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Home / Briefings / Review of EPO Software Decisions in 2016
Review of EPO Software Decisions in 2016
Notwithstanding surprising electoral developments in the UK and the US, 2016 was a continuation of business as usual for the Boards of Appeal of the EPO at least in relation to computer-implemented inventions. The Boards continued to apply the "Comvik" approach to examining mixed inventions, that is inventions involving both technical and non-technical features, but still did not offer any definition of what is and is not technical. Backlogs appear to have risen, due no doubt to the freeze on recruitment of Board members and consequent vacancies. This article discusses some statistics from 2016 of the various Boards of Appeal that consider software inventions and some interesting or notable decisions.
Statistics & Trends
The continuing freeze on recruitment of Board Members has left Board 3.5.01 (which deals with most business method cases) without a chairman all year so that it has published the fewest decisions (only 7) of any of the electrical Boards of Appeal and has the longest delays between hearing and written decision. Overall backlogs do not seem to be decreasing and across all the relevant Boards over 60% of decisions result in refusal of the application or revocation of the patent. The charts below show that some Boards are more inclined than others to refuse or revoke and that the presence in a claim of any feature that is held to be non-technical means refusal is very likely.
Procedural Issues
Rather oddly given the backlogs in the Boards of Appeal, in T 0823/11 (Managing patient care/CAREFUSION) Board 3.5.07 decided that a 12 year delay in prosecution of an application is serious procedural violation and then remitted the case to the Examining Division for examination of an auxiliary request. Thus, given the application had a 1996 filing date, it is very likely to have expired before being granted.
Boards in other fields have, in recent years, developed the principle that an appeal is a review of the first instance decision, not a re-examination of the whole case. Thus Boards are increasingly refusing to admit new claim requests and new prior art documents into appeals. T 1890/13 (Generation of security keys/ERICSSON) of 21.6.2016 from Board 3.5.05 seems a particularly harsh example of this trend. Document D28 was one of many documents cited in the original opposition statement but no arguments based on it were submitted until the appeal. The Board declined to admit those arguments on the basis that they were late filed. An opposition is supposed, from the outset, to include all "facts, matters and arguments" to be relied on in the case and so just citing a document is not enough; its relevance to the claims must be explained.
Another procedurally unusual situation concerned six related patents of Microsoft relating to the clipboard function in Windows™. A representative case is T 1789/11 (Clipboard formats I/MICROSOFT), the other decisions being essentially the same. The cases in question first came before a different Technical Board (3.5.01) on appeal from refusal by the Examining Division (see for example T 0424/03) and reached appeal the second time after revocation by an Opposition Division. Whilst Board 3.5.01 held that the inventions were not obvious in view of the WIndows™ 3.1 clipboard arrangement, Board 3.5.06 now held that the inventions were obvious over the same prior art. The different result can perhaps be ascribed to different interpretations of the claims by the different Boards, to the contribution of the Opponent's arguments and/or to a less vigorous defence of the opposition by Microsoft. Expiry of the patents in December 2015 might explain Microsoft's decision not to attend Oral Proceedings in December 2016.
Novelty and Inventive Step
A case heard in 2015 but published in 2016, T 2440/12 (Fluid flow simulation/SIMCON) addressed the issue of whether software on free commercial sale discloses the methods it embodies even if the source code is not available. Without fully deciding issues of whether reverse-engineering or de-compilation of the software was practically or legally possible, the Board decided that the software on sale disclosed the methods it embodied because the software could be run line-by-line in a virtual machine to analyse it. Whether this is any more practical in reality than de-compilation was not addressed. This decision was discussed in more detail in our earlier briefing – "Software – Virtual Disclosure at the EPO"
Aside from the principle that non-technical features are to be disregarded (examples of which are discussed below) some decisions on inventive step of general applicability were published in 2016.
In T 1370/11 (On-demand property system/MICROSOFT) Board 3.5.06 held that "the argument that a computer program or computer-implemented method is inventive because it is faster than an earlier one is on its own insufficient to establish an inventive step. More specifically, the improved speed of a computer program is not by itself a technical contribution to the art". The Board's logic is somewhat tortuous but we think comes to a reasonable conclusion. For any given computer program it is possible to conceive of another that does the same thing but slower, so to allow a mere increase in processing speed to provide an inventive step would mean that an
inventive step could be asserted for any computer program for a non-technical method on the basis of some earlier, slower approach. Thus the Board held that to support an inventive step, a clamed increase in processing speed or efficiency must contribute to a "further" technical effect (beyond the mere operation of the computer).
T 0894/12 (Inbetriebnahme einer Anlage/SEW) reiterates the principle that automation of previously non-automated workflows is not inventive and that an inventive step needs to be justified by specific, non-obvious automation steps, which were lacking in that case. Whilst T 2343/10 (Data matching using FPGA/IP RESERVOIR) held that in automating a non-technical workflow, combining simple logic operations, which are anyway necessary for extracting required information, cannot involve an inventive step. By way of contrast, T 0022/12 (Spam classification/MICROSOFT) held that de-automation of a computer-implemented method, by making a human perform steps that a computer could do automatically, is not a technical solution to a technical problem. Any reduction in computer processing would be a mere consequence of the de-automation.
In a case relating to Digital Rights Management, T 2247/10 (Descriptive data structure/INTERTRUST), it was held that if data is known to be encrypted it is obvious to encrypt related metadata.
Clarity and Sufficiency
In the pharmaceutical and biotech fields, a common issue is whether the invention is enabled and/or inventive across the full width of the claim. Although this is rarely an issue in software inventions, it did come into play in T 1948/13 which concerned an invention for assisting a physician to interpret images from a camera swallowed by a patient and capturing images as it passes through the digestive system. The Board held that the alleged technical effect was not achieved in claims which did not specify that the "average colour value" was calculated for a sufficient number of frames and over a "defined area" sufficiently large to make it possible to identify passage through different anatomical sites. More limited claims where however allowed.
A common clarity issue in software inventions arose in T 0850/12 (Media client/SONY) where a crucial limitation was that parts of the system were "controlled by a network operator". The Board held that because of various possibilities available to a network operator to exert commercial and/or technical control over devices in the subscriber domain, the skilled reader would not be able to determine clearly what is meant by "controlled by a network operator" nor which parts of the communication network are or are not controlled by a network operator.
Technical or Non-Technical
The crucial issue for many software inventions is what features of the claim are technical, and so can contribute to inventive step, or non-technical, and so are to be disregarded. There remains no clear definition of "technical", so the only guidance available is to look at which way Boards have decided in specific cases. Of course most cases that discuss the issue hold that some features are non-technical since in the vast majority of cases the technical nature of the invention is unchallenged.
Of particular interest are cases where amendments to the claims have changed non-technical subject matter to technical and contributed to allowance. In T 0339/13 (Interacting with virtual pets/IMMERSION), claims to methods and apparatus "for providing haptic feedback in interacting with virtual pets … wherein the haptic effect is a pulsing sensation, wherein the rate or magnitude of the pulsing sensation indicates the health state of the virtual pet" were rejected. The haptic effect was said to increase the user"s engagement with the pet but the Board considered that increasing engagement is not a technical problem and was not always solved by the alleged invention.
However, an auxiliary request limited the virtual pet to being a cat, the user's interaction to be a stroking motion and the haptic effect to be a purr. This made all the difference – the Board were persuaded that a technical problem is increasing "realism" and, in the context of virtual pets, "achieving the reliable and reproducible perception of a physical interaction with the real pet." This was held to have been solved in a non-obvious manner by technical means, more specifically "a reciprocating cursor movement and haptic feedback". It is difficult to see what is fundamentally more technical about the auxiliary request, but the case illustrates that more detail can help.
Other cases in which Boards found contested subject matter to be technical included:
T 1554/10 (Image rendering using 2D code/SONY) related to augmented reality and was considered technical because an image was adapted to reflect real-world spatial conditions captured by the apparatus.
T 1494/10 (Multi-dimensional database/YANICKLO) held that the technical problem addressed was to improve the speed of processing relational database management system (RDBMS) queries that made use of aggregated data, in a manner that was transparent to the user.
T 2413/10 (Database synchronization/NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES) related to database synchronisation and addressed the problem of "merely" providing an implementation for detecting "successful completion" of the synchronisation session.
T 1321/11 (Authenticating an accessory/APPLE) expressly held that an "authorization scheme" involving parallel, rather than serial, organisation of the "access" and "authentication" processes, and in doing so making use of the parallel processing capabilities of the media player was technical. The Board considered that the "authorization scheme" would not have been formulated by the notional "businessman" or "administrator".
T 0556/14 (Masking a private key/CERTICOM) held that a cryptographic method that provided improved protection against power analysis attacks is technical and not a mere mathematical method.
T 1129/12 (Header and footer detection/XEROX) held that automatically identifying headers and footers in an electronic document constitutes a technical problem because the claimed method relied on structural features of parts of the documents and not their meaning or semantic content.
In T 0651/12 (Map Database/Xanavi) Board 3.4.03, a Board which does not hear many software related cases, held that a car navigation system, where the novelty lay in mathematical calculations to produce a better bird's eye view, was a technical solution to a technical problem. The examining division had rejected it as a combination of a mathematical method and the presentation of information. However because it provided improved ergonomics and improved safety the Board considered the invention technical. It was commented that the exclusion of mathematical methods as such should only exclude "calculations for the sake of the calculation" and not calculations that perform a useful, technical purpose.
Again this year there have been various decisions relating to gesture control and other forms of user interface, some aspects of which are technical and some not. For example T 0997/13 (Footstep gestures/SONY) held that a predefined, musical gesture-to-command mapping is non-technical although the hardware – motion sensors – that detect the gestures is.
Apple had mixed results: T 1438/12 (GUI/APPLE) held that to provide an alternative solution for switching between different operation modes by using either a one-finger gesture or a two-finger gesture is a technical problem, although the claimed solution was obvious. In T 0543/14 (Touch interface reconfiguration/APPLE) it was held that certain "instructions" features gave an indication of the technical state of a machine and so need to be taken in to account for inventive step. Also T 2278/12 (GUI for displaying structured electronic documents/APPLE) held that improved navigation to and selection of content so as to provide an efficient way of swapping between different boxes of content was technical and not obvious.
T 0376/11 (Broadcast program overrun and underrun/TiVo) stated that to improve a user interface is technical problem but in this case the claimed solution was obvious. However, T 1073/13 (Presentation of button sequence/MICRO) held that a scheme to guide a user through configuration of a device amounted to presenting cognitive content and did not assist the user in performing the configuration of the technical device by "e.g. presenting the device's current operating state within a continued and guided human-machine interaction process". Hence the relevant features were a presentation of information as such and not technical.
The Boards quite often disregard features that they consider to be administrative matters or policy decisions. Examples in 2016 include:
T 2095/10 (Tracking liquid food production/TETRA LAVAL) allocating identities to transfer events and to liquid food quantities
T 2334/13 (Erweitertes Nutzerprofil/VODAFONE) "user profiles" tailored to personal user interests or represent user behaviour, for advertising or marketing purposes.
T 2401/13 (Pop-up window/PHILIPS) a specified order for hierarchical scanning of data sources.
T 0700/11 (Document URL to ID conversion/COPYRIGHT CLEARANCE CENTER) determining, for a particular identified publication, given context and type of use, the applicable rights on the basis of legal and business criteria.
T 2009/12 (Recipient control of messages/PITNEY BOWES) temporarily stopping the delivery of messages and sending them later on en bloc.
T 1145/10 (Document region protection/MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING) policies required by an authority, or an owner or administrator of a document, with respect to certain operations to be allowed or denied for particular users of the document, for instance co-authors, collaborators or clients.
T 2241/11 (Windfarm network/GENERAL ELECTRIC) whether a switch (and, hence, the associated wind turbine or the wind turbine subnetwork) is identified by a name composed of alphanumeric characters or by a number.
T 2558/12 (Trust in a cryptographic token/HEWLETT PACKARD) specifying which tamper-resistant tokens to trust other than by reference to their technical properties.
T 1590/13 (Setting and adjusting access policies/PHILIPS) reservations, aversions or mistrust against an entire organization.
T 1742/12 (On-demand instantiation/RAYTHEON) rules indicating whether a service is available, especially when exemplified by business hours, outside of which a certain service is not being offered.
Another frequent ground for disregarding features is that they rely on the "cognitive content" of information. Examples included:
T 0779/11 (Case law database/THOMSON REUTERS GLOBAL RESOURCES) that the query results are "judicial documents" and that the link included in one or more of these documents points to a "litigation document associated with the judicial decision"
T 0022/13 (Browsing through a music catalog/APPLE) the type of data being media items, a collection of mediasets, a navigation list and the resulting list being a playlist
T 2439/11 (Web-page classification/FACILITYLIVE OPCO) the "quality" of classification of web pages.
Boards also refused several applications for inventions based on programming techniques. In T 1130/11 (HPC scheduling/RAYTHEON) the Board held that the mere idea to offer more input options in a program does not per se produce a technical effect in comparison with a prior program. Whether an input is formulated in one part or in two parts is an organisational matter and does not contribute to the technical character of the present invention. T 2374/11 (Instruction emulation/NORTHROP) related to emulation of legacy processors. The Board held that key steps of the method, including categorising the instructions of the legacy processor and programming the translation software can only be performed by a human being. Thus, they lack technical character and cannot contribute to the presence of an inventive step.
The US case of Enfish v Microsoft has on occasion been over simplified as holding that spreadsheets are patentable. T 2045/10 (Sorting cells by format/MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING) considered sorting or grouping data in a spreadsheet and held it to be a presentation of information, which as such is non-technical.
"Especially where the data to be sorted lacks technical character and the way the data is presented does not convey any technical information, the process of deciding which sorting schemes are required … depend on non-technical considerations, such as considerations regarding the semantic content of the data in the cells …".
T 1827/11 (Diligent control of preview of stored contents/NIPPON HOSO KYOKAI) held that attribution of different preview time costs to different portions of content to prevent customers from previewing the most important parts of the content and losing interest in purchasing the content is a business concept.
John Leeming


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EURO 2021 > Euro 2012 Teams > Russia
After a great performance at Euro 2008 and after reaching the semi-finals and eliminating the Dutch, among others, the appetites the Sborna fans have been growing. For Russia, it will be fourth start in the European Championship.
They will play in Group A and will face Greece, the Czech Republic and our representation of Poland. Dick Advocat's team won in the qualifying rounds in a quite easy group with, inter alia, Ireland, Armenia and Slovakia, scoring 23 points in ten games. In addition to a set-back and a loss at home with the team from Slovakia, the Russians were playing well, winning seven matches and drawing two.
The team leader for several years has been Roman Pavlyuchenko, a Lokomotiv Moscow's striker. In shooting goals he can count on Andrei Arshavin, Pavel Pogriebnyak, or Alexander Kerzhakov. The representation team of Russia will play their games in Wrocław and at the National Stadium in Warsaw. Russians are assumed to have the biggest chance from all the four teams to leave the group and play in the quarterfinals. It is proved by a high, twelfth place in the FIFA rankings, the eliminations won and a thrilling game at the last championship tournament.
Russia Euro 2012 Squad
Goalkeepers: Igor Akinfeev (CSKA Moscow), Vyacheslav Malafeev (Zenit St Petersburg), Anton Shunin ( Dinamo Moscow).
Defenders: Aleksandr Anyukov (Zenit St Petersburg), Aleksei Berezutski (CSKA Moscow), Sergei Ignashevich (CSKA Moscow), Vladimir Granat (Dinamo Moscow), Yuri Zhirkov (Anzhi Makhachkala), Dmitri Kombarov (Spartak Moscow), Roman Sharonov (Rubin Kazan), Kirill Nababkin (CSKA Moscow).
Midfielders: Igor Denisov (Zenit St Petersburg), Konstantin Zyryanov (Zenit St Petersburg), Roman Shirokov (Zenit St Petersburg), Denis Glushakov (Lokomotiv Moscow), Igor Semshov (Dinamo Moscow), Marat Izmailov (Sporting Lisbon), Alan Dzagoev (CSKA Moscow).
Forwards: Andrey Arshavin (Zenit St Petersburg), Aleksandr Kerzhakov (Zenit St Petersburg), Aleksandr Kokorin (Dinamo Moscow), Roman Pavlyuchenko (Lokomotiv Moscow), Pavel Pogrebnyak (Fulham).
Russia Euro 2012 Group Matches
Friday, June 8, 2012 Russia v Czech Republic (20:45 CET in Wroclaw)
Tuesday, June 12, 2012 Poland v Russia (20:45 CET in Warsaw)
Saturday, June 16, 2012 Greece v Russia (20:45 CET in Warsaw)
Russia Quick Facts
Best World Cup Result: Fourth Place (1996, as Soviet Union)
Best European Championship Result: Winners (1960, as Soviet Union)
Record Scorer: Vladimir Beschastnykh (26 goals from 1992 to 2003)
Most Capped Player: Viktor Onopko (109 caps from 1992 to 2004)
Coach: Dick Advocaat
Captain: Andrey Arshavin
Russia – Czech Republic – Euro 2012 match preview
Advocaat: Russia will be a challenge for everyone

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


I read this article today and it was as if I wrote almost all the words myself. To anyone suffering with a chronic illness I suggest giving this article a read!
Next postChoosing Between Your Job or Your Health…its a real pickle!!


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Q: gitlab local docker instance: "vboxmanage": executable file not found in $PATH I used
  docker run --rm -it -v /srv/gitlab-runner/config:/etc/gitlab-runner gitlab/gitlab-runner register

to install a virtualbox runner on my gitlab which also runs on docker. My host computer has access to the command vboxmanage, but the CI gives this error:
ERROR: Preparation failed: exec: "vboxmanage": executable file not found in $PATH

Could it be possible that it's trying to access vboxmanage from inside the container and thus not finding it? If yes, then how can I access vboxmanage from non docker?

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


My name is Diego Oliver, I'm from San Martin De Los Andes, Argentina. I started fishing with my father at the age of 11 and since then it has become a passion for me. I have fished all the Nequen province from North to South and East to West, always looking for new Rivers, Lakes and Streams.
After graduating College I came back to my hometown and started guiding as a certified guide for the Lanin National Park and also for the Neuquen province.
My favorite rivers to guide on are the Malleo River, the Filo Hua Hum and the Collon Cura. When I want trophy fish I move to the Limay. But I have to admit that fishing the lakes when the Dragonflies are hatching is one of the best and enjoyable experiences you can have.
Two years ago I started Patagonia Nomads with my partner Lucas Buxton and we have never looked back.
In my off season I work as a mountain bike guide and in the winter as a ski instructor.
I am lucky enough to have four Daughters and a wonderful Wife who also enjoy the sport.


DETROIT — Major automakers on Thursday shrugged off declines in U.S. new vehicle sales in December and said they were bullish about 2019 even as economists warned that rising interest rates will discourage consumers from buying cars in the year ahead.
Ford executives said the automaker will switch to reporting quarterly sales like main rival General Motors Co which stopped reporting on a monthly basis last spring, arguing that a 30-day snapshot was too small a window to accurately reflect market conditions.
Toyota Motor Corp's December sales dropped 0.9 percent from the same month in 2017. The Japanese automaker said passenger cars were down 16.5 percent, including its flagship Camry sedan, which slid 32.9 percent. It posted strong gains in SUV and pickup truck sales.
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV bucked the trend for December, posting a 14 percent increase in sales. Its key Jeep and Ram brands were up 10 percent and 37 percent, respectively, in December. Ram pickup truck sales were up 34 percent in December.
Nissan Motor Co Ltd's sales were up 7.6 percent as strong truck and SUV sales offset a decline in passenger cars. Despite the strong finish to the year, Nissan's U.S. full-year sales were down 6.2 percent versus 2017.


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Home > Boutique > Crawling Chaos - Homunculus Equinox
The Boutique Label and LTM is pleased to announce a second CD from baffling cult pranksters Crawling Chaos. Hailing from Tyneside, the band first came into being in 1979. In 1980 they released the cult 'heavy modern' single Sex Machine on Factory (Fac 17), which reached number 3 in the indie charts but attracted a fistful of atrocious reviews surpassed only by those for their album The Gas Chair, released on Factory Benelux in early 1982. Think Nurse With Wound locked in an airing cupboard with Joe Meek and H.P. Lovecraft. Or as Factory's January 1980 newsletter had it: "Three short-haired awkward types who are a cross between Status Quo and Orchestral Manoeuvres." The Gas Chair was recorded at the band's own studio, The Pits, and edited down from many hours of tape. Factory somehow lost 15 minutes of material intended for the album, and so the same Pits sessions resulted in a cassette released on their own Foetus Productions label in late 1981, titled Homunculus Equinox. This has now remastered for CD with two extra tracks, Danger In Paradise and Block Numbers. Please note that Crawling Chaos was never an elaborate joke by more famous musicians, as is often rumoured. In April 1980 the NME demanded that the band 'come out with their hands up.' Well, they're still not going to, but The Boutique Label can reveal that the stunning Homunculus Equinox cover image is by A. Chester.
Royal Family & The Poor - The Sea of E $13.99
Royal Family & The Poor - The Sea of E


Different strokes for different stokes. The popular Sunday Primer 20" bikes are offered in a variety of colors and top tube sizes from 20-21" to fit everyone. Starting with the strong hi-tensile steel frame, fork and bars, you'll get aftermarket parts like Odyssey Path Pro tires in 2.4", a Sunday Freeze topload stem and Odyssey brakes for stopping power. Forward motion comes via the chromoly 3-piece crank, PC pedals and 25/9 gearing driven by the sealed rear cassette hub. The Sunday Primer 20" is a prime choice for when you're ready to get serious about BMX, but don't have an unlimited budget.


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Tag: trade theory
Examine the US-China Tariff War from a Theoretical Perspective: Discussion Questions from Students in FASH455
#1 In class, we discussed that trade always creates both winners and losers. So who are the winners and losers in the US-China tariff war? Also, why should or should not the government use trade policy to pick up winners and losers in international trade?
#2 Why do you think U.S. fashion brands and retailers oppose Section 301 tariffs on apparel imports from China, whereas the National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO), which represents the US textile industry, supports Trump's tariff action?
#3 The U.S.-China tariff war continues during the pandemic, resulting in higher sourcing costs for U.S. fashion brands and retailers, which have been struggling hard financially. In such a case, if you were the CEO of Macy's, why or why not would you pass the tariff burden to consumers, i.e., ask consumers to pay a higher price?
#4 Why or why not do you agree with the Trump Administration to lift the Section 301 tariffs on PPE imports from China? Isn't a high tariff typically protects the domestic industry and would incentivize more U.S.-based PPE production?
#5 Most classic trade theories (such as the comparative advantage trade theory and the factor proportion trade theory) advocate free trade with no government interventions. However, international trade in the real world has been so heavily influenced by government policy, such as tariffs. How to explain this phenomenon? Are trade theories wrong, or is the government wrong?
[Anyone is welcome to join the online discussion. For students in FASH455, please address at least two questions in your comment. Please also mention the question number in your comment]
Author Sheng LuPosted on September 16, 2020 September 16, 2020 Categories Apparel industry, China, FASH455 course material, International economics and trade theory, International Trade, SourcingTags China, tariff war, trade policy, trade theory, trade war22 Comments on Examine the US-China Tariff War from a Theoretical Perspective: Discussion Questions from Students in FASH455
Trade War Looms over New York Fashion Week
Why does the U.S. textile industry call for additional tariffs on textile and apparel imports from China whereas U.S. fashion brands and apparel retailers oppose the tariffs?
Based on the trade theories we have learned so far, why or why not would you recommend President Trump to impose 25% punitive tariffs on imports from China?
Appendix: Comments on the Proposed Section 301 Tariffs on Imports from China (August 2018)
National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO)—Representing U.S. textile industry
U.S. Fashion Industry Association (USFIA)—Representing U.S. fashion brands and apparel retailers
American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA)—Representing U.S. apparel companies
For the complete timeline of the U.S. Section 301 tariff action against China, please click HERE
Author Sheng LuPosted on September 16, 2018 Categories China, FASH455 course material, International Trade, Textile industry, Trade policyTags section301, tariff, trade policy, trade theory10 Comments on Trade War Looms over New York Fashion Week
Is It Necessary to Cut Trade Deficit and Achieve Trade Balance?
While the Trump Administration is seeking to reduce the U.S. trade deficit and achieve a more "balanced trade" with its trading partners, a newly-released World Economic Forum (WEC) paper questions the necessity and economic rationale of doing so. As argued by the paper:
First, a country's trade balance is NOT a measurement of its international commercial success. Neither is the case that "imports are bad and exports are good. "Instead, the paper says that "it is more accurate to think of imports as the benefits of trade, and exports as the cost that needs to be paid to obtain these benefits."
Second, it is a misconception that "trade deficits cause a reduction in employment and production and trade surplus increase them." Rather, imports could increase because of an increase in domestic income thereby increasing the aggregate demand. Empirical studies also overwhelmingly find that rapid economic growth and larger trade deficit are associated with faster employment growth in the United States in history (see the graphs above).
Third, as the supply chain goes global, a tax on imported inputs can reduce rather than promote a country's exports, particularly manufacturing goods (for example high tariffs on imported fabrics will reduce the price competitiveness of clothing exports). Likewise, trade barriers could disrupt production and reduce domestic employment in both the "protected" industries and those downstream sectors that use their outputs.
Fourth, primarily trade balance is a function of a country's national saving and investments, not of trade policies. In other words, trade policies, such as higher tariffs and quantitative restrictions, will have no impact on a country's trade balance. Interesting enough, countries like Singapore which maintain fairly low trade barriers, run a trade surplus equal to as high as 20% of its GDP. In comparison, India was one of the most highly protected economies in the early 1990s when it experienced unsustainable large trade deficits. Further, there is a dynamic balance between a country's trade balance and exchange rate: in an open economy, reducing a country's imports could lead to an appreciation of its currency and eventually hurt its exports as well.
What is your view on the trade deficit and trade balance? Why do you agree or disagree with the arguments of the WEC paper? Do you find any evidence that challenges the findings of the paper? Please feel free to leave your comments.
Author Sheng LuPosted on January 25, 2018 January 25, 2018 Categories International Trade, Original Research, Trade policyTags trade barriers, trade deficit, trade theory2 Comments on Is It Necessary to Cut Trade Deficit and Achieve Trade Balance?
Trade Policy and the Textile and Apparel Industry: Discussion Questions
#1 Why or why not the textile and apparel industry should get involved in policy advocacy?
#2 Do you think the current U.S. trade policy reflects the interests of the U.S. textile and apparel industry? Please provide detailed examples.
#3 It is said that "trade is a way for countries to strengthen partnerships and alliances, promote peace and trust between the cooperating nations, and help other countries in need." Do you think this principle still holds today?
#4 President Trump proposes an "America First Trade Policy," which intends to encourage more "buy America" and reduce the U.S. trade deficit. How should President Trump respond if other countries adopt a similar approach by proposing initiatives such as "EU first trade policy," "China first trade policy" and "Mexico first trade policy"?
#5 What do you take away from Case Study 2 regarding the making of U.S. trade policy?
Please mention the question # in your comment.
Author Sheng LuPosted on April 30, 2017 April 30, 2017 Categories International Trade, Trade policyTags trade agreement, trade policy, trade theory14 Comments on Trade Policy and the Textile and Apparel Industry: Discussion Questions
Historical Benefits of Trade
Interview with Dr. Douglas A. Irwin on the historical benefits of trade
Minute 1'53s: What's wrong with the view that trade is a zero-sum game.
Minute 4'50s: A review of the concept of comparative advantage by using the textile and apparel industry as an example.
Minute 7'30s: What is trade protectionism?
Minute 9'02s: Why did the United States brace the idea of free trade after WWII and push forward the establishment of the multilateral trading system GATT?
Minute 10'30s: what drives the U.S. trade deficit from the economic perspective?
Minute 15'57s: international trade and U.S. apparel manufacturing jobs
Minute 22'15s: Is TPP a dead deal?
Minute 27'56s: What should Trump do about trade policy?
Author Sheng LuPosted on April 23, 2017 April 23, 2017 Categories International TradeTags comparative advantage, trade, trade theory8 Comments on Historical Benefits of Trade
Q&A for International Trade Theories
Q1: How mercantilism and the absolute advantage theory see international trade differently?
Mercantilism believes everything shall be produced domestically and maximizing exports & minimizing imports is the best route to national prosperity.
Instead, absolute advantage theory believes countries should specialize in what they do best (means making a product cheaper, better and faster) while trading with other countries who are also doing what they're best at. With specialization and free trade, all countries can end up consuming more products than in the absence of trade.
Q2: What are the similarities and differences between the absolute advantage theory and the comparative advantage theory?
Similarities:
Both theories believe any economy has limited resources and there will be opportunity cost for making any product. Opportunity cost refers to the loss of potential gain from making one product because of choosing to make another product.
Both theories believe countries should specialize in production (rather than making everything by itself as suggested by the mercantilism).
Both theories also support free trade (rather than intentionally maximizing exports and minimizing imports as suggested by the mercantilism).
Differences:
According to the absolute advantage theory, countries can only specialize in producing and exporting products that they can make absolutely cheaper, better and faster than other nations. Whereas according to the comparative advantage theory, countries should specialize in producing and exporting products that they have relatively bigger advantages or relatively smaller disadvantages [i.e. a country should choose to make and export products with a lower opportunity cost].
Developed countries like the US may enjoy absolute advantages over a less developed country such as Haiti, for ALL products. However, a country CANNOT enjoy comparative advantages for ALL products it makes: there will always be some products that a country has bigger advantages or smaller disadvantages in making compared with other nations.
According to the absolute advantage theory, least developed countries (LDCs) may not be able to export any products (because they may not have absolute advantages in making any products over developed countries). However, according to the comparative advantage theory, even LDCs can export to developed countries— for those products that LDCs suffer relatively smaller disadvantages in making. Meanwhile, developed countries can focus on making products they enjoy relatively bigger absolute advantages over LDCs. As the example demonstrated in class, with specialization based on comparative advantages and free trade, all countries still can end up consuming more products than in the absence of trade.
Q3: What is the contribution of the factor proportion theory?
Although the comparative advantage theory illustrates how nations should specialize in producing and exporting, it failed to explain what shapes a nation's comparative advantages. Factor proportion theory answered the question: comparative advantage depends on countries' relative endowment of factors of production. The country which is relatively abundant in labor will have a comparative advantage in the production of relatively labor intensive goods. The nation which is relatively capital abundant will have a comparative advantage in the production of the relatively capital intensive goods. Surely, factor proportion theory supports everything proposed by the comparative advantage theory, especially the argument that with specialization based on comparative advantages and free trade, all countries can end up consuming more products than in the absence of trade.
Q4: Why most apparel consumed in the U.S. are imported from developing countries?
Because generally developing countries enjoy comparative advantages in making clothing whereas US enjoys comparative advantages in making more capital and technology intensive products such as machinery. To be noted, it doesn't mean US necessarily makes clothing less productive and more expensive than most developing countries. Just economically it is wiser for the US as a capital abundant country to make more capital intensive products so as to maximize the gains from using its limited resources.
Q5: Why top U.S. apparel suppliers in the 1980s (Taiwan, Hong Kong and South Korea) are different from today (China, Vietnam and Bangladesh)? How to explain this phenomenon?
In the 1980s, Taiwan, Hong Kong and South Korea had comparative advantages in making clothing on the basis of their relatively abundant supply of cheap labor back then. However, with the gradual growth of economies and accumulation of capital, these countries/regions start to have more capital relative to labor. As a result, their comparative advantages shift from making labor-intensive clothing to more capital-intensive products such as electronics and machinery. Likewise, once China, Vietnam and Bangladesh become more capital abundant, they may also lose comparative advantages in making labor-intensive clothing to other less-developed economies where cheap labor is more abundant relative to capital.
Author Sheng LuPosted on September 17, 2016 November 26, 2016 Categories International TradeTags international trade, trade policy, trade theory


This fifth day of our tour of Corsica in 15 days, originally dedicated to the visit by boath of the Scandola reserve, was delayed for a day due to strongs winds strong making it impossible to go on the sea. The change in this program takes us to the majestic forest of Aïtone, one of the finest and most typical of Corsica. Even the road from Porto to Evisa is the course of several photo stops as the mountain scenery is spectacular.
It is from this village, a paradise for hikers at 830 meters above sea level and situated on the edge of the forest Aïtone, that we leave the car to follow the path of Chestnut Grove. Throughout the trail, interpretive signs help us discover the important place that the chestnut was in the tradition of the mountain Corsica.
After a 1h15 walk and a hundred meters of vertical, we reach a road, then by taking the first road to the left we first met face to face with wild pigs, goats and cows that graze freely with their young. By a narrow and steep descent we access, among rocks and Corsican pine, a paradise of pools connected by waterfalls. Pure water and fresh river flows in and makes its passage between the boulders that serve as islands for hikers to rest. The place is magical by the color of sunlight pierced the trees reflected in water transparency. The poetry of the place invaded us during a break time with the sound of lapping water, and then we begin to return, downhill, that we'll only take half an hour.
Back in Porto, we make a detour to the last beach Caspiu, then we reach the campsite (cyber cafe at 5 minutes)..


text:
Mario Gentili (Prato, 21 de març de 1913 - 19 de gener de 1999) va ser un ciclista italià que va córrer en els anys propers a la Segona Guerra Mundial. El 1936, com a amateur, va prendre part en els Jocs Olímpics de Berlín, en què guanyà una medalla de plata en la prova del persecució per equips, formant equip amb Severino Rigoni, Bianco Bianchi i Armando Latini. El 1942 esdevingué campió d'Itàlia de ciclo-cross.

Notes

Medallistes italians als Jocs Olímpics d'estiu de 1936
Ciclistes de Prato
Morts a Roma
Ciclistes de Roma
Naixements del 1913

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Henseleit ist der Familienname folgender Personen:

 Esther Henseleit (* 1999), deutsche Golferin
 Hans Hermann Henseleit (1911–1997), deutscher Journalist und Kunstsammler
 Kurt Henseleit (1907–1973), deutscher Mediziner und Biochemiker


text:
Fallout deepens with each delay in Meng case, observers warn
Chuck Chiang / Business in Vancouver
Wanzhou Meng. File photo
The first battle lines in the extradition hearing of Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. CFO Meng Wanzhou have been drawn after the Chinese tech executive appeared in a Vancouver court last Wednesday, requesting a delay of almost half a year for her defence to seek additional information from Canadian authorities.
While the BC Supreme Court judge presiding over the case granted a middle-ground compromise date to the defence, all evidence points to Meng's extradition becoming a drawn-out process lasting several years. That, observers argue, is not good news for businesses in B.C. and Canada, especially those that are exposed to the Chinese market.
The extradition has become one of the highest-profile legal affairs in recent Canadian history due to its geopolitical fallout.
Analysts note that, in addition to the continued detention of Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor in China on espionage charges, cases like Beijing's revocation of Canadian canola exporters' trade permits this spring could become more frequent if the Meng case drags on.
"What we have seen is that China is increasing penalties as the process continues, and you cannot ignore that," said Vancouver-based immigration lawyer Richard Kurland, who noted that neither Washington nor Beijing has shown great urgency in resolving the Meng case. "That's a serious thing; our canola farmers are not happy about that. And so what's happening is that the Americans take their time, Canada takes its time and China keeps ratcheting up the pressure. Who is paying the price? Canada."
The diplomatic spat between Beijing and Ottawa over the Meng case has severely damaged bilateral relations, and a recent survey by trade advocacy non-profit Canada China Business Council (CCBC) showed the unease may be starting to hurt the Canadian economy.
According to the CCBC survey of 226 Canadian companies interviewed, 53 per cent have made changes to their business plans since December 1 and 18% have cancelled or postponed contracts or investment plans in China. The report also found that about 20% of Canadian companies said they've seen a drop in Chinese demand for their goods, and one respondent said demand for its products has fallen 95 per cent as Chinese consumers in its sector are "not interested in buying or putting money in Canada."
Meng was arrested in Vancouver on December 1 while connecting from Hong Kong to Latin America, and she faces charges of fraud and money laundering for alleged breaches of U.S. trade sanctions against Iran. The U.S. Department of Justice has also accused Huawei of stealing trade secrets from companies like T-Mobile USA (Nasdaq:TMUS).
At the end of last Wednesday's proceedings, BC Supreme Court Associate Chief Justice Heather Holmes ruled that the application for additional disclosure – in which the defence and Crown counsel will argue the merits of allowing Meng's team to introduce more material than is normally allowed in an extradition process – will begin on September 23 and last for eight non-consecutive days, ending on Oct. 4.
Meng's defence team originally argued that due to the scope of the material, which mostly relates to a three-hour period when Meng was detained at Vancouver International Airport but involves law-enforcement agencies in Canada and the United States, lawyers would require months to gather it. They asked for an October 15 start date for application. Crown prosecutors, meanwhile, said the court has a responsibility to deal with the case swiftly, asking for a date no later than late August.
The extradition "committal" hearing will begin next January, the court also announced. Several observers argue that, with the Meng case set to drag on at least into 2020, Beijing has no shortage of Canadian business sectors it can target.
"Just look at our main exports to China, including those that can be sourced elsewhere," said Hugh Stephens, distinguished fellow with the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, who added that things will only get worse if Washington inks its own deal with Beijing. "Lumber is a good example. Coal, minerals and agri-foods are, too. There's going to be a managed trade; the Chinese are going to be encouraged to buy from the U.S. rather than from Canada."
CCBC executive director Sarah Kutulakos said that she hopes her organization's survey catches the attention of Ottawa, because the economic disruption brought about by Meng's arrest and China's retaliatory measures comes at a bad time for Canadian businesses linked to the country's second-largest trading partner.
"Up until November 30, the relationship was going very well, both economically and diplomatically," Kutulakos said. "Exports were up 18 per cent last year; we haven't been up 18 per cent in quite a while. American exports to China were only up five per cent to seven per cent.
"You can't deny the underlying fact that China's economic growth brings huge opportunities in services exports like education and tourism, as well as in e--commerce," she said. "The economic potential for both countries is starting to show signs of being impacted, and companies don't feel able to resolve the situation by themselves."
The CCBC report found that 48 per cent of Canadian respondents had postponed or cancelled travel plans to China, or plan to do so. Also, the survey found most Canadian firms saw Chinese demand for their goods drop by 20 per cent to 80 per cent. Meanwhile, of the 28 Chinese companies in the survey, about 14 per cent saw Canadian demand for their products diminish since Dec. 1.
At the latest court hearing, Meng's defence strategy became clearer. Lawyers said they will key in on topics such as an alleged abuse of process by Canadian authorities, making an arrest with intent contrary to the related law's intended purpose.
The defence will also look at a lack of dual criminality, which is a requirement for extradition. The CFO's lawyers will argue that fundamental differences between Canada and the United States mean Meng's alleged actions aren't considered criminal in Canada. The topic of possible political interference, stemming from U.S. President Donald Trump's comments that Meng could be used as a bargaining chip in negotiations, will also be brought up.
For those looking for a quick out of the Meng situation after 2020 and a subsequent economic rejuvenation, lawyer Kurland had one piece of advice: Don't hold your breath.
"The only way I see this ending fast is if President Trump, in his view, succeeds with the negotiation on trade with China," Kurland said. "Then, this whole thing finishes. Because this would be a gimme to China. Presidents can be very persuasive…. But if the people involved [in the extradition process] really press the hammer down, it can take a half a decade – at least – to get a conclusion out of this stuff."
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Too many startups focus on the first S in SaaS, but they forget all about the second one. When software and service aren't equal priorities, it's impossible to build a successful company.
I work with a number of first-time founders in our portfolio. One thing some of them struggle with is how to deal with the board. It's often the first time they are involved in any kind of board meetings. Here are a few pieces of advice I give to these first time founders. These tips will make your life easier and your board will be more harmonious… I promise.
After a company finds product-market fit and has raised an A Round, it usually starts scaling the team aggressively. This is a critical time: you have already shown that you're on to something; now it's all about executing that business model at scale. And that means you need to grow the original team, while keeping the same magic that took you from an idea to Series A in the first place.
We have seen many of our portfolio companies go through this process through the years, and here are some of the best hiring practices that we have seen develop over time.
This year the inimitable branding firm Chermayeff Geismar & Haviv celebrates its 60th anniversary. Over the past six decades, these godfathers of corporate graphic design created logos for PBS, MoMA, PanAm, NBC, Chase, and more. And in a new video produced by Dress Code for the AIGA, the late Ivan Chermayeff (1932–2017) and Tom Geismar reflect on their past and augur the future of design, including timeless wisdom about what makes a good logo.
First, it killed the notion of brand. Year after year, the percentage of people able to recall where they got their news, is dwindling. "I read it on Facebook" now applies to half the population of the United States and Europe, and much more in countries where Facebook embodies the Internet.
Need to develop your website, app, or platform but don't know how?
Thinking of hiring locally, finding a tech co-founder, outsourcing, or getting a local development firm to build it for you?
Join us for a breakfast Q&A session on things you need to know when considering all those different options available to you.


Massenet's Werther (1892) aligns his mercurial melodic gifts, attentive prosody and melancholy temperament to create in the character of Werther a portrait of obsessive masculine love that doesn't descend into domestic violence – just self-harm.
The opera's opening act is dappled with near impressionistic flecks of sound, as the composer portrays a provincial family sanctified by a gruff but loving father, Le Bailli (Richard Anderson in somewhat woolly voice), and led in gentle womanhood by the eldest daughter Charlotte (Elena Maximova) – obedient and not too harassed by having to feed and care for so many young siblings. In this staging, this was all naturally displayed with an affecting tenderness that mirrored the somewhat slow pale musical pulse that Massenet elucidated for this portrait of a balmy, transposed, Provencal peace.
All is cornfields, the bright soft light of summer, the joyous chatter of young people and the ribbing and intoxication of a Beaujolais induced drinking song that father and friends rattle off. Con Costi delivered Elijah Moshinsky's staging with piquant verisimilitude (particularly with regards the children) and drew from the singers passionate enactment of their respective dilemmas.
Werther (Michael Fabiano) wades through this beauty with smiles - almost touching its unreality with his outstretched hands. He is in love with a dream world, and the young Charlotte is inspired by his inspiration. Their love duet that ends Act 1 is like Tristan and Isolde's unending night – balmier but still souls crushed by the reality of pre-arranged marriage and duty. The two leads (Fabiano and Maximova) were thrilling, nuanced and powerful in vocal production, modulating their voices upon the text as the music responds to a cascade of emotions. Moment by moment, in subtle and artful music, Massenet instantiates the beauty of the moon, the summer fields, the scent of romance embedding the passionate articulation of thoughts and feelings shared by two young people, 23 and 20 years old. So that the bittersweet moment of passion discovered and lost is true and troubling.
Whether the production then needed to plunge into a 20 minute interval was a moot point. Acts 1 & 2 could have run together, like Acts 3 & 4 are, to build tension.
Act 2 moves us across the cycle of the year into autumn and the now morose and obsessive Werther, clinging to his love of the now married Charlotte. Werther's obsessiveness can be a problem for some modern Anglo-Saxon audiences, given its potential for violence and self-destruction, but Massenet charts its many moods with sure word setting and delicate, responsive music. Fabiano's tenor was truly on song with fulsome high notes, anguished outpourings, soft head voice and strong physical acting that held our attention across the opera.
The soubrette role of Sophie was nicely judged by Stacey Alleaume – truly 15 years old and all pertness and breathless wonder at feelings she cannot quite comprehend. As she ecstatically sings: Tout le monde joyeux/ tout le monde est heureux. Though not a trouser role, Sophie seems to descend from Gounod's Siebel and Meyerbeer's Urbain, merrily skipping along the vocal decorations – and is often the light foil to darker emotions.
Charlotte's betrothed, then husband, Albert, is a somewhat compromised character, given his acquiescence to the suicide of his secret rival, but his bourgeois smugness is fragile and Luke Gabbedy essayed his maudlin love and over-upholstered desire for respectability with skilful acting and honest vocal resources.
Act 3 is often the highlight of this opera, with Charlotte's lengthy air des lettres. Maiximova summoned rich vocal resources to navigate its powerful stretches of deep emotion, her voice invoking all the angst and potent memories of her character's forbidden love for Werther. This staging, in upper class opulence - all black and white elegance - is wonderfully done (Michael Yeargan). Musically, Werther's obsessiveness is now artfully transferred to Charlotte, as she reads his letters and fears the worst, all the time preparing for the Christmas celebration she will host. The intervention of her sister's love and concern was applied with believable delicacy, until the swirls of hidden emotion erupted across the footlights in rising despair.
The conductor, Carlo Montanaro, followed his singers with attentive support, urging them on to powerful singing and acting. The delicacy of Massenet's orchestration was soft spotlight by conductor and orchestra, give its sighing pleasures with warmth and clarity. The alto saxophone was particularly potent in its wandering tread, as was the rich emotional commentary of the viola.
In the minor roles of Schmidt and Johann, Nicholas Jones and Andrew Moran tripped lightly through the tipsy misogyny of these friends of Le Bailli - making their humorous interlude richer than it is. Nicholas Jones has a shining persona that always lifts the musical and dramatic tone.
It is hard to imagine what the Viennese in 1892 made of this cultural assumption of Goethe via French romanticism, translated back in German by Max Kalbeck! But the work has survived and seems to have eclipsed Manon in performance numbers. It is a strong vehicle for a tenor who has wide vocal resources and strong histrionic skills and the paramount ability to plumb the depths of masculine romance with shimmering infatuation. Its mercurial music sways and swoons with the ardour of a blossoming but irrational love that is doomed by society's impress. Generally, we are swept along with its febrile beauties.
The stage lighting is highly effective (Robert Bryan/Catherine Alexander). The costuming operates across varying time periods, but without any glaring mishaps – settling on highly tailored fashions across the 1989-2019 period (Sabina Myers). This is a very satisfying production. Ten years on, its design has stood the test of time.


text:
The Richly Varied History of the City of Angels, Los Angeles Explained
VelAm - October 10, 2021 October 22, 2021
LA Explained covers "A celebration of the City of Angels" with details about its history. Los Angeles has a rich and varied history. It ranges from the early days of the Spanish occupation to the west gold mining camps. From there, it grew into the complex city it is today.
How do you explain a city with so many changes in such a short time? Los Angeles has numerous cultures impacting its lifestyles. It has been affected by wars and military bases. Los Angeles has seen ongoing changes to its industry and economic environment.
Father Crespi Discovered a Beautiful River Near the City of Angels
In 1769, Father Crespi wrote of a "beautiful river" he had discovered. The river was later named the Los Angeles River. The name was in honor of the painting on the wall of a little chapel nearby. The fresco behind the altar was of the Virgin Mary surrounded by angels. The chapel was called Saint Mary of the Angels at the Little Portion.
Virgin Mary surrounded by angels.
A settlement established in 1781 along the river grew. There is a disagreement over the name of this early settlement. Los Angeles is Spanish for The Angels. Since 1850 it has carried the official name, City of Los Angeles. Many refer to it as The City of Angels.
Los Angeles becomes a Cosmopolitan Cultural Center
Immigrants built Los Angeles and surrounding communities. Early on, L.A. had a cosmopolitan flare. Spanish-speaking Californios and Indians, Anglo Americans, moved to Los Angeles. Former slaves of African descent populated the area until the 1850s. Then English, French, Chinese, Basques, Spaniards, Mexicans, and Germans settled the area.
Early on, L.A. had a cosmopolitan flare.
A varied population continued to settle in L.A. County from the late 1800s for the next 150 years. Immigrants from: Europe, Asia, Central, and South America continued to arrive and settle. Separate communities developed until the 1930s. They included: Japanese, Chinese, Russian, East European Jew, and other Asian cultures. Los Angeles became a cosmopolitan cultural, ethnic, economic, and social center.
The Days of the Streetcar
Los Angeles had several beautiful streetcars
Los Angeles had several beautiful streetcars on its streets from the late 1800s to 1955. A nostalgic sign many miss seeing today. The rail lines consisted of tracks of rails with an overhead cable system. They supplied transportation to key areas of the city. They were popular and widely used and very much missed today.
Hollywood Sign Advertises New Housing Development
Initially built in 1923 as an advertisement for "Hollywoodland", a new suburban housing development. Real estate was Hollywood's economic staple. The 45-foot tall letters spelling out Hollywood were built on Mount Lee. Located in the Santa Monica Mountains.
The sign has become an icon representing the entertainment industry. It is an American landmark and cultural monument overlooking Hollywood, Los Angeles, California.
Hollywood Becomes Home to the Film Industry
The dream factory awoke in 1907 when a small film company from Chicago headed west. Bad weather had stopped their shooting, so they needed somewhere to finish the film. Nestor Film Company from New Jersey soon followed. They were the first real studio putting out three movies a week.
Word spread, and Hollywood's ideal climate and landscape invited more studios. By 1912, 15 film studios were shooting around town. Old barns were famous for sound stages.
China City built to attract sightseers
China City a Tourist Destination Comes to Life
China City was built in 1938 as a tourist destination to attract sightseers. Christine Sterling, an L.A. socialite, created the idea. Sterling developed the city with a feel of a small Chinese Village.
Chinatown, a neighborhood in downtown Los Angeles.
Later called Chinatown, it is a neighborhood in downtown Los Angeles. It became a commercial center for Chinese and other Asian businesses.
China City was built in 1938 as a tourist destination
Firecrackers explode at the first anniversary of China City, on June 11, 1939.
World War II's Impact on Los Angeles and Hollywood
Micky Rooney 1943
In 1941, Hollywood became a full-time war industry when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. Troops were transported in studio trucks. Clark Gable, Victor Mature, and Jimmy Stewart enlisted. Patriotism took over the screens.
Atomic War Fears Take the Stage
L.A. City Council enacted a disaster prevention ordinance in January 1951.
L.A. City Council enacted a disaster prevention ordinance in January 1951. They distributed a book entitled "How to Survive an Atomic Bomb."
Military technology production had become part of Southern California's economy. The local seaports at San Pedro and Long Beach support military ships. Several airports had been built that supported military aircraft.
Mary Lou Miner sits on top of the bomb shelter
John Vale designed a bomb shelter, and Arthur Lowe built it. Located 10333 Santa Monica Boulevard, West Los Angeles. Mary Lou Miner sits on top of the bomb shelter for a picture on April 7, 1951.
This article covers just a small outline of Los Angeles' history. Over its 350-year history, many more events and economic changes have taken place.
Tagged Asian Culture, China City, City of Angels, History, hollywood, LA Explained, Los Angeles, Mining, Movies, Saint Mary of the Angels, Streetcars
What comes before thunder? Lightning!!!!!
The Future of Traffic Infrastructure – Mike Lim


text:
Khruangbin
First Class Tour
Prepare for a hypnotic space odyssey as Texan trio Khruangbin bring their incomparable mix of psychedelia, funk and far-out international grooves to the Concert Hall for their thrilling Sydney Opera House debut.
Book livestream
In the Concert Hall | Contemporary Music
COVID-safe and event information
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Please check our plan your visit page prior to attending the Opera House for the most up-to-date information.
Three events between Friday 25 and Monday 28 November 2022
Friday 25 November 2022, 8pm - ALLOCATION EXHAUSTED
Sunday 27 November 2022, 8pm - ALLOCATION EXHAUSTED
Sunday 27 November 2022, 8pm - LIVESTREAM
Monday 28 November 2022, 8pm - ALLOCATION EXHAUSTED
Standard tickets from $69 | $8.50 Booking Fee applies per transaction
Livestream Tickets $15
Premium $119
A Reserve $109
B Reserve $79
Livestream $15
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For any special access requirements phone the Contact Centre on 02 9250 7777 or email bookings@sydneyoperahouse.com.
This show runs for approximately 100 minutes
Event duration is a guide only and may be subject to change.
In English | Wheelchair accessible
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Recommended for all ages
Children aged 15 years and under must be accompanied at all times, and children under the age of 12 are not required to wear a mask.
"Psychedelic music's low-key superstars."
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Back to Khruangbin
Funky psychedelia from music's outer limits
Inspired by '60s Thai funk, Tarantino soundtracks and surf-rock cool, Texan three-piece Khruangbin have summoned forth a sound quite unlike anything on the musical landscape: a hypnotic mix of funk, soul and psychedelic rock that also embraces Latin Pop, jazz, Iranian music, dub reggae and touches of West African rhythm. It's a sound that's taken them around the world to sellout audiences and garnered critical acclaim, and it's about to captivate the Concert Hall as the band makes its long-awaited Sydney Opera House debut as part of their First Class Tour.
Formed in Houston in 2009, the three-piece – bassist Laura Lee Ochoa, guitar wizard Mark Speer and drummer Donald "DJ" Johnson Jr. – took their name from the Thai word for 'airplane', and pretty soon they were taking off into musical orbit. Boosted by their breakout track 'A Calf Born in Winter', Khruangbin opened for the likes of Father John Misty and Massive Attack, played to sold-out festival crowds and scored critical raves for their sophomore album, 2018's Con Todo el Mundo. Texas Sun, a smash collaboration with fellow local hero (and future Sydney Opera House debutant) Leon Bridges, followed in 2020, ahead of the band's hit third record, Mordechai (2020), and its wildly eclectic 2021 remix album. Khruangbin and Bridges recently reunited for a follow-up collaboration, Texas Moon (2022), teased by the sultry and sensual single, 'Chocolate Hills'.
Don't miss this chance to experience one of music's most original bands as they push their sound into thrilling new shapes.
Sydney Opera House Presents
This project is proudly supported by the NSW Government through the Blockbuster Funding initiative.
'Music for... Mali and Texas' by Khruangbin
Take off on a musical adventure from Mali to Texas with this curated selection of sounds by globe-trotting trio Khruangbin.
Proudly funded by
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Celebrate the extraordinary
In our 50th year, we're throwing a party and everyone's invited.
Join us for a year-long festival celebrating the past, present and future of Australia's favourite building.
Explore the highlights
Performances are being sold to 100% capacity in line with the NSW Public Health Order. This includes all shows in the Concert Hall, Joan Sutherland Theatre, Studio, Playhouse, Drama Theatre, Utzon Room and Forecourt. Please note that you will be seated directly alongside other ticketholders.
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Frequently asked questions – COVID-19 safety measures
What safety measures have you implemented?
Nothing is more important to us than the health and safety of everyone on site, and we are closely following NSW Health guidelines and advice. The Sydney Opera House is registered as a COVID Safe business with the NSW Government. For detailed information about our COVID-19 safety measures and what's required of you when visiting, please see our plan your visit page.
What am I required to do as an audience member?
Face masks are strongly recommended for all patrons while inside our theatres and foyers, including during the performance. Please bring your own mask.
As you move around the Opera House, practise physical distancing (1.5 metres whenever possible) and follow the guidance provided by our staff and signage.
For detailed information about our COVID-19 safety measures and what's required of you, please see our plan your visit page.
Do I need to be vaccinated to visit the Sydney Opera House?
The Sydney Opera House no longer requires patrons to show that they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
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Contact information is required when making a booking with us and upon arrival at the Opera House, as set out in our General Terms and Conditions for Tickets and Attendance at Events and our Customer Privacy Statement.
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What time do I need to arrive before the event?
Ticket purchases and collection at our Box Office is discouraged and eTicket or postal delivery methods should be used, wherever possible. However, if you are collecting your tickets from the Box Office, we recommend doing this at least 60 minutes before the event starts. If you have already received your tickets, the venue doors will be open 45 minutes pre-show for Concert Hall and Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and 30 minutes pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances. Please take your seats as soon as you arrive.
If you are late, we will seat you as soon as we can and, where possible, in your allocated seat. However, to reduce movement in the venue as well as minimise disruption to the performance and other patrons, ticketholders may be seated in an allocated latecomer's seat. Please be aware that some events have lock-out periods. In these cases, latecomers will be admitted at a suitable break in the performance. On occasions, this may not be until the interval, or at all where there is no interval.
Details of our right to refuse admission can be found in our General Terms and Conditions for Tickets and Events.
Will there be bag checks, and is cloaking available?
In accordance with our venue security procedures, Opera House security will be scanning and checking bags under the Monumental Stairs, prior to entering the building. Bags will be scanned by an x-ray machine, and staff will wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) when handling your belongings, such as gloves. Cloaking facilities will be open 60 minutes pre-show for Concert Hall and Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and 60 minutes pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances. However it is strongly encouraged that you travel lightly to minimise contact and queuing. Any bags larger than an A4 piece of paper will need to be checked into the Cloak Room.
Can my baby sit on my lap?
Children aged 15 years and under must be accompanied at all times. Babies aged 0-2 years old at the time of a performance may be seated on an adult's lap. Children 2 years and older will need to hold a standard ticket.
Does my child need to wear a face mask?
Children under the age of 12 are not required to wear a face mask.
Who are the authorised ticket sellers for this event?
The authorised agency for this event is the Sydney Opera House.
Only tickets purchased by authorised agencies should be considered reliable. If you purchase tickets from a non-authorised agency such as Ticketmaster Resale, Viagogo, Ticketbis, eBay, Gumtree, Tickets Australia or any other unauthorised seller, you risk that these tickets are fake, void or have previously been cancelled. RESALE RESTRICTION APPLIES. For more details, please refer to our General Terms and Conditions for Tickets and Attendance at Events.
What if I can't come to my performance?
Please contact Box Office on 9250 7777 as soon as possible to advise if you can no longer attend. If you can no longer attend because you are unwell, or have been in contact with someone displaying COVID-19 symptoms, the Opera House has introduced flexible ticketing options to help you, find out more information here.
Will there be food and beverages available for purchase in the venue?
Foyers will be open 90 minutes pre-show for Concert Hall and Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and two hours pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances. Refreshments will be available for purchase from our theatre bars.
The venue doors will be open 45 minutes pre-show for Concert Hall and Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and 30 minutes pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances.
Please bring a credit or debit card for any on site purchases to enable contactless payment. You're welcome to bring your own water bottle but no other food and drinks are permitted inside our venues. Opera Bar, Opera Kitchen and Portside are also available for you to enjoy.
Will there be pram parking at kids performances?
All Sydney Opera House foyers are pram accessible, with lifts to the main and western foyers. The public lift to the foyers is accessible from the corridor near the escalators on the Lower Concourse and also in the Western Foyer via the corridor on the Ground Level (at the top of the escalators). Pram parking will be available outside the theatres consistent with COVID-safe rules.
Can I smoke at the Opera House?
The health, safety and wellbeing of everyone at the Sydney Opera House is our top priority. In line with this commitment, the Opera House will become a smoke-free site from Saturday 1 January 2022.
By becoming a smoke-free site, the Opera House seeks to reduce exposure to harmful second-hand smoke, as well as minimise the impact of smoking on the environment, including litter and pollution of the surrounding marine environment.
Future Islands
Baltimore's cult favourite new wave band Future Islands return to Australia for their Sydney Opera House debut, playing the Concert Hall for one night only.
Third show on sale now
Making his thrilling Sydney Opera House debut, Nigerien guitar virtuoso Mdou Moctar is set to shred the Utzon Room with his scorching desert blues.
Marcel and Rami Khalife present Legacy
Virtuoso Arab composer and oudist Marcel Khalifé, joined by his pianist son Rami, returns to the Sydney Opera House, for a night of classics and all-new arrangements that draw upon tradition while looking to the future.
Your gift opens the Opera House to everyone in the community.


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Kutcho Copper Drills 28m of 5.7% CuEq* (including 10.4m of 12% CuEq*); Provides Project Update
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Sept. 11, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Kutcho Copper Corp. (TSXV: KC) (OTC: KCCFF) ("Kutcho Copper" or the "Company") is pleased to announce initial drill results from the Esso deposit at its 100% owned Kutcho high grade copper-zinc project located in British Columbia and enters into the mineral resource expansion drilling phase of the 2018 field program.
Drill hole KC18-038-W1 returned 28m of 2.09% Cu, 6.1% Zn, 65.8 g/t Ag and 0.82 g/t Au or a CuEq of 5.7% including a 10.4m massive sulphide intersection of 3.80% Cu, 14.4% Zn, 134.6g/t Ag and 1.84g/t Au or a CuEq of 12%*.
In addition, drill hole KC18-227-W1 intersected massive to semi-massive sulphide mineralization that returned 1.17% Cu, 2.5% Zn, 45.7g/t Ag and 0.57g/t Au, or 3% CuEq* over 3.2m. Cross sections of drill hole locations and mineralization are provided in Figures 1 and 2 below.
Hole ID From
(m) To
(m) Interval
(m) Cu % Zn % Ag g/t Au g/t CuEq %*
KC18-038-W1 495.0 523.0 28.0 2.09 6.1 65.8 0.82 5.7
including 508.3 518.7 10.4 3.80 14.4 134.6 1.84 12.0
including 512.8 515.5 2.6 3.75 45.7 109.9 1.00 23.7
KC18-227-W1 401.5 404.7 3.2 1.17 2.5 45.7 0.57 3.0
including 404.0 404.7 0.7 1.69 2.0 105.0 1.00 4.7
True width estimated to be 85% length of intercepts.
*CuEq = Copper Equivalent calculated using $2.75/t Cu, $1.10/t Zn, $17.00/Oz Ag, $1250/Oz Au.
Vince Sorace, President & CEO stated, "We have now moved into an exciting phase of the field program as the mineral resource expansion drilling at Kutcho is now in full swing and we anticipate releasing drill results frequently over the course of the next few months. The initial drill holes from Esso represent the unique high-grade opportunity achievable at the Kutcho project."
Kutcho Project Update
The comprehensive field program underway at Kutcho is designed to capture all necessary components to complete the Feasibility Study (FS) that is being led by Ausenco Engineering. Field work completed and ongoing to date consists of:
Hydrogeological drilling and well installation has been completed at both Main and Esso.
All geotechnical drill holes at the Esso deposit have been completed. Geotechnical drilling at the Main deposit is currently underway and is anticipated to be completed by the end of September.
Completion of the surface geotechnical program that consists of a combination of test pit and drill hole investigations for engineering of the site infrastructure and tailings management facility.
Metallurgical drilling at both the Esso and Main deposits is complete. Lab work to refine recoveries and mill process design will continue for the next 3 to 4 months.
Baseline environmental programs including water quality measurements, terrestrial and aquatic wildlife surveys, air quality measurements and meteorological data collection at both the regional and site-specific scales are 50% complete. Components of this comprehensive program will be continuously on-going throughout the 2018 and 2019.
Road engineering field studies have been completed along the proposed corridor to access the project from highway 37.
The Company is also progressing detailed engineering studies, design work and trade-off studies (mining method, mine schedule, plant/throughput studies, tailings management facilities, site infrastructure) towards completion of the Feasibility Study, which is on schedule to be completed in Q2 2019.
Photos accompanying this announcement are available at
http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ada923bf-68b9-47c5-ab1c-f354ad09050d
http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/836567e8-a7b7-4c07-b676-da890e990aaa
TCS Project Update
Kutcho has also commenced a surface program at the TCS property. The TCS property is located 16km east of Dease Lake and covers the Permo-Triassic Kutcho formation of bimodal volcanic rocks, which host the Kutcho deposits approximately 90km to the east. TCS presents a pure greenfields opportunity which has never been drilled. Previous exploration programs have identified mineralized and altered bedrock in creek outcrops and a 600m by 800m Cu-Zn soil anomaly. The 2018 program will consist of prospecting, mapping and soil sampling to potentially delineate drill targets for future campaigns.
QA/QC Statement on Assay Results
Diamond drilling conducted on the Kutcho property for 2018 isby Cyr Drilling International of Winnipeg, Manitoba, using Boyles BBS-37 surface drills, with HQ diameter drill rods. All holes were oriented using an ACT III core orientation tool and after completion of the drill hole, holes were surveyed using a downhole gyroscopic tool rented from Terraplus Inc. of Richmond Hill, Ontario. Kutcho systematically inserts certified standards, blanks, and field duplicates consisting of half core samples into each batch of samples at regular intervals. Samples are placed in sealed bags and shipped directly to the ALS Minerals preparatory laboratory in Whitehorse. The 2018 samples are analyzed by ALS Global of Vancouver, British Columbia. Samples are prepared by crushing the entire sample to 70% passing -2mm, riffle splitting of 250g and pulverizing the split to better than 85% passing 75 microns. The core samples also undergo a robust duplicate assay program that tests rejects and pulps for reproducibility. Samples are also sent to an umpire lab.
The gold assays are determined by Au-AA23 fire assay method which reports in parts per million (ppm) (equivalent to grams per tonne (g/t)). Any samples greater than 9.00g/t gold are analyzed by Au-GRA21 fire assay method with a gravimetric finish.
Base metal assays are first determined using the ME-ICP41 method, which reports results as part per million (ppm). All analyses that reach the overlimits of ME-ICP61 are reanalyzed with an Ore Grade method. The analytical results are verified with the application of industry standard Quality Control and Quality (QA/QC) procedures.
Rory Kutluoglu, B.Sc. P.Geo., a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, has read and approved all technical and scientific information contained in this news release. Mr. Kutluoglu is the Company's Vice President Exploration.
About Kutcho Copper Corp.
Kutcho Copper Corp. is a Canadian resource development company focused on expanding and developing the Kutcho high grade copper-zinc project in northern British Columbia. Committed to social responsibility and the highest environmental standards, the Company intends to progress the Kutcho Project through feasibility and permitting to a positive construction decision.
Vince Sorace
President & CEO, Kutcho Copper Corp.
For further information regarding Kutcho Copper Corp., please email info@kutcho.ca or visit our website at www.kutcho.ca.
This news release contains certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements" with respect to the Company within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential", "indicates", "opportunity", "possible" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although Kutcho Copper believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance, are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results or realities may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such material risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the Company's ability to raise sufficient capital to fund its obligations under its property agreements going forward, to maintain its mineral tenures and concessions in good standing, to explore and develop the Kutcho project or its other projects, to repay its debt and for general working capital purposes; changes in economic conditions or financial markets; the inherent hazards associates with mineral exploration and mining operations, future prices of copper and other metals, changes in general economic conditions, accuracy of mineral resource and reserve estimates, the potential for new discoveries, the potential to convert inferred resources to indicated or measured resources, the potential to optimize the mine plan, the ability of the Company to obtain the necessary permits and consents required to explore, drill and develop the Kutcho project and if obtained, to obtain such permits and consents in a timely fashion relative to the Company's plans and business objectives for the projects; the general ability of the Company to monetize its mineral resources; and changes in environmental and other laws or regulations that could have an impact on the Company's operations, compliance with environmental laws and regulations, aboriginal title claims and rights to consultation and accommodation, dependence on key management personnel and general competition in the mining industry. Forward-looking statements are based on the reasonable beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.
KC.V Kutcho Copper


Michelle, RYT-200 is certified in vinyasa yoga, and has also completed Conscious Birthing Prenatal Teacher Training with Janice Clarfield and Itsy Bitsy Yoga Training for Tots and Tykes with Helen Garabedian. As the mother of two active boys, her greatest yoga moments occur off the mat and on-the-go. Completely transformed by pregnancy, labor and birth, Michelle has found her greatest passion in teaching prenatal and postnatal yoga. Her own children have taught her the most about connecting to the breath, the bittersweetness of impermanence, and the ability for the heart to hold more joy than ever thought possible. As a yoga teacher, she encourages her students to uncover and embrace their inner wisdom to empower them to lead a more truthful, conscious and passionate life. Trained as a doula, Michelle is thrilled to weave together her yoga, mindfulness, labor support, and parenting skills to serve as a resource for pregnant women during this magical and momentous stage of their lives. www.savoritstudios.com.


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Photo by: FLHSMV/Twitter
FHP trooper, a Navy veteran, dies in crash
He was described as a leader within the patrol.
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla — A Florida Highway Patrol trooper died in a crash Friday morning.
According to CBS affiliate WKMG, Trooper Tracy Vickers was driving east when his cruiser hit some construction equipment. The crash happened around 6 a.m. on State Road 408 near Conway Road in Orange County. It shut down all eastbound lanes on S.R. 408.
Trooper Vickers served more than four years with FHP. He was first assigned to Leesburg/Lake County before being moved to Orlando/Orange County. He is a Navy veteran.
"The entire FLHSMV family and his FHP brothers and sisters are heartbroken today as we mourn the loss of Trooper Tracy Vickers," FHP wrote in a statement. "Trooper Vickers was a leader within the patrol and his troop and served as a Field Training Officer, training and mentoring new troopers. He served central Florida and the state for just over 4 years, selflessly protecting Florida's citizens and visitors. Please keep his family in your prayers."
It was not immediately clear what led up to the crash.
"I am heartbroken to hear of the tragic passing this morning of Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Tracy Vickers," Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody wrote in a statement. "Law enforcement officers are some of the most selfless people I know. They risk everything daily to serve the public and keep us all safe. My heart mourns for Trooper Vickers' family and friends, and the entire Florida Highway Patrol community."
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Watch former Hull City star Seb Larsson fire AIK to the brink of Swedish title
The ex-Tiger was sent off for his celebrations after netting a stunning injury-time free-kick against Malmo
Philip Buckingham
Seb Larsson joined Swedish side AIK on a free transfer in June after turning down a new deal from Hull City (Image: AIK Football/Twitter)
Former Hull City midfielder Seb Larsson fired his AIK side another step closer to the Swedish title with a magnificent 96th-minute free-kick last night – only to be then sent off for his wild celebrations.
Larsson produced a moment of brilliance at the death as he dispatched a stunning effort into the top corner to salvage a 1-1 draw for AIK at home to reigning champions Malmo.
That took AIK four points clear at the top of the Allsvenskan, Sweden's top-flight, with just three games to play but Larsson will find himself suspended for a potential title-clincher away to Ostersunds on Thursday.
Seb Larsson made 40 Championship appearances during his one season with Hull City
The 33-year-old taunted his opponents' bench in the aftermath, triggering an ugly brawl that concluded with the ex-Tiger getting his marching orders at the full-time whistle.
Larsson later took to Instagram to apologise for his actions but there is no denying his hero status with AIK following a wonder-goal that has brought silverware within touching distance.
That enticing prospect is likely to ensure Larsson's decision to join AIK at the end of last season is quickly vindicated.
The Sweden international was offered the chance to stick with City when offered a 12-month contract extension but he instead opted to return to his homeland following a 14-year stay in English football with Arsenal, Birmingham and Sunderland.
How Hull City's academy has been transformed from afterthought to talent factory
Larsson could be guaranteed silverware on Thursday if second-placed Norrkoping slip up at Brommapojkarna and AIK then respond by winning away to Ostersunds. AIK have lost only once in 27 league games this season.


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Historic LGBTQ Sites to See During Pride in NYC
By: Melissa Kravitz
The Stonewall Inn | Brian/Flickr
"LGBTQ history is American history," says Ken Lustbader, co-Director of the NYC LGBT Historic Sites Project. Together with his co-founders (and one paid employee), these preservationists and historians identify and document the spaces and places where LGBTQ people made significant contributions to New York City and the nation as a whole. "We're looking at NYC through [an] LGBTQ lens and making this invisible history visible by conveying the rich history of LGBTQ people in NYC," Lustbader says.
The organization has nearly 200 New York City historical sites listed on its website, with an aim to develop the most comprehensive LGBTQ cultural map in New York City, or any city in America. The sites include the obvious, like The Stonewall Inn, where the namesake riots started in 1969, and the broad, like "the entire Theater District," as Lustbader says.
The endeavor reaches all corners of the city, spotlighting Flushing Meadow Park, where openly gay architect Philip Johnson designed the New York State Pavilion for the 1964 World's Fair, and the 19th Century Bronx home of Christine Jorgensen, where she made headlines after her sex reassignment surgery. Prominent LGBTQ people have been marginalized from mainstream history, but Lustbader and his "passion project" colleagues are working to change that.
Still, there are shortcomings: Racial discrimination often prevented LGBTQ people of color from gaining capital to open bars and restaurants, and many important sites, like those of pivotal to 1980s ball culture, have disappeared due to gentrification. Lustbader and his co-directors are working to uncover underrepresented narratives and better include people of color in their preservation efforts.
The team is also preparing an app and visiting local classrooms to, "educate the next generation that LGBTQ Americans have really contributed to society, politics, art, literature and the general health of our country," Lustbader says.
With the project's resources and walking tours, any New Yorker can dip into queer history at LGBTQ heritage sites citywide. Here are a few to start with:
The Stonewall Inn
Yep, this is the bar known for the historic June 1969 riots, when queer activists fought back against discriminatory police raids. Lustbader says that it's important for visitors to realize that this is not the "birthplace of the modern liberation movement," and calling it such can minimize the previous activism led to that pivotal night. Recognizing this and what preceded this turning point, and understanding the streets where all the action took place is a huge part of comprehending LGBTQ history.
Courtesy of Julius'
One of New York City's longest-standing gay bars, this is a second home to LGBTQ people eager to dig into a burger or share a few drinks with newfound friends. While the interiors have historic charm — the building dates back to 1826 and housed a grocery store before it was converted to a bar in 1864 — its power is derived from the history of the people who supported it along the way. Julius' survived as a speakeasy during Prohibition, and began attracting a gay clientele in the decades that followed. In April 1966 (pre-Stonewall), it sparked a "sip in," to fight a New York State Liquor Authority regulation prohibiting bars and restaurants from serving homosexuals.
Julio Rivera Corner
A solemn place to visit, this site memorializes Julio Rivera, a gay New Yorker who was murdered by three skinheads in 1990. The tragedy helped generate political movement, especially in Queens, for LGBTQ visibility and fight against discrimination.
Times Square | Manu Padilla/Shutterstock
While sites like Stonewall are famously important to America's queer history, others may be more subtle. Lustbader recommends looking at the Times Square area through a new lens, to comprehend the massive role LGBTQ people (whether out or not) have had Broadway and theater culture. "It's amazing to be able to understand that so many theaters have such a rich LGBT overlay," he says.
Edna St. Vincent Millay Residence
The narrowest house in Manhattan is worth a visit for history buffs and architecture fanatics alike. Bisexual poet Edna St. Vincent Millay lived here from 1923-1925, writing in cramped quarters decades before creatives could toil in the relative comfort of WeWork spaces. The townhouse sold for $3.25 million in 2013, and the backyard garden (private access only, sorry) is #goals.
The Ramble | Ryan DeBerardinis/Shutterstock
The Ramble
It's easy to take the beautiful oasis in the middle of Manhattan at face value: Nice grass, few garbage heaps, plenty of room for outdoor imbibing. But the green acreage also had deep significance to gay New Yorkers and visitors throughout the 19th Century. The Ramble was a well-known cruising spot, and the city's early Gay Pride Marches ventured from Christopher Street to Central Park.
Audre Lorde Residence
Black lesbian writer and activist Audre Lorde lived here with her partner and two children from 1972 to 1987. Here, she worked on various books and poems, and also co-founded Kitchen Table: Women of Color Press with black lesbian feminist Barbara Smith.
Alice Austen House Museum
Alice Austen House
This picturesque historic Dutch farmhouse (built in 1690) was home to photographer Alice Austen and her partner, Gertrude Tate in the early 19th Century. A National Historic Landmark since 1993, it now showcases Austen's work, hosts weddings and opens its picturesque grounds to visitors. And at $5 a pop, it may be the most reasonable museum admission in all of New York.
Courtesy of Albatross
Albatross Bar
The oldest gay bar in Queens, the old guard may remember this dive right off Astoria Boulevard as a lesbian bar, while recent regulars will know it as a straight up queer bar with Drag Race viewing parties and live drag queen performances. Albatross is full of lore, and frequently packed with locals and regulars vying to ensure its continued success.
Click here to read the article in Thrillist.