There was about 45 minutes of daylight left when my partner and I settled in to try and call in a coyote or two. We were situated halfway up the west bank of a small creek with the sun behind us. The area in front of us was the frozen creek about 20 yards wide and a large empty flat gently tapering up to the surrounding plains, giving 600 yards of visibility.
I started off with a couple of lone howls. After a short period of time the sound of Johnny Stewart's super jack filled the air. Thirty seconds later a coyote comes boiling over the creek bank behind his, passing within 20 yards of my partner and me. As soon as the coyote hits the frozen ice boom my partner's rifle goes off – boom! - again, I fire a round at the fleeing coyote. My partner Floyd takes another before the coyote disappears around the bend in the creek.
What to do now? We have fired 4 rounds from our 22-250's and have no coyote to show for it. The truck is too far away to get to to find another stand and make another attempt to kill Wiley before it gets dark. It's quickly decided we might as well stay where we are. There was no way to make another stand.
I gave another lone howl and waited. To our surprise a group of coyotes answered to the north. After a brief wait the sound of super jack again fills the air. After 3 or 4 minutes I whisper to Floyd, "There's one." Up there on the opposite band 6-700 yards away, but coming hard. The coyote disappears behind a low spot; I stare intently in the distance hoping to see the charging coyote.
Boom! Floyd's rifle goes off. Startled, I quickly turn my head and see a coyote flopping 80 yards away on the frozen ice. I also see another coyote turn and disappear over the river bank to the north of us. I immediately start doing my best imitation of a wounded coyote. I then briefly turned up the volume on our tape machine and continued to let the sound of super jack fill the air. After 15 seconds or so I returned the machine to its normal volume.
After a few minutes wait Floyd whispers, "There's another one." We let it approach. Boom! Floyd drops it at 70 yards. We're happy and amazed. Two coyotes down after missing one four times at the very start of the stand.
We decide just to enjoy the moment, it's a beautiful day. I give out another lone howl and sit back to enjoy our success. Floyd and I discuss the day's events; we still have 20 minutes until it gets dark. The sound of super jack provides an appropriate background. "There's another one," says Floyd. I look over and see a coyote coming around a bend in the river. 10 seconds later, boom! The third coyote is lying on the ice. What a way to end the day!
Wow!!! This was the first time we had ever killed more than two coyotes on a stand, and the way it happened made a big impression on me and is one of my favorite memories. This happened over ten years ago and I have since learned to kill multiple coyotes on a relatively frequent basis.
It just kills me when I watch a video or TV show where the participant starts whooping and hollering after they have killed a coyote. They are really missing out on an opportunity to harvest some more animals. I personally believe that you have a better chance of killing another coyote on that stand than you would if you move to another location. Only a few coyotes are loners.
I prefer to hunt with a partner. It adds a lot of enjoyment, plus I feel that if one does the calling and the other concentrates on shooting, you will kill significantly more coyotes. Alternate assignments on stands if you want. Experience tells me that focusing on one task at a time will pay dividends. When hunting with a partner I prefer to be within earshot. Communication is a big help and it's surprising how much you can talk if you keep your voice down.
I use both mouth and electronic calls. I lean heavily on the electronics with remote controls. I feel that the advantage of having the sound away from your position will allow you to kill more coyotes. I will also admit that some of the sounds available on e-callers are hard to duplicate with mouth calls.
I feel a good place to start is with two coyotes. How do you kill two coyotes? I handle a pair of coyotes different than you would two singles. There are several ways to handle a pair of coyotes but what I prefer to do is wait until they are about a hundred yards away and then try and shoot the least aggressive one first. Usually that's the one that is the furthest away. I will then howl as soon as possible in an attempt to get the other on to stop.
I feel that the sooner you make a sound after a shot the better your chances of stopping the coyote. Don't be scared to howl a half dozen times if necessary. I am very reluctant to take a running shot at a coyote and feel that I have a better chance of killing a standing coyote at three hundred yards than a running coyote at 100. Get ready if the coyote is approaching the bush; lots of times they will pause for a last look before darting in.
If hunting with a partner, the best way to kill a pair of coyotes is for both hunters to shoot at the same time. In order to do this, you must be able to communicate with your buddy. One counts to three and both shoot on three. The person doing the counting must be aware of what both coyotes are doing. With practice it is possible to shoot when both coyotes are standing still. My good friend Rob and I have done this for several years. I would estimate that our success rate is over 80% using this method.
With single coyotes there are several things that I like to do. If I have howled and had a vocal response from more than one coyote, how I call and shoot will be slightly different than if I had a single or no response. In the case of a single or no response I will handle the stand very similar to what I feel is commonly discussed in magazine articles and on the internet.
The case of a multiple response is where I feel that I change things up a little. I will try and kill the first coyote in as soon as possible. I want this coyote to be shot so that when it falls its on my side of any knoll or hill. I don't want it to be approached by another coyote without me seeing. I feel that the sooner you shoot this coyote the less likely your shot(s) will impact any other coyotes that maybe approaching.
I prefer to howl after the first coyote rather than the traditional pup distress sound. I have good success with howling and want to save the traditional pup distress sound for the third and fourth coyotes that may come in.
As a matter of fact, if I have been silent for a while I may just call as loudly possible on the same distress sound that I originally used to lure the first one in.
If I have chosen to howl I will give two or three howls. I then return to the prey sound that was already in use.
If I have one coyote down and have been on the stand for 8-10 minutes I will often change my primary sound. I will usually start the stand with a prey sound and at this point I often change it up to pup whines (not the kiyi's), fox distress or maybe a woodpecker. I like to change it up a bit, but give them something that I think most coyotes would be able to handle.
t take a coyote very long to cover a mile. The change may interest a coyote that wasn't previously interested. Quite often I will howl a couple howls just before changing sounds.
After howling often you get vocal responses from coyotes that you previously didn't know were there.
After you have a couple of coyotes down I feel that it is a good idea to change howlers. Make it sound like another coyote has entered the mix. I try not to get too aggressive too soon and prefer higher pitched medium length howls. It is also a good time to start using the kiyi's. I have been known to use a mouth call to kiyi while playing a prey sound at this time.
I try and give the impression that a young coyote is struggling with its prey or a couple of pups are fighting over some food. And sometimes I'm not sure what I'm trying to do. I just like to get something going. Lots of times you get nothing to happen. Other times I have been faced with some real chargers. I guess they want a piece of the action.
It is at this time that a lot of the really big dogs will show up howling and kicking dirt, displaying dominance.
I guess that I'm one of those kitchen sink callers. If I know that there are still coyotes around I'll try everything that I have to get them all. I have often wondered if this strategy hurts me in the long run but as I cover a lot of country it hasn't seemed to yet.
Another scenario is, we have been on the stand for say 30 minutes and killed a couple of coyotes. We know that there are other coyotes nearby but haven't been able to get them to commit. Maybe we have seen these coyotes or can hear them. Sometimes both of us will get on the howlers and start kiyiing and challenging each other. I say sometimes because this has also scared away coyotes.
One February a couple years ago my hunting partner Rob and I quit a stand after 45 minutes using this tactic. We left because Rob had run out of bullets and I was down to my last one.
A couple of years ago another experienced caller and I were talking about coyote when he declared that he personally had never killed more than two coyotes on a stand. "What do you do to get these other coyotes?" Robby asked me. I thought for a few minutes and replied, "Don't stop calling." This, I believe, is good advice. I know of a very successful team that always automatically call for 10 minutes after killing a coyote, no matter how long they have already called.
Another key to harvesting multiple coyotes to be able to shoot well. A good range finder and a rifle that shoots well can usually help you pick up a few extra coyotes throughout the season. A friend of mine recently killed five coyotes on one stand. He shot one at 378 yards and another at 535. The rest were closer. Being good with a rifle is a definite plus.
Time of year can also be a factor. I am convinced that October is the month that you mostly are able to harvest 3 or more animals on a stand. The pups have left the family group for the most part, but still remain in the vicinity of their parents.
It takes a lot of time in the field to get the experience needed to consistently harvest multiple coyotes. I remember in one of the coyote videos I watched, Ed Sceery was giving instruction on how to become a better coyote caller. In this video Ed claimed that one of the most important elements in becoming a good caller was to "be a diehard. Don't give up. Keep trying." I also believe that being a diehard is very important if you want to achieve consistent success.
I leave you with a description of a real stand and what I did to kill four coyotes.
I start by walking out into a pasture I had called at this location before. The ground is littered with coyote tracks. I'm fairly confident that I will get more than one. It is December 20th. I place my e-caller on a fence post in the open but close to the edge of a slough.
I then place myself 70 yards crosswind of the caller, preventing my scent from going directly into some cover which was directly downwind of the caller. I'm thinking that the coyotes will come from out of a large patch of brush directly upwind from the caller. Am I wrong!
I start off with my old standby rabbit distress. One minute into the stand a coyote comes out of the cover downwind of the caller. I carefully shift my position so I can get the coyote in my sights. I mute the caller and wait for the coyote to stop. As soon as the coyote stops I fire my rifle. Down it goes. As quickly as I can, I turn the caller back on and scream rabbit at full volume. After about ten seconds I turn the caller back down to a moderate level and wait for more coyotes to show. Two minutes later a second coyote appears in practically the same place as the first one. This one is a little more cautious than the first. I don't have to do anything to get it to stop. I am ready, and down goes the second coyote.
I turn off the rabbit and give three lone howls. After a thirty second wait, I resume with rabbit sound. Five minutes later I see a coyote approaching from out of the large bush upwind of the call. It is about 400 yards away. As I'm trying to figure out what to do, another coyote approaches from directly out in front of me. I shut off the call and wait to see what happens. The upwind coyote stops in some tall grass about 250 yards out. The coyote directly across from me stops and sits on its rump. I am able to range it at 375 yards. I take a quick look at the closer coyote and see that it is partially obscured by cover. I decide to try for the coyote in the open and bear down on the coyote directly across from me. At the report of the rifle the coyote falls to the ground. I no longer can see the coyote that was upwind. I start kiyiing hoping the remaining coyote will come back for a look.
I wait briefly; I have been on the stand for a little less than ten minutes and have three coyotes down. Right on!! I decide it is time to play the fox in distress. After seven minutes of fox I shut the call off and give a couple lone howls. Nothing. I go back to my fox distress. Eighteen minutes into my stand I decide to pack up.
I go and get my call and start collecting the coyotes. As I approach the second coyote I hear a group yip howl from the south, which was the direction from which the last coyote came. I quickly decide to resume my calling and place the e-call about fifty yards away from me in the direction that I heard the howls. I have moved the call approximately 200 yards closer to where I think these coyote are.
I feel that it is a good time to get a little aggressive and give a series of challenge howls. The coyotes that are yip howling go quiet. I wait about a minute and start playing a woodpecker distress. About three minutes later I spy the fifth coyote of the stand coming in. A short time later I shoot and kill my 4th coyote. I give a few coyote distress cries and continue on with the woodpecker. Thirty minutes from when I started, I finally shut it down and call it a stand. Besides it's almost dark.
What a great afternoon. I made three stands, called in eight coyotes, and killed seven. Some days it's just magic.


Al-Qaida Upset At Al-Jazeera TV: 1001 Arabian Nutroots?
Websites supporting al-Qaida have rained down insults and invective on Al-Jazeera, many times a dependable source for the distribution of their viewpoint. Thousands of insults have been posted blasting the TV station, which centers around providing news with a pan-Arab point of view.
Al-Qaida sympathizers have unleashed a torrent of anger against Al-Jazeera television, accusing it of misrepresenting Osama bin Laden's latest audiotape by airing excerpts in which he criticizes mistakes by insurgents in Iraq.
Users of a leading Islamic militant Web forum posted thousands of insults against the pan-Arab station for focusing on excerpts in which bin Laden criticizes insurgents, including his followers.
Analysts said the reaction highlighted militants' surprise at bin Laden's words, and their dismay at the deep divisions among al-Qaida and other Iraqi militants that he appeared to be trying to heal.
This ought to be fun. Reminds me of when the nutroots scold the networks for not being as insane as they are.
Where is the popcorn? Remember the bin Laden video that was released on Oct. 22, 2007? Well, bin Laden admitted that al-Qaeda had made some mistakes and al-Jazeera dared to actually report it and now al-Qaeda supporters are mighty peeved at al-Jazeera.
Back to the angry al-Qaida allies.
"God fight Al-Jazeera," railed one militant Web poster, calling the station a "collaborator with the Crusaders" for suggesting the tape showed weakness in al-Qaida and featuring discussions of how the tape reflected weaknesses and divisions among insurgents in Iraq.
The recording aired Monday contained unusually strong criticism of insurgents in Iraq from bin Laden, who urges them to admit mistakes and unify. Bin Laden even aknowledges that he advises himself not to be "fanatical" in his stances.
"I advise myself, Muslims in general and brothers in al-Qaida everywhere to avoid extremism among men and groups," he said.
The tape was met with a cautiously positive response from at least one insurgent coalition that has been opposed to al-Qaida.
Al-Qaida Supporters Attack Al-Jazeera: 1001 Arabian Nutroots?
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ReviewsConcerts
Sparks @ Highline Ballroom
Al Muzer
MANHATTAN, NY—One of rock's quirkiest musical entities since the release of their first album in 1971, Sparks, despite various group-like lineups and the use of studio musicians, are brothers Ron (keyboards) and Russell (vocals) Mael.
Dubbed the Two Hands, One Mouth tour, the siblings' first venture into New York since a Central Park show in 2002 found them performing the sold-out bill as a duet. With house lights already dimmed, the pre-show music blasting from the speakers was the calliope sound of a big-top circus, as the Highline quickly filled to capacity with one of the most eclectic audiences in club history.
Opening their hour-and-a-half-long set with Ronald, dressed in white shirt, black tie, and Hitler-esque mustache, alone on stage performing the specially-written "Two Hands, One Mouth Overture," the crowd erupted into wild cheers as the opening riff of "The Rhythm Thief" filled the air and Russell bounded into view wearing elf-toed shoes, horizontally-striped knee socks, brown, knee-length knickers and a matching jacket.
Owner of a beautifully operatic vocal range that defies gravity, Russell's energetic yet oddly awkward stage presence played well against older brother Ronald's inert, deadpan, disinterested and practically bored demeanor as his hands flew across the keyboards, pounding out delightfully stripped down versions of songs that, on record, are frequently multi-layered, lavishly-produced and complexly arranged.
The basic keyboard accompaniment coupled with Russell's still amazingly supple vocals brought new life to songs from the duo's 20-plus, 40-year-old album catalog including the incredibly catchy "Metaphor," "Propaganda" and "At Home, At Work, At Play." The bouncy "Sherlock Holmes" exposed as a heartbreaking love song whereas "Angst In My Pants" and "Talent Is An Asset" were wildly applauded. There was also a gorgeously crooned "Under The Table With Her."
A visually dramatic and aurally exciting show despite the sparse stage setting, additional highlights included "Dick Around," "My Baby's Taking Me Home," "The Wedding Of Jacqueline Kennedy To Russell Mael," four selections from The Seduction Of Ingmar Bergman, a thrilling version of "This Town Ain't Big Enough For The Both Of Us," the tongue-in-cheek "Suburban Homeboy," "Never Turn Your Back On Mother Earth," and a gorgeously dramatic "When Do I Get To Sing 'My Way'."
The brothers thanked the crowd profusely for the "overwhelming display of love" as they returned for a loudly-demanded encore that led off with the electronica pioneering "The Number One Song In Heaven" that morphed into a vibrating, danceable, very modern take on the previously disco-friendly "Beat The Clock" that left the cultish, Sparks-satiated crowd buzzing as they exited the venue into the cool spring evening.
al muzerhighline ballroomsparks
In Memoriam: Beloved Aquarian Weekly Writer Al Muzer Passes at 60
Bob Makin
Eric Hutchinson @ Highline Ballroom
Mae @ Highline Ballroom
Everynight Charley Crespo
The Adicts @ Highline Ballroom
Pigeon John @ Highline Ballroom
The Autumn Defense @ Highline Ballroom
John Fogerty @ Borgata Casino
Sparks: On Fire
Claudia Morello

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Adult, Embryonic, and Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells – Who's ready for prime time?
Unless you are a science major, understanding the topic of stem cells can be daunting. The mainstream media has provided some good articles on the topic of Stem Cells, but there is a lot of misleading information out there. In an effort to give you a mile high view of the stem cell world, we made a graphic, Stem Cell Types – Debunking Misconceptions.
The truth is that adult stem cell therapy is much closer to therapeutic commercial reality compared to embryonic or induced pluripotent stem cells. In fact, adult stem cells are on the launch pad now. We're not diminishing the importance of embryonic or IPS research/clinical trials. ALL stem cell research is important and findings in one field have helped the other fields. We hope to see all three types of stem cells in mainstream medicine!
Mainstream media often lumps all stem cells into one category and quotes doctors saying things like: Stem cell therapies are many years away; (All) stem cells cause cancer; Stem cells are highly risky; Clinical trials are only in early stages; etc. Those types of statements are simply not categorically true. In actuality, there's a wide variation in stem cell risk profiles and clinical trial development. A big misconception is how far along adult stem cells are in their clinical trial development. In reality, the number of adult stem cell trials trounce the number of embryonic and IPS trials.
Autologous cells are your own stem cells. Allogeneic stem cells are donor cells from another human being.
The more stem cells are manipulated, the greater the risk they pose to the patient receiving them. Adult stem cells have the lowest risk profile. Embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells have higher risk profiles. Furthermore, teratomas (tumors that originate from a group of normal cells) can form in embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells. Teratomas do not form in adult stem cells.
The FDA regulates stem cells according to risk profiles and the potential to spread disease to the general population. For this reason, embryonic and pluripotent have more regulatory hurdles than adult stem cells. Likewise, autologous stem cell therapies have less regulatory burdens than allogeneic therapies.
If you include all the trials that have been done over the decades with hematopoietic cells and bone marrow, the number of adult stem cell trials is in the thousands. Compare that number to just a handful of embryonic and induced pluripotent trials. Big difference right? So, why is the media obsessed with talking about embryonic and IPS stem cells, when adult stem cell therapies are right at our doorstep?
Click on the image below to see our graphic in its full glory!
The stem cell types were explained very well.
Anti-stem cell people just don't understand so thanks for clarifying this.


Have you been to LA?
Growing up in Korea, I used to have a dreamy feeling about these famous places from TV. We could see famous American movies like The Terminator and Home Alone on TV on the weekends or holidays. There were many iconic places in the movies and TV shows: New York City, Washington D.C., Chicago, and of course, Los Angeles. It seemed to me like LA is the core of the show business in the US, and the world. Not just that, LA has been well known to us because of the high population of Koreans. But still, for me LA was a faraway places that I only saw on the screen.
A decade later, I visited the famous LA. Over the years of visiting the U.S., I had a chance to visit the city of angels a couple times, but I never had enough time to explore all the glorious attractions. There are so many places to go, so many things to see, and traffic is terrible. When traveling to this town, you want to settle in a hotel in LA that's located in a central location and prepare well! So I made a list of things to do in LA so that the little Korean girl inside of me will be intoxicated with joy. My memory orbs will only be yellow! There's a little Inside Out reference for ya.
Hollywood. Where to start? It's a dream place to visit if you watched American movies growing up. Movies like The Terminator, Home Alone, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids… to name a few. I didn't know much about the movie business but seemed like Los Angeles was the key place for those movies. I've heard there are movie sets you can visit! How about an afternoon stroll through Hollywood; walking down the street and find my favorite actors on the Walk of Fame, sipping a cup of coffee at the Central Perk, or running into a celebrity of two?
The love of baseball runs deep in Korean culture. It's loved by all genders and ages as one of the most popular sports. So you can imagine how proud we were when one of our own was scouted to play for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1994. Major League Baseball was always popular in Korea and it was escalated with Chan Ho Park. He was the first Korean player in the major league history. That was quite a big deal. There were a few Korean players in LA Dodgers after Park, and now a pitcher Hyun Jin Ryu has been playing since 2013. Visiting the Dodger Stadium would be like visiting a holy shrine.
One of the icons in LA, Griffith Observatory is a great place to experience a piece of our Universe. The main audience of the observatory is the general public. It's one of the most popular informal education facilities in the US, and most visited public observatories in the world. The Observatory is located on the southern slope of Mount Hollywood, which offers a fantastic view of the Hollywood sign.
Who wouldn't love hanging out with their favorite characters from childhood? I certainly would! I grew up watching Disney cartoons, as many of children around the world. The precise movement of the characters was always intriguing to me. Later I found out there was a place called Disneyland where you can see all the places and characters in person. How magical! Disneyland in Anaheim is the first of two theme parks built at the Disneyland Resort which opened in 1955. This Disneyland is also the only theme park designed and built under the direct supervision of Walt Disney. They have been expanding as new movies and characters came out, and the new Star Wars theme land is under construction.
If you are a movie and TV fan, LA is your dream location. LA is not only the center of show business, but also the city itself has been featured in countless movies and TV shows. You can join an organized tour to film and TV sets, or make your own itinerary to visit places that you have seen on screen. There is a lot to see, so plan ahead!
No Cricket. I tried a few times (watching) but I just couldn't get the rules. So complex!
I need to get back again to see more of LA too. It's such a big city!


After a long season of producing portraits in oils, I have returned to the humble pencil to create my latest exhibition. 'Touch' which opened at the Kalk Bay Studio Gallery on Friday June 14th 2013 and ran until July 3rd, is a celebration of the beauty and expressiveness of the human hand.
A group of us artists got together in the studio to work on life drawings, and for me, hands are one of the most difficult parts of the human body to draw, so I decided to master this challenge by producing one hundred detailed drawings. Friends, family and even casual acquaintances, modeled their hands for me and in each drawing I tried to capture the unique character of each individual.
A great deal could be learned about a person just by observing their hands. For example, the slight hand gestures of a person in love, or the anxious mannerisms of the addicted smoker clutching his last cigarette, or the telltale scars and callouses which belong to a hard working laborer. The hands are young and old, lined and smooth and endlessly expressive and tell a hundred stories which are all captured in my hyper-realistic style.


I'm not sure how many people like to celebrate their birthday hiking, but for several years now, we've done just that for Dillan. He is actually the reason Scott and I fell in love with hiking. We're always looking for a new day hike adventure, and this one was no different.
But of course, we had to celebrate with a family dinner....and Dillan's guilt free birthday "cake" See recipe for 3 ingredient No Bake Peanut Butter Oat Squares the night before. Side note: I forgot I didn't have candles, so the Mister improvised and lit toothpicks lol! It actually worked!
The next morning, we headed 2 1/2 hours north to hike Arabia Mountain. Dillan had been there before for a modeling gig.
He looked a little different this time lol! It was a really easy hike and definitely one to try if you're looking for a place for a few hours in the sun. Not many people were there hiking either, so it was nice and quiet.....well, except for some crazy lady wearing a purple dress, gold sequin sash, carrying an umbrella, and trying to sing or perform her own version of commercials.
After the hike, we grabbed a bite to eat and headed to REI to purchase Dillan's new backpack. Scott and I bought our Ospreys last year and fell in love with them! We knew Dillan needed one too for our next AT section hike. They are anti-gravity, so they carry the weight of your pack much better and alleviate all that shoulder pain. If you're into backpacking, I highly recommend them!
We actually ended up ordering Dillan the color he wanted (bright green) instead of this one.
In addition to hiking and a family dinner, we found time to pull out the old VCR tape of the video done the day he was born. Such special memories. I can't believe my baby is 23 years old!
May you continue to enjoy life and love the Lord, Dillan. May God bless you with health and happiness as you continue to seek His will for your life. I love you!!!!!


This October marked 13 years since the disappearance of Tara Grinstead and on Monday, her accused killer received his trial date at a motions hearing.
An Irwin County Superior Court Judge said Ryan Duke will go to trial on April 1, 2019, but the venue is still up in the air.
Judge Bill Reinhardt took the bench Monday to hear more than 30 motions filed by Ryan Duke's newly-hired defense team.
Attorney Ashleigh Merchant and her husband recently took on Duke's case pro bono, previously telling 13WMAZ they believe in his innocence.
Duke sat with his lawyers at the front of the courtroom clean shaven and dressed in a suit, a stark comparison to what he looked like at his first appearance hearing in February 2017.
In the courtroom was Duke's family and Tara's stepmother, Connie.
Of the 33 motions filed, Merchant withdrew around a dozen, but both the state and the defense agreed on about half a dozen, including a change of venue.
In the meantime, Judge Reinhardt asked all the attorneys to create a "special juror questionnaire" for Irwin County residents to try and find out whether they can find a qualified jury for Duke's trial in Irwin County.
Reinhardt also listened to arguments on five other motions, which included limiting the use of the word 'murder' and throwing out the indictment altogether.
He says he hopes to have a ruling on those motions by Wednesday. The ruling on the remaining motions will be determined once a venue is selected, which is scheduled to happen December 14.


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With over two months to wait between trips, it's safe to say I filled my Summer with some fantastic doorstep experiences. And really, with the heat wave we had, why go anywhere else? And despite counting down the days until I jetted off to Thailand, I still managed some pretty awesome things.
I joined the folks over at Show of Strength for their new Blood, Booze and Bucaneers tour that leads willing guests around Bristol's historic harbourside. With the belief that the more fearsome pirate of all – Blackbeard – was born and raised in Bristol, expect some gruesome tales about Bristol's maritime past.
Perhaps one of the best discoveries this Summer, was the Classic Ibiza Concerts that take place across the UK. Having been invited to the event at Bowood House, I watched the sun go down to iconic Ibiza anthems performed live by the Urban Soul Orchestra. The festival game was strong, with many setting up tables and chairs full of food (yes you could bring your own), and what really got me was the complete mix of ages that enjoyed this festival. And the lasers, oh the lasers!
It's safe to say, I'll definitely be attending this one again!
The Bristol Balloon Fiesta was the icing on the cake in Bristol's summer calendar. Sadly only one ascent on a clear summer's day took off, but thankfully it was the morning of my Balloon Breakfast on the SS Great Britain. It was nothing short of magical with scrumptious breakfast rolls, fruits, yoghurts and pastries – all to a private showing of the Bristol Balloon Mass scent that lined the horizon.
How could I forget? The final week of August was spent island hopping in Thailand!
With work commitments and starting my Masters, September will be a pretty quiet month in comparison to the Summer.


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Damon Dash Says JAY-Z Swindled Him Out of Money
todayAugust 25, 2022
(GEMS RADIO)—Damon Dash says JAY-Z betrayed him for money.
During a YouTube show, Dash opens up about their falling out. JAY-Z, Kareem Burke, and Dash founded the Roc-A-Fella record label in 1994. Roc-A-Fella sued Damon Dash accusing him of selling an NFT of JAY-Z's 1996 Reasonable Doubt.
"That's the algorithm. It wasn't surprising 'cause that's what always happens," he said. "We were breaking the algorithm, we were doing it a different way and sticking together, but that's what always happens. They make one sell out the other, their friend, divide and conquer, that's a normal story," says Dash of doing business with JAY-Z.
In June, Dash reached an agreement with the record label that he cannot sell an NFT of the album. Dash said he intended to sell one-third of his ownership in the label back in June.
Damon Dash Jay Z
Kendrick Lamar admits He is not into Social Media, Fetty Wap Takes Guilty Plea
Kendrick Lamar doesn't use social media a lot. This is not because he despises social media platforms. When Citizen Magazine interviewed him recently, Lamar said that part of the reason he doesn't have a big social media presence is that he doesn't understand how to use it well. Kendrick Lamar's Friends, family and team keep him in the loop He mentioned that people like to update him about what is […]


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Mount St. Mary's Men's Basketball Announces Coaching Staff for 2018-19 Season
Emmitsburg, Md. (June 5, 2018) – The Mount St. Mary's University men's basketball program has announced changes to its coaching staff for the upcoming 2018-19 campaign as the Mountaineers are set to embark on their first season under new Head Coach Dan Engelstad. The Mount has promoted Will Holland to associate head coach and Mike Wolf to director of basketball operations, in addition to bringing on Xavier Joyner and Matt Miller as assistant coaches.
Holland has helped guide the Mountaineers to Northeast Conference (NEC) Tournament appearances in each of his first two seasons on the staff, including an NEC Championship and NCAA Opening Round win in 2017. A 2010 graduate of Mount St. Mary's, Holland played for three seasons under Engelstad when he was an assistant coach on Milan Brown's staff. Holland was a two-time team captain with the Mountaineers, and helped lead the program to a conference championship in 2008 and the school's first-ever NCAA Division I Tournament win. Holland went on to play professionally in Portugal, Mexico, and for the Washington Generals, before entering the coaching ranks as an assistant at Saint Francis University, where he spent three seasons before joining the Mount's staff.
Engelstad on Holland: "Having coached Will here at Mount St. Mary's, and seeing his growth as a college coach as a tremendous individual skill developer, I am thrilled he has decided to accept the new position as our Associate Head Coach. Will has been an integral part of the success here at the Mount as both a player and a coach, and I am looking forward to seeing him grow in his expanded role."
Wolf will move from graduate assistant coach to director of basketball operations entering his second year with the Mountaineers. Prior to joining the Mount's coaching staff last season, he spent two years as an assistant coach at Emory & Henry College. In 2016-17, Wolf helped lead the Wasps to their first 20-win season in 24 years, and to the ODAC Tournament Championship game for the first time in 23 years. As a player, Wolf was a three-year captain and the valedictorian for his class at William Peace University. He was a member of the school's first-ever men's basketball team in 2012-13, and led the team to a second-place finish as a senior. Wolf started 55 consecutive games, and ranked second in NCAA Division III in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.8) as a senior.
Engelstad on Wolf: "Mike has the reputation as being one of the hardest workers out there. He is well-rounded and brings continuity, energy and intelligence to our staff."
Joyner brings a wealth of experience to the Mount, including stops at the collegiate, high school and AAU realms during his lengthy coaching career. Joyner recently completed his third season as the assistant coach and scouting director at Paul VI Catholic High School in Fairfax, Virginia, where he helped lead the team to a 33-4 overall record and a perfect 18-0 mark in WCAC play during the 2017-18 regular season, as they broke the school record for most regular season victories and longest winning streak (25) during the historic campaign. Joyner's Panthers captured the WCAC Regular Season Title and VISAA Division I State Championship, and finished the season ranked No. 14 in the nation in the USA Today Poll.
Joyner has also spent the last four seasons as an assistant coach for one of the top AAU programs in the country, Nike Team Takeover, based out of Washington, D.C. Joyner helped the team capture the prestigious Las Vegas FAB 48 Championship in 2017, while also propelling the 16U EYBL squad to the No. 1 ranking in the nation in the final poll of the season.
Prior to his time in the high school and AAU circuits, Joyner was a head coach at Prince George's Community College (2010-15) and Montgomery College Germantown (2004-10). He's one of the all-time winningest junior college head coaches in the country with over 200 victories, and is the only coach in Maryland JUCO history to win regional championships at two different schools. During his time as a JUCO head coach, Joyner collected coach of the year honors on six occasions.
As a player, Joyner was a member of the Husson University men's basketball program in Bangor, Maine. He was an all-conference performer and helped lead his squad to back-to-back Maine Athletic Conference Championships. Joyner was also the recipient of the Allen Kenyon Leadership Award and the Nelson Degrasse Scholar-Athlete Award.
Joyner graduated from Husson in 1995 with a bachelor's degree in business administration/marketing.
Engelstad on Joyner: "Xavier has been a successful head coach at the collegiate level, worked with a top high school staff at Paul VI, and worked with one of the top AAU programs in Team Takeover. He has demonstrated the ability to connect with people and is also a teacher of the game."
Miller holds over 14 years of combined coaching experience between the NCAA and high school levels. He comes to the Mount after spending the last four seasons as the head coach at St. Maria Goretti High School in Hagerstown, where he led the team to a 100-42 record during his tenure while posting the two-highest win totals in a single season for the school since 1999. In 2016-17, Miller guided the squad to a BCL Regular Season Title and the school's first playoff win since 2001. The following year, Miller led his squad to the No. 7 ranking in the Northeast in the USA Today Poll. Following the season, Miller was named the Baltimore Catholic League, Washington County (Md.), DMV Elite Maryland, and Inside Sports Coach of the Year.
Prior to his time at St. Maria Goretti, Miller was the top assistant at Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. He helped propel the Rams to a 20-10 mark during the 2013-14 campaign, which was the program's best record since 1992. The successful season earned the first regional ranking in program history for the Rams. Miller, who also served as the recruiting coordinator, recruited a pair of 1,000-point scorers, three all-conference players, and the single-season record holder for three-pointers.
Miller also had previous stops as an assistant coach at Marymount University and at his alma mater, St. Mary's College of Maryland. Miller was a three-year student-athlete at St. Mary's, playing alongside Engelstad for one season. Miller earned the Capital Athletic Conference Student-Athlete Award in each of his final two seasons, and was a team captain in 2003-04.
Miller earned his bachelor's degree as a dual major in economics and public policy from St. Mary's in 2005, and went on to get his master's degree in ESOL with a PreK-12 certification in physical education, health and ESOL from Marymount University in 2008.
Engelstad on Miller: "Matt has been one of the elite high school coaches in the country in what he has done at St. Maria Goretti. He has demonstrated the ability to lead, teach the game, and build a program. He has deep ties to the area that will serve our basketball program well."
Mount St. Mary's introduced Engelstad as the 22nd head coach in program history at a press conference earlier this month. Click HERE to read more on Engelstad and watch the full press conference.


Bridging the summer and winter seasons, Vail Oktoberfest is a community celebration of the autumn season that's made festive with the addition of music, food and beer. For two weekends in September, a taste of Germany comes to Vail Village and Vail's Lionshead Village for a packed schedule with exciting contests that include bratwurst eating, stein holding and keg tossing. Live music featuring major headliners brings crowds into town, but yodeling and traditional Bavarian music are also to be expected throughout the day. Vail Oktoberfest is a family-friendly event that's patterned after a centuries-old tradition, but this one is done Colorado-style with Vail's iconic Gore Range peaks on the skyline, ready to gather winter snow.


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Visitation Panel Report has spurred us to improve – VC
Published by Seyibabs in Uncategorized
Visitation Panel Report has spurred us to improve - VC
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Olusola Oyewole, has said that the Visitation Panel report is a document that has helped the University to become a better citadel of learning. While welcoming the monitoring team from the Federal Ministry of Education, who visited the University recently, Prof. Oyewole said, "we do not want to be like any other University in the country, we want to make impact".
He explained that the White Paper of the 2004-2010 Visitation exercise in the University was published and distributed to everyone on campus as a document to inform stakeholders about how to move the University forward. This was done over a year ago, with the establishment of an Special Committee inaugurated with the same terms of reference with the Visitation Committee.
The Vice-Chancellor said he was glad that though the campus was noticeably quiet, it was not due to the ongoing ASUU strike, but for the fact that FUNAAB had concluded examinations, prior to the commencement of the strike, hence, students were on their regular sessional break.
The leader of the delegation, Mrs. Elizabeth Igelagba, said the team was around to partner with the University, for its development. "We are here to monitor the level of implementation of the Visitation Panel report. We work as a team, we are glad that everything has been done.
The Vice-Chancellor was proactive, working to ensure we are partners with the Government", she said. The monitoring team leader said she was glad that FUNAAB had finished all examinations, stating that like in the days of old when students could even go to seek for holiday jobs. Meanwhile, the team embarked on the trip to monitor the implementation of the White Paper of the 2011 Presidential Visitation Panel to the University. With the Vice-Chancellor to receive the team were other Principal Officers, Director, Internal Audit, Mrs. Francisca Aroyeun; Deputy Director, Physical Planning, Arch. Babatunde Anasanwo; Director, Academic Planning, Professor Adekojo Waheed; Deputy Director, Senate and Admission, Mr. Aniediabasi Udofia, amongst others.
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Is there a transfer of an undertaking when an employee changes from being employed by a single employer to a group of employers which includes the original employer?
No, held the EAT in Hyde Housing Association v Layton, upholding the employers' appeal, there was no transfer of the Claimant's employment on the facts. The EAT also noted that multiple transferors would not prevent TUPE applying.
The Claimant had been employed by Martlet, a provider of social housing, which joined with other providers to form the Hyde Group, which was not a separate legal entity. After a restructure the Claimant was dismissed by Martlet and re-engaged on a new contract by a group of employers including Martlet, an arrangement reportedly common in the sector.
The Claimant claimed unfair dismissal, the issue was whether his employment transferred under TUPE regulation 3 (1) (a). The EAT held that since Martlet had retained liability for the Claimant's employment notwithstanding that its liability was now joint and several with other employers, the change of employer was not legally relevant for TUPE purposes. The EAT also held that the Acquired Rights Directive did not require TUPE to apply, as the employer's legal position with regards to the employee was unchanged (as with a change of shareholders). Noting the potential importance and novelty of the issue, the Claimant received leave to appeal.


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Oakland pilot program to pay for…
Oakland pilot program to pay for teachers' housing
City, school district collaborate
By Annie Sciacca | asciacca@bayareanewsgroup.com | Bay Area News Group
OAKLAND, CA – NOV. 16: Oakland mayor Libby Schaaf speaks to the media in front of the Paloma Apartments in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, Nov. 16, 2020. Oakland and the state of California face a teacher shortage, in part due to the high cost of living and high costs of graduate teacher programs. This program, which is privately funded pilot program, provides affordable housing for teachers in their residency year and stipends to current teachers. The program is made possible by Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, Community Development Finance (CDF), Oakland Unified School District, 2B Living, and generous philanthropic supporters. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CA – NOV. 16: Oakland Unified School District superintendent Kyla Johnson-Trammell speaks the media in front of the Paloma Apartments in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, Nov. 16, 2020. Oakland and the state of California face a teacher shortage, in part due to the high cost of living and high costs of graduate teacher programs. This program, which is privately funded pilot program, provides affordable housing for teachers in their residency year and stipends to current teachers. The program is made possible by Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, Community Development Finance (CDF), Oakland Unified School District, 2B Living, and generous philanthropic supporters. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CA – NOV. 16: Oakland mayor Libby Schaaf and members of her staff tour the Paloma Apartments in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, Nov. 16, 2020. Oakland and the state of California face a teacher shortage, in part due to the high cost of living and high costs of graduate teacher programs. This program, which is privately funded pilot program, provides affordable housing for teachers in their residency year and stipends to current teachers. The program is made possible by Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, Community Development Finance (CDF), Oakland Unified School District, 2B Living, and generous philanthropic supporters. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CA – NOV. 16: View of a bedroom inside the Paloma Apartments in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, Nov. 16, 2020. Oakland and the state of California face a teacher shortage, in part due to the high cost of living and high costs of graduate teacher programs. This program, which is privately funded pilot program, provides affordable housing for teachers in their residency year and stipends to current teachers. The program is made possible by Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, Community Development Finance (CDF), Oakland Unified School District, 2B Living, and generous philanthropic supporters. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CA – NOV. 16: Roosevelt Middle School seventh grade science teacher Malik Stead speaks to the media about living in the Paloma Apartments in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, Nov. 16, 2020. Oakland and the state of California face a teacher shortage, in part due to the high cost of living and high costs of graduate teacher programs. This program, which is privately funded pilot program, provides affordable housing for teachers in their residency year and stipends to current teachers. The program is made possible by Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, Community Development Finance (CDF), Oakland Unified School District, 2B Living, and generous philanthropic supporters. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CA – NOV. 16: View of a bathroom inside the Paloma Apartments in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, Nov. 16, 2020. Oakland and the state of California face a teacher shortage, in part due to the high cost of living and high costs of graduate teacher programs. This program, which is privately funded pilot program, provides affordable housing for teachers in their residency year and stipends to current teachers. The program is made possible by Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, Community Development Finance (CDF), Oakland Unified School District, 2B Living, and generous philanthropic supporters. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CA – NOV. 16: View of a common area outside the Paloma Apartments in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, Nov. 16, 2020. Oakland and the state of California face a teacher shortage, in part due to the high cost of living and high costs of graduate teacher programs. This program, which is privately funded pilot program, provides affordable housing for teachers in their residency year and stipends to current teachers. The program is made possible by Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, Community Development Finance (CDF), Oakland Unified School District, 2B Living, and generous philanthropic supporters. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CA – NOV. 16: Oakland mayor Libby Schaaf tours an apartment inside the Paloma Apartments in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, Nov. 16, 2020. Oakland and the state of California face a teacher shortage, in part due to the high cost of living and high costs of graduate teacher programs. This program, which is privately funded pilot program, provides affordable housing for teachers in their residency year and stipends to current teachers. The program is made possible by Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, Community Development Finance (CDF), Oakland Unified School District, 2B Living, and generous philanthropic supporters. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND — City leaders are hoping to expand a pilot program aimed at retaining early-career public school teachers by subsidizing their housing.
Mayor Libby Schaaf and Oakland Unified School District Superintendent Kyla Johnson-Trammel announced the pilot on Monday at a news conference in front of the Paloma Apartments in Oakland's Laurel neighborhood, where the program currently houses six graduate school students who are working as student teachers in the district while obtaining their teaching credential.
The pilot is funded by $150,000 worth of donations from the Community Development Finance nonprofit, and a handful of philanthropic entities, including the Pritzker Foundation, the Hellman Foundation and the California Endowment, which matched subsidies provided by the property owner.
The property company, 2B Living, gives about a 20 percent discount on rent, and the donations make up the difference between the discounted rent and the amount that the teacher residents pay — about $375 per month, said Audrey Olushola Momoh, an education program associate in the mayor's office. The residents have a one-year lease at the Paloma apartments, and the mayor's office staff is exploring options for subsidizing their housing after that lease ends.
In addition to paying the bulk of six teachers' rent at those apartment units, the pilot this year is paying for $1,500 a month toward one student teacher's housing costs elsewhere, and monthly $500 stipends to five new teachers in the district, Schaaf said on Monday.
Officials said Monday they hope to use the program to recruit and retain more than 100 teachers over the next nine years, particularly teachers of science, math and other subjects that the district has a difficult time recruiting and keeping.
Each group of teachers in the residency program commits to teaching at the district for four years after they complete their residency year, and the program will subsidize the costs of housing in some form during those years.
"It is critical that we help our educators grow roots here in Oakland," said Johnson-Trammell, in a written statement. "We want to bring more teachers of color to Oakland, and we want all of our outstanding educators to stay here as long as possible."
She'll be tasked with finding other solutions to alleviate the housing crisis for both teachers and students, according to a resolution passed by the Oakland Unified board last week. The resolution directs the superintendent to create a plan by March to identify potential sites to build housing for district students, families and staff.
The resolution, presented by outgoing District 3 director Jumoke Hinton Hodge, does not commit the district to any particular plan but rather kickstarts a process to explore how the district could get into the business of connecting teachers and students with housing, either directly or through partnerships with organizations.
It also addresses more urgent housing needs, calling for the district to "immediately explore" developing modular or portable housing options for unsheltered youth or unaccompanied minors.
At a board meeting last month where the resolution was introduced, Hinton Hodge said the plan involves "leveraging our public trust to do public good and interrupt homelessness."
"This is a public good conversation but also a fiscal solvency conversation," she said then, noting that the right plan could financially benefit the struggling district, although she did not provide specifics about what that might look like.
The move comes as other districts around California have approved and even broken ground on projects to build housing for teachers. The idea has often been discussed as an attempt to retain teachers in the Bay Area, which, according to an analysis by EdSource, has the largest disparity between teachers' salaries and the cost of rental housing in all of California.
The Santa Clara Unified School District was among the first districts to build affordable housing for teachers with its Casa del Maestro apartments, which it built in phases from 2002 to 2009. And a 2016 law — the Teacher Housing Act of 2016 — allows school districts to provide affordable housing specifically for their employees.
According to the resolution brought to the board, Oakland Unified enrolled more than 1,000 students during the 2018-19 school year who identified as homeless and were living in shelters, motels, cars, with other families or in other unstable housing situations.
San Francisco's "stay over" program, which identified families who were unsheltered and allowed them to stay overnight in the gymnasium of a Mission District school, found that most of the families who used the shelter were able to then find transitional housing or rent on their own. Administrators of the program were able to connect the families using the gym with the city's homeless services, according to a report from the controller's office.
How Oakland Unified's housing effort goes will be largely up to a new board, as the majority of the existing board steps down after their last meeting in December and new elected directors take their place — in Districts 1, 3, 5 and 7 — in January.
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The new board, and the school district's administration, will have their hands full in remedying the district's fiscal challenges and related layoffs, as well as grappling with if and how to return students and teachers to the classroom amid an ongoing COVID-19 pandemic that is entering yet another deadly surge.
Some additional funding is coming, although it will be reserved only for building and infrastructure costs. While election results aren't yet certified, early returns indicate that voters approved Measure Y, a bond measure estimated to provide $735 million to the school district for infrastructure improvements. A project list put together by board members calls for making certain improvements a priority, ranging from building additional classrooms to new school kitchens to making seismic retrofits at certain schools.
housing-crisis
K 12 Education
Annie Sciacca | Reporter
Annie Sciacca covers local government in Oakland and the East Bay. She joined Bay Area News Group in 2016 and has covered business, politics, education and breaking news across California, including many of the state's largest and most destructive wildfires.
asciacca@bayareanewsgroup.com
Follow Annie Sciacca	@AnnieSciacca
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Film Fest Updates: The Toofy Film Fest, Rotten Jack's Creep Show and The Echo Park Film Center
For once in my life, the fact that you can search your browser history turned out to be a good thing. As I scrolled past all the porn, sports and social networking sites I was on last night, I came across the links you see below... which were all in a post that I wrote last night, but it didn't save for some reason. So, yeah... this is the second time I've written this. And it better work this time...
Let's take a look at three distinctly different events going on, one's a festival, one's a convention and the last is a film center.
The Toofy Film Fest, founded by Jeff and Mark Siebert in 2004, takes place in Boulder, Colorado in the Boulder Theater every September. As it's mid to late September right now, they're obviously closed for submissions, but keep an eye out for when they re-open for 2009. It's a more laid-back festival than most and it plays out more like a big party... for example, one of their tag lines was "Relax... they're just movies." Be careful when submitting, though, as they're not genre specific. They probably wouldn't be into anything that's too hardcore. Having said that, you never know. One of the cool things about them is that they're partnered with Current TV, whose chairman is former Vice President Al Gore, and their producers meet with filmmakers and will entertain pitches. I can just see how the meeting would go between a Dead Harvey reader and Al Gore... "Yeah, so... the main characters are a family of super-rich, psychotic midgets who live like royalty during the day, but dress up as chimps and kill the 'regular folk' at night... what do you mean, 'No'?, that's bullshit."
Rotten Jack's Creep Show takes place this weekend, September 20, in Buffalo, NY. Now, Rotten Jack's is actually a store, they're "America's premiere horror & halloween boo-tique", in fact. However, this weekend is their second annual "Creep Show" and it's a big convention, where you can buy movie apparel, props, horror collectibles, etc. There's also tattoo artists, paranormal groups, musical acts and celebrity guests. If you're a regular reader, you know my stance on conventions. I think they're equally as important as the film festivals. If you've made a few films or if you could band together with other filmmakers, you should become a vendor and sell DVD's, talk with the people and, hell, get everyone's name, number and email address, so you can keep in touch with them. Great places to sell merchandise and network, as it's all like-minded people there... who've come to a convention to spend money.
Lastly, let's look at The Echo Park Film Center. The only reason I found them is because if you look at the last post, Fewdio is screening their short "Laundromat" at the 62nd Film Festival in L.A. So, I just assumed that was it was the 62nd time that an event called "Film Festival" was occuring in L.A., but when my crack google skills couldn't come up with anything close to that, I dug deeper. Then I found The Echo Park Film Center, which is is doing an event called "62nd CINEMA", as in "Sixty-Second Cinema". Quite witty, but it does make it hard to search for. Anyhow, when I went to the Echo Park Film Center, I found that they do tons of screenings, events and shows. Just go to their site, it's crazy. Anyhow, if you're in the L.A. area, you should check it out and get involved.
Posted by Dead Harvey at 9:00 AM
Labels: conventions, dvds, Echo Park Film Center, Horror Film Festivals, movies, Rotten Jack's Creep Show, The Toofy Film Fest
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Forum for debate
"Always historicise!" So we are adjured by Fredric Jameson in The Political Unconscious, and he's right to make the call, especially in an age when history often seems to have left the minds of many people engulfed in the pursuit of postmodernism's pleasures. It may still seem odd, though, or at least counterintuitive, to want to historicise historical movies — movies in which history is apparently embedded.
Not so. It's obvious that any movie with claims to "historical accuracy" is making an authenticity claim, and that's one area that needs to be examined. Each era has a different sense of historical authenticity, and how each era constructs authenticity is important. Take Shakespeare's history plays: they were performed in the dress of the day, so on the stage of the Globe you'd have Julius Caesar, Richard III or Macbeth in 15th-century doublets and hose. Yet Shakespeare's sense of the bloodiness of history, its actors' incessant crimes and manipulations in the pursuit of power, and the concomitant search for justice, have a powerful resonance half a millennium later.
On the other hand, take a recent film such as Ridley Scott's Robin Hood. Scott made much of its "historical accuracy", but by that he meant that the costumes and hairstyles were as close as possible to what people might actually have worn in the 12th century. He may also have meant that real historical personages were given roles in the fictional narrative.
But he did not mean, it seems, that there would be a meaningful attempt to understand what people of that century believed or how they acted. Hence we have Robin Hood making a clarion call for a people's democracy in an era when such language didn't even exist. In that respect, such a film is more about the politics, shibboleths and rhetorical clichés of the present day than it is about anything that might have happened 700 years ago.
And so to Agora, which I would argue is a very good example of a very good historical movie. Yes, its central character, Hypatia of Alexandria, is woefully underdocumented — which is partly the legacy of Christianity's desire to erase the influence of paganism. It is known that Hypatia was a leading scholar and mathematician of her day, that she taught widely, and that she was murdered by a Christian mob in about 415 AD.
The way her reputation changed is telling. Wikipedia neatly contrasts two accounts of her death, one by a writer who lived at roughly the same time as Hypatia, the other written 200 years later. The first writer, Socrates Scholasticus, is blunt (or sharp) in his description of her death by torture, but is clear that the accusations against her were "calumnious". By contrast, John of Niku, writing in the seventh century, identifies her work on astronomical geometry as "magic" (as in black magic) and says she "beguiled the people of the city — through her enchantments".
This is standard Christian rhetoric of the time. Christian writers dishonestly purloined the more sophisticated pagan arguments against superstition and irrationality and applied them to pagan worship and even science; pagans were "irrational", whereas Christians possessed the only "rational" truth. In a fine historical irony, today the argument goes the other way around: evolutionary scientists such as Richard Dawkins roundly and with justification accuse creationists of irrationality, whereas religious people are compelled to defend the benefits of entirely unsubstantiated beliefs.
Agora plays out such oppositions with a marvellous sense of what was at stake in the Alexandria of the 400s AD, and moreover places these intellectual wars in a richly realised context. Here is the real history: a vital, compelling picture of a specific moment in time's cavalcade, and one that still resonates with us today. To historicise some more, it's easy to draw parallels between the fifth century's pagan-Christian rivalry and today's clashes of capitalism and fundamentalism, or cosmopolitanism and parochialism.
It is perfectly true that Christianity, even after it became the official religion of the Roman empire in the 300s, was often proceeded by violence. Riots were commonplace, partly because many Christian adherents came from the lowest classes; Christians were often pro-poor and anti-rich (at least until the church really started amassing wealth and power). They also displayed remarkably destructive tendencies. Unlike the pagans who open-mindedly accepted everyone's different gods, the monotheists claimed a monopoly on truth and wreaked havoc on pagan institutions.
And it wasn't just the burning of libraries and temples and the kind of horrible deaths meted out to the likes of Hypatia by the supposed followers of a radically non-violent Jesus — they also had it in for the trees. As historian Robin Lane Fox notes in his study, Pagans and Christians, pagans had reverentially preserved sacred forest groves for millennia, but the "triumph of Christianity was accompanied by the sound of the axe on age-old arboreta".
You could say that axe stands for history and the way it is so deeply about the struggle for power; the axe may change hands, and it may be trees that get felled one day and humans the next, but it's still an axe. The politics of the present day are just history before it has gelled, and all those in contestation for power are wielding their various axes: nationalisation, strikes, oil deals, media tribunals, whatever.
In that sense, Agora gives a compelling sense not just of history narrated but of history lived. Naturally, it helps that the script (by Mateo Gil and director Alejandro Amenábar) is delicately honed and the direction inspired. It looks good, monumental and yet textured; Rachel Weisz gives a sterling performance in the central role. The film has its darkness, for sure, and its tragedy — that is part of its point. But it also has some humour and, in the nuances of personal relationships, a delicate tenderness that touches the heart. Unlike so much of what appears on our screens today, Agora not only has a driving story but also a grasp of the deeper issues raised by that story. It's in that tiny top percentile of movies, so rare, that actually have something to say.
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