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Front Page Politics U.S. WorldWND EXCLUSIVE
State Department confirms Obama's Iran deal optional
Agreement 'not a signed document,' just 'political commitment'
Published December 2, 2015 at 11:41am
The Obama administration's State Department has confirmed that the Iran nuclear deal negotiated by Secretary of State John Kerry on instructions from President Obama is a "political" commitment only.
And commentators quickly pointed out that means a future president "could repudiate it any time, without violating either domestic or international law."
And they note, so, too, could Iran.
The confirmation of the legal status of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the deal with Iran and the U.S., the U.K., France, Germany, Russia, China and the European Union, comes from Julie Frifield, an assistant secretary for legislative affairs in the State Department.
Her letter was responding to questions from Rep. Mike Pompeo, R-Kan., and said the deal "reflects political commitments" between Iran and the other countries.
It "is not a treaty or an executive agreement, and is not a signed document," she explained. "The success of the JCPOA will depend not on whether it is legally binding or signed, but rather on the extensive verification measures we have put in place."
The deal largely has been rejected by the American people. WND reported when it came under fire from 200 or so retired U.S. generals and admirals.
And a recent poll showed nearly half of the American people hate Obama's moves in the situation.
Pew Research Center for U.S. Politics & Policy found, in a recent poll, only 21 percent actually approve of it.
The level of U.S. approval for the pact has plummeted from mid-July, when 33 percent of Americans said they were on board with it.
What's next? Find out in "Showdown with Nuclear Iran."
The agreement involves relief that benefits Iran to the tune of up to $150 billion, and Americans simply aren't sold on the idea of a trustworthy Iran.
"The public continues to express little confidence that Iran's leaders will live up to their side of the nuclear agreement," Pew found. "Just 2 percent have a great deal of confidence that Iran's leaders will abide by the agreement, while another 18 percent say they have a fair amount of confidence."
Another 70 percent said "they are not too confident" Iran will honor the terms of the pact, Pew said.
Iran, in fact, has already moved toward development of a new nuclear reactor. As reported by WND, Russia has signed a pledge to help Tehran construct a second reactor in the Bushehr province. The State Department, meanwhile, said this project is not explicitly prohibited by the terms of the nuclear deal or by existing U.N. Security Council resolutions.
At the Volokh Conspiracy blog, George Mason University law professor Ilya Somin said there is a reason the Obama administration has created the agreement to be only a "political" statement.
"The Obama administration has taken this position at least in part to avoid rendering the deal unconstitutional. If it were a legally binding international agreement, it would require ratification by the Senate, or at least some form of congressional approval, which it currently does not have and is unlikely to get in the future," he wrote.
But he noted that "legal scholar Michael Ramsey and Matthew Weybrecht of Lawfare point out" that if there's nothing binding legally, "a future president could repudiate it any time, without violating either domestic or international law."
At the Originalism Blog, Ramsey, in fact, noted that the president can make nonbinding political commitments without approval from Congress.
But he found, "The next president is (by definition) not bound by it, either as a matter of international law or as a matter of U.S. constitutional law."
Thus, he explained, there are other commentators who owe Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., an apology.
They earlier, Ramsey explained, "called Sen. Rubio lawless for declaring his intention to repudiate the JCPOA if elected. That declaration, they wrote, was 'an unprecedented pledge to inaugurate his term by repudiating the constitutional command to 'take care that the laws be faithfully executed.'' Not so. As the State Department letter makes clear … the JCPOA – as a nonbinding agreement – is not part of the laws which the president must faithfully execute."
He also noted "a lot of people owe Sen. Tom Cotton an apology. Last spring he famously wrote an 'open letter' to Iran's leadership (actually a post on his website) saying that the then-pending deal with Iran could be repudiated by the next president if not approved by Congress. For this he was widely criticized, both substantively and procedurally. But it's clear now that he was simply stating a basic proposition of U.S. law that the State Department does not contest."
Somin pointed out what is equally obvious then.
"If the deal is not legally binding on the United States, it also does not bind Iran either. If the Iranians cheat or renege on the agreement, the administration cannot claim that they violated international law. The Iranian regime, of course, is unlikely to be much influenced by considerations of legal propriety. But such considerations do matter to elite and public opinion in Europe, whose support is necessary for any effective 'snapback' of sanctions in the event of Iranian violations."
He noted European governments would be unlikely to give up business deals with Iran based on a violation of an agreement "that isn't even legally binding."
Critics pointed out that the end result very well could be a loss of the sanctions against Iran and a restoration of billions of dollars to the rogue nation with virtually no significant return to the West.


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International Impediments: A Counterterrorism Strategy Study
Mon, 12/24/2018 - 2:19pm
Kyle Mark Amonson
Modern terrorism is a phenomenon that is global in range, constant in presence, and inevitably involves the commission of crime. It is politically motivated, involving violence, or the threat of violence in which the pursuit of publicity plays a significant role. Any national or international mechanism to counter it must be predicated on this understanding (Gottlieb et al., 2018, p. 220).
To recognize the shift in the challenges of the 21st century, we must recognize that the international community is now marked by a manifesto of globalization. In this modern environment, without cooperation, states may fail to learn of impending attacks as terrorists plot against them from foreign lands, or they may watch as terrorist suspects remain free because of lack of extradition agreements or sharing of evidence (Gottlieb et al., 2018, p. 279). The international community is opposed by the transnational threat of extremist networks who are increasingly innovative in their capacity to cause chaos worldwide. In this environment, international cooperation is required for effective counterterrorism strategy.
International cooperation is beneficial through the implementation of three primary objectives:
Enhance law enforcement efforts by providing a common legal framework, aid in the apprehension of terrorists worldwide, and prosecute suspected terrorists.
Lead international cooperative efforts to stanch the flow of terrorist financing.
Overcome "free-riding" by coordinated interstate cooperation in intelligence gathering and synthesis, and by synchronizing states' individual tactical responses to terrorism. (Gottlieb et al., 2018, p. 280).
This paper will assess international counterterrorism policy efforts, describe impediments to international cooperation against terrorism and evaluate methods in which these impediments can be overcome. This paper will focus on the need to internationally define the threat of terrorism, the enforcement of sanctions and mandates, interagency operations, intelligence sharing, and conclude with an analysis of strategy application.
Defining the Threat
"Despite decades of trying, the UN has yet to agree on a common definition of terrorism. States can then pick and choose which terrorist groups or state sponsors they will act against and which they will not" (Gottlieb et al., 2018, p. 277).
The aphorism that "terrorists might be praised as freedom fighters in one context…and denounced as terrorists in another" demonstrates the challenge across the international community to agree on a shared definition of, not only terrorism, but who are the terrorists (Gottlieb et al., 2018, p. 74). Without a definition and specified identification of a threat, the international community cannot begin to solve the issue of terrorism. To create solutions that effectively counter terrorism, we must define the problem in the context of the 21st century and analyze the motives, structure, and general environment that promote and facilitate terrorism. Additionally, international collaboration and cooperation must be underpinned by a legal framework to support operations and law enforcement. States and international organizations cannot establish effective legal authority if they are unable to clearly define their threat and purpose.
Zachary Shirkey, international relations author, states that "it is not at all clear how the UN can impose legal constraints on terrorist activity if it cannot even agree on what it is trying to make illegal or that all terrorist activity is inherently wrong." He identifies that the failure of this necessary first step in countering terrorism is because each and every state wants to establish international cooperation in the effort to pursue their own personal interests rather than the common good (Gottlieb et al., 2018, p. 281). This concept is demonstrated in Iran's rejection of Hezbollah and Hamas as terrorist groups.
For this reason, international organizations have been plagued by the inability to define terrorism since they began to address terrorism as a threat. Additionally, if an international organization disregards opposition and defines an entity as a terrorist organization, the state opposing the definition will simply delegitimize the efforts of the organization or coalition. The UN has attempted to lead the international community in counterterrorism efforts through several approaches. Starting with Resolution 1267 (1999) and 1373 (2001), the UN created the 1273 Committee and Counter-Terrorism Committee respectively. Additionally, in 2006, the UN overhauled their counterterrorism policy and published a consolidated counterterrorism strategy (Gottlieb et al., 2018, p. 278). However, without the ability to establish official definitions for international terrorist threats, they cannot promote an actual international effort against terrorism. Currently, aside from Al-Qaeda, the UN does not promote the pursuit of any other terrorist organizations or networks.
The "one man's freedom fighter" conundrum has resulted in the complete inability of larger international organizations to effectively conduct counterterrorism operations. For this reason, to overcome the challenge of defining the threat, states must engage in bilateral or multilateral cooperation with states that share their national objectives and counterterrorism strategy. Domestically, states are unable to engage in this cooperation if they do not first define and prioritize their own definition of terrorism with corresponding organizations.
Enforcing Mandates
The critical issue in establishing international counterterrorism law and enforcing mandates at the cooperative international level is whether the laws are actually effective, or merely just rhetoric that promotes the spirit of the law. As discussed in the previous section, merely applying law without a common definition is only the beginning to a multitude of additional other problems when pursuing international agreements for the cooperative application of terrorism law.
The UN contains the International Court of Justice (ICJ), International Criminal Court (ICC) and Interpol, yet they lack the ability to prosecute and convict terrorists. The International Court of Justice can only prosecute states, which is not applicable in the realm of modern counterterrorism, outside of blatant state sponsored terrorism. Additionally, if the ICJ did prosecute an organization such as Daesh, it would cause more harm than good by further legitimizing Daesh through an adjudicative process that is designed for states. While this idea may seem outlandish, the UN is the same organization that granted the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) "observer" status, equivalent to many actual states in the 1970's (Gottlieb et al., 2018, p. 283). In regard to the ICJ, it is entirely ineffective in the pursuit of counterterrorism against the modern terrorist threat.
Resolution 1267 identified Al Qaeda and the Taliban as terrorist organizations, and ruled any state providing them safe haven as violating international law. However, as trends in modern terrorism demonstrate, terrorist networks are always evolving and changing. What was Al Qaeda one year was Jama'at al-Tawhi wa'al-Jihad (JTWJ) the next, Al Qaeda Iraq (AQI) immediately following, and the Islamic State (IS), Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), and Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) the next. In a world where an organization like Al Qaeda now has a small core with multiple affiliates, the ability to enforce laws against these terrorists must be responsive to the threat, and not dictated by the semantics of naming conventions.
Another challenge at the UN is that the ICC is not capable of prosecuting terrorists. The US is not a member of the ICC and does not support its ability to prosecute terrorists fearing that "it would not only be ineffective but would reduce states' legal abilities to prosecute terrorists themselves" (Gottlieb et al., 2018, p. 284). This demonstrates several very important characteristics about the international community's trust in overarching international organization coordination. First is that many states do not trust or believe that international organizations can be effective in countering terrorism. Second is that without the support of the US, the legitimacy of any counterterrorism effort is decreased. Third is that because of the lack of support in international efforts, which have demonstrated ineffectiveness, states often would rather take the application of law and prosecution into their own hands. While this is less effective in the fact that operating unilaterally does not share cost or responsibility, it enables states to pursue objectives in line with their own national interests, even if it means doing it themselves. An example of this is the inability of the ICC to pursue Bosnian – Serb war criminals, with the Serb courts eventually conducting trials themselves, having lost faith in international cooperation (Gottlieb et al., 2018, p. 284).
As far as Interpol is concerned, it has no capabilities to prosecute terrorists or enforce mandates and should instead be regarded as an asset to cooperate in the matrix of international intelligence sharing efforts. Interpol has four main functions: to be a central exchange for police queries; to serve as a library of information for common problems; to promote universal standards and norms; and to provide a forum for meetings (Gottlieb et al., 2018, p. 284). Lastly, since the UN either cannot, or is ineffective, at enforcing mandates or laws against terrorist organizations, this once again pushes the responsibilities to regional international organizations and individual countries. While international organizations may benefit from the unity of efforts in the application of international law against terrorist centers of gravity, individual countries are burdened with the use of their own law enforcement to prosecute terrorist targets, supported by their national intelligence. National and international laws that apply specific mandates to terrorist activity must be specifically linked to a jurisdiction to enforce, and the ability to prosecute, these laws and mandates through specific domestic or international law enforcement means. However, without cooperation (ensured by organizational leadership) that is beneficial to the states in questions, they will simply just pursue state objectives and enforce laws that align with their national interests.
International Interagency Cooperation
The inability to achieve interagency cooperation is one of the greatest impediments to the effectiveness of national counterterrorism strategy; international counterterrorism strategy is no different. International intergovernmental organizations recognize the threat that terrorism poses to their way of life but struggle to achieve interoperability to accomplish common goals. James Miskal, in his Naval War College article Grand Strategies for Dealing with other States in the New, New World Order, states that "in the international political economy, transnational regimes, new forms of private economic organization, transnational strategic alliances, and the globalization of financial markets are forcing a convergence and homogenization of the rules, procedures, and outcomes of public policy formulation and of implementation across borders" (Miskal, 2005, p. 6). This sheer level of complexity across the international community can either result in increased effectiveness through economy of force and interagency cooperation, or a massive lack of efficiency through mismanaged efforts and overlapping objectives, lacking any and all synchronization.
Without the overlying governance and guidance of the UN, other intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) must to take the lead to unifying efforts and pursue international interagency cooperation. Organizations like the European Union maintain a deliberate action plan that aims to prevent terrorism, protect its citizens from terrorism, pursues extremism where it operates and responds when attacked. However, organizations like the EU have limited committed funds and troop contributions, with minimal ability to enforce meaningful change. Aside from encouraging collaboration across the intelligence community, IGOs need to establish committed resources to counter terrorism, "promoting partnerships" is not enough (The European Union, 2005, p. 4).
Areas where the international community stands to benefit from interagency cooperation is intelligence, special operations, counter terrorism finance/anti-money laundering, law enforcement and developmental/non-governmental organization efforts. For general operations, including counterterrorism, NATO has demonstrated success achieving interoperability. While primarily demonstrated through military operations, interoperability is achieved through joint-nation exercises, liaison teams and constant key-leader-engagement (KLE) paired with deliberate relationship building to develop trust and commonly shared standard operating procedures (SOPs). While varied states may have differences in resources to commit to a given issue, the mere sharing of tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs) among like entities greatly benefits the international community as a whole.
Intergovernmental organizations also need to seek engagement from nongovernmental organization and transnational corporations. The EU has already put in to place provisions for freezing terrorist assets and transactions through many of the world's leading financial institutions in concert with the international Financial Action Task Force (FATF) (The European Union, 2005, p. 14). This demonstrates the engagement of international organizations with multinational corporations (MNCs) to achieve a mutually benefitting result. As the layers of complexity further develop in the 21st century, these are the relationships that need to be established to develop a true "multi-faceted" approach to opposing terrorism.
Since the UN is unable to coordinate efforts on an international level to affect regional issues, regional institutions and states need to engage NGOs and MNCs relevant to the area of operations that align with their anti-terrorism and counterterrorism strategies to further leverage the benefits of each organization's capabilities. An example of this is the International Committee of the Red Cross/Crescent in Afghanistan. Volunteers for the ICRC have been attacked numerous times over the past decade in Afghanistan, causing the ICRC to all but remove their operations from the country. If NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) were to further integrate into operations, albeit not formally, of organizations like ICRC, they could further ensure the NGO's security and success. This mutually benefits military efforts by alleviating the need of providing the type of assistance the ICRC can offer. Examples of mutually benefitting relationships such as this are available across the multitude of counterterrorism operations throughout the international community if organizations take an innovative approach to problem solving. Counterterrorism requires a diplomatic, military and developmental response. Ensuring synchronized international interagency cooperation across state, IGO, NGO and MNCs can maximize these efforts if planned deliberately and applied appropriately.
The modern terrorist threat engages worldwide targets by studying gaps in national security and patiently engaging where their destruction will have the greatest strategic and symbolic implications. The challenge for international intelligence services to prevent attacks opposed by the decentralized, destruction-seeking and global nature of "new" terrorism is extraordinary (Gottlieb et al., 2018, p. 24). Additionally, when examining the "worst-case-scenario" of nuclear terrorism, terrorists could potentially execute a nuclear strike with as few operatives as they used to execute 9/11. The evolving nature of terrorism requires collaborative intelligence sharing. To effectively neutralize and defeat the modern terrorist threat we must promoted increased information sharing and intelligence collaboration through both law enforcement and national intelligence services. This requires trust, but minimal funding when compared to other objectives, making this (theoretically) an easier initial objective to achieve than other long-term options. With sufficient trust and redesigned lines of communication to break down bureaucratic barriers, the international community can grease the wheels of anti-terrorism and counterterrorism efforts worldwide.
The international community has developed measurable success in the last decade, creating formal mechanisms to share information to prevent the terrorist prosecution of soft targets such as civil aviation and transportation hubs (The State Department, 2017, p. 12). Additionally, many of our allies now maintain domestic counterterrorism intelligence organizations that have no functional law enforcement requirements, enabling them to focus all of their efforts on information gathering and collaboration (Chalk et al., 2004, p. 69). An example of diplomacy and intelligence at work was following 9/11, when George Bush immediately engaged pro-Western Muslim rulers, gaining critical allies against the war on terror through their sharing of real-time intelligence on threats in the region (Gottlieb et al., 2018, p. 157). The true litmus test of international counterterrorism strategy in regard to intelligence sharing is whether or not data can be processed and developed fast enough to enable time-sensitive targets (TSTs) to be prosecuted during kinetic combat operations. If intelligence is shared, but no longer actionable, it is merely a gesture of good will between allies, and no longer of any significant use.
As a whole (with some exceptions), the international intelligence community does not appear to have the capability to share information fast enough in the age of accelerated dynamic terrorism to significantly affect terrorist operations. The general trends in the 2018 State Department Country Reports on Terrorism show that minimal trust, thus minimal sharing exists across the "Global South." Some of this is attributed to safe haven countries where terrorism thrives, but also has weak government institutions and rampant corruption, raising many potential negative effects for information sharing. This enables terrorist organizations to travel across borders and attack neighboring countries without realistic fear of their operations becoming compromised. Also, while the Global North exhibits greater trust and collaboration, there is minimal benefit in that relationship (for situations outside of homeland security objectives) without including the Global South. The inability of the Global North to establish a measure of trust with countries that host terrorism impedes the total international relationship. Realistically however, unless the safe haven's government is stable enough to ensure shared critical intelligence will not become compromised, trust will not exist.
To solve this issue, countries must first focus on their domestic intelligence and law enforcement structure. Many state's organizations are overwhelmed with the responsibility to both collect information and prosecute violations of law. In order to delegate responsibility, resources and ensure a realistic application, states should define who is responsible for domestic vs. national intelligence, and who is responsible for domestic vs. national law enforcement. This may even mean four separate organizations. This is demonstrated in countries like France, United Kingdom, Australia and Canada, that have "…vested domestic counterterrorism intelligence into the hands of dedicated agencies that have no functional law enforcement powers of arrest or detention" (Chalk et al., 2004, p. 43). This has allowed for these agencies to conduct surveillance operations on terrorism suspects long-term to gather data and information about operations and logistical cell activity and allows for long-term surveillance of terrorist suspects (as intelligence services are not concerned with the immediate requirement of criminal prosecutions), which has helped with the disruption of both operation and/or logistical cells (Chalk et al., 2004, p. 43).
Once a state has delegated and defined its own law enforcement and intelligence responsibilities it can engage in meaningful collaboration and cooperation with international entities, with information organizations sharing information horizontally, understanding the end goals with consideration of public policy, law enforcement or military means.
"Combating modern, global terrorism is a worldwide endeavor that can benefit immensely from cooperation with others, and it may be that we collectively have devoted insufficient imagination or attention to the opportunities for increased international collaboration" (Gottlieb et al., 2018, p. x).
-- John Negroponte, 1st US Director of National Intelligence
The lack of shared interests being an obstacle to cooperation is not confined to terrorism, but is apparent in other, though not all, security issues. (Gottlieb et al., 2018, p. 289). Unless states recognize the need for cooperation and understand that an individual state's grand strategy may need to be out prioritized by the greater needs of the international community, these impediments will remain barriers to international cooperation. As described by Zach Shirley, regardless of advances in the past decade, these issues still pervade international organizations:
The UN and other international organizations remain hamstrung by their inherent shortcomings: failure to create a commonly accepted definition of terrorism and corresponding legal frameworks that states will take seriously; failure to punish noncompliance with IO mandates on priorities such as sanctioning terrorist groups and their financiers; and failure to solve collective action problems on key issues related to terrorism such as intelligence gathering and sharing.
The growing threat of terrorism has resulted in greater recognition of the need for cooperation to oppose its challenges. However, the UN has demonstrated that it is ineffective at facilitating counter terrorism efforts, merely promoting rhetoric that opposes terrorist efforts when it is ensured not to offend any UN members. Its efforts may be considered embarrassing, and only agree with other international organizations after a conclusion is made, such as NATO's invoking Article V by Tony Blair in 2001 against Al Qaeda, to which only then the UN designated Al Qaeda as their only labeled terrorist threat.
This leaves cooperation as primarily a bilateral and multilateral effort, allowing states to identify and unify priorities with other states with whom they choose to partner based on mutual benefits. Examples of this are specific relationships like the US and Israel, and NATO's specified International Security and Assistance Force. These efforts allow greater opportunity for progress since countries can align objectives, designate a threat that they are motivated to defeat, and pursue interoperability with the goal of breaking down the barriers of bureaucracy to achieve a unity of efforts.
Galbraith, P. (2006). The end of iraq : How american incompetence created a war without end. New York: Simon & Schuster.References
Chalk, P., Rosenau, W. (2004). Confronting the "enemy within." RAND Corporation. Retrieved from rand.org.
Council of the European Union. (2005). The European union counter terrorism strategy. Retrieved from register.consilium.europa.eu.
Gottlieb, S. (2018). Debating terrorism and counterterrorism: Conflicting perspectives on causes, contexts and responses. CQ Press, SAGE Publications. Thousand Oakes, California.
Miskel, J. (2005). Grand strategies for dealing with other states in the new, new world order. Naval War College Review Winter 2005.
The State Department. (2017). Country reports on terrorism 2017. Washington, DC: United States Department of State Publication.
The White House. (2017). National security strategy. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office.
Categories: terrorism - counterinsurgency
Kyle Amonson
Kyle Amonson is an active duty Army Captain and graduate student at MIT / Harvard studying developmental economics. Captain Amonson received his undergraduate degree from Virginia Tech and holds a master's degree in International Relations - International Security from Norwich University. He has deployed in support of various operations throughout Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. Opinions expressed in his articles are those of the author's and not those of the U.S. Department of Defense or U.S. Army.
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Especially international teachers https://liuxuesavior.com/kuai-ji-dai-xie/ tend to gauge the academic ability of students in their majors by their performance on various accounting assignments. However, when accounting students do their accounting homework or write papers, they need to process data and records, analyze various business reports on financial transactions, etc. D. This is very complex content. It is quite possible that going to bed late to do your homework is very tedious. Because understanding these issues requires long and time-consuming research and practice.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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You Are Here: Home → 2015 → August → 12 → Young Fil-Ams form alliance for human rights, environment
Young Fil-Ams form alliance for human rights, environment
Davao Today August 12, 2015 Fil-Ams, international solidarity, SOS Network
"Hearing the problems of the lumads (Mindanao's IPs), they really inspire you and put your problems in perspective."
By JOHN RIZLE L. SALIGUMBA
Davao Today
DAVAO CITY – Young Filipino-Americans who spent a week in Mindanao formed an alliance with their local counterparts to "strengthen" the campaign for human rights and protection of the environment.
The alliance name, Senubaden, is an indigenous Bagobo term meaning "unity arrived at after an assembly".
The young Fil-Ams joined 300 other youth for "Pangiyak Ki! (Mindanao Youth shout out for human rights and ecological justice)."
The "Pangiyak Ki!" activities included immersions of the group to indigenous peoples (IP) communities in Caraga, Northern Mindanao, South Cotabato, Western Mindanao, Kitaotao in Bukidnon and Talaingod in Davao del Norte.
United States-based North America-Philippines Solidarity Affair (NAPSA) and the Kapit-Bisig Kabataan Network (KBKN) sent 23 of their members to the Philippines for the activity.
The activity ended with "Pinoylympics" or a sportsfest.
It was the first time 20-year old Justine Figuerres set foot on the Philippines. "And it's not to shop around in Manila or to go to the beaches," she said.
"I get to sleep in a maybe six by twelve foot house with only tarpaulin walls and no doors of the Talaandigs who are fighting for their ancestral land," said Figuerres.
She was among the youngest members of the 23-member contingent of KBKN.
Figuerres said she "did research" on the situation of IPs before she came to the Philippines "but it's actually a very different realization (even) just for a short time."
"Hearing the problems of the lumads (Mindanao's IPs), they really inspire you and put your problems in perspective. They have to experience it every single day and not by choice," she said.
"I had no idea that a single person can possess so much determination," she said.
Figuerres said one of the problems of the Talaandig IPs was how "ranchers made an agreement with them that they would occupy the lumads' land in exchange for cattle."
"The contract ended in 2009 but the ranchers did not leave. The lumads believed the ranchers are behind the threats and intimidation. Their houses have been destroyed and they were shot at. There were bullet holes in the ceiling," she said.
Figuerres said it was "hard to mentally prepare" for the experience she had with the Talaandigs.
"I did not learn about this in school; the history and the politics behind it is really deep. Sometimes it's a lot to take in," said Figuerres, a fourth year electrical engineering student at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
Figuerres said the "situation of the lumads is not just a front" and that one of their most immediate goals as a group is to "share their (lumads') narratives."
She said they have to "report back" to the members of their organizations and "start a social media campaign or adopt a school (Save Our Schools Network), start fund raisers."
"(It's about) getting the story out there," she said.
Fritz Vegas, spokesperson of Senubaden Mindanao Youth Alliance, said "Mindanao and foreign youth had witnessed the strings of human rights violations perpetrated by state forces during our immersion in different lumad communities for the International Solidarity Mission."
"The alarming human rights situation in Mindanao is an undeniable proof that justice and genuine peace remain elusive," he said. Reposted by


We are super exited to finally have a Phantom boy. I love the combos they make. Please excuse the crappy QT pic.
Also, we got updated shots of some of our holdbacks.
Congrats on the phantom and very nice looking holdbacks.
Are you guys taking down names/list for the VPI bp's?
Now THAT is one smokin' Phantom! I hope to find A BP female like that one day, and that's the lighted enchi I've seen!
Thanks everyone. I can't wait to add him to the breeding roster.
Whatta Phantom! Good move on that puppy!


text:
'Noles receive major commit
Spear Points: A look around FSU athletics
'Noles receive major commit Spear Points: A look around FSU athletics Check out this story on fsunews.com: http://fsune.ws/1Mh1dJT
Sports Editor Published 3:35 a.m. ET July 9, 2015 | Updated 8:51 p.m. ET July 9, 2015
Leonard Hamilton and his staff received good news Monday when five-star prospect Jonathan Isaac (6'9'', 190 pounds) pledged his services to the 'Noles. Isaac is rated as the No. 12 overall talent in the 2016 class by ESPN and the No. 4 rated small forward.
Issac chose FSU over offers from other basketball powers like Kentucky, Wisconsin, Louisville, Florida, Virginia and Maryland, in addition to countless others.
The pickup by FSU boosts the Seminoles' recruiting class that already has a pair of four-star players in Trent Forrest and CJ Walker. The 'Noles now have the No. 2 overall class for 2016 according to 247 Sports.
2016 Spring game officially headed to Orlando
Florida State officially announced that the 2016 spring football game will be headed to Orlando and be played at the Citrus Bowl with a 5 PM kick-off per the school's official site.
The Seminoles will move the game south due to the construction of Doak Campbell Stadium that will pick-up speed in the off-season.
Orlando is an interesting choice for the game as FSU is set to face Ole Miss to open the 2016 season in the same stadium. Jacksonville was another location being considered for the game according to athletics director Stan Wilcox.
"We are excited to play our 2016 spring game at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando," said FSU head football coach Jimbo Fisher. "With the renovations to our stadium next spring that have been provided from contributions from our fans and boosters, it gave us a unique opportunity to hold our spring weekend at another venue."
Boomer Biegalksi signs with Oakland Athletics
Florida State baseball lost another one of its top players Thursday evening as ace pitcher Boomer Biegalski signed a contract to join the Oakland Athletics of the MLB.
Biegalski was selected by the A's in 14th round with the No. 428 selection of the draft. Biegalski, only a sophomore for the Seminoles this season, was eligible due to his age falling in the window for eligibility in this year's draft.
Biegalski's signing bonus was reportedly 300,000 dollars.
In 2015 the sophomore worked his way to becoming the FSU ace finishing the season with a 7-5 record. Biegalksi's 3.17 ERA led all Seminole starters and he struck out 120 batters in 108 innings pitched.
Florida State has now had six players sign contracts with their professional teams that drafted them. The 'Noles will look ahead to the 2016 season, hoping to reach the College World Series for the first time since 2012.
FSU gets chewed out by the Wolfpack
Vassell, Walker lead 'Noles to win in Miami
Seminoles scrap out win against UVA
Polite comes up clutch
Bonniwell dives into senior season
Ups, downs, and drama for 'Noles in the NFL


Begin by talking to an Examiner in the Digsite Exam Center. The fastest way is to teleport to Varrock via the lodestone and walk southwest until you reach the fence/gate shortly above the desert. Walk through this gate and head west to arrive at the Digsite Exam Center.
Ask about taking the test and she will give you an Unstamped Letter, which she tells you you mist show to the Varrock Museum's Curator. So, take the long road back to Varrock and once you enter the gates head northwards towards the Museum. Once inside, talk to the Curator who should be standing near the door so you should have no trouble finding him. After a short conversation (He will also thank you if you have done Shield of Arrav) he will stamp and seal your letter, telling you to give it to an Examiner.
Leave the building and head north towards the Digsite, speak to each student for help. It turns out they have all lost something of value, and will only give you answers if you retrieve the item.
The first student you are likely to find says he has lost an Animal Skull, pickpocket the Digsite Worker indicated on the map and you will eventually get the skull, return to the student and he will give you the answer to the first question: Earth Science is the study of earth, contents and it's history.
The second student is north of the first, he has lost his Special Cup he once had won for an excellent find. Head to the Southeastern point of the Digsite and pick up the panning tray inside the tent. Walk to the panning spots to the east, but when you try to pan you will be stopped by the Panning Guide. Ask how to be invited to pan, he says the authorities must give you permission, but he'll let you pan if you give him some Tea. Give him the Tea and start panning! You might get an Opal, keep it as you'll need one later on in the quest. Eventually you will find the Special cup, give it to the student and he will give you question two's answer: People eligible to use the Digsite are: All that have passed the appropriate Earth Sciences Exams.
The third student has lost her Teddy Bear and wants you to find it. Go to the south of the Digsite and go across the bridge you came from, you will see a large blue urn. Next to it are two bushes, search the one on the right and you'll find Teddy. Go back and give the cuddly toy to her and she will tell you the third answer: Leather gloves and boots are to be worn at all times; proper tools must be used.
Head back to the Exam Center and take the exam again, this time putting in the correct answers. If you did it right, you will receive a Level 1 Certificate.
Correct rock pick usage: Always handle with care; strike the rock cleanly on it's cleaving point.
Correct sample transportation: Samples taken in rough form, kept only in sealed containers.
Finds handling: Finds must be carefully handled, and gloves worn.
Once again, talk to the Examiner and pass the quiz and receive a Level 2 Certificate.
Speak to the three students again and obtain the answers, the Girl who lost her Teddy Bear wants an Opal, so pan in the river for one if you did not receive it when you were looking for the Special Cup.
Specimen brush use: Brush carefully and slowly using short strokes.
The proper technique for handling bones is: Handle bones carefully and keep them away from other samples.
Sample preparations: Samples cleaned, and carried only in specimen jars.
Now take the road you've gone on many times back to the Exam Center. Answer the questions correctly and you will earn the final Certificate!
You can now dig anywhere you wish, and the Examiner advises you to impress the Archaeological Expert with something! First, though, show the Museum Curator the three certificates and he will reward you with either a Chocolate cake or Fruit Blast.
With your new knowledge, head to the Digsite and search some sacks in the northeast corner of the Archaeological dig for a Specimen Jar, and if you haven't gotten one from getting the Animal Skull pickpocket some Workmen for a Specimen Brush. Next to the bags with the Jar, you will see a level 3 digger area, enter it with your supplies and dig in the soil at the edges. Keep on digging until you eventually find an Ancient Talisman (the Talisman of Zaros).
Now, show the Talisman to the Archaeological expert back at the Exam Center and he will be mystified about the object, but will give you a letter that when you give it to a Workman, he will let you use the Private Digshafts!
Go to the northwest of the digsite and you will see a Winch, use a rope on it and then take it to go underground to the subterranean land of... Zaros.
Pick up a nearby Arcenia root, search the bricks blocking the path and you will conclude saying that it is impossible to pass.
Once back on the surface, go to the northeastern Winch north of the second Student,, use a rope on it and go down. Inside you will find Doug Deeping, ask him about getting past the rocks and he will suggest blowing them up. He will hand you a key.
Go into the tent in which you found the Panning Tray, use the key on the chest inside to find some Chemical Powder.
Go to the barrels west of the tent and use your Trowel on the closed barrel, and then your vial to get some Unidentified Liquid.
Search the nearby specimen tray and eventually you will find some Charcoal. Bring these back to the Archaeological expert and use everything (Except the Charcoal) on him. After he identifies the powder as Ammonium nitrate and the liquid as Nitroglycerin, use the powder on the liquid and use your Pestle and Mortar on the Charcoal, and use the result with the Mixed chemicals and finally the root and you will end up with a Chemical compound.
Head back to the Temple and once you are up to the bricks use the Compound on them, and then use your Tinderbox. The rocks will blow, you will run for cover, the explosion giving you access to the central chamber.
Walk inside. If you have 45+ combat the Skeletons won't attack you and armour isn't needed. Take the Stone Tablet in the center of the room.
Quickly run the tablet to the Expert and Quest complete!
2 Gold Bars 15,300 Mining experience 2,000 Herblore experience All of the Digsite's various attractions are open to you. Ability to begin the Varrock Museum Mini-Quest If you have 75 in either Attack, Ranged, or Magic, you can unlock three threshold abilities by speaking with the Archaeological Expert again and reading the book he gives you.
[^] Speak to an Examiner.
[^] Show Varrock Museum Curator Unstamped letter.
[^] Give Sealed letter to Examiner.
[^] Go to Digsite and speak to Students.
[^] Pickpocket Workmen for an Animal Skull.
[^] Get panning tray from tent, give Panning Guide some tea and pan for Special Cup.
[^] Search bushes near Blue Urn for Teddy.
[^] Return items to students and get Exam answers.
[^] Return to students for more answers.
[^] Take exam number two.
[^] Show certificates to Museum Curator for Chocolate cake or Fruit Blast.
[^] Dig for Ancient talisman and show to Archaeological Expert.
[^] Give letter to Digsite Workman.
[^] Take Northwest Winch to Zaros Temple.
[^] Pick up Arcenia root and search bricks.
[^] Take Northeast winch and talk to Glough Deeping and get his key.
[^] Use Trowel on barrel near tents and then a vial for some Unidentified liquid.
[^] Show Archaeological Expert Powder and Liquid.
[^] Put powder in liquid, grind up Charcoal with Pestle and mortar. Add Ground charcoal and arcenia root.
[^] Return to temple, use Chemical Compound on bricks and then tinderbox.
[^] Pick up stone Tablet in center of room and give to Archaeological expert.


text:
Chapter 17 DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH
Section 3 Public health council
Section 3: Public health council
Section 3. (a) There shall be a public health council to advise the commissioner of public health and to perform other duties as required by law. The council shall consist of the commissioner of public health as chairperson and 14 members appointed for terms of 6 years under this section. The commissioner may designate 1 of the members as vice chairperson and may appoint subcommittees or special committees as needed.
(b) Four of the members shall be appointed by the governor: 1 shall be appointed from among the chancellor of the University of Massachusetts Medical School and a list of 3 nominated by said chancellor; 1 shall be appointed from among the dean of the University of Massachusetts Amherst School of Public Health or Health Sciences and a list of 3 nominated by said dean; 1 shall be appointed from among the heads of the non-public schools of medicine in the commonwealth or their nominees; and 1 shall be appointed from among the heads of the non-public schools or programs in public health in the commonwealth or their nominees.
(c) Four of the appointed members shall be providers of health services, appointed by the governor: 1 of whom shall have expertise in acute care hospital management; 1 of whom shall have expertise in long term care management; 1 of whom shall have expertise in home or community-based care management, and 1 of whom shall have expertise in the practice of primary care medicine or public health nursing.
(d) Six of the appointed members shall be non–providers: 1 shall be appointed by the secretary of elder affairs; 1 shall be appointed by the secretary of veterans' services; 1 shall be appointed by the governor from a list of 3 nominated by Health Care For All, Inc.; 1 shall be appointed by the governor from a list of 3 nominated by the Coalition for the Prevention of Medical Errors, Inc.; 1 shall be appointed by the governor from a list of 3 nominated by the Massachusetts Public Health Association; and 1 shall be appointed by the governor from a list of 3 nominated by the Massachusetts Community Health Worker Network. Whenever an organization nominates a list of candidates for appointment by the governor under this subsection, the organization may nominate additional candidates if the governor declines to appoint any of those originally nominated.
(e) For purposes of this section, ''non-provider'' shall mean a person whose background and experience indicate that he is qualified to act on the council in the public interest; who, and whose spouse, parents, siblings or children, have no financial interest in a health care facility; who, and whose spouse has no employment relationship to a health care facility, to a nonprofit service corporation established under chapters 176A to 176E, inclusive, or to a corporation authorized to insure the health of individuals; and who, and whose spouse, is not licensed to practice medicine.
(f) Upon the expiration of the term of office of an appointive member, his successor shall be appointed in the same manner as the original appointment, for a term of 6 years and until the qualification of his successor. The members shall be appointed not later than 60 days after a vacancy. The council shall meet at least once a month, and at such other times as it shall determine by its rules, or when requested by the commissioner or any 4 members. The appointive members shall receive $100 per day that the council meets, and their reasonably necessary traveling expenses while in the performance of their official duties.


There's just one word to describe actor and author D.L. Hughley's tense one-on-one with Fox TV anchor Megyn Kelly: Wow.
That's the word the Original King of Comedy exclaimed during an overheated interview on Wednesday.
"Don't wow me!" scolded Kelly.
"Don't tell me not to wow you," he shot back.
The chat on "The Kelly File" was meant to focus on recent fatal police shootings, including that of Philando Castile. The conversation spun into a bitter back-and-forth about racial divides in America.
"The only place racism doesn't exist is Fox News and the police department," Hughley said sarcastically. "That's absolutely true."
"Come on, come on. That's insulting," Kelly responded. "You just insulted millions of people watching this channel."
"And you know what, I'm insulted by the things I hear on this network, so we're even," Hughley spat back. "I could care less about insulting people that insult me on a daily basis."
It was clear the interview would be bumpy ride. Hughley followed Kelly's interview with Mark Fuhrman, a convicted perjurer, who commented on the shooting.
"I didn't know Mark Fuhrman was going to be here," said Hughley. It didn't take long for things to go downhill, though the host and guest conceded that whites and blacks can hold different perceptions when it comes to police interactions.
"Most reasonable people will give you that," she said. "But you know what shuts down all reasonable dialogue is throwing out the term racism before it's been proven."
Hughley responded saying that there's a benefit of the doubt given to police officers. "Obviously they do a tough job," he said. He then pointed out a 2006 FBI report warning that law enforcement agencies "are rife" with white supremacist groups.
"I don't know a black man that hasn't had a run-in with police — from the highest to the lowest," Hughley said.
"You've been backed up on that by many people," she replied.
A week ago Hughley spoke on CNN about the injustice of having to teach kids how to deal with law enforcement.
The straw that broke the interview's back was Kelly's comment near the 4:50-minute mark, when she said, unironically: "It's very dangerous when you get to the point where you paint an entire group with the same brush based on the bad actions of a few."
"That is amazing to hear on this network. That really is," said Hughley, shaking his head in disbelief that Kelly doesn't get that that works both ways. "That really is. Amazing to hear on this network."
She interrupted, "Thanks for being here. Take care."
The final image was Kelly, eyes wide, like a deer hunter in the headlights.


If you have an employee or multiple employees who are normally the life of the office party but who have recently become more recluse, this could be a warning sign that something's wrong. Employees who were once full of bright ideas and enthusiasm that have taken on a more quiet demeanor may be struggling with something work-related internally. The best way to approach the subject is to solicit feedback or generate an informal conversation to ask what's wrong. If employees are feeling overworked or overwhelmed, they may just be simply too tired to bring their normal energy level to the door each day.
If you've found that recently your micro-managing skills are being tested on employees who are usually self-starters, it may be a result of low morale. Employees that are dropping the ball or not giving 100% to a new project or task may be in a negative spot. Check in with their workload and see what's going on. Getting to the bottom of even a minor issue can make a big difference in the day-to-day for that teammate.
If you normally have a team that loves to post a #lovemyjob hashtag but has recently faltered from their typical social media cadence, this may be a red flag. Social media is a subconscious indicator of how your team is really feeling. If you're seeing an influx in TGIF posts vs #lovemyjob posts, there may be something going on that needs your attention.
How your clients or customers are feeling has a correlation with employee morale. It's hard to fill someone else's cup if yours is feeling empty, and the same goes for an team-client situation. When listening to client feedback, make sure you search for the source of the problem and keep in mind that it may be linked to your current cultural climate.
When there is an increase in absenteeism or tardiness, this may be a warning sign that something is wrong within the team. Avoidance is one of the easiest ways for a team to passively confront a problem and could be in an indicator of a larger issue at hand. Touch base with your team frequently if you're noticing a problem with attendance. Poor attendance can lead to the ultimate morale problem: Turnover. If you've experienced a large amount of turnover it can be a dangerous circle. As one employee leaves if their responsibilities are added on to existing employees, they can feel overworked which can lead to more turnover. Keeping an eye on the project or task distribution is so important to prevent and manage turnover.
Confronting problems with team morale head-on is the best approach to protect your company culture. This could mean that as a leader you will have to face difficult conversations, complex problem solving and hear uncomfortable feedback, but it will make you, your team, and your business stronger in the long run.


text:
Q: WCF - How to configure netTcpBinding for NTLM authentication? I know how to configure basicHttpBinding for NTLM authentication, but can't figure out a way to do the same for netTcpBinding.
Does netTcpBinding support NTLM?  If so, how to force WCF service to use NTLM?
BTW a well known method using identity element for some reason didn't work at all. I am  looking for something like this -  clientCredentialType ="Ntlm" but for tcp.
Here is basicHttp setting:
<basicHttpBinding>
  <binding name="BasicHttpBinding">
  <security mode ="TransportCredentialOnly">
  <transport clientCredentialType ="Ntlm"/>
  </security>
  </binding>
</basicHttpBinding>

A: Here is the comprehensive answer that I finally found, tested, and confirmed.
A. My WCF client used to build an EndPoint.Address dynamically as follow
EndPointAddress  myEdpintAddress = new EndPointAddress(stringURL);

But in the case of a secure transport (net.tcp) it has to be initialized as follow
EndPointAddress  myEdpintAddress = new EndPointAddress(new UrRL(string), myEndPointIdentity)
Without the EndPointIdentity parameters the Identity property in the EndPointAddress object is null, and generates  the "...target principal name is incorrect...  " error on the server side.
B. Our domain controller supports both Kerberos and Ntlm authentication.  After above is done, generally there are four configuration scenarios on the client side for the net.tcp binding if security is other than "None", and the WCF service runs as a domain account:

*

*No <identity> elements in the client endpoint specified -   WCF call fails

*<identity> element provided, but with an empty value for dns, userPrioncipalName or servicePrincipalName elements -  WCF call successful, but uses the Ntlm authentication

*<identity> element provided with the a value for dsn or SPN – WCF call successfull;  service uses Ntlm to authenticate.

*<identity> element provided with the correct value for upn  – WCF call successfull;  service uses Kerberos for authenticate.  Incorrect or missing value for upn trigger Ntlm authentication
Thanks.

A: The Net TCP Binding does not support "NTLM" as a client credentials type - you have a choice of None, Windows or Certificate only (see the MSDN docs on TcpClientCredentialType).
So in your case, try this:
<netTcpBinding>
  <binding name="tcpWindows">
    <security mode ="TransportCredentialOnly">
      <transport clientCredentialType ="Windows"/>
    </security>
  </binding>
</netTcpBinding>

Any reason why this doesn't work??

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


My review of Post Office: A Novel by Charles Bukowski.
In the author's own unique style, he writes what is a semi-autobiographical account based on his own experiences working at mundane jobs with the United States Post Office.
What I found most remarkable about this short novel (162 pages) is how enjoyable the author made me feel about such an apparent mundane, ordinary world. I say "enjoyable" because it was a joy to read. I could sense the pain behind the pen. The pain was often camouflaged with hilarity, his sexual mores, heavy drinking and ventures to the racetrack. There was, it seemed, a quiet rage taking place in this author's soul. The "mundane" was the Post Office setting. Not many, I wager, could write such a compelling book in that kind of setting.
It is an account of a so-called loser, dwelling in the lower reaches of American society in the 1960's. Parts of the story are brutal as the main character Henry Chinaski lurches from one bad place to another. Yet, it is also tender perhaps best illustrated by the 'second-time-around' relationship with Betty. He notices how she has aged and realizes he has too.
I found his attitude to the pettiness of the Post Office bureaucracy hilarious both in the excellent dialogue exchanges between him and his "soups" (supervisors), and the replication of some mindless, legalese warning letters issued to him by the Post Office. It reminded me of my own "real life" when dealing with similar government institutions.
This is a unique book written in a unique style. There is also a further unique aspect. In this UK Virgin Digital edition there is an excellent foreword by Niall Griffiths. I don't think I have ever been entertained as much by a foreword.


In anticipation of his arrival, the children are laying out the tradition. . . . sshh, what's that we hear?
As a tradition, Sid Dickens has presented special Holiday Memory Blocks. This year, Sid created "Christmas Magic" with the ever-popular jolly Santa Claus dashing through the snow while bearing his gifts and spreading holiday cheer! Joining "Christmas Magic" is a cherubic angel called "Illumination." The heavenly angel bestows warmth and comfort upon others with her watchful gaze. Alongside Sid's festive Memory Blocks is a piece called "Christmas Miracle." This Memory Block of mother and child celebrates divine miracles. Please note, the Holiday 2016 Collection will retire on December 1st, 2016. Orders must be received by 4PM PST that day.


text:
COMPASSION IS WHAT SUSTAINS ME: CAROL COTTRILL
It seems so fitting that Carol Cottrill's medical specialty is the hearts of children - both physical and emotional. Her career path began when her 4th child was born with congenital heart disease. Growing up on a family farm, she learned to balance compassion and necessity, a skill she would use in caring for her daughter and later during 18 years as medical director of UK's pediatric ICU. Her daughter's illness introduced her to wonderfully compassionate doctors and nurses who….
….FULL ARTICLE
FRIEND TO THOSE WHO ARE AILING: DANESH MAZLOOMDOOST, MD
Danesh Mazloomdoost, MD has inherited a tradition reflected in his name itself. In his family's native Iran, Mazloomdoost means "friend to those who are ailing." His life in medicine seems almost preordained by his family history. His father (a U.S. trained anesthesiologist who specialized in pain management) and mother (who trained in anesthesiology in Iran and retrained in psychiatry in the U.S.) built their practice around a comprehensive mind-body approach to pain management, long before such….
SUSTAINING AN ALTRUISTIC SPIRIT: TERRY BARRETT
Terry Barrett is Chief of the Gastroenterology Division of the Department of Medicine, University of Kentucky College of Medicine. He came to Lexington in 2013 from Northwestern University Medical School in Chicago. Becoming a Doctor. Although there were no doctors in his family, he always felt a parental expectation of excellence and high achievement. He had a poor impression of the competitive nature of pre-medical education he witnessed among his peers.
LATONIA RICE SWEET MD
Latonia Rice Sweet MD is Chief Medical Officer of Bluegrass Regional Mental Health (aka Bluegrass and formerly known as Comprehensive Care). I first met her in 1999 when she spent her 3rd year medical school family practice rotation in my office in Irvine (Estill County). She lived in Clark County, only 20 miles from my office, having chosen to attend classes in Lexington but live on a farm closer to her family's Eastern Kentucky culture.
DOCTOR JOHNNY IS COMING HOME
John D. Stewart II, past president of Lexington Medical Society (1997), retired 3 months ago after 32 years with Fayette Surgical Associates. He was managing partner the last 14 years. As a member of a large, high volume surgical practice, he was much admired by staff, colleagues and patients for his surgical expertise and especially for the quality of his interpersonal relations. In talking with this vascular surgeon, one gets the sense that the physician-patient relationship was his real specialty.
A HEART DOCTOR WITH A KIND HEART
Growing up on a busy farm in rural Virginia, milking cows before and after school every day, Cary Blaydes assumed he would grow up to become a farmer. When his father convinced him to consider medicine instead, his goal was to go back home as a general practitioner and help the people he grew up with. Luckily for Central Kentucky, his plans changed.
CHILDHOOD ILLNESS AND A LIFE IN MEDICINE
William O. "Bill" Witt, MD chaired the UK Department of Anesthesiology for thirteen years, during which time he created a chronic pain service, a full-time cancer- related pain service, the nation's first full- time patient-controlled postoperative pain service, the first full-time pre-anesthesia clinic and one of the first accredited pain fellowships in the country. Retiring as Chairman, he was offered the directorship of the Duke Pain and Palliative Care Institute.
BOTH MINE AND MY PATIENTS
Traci Westerfield MD treats and teaches patients struggling with addiction and chronic pain. One of her most effective therapeutic and educational tools is her powerful and compelling personal story. For that reason, I will share her story here in her own words- for the benefit of our physician colleagues, our patients and our community.
BEING KIND, BEING HUMBLE AND SERVING
Pediatrician Stephanie Stockburger MD majored in music/French horn performance at Eastern Kentucky University. As she walked across campus one day, she had "a God moment" and realized she wanted a job where she could make a difference and help others. She wanted to be a doctor.
I WAS PUT ON THIS EARTH TO HELP MY PATIENTS - MIKE ANSTEAD
Mike Anstead MD is an adult and pediatric pulmonologist at UK and a cystic fibrosis specialist.
Growing up in Covington and attending Northern Kentucky University, he worked as a lab tech at St. Elizabeth Hospital. He enjoyed being part of the care team alongside family practice residents and envisioned being a family practice physician.
BRINGING POSITIVE, COMPASSIONATE ENERGY TO RADIATION ONCOLOGY - MARTA HAYNE, MD
Marta Hayne, MD practices radiation oncology at Baptist Health in Lexington. She knew she wanted to be a doctor as early as kindergarten. Growing up in Charleston, West Virginia, she says "My father was an OB-GYN and really loved his work. I always felt comfortable following him around the hospital. I hung out with him all I could and loved seeing him take care of people.
JOHN COLLINS - HELPING PEOPLE MAKES ME FEEL BETTER
I first met John Collins in 1978 during an ophthalmology rotation when we were in our respective residencies at UK. I liked him immediately, partly because he had just spent 6 years in primary care in rural Kentucky – a future I was planning for myself.
Use the buttons below to scroll through more great articles from our Profile in Compassion Column
PROFILE IN COMPASSION
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Why Ophthalmology?
"I got really interested in the eyes when I got glasses in the 7th grade for severe near- sightedness. I remember walking out and seeing the leaves on the trees and the bricks on the walls of buildings clearly for the first time." He began his UK ophthalmology residency in 1978, followed by a Vanderbilt instructor position and fellowship in ophthalmic plastic surgery. He returned to UK on faculty for two years and ran a VA Hospital ophthalmic plastic clinic before going to the Lexington Clinic.
Have You Ever Been Burned Out?
"Not really- although it would be good to change some things administratively. Some days are worse than others. But I like the work and would rather be busy. My work helping people actually makes me feel better."
How do you recharge?
My wife and I travel often, visiting our children and grandchildren. We've been to China, Russia, South Africa, Europe and Peru. I went to Ecuador on a medical mission trip. I like golf. I work out at home. I hunt and fish, collect toy soldiers and carve wooden duck decoys."
John and his wife have been active with the Lexington Philharmonic, his wife chairing the Philharmonic Ball one year. John chaired an advisory board of the UK art museum and was part of the 'Collectors' group, whose members donated to the art museum and advised on art museum purchases.
John was president of the Lexington Medical Society in the 1990s and has been on the Society's foundation board for 30 years. He was instrumental in developing the annual golf outing and has chaired that event for 30 years. The first year there were about 40 participants. This year there were 78. There have been over 90 some years. Participants pay $150 each and there are corporate sponsors, including BB&T Bank, the main sponsor for the last 29 years. The event nets approximately $25,000 annually and supports local non-profits, including- Baby Health Service, Camp Horsin' Around, Radio Eye, Chrysalis House, Faith Pharmacy, God's Pantry Food Bank, Lexington Medical Society – Physician Wellness Program, Medical Student Emergency Relief Fund, McDowell House Museum, Mission Lexington, Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Bluegrass and Surgery on Sunday.
John has no plans to retire but knows he will have to one day. "Right now, I like work and I like what I am doing." Many of our colleagues are inspired by a physician who can say, "My work helping people makes me feel better."
My Experience as His Patient
Now 41 years later, as one of his ophthalmology patients, I can say that John is never in a hurry, he sits down rather than hovering over me, performing the necessary exams and he engages in pleasant conversation. It gives me a good feeling and my experience is shared by his other Lexington Clinic patients, staff and partners.
Office Staff and Patient Experience
Patty Gilpin has assisted John in the office for over 35 years. She says, "He is patient with his patients and takes his time. He treats the staff with respect and kindness. If he's having a bad day, he doesn't take it out on staff or patients. He loves his patients and thinks about them all the time. He often gets behind because of getting into conversations with patients. He's a great surgeon with a great reputation among colleagues for his plastic surgery expertise, including brow lifts, blepharoplasties, ptosis, ectropions, tear duct procedures, skin cancers around the eyes, surgical repair after skin cancer surgery and other ophthalmic plastic procedures. Patients talk about their experience and the great job he did. They love him. I was checking a patient's vision after cataract
BY JOHN A. PATTERSON MD, MSPH, FAAFP
Deciding to be a Doctor
John's maternal grandfather was a GP in Connersville KY and a 1903 graduate of the University of Louisville School of Medicine. He died when John's mother was 15. John's father was a pharmacist and John was in the drug store a lot, making deliveries and helping out. He entered college at UK thinking he would be an architect. After some experiences in the hospital, he decided to go into medicine. "It was a career in which you could help people.
Anybody who goes into medicine for financial reasons is making a mistake.
I remember my father going in at 3 AM to sell a child's father a 15 cent can of formula.
Diverse Training
After graduating from UK medical school in 1971, he went to Charleston SC for a one year surgery internship, then spent 6 years as a GP in Cadiz KY. The first 2 years were payback for a rural Kentucky medical scholarship. The other four years were for the love of it. He delivered babies, admitted to ICU/CCU and practiced the full scope of family medicine.
JOHN A. PATTERSON MD, MSPH, FAAFP
Dr Patterson chairs the Lexington Medical
Senator Alvarado earned his bachelor's degree in biology from Loma Linda University (California) in 1990, and then went on to receive his Doctorate in Medicine in 1994. He completed his medical residency in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics at the University of Kentucky in 1998. Society's Physician Wellness Commission and is certified in Physician Coaching. He is on the family practice faculty UK College of Medicine and teaches nationally for Saybrook School of Integrative Medicine and Health Sciences (San Francisco) and the Center for Mind Body Medicine (Washington, DC). After 30 years in private family practice in Irvine KY, he now operates the Mind Body Studio in Lexington, where he offers integrative mind-body medicine consultations specializing in mindfulness-based approaches to stress-related chronic conditions and burnout prevention for helping professionals. He can be reached through his website at www.mindbodystudio.org
surgery and she began crying. She was so happy she could see again. It warmed my heart."
Physician Partner Experience
David Kielar MD has worked with John more than 20 years. "When I first joined the practice, John invited me to his home for dinner, welcoming and including me immediately. He gives a lot of his time to several community organizations. He loves what he does and really cares for people."


This recommended practice defines metadata indicators to be used to indicate free-to-read content and a link to license terms for the use/re-use of that content. Humans and machines will be able to assess the status of the content based on these indicators and in many cases the combination of the free_to_read and license_reference metadata will indicate Open Access content. The indicators include a date component so that content with access and re-use rights that change over time can be adequately understood by both humans and machines using the metadata.


text:
While he may be a young lad, Wildfire (born William Hoggard) is definitely eager to show off his skills as a musician. It's been like that ever since he was a boy, growing up in Bertie County.
"Well, I grew up in church a lot and, so, my mom was in the choir," says Wildfire, whose father was also a bass player at the church. "And I was like, you know how they have the kid that's always running around, either playing on the drums or messing with the keyboards and stuff? Like, that was me."
As his musical tastes began to broaden in his teen years ("I listened to a lot of Fall Out Boy and Blink 182 and Jimi Hendrix and stuff like that"), Wildfire also started to learn guitar-playing. When he went to school at UNC-Chapel Hill, he learned how to properly produce music thanks to a beat-making class taught by Triangle hip-hop heavyweights Apple Juice Kid and Pierce Freelon.
"When I took that class," he remembers, "Apple Juice taught me how to make beats and pretty much just get everything all together."
Although he's only been kicking around professionally for a few years, Wildfire has amassed a steady stream of work over at his Soundcloud page, which includes songs he's performed and produced as well as tunes he's produced for others. As for his musical style, this is how Wildfire describes it: "If you could mix Jimi with Michael Jackson and Frank Ocean – Frank Ocean's a beast, I know he hasn't been anywhere in a while, but he's one of my favorites." (Note: Ocean's long-awaited second album "Boys Don't Cry" is scheduled to be out Friday.)
Wildfire is also not afraid to put his own spin on popular contemporary hits. On his Soundcloud page is a smoothed-out, more decipherable version of Rihanna's "Work" (which also includes a lyrical jab at Tory Lanez).
"I just did it because I really loved that song," he says. "I don't know what it is. That's a great song. I'm not even, like, an island type of music guy at all. But it's a great song… I know nobody knows what the (expletive) she's saying. OK, that's cool – I get it. But, melodically, it's just so pleasant. I just wanted to do it and switch it up."
Wildfire says he's gotten nothing but kudos from people who have heard the cover. Of course, Will Wildfire hopes that people will get into his music more and, then, hip others to it. Basically, he's hoping that his music will spread like – oh, you know.
Who: Shirlette Ammons, with (J)Rowdy & the Nightshift, Will Wildfire and Nance
When: 9 p.m. Saturday
Where: The Pour House Music Hall, 224 S. Blount St., Raleigh
Cost: $7-$10
Info: 919-821-1120 or thepourhousemusichall.com
Broadway musical 'The Prom' is nominated for 7 Tony Awards, including Best Musical
Hootie and The Blowfish bring their 'Group Therapy Tour" to Raleigh
Want to be 1 degree closer to Kevin Bacon? Seeing the Bacon Brothers is your chance.
By Ed Condran
Actor Kevin Bacon, star of City on a Hill and movies like Footloose and Mystic River, has a band with his brother, Michael Bacon. The Bacon Brothers has released nine albums. Their new single is Play.
MORE MUSIC NEWS & REVIEWS
Your guide to the Triangle's live music this week, from Mary J. Blige to Bacon Brothers
Country music star Kacey Musgraves is coming to the Carolinas. Some dates sold out.
Bruce Hornsby's range? From Spike Lee movies to Ashley Christensen's wedding.
What's going on this week? Here are 9 of our Best Bets.


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Asian Human Rights: A Critique
Asian critics offer more sophisticated arguments than expediency in their resistance against demands for greater implementation of human rights policies. Of the various arguments voiced by Asian governments I shall focus on four: 1) that human rights are culture specific; 2) that community takes precedence over individuals; 3) that social-economic rights have priority over civil political rights, and 4) that the implementation of human rights should be respected as a matter of national sovereignty.
The Arguments for Asian Values Examined
Argument 1: Human rights are culture specific.
It is claimed that human rights are the outcome of particular social and historical circumstances. The Bangkok Governmental Declaration (1993) stresses that "while human rights are universal in nature, they must be considered in the context of a dynamic and evolving process of international norm-setting, bearing in mind the significance of national and regional peculiarities and various historical, cultural, and religious backgrounds."
Response to Argument 1
In dichotomizing the East from West, Asian values apologists have ironically adopted the strategy of the Western intellectual construct of Orientalism. They subscribe to the myth of Asian identity as a monolithic cultural entity. In actual fact, however, Asia is even more diverse religiously and culturally than Europe or the USA.
Let it be noted that current human rights talk about any person's entitlement for protection and social goods is based on the simple fact that that person is a human being.
"To claim that there are human rights is to claim that all human beings, simply because they are human, have rights in this sense. Such rights are universal, held by all human beings. They are equal: One is or is not a human being, and thus has or does not have (the same) human rights, equally. And they are inalienable: One can no more lose these rights than one can stop being a human being, no matter how inhuman the treatment one may be forced to endure." /1/
Human rights belong to all human beings, whether they are Western or Asian. The fact that the current concept of human rights originated from the West does not mean that it cannot and should not be applied in Asia. After all, Asians have no reservation applying Newtonian principles and quantum physics even though these physics originated from the West.
Argument 2: Community takes precedence over individuals.
Asian officials like to contrast the Asian emphasis on duty and social cohesion with the selfish individualism of the West. They argue that Asian values – with their emphasis on a sense of community and nationhood, a disciplined and hardworking people, strong moral values and family ties – result in a harmonious society [Lee Kuan Yew]. On the other hand, it is suggested that the present breakdown of society epitomized by widespread drug abuse, increasing crime and racial tension in the West is due in large part to the emphasis on individual rights and adversarial politics.
Mr. Goh Chok Tong, the Prime Minister of Singapore asserts,
For success to continue, correct economic policies alone are not enough. Equally important are the noneconomic factors – a sense of community and nationhood, a disciplined and hardworking people, strong moral values and family ties. The type of society determines how we perform. It is not simply materialism and individual rewards which drive Singapore forward. More important, it is the sense of idealism and service born out of a feeling of social solidarity and national identification. Without these crucial factors we cannot be a happy or dynamic society. /2/
In 1994, Dr. Mahathir, in a speech at the Senate House, Cambridge University cited a survey that found six societal values most valued by East Asians: "First, having an orderly society; second, societal harmony; third, ensuring the accountability of public officials; fourth, being open to new ideas; fifth, freedom of expression; sixth, respect for authority." He contrasted these values with the six most important values for Americans: freedom of expression, personal freedom, the rights of the individual, open debate, thinking for oneself and sixth, the accountability of public officials. Mahathir commented wryly, "Interestingly, slightly more East Asians emphasized the importance of 'new ideas' and public accountability than did Americans."
Implicit in these responses to the Western concept of human rights is the rejection of its foundation based on individualism. A. M. Hussein argues, "Any emphasis on individual human rights, apart from the rights of the community in which this individual lives, is sheer nonsense. In real history, human rights for the community come first, and human rights for any individual are conditioned by a healthy environment and appropriate social institutions."/3/
The underlying perspective is the view that society is an organic whole whose collective rights prevail over the individual and that man exists for the state rather than vice versa. Individual significance is defined by the role the individual plays in a community based on family and kinfolk relations./4/ It is therefore wrong to attribute absolute value to human rights since these rights are bequeathed by the state.
Chandra Muzaffar, a prominent Malaysia public intellectual, judges the West as having failed to observe human rights even by its own standards. He cites such cases in white racism, widespread violence in Western societies and family disintegration because creative individuality has degenerated into vulgar individualism, the divorce of rights from responsibilities. He questioned further if the dominant Western concept of rights itself particularistic and sectional since it emphasizes only civil political rights and downplays economic, social and cultural rights. He wondered, "How can a concept of rights be confined to the nation-state respond to the challenges posed by an increasingly global economic, political and cultural system? Isn't it true that the dominant Western app\roach to human rights fails to recognize the role of global actors – like UNSC, IMF and MNCs – in the violation of human rights?" /5/
He concluded with a rhetorical question, "what are human rights if they are not related to more fundamental questions about the human being?" In other words, the West has failed to promote higher goals of human dignity. Such a view is echoed by Chinese critics Xie and Nui who stressed that, "None is entitled to put his individual right above the interest of the state, society, and others. This is a universal principle of all civilized societies."/6/
Proponents of East-West dualism ignore the reality that the debate/tension between communitarian and individualistic liberalism is not one divided geographically between Asia and the West. We note that Western philosophers (Charles Taylor, Alasdair McIntyre, Michael Walzer and Michael Sandel) have argued vigorously for a communitarian social philosophy. Likewise, elements of individualism are not alien to Confucianist philosophy with its emphasis on individual self-development and critique of power abuse. While Confucius rejected blind allegiance he also required officials to tell the Prince the truth even if it offends him. [Asian censorship boards should take note of this when they seek to limit press freedom.] His wisdom was evident when he counseled, "When the (good) way prevails the state speak boldly and act boldly. When the State has lost the way, act boldly and speak softly."
Amartya Sen cites Emperor Asoka as a paragon of tolerance and Buddhist universalism, citing the Edit of Erragudi that "a man must not do reverence to his own sect or disparage that of another man without reason. Depreciation should be for specific reason only, because the sects of other people all deserve reverence for one reason or another." /7/
Sulak Sivaraksa from Thailand, suggests that Buddhism offers resources although its texts speaks of duties rather than rights. Still, human rights values may be inferred from the core principles of Buddhism. He suggests the following: dana (generosity); sila (the ability not to exploit oneself or others") and bhavana (cultivating "seeds of peace within the mind"). His suggestion, however, cannot evade the observation that Buddhism makes little reference to political life – whether democratic or authoritarian – and thus not surprisingly, there is no impact at the grass roots level in Thailand. Perhaps too much is made of a religion that concentrates on the spiritual and meditative path. It may be more honest to admit that perhaps human rights values are derived from other sources./8/
However, it would be claiming too much to say that historical Asian societies contain traditions of human rights. What may be conceded is that there were elements in these traditions that affirmed tolerance and positive support for human freedom and that these elements should be retrieved in the development of a comprehensive framework for human rights in contemporary Asia.
Argument 3: Social-economic rights have priority over civil political rights.
Asian governments insist that they lend support to demands for human rights, but their approach would place the greater priority on the right to subsistence and economic development as a precondition to the full enjoyment of all other human rights. Giving priority to human rights over economic development results in unproductive labor conflicts and social tension. In contrast, giving priority to economic rights enables countries like the Asian Tigers to achieve unprecedented economic growth.
Amartya Sen, the Nobel Price winner for economics from Harvard, retorts that there is no empirical verification for the idea that limiting civil and political rights supports economic growth. Asian critics have been selective in providing evidence to support their case. (Why limit examples to China and Singapore and ignore Africa, Latin America or nearer home, other Asian states like Burma and Pakistan?)
In contrast, one may argue that market liberalization leads to economic growth, which was the case in India. Greater economic productivity results from openness to competition, land reforms and higher literacy and education. One may argue that increased economic productivity results because robust economic institutions and efficient workers are nurtured in an ethos where human rights are upheld. In any case, political freedom and civil liberties should be seen as rights that are valued in themselves. There is no justification for the suppression of these rights in the name of economic rights. Quite rightly, human rights activists insist that human rights form a seamless whole, whether economic or civil-political.
Argument 4: The implementation of human rights should be respected as a matter of national sovereignty.
Dr. Mahathir complains that Western powers, in the wake of their victory in the Cold War, now expect all countries to adopt the liberal view on human rights as conceived by the Europeans and the North Americans and implement a Western style of multi-party system of government. He adds, "It would seem that Asians have no right to define and practice their own set of values about human rights. What, we are asked, is Asian Values? The question is rhetorical because the implication is that Asians cannot possibly understand human rights, much less set up their own values." The demands of the West in effect violate the principle that every nation has a right to self-determination especially over how human rights should be implemented in its domestic affairs. Indeed, one may argue that demands for universal human rights merely mask Western imperialism and its subversion of economic development of Asian nations.
Xie and Nui asserted, "Imposing the human rights standard of one's country or region on other countries or regions is an infringement upon other countries' sovereignty and interference into other countries' internal affairs." This is asserted regardless of the fact that the issue at hand is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which surely can lay claim to acceptance far beyond the West. /9/
It is ironic that Asian leaders should appeal to the concept of state sovereignty and nation-state (which are Western concepts) to defend their negligence of human rights. At the same time, they overlook the fact that historically human rights became prominent in the West because of the rise of the centralized nation-state. Human rights were emphasized precisely because of the need to limit the awesome power which a centralized state can wield. Social reformers insisted on inalienable human rights rather than just positive rights (which may be conferred by national laws, and by the same token, may be revoked by the state).
1. Jack Donelly, "Human Rights and Asian Values: A Defense of 'Western' Universalism" found in Joanne R. Bauer and Daniel A. Bell, ed., The East Asian Challenge for Human Right (Cambridge UP, 1999), p. 61. See Donelly's extended discussion in his book, Universal Human Rights in Theory and Practice (Cornell UP, 2002).
2. Goh Chok Tong, "Singapore Values, Singapore Style," Current History (December 1994), p. 417.
3.Joanne Bauer and Daniel Bell, The East Asia Challenge for Human Rights, p. 77.
4. Jack Donelly, 113.
5. Human Wrong, pp. 272-273.
6. Donelly, p. 114.
7. Amartya Sen, "Human Rights and Asian Values," The New Republic, July 14-July 21, 1997.
8. Found in web site by Carnegie Council on Ethics and International Affairs. http://www.cceia.org
9. Donelly, p.108
Author Kam Weng NgPosted on June 25, 2007 Categories Ethics, Social and Political Philosophy
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The Salisbury Jaycees Foundation is the nonprofit affiliate organization of the Salisbury Jaycees and coordinates the fundraising for causes that benefit the lives and opportunities of the youth of Salisbury and the surrounding area.
For more information about our mission or how you can get involved, contact us using the email adress below. We look forward to hearing from you.
If you are inquiring about how to enroll your child in the Children's Shopping Tour, please understand that the Foundation is not involved in the selection process. Please contact your local school guidance counselor.
Regretfully, we can not accept unsolicited requests for assistance.
The Salisbury Jaycees Foundation is a 501C3, Non-Profit Organization We are registered with the Maryland Secretary of State, Charitable Organizations Division.


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text:
Q: MariaDB Connector/J: default character encoding between client and the server I'm wondering what the default character encoding between client and the server is, when not configured in connection properties.
For MySQL I found the following documentation (see https://dev.mysql.com/doc/connector-j/8.0/en/connector-j-reference-charsets.html):
The character encoding between the client and the server is automatically detected upon connection (provided that the Connector/J connection properties characterEncoding and connectionCollation are not set). The encoding on the server is specified using the system variable character_set_server (for more information, see Server Character Set and Collation), and the driver automatically uses the encoding.
So far I couldn't find any documentation on how the MariaDB Connector/J handles this. I'm using MariaDB Connector/J version 3.0.4.


Country Jam 2017 is underway, and some of country music's most popular acts are already making it something fans will never forget.
Sasha McVeigh, Smithfield, Sammy Kershaw and Chad Bramlet were among the diverse acts who took the stage on Thursday (June 15) at the Jam Ranch in Grand Junction, Colo., all leading up to featured sets from co-headliners Randy Houser and Justin Moore. Chris Bandi was still scheduled to play a late night set at Jack's Place stage as the main stage action wrapped up.
Chris Young, Cody Johnson, Sammy Arriaga and more all hit the stage on Day 2 before headliner Jason Aldean. Mo Pitney and more are also on the bill, and 2017 Taste of Country RISERS Farewell Angelina are set to make their Country Jam debut. Thomas Rhett and Kenny Chesney will headline over the next two nights, topping off a festival lineup that you can't beat anywhere else in the country.
Country Jam drew more than 90,000 fans in 2016, and the 2017 lineup is one of the most impressive in the history of the event to mark the festival's 26th year. It's more than just the music that keeps fans coming back year after year after year. There's all kinds of fun to get into, including Sasha McVeigh playing Giant Jenga on Day 1, as well as a huge array of food and drinks to make sure everyone goes away happy.
Scroll through the gallery above to see exclusive pictures of all the Country Jam 2017 action.


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Stephen James Murphy (* 11. Dezember 1981 in Dundee, Schottland) ist ein britischer Eishockeytorwart, der seit 2009 bei den Belfast Giants in der Elite Ice Hockey League unter Vertrag steht. Sein Cousin Colin Shields ist ebenfalls professioneller Eishockeyspieler.

Karriere
Stephen Murphy begann seine Karriere als Eishockeyspieler in der British Hockey League, in der er von 1997 bis 2004 für die Paisley Pirates, Fife Flyers, mit denen er 2000 sowohl die Hauptrunde, als auch die Playoffs der Liga gewann und auch in das All-Star-Team der Liga gewählt wurde, Dundee Stars, mit denen er 2002 ebenfalls Hauptrunde und Playoffs gewinnen konnte und sowohl von den Trainern, als auch von seinen Spielerkollegen zum Spieler des Jahres gewählt wurde, und Bracknell Bees aktiv war. Zur Saison 2004/05 wechselte der Torwart zum Bräcke IK aus der Division 1, der dritten schwedischen Spielklasse. Parallel kam er zudem zu fünf Einsätzen für IF Björklöven aus der zweitklassigen Allsvenskan. Die folgende Spielzeit verbrachte er beim schwedischen Zweitligisten IFK Arboga. Zur Saison 2006/07 kehrte der Nationalspieler in seine britische Heimat zurück und schloss sich den Edinburgh Capitals aus der Elite Ice Hockey League an. 2007 wurde er erstmals zum Torwart des Jahres in Großbritannien gewählt. In der Saison 2007/08 stand er für Stjernen Hockey in der norwegischen GET-ligaen zwischen den Pfosten. Die Saison 2008/09 verbrachte Murphy bei den Manchester Phoenix aus der EIHL und wurde erneut zum britischen Torwart des Jahres gewählt. Seither spielt er für deren Ligarivalen Belfast Giants, mit denen er 2010 die Playoffs der EIHL gewann, wozu er mit dem besten Gegentorschnitt und der besten Fangquote der Liga maßgeblich beitrug. Auch 2011 erreichte er den niedrigsten Gegentorschnitt der EIHL. 2012 und 2014 errang er mit seinem Team mit dem Gewinn der EIHL-Hauptrunde den Britischen Meistertitel. In beiden Jahren erzielte er erneut die geringste Gegentorrate und wurde folgerichtig 2012 in das First-All-Star-Team und 2014 in das Second-All-Star-Team gewählt. 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 und 2014 wurde er zudem erneut zum Torwart des Jahres in Großbritannien gekürt.

International
Für Großbritannien nahm Murphy im Juniorenbereich an der U18-Junioren-B-Weltmeisterschaft 1999 sowie der U20-Junioren-C-Weltmeisterschaft 2000 und nach Umstellung auf das heutige Divisionssystem der Division II der U20-Junioren-Weltmeisterschaft 2001 teil.

Im Seniorenbereich stand er im Aufgebot seines Landes bei den Weltmeisterschaften der Division I 2001, 2002, 2003, als er aber ohne Spieleinsatz blieb, 2005, 2006, 2007, als er jedoch zu keinem Einsatz kam, 2008, als er mit der besten Fangquote aller Torhüter in das All-Star-Team des Turniers gewählt wurde, 2010, als er mit der zweitbesten Fangquote hinter dem Ungarn Zoltán Hetényi zum besten Torhüter des Turniers gewählt wurde, 2011, als er mit der erneut besten Fangquote und dem zweitbesten Gegentorschnitt des Turniers (nach dem Kasachen Witali Jeremejew) erneut als bester Torhüter des Turniers gekürt wurde, 2012, 2013, 2014 und 2017, als er mit der besten Fangquote und dem geringsten Gegentorschnitt des Turniers maßgeblich zum Aufstieg der Briten von der B- in die A-Gruppe der Division I beitrug.

Zudem vertrat Murphy seine Farben bei den Qualifikationsturnieren für die Olympischen Winterspiele in Vancouver 2010 und in Sotschi 2014.

Erfolge und Auszeichnungen

International

Weblinks

Eishockeynationaltorwart (Vereinigtes Königreich)
Eishockeytorwart (Fife Flyers)
Eishockeytorwart (Dundee Stars)
Eishockeytorwart (Bracknell Bees)
Eishockeytorwart (IF Björklöven)
Eishockeytorwart (IFK Arboga IK)
Eishockeytorwart (Edinburgh Capitals)
Eishockeytorwart (Stjernen Hockey)
Eishockeytorwart (Manchester Phoenix)
Eishockeytorwart (Belfast Giants)
Britischer Meister (Eishockey)
Brite
Schotte
Geboren 1981
Mann

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia