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This blog maps my place as a partially-blind academic in a resolutely sighted world. It looks at blindness in history, literature, art, film and society through my out-of-focus gaze.
Reading in Detail
I have been working on my 'Blindness' research project for a few months now and this weekend I will be presenting my first paper on the work at the Tenth Annual Conference of the Society of Dix-Neuviemistes in Limerick, Ireland. The paper looks at ways in which accidental or apparently insignificant references to eye-contact might dismantle the prevailingly negative metaphors associated with blindness in nineteenth-century France. My paper is all about reading in detail and this approach has grown out of the specific way that I have always read. To read small print I use a very characteristic pair of glasses which magnify the text so that I can read even the tiniest print in relative comfort. I got my first pair of reading glasses when I was 8 or 9 and have had many pairs since.
The drawback of this way of reading is that because I have to hold the text so close to my eyes, I can only see one or two words at a time. I used to see this way of reading as a disadvantage. It is considerably slower than the skim-reading of the sighted and it also makes me feel isolated from the world around me and vulnerable when I do this kind of reading in public. But recently I have realised that my way of reading has its advantages. The fact that I am attentive to each word means that I sometimes notice things that other readers have missed. I am fascinated by a text's microcosmic detail and the way in which a word or phrase from one text might resonate with a word or phrase from another. This way of reading has developed into a methodology which now informs all the academic work I do.
Helen Abbott's fascinating blog post on the musicality of poetry reminded me that that the other senses can also be used to 'read' in detail. In my paper, I assert that sight always comes at the top of the hierarchy of the senses. I wonder how Helen and our other fellow attendees will feel about that? I suspect Cheryl Krueger - whose wonderful writing on the smells of the Paris metro has made me pay much more attention to my own sense of smell - would disagree. Perhaps the conference will give us a way of re-evaluating the hierarchy of the senses and thus a means of challenging the negativization of blindness which seems so embedded in our society.
Posted by Hannah Thompson at 15:48 No comments:
Labels: academia, blindness, French nineteenth-century novel, reading, Society of Dix-Neuviemistes, the gaze
The Paralympic Problem
Almost everyone I know applied for (and mostly failed to get, but that is a different story...) tickets for the London 2012 Olympics. But I am the only person I know who applied for tickets for the London 2012 Paralympics. On Saturday September 1st I am taking my family to see athletics, 5-a-side football, table tennis and wheelchair basketball at the Olympic Park in Stratford. I am looking forward to watching elite sportspeople compete at the highest levels. I am also looking forward to showing my children that disability is not a barrier to sporting achievement, and that the human body is an incredibly beautiful machine in all its forms.. But I am not looking forward to the moment when they ask me why the Paralympics is not as popular or important as the Olympics. Why, in Trafalgar Square, is the clock counting down to the Paralympics a little bit less impressive than the one counting down to the Olympics? Why will there be not quite as much coverage of the Paralympics on television? Why are their schoolmates unimpressed by the news that Raffy and Zak are going to see paralympic athletics?
I am faced with a problem. I love the idea of the Paralympics: there is no doubt that it promotes disability awareness and gives athletes who could not otherwise the opportunity to compete in an elite sporting environment. But is the rigid segregation between able-bodied and disabled helpful here? I am worried that having an overtly separate sporting event encourages the general public to see the Paralympics (and thus its athletes and then disabled people generally) as second-best sportspeople and second-class citizens. The first incarnation of the Paralympic Games was the International Wheelchair Games which took place at Stoke Manderville in 1948 to coincide with the 1948 London Olympics. Now that the Paralympics has become an established part of the Olympic calendar, perhaps it is time, in this year when the Olympics and the Paralympics return to Britain, to rethink their relationship with each other.
Why not run the Olympic and Paralympic events alongside each other, on the same day and in front of the same crowd? Better yet, why not let Olympic and Paralympic sportspeople compete together? South African 400m runner Oscar Pistorius has qualified (some say controversially) for a place in the 2012 Olympics. What about encouraging others to do the same? What would basketball look like if it was played by a mixture of able-bodied and wheelchair athletes? How would football change if blind and sighted players were on the pitch together? Or, why not blindfold ALL the players and see what would happen then?
**UPDATE** 28th Agusut 2012: on the eve of the Paralympics Opening Ceremony, these comments by Pistorius illustrate the changing relationship between the Olympics and the Paralympics.
Perhaps one of the reasons that the general public do not seem to take the Paralympics seriously, is a perception that it must be easier to qualify as a Paralympic athlete than an Olympic one. Unfortunately my only direct experience of disabled sport bears this preconception out. When I was 13 I was quite a fast runner. I wasn't good enough to compete for the school but I could do a pretty respectable 100m. Despite being only above average at running in school, I was deemed good enough to qualify for and compete in a nationwide Disabled Games at Stoke Manderville. I remember that I was the only person competing in my particular category, and that even though I did nothing like my fastest time, I still won a gold medal. I felt odd about this situation at the time and now I think I know why. I was a good athlete, but not a great one. I didn't deserve this medal. Had I not been registered blind, I certainly would not have won it. I think the powers-that-be were taking over-compensation a little bit too far by rewarding me in this way. Perhaps the Paralympic games would be taken more seriously if its selection criteria were more demanding. I would rather come last in a race with other able-bodied athletes than first in a race that I am the only one running.
I recently heard about a young blind athlete who is competing against her able-bodied peers with her guide dog. I'm sure that if she were running in events for the blind, Sami Stoner would win all the time. But this article suggests that it makes much more sense to see Sami as a runner who happens to have a disability, rather than as a disabled runner.
Annoyingly, this article occasionally falls into the trap of negativising disability. By saying: 'Stone is legally blind but competes...' and 'approaching life with uncommon verve despite her disability...', the writer suggests that her blindness is a hindrance to be got over or struggled against. Surely Sami is good enough to compete for her school because she has the stamina and discipline of a cross-country runner. Probably her uncommon verve comes from her personality, her upbringing and her parents' genes. But despite its flaws, this article is important because it gives a vision of what an Olympic race could look like. I hope I can get tickets for the Olympics the year that blind athletes with guide dogs first run alongside their sighted peers.
With thanks to Michael Gratzke for telling me about Sami.
Labels: Olympics, paralympics
Depictions of blindness are surprisingly common in film. But they almost always have a symbolic function. If cinema is a celebration of the visual, then blindness represents its opposite. It is a resoundingly negative state which stands for lack (usually of insight or understanding), marginality, exclusion.
At first glance, this indeed seems to be the case with Leos Carax's 1991 film Les Amants du Pont-Neuf. Michele (Juliette Binoche) is losing her sight. The apparently incurable deterioration of her vision, and a failed relationship (whose end may or may not be related to her sight loss) have led to her living rough on the streets of Paris. As Michele's sight worsens, so does her physical state: she becomes dirtier, shabbier and more reliant on her vagrant boyfriend Alex (Denis Lavant).
Alex uses Michele's failing sight against her to keep her with him on the bridge. When a cure is found for her condition, and radio stations start broadcasting appeals about her, Alex deliberately moves the radio so that she will accidently knock it into the Seine. Michele angrily blames her worsening sight for this mishap: the viewer, who, like Alex, can see more than Michele, knows otherwise. Michele's blindness is transforming her into a lost and dependant victim who relies heavily on her selfish boyfriend.
If Michele's sight loss is equated with misery and abjection, the regaining of her vision marks her reinsertion into bourgeois society: after her operation Michele is prettier, richer, happier and once again in a successful long-term relationship - this time with her saviour-eye surgeon.
If the film had ended there it would be easy to criticise it for continuing the tradition of negative filmic portrayals of blindness. Blindness is something to be cured, eliminated, overcome. And what could be more natural than marrying the man who gives you back the gift of sight? But when Michele meets Alex on the bridge at the end of the film, she throws away her stable middle-class lifestyle in favour of an unknown future with him. We cannot escape the uncomfortable fact that Michele's life is better when her blindness is eliminated. But the film's surprisingly impulsive ending does encourage us to question the assumption that regaining her sight will solve all Michele's problems.
This potentially positive (or at least not necessarily negative) depiction of blindness is substantiated by the film's interest in how and what Michele sees. It is rare to find films which show the viewer the world as a blind or partially blind person sees it. No cinema viewer wants to look at a blank screen or a series of blurry and fragmented images for any length of time. And film makers (for obvious and understandable reasons), are deeply invested in the primacy and the perfection of the visual. But it is precisely Carax's interest in the visual, and in what happens when the visual becomes impaired, which allows him to show us the world from Michele's point of view. One example of this is the scene in which Michele watches Alex performing his fire breathing display. Michele's eyes are dazzled and hurt by the sudden irruptions of bright flames into the night sky. Not only do we see her reactions to this discomfort, we are also shown, through the jerky camera movements and disorienting effect of the flames, what it might be like to see with her eyes.
My favourite example of Carax's clever approach to Michele's sight comes in the scene after she may or may not have shot her ex-lover Julien in the eye because he won't let her paint him one last time. It is Bastille Day 1989 and the streets of Paris are lined with spectators waiting for the traditional 14 July military parade. As Michele runs back to the bridge we are shown a military helicopter flying overhead which transforms into a flock of birds and then back into a whole squadron of helicopters. I had always read this scene (ignore the dubbing: dialogue is not important here) as a manifestation of Michele's guilt. If she has indeed just murdered Julien, she is imagining that she is already being pursued by the police, seeing threat where there is none.
But recently, I have realised that this scene demonstrates a crucial way that the partially blind relate to the world: instead of immediately knowing what things are, I see a vague shape and then use a mixture of guesswork, context and intuition to work out what it probably is. I do this instantaneously, almost without noticing, and most of the time I am right. If I see a tall dark shape standing on the pavement, I usually think it is a person. As I approach I get ready to give hm or her a friendly smile, until I realise it is in fact a wheelie bin. If I notice a small, round, black object in the bath I always assume it is a spider. I sumon my husband to rescue me from it and then try to laugh at myself when he points out that it is just a clump of hair. Michele sees some fast moving, dark specs in the sky. The context of Bastille Day, perhaps coupled with her guilt, makes her think they are helicopters. But the viewer thinks that they are more likely a flock of startled pigeons (especially as the traditional flight-past has already been shown in a previous scene).
The beauty of this scene lies in the fact that both images are allowed to co-exist. Through the way they merge into each other Carax asks us to think about how different people see. He reminds us that seeing is not just about looking, it is also (maybe mostly) about interpreting. This is certainly the case in the cinema. But Carax shows that it is also the case in life. Filmakers who, unlike Carax, simply perpetuate the tired stereotypes of blindness are surely missing the whole point of such a visual medium. Imagine how different Amelie would be if the world was (also) seen through the blind man's eyes.
Posted by Hannah Thompson at 12:39 1 comment:
Labels: blindness in film
Erotic Braille
I decided to learn braille in January. In fact it was my 2012 New Year's Resolution. I wanted to see what it would be like to read with my fingers rather than with my eyes. And I wanted to see if I could do it. I thought it would be really hard but in fact I found it surprisingly easy. But what surprised me the most was how much I enjoyed learning it. I used the RNIB's Dot-to-Dot course which is a self-teach course for adult touch learners. What I particularly liked about the course was its sense of humour. It was written in a slightly quirky style and as I learnt more letters I found that most of the practise sentences were funny, and some were even a little bit rude. Every evening after work I would sit on the sofa, my eyes closed and my feet up, drinking tea with one hand and giggling out loud as I read slightly naughty sentences with the other.
But it wasn't just the subject matter which delighted me. Being able to read braille has given me another way of accessing words. It means that when I go to the British Museum I can read the labels myself rather than having to get someone to read them for me. It means that I can distinguish medicines inside the bathroom cabinet without having to put the light on. Like that Dr Seuss character, I can read with my eyes shut, I can read in the dark, I can read lying down, I can read in secret.
It has also turned reading into an engrossing and all-encompassing physical experience. Because I am still a braille beginner I have to decipher every letter as my fingers move along each line. And to do this my whole body seems to concentrate on the tip of the index finger of my right hand. I become still, focused and full of a kind of quiet serenity which reminds me of the feeling I got once at a meditation workshop.
Audio books are a great idea in theory, but in practise they always send me to sleep within minutes. This is because they turn reading into a passive experience. As a child my favourite audio book was The Railway Children and I knew the first paragraph off by heart. But I rarely got past the arrival of the men from the government before I was drifting off either literally or metaphorically. Reading braille is a whole different experience: it anchors me to the words as they resonate through my body.
Perhaps the very corporeality of braille reading is why the RNIB braille catalogue carries a surprisingly large selection of erotic fiction, including a very enticing collection of erotica for women. I am curious to know what reading erotica in braille would feel like. Until I get faster I imagine it would be a rather frustrating experience. But I suspect it would also lead to hitherto unsuspected realms of readerly pleasure.
Labels: audio books, braille, RNIB
Last night I watched a film for the first time in my life. I have been to the cinema hundreds of time and watched thousands of videos and DVDs, but yesterday I realised what watching a film really means.
We left the boys with Grandma and took the tandem out to the cinema to see Bel Ami. As I was booking the tickets, I noticed that the performance was audio described (it turns out that all Odeon films are audio described at every screening. Who knew?). It had never occurred to me to bother with audio description before. After all, I can see more than enough to get a great deal of enjoyment out of films and have been watching, teaching and writing about them for years. What could audio description give me that I wasn't getting already?
But I thought I'd give it a go, if only so that I could write about it here. As the usher handed me a headset I wondered if audio description was just a politically correct waste of time and money.
I could not have been more wrong. Hearing a little bit of extra detail as I was watching the film was a hugely enriching experience. It was unobtrusive, informative and engaging. And it made me realise that there are three elements of film that I have been missing.
Firstly, the describer helpfully told me who people were. The first time a character appeared they were referred to in a gently informative way: 'a young man enters a crowded bar' or 'a tired-looking woman climbs the stairs'. So far so obvious. But on subsequent appearances the character was helpfully named and usefully situated: 'Duroy is sitting in Forestier's office', 'Clotilde is lying naked on the bed in the love nest'. This elegantly overcomes my biggest problem with film. Just as in real life, I struggle to recognise people when they reappear in a new or different context, especially if they have changed their clothes or hairstyle. Bel-Ami features an array of handsome men all dressed alike in the ubiquitous nineteenth-century French habit noir. Without a friendly voice whispering their names in my ear I would have spent the film failing to tell them apart.
Secondly, audio description is extremely good at drawing attention to apparently inconsequential details. Without it I would not have known that Clotilde likes to have a cherry in her drink or that Duroy wept when Forestier died. Audio description isn't necessarily about the big picture, and it doesn't have time to recount the truly insignificant, but it does linger on the details which are hard to see but which add depth and meaning to the film.
The third, and most enlightening benefit of audio description is much more subtle. I was struck by the fact that the describer always paid a great deal of attention to how people communicated wordlessly, particularly with their eyes: 'Duroy looks at Madeleine with a mixture of sorrow and reesentment'; 'Clotilde's eyes flash with hatred and contempt'. I have never been very good at interpreting facial expressions and usually don't even bother trying. I judge people's mood by the sound of their voice and the way they behave. So I was amazed to discover how much facial expression can tell you about a person. I had no idea that facial expression was so important nor that people could pass messages in that way. I began to wonder how many silent conversations I had missed by not knowing that they were even going on in the first place.
Audio description is not a sop to accessibility legislation. It is a highly sophisticated supplement to the filmic experience which has the potential to become an art form in its own right. It has been cleverly conceived by someone who knows which parts of visual culture are particularly mystifying to the blind and partially sighted. Facial expressions are described not just because they are difficult to see, but also because their importance is difficult to understand. Audio description does not just tell you what is going on in the film, it tells you how the sighted use their eyes to engage in wordless conversation.
As we left the cinema I felt oddly bereft. I was already missing my invisible friend interpreting the sighted world for me through my headset. How illuminating it would be, I thought, if audio description existed in real life and not just at the movies.
Posted by Hannah Thompson at 21:38 5 comments:
Labels: audio description, French nineteenth-century novel
The Fabulous Kindness of Amelie Poulain?
In Jean-Pierre Jeunet's 2001 film Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain, the eponymous heroine devotes herself to a succession of fairytale-Godmother-like good deeds. One such endeavour consists of guiding a blind man across a road and along a busy street before depositing him at the entrance to the local metro station.
Watch video (in French)
As they go along, Amélie gives him a gossipy audio-description of the people and shops they pass. On one level, this episode is a piece of harmless fun. It demonstrates the vibrancy of the rue Lepic quartier whilst highlighting Amélie's eye for amusing detail and flair for language. But this extract is also problematic. Not only does Amélie fail to ask the blind man where he wants to go, she doesn't give him the chance to get a word in edgeways. She points out the smell of the greengrocer's melon (a smell the man would surely have recognised for himself) without bothering to grab a piece for him to taste. She tells him what is on sale at the butcher's without checking that he has already done his shopping. And she describes delicious-sounding cheeses to him without asking him if he'd like to stop and choose some. I find food shopping in France a beguiling yet frustrating business: there is just too much choice and it all smells so wonderful. I love French cheese but always feel like I am missing out by not being able to read all the labels and make an educated selection - if I met Amélie in Montmatre, I'd insist (if she ever stopped talking) that she describe the cheese to me in mouth-watering detail rather than rushing me past the shop at dizzying speed. But here she keeps the blind man trapped in his own passivity, thus perpetuating the myth that the blind are helpless and vulnerable.
Amélie's actions are certainly well-intentioned, and the dazzling way that the blind man's face is lit up at the end of the clip suggests that Jeunet too thinks that this must have been a genuinely wonderful experience for him. But this way of thinking suggests that the blind are lacking something in their relationship with the world which they must rely on the kind-hearted to give them. That a world without sight is a world without knowledge, sensation and community. That sight is better than no sight. This is perhaps not a surprising reaction from a film-maker. But what if this blind man relates to the world in a wholly different way? What if the pictures he gets from hearing, touching, smelling and tasting the world are just as fulfilling as Amélie's and Jeunet's fetishization of vision? Or, more worryingly, what if Amélie's unsolicited arrival in his life has shown him a world that he was not even aware of? Will he be left happy and grateful to have experienced more fully the world around him? Or will he be left feeling miserable and inadequate, having discovered that others prize most highly a sense that he does not share.
The Association Valentin Hauy has recently produced a series of short films about how the sighted can best relate to the blind. I'd like to think that these films were made as a reaction to Jeunet's film. I like them for their humour and common sense. They deal with everyday situations in which the sighted might interact with the blind: on the street, at a restaurant, at work. Unfortunately these are in unsubtitled French but the message of these films is simple: treat the blind as independent and autonomous individuals rather than assuming that you know better than they do how best to relate to the world.
Labels: blindness in film, white cane
Michele Leggott
Michele Leggott is a poet from New Zealand who has lost her sight. On this page you can find a list of her poems. My favourite poem is 'Do you see me?' which is in the Audio section. It uses language to try and capture the pain of failing sight. I found this poem deeply moving because it is not a wholly negative account. The anguish evoked is immediately countered with 'no anguish'. In this poem, the poet moves from a profoundly visual place where the sky is a 'clear blue', to a different land. It is true that this move is described with the potentially negative 'falling'. But this is not a poem of exile or trappedness. Here 'falling' seems to be closer to the exhilaration of sky diving. The 'wide white threshold' that the blinded poet crosses opens up new possibilities in another world, where light has gone but where it has been replaced by something else. By what? The fact that this poem remains long after the light has faded suggests that transient and temporary luminosity is followed by the permanence of language. I like this poem for its measured hopefulness and for its suggestion of alternative, even enticing worlds. It dares to suggest that blindness need not be a bad thing. But I like it best for the poetic voice at its centre. It is rare to hear the blind poet speak, particularly the female one. As the title of the poem suggests, the blind are more often than not imaged as objects to be viewed, frequently clandestinely, by the sighted. But in this poem, the poet turns the question voiced in its title on its head. In a world where light has vanished, the question is meaningless because no-one needs to see anyone anymore. As I sit listening to MIchele Leggott read her poem I silently answer her question: 'No, I cannot see you, but I can hear you'.
Many thanks to Naomi Foyle for introducing me to Michele Leggott's work.
Labels: blindness, Michele Leggott, poetry
Cathy Kudlick
Four months ago I posted a request on the French Studies discussion list francofil. I wanted to find other academics working on disability in French Studies. I got several very interesting and fruitful replies which have led to productive e-mail exchanges and possible future collaborations. But I got one e-mail which quite simply changed my life. It was from Cathy Kudlick of the University of California, Davis. Cathy is a historian who has published extensively on the blind in France. She gave me lots of invaluable bibliographical leads and introduced me to the work of Zina Weygand and to the writings of Thérèse-Adèle Husson, thus helping to shape my new research project on representations of blindness in nineteenth-century French literature. She also told me about Georgina Kleege's marvellous book Sight Unseen (Yale U.P., 1999) about which I will post soon. But Cathy also gave me something much more precious. By telling me her story, Cathy showed me that it was okay - more than okay - to be a partially blind person in a resolutely sighted world. I had never before come across a partially blind academic. Here was someone who had dealt with exactly the same challenges that I was facing. How do you involve students in a discussion when you cannot see their faces? How do you network at a conference when you cannot distinguish any of the colleagues in the coffee area even when you know them all personally? Her account of how she accepted, even embraced her blindness, how she stopped denying her difference, allowed me to finally think clearly about how I fit into the world. I am not sighted. Yet I am not blind. Like Cathy I occupy a 'special' in-between place. What I have realised, since reading this article, is that it is up to me how I define that space. By taking control of my blindness, by choosing when and how to use a cane, by relishing the challenge of learning braille, but mostly by seeing blindness as a positive thing, a thing of new possibilities and joys, I have become a different person.
Labels: academia, blindness, Cathy Kudlick
PC David Rathband
I was very sad to hear the news of David Rathband's death on the radio this morning.
Rathband was in the public eye since the day he was shot and blinded by Moat and he had to undertake a much scrutinised journey to adapt to life as a blind person. He must have thought that he was always being watched, that he was forever on display. The very fact of his own sight loss transformed him into an object of public scrutiny. The lexicon of bravery which inevitably surrounded his situation transformed his everyday life into a fight, a struggle, a battle. This insistence by society that blindness is something to be overcome, defeated, triumphed over is deeply unhelpful. It posits blindness as an insurmountable obstacle, something which needs to be 'got over'. If you listen to the interview with Peter White on the radio this morning, you will see how the repeated references to 'coping' and 'adjusting' stands out. Isn't there a way of seeing blindness is a more positive light? I do not want to deny the feelings of loss, mourning, bereavement that follow sight loss, especially when that loss is sudden and violently unjust. I have only very recently begun to come to terms with my own partial blindness, which I have been living with for 38 years. I still get inexplicably angry and frustrated when I spill a cup of tea or stumble over a step. I can't even begin to imagine what it must feel like to have your sight ripped away from you in such a traumatic manner.
But at least part of David Rathban's feelings of grieving came from society's insistence on the primacy of sight. It doesn't have to be that way. We have 5 senses. Why privilege the visual to such an extent? How have we contrived to create a world in which a blind person doesn't feel able to live?
I'd like to imagine a world in which touch and taste are no longer seen as second-best, back-up senses. What if children were taught to read braille at school along with print? What if the feel of clothes mattered as much as their appearance? What if we cared as much about how food tasted as we do about how it looks? What if the sound of a person's voice attracted as much attention as their appearance? Somehow our society has become a place which refuses to look beyond the visual. I wonder if PC David Rathband's death will shock us into reappraising our oculocentrism. I doubt it. But at the very least, I hope it doesn't send the far more damaging message that sight loss is destructive and ultimately life-destroying.
(March 25th: I have just come across this very funny and well-written blog post which brilliantly captures the general feeling that blindness is a hurdle to be overcome.)
Labels: blindness, David Rathband, Peter White
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More from Blind Spot:
- Read my article about audio description, the Oscars and a new French AD award in The Conversation
- Read my review of Flight Paths by Extant and Yellow Earth in Disability Arts Online
- Listen to me discussing my new book Reviewing Blindness in French Fiction for the Disability History Association podcast here.
- Listen to my UK Disability History Month Lecture: 'Blindness, Art and Disability Gain' here.
- Read my survey article on French Disability Studies here.
- Read my article on the Blind Creations conference in The Guardian here.
- Hear my interviews on BBC Radio 4 here and here
- Watch my video reflection for the 'What I See Project'.
- Read my guest post for the Touching the Book exhibition blog.
- Read my guest post for Women Writers, Women Books
- Read my article 'My Blind Spot, My Students and Me' in The Guardian here.
- See Blind Spot listed in the Top 100 Special Education Resources on the Web by PhD in Special Education
- See Blind Spot listed in the Top 10 UK Disability Blogs by The Disabled Shop
- See Blind Spot on Top Disability Websites
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Hannah Thompson
I am a Professor of French and Critical Disability Studies at Royal Holloway, University of London. I am interested in representations of the body, more specifically disability. I am particularly interested in blindness and how the sighted and partially sighted and the blind and partially blind relate to each other. Follow me on Twitter @BlindSpotHannah
Reviewing Blindness in French Fiction out now!
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Face Blindness
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The Federal Reserve us a private corporation. FEMA can form citizen work brigades and take control fo the food, water, and energy supplies. The CIA admitted to using American citizens in bizarre mind control experimentation. The INS has issued Visas to WTC bombers - after 09-11-01! The DEA, INS, Border Patrol, and Customs have been found guilty of drug trafficking.
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text:
Michigan State University student killed in hit-and-run crash near Rochester
ROCHESTER − Police are looking for the driver involved in a hit-and-run crash that killed a Michigan State University student.
Benjamin Kable, 22, from Shelby Township, was a pedestrian in the southbound lane of Rochester Road, south of Whims Lane in Oakland Township, at about 5:49 a.m. Sunday and was hit by a vehicle traveling on Rochester Road, according to an Oakland County Sheriff's Office press release.
The driver fled and Kable was pronounced dead at the scene.
Deputies do not know whether Kable was walking or standing in the southbound lane when he was struck. Police continue searching for the driver of the vehicle.
On Thursday, the sheriff's office reported that deputies had seized a white BMW 3-series sedan not far from the scene they believe was involved in the crash. Deputies also have identified a person of interest, but no arrests had been made as of Thursday and the investigation is ongoing, according to a press release.
Investigators had described the suspected driver as a woman in her mid-30s.
Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said a citizen provided crucial information that led to authorities to the vehicle and person of interest.
"I knew the community would do everything they could to help us locate the driver involved in this tragic death," he said in a press release. "We greatly appreciate when people step up and I am optimistic that we are headed down the right path."
Kable, known as Ben or "BK," according to his obituary, was a 2018 graduate of Rochester High School. He was studying electrical engineering at MSU and had grown passionate for home forging or blacksmithing.
A memorial service was scheduled for Friday at Kensington Church in Troy.
Contact Mark Johnson at majohnson2@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ByMarkJohnson.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


In case you missed it, book cart drills are a real thing. You read that right! Across this wonderful country librarians are choreographing synchronized routines using book carts and participating in competitions. Just in time for the holidays, the San Jose State University King Library put out this awesome video, complete with Santa hats and holiday trimmings on the carts!


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So in my travel guide to Amsterdam, I mentioned the Jaz in the City Hotel, but now, I'm just going to tell you about the hotel in itself. Before I tell you about the hotel, I'm going to give you a little story at first. I started my trip to Amsterdam in the morning in Paris, but a calm Paris morning, turned into a hectic afternoon. I was running from the Metro to my train because I got lost in the Paris Nord station, so super stressed. Then I got to my train and all was well. I'm in the comfortable seat and for the next three hours, it is just me and the train. When I get to Amsterdam, I get off the train and walk to the Metro, take a quick 10-15 minute train ride to the station nearest my hotel, hop off, short walk, check in, and BAM. I walk into paradise.
The Jaz Amsterdam is not your average European hotel and I have stayed in a lot, but this one defied all of my expectations. The hotel isn't just amazing for the spectacularly soft and other-worldly big beds, which were great to sleep in, but for many other reasons as well. Even though this was a hotel and each person has separate rooms, I felt a community vibe from the hotel from the minute I checked in. The staff was friendly and welcoming, one even recognized my post on their social media wall. It was an amazing time, not to mention, great food from their breakfast and the restaurant, but also, great people inside the hotel.
Now I'm going to tell you about the room! As I said at the beginning of this post, I walked into paradise when I go the the Jaz Amsterdam. The rooms are spacious and huge, with amazing wood and nostalgic décor, with a colour scheme that runs through the entire hotel. As I said above and in the guide to Amsterdam, the beds are huge and luscious, but it felt like home to me. The headboard has a wood burning of a girl with musical headphones on that highlights the main point of the hotel: Jaz(z) in the City. The entire hotel was teeming with the music inspired flow and not to mention, they played great music everywhere you turned in the hotel. There's a giant chaise and lounge area on the window sill where I would sit, grab a cup of tea and my laptop, and just work and chill. There were plenty of days when I got back to the room after a long day out and about, but I came back, sat on the window sill, and just watched the sun set. It was crazy how late the sun would go down (I talked about it in my vlog because it freaked me out so much), so even at 9pm (YES 9PM), I could watch the sunset over Amsterdam from the Jaz in the City. The shower is huge and the room just has a great vibe, just like the hotel and I can't even begin to rave about this hotel. Everything in the hotel is shiny and new, but it still has a homey feel.
Oh the calm. The calm of the city of Amsterdam was what I found at the Jaz Amsterdam. I was able to sit and relax after a long day out in the city, but I also had the option to go out and have fun at a moment's notice, without having to go too far out of the city in order get around and have some fun. The Jaz in the City is an amazing hotel and I had such an amazing time at the hotel. The next time I'm in Amsterdam (aka next summer hopefully), I'm planning on staying here and trust me, these pictures, don't even come close to doing the room justice! I definitely say check out the Jaz in the City, because you won't regret it!
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Purchase this beautiful coffee table book featuring the children at Chandrakal Home of Hope. All proceeds from the book go to directly to the kids to further their education from elementary school all the way through college.
$30 plus $6.10 for shipping and handling.


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7 Remarkable Israeli "Ancient" Hotels
Posted On 25 Nov 2016 / 0 Comment
Israel is home to many incredible historical and archaeological sites. With tourism being so popular in the Holy Land, a few of these "ancient" buildings have been re-purposed for anyone looking for a unique overnight accommodation. Check out our seven remarkable "ancient" hotels!
Hotel Alegra
(photo captured above)
Hotel Alegra in Jerusalem's Ein Karem neighborhood encompasses an authentic crusader inn from roughly 1,000 years ago, as well as a 200-year-old former synagogue across the way. Hebrew University professor Moshe Amirav, who is the owner of the older building (which is now leased to Alegra) states that to the best of his knowledge, the crusader inn is the oldest house in Ein Karem and the oldest hotel still standing in Israel.
The Efendi Hotel
The Efendi Hotel in Akko opened in 2012, combining two 19th century Ottoman-era mansions reconstructed under the supervision of the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA). Artisans were flown in from Italy to restore the hand-painted ceilings, as well as a fresco of the city of Istanbul that was created in 1878 in honor of the new Orient Express train station. The hotel features a meticulously restored 400-year-old Turkish bath found on site, as well as a wine bar in a renovated wine cellar dating back roughly 900 years into the past.
Ruth Rimonim
Ruth Rimonim in the Old City of Safed (Upper Galilee) is a refurbished stone building originally housing a Turkish khan (inn) during the 17th century. It hosts 77 unique and individually decorated rooms.
The Market House Hotel
The Market House Hotel in Jaffa, next to the famous Jaffa Clock Tower and Flea Market, opened in late 2014 and contains the archaeological remains of a Byzantine chapel preserved for viewing underneath the glass floor of the lobby.
Casa Dona Gracia Hotel and Living Museum
Casa Dona Gracia Hotel and Living Museum in Tiberias recreates the Turkish palace of the 16th century Jewish businesswoman, philanthropist, and diplomat Doña Gracia Mendes Nasi (born Beatrice de Luna) in 1510 in Portugal. In 1558, she leased the Tiberias area from the Ottoman ruler Suleiman the Magnificent to house Jewish refugees of the Spanish Inquisition. Though the main building is only 25 years old, it is built around a square and four pillars from that Ottoman period, also containing furniture crafted nearly 300 years ago. Each floor in the 66-room hotel is decorated in the style of one of the Renaissance-era cities in which Doña Gracia lived: Lisbon, Antwerp, Venice, and Constantinople.
Villa Tiferet
Villa Tiferet in Safed is a restored 400-year-old building in the Artists Quarter that originally belonged to a complex that included an Eastern Orthodox Church and later, a school. Canadian immigrants Amir and Nicole Bem restored and modernized the structure and opened it for business in 2015, attracting mainly multi-generational families on holiday. The villa sleeps 13 people and has large common areas including a rooftop, two courtyards, a library, a family room with a fireplace, an office, a dining room that seats 16, and a modern kitchen.
Akkotel
Akkotel is built into the walls of the Old City in Akko, a renovated historical building constructed by the Ottoman Turks in the second half of the 18th century to temporarily house army officers. It later became a school and then a courthouse under the British Mandate. After seven years of renovations, Akkotel boutique hotel opened to the public in September of 2007. Sixteen unique rooms are available for accommodations.
High Speed from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem
Hiking the Golan Trail
VIDEO: Experience The Wonder That Is Israel
Great Israeli Road Trips: Jerusalem To Tel Aviv
Weekly Inspiration – Hebrews 12:12-13


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In de ordetheorie, een deelgebied van de wiskunde, is een welpreorde of welquasiorde een preorde die de volgende eigenschappen heeft:
 er bestaan geen oneindige, strict aflopende rijen (dat wil zeggen, de orde is welgefundeerd); en
 er bestaan geen oneindige deelverzamelingen waarvan de elementen paarsgewijs helemaal niet door de orde vergeleken worden.

Een wel-partiële orde is een welpreorde die bovendien een partiële orde is.

Definitie
Laat  een preorde op  zijn. Zoals gebruikelijk schrijven we, voor :  als ,  als  maar  en  als .

Een keten (van ) is een totaal geordende deelverzameling van . Een antiketen is een deelverzameling van  waarvan alle elementen paarsgewijs onvergelijkbaar zijn (dat wil zeggen: voor alle  geldt, dat  en ).

De volgende definities zijn equivalent:

  is een welpreorde als er geen oneindige, strict aflopende keten  bestaat en geen oneindige antiketen.
  is een welpreorde als er voor elke oneindige rij  een paar  met  bestaat zodat .
  is een welpreorde als elke oneindige rij  een oneindige oplopende subrij  bevat.

Voorbeelden
 De orde 'is kleiner dan' op natuurlijke getallen is een welpreorde, omdat er geen oneindige aflopende ketens bestaan en alle paren van natuurlijke getallen met elkaar vergeleken kunnen worden.
 De partiële orde 'deelbaar door' op de natuurlijke getallen, waarin  als  deelbaar is door , is geen welpreorde. Hoewel er geen oneindige aflopende ketens bestaan, vormen de priemgetallen een oneindige antiketen, een verzameling van getallen die paarsgewijs niet met elkaar vergeleken kunnen worden.
 De minororde op grafen is een bekende welpreorde in de grafentheorie.

Eigenschappen en toepassingen
Omdat elke welpreorde welgefundeerd is, kan op verzamelingen met een welpreorde welgefundeerde inductie worden toegepast. De klasse van welgefundeerde ordes is echter niet afgesloten onder enkele interessante bewerkingen. Een voorbeeld hiervan is het nemen van de machtsverzameling. Als  een preorde op de verzameling  is, kunnen we als volgt een preorde  op de machtsverzameling  van  definiëren:  als er voor elke  een  bestaat zodat . Er geldt nu dat  welgefundeerd is dan en slechts dan als  een welpreorde is.

Een tweede toepassing is het representeren van mogelijk oneindige verzamelingen. Als  een welpreorde is, en  een verzameling die naar boven onder  is afgesloten (dat wil zeggen, dat als  en , dan ook ), dan kan  door een eindig aantal minimale elementen worden gerepresenteerd. Zo is de minororde op grafen een welpreorde, en kan de verzameling van niet-planaire grafen worden gerepresenteerd door , de volledige graaf met 5 knopen, en , de volledige bipartiete graaf met twee keer drie knopen.

Ordetheorie

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Top Rated Compact Cars
One of the most competitive segments of the marketplace, these are the cars the vast majority of gainfully employed folks can afford. As a result, the top rated compact cars are bristling with strengths. Among them are exceptional fuel economy, an extensive palette of standard features, excellent reliability, and attractive styling. So if this list of the top rated compact cars seems familiar, you're already in the know. But whatever you're looking for, the cars represented here are the best of the best in their class. These are the top rated compact cars.
In its short time on the market, Audi's revised A3 has established a new benchmark in the compact luxury category. Now offered as a Sedan, a Convertible, and a five-door hatchback, the 2016 Audi A3 delivers a wonderfully conceived interior treatment, a broad range of turbocharged engines, an EV, and of course the availability of all-wheel drive. The top rated compact car's gasoline-fired engines displace 1.8-liters and 2.0 liters, producing 170 horsepower and 220 horsepower respectively. A more powerful version of the 2.0-liter makes 292 horsepower for the high performance S3 sedan. All are paired with a six-speed automated manual transmission. Pricing starts at $30,900.
Easily numbered among the top rated compact cars, the 2 Series BMW's ride quality is wonderfully resilient and its build quality is outstanding. Further, when you're at the controls, you can expect outstanding driving pleasure. Power for the 2016 BMW 2 Series models comes from either a 2.0-liter four with 240 horsepower and 255 ft-lbs of torque, or a 3.0-liter inline six with 320 horsepower and 330 ft-lbs of torque. An eight speed automatic transmission is standard; a six-speed manual is a no cost option with rear drive. Pricing starts at $32,850.
Surprised to see a Buick numbered among the top rated compact cars? You shouldn't be. The 2016 Buick Verano offers excellent handling with just enough power to keep things interesting. It also delivers a broad array of cutting edge safety and tech features, including WiFi hotspot capability. Further, the Buick is graced with handsome exterior styling and a nice interior treatment. Power for the front-drive Verano comes from either a 180-horsepower, 2.4-liter four-cylinder with a six-speed automatic transmission, or a 250-horsepower turbocharged version of the same engine with the six-speed automatic or a six-speed manual. Pricing starts at $21,065.
Chevrolet's Cruze has been among the top rated compact cars since its introduction. A world-class automobile in every respect, the compact Chevrolet is both attractive to the eye and enjoyable to drive. For 2016, an all-new Cruze bows with even more room, a new four-cylinder engine, and a new interior treatment. Siri Eyes Free and WiFi hotspot capability enjoy a return engagement. Engine power output ranges from 138 horsepower to 151. There's even a diesel option. A six-speed manual transmission is offered with most trims, a six-speed automatic is optional. Pricing has yet to be announced, but should still be under $20,000.
The 2016 Ford Focus earns its spot among the top rated compact cars with features like self-parking, blind spot monitoring, and voice activated secondary controls—thanks to the new Sync 3 infotainment interface. Factor in handsome styling plus enjoyable driving characteristics and Focus becomes a compelling choice among compact sedans. Further, the front-drive model can claim 40 mpg with its 123-horsepower 1.0-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine and six-speed manual transmission. The other engine choice is a 160-horsepower normally aspirated 2.0-liter four with a five-speed manual, or a six-speed automated manual transmission. Pricing starts at $17,225.
Fully redesigned for 2016, the Honda Civic has long been a perennial in the garden of top rated compact cars. With this all-new model, turbocharging comes to the Civic for the first time in the form of a 1.5-liter four-cylinder with 174 horsepower and 162 ft-lbs of torque. This 2016 Honda Civic is quieter and rides more smoothly. It's also much more spacious, with rear seat legroom approaching the Accord's. Further, the interior treatment does away with the controversial two-tier dash treatment of previous Civic models for a more conventional appearance. Pricing should start somewhere around $18,000.
While the overall design of the 2016 Hyundai Elantra has been with us since 2011, the car still looks fresh. The model attracted many an eye when it was redone back then, and the design has aged quite well. More than just a pretty face though, Hyundai's entry among the top rated compact cars offers outstanding value, remarkable build quality, and an exceptional warranty. Power comes from either a 145-horsepower 1.8-liter four-cylinder, or a 173-horsepower, 2.0-liter four. Transmissions are a six-speed manual, or a six-speed automatic. Pricing starts at $17,250.
Still one of the sharpest looking cars in its class after its 2014 redesign, Kia's Forte also offers a very reasonable price, lively acceleration, and a quality interior treatment. Given the price point, available features such as xenon headlights, keyless entry and ignition, and a ventilated driver's seat helps the 2016 Kia Forte rank among the top compact cars. The front drive small sedan features a choice of three engines ranging in output from 145 horsepower to 201. All can be had with a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission. Pricing starts at $15,990.
Sharp handling, energetic acceleration, and a wide array of advanced features place the front-drive Mazda3 firmly within the category of top rated compact cars. If you truly love to drive, this is the one. Plus, available smart cruise control, a head up display, and collision mitigation, further set the Mazda apart. Four-cylinder power comes from either a 155-horsepower 2.0-liter, or a 184-horsepower 2.5-liter feeding six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmissions. Pricing starts at $17,845
When the current version of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class came to market, it was immediately heralded as one of the top rated compact cars. Key features include a touchpad interface with handwriting recognition, along with a broad array of cutting edge electronic safety features including collision mitigation, smart cruise control, and lane keeping assistance. An amazing six engine choices are offered for 2016, including a diesel and a plug-in hybrid. Output ranges from 190 horsepower (for the diesel, with 369 ft-lbs of torque) to 503 horsepower and 516 ft-lbs of torque for the AMG C63 S. Pricing starts at $38,950.
The only car in this category offering all-wheel drive as standard equipment, the 2016 Subaru Impreza's roomy interior, comfortable ride, and athletic handling further serve to number it among the top rated compact cars. Standard equipment includes a rearview camera, cruise control and a touchscreen. For 2015, additional sound deadening material was added to reduce noise. Power comes from a horizontally opposed 148-horsepower 2.0-liter four with 148 horsepower with 145 ft-lbs of torque. While a five-speed manual transmission is standard with lower trim models a continuously variable transmission is offered as an option, and is standard for upper trims. Pricing starts at $18,295.
Here's how to get your car ranked among the top rated compact cars—year-in and year-out. Toyota consistently delivers considerable spaciousness, strong fuel economy, impressive safety scores, and a pleasant ride in the Toyota Corolla. Oh, and it's also routinely numbered among the most reliable cars on the road. Power for the 2016 Toyota Corolla comes from a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine. The base setup makes 132 horsepower and 128 ft-lbs of torque. The "Eco" version makes 140 horsepower and 126 ft-lbs. The base trim package gets a six-speed manual transmission, or a four-speed automatic. All others get a continuously variable transmission. Pricing starts at $17,230.
The 2016 Volkswagen Golf is highly refined, comfortable, and offers strong performance. Further, the fit, finish, and materials used in the Golf's interior would be acceptable in cars costing twice as much. And then of course there's the brand's German engineering heritage. While Golf wasn't the first hatchback, it certainly brought the format into the mainstream. The definitive OG among the top rated compact cars, Golf's front-drive powertrain uses a 1.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 170 horsepower and 199 ft-lbs of torque. Volkswagen Golf pricing starts at $18,495.
Marking the 2016 Volkswagen Jetta as one of the top rated compact cars are a roomy interior and trunk, autobahn-bred driving characteristics (Jetta feels particularly solid at speed), and the exceptional value you get for the price. Jetta feels more like a mid-size car in some respects than a compact and it can be had with a broad array of high end features. For 2015, Jetta got new styling front and rear, and improved safety scores, plus the 2016 Volkswagen Jetta offers both hybrid and conventional powertrains (diesel Jetta is on hiatus until further notice). Power ranges from 115 horsepower to 210. Transmission choices include a five-speed manual, a six-speed manual, a six-speed automated manual, and a seven-speed automated manual. Pricing starts at $17,680.
Best Small All-Wheel Drive Cars
Best Small Economical Cars
Best Cheap Wagons and Hatchbacks
Best Small Luxury Cars
Best Cheap Compact Cars
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Penfield, NY (April 15, 2019) – Police were dispatched to the scene of a traffic collision that was reported to have occurred at approximately 1:52 p.m. on Monday afternoon, April 15th. The crash was stated to have taken place along Harris Road, and is currently believed to have occurred between no more than two cars.
According to authorities, police and paramedics were sent to the crash site in both the north and southbound lanes of the aforementioned road at Plank Road to assist the parties involved. Emergency medical crews were able to confirm that at least one person suffered injuries in the collision. However, there has been no information provided concerning the seriousness of those injuries.
Police have been unable to state whether or not anyone was hospitalized or exactly how many parties were involved. At this time, the events that led to this incident are likely under investigation.
Before moving forward, we would, first and foremost, like to extend our deepest sympathies to the victim or victims as we maintain our sincerest hope for their full recoveries. Following a New York car accident, it is important to understand that, as a victim of another party, you may have significant rights in terms of compensation for your injuries.


Last week we stayed at this fantastic resort while on holiday in Phuket. The kids were thrilled when they saw the room we had a Marriot Mai Khao. We checked into the two bedroom suite and the kids couldn't wait to go see the room once we settled all the check in procedures.
We were all given a cup of iced watermelon drink to quench our thirst. It was an extremely hot and the kids finished drinking within seconds.
The luscious greenery at the hotel grounds.
The kids couldn't wait to jump into the bed when they saw this King size bed.
I had to literally restrain them so I can take this picture.
The private pool on the other side of the bedroom.
Tiger girl couldn't wait to rush in and you could see how her eyes lit up upon seeing the pool.
The big bathroom at the other end of the room.
The washer and dryer which made it easy doing the laundry while we are on holidays.
A fully equipped kitchenette with everything you need to whip up a 5 course meal.
Join us in the linky below for Wordful Wednesday this week.
Very nice. I could use a week or two there.
The suite you booked is very gorgeous indeed! I love the idea of a ceiling fan in the bedroom. The resort looks very cozy too. I'm sure you all enjoyed your vacation in Phuket!
I could totally use a vacation there right about now! I agree with Steve. Very different window on the dryer!
Amazing suite and with your own pool, wow.
It looks absolutely amazing!! I would love to stay there! And the iced watermelon sounds heavenly…I've never used it in a drink but I love watermelon!
what a beautiful place to stay for holidays!
Now that looks like a great place to be!
Wow, that place looks amazing! So lucky!
Looks super fun! Love the private pool!
Wow, nice hotel. Very relaxing and the private pool is great!
Wow, what a lovely place. I love the privacy you all had!
Gorgeous pictures! That sky is amazing!
Well THAT doesn't make me incredibly jealous!
Oh that looks so fun and beautiful!


Dan Luckey has the most fun when he's creating lamps to fit any décor. He cuts liquor bottles to create hanging pendant lights and uses any type of bottle from Mrs. Butterworth's to specialty bottles to create table lamps. He also uses pipe to create robots with electrical outlets and usb drives. You'll definitely want to pick up one of Dan's treasures for your next gift.


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Gesture Control is a term recently coined by the consumer electronics industry. It describes a technology that allows users to administer commands to their TV / laptop / smartphone via simple bodily gestures. Or, as the marketing slogan for Xbox Kinect expresses it: You are the Controller. A small camera embedded in their digital device tracks the movements of the user's anatomy. As such, organic matter replaces the remote control. The body becomes a vessel for a language of patented gestures - owned by Apple, Microsoft, Samsung or Sony.
This project interrogates the implications of this anatomic-linguistic regis- ter. In a world that was recently shaken by the revelations of NSA surveillance, can the user truly be said to be the Controller? While gesture-based technology takes root across the electronic industry, this work forewarns against a future where global consumers become the unpaid physical labourers of a sophisticated data capture mechanism - from the comfort of their own living rooms.
In producing this work, Hutchison has employed a workforce of online labourers to perform a series of these patented gestures. These workers' online profiles typically include the phrase "I will do anything you want for $5". In this regard, this work investigates how a capitalist pro- cedure mechanises the anatomy, grafting its logic in the muscles, skin, bones and sinews of a global population. As such, human flesh is transformed into a site of neoliberal discourse.


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At Grifols, what we do matters
Are you passionate about making a difference in the world? At Grifols, we are pioneers in the development of therapies derived from blood and plasma. We contribute to building the future of healthcare to improve people's well-being. Since 1909, we have been defined by passion, innovation, teamwork and a sense of responsibility. Our people change lives while growing and developing into a forward-looking international company.
Your future at Grifols
At Grifols, you will be part of a growing international team of more than 27,000 people in more than 30 countries and regions with a common goal: to improve people's lives. You will contribute to developing scientific advances and providing innovative solutions for healthcare professionals and essential medicines for patients. We want to count on determined professionals who, by cultivating their talent, contribute to creating a positive impact on society.
If you want to be part of a team that helps make a difference, follow us on LinkedIn to stay updated on job openings.
Forbes: Best 75 companies to work for
Forbes has included Grifols as one of the best companies to work for in Spain in 2022
Forbes: America's Best Large Employers
Forbes has included Grifols as one America's Best Large Employers in its 2022 edition
Forbes: America's Best Employer for Women
Grifols has been recognized as offering great career opportunities for women in the U.S.
Our employees are our greatest asset. We offer quality employment while ensuring the health, safety and well-being of our teams in diverse and inclusive environments.
The Grifols Academy offers professional development courses, technical training, events management and other services that support Grifols values and standards.
Improving people's health and well-being


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14 Million People Would Lose Insurance in 2018 Under Republican Health Care Plan: Congressional Budget Office
by: CNN Wire, Kacey Montoya
Posted: Mar 13, 2017 / 01:25 PM PDT
Updated: Mar 13, 2017 / 11:20 PM PDT
Twenty-four million more Americans would be uninsured by 2026 under the House Republican health care bill than under Obamacare, including 14 million by next year, the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office said Monday.
Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, right, takes his notes after talking to reporters about the American Health Care Act with House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy outside Ryan's office in the U.S. Capitol March 7, 2017 in Washington, D.C. (Credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
The long-anticipated score immediately puts the writers and supporters of the GOP Obamacare repeal bill on the defensive. It is also certain to complicate the party's already troubled efforts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.
The CBO, along with the Joint Committee on Taxation, found that 5 million fewer people would be covered under Medicaid by 2018, and 14 million fewer people would enroll in the program by 2026. Meanwhile, 6 million fewer Americans would be covered in the individual market by 2018, but by 2026, only 2 million fewer people are expected to be covered. That's in part because fewer employers would offer insurance to their workers, driving more people to the individual market.
In total, an estimated 52 million people would be uninsured by 2026 under the GOP plan, compared to 28 million who would lack insurance under the current law.
The Republican bill, titled the American Health Care Act, would reduce the federal deficit by $337 billion over 10 years, the CBO said.
American Health Care Act https://t.co/W9TZjU2x6T
— CBO Cost Estimates (@USCBOcostest) March 13, 2017
The Trump administration immediately downplayed the report's findings.
"We disagree strenuously with the report that was put out," Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price said Monday outside the White House.
Price argued the CBO ignored regulatory changes and grants to states the administration believes will lead to an expansion of health care coverage, although those plans have not been released.
Democrats immediately blasted the bill based off the report's findings.
"I think that throwing 24 million Americans off of health insurance, raising premiums for older low income Americans, while giving $285 billion in tax breaks to the top 2% is a disgusting and immoral proposal," Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, told reporters. "Thousands of Americans will die if this legislation is passed and we have to do everything that we can to see that is defeated."
The legislation, introduced last Monday, has sparked deep concern among Republican lawmakers in both the House and the Senate. The sources of unease are wide-ranging.
Prominent conservatives on Capitol Hill, for example, have argued that the bill doesn't go far enough, labeling it "Obamacare Lite." One element of the legislation that has drawn fierce scorn is the refundable tax credits, which conservative Republicans say amounts to an entitlement program.
Moderate Republicans are also uneasy, particularly when it comes to the proposal's impact on Medicaid expansion. Thirty-one states — including 16 with Republican governors — elected to expand Medicaid under Obamacare and have found it to be a successful way of insuring low-income adults at little cost to their states.
The House GOP bill proposes scrapping the enhanced federal funding for Medicaid expansion in 2020 and overhauls the entire program so that states receive a fixed amount of money per enrollee.
Premiums will jump
Premiums are expected to jump up to 20 percent in the individual market in 2018 and 2019, but after that, they would decrease. By 2026, average premiums would be roughly 10% lower than under the current system.
But the increase in premiums would be much steeper for some Americans in the individual market, particularly older people with lower incomes.
A 64-year-old making $26,500 would pay $1,700 for coverage in 2026 under Obamacare, thanks to its subsidies. But under the Ryan plan, that persion would get hit with a annual premium bill of $14,600.
However, those who earn too much to receive Obamacare subsidies would be better off under the GOP plan no matter their age. For 2017, the thresholds to qualify are $47,500 for individuals and $97,200 for families of four.
So a 21-year-old earning $68,200 in 2026 would pay $1,450 under the House bill, but $5,100 under Obamacare. A 64-year-old would face an annual premium of $14,600, compared to $15,300 under Obamacare.
Republicans downplaying the report
In the lead up to the CBO score, Republicans have preemptively downplayed its significance.
"The one thing I'm certain will happen is CBO will say, 'Well, gosh, not as many people will get coverage.' You know why? Because this isn't a government mandate," House Speaker Paul Ryan said on CBS over the weekend. "So there's no way we can compete with, on paper, a government mandate with coverage."
More important than the CBO's prediction of how many people would be covered under the bill, Ryan added, is the goal of lowering the cost of care by expanding choice and competition.
One House GOP aide put it this way: "They're saying people are losing coverage but in reality, these people are making a choice," the aide said. "We're not ripping coverage away."
White House spokesman Sean Spicer even went as far as to question the group's accuracy.
"If you're looking to the CBO for accuracy, you're looking in the wrong place," Spicer told reporters last week.
Republican backers of the bill are also stressing that the CBO score won't take into account the effects of other health care reforms that Republicans hope to enact, including through legislation and administrative actions from Price.
One particular promise from Price could soon haunt Republicans.
"I firmly believe that nobody will be worse off financially in the process that we're going through," Price said on NBC's "Meet the Press" Sunday.
Doug Elmendorf, former director of the Congressional Budget Office, said on CNN on Monday that Price's claim was "absurd."
"This legislation will cut subsidies substantially; millions of people will lose health insurance," Elmendorf said. "But certainly people will be worse off."
CBO report confirms it → American Health Care Act will lower premiums & improve access to quality, affordable care. https://t.co/jNzmYFPe9H pic.twitter.com/f0NGuLiztl
— Paul Ryan (@SpeakerRyan) March 13, 2017
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Hahaha....yah, the seven sides really threw me!! I have had these foam snowflakes for a couple of years, at least, and this was the first time I realized what was odd about them!!! There is another style in my bag of them, also, and it has 8 sides!!! (Shakes head wonderingly....) I have not used them very much before because they are large and don't fit well with some card styles. I thought they were a good accent for these whimsical cards, though. Thanks for stopping in and always leaving such nice comments!!!
Thanks for you visit and nice comment!!! Sorry for not seeing your comment until today.
These look great too, I especially love the glossy accents on the string of lights. Funny about the 7 sided snow-flakes - a couple of years ago I made a 5 sided snowflake as part of my FF2012 event and it really bugged some people - I hadn't realised they should only have 6 sides!
What a fun set of holiday cards! Love all the added embellishments. Thanks so much for joining us at Sunday Stamps!
Thanks so much. I am sorry I didn't see your comment until today to give you a reply!!!