looking for a quantitative, self-motivated, dedicated student with a strong background in Physical Oceanography to work up historical data in the KwaZulu-Natal region. The student will also have an interest in applying physical oceanographic information to support marine protected areas. The main focus of the project is to assess all available historical physical oceanography data, and that which will be collected over the next two years, and determine a mean state for the KZN Bight in order to assist with MPA decision making processes currently underway for the region.