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Sunday Reads: Human Chains Bring Awareness to #EndChildMarriagePosted: January 21, 2018 Filed under: #EndChildMarriage, Afternoon Reads, Congress, Discrimination against women, Donald Trump, Federal Government Shutdown, Feminists, Government Shutdown, Human Rights, India, misogyny, morning reads, open thread, racism, Republican politics, right wing hate grouups, the GOP, Violence against women, white nationalists, Women's Rights | Tags: #BiharHumanChain2018, #WomensMarch2018, Bihar 13 Comments
An estimated 5 million people (5 crore) came together to create a #BiharHumanChain2018 in the Indian State of Bihar to bring awareness against child marriage and dowry.
Bihar joins hands against dowry, child marriage; Dy CM thanks people
Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar, Sushil Kumar Modi, on Sunday thanked the people of Bihar for participating and forming the largest human chain against child marriage and dowry practices.
Earlier in the day, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar shared a message on Twitter, saying that collective effort is required to eliminate practices of dowry and child marriage in the country and a human chain event will be organised to to show our commitment towards the cause.
Bihar forms world's longest human chain against dowry | GulfNews.com
Millions of people from all walks of life, age groups and professions joined hands on the streets across Bihar on Sunday to form what officials claimed was the world's longest human chain against dowry and child marriages — the twin social evils gripping Indian society.
Authorities said more than 40 million people came out on the streets in the bone-chilling cold and stood in queues for about 30 minutes Sunday to demonstrate their resolve against the two social evils. The participants included schoolchildren, college students, teachers, officials, social activists, common men and politicians.
However, two main opposition parties in the state, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Congress, boycotted the initiative, claiming the programme was simply a ploy to help chief minister Nitish Kumar boost his image. They said they could not show solidarity with a man who had brutally "misused the people's mandate" by going back to partner the BJP and form a new government with its support, while the mandate was given to the erstwhile ruling Grand Alliance comprising the RJD, Congress and the Janata Dal United (JD-U) headed by Nitish Kumar.
Kumar who was the man behind the idea refused to comment on the boycott by the main opposition parties, but said the programme was against social evils in which participation of everyone was solicited. "There are already laws in place yet the twin evils continue and our purpose is to make the people aware about them," the chief minister told the media on Sunday.
Just a few more links on this human chain…
Bihar sets record through human chain
Bihar set a record of sorts when around five crore people joined hands to form a 13,668-km long human chain in here on Sunday.
The human chain, in which Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his deputy Sushil Kumar Modi also participated, was formed to spread awareness about two social evils – child marriage and dowry.
Apart from ruling party legislators and bureaucrats, lakhs of school and college students, teachers, lawyers and academicians took to the streets, where they lined up forming a human chain from 12 noon to 12.30 pm.
The entire event was captured by 40 drone cameras. A documentary film about the human chain will be shown in 127 cinema halls across Bihar.
This human chain has broken the record set in January 2017, when a human chain of 12,417 km was formed by around four crore people in support of the prohibition implemented by the Nitish regime.
RJD, Cong absent
The only stark difference this year was the absence of RJD and Congress leaders from the event. Only one leader from the parties – Congress MLC Ram Chandra Bharti – attended the event, making Nitish's former partners in the Grand Alliance conspicuous by their absence.
"Nitish is one chief minister who spends crores in image-branding," said RJD vice president Shivanand Tiwary.
Congress spokesperson Prem Chandra Mishra demanded a white paper on the exorbitant expenses incurred in organising such an event.
This year, the main function was organised at Gandhi Maidan in Patna, where Nitish flagged off the event.
Similar human chains were formed in the 38 districts of the state.
Bihar government's human chain against dowry system and child marriage a 'super flop': Opposition | Patna News – Times of India
Bihar's two main opposition parties -RJD and Congress – on Sunday said that the state government's much-trumpeted human chainagainst dowry system and child marriage turned out to be "super flop" as participation of common people could not be seen anywhere across the state.
"Only school children who were called by opening their institutions despite being Sunday, their teachers and a section of state government employees were seen standing in the human chain that remained broken here and there. Common people didn't turn up anywhere to participate in the chain. Participation of common villagers could not be seen anywhere," RJD's state president Ram Chandra Purbey said, adding, "The non-participation of common people shows that CM Nitish Kumar has lost peoples' faith."
Last year, the same chain was formed in awareness of the campaign to ban alcohol. Only there was cooperation from among all sides of government. I have not followed the situation enough to fully grasp the entire nuance of the political climate…but I wonder just how much the actual subject of this year's campaign…being tied to an issue like child marriage and dowry, could be a reason for the lack of full support.
Bihar has it's problems with child marriage. Human Chain 2.0: After Battling Liquor, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar Sets His Sights on Dowry – The Wire
A look at the statistics from Bihar prove just how serious and deep-rooted these issues are. According to the 2011 Census, around 3% of girls get married before the age of 14. Figures for under-age marriages from the National Family Health Survey 4 say that 39% of girls become child brides. When it comes to atrocities against women, the state ranks 26th in India, but is no. 2 in dowry-related crimes.
Between 2000 and 2015, out of total 1,15,374 dowry death cases registered in India, 17,257 cases were registered in Bihar. Beyond just cases that pertained to deaths, 18,462 cases were registered under the Dowry Prohibition Act during the same period.
The root of the problem
A complex relationship between child marriage and dowry exists in the state. Among well-to-do families, there is a growing emphasis on educating girls and letting them work. As awareness of social ills continues to grow in these circles, cases of child marriage have dropped drastically, but dowry continues to be a problem. In fact, not only is it still followed, the sums exchanging hands are astronomical at times.
Among financially weaker sections, instead of investing to educate girls, families save to pay dowry. Then, in order to not pay a heavy dowry, they opt to marry off their girls early. There is an added problem that arises from this practice: if underage brides become pregnant, there's a heavy risk of death during the delivery of both mother and child.
More than that, there is also a market opportunity here. Every year, when the wedding season swings around, advertisements spring up everywhere indirectly indicating what would make for a good dowry present. In fact, as Geetanjali Mukherjee wrote in her book Dowry Death in India, published in 1999, advertisements even advise families on how to save on dowry. The book noted that "until recently, billboard advertisements in Bombay, for instance, made an unabashed appeal to pregnant women to take the expensive and somewhat risky amniocentesis test. It importuned them to spend 500 rupees now on the test in order to save 50,000 rupees in future on a daughter's dowry".
In contrast to Nitish's earlier campaign against liquor where the administrative and legal measures worked quite well, in the case of dowry, there is not much space for the police to act proactively. Data from National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) tells us that approximately 60% of the dowry-related cases which reach the police are those where there has been a death. This means that most victims avoid going to the authorities, which is why despite strict laws against this practice, dowry-related crimes continue unabated, be it in Bihar or India. The number of cases of dowry deaths in India stood at 6,851 in 2001. That figure jumped to 7,634 in 2015. The same trend was observed in Bihar. During the same period, cases in Bihar increased from 859 in 2001 to 1,154 in 2015.
According to the article in The Wire, unlike the banning of alcohol…the issue of ending child marriage must deal with changing the mindset of people…
More than a law, what is required is changing personal opinions.
Nitish appears to have understood that this is the battle that matters. His campaign against dowry and child marriage will see him act more like a reformer working to swing a big changes in the opinion of the masses more than a chief minister taking the administrative route to fix the state of affairs. This is why he is personally visiting the homes of those who are getting married without the dowry angle. Along with Nitish Kumar, Sushil Kumar Modi, the deputy chief minister, used the marriage of his eldest son to set an example of a dowry-free marriage.
Nitish has undoubtedly taken on a herculean task, but there are certain doubts in the minds of the public. Is this another tactic to keep cadres busy, much like the plantation drive?
With assembly elections just a year away, there is little scope that the anti-dowry campaign will bear any electoral fruits. But if Nitish's latest battle bears even some fruit, it's still a step ahead in the fight for gender justice.
All the same, I feel that bringing awareness to the crisis of child marriage goes far in helping create a dialogue about an issue that will not go away any time soon.
Here are some tweets with images of the day, #BiharHumanChain2018 :
Last week Human Rights Watch came out with their World Report 2018: Fighting for Rights Succeeds | Human Rights Watch
Abdul Kareem, a Rohingya Muslim, carries his mother, Alima Khatoon, to a refugee camp after crossing from Burma into Bangladesh on Sept. 16, 2017.
© 2017 Dar Yasin/AP
In the 643-page World Report, its 28th edition, Human Rights Watch reviews human rights practices in more than 90 countries. In his introductory essay, Executive Director Kenneth Roth writes that when leaders push back strongly against politicians who demonize minorities, attack human rights, and undermine democratic institutions, they can limit the advance of populists. But where mainstream politicians capitulate to a message of hate and exclusion, the authoritarian populists flourish.
"The past year showed the importance of pushing back against the threat posed by demagogues and their abusive policies," Roth said. "As we mark the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 2018, the best way to honor its principles is to vigorously defend them against those leaders who seek political advantage by depriving marginalized groups of the rights guaranteed for all."
Please go to this link World Report 2018 | Status of Human Rights Around the World to read more and to look up how each of the 90 countries square up…
You may find the United States quite interesting:
World Report 2018: United States | Human Rights Watch
The strong civil society and democratic institutions of the United States were tested in the first year of the administration of President Donald Trump. Across a range of issues in 2017, the US moved backward on human rights at home and abroad.
Trump has targeted refugees and immigrants, calling them criminals and security threats; emboldened racist politics by equivocating on white nationalism; and consistently championed anti-Muslim ideas and policies. His administration has embraced policies that will roll back access to reproductive health care for women; championed health insurance changes that would leave many more Americans without access to affordable health care; and undermined police accountability for abuse. Trump has also expressed disdain for independent media and for federal courts that have blocked some of his actions. And he has repeatedly coddled autocratic leaders and showed little interest or leadership in pressing for the respect of human rights abroad.
The individuals most likely to suffer abuse in the United States—including members of racial and ethnic minorities, immigrants, children, the poor, and prisoners—are often least able to defend their rights in court or via the political process. Many vulnerable groups endured renewed attacks on their rights during the year. Other longstanding US laws and practices—particularly related to criminal and juvenile justice, immigration, and national security—continued to violate internationally recognized human rights.
Lots and lots more at the link…reading it is like going through an abbreviated list of shithole actions taken by a shithole president.
Before I end with pictures and tweets from yesterday's marches…
After a year of Trump, women expect less from men – but demand more – The Globe and Mail
One year ago Sunday, the largest single-day protest in U.S. history took place. The Women's March, which followed the inauguration of Donald Trump, consisted of over 650 marches of roughly five million participants. The organizers were women, most protesters were women, and the targets were the misogynists of the Trump administration and their repressive policies. Protesters warned of the new government's autocratic tendencies and planned persecution of the marginalized. Their warnings were not heeded by pundits clinging to the illusion of "checks and balances" or the "presidential pivot," but they were right.
One year later, women remain the backbone of the opposition to President Trump, and those opposing him comprise the majority of the electorate. You would not know this from reading many U.S. media outlets, which focus disproportionately on Trump voters, with papers like the New York Times even surrendering an op-ed page to them. On Saturday, an enormously popular second women's march caught the country by surprise, as there was little media attention to it paid beforehand despite the massive amount of preparation and participants involved.
I wanted to show you this little bit of the anti-women's march protest going around today:
Nazis March In Tennessee Today. Last Time That Happened, I Ended Up With Antifa In A High-Speed Car Chase | HuffPost
Heimbach's Nazis are returning to Tennessee to protest the Women's March taking place in Knoxville on Sunday. The Nazis plan to attach themselves to a competing anti-abortion "March for Life" rally. How this will pan out for the fascists is anyone's guess, but back in October, things didn't go well for them in the Volunteer State. Heimbach's crew started a fight with a biracial couple in a Brentwood pub. And their two rallies only put a spotlight on the weakness of their movement and the strength of their opposition. The second event, in Murfreesboro, was a total flop. Heimbach's Nazis bailed, scared off by hundreds of counter-demonstrators who descended on Murfreesboro's main square.
It makes me sick.
This is an open thread…what are you reading about today?
Cross-posted / Human Chains Bring Awareness to #EndChildMarriage – Empower Dialogue
Wednesday Reads: Bit of this and that…and no "other"Posted: September 30, 2015 Filed under: 2016 elections, abortion rights, Accommodation and Compromise, Government Shutdown, Gun Control, Hillary Clinton, morning reads, U.S. Politics 20 Comments
Good Morning
Today the news links are random. Nothing special or spectacular.
The pictures are silly, various pictures of pugs. Bebe is getting a pug when the inheritance of her…absentee grandmother finally is released from the VALIC company. (That is another story for another time.) But to make things funny, I thought we would have pictures of pugs on the post today.
Let's start with the latest news from here in the States:
John Boehner's Attempt to 'Clean the Barn Up' Before He Leaves Congress – The Atlantic
I doubt that…but Russell Berman, the dude who wrote the article seems to think so.
…it turns out he might not be done quite yet. The speaker won't leave office for another month, and he has said he wants to "get as much finished as possible" before he goes. "I don't want to leave my successor a dirty barn," Boehner said Sunday on CBS'sFace the Nation. "I want to clean the barn up a little bit before the next person gets there."
So what does Boehner mean by cleaning up the barn?
You know, I would love to see Boehner pull a Cartman when he leaves…
Well, actually…maybe something more explosive.
Oh, yeah…and did you see? Crazy bigot lady from the Blue Grass State got a face to face meeting with the Pope. Go figure. Everyone making such a big deal about how lefty he is, but check it out…he secretly met with this ass:
Pope Francis held secret meeting with Kim Davis, according to her Liberty Counsel attorney
Pope Francis secretly met a Kentucky county clerk who was jailed for refusing to issue marriage licenses to gay couples and gave her words of encouragement, her attorney said.
Mat Staver, attorney and founder of the Liberty Counsel, told CBS News on Tuesday night that the pope met Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis and her husband at the Vatican embassy in Washington last Thursday during his visit to the United States.
Vatican chief spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said he would neither confirm nor deny the report and that there would be no further statement. This was unusual for the Vatican, which normally issues either denials or confirmations.
The report of the meeting came after Francis largely avoided the contentious issue of same-sex marriage during his historic visit to the United States, where he addressed Congress, met with the homeless and urged the country to welcome immigrants.
The pope, speaking to reporters as he returned home from his 10-day trip to the U.S. and Cuba on Monday, said government officials had a "human right" to refuse to discharge a duty if they felt it violated their conscience.
Of course, don't let all the talk of forgiveness and whatever he has said fool you. This is the Catholic Church. The shit will never change. According to the article, Staver…
…did not want to disclose the meeting until now to avoid interfering with the pope's broader message during his visit.
"Because we didn't want the pope's visit to be overshadowed with Kim Davis," Staver said in an interview on the network.
During the meeting, the pope told Davis to "stay strong", Staver said.
Davis, whose parents are Catholic, has said her beliefs as an Apostolic Christian prevent her from issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Her church belongs to a Protestant movement known as Apostolic Pentecostalism.
To keep a low profile, Davis went to the Vatican embassy in a sports utility vehicle with her hair in a different style than her normal look, Staver told CBS, adding he was not present.
Ugh…Davis in drag, I mean disguised? Oh boy.
Oh, while we are on the topic of vile people (Davis) this next thread, by TBogg…also from Raw Story: The 13 most punchable faces in America
Can you guess who is number one?
If you are an honest person — and I trust that you are — you will admit that at some time in your life you have wanted to haul off and smack somebody right in the mouth. Just plant your fist right in the middle of their smug smirky stupid face, swinging from out of nowhere with no warning given.
Blah, blah…yada, yada….violence this and that. (Stuff about how it is Americans only on the list, so Justin Beiber is out.) And how putting the entire male population at Fox News is cheating. Well, you can go and read that part of the article at the link. Let's just get to the assholes that deserve a punch in the mouth.
So let's start this off with the most obvious choice:
Owner of punchable face: Texas Sen. Ted Cruz
Occupation: Shit talker, ineffective legislator, egomaniac, subversive Canadian sleeper agent, Texas senator
The face: Knitted eyebrows and a "more in sorrow than in anger because everyone else is an idiot" look of insincerity.
Crimes against humanity: Cruz got himself elected to the U.S. Senate from America's 2nd worst state and immediately started acting like he owned the place. Also the House. And the White House. And the Supreme Court. Talked idiot House members into shutting down the government at a cost of $24 billion to the economy. Wants to do it again.
Number 3:
Owner of punchable face: Mark Halperin
Occupation: Chronicler of inconsequential conventional wisdom, hack, confused grader, political editor.
The face: The smirk of undeserved success
Crimes against humanity: Says things that are horribly counter-intuitive on TV which inexplicably affects the political zeitgeist making the world stupider than it should be. Briefly suspended from MSNBC for calling the president a "dick" on Morning Joe — a television show featuring a revolving cast of dicks.
Number 6
Owner of punchable face: Jesse Watters
Occupation: O'Reilly coat holder, stalker, insufferable prick, racist, Fox News producer
The face: Celebratory frat bro who just escaped a rape conviction on a technicality
Crimes against humanity: Watters is Bill O'Reilly's smirky wingman, sent out into the field to harass and stalk women and sneer at poor black people before returning to the studio and gleefuly sharing his tales of adventure while O'Reilly presumably masturbates under his desk onto a loofah. Pro tip: If Watters sticks his microphone in your face, answer every questions with "Andrea Mackris" until he slinks back into his hole.
Go and see the others on the list. For the life of me, I don't understand why many assholes are missing from the list. Some more obvious than others.
Like this dude, who is one of our dickhead PLUB monsters. Australia doesn't want him to come into the country. They see him as a security risk.
US anti-abortion campaigner has Australia visa revoked – BBC News
US anti-abortion campaigner Troy Newman has been stopped from flying to Australia after his visa for the country was revoked.
He had already flown from Kansas to Colorado, but was denied boarding the next flight to Los Angeles, from where he would have flown to Melbourne.
Mr Newman was due to speak at events promoted by the group Right to Life Australia.
He has previously called for the execution of abortion doctors.
Australian Labor MP Terri Butler, who wrote to Australia's immigration minister to ask that Mr Newman's visa be denied, called him an "anti-choice extremist".
The minister, Peter Dutton, confirmed to local media that he cancelled the visa amid concerns Mr Newman's presence could incite violence against abortion doctors and the women using them.
Oh, this ass Newman needs more than a punch in the mouth. I think since he is so interested in a woman's reproductive organs, perhaps he should have some punch work done on his own set of nuggets of love. That will give him something to think about, because he has time to write this shit on his Facebook wall:
Mr Newman wrote "RED ALERT!!!… It is clear that the pro-abortion crowd does not want anyone to hear the truth about Planned Parenthood's illegal actions."
"Please pray for me I'm stuck in Denver airport like a man without a country," he added.
A man without a country. WTF is that? Crazy ass muthafukker.
The visa decision comes days after the government said it was unlikely American singer Chris Brown would be given a visa because of his record of domestic violence.
Can I say I appreciate the hell out of Australia!
The rest of today's links in dump fashion.
Slavery, the Second Amendment, and the Origins of Public-Carry Jurisprudence – The Atlantic
Hillary says she'll work across aisle — and some in GOP agree | TheHill
Africa: Empowered Girls Can Change the World, Say UNFPA Head and Ashley Judd – allAfrica.com
Education Secretary: Want To Save On Prisons? Spend More On Schools.
Iran's leader demands Muslim world probe haj deaths | Reuters
Series of bombs in China kills at least three: CCTV | Reuters
VW says 1.2m UK cars affected by emissions scandal | Business | The Guardian
This last link is real neat:
Plastic-eating worms may offer solution to mounting waste, researchers discover
Mealworms munch on Styrofoam, a hopeful sign that solutions to plastics pollution exist. Wei-Min Wu, a senior research engineer in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, discovered the larvae can live on polystyrene.
That is interesting…and promising. I wonder if they could actually do some good one day.
Anyway…here is a picture of the little pug Bebe is getting. She is calling him Hugo:
Innit he a cutie?
Hope you enjoyed the pugs…have a good day and please treat this as an open thread.
Wednesday Reads : Sanity by the numbers, one…two…three.Posted: September 23, 2015 Filed under: 2016 elections, Accommodation and Compromise, Barack Obama, corporate money, Government Shutdown, Hillary Clinton, morning reads, open thread, Political Affective Disorder, Republican politics, U.S. Politics, Women's Healthcare, Women's Rights 17 Comments
It's as easy to learn as your ABCs.
I can't remember the exact date, but it has been a while.
It must have been around the time when Hobby Lobby was in the news? Or maybe it was before that, Troy Davis? Perhaps.
No, it was after Davis…after the Jesus in my Uterus decisions…and the Bundy Ranch militias, the Wendy Davis defeat and the countless scenes of police brutality and idiotic right-wing shitheads stoking the embarrassing political cable TV dumb ass reality show that stands for our elected officials.
Y'all know what I am talking about. We have seen it here on the blog, Mona aka called it Political Affected Disorder. It was really something serious for a few of us…like me. What would have taken just an evening to bring me down from an anxiety and depressed mood brought on by the absolute ridiculous hate filled rant of Bachmann back in the day, now took days to calm down.
There was other things going on at home, yeah but there was something else about the feelings of defeat and real disgust that were different this time around. I didn't have that anger like I did in 2008. That anger that pushed me, with a vengeance. No, this was not the same.
I've been worn down, depression does that I guess.
My only way to keep some sense of sanity was to avoid the news and stop going online all together.
I could not bring myself to comment on the blog anymore. Doing the afternoon news threads was unbearable. I avoided almost anything, just researching articles the evening before my post…and catching up on the threads that Boston Boomer and Dakinikat had written the days before. (Actually, I still do this…I can't help it, it is my only way to protect myself because I feel like if I get back involved as I once was…I will really loose it. Mentally.)
So. I check out. Only to "check in" on Tuesday evenings or Wednesday mornings…same goes for Saturday nights and Sunday mornings….that is when I will look at what has happened with the circus show of current events.
The reason I bring all this up, is because I felt I had to explain. The reasons for why I am hardly ever here.
Now a few links to illustrate my point…and then I can toss it over to you.
Better Watch Your Mouth, Donald Trump Suing Everyone Who's Mean To Him – Wonkette
We decided Steve King and Ben Carson were wrong about Muslims holding public office in 2006 – AMERICAblog News
Digby at Salon: Ted Cruz's diabolical shutdown strategy: Why the GOP senator wants to watch the world burn – Salon.com
Hillary Clinton Confronted on Whether She Created Birtherism | Mediaite
Jimmy Carter says democracy is dead: You need at least $200 million to run for president of US 'oligarchy'
A stunning stat about pay seems impossible but actually is true – The Washington Post
Once upon a time, American men used to get something called a "raise."
That is when your employer would actually pay you more money. Now, it is true that some people still have experience with this all-but-forgotten practice, but even the ones who do tend not to get pay increases that keep up with price increases. That is why, as David Wessel of the Brookings Institution points out, the typical male worker actually saw his after-inflation pay fall between 1973 and 2014.
What is four lost decades between friends?
I won't go into the discussion of women and their earning power, cough….cough.
When the Womb Is a Crime Scene – ProPublica
Alabama has turned hundreds of pregnant women into felons for using drugs — even when they're legal and the kids turn out fine.
Mathematician Declares War On Kansas Republicans For Committing Election Fraud (VIDEO) «
Donald Trump Heading To Extremist Religious Right Summit | Right Wing Watch
Constitution 101 for Presidents | Linda R. Monk, J.D.
Obama to Pope: "We Stand With You In Defense Of Religious Freedom" | Video | RealClearPolitics
This next thread from Wonkette is something you have to read in full: Let's Meet The Biggest Loser Candidate In America. His Name Is Carl! – Wonkette
Four candidates are vying for the seat: 1. a dreamy young GOP lawyer who is on the Richmond School Board, 2. a filthy rich Democrat who is a real estate developer and a county supervisor, 3. an independent community organizer who used to be a county supervisor, and 4. our subject today: Libertarian Carl Loser.
And other stories of note:
New York Yankees Hall of Fame catcher Yogi Berra dies at 90
The baseball world got some sad news late Tuesday evening when the Yogi BerraMuseum announced via their Twitter account that the New York Yankees Hall of Fame catcher had died at the age of 90.
Berra is considered the greatest catcher of all-time, and is a New York Yankees legend. His No. 8 jersey is retired at the Yankees monument park.
The 18-time All-Star took home three MVP awards in 1951, 954 and 1955. He is one of just six managers to lead both the National and American league teams to the World Series.
More than the man himself, Berra was a larger-than-life personality who would speak to the media freely, delivering some of the most memorable quotes in history often known as "Yogi-isms."
Here are some of the most memorable Yogi-isms from the Yankees' legendary backstop.
"We made too many wrong mistakes."
"Congratulations. I knew the record would stand until it was broken."
"A nickel ain't worth a dime anymore."
"Baseball is ninety percent mental, and the other half is physical."
"When you come to a fork in the road, take it."
"You can observe a lot by just watching."
"It's like déjà vu all over again."
"It ain't over till it's over."
"Always go to other people's funerals, otherwise they won't come to yours."
We promise there will be a lot of people at your funeral, Yogi. Rest in peace.
It is with heavy hearts that we share the news that Yogi Berra passed away Tuesday night at the age of 90. #YogiBerrapic.twitter.com/0BSctBzhTb
— Yogi Berra Museum (@Yogi_Museum) September 23, 2015
That is it for today, this is an open thread.
BTW, Happy 18th Birthday Jake…wow…
Woman in Red: Debate, Election and the Shutdown…The GOP's Albescent-churian CandidatePosted: September 16, 2015 Filed under: 2016 elections, A My Pet Goat Moment, abortion rights, Accommodation and Compromise, birth control, Bobby Jindal, Federal Budget, Federal Government Shutdown, Fox News, fundamentalist Christians, George W. Bush, GLBT Rights, Government Shutdown, Gun Control, immigration, just because, Main Stream Media, Mental Health, open thread, Planned Parenthood, PLUB Pro-Life-Until-Birth, Political and Editorial Cartoons, racism, Rape Culture, Religious Conscience, Reproductive Health, Reproductive Rights, Republican politics, Republican presidential politics, Rick Perry, Rick Santorum, Tea Party activists, the GOP, The Right Wing, U.S. Politics, VAGINA Rick Santorum, War on Women, Woman in Red protector of the Uteri defender of Vajayjay Rights, Women's Healthcare, Women's Rights | Tags: Ben Carson, Climate change, CNN Republican Debate 2015, Donald Trump, George Pataki, Jeb Bush, John Kasich, Lindsey Graham, Marco Rubio, Mike Huckabee, Rand Paul, Scott Walker, Ted Cruz 32 Comments
Good Morning
As promised…I bring you the latest edition of The Woman in Red….(It has taken me days, in fact almost the last 24 hours has been straight on through.)
You can read the earlier issues at these links:
The Woman in Red: Protector of the Uteri, Defender of Vajayjay Rights and Fighter Against the #WarOnWomen | Sky Dancing
The Woman In Red: Against The Monsters On The Hill… A comic-ill perspective observation | Sky Dancing
The Woman In Red: Battle of the Sexes…Fight Until the Vacuum Cleaner is Broken | Sky Dancing
As before, click the image to see the full size…and then click on the image itself to enlarge the picture, otherwise you will not be able to read the captions.
So….here we go!
Woman in Red:
Debate, Election and the Shutdown…
The GOP's Albescent-churian Candidate
Tonight is the Republican Presidential Candidate Debate…..
4 things to watch in Wednesday's Republican debate | MSNBC
Republican Presidential Debate 2015: Start Time, TV Channel, Radio Info For Second GOP Debate
Gloves likely to come off at second GOP 2016 debate – NY Daily News
Let's take you to the debate venue, shortly before the event is to begin……
Bloody hell, I am exhausted!
Hope you enjoyed this edition of The Woman in Red, and the introduction of the new arch nemesis…S.P.Ermand…The Sperm Man!
This is an open thread.
Sunday Reads: GOP and AgnotologyPosted: October 13, 2013 Filed under: Capital Punishment aka Death Penalty, child sexual abuse, children, Congress, Crime, Federal Budget and Budget deficit, Foreign Affairs, GLBT Rights, Government Shutdown, India, morning reads, physical abuse, Russia, Tea Party activists, the GOP | Tags: "Baby Hope", Agnotology the study of culturally induced ignorance, Classic Horror Movies, Cyclone Phailin, Facebook, Google, Gov. Deal 29 Comments
Good Morning
Agnotology. New word, for me at least…read this explanation and tell me if it strikes a chord with you. (Emphasis mine.)
Agnotology is the study of culturally induced ignorance.
Agnotology refocuses questions about "how we know" to include questions about what we do not know, and why not.
Londa Schiebinger, in the Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society, 1 Sep. 2005.
Historians of science have tended to focus on the processes by which scientific knowledge gets accepted. In recent decades, some scholars have come to see that processes that impede or prevent acceptance of scientific findings are also important. Such processes include the very human desire to ignore unpleasant facts, media neglect of topics, corporate or government secrecy, and misrepresentation for a commercial or political end. They often generate controversy, much of it ill-informed. Examples include the health implications of tobacco and of genetically modified plants, the safety of nuclear power, the environmental consequences of hydraulic fracturing (fracking), and the existence or extent of man-made climate change.
Seriously, by that definition alone, and with those examples…you could just say that Agnotology is the study of Republicans.
While we are going through a GOP induced hell here in the states, some parts of India are living a real hell…being hit by one of the strongest typhoons in years. Cyclone Phailin makes landfall in India
A huge cyclone that has forced as many as 500,000 people to flee their homes has made landfall in eastern India.
Winds were measured at 200 km/h (125mph) as Cyclone Phailin hit the coast near Gopalpur, Orissa state, at about 21:15 (15:45 GMT).
Authorities had predicted a storm surge of at least 3m (10ft) that was expected to cause extensive damage.
Officials say they are better prepared than in 1999 when a cyclone killed thousands of people in Orissa.
Cyclone Phailin has been classed as "very severe", and the head of India's Meteorological Office, LS Rathore, said it would remain in that category for six hours before losing strength.
An hour before Phailin made landfall, winds were over 150 mph. New York Times is reporting that over 800,00 people have been evacuated…We will learn more as the morning progresses, I will post updates in the comments below.
Heading toward Russia, there was some violence at St Petersburg when a Russian gay rally ends in fights and arrests.
The clashes began after a protester had her rainbow flag ripped from her hands [Reuters]
Sixty-seven people were arrested after fightes broke out between gay rights activists and opponents at a rally in the Russian city of St Petersburg, according to local news sources.
Several dozen activists for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transexual rights had gathered in the centre of the city for a sanctioned LGBT rally, which was held on what activists termed as "international coming out day".
They were far outnumbered by the anti-gay demonstrators, including several dressed as Cossacks and Orthodox priests, who had occupied the site of the planned demo.
Fights broke out after anti-gay protesters tore a rainbow flag from a woman's hands, and police then moved in to arrest those involved. They eventually detained 67 people from both sides, Russian news agencies reported.
The Winter Games are going to be one shitty scary mess.
Back here in the states, there was an arrest yesterday in a famous unsolved murder case out of New York City. New York police arrest man in 1991 'Baby Hope' killing
New York City police have arrested a cousin in the killing of a 4-year-old girl dubbed "Baby Hope," whose body was found crammed in a picnic cooler in 1991, police said on Saturday.
Conrado Juarez, 52, early on Saturday confessed to sexually assaulting and then smothering the girl, Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly told a news conference.
Police detained him at a Manhattan restaurant on Friday, more than 22 years after the girl's death, he said.
The girl, dubbed "Baby Hope" by investigators, was never reported missing and was only recently identified.
Kelly named her as 4-year-old Anjelica Castillo.
Her bound, asphyxiated body was discovered stuffed underneath cans of soda inside a blue-and-white cooler alongside the Henry Hudson Highway in northern Manhattan in July of 1991. She had been starved and sexually abused, police said.
New York police announced on Tuesday they had identified the girl's mother after following through on a tip they received over the summer. Her identity was confirmed through DNA testing and she was cooperating with the investigation, they said.
Finally some closure for the people who have worked this case for all these years, because it is obvious the family didn't give a damn about this little girl at all. Police say Juarez's sister, who is dead, helped him dispose of Anjelica's body. More information at this CNN link: NYPD arrests man in killing of 'Baby Hope'
Update on Dartmouth: Dartmouth Suspends Wholesome Frat Over Hazing Emails
Meanwhile, Georgia's Governor Deal may be under investigation. Read this AP report from North Georgia Access…it is a long article. I wonder if anything will come of it.: Attorney who raised questions about ethics complaints against Deal contacted by FBI
I saw this next link via Google News from my hometown of Tampa: 10 News Investigators find memo warning about terrorist "dry-runs" on airplanes | wtsp.com Strange…and again not a lot of news on this in other media outlets.
Of course, if you want to see what is up with the shutdown: Senate leaders take over government shutdown talks – The Washington Post
Hey, I mentioned yesterday that I was having some problems with my gmail account, well…here are two links that you need to read if you use Facebook or Google:
Facebook Removing Option To Be Unsearchable By Name, Highlighting Lack Of Universal Privacy Controls | TechCrunch
"Who can look up your Timeline by name?" Anyone you haven't blocked. Facebook is removing this privacy setting, notifying those who had hidden themselves that they'll be searchable. It deleted the option from those who hadn't used it in December, and is starting to push everyone to use privacy controls on each type of content they share. But there's no one-click opt out of Facebook search.
Your Face May Appear in a Google Ad Soon- Mashable
If you've ever been appalled to see yourself or your friends used in a Facebook ad, then you're not going to like Google's new terms of service.
The company updated its TOS on Friday to allow an adult user's profile name and photo to appear in reviews and advertising starting Nov. 11.
And let me tell you, it is a bitch to find the dashboard on Google where you can fix this shit!
We have a personal connection to the PBS Frontline "League of Denial" that aired this past week, Boston Boomer's brother created the trailer that angered the NFL so much they pressured ESPN to drop out of the project….well here's a round-up of responses to the show via The Dish: The Football Fan's Dilemma « The Dish
I think you will find this infographic from Huffpo interesting: The Geographic Inequality Of Death Row (INFOGRAPHIC)
October 10 marks the 11th World Day Against the Death Penalty, and the United States remains one of the top five countries in the world for executing its citizens — along with China, Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia, according to Amnesty International. The 43 executions we carried out last year happened in just nine states; 15 of them were in Texas.
I am going to move on to the better part of today's post…nothing depressing or disturbing.
There was this article at The New York Times which touched a personal side for me. Growing Up With a Disabled Sibling
Some research suggests that growing up with a disabled sibling can also infuse a person with a greater sense of responsibility, patience and compassion for others. Some siblings may be inspired to go into a helping profession, like medicine, teaching or public interest law. Others translate their early experience with disability into a greater appreciation for, and understanding of, the wide spectrum of human differences. I confess to keeping my own list of successful and accomplished people who have a sibling with Down syndrome, which includes the Olympic snowboarder Kevin Pearce (now himself disabled by a traumatic brain injury), the actor and singer Jamie Foxx, the actress Eva Longoria, and Amy Chua of "Tiger Mom" fame (and a Yale Law School professor).
That is just one paragraph I want to point out, you have to read the whole op/ed. It is great.I guess it is for me because I know the outcome of growing up with a disabled sibling…in my situation, Denny and I were always a package deal. So I see the hope in that piece.
There are some cool pictures at this link: We Could Stare At These Defaced Bills All Day
And hey…check it out: [VIDEO] 'Remington Steele' Reboot — NBC Plans Sequel I used to love that show, Pierce Brosnan was so damn hot.
Oh, and since this is October, two links on horror movies:
Future Recall: 10 Cage-Free Horror Films on the Web (Netflix, AMC, youtube) that span time… – Bright Lights After Dark
A Very Brief History of a Very Famous Mask – She Blogged By Night
And one on Classic Movies from the 50's:
moviemorlocks.com – Biting the Hand That Feeds You: Movies About the Movies In the 1950s
Finally, this last article…which proves that an animal without a backbone is more intelligent than one of those Republicans, or at least the octopus can assist in the Agnotological study of the Republican Brain: How the Freaky Octopus Can Help us Understand the Human Brain – Wired Science
If you were to measure octopus smarts by the number of neurons the creatures have (500 million to our almost 100 billion), they'd come up pretty dull. But forget that metric. The octopus's neurons aren't even concentrated in its head; about two-thirds of its "brains" are distributed in its arms, dedicated to the fine operation of these limbs and each of their hundreds of suckers. The rest of the neurons are split between a central brain—surrounding the esophagus—and large optic lobes behind the eyes. Like we said: alien.
But somehow octopuses do things that suggest they're brainier than plenty of animals with backbones and more familiar nervous systems. Here's an easy one: Lots of octopods have learned to twist off standard jar lids. But in 2003, biologists at the Seattle Aquarium challenged Billye, a female Enteroctopus dofleini—a giant Pacific octopus—with a childproof bottle, the kind that can baffle even the smartest Homo sapiens. Billye figured out the push-and-twist trick in a little less than an hour. And in subsequent attempts, she popped those tricky tops in a mere five minutes.
Is the vertebrate brain optimized for intelligence? Ask the octopus. | Robert Eikelpoth/Corbis
This is just the beginning of their abilities. Octopuses in the wild may be using tools—a feat that, not so long ago, was considered the exclusive domain of humans (though now we know it's the province of other species too, like dolphins and some birds). Researchers have observed octopuses off the coast of Indonesia collecting—and awkwardly carrying—coconut shell halves along the sandy seafloor. For a shelter on the go, they whip out the two pieces of shell, swoop inside, and snap the pair shut. "That's a spectacular example, because it really does suggest foresight," says Jennifer Mather, who studies animal behavior at Canada's University of Lethbridge. "In terms of cognition, that's pretty good."
Have a great Sunday!
Stop by and share what you are reading and blogging about today.
Sunday Reads: Byzantine Werewolves, Engraved Roman Penises, and Walter White's ObitPosted: October 6, 2013 Filed under: Accommodation and Compromise, birth control, children, Congress, Discrimination against women, Economy, Federal Government Shutdown, Government Shutdown, Mental Health, misogyny, morning reads, physical abuse, poverty, Religious Conscience, religious extremists, Republican politics, the GOP, Violence against women, Women's Rights | Tags: Domestic violence awareness month, Hobby Lobby 27 Comments
Good Morning
Who needs strange headlines when the news of the past week has been crazy enough?
This morning I want to stay away from links about the Shutdown and stick with things that don't deal with DC assholes. It does not mean I will not post an article about rich misogynistic, anti-Semitic assholes…have you seen the latest crap out of Hobby Lobby? Hobby Lobby Boycotts Jewish Hanukkah And Passover (UPDATE)
Hanukkah comes early this year. But it apparently never comes to Hobby Lobby.
The national craft store owned by conservative billionaire Steve Green seemingly refuses to carry merchandise related to Hanukkah because of Green's "Christian values," and some Jews are taking offense.
"I will never set foot in a Hobby Lobby. Ever." wrote Ken Berwitz, the New Jersey blogger who brought the Hobby Lobby Hanukkah flap to light in a Friday (Sept. 27) blog post.
Berwitz's outrage has spread to other bloggers who are taking Hobby Lobby to task as a store that courts the general public, but refuses to stock anything related to Judaism — even in communities with significant Jewish populations.
It really should not come as a surprise, I mean if Hobby Lobby won't provide birth control for its women employees, of course it goes without saying they would have a "fuck the Jews" attitude.
Green owns more than 550 Hobby Lobby stores nationwide, all of which are closed on Sunday, the Christian Sabbath. He is also known for his lawsuit against President Obama's health care law, which he says tramples on his religious liberty by forcing him to insure employees for medical services he objects to on religious grounds. Many legal experts agree the case has a good chance of landing at the Supreme Court.He's also known for holding one of the country's largest collections of ancient biblical artifacts, including what's believed to be the oldest known copy of a Hebrew prayer book. In unveiling the book on Thursday, Green dated the item to 840 C.E., declining to use the more Christian-sounding 840 A.D. so as not to offend Jews.
The Hobby Lobby Hanukkah controversy began when Berwitz learned that on a recent shopping trip his wife's friends could not find anything related to Hanukkah at their local Hobby Lobby store in Marlboro, N.J., though it was stocked with Christmas items.
According to Berwitz, one of the women asked about bar mitzvah cards, and a Hobby Lobby salesperson replied: "We don't cater to you people."
That story prompted Berwitz, who own a market research company and writes the "Hopelessly Partisan" blog, to call the Marlboro store and ask why it seemed to be ignoring Hanukkah, the eight-day Jewish festival of lights, which begins on Nov. 27 this year. He wrote that he received the following response:
"Because Mr. Green is the owner of the company, he's a Christian, and those are his values."
Berwitz told Religion News Service that he then called Hobby Lobby's corporate headquarters in Oklahoma City, and the company confirmed that it does not stock items for Hanukkah, and did not give a reason. When he asked whether the company carries Passover merchandise, he was again told no.
Well, I guess the backlash from this bad anti-Jewish PR made Mr. Green reconsider his "fuck the Jews" stance on carrying Hanukkah items in his stores:
UPDATE: 10/4 6:20pm
Hobby Lobby has promised to begin to sell Jewish holiday items in areas near large Jewish populations.
UPDATE 10/4/13 10:15am: Hobby Lobby President Steve Green has issued the following statement on behalf of the company:
We sincerely apologize for any employee comments that may have offended anyone, especially our Jewish customers and friends. Comments like these do not reflect the feelings of our family or Hobby Lobby. Our family has a deep respect for the Jewish faith and those who hold its traditions dear. We're proud contributors to Yad Vashem, as well as to other museums and synagogues in Israel and the United States. We are investigating this matter and absolutely do not tolerate discrimination at our company or our stores. We do not have any policies that discriminate; in fact, we have policies that specifically prohibit discrimination. We have previously carried merchandise in our stores related to Jewish holidays. We select the items we sell in our stores based on customer demand. We are working with our buyers to re-evaluate our holiday items and what we will carry in the future.
So the only group of people getting discriminated against at Hobby Lobby now is Women! Yeah, lets say it loud…
at Hobby Lobby, we value our customers and employees and are committed to:
- Honoring the Lord in all we do by operating the company in a manner consistent with biblical principles.
- Offering our customers exceptional selection and value in the crafts and home decor market.
- Serving our employees and their families by establishing a work environment and company policies that build character, strengthen individuals and nurture families.
- Providing a return on the owner's investment, sharing the Lord's blessings with our employees, and investing in our community.
Unless you are a woman…than…fuck you!
Alright, enough with that Hobby Lobby dick.
I am going to stick articles about with women….and add the all important subject of poverty and domestic violence for just a moment.
You are well aware that the Shutdown pretty much is the GOP giving the "fuck you" to poor women and children on the WIC program: Colbert on the Government Slimdown | BobCesca.com | Liberal Politics Blog and Podcast | We Cover the World
Fox News is calling it a slimdown, which is a great name 'cause you know who's really going to slim down? The 9 million women and children who will lose supplemental nutrition from the government.
Put that quote from Colbert into perspective: Women and Poverty, State by State | National Women's Law Center
More than one in seven women, nearly 17.8 million, lived in poverty last year. Poverty rates were particularly high for families headed by single mothers – more than four in ten (40.9 percent) were poor. More than half (56.1 percent) of poor children lived in female-headed families in 2012.
With women as primary breadwinners in more than 40 percent of families today, women and their families simply cannot afford to make do with less.
Click on a state below to see how many female-headed families are living in poverty, plus:
- The share of all women living in poverty
- The share of Black, Hispanic, Asian, and Native American women living in poverty
- The share of children and of women 65 and older living in poverty
You can also download the data for every state, and see more of NWLC's analyses of the latest data on women and poverty.
Go to the link to see all the info from each state. Mississippi has the highest poverty levels across the board.
Here is another map for you, States With The Most Natives – Business Insider
Are the people who live in your state predominantly people who were born in that state, or did they come from somewhere else?
Seth Kadish at the brilliant Vizual Statistix Tumblr has come up with this great visualization which answers just this question, using Census data.
The redder an area is, the more likely it is that residents of that county were born in that state. The whiter an area is, the more likely it is that residents came from somewhere else.
Not surprisingly, parts of Florida, Nevada, Arizona and around DC are filled with people who came from somewhere else. Parts of Texas, Louisiana, and the upper-Midwest are among those places inhabited by original residents.
Click the image to see it larger!
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month: AAEC – Political Cartoon by Terry Wise, Ratland Ink Press – 10/02/2013
How to Tell if Someone You Love is in an Abusive Relationship – and What to do About It | Care2 Causes
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, so today we wanted to do our part to spread a little information about a topic that, despite being incredibly common, too often ends up getting swept under the rug. While most of us want to help victims of domestic violence (Republican politicians notwithstanding), one of the major reasons this important issue often goes ignored is that friends and family simply may not know how to spot an abusive relationship. Even if you have doubts about your loved one's home life, you may not know how to bring up the issue or the best way to help out.
Remember, while most domestic violence situations involve women being abused by men, it can happen to anyone, gay or straight. Don't assume that just because your friend doesn't fit the "typical" mold of an abuse victim that nothing is wrong.
Be sure to read the rest of that article at the link above and forward it to some of your friends.
Now for some fun links.
Hey, the twin panda cubs are getting ready to be named! Check it out:
Voting begins soon to name the giant panda twins
Zoo Atlanta has partnered with Good Morning America on an official voting contest to name the twin male giant pandas born to Lun Lun on July 15, 2013. The contenders for the five sets of names for the 2-month-old duo were announced by Good Morning America on October 3, 2013. Voting will begin online through Good Morning America on Wednesday, October 9, 2013. The winning names will be revealed during the cubs' 100 Day Naming Celebration on October 23, 2013.
Name options for Zoo Atlanta panda cubs announced | www.wsbtv.com
The twin giant panda cubs at Zoo Atlanta, the only twins ever to survive in the U.S., are hitting all of their developmental milestones as they approach 100 days since their birth.
Like all giant pandas, they were born nearly hairless, pink, blind and not much larger than a cell phone. Now, they have developed their characteristic black-and-white coats and weigh nearly 30 times their birth weights, tipping the scales at around 7 pounds. Their eyes have opened and they are responding more to their environment and to one another, the zoo said. Plus, the cubs are slowly starting to show off their personalities to keepers.
Channel 2's Wendy Corona visited the cubs at Zoo Atlanta to see how they're developing.
The pandas are affectionately known as "Cub A" and "Cub B" until their 100-day birthday, a milestone date in the Chinese tradition, when pandas are named.
"Cub A has been kind of the more vocal cub," said Zoo Atlanta's Curator of Mammals Dr. Rebecca Snyder. "Especially when he's with Lun Lun."
During our visit, he was sound asleep. Then there was his brother, the more awake Cub "B".
"I think he's momma's boy. He just wants to be with Mom," said Dr. Snyder. The calmer, more quiet one. Knowing this about their personalities might help you help Zoo Atlanta in deciding their names.
Since their July 15 birth, the adorable duo has charmed zoo staffers, who have been nursing the pandas around the clock when they are not with their mother, 15-year-old Lun Lun. In the wild, a giant panda mother would typically rear only one offspring at a time, which is why the zoo staff has been swapping the cubs between Lun Lun and a specially designed box.
Five sets of names were provided by the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in China's Sichuan province, and Zoo Atlanta is teaming up with "Good Morning America" to put it to a public vote, which kicks off Oct. 9.
Watch "GMA" for more panda news and check back here to vote for your names on Oct. 9 on GoodMorningAmerica.com.
There is video at the wbtv link, here are the names, I like number 5 the best:
1. Mei Lun and Mei Hua
(Pronounced May Loon and May Hwaa)
In English, the names mean Lun Lun's twin cubs born in the USA.
2. Mei Lun and Mei Huan
(Pronounced May Loon and May Hwaan)
These names stem from an ancient Chinese idiom, "Mei Lun Mei Huan," which was used to describe constructed buildings that are tall and magnificent. It has come to mean something indescribably beautiful and magnificent.
3. Tian Lun and Tian Le
(Pronounced Tee-an loon and Tee-an luh)
These names come from the Chinese idiom, "Tian Lun Zhi Le," which means the joy of family life or family happiness. In this context, the cubs' names would mean, "Lun Lun and her twin cubs are enjoying heavenly gifted family happiness," according to the staff at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding.
4. Lan Tian and Bi Shui
(Pronounced Lan tee-an and Bee Shway)
The names, meaning blue sky and clear water, are derived from another the Chinese idiom, "Lan Tian Bi Shui," which is used to describe beautiful scenery.
5. Da Lan and Xiao Lan
(Pronounced Dah Lan and Sheow Lan)
The literal meaning of these names is bigger one ("Cub B") and smaller one ("Cub A") of the Atlanta-born twins.
Sting is putting together a Broadway show: Sting's 'The Last Ship' Concert Series at the Public Theater
Andrew Spear for The Wall Street JournalAt the Public Theater, Sting aims to stir interest in 'The Last Ship' with a series of 10 concerts featuring songs and characters from the show.
With a run of concerts at the Public Theater, Sting is putting more pieces in place for the launch of a Broadway musical called "The Last Ship." To compose the score, the former Police frontman drew on characters and imagery from the doomed shipyard in his hometown of Wallsend, England. The musical, which Sting is developing with a squad of theater elite, starts a tryout run this summer in Chicago before opening on Broadway next fall.
Sting is hoping to prime interest in the musical with his 10-concert series at the Public, which ends on Wednesday. During the intimate show, which also features vocalists such as cast member Jimmy Nail, Sting plays acoustic guitar and sings in a thick brogue, voicing various characters. He is accompanied by a small band that includes fiddle and accordion players. Between songs that blend Broadway anthems with folk sounds from the British Isles, he tells anecdotes from his childhood and the process of creating a musical.
This week, after the release of the companion album "The Last Ship," Sting's first set of original material in eight years, the singer paused to discuss songwriting, his accent and the spotty track record of rock stars on Broadway.
Read the interview at the link.
Oh, now for some cool pictures…real old pictures. Photographs Taken With Kodak's First Commercial Camera Are Now 125 Years Old
Remember when Kodak created its first commercial camera, a nifty invention that boasted the slogan "You Press the Button, We Do the Rest"?
Woman in a rowing boat, about 1890. Collection of National Media Museum/Kodak MuseumYou probably don't, because this feat happened 125 years ago when George Eastman introduced the second Kodak camera ever made. The contraption looked almost nothing like the devices we're used to, but it brought photography into the homes of everyday people with, well, the press of a button. And a fairly reasonable price of $25 — a cost that amounts to around $600 today, according to Design Taxi.
Thanks to a little UK-based institution known as the National Media Museum, we're able to look back on history and peruse some of the very first amateur photographs ever taken. Snapped with the Kodak No. 1 (the first Kodak camera was simply named "Kodak"), the images provide a striking, black-and-white glimpse into life in the 1890s.
There are some amazing pictures in that Huffpo link…look at them and enjoy them.
Now for the last few articles of this morning's post. Halloween is later this month, with the crazy things going on this week, it seems like it has come early. Anyway, this first link is a bit on werewolves.
How the Byzantines dealt with Werewolves
A new article explores how Byzantine doctors treated people those suffering from lycanthropy, a mental disorder where a patient believes he or she is, or has transformed into, a wolf and behaves like one. This disease is the basis for the legendary werewolves.
In "Lycanthropy in Byzantine times (AD 330–1453)," four scholars from the University of Athens examine the writings of six Byzantine physicians to see what they believed lycanthropy was and how it should be treated.
More at the link, go and read it.
Engraved Penises Reveal Birth of Italian City : Discovery News
Two penises engraved on a 2,000 year old stone may shed light on the foundation of the city of Aosta in northern Italy, revealing its deep connection with the Roman emperor Augustus.Named Augusta Praetoria Salassorum by the Romans — who captured it from the local Salassi people in 25 B.C. to control strategic mountain passes — Aosta boasts several monuments dedicated to Augustus.
"But the newly discovered stone tells even more about Aosta's connection with the Roman emperor. It reveals the city was built under Augustus' sign during the winter solstice," Giulio Magli, professor of archaeoastronomy at Milan's Polytechnic University, told Discovery News.
Carved on both sides, the block features two very clear figures on one side — a phallus and, over it, a spade — and some partly damaged reliefs on the other. There, a phallus is again represented. Over it, a plough and a partly eroded character which appears to be a Capricorn.
The plough and the spade openly hint to the sulcus primigenius, the original trench plowed to mark the perimeter of a new city in the Roman foundation ceremony. Related to the god Priapus, the phallic effigies most likely had an "apotropaic" function, evoking some sort of protection from evil forces.
"The chunk of mud has certainly preserved the stone from damage and censorship," Bertarione said. "In medieval times the evident phallic figures would have been erased since they were regarded as obscene pagan symbols."
And finally, 'Breaking Bad' anti-hero Walter White gets spoiler-filled obituary in Albuquerque newspaper
A group of die-hard "Breaking Bad" fans have posted an obituary notice for the show's anti-hero Walter White in a local paper in New Mexico, made famous by the cult series.
David Layman, coincidentally a science teacher like White, was among 10.3 million viewers who tuned in to last weekend's final episode of the series about the central character's transformation into a drug lord, after being diagnosed with terminal cancer.
"I've been a humongous 'Breaking Bad' fan since the beginning," Layman told the Albuquerque Journal, which published the obituary on page 4, with a small photo.
"I was actually in the pilot, and putting the obit in the paper was fitting, because the series was based in Albuquerque and it provides some of us some closure."
The short obituary reads:
"White, Walter, aka 'Heisenberg,' 52, of Albuquerque, died Sunday after a long battle with lung cancer, and a gunshot wound.
"A co-founder of Gray Matter, White was a research chemist, who taught high school chemistry, and later founded a meth manufacturing empire.
"He is survived by his wife, Skyler Lambert; son Walter 'Flynn' Jr; and daughter Holly. A private memorial was held by his family. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to a drug abuse prevention charity of your choice. He will be greatly missed."
Innit great?
Well, that is it for this Sunday's reads. Y'all have a good day and take it easy…see you in the comments later on, until then…ciao!
Wednesday Reads: Shutdown Cartoons and StuffPosted: October 2, 2013 Filed under: Affordable Care Act (ACA), Barack Obama, Government Shutdown, morning reads, Political and Editorial Cartoons, Republican politics, the GOP, U.S. Economy, U.S. Politics | Tags: John Boehner, Ted Cruz 58 Comments
Good Morning
While looking for a cartoon to start this morning's post with a bang…I could not pick just one. I guess with the shutdown, the artists have been busy at work…
This link will take you to the transcript of Obama's speech yesterday in the Rose Garden:
Remarks by the President on the Affordable Care Act and the Government Shutdown | The White House
And this next link will take you to an op-ed written by Boehner:
John Boehner: Obama owns this shutdown now
Anyway, here are several comic funnies about something that is in no way funny.
10/02 Luckovich cartoon: Cutting up | Mike Luckovich
Clay Bennett: Shutdown – Clay Bennett – Truthdig
GOP New Fall Fashions – Truthdig
The GOP goes dark by Political Cartoonist John Cole
Shutdown by Political Cartoonist Joe Heller
AAEC – Political Cartoon by Tom Stiglich, MEDIA NEWS GROUP – 10/01/2013
Closed by Political Cartoonist Randall Enos
CONGRESS AND THE SHUTDOWN by Political Cartoonist Randy Bish
Affordable Care – Political Cartoon by Rob Rogers, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette – 10/01/2013
AAEC – Political Cartoon by Pat Bagley, Salt Lake Tribune – 10/01/2013
AAEC – Political Cartoon by David Horsey, Los Angeles Times – 10/01/2013
Kids in the Cockpit by Political Cartoonist Cal Grondahl
The rest of this morning's links will be dumped below…
Harry Reid and John Boehner Really Loathe Each Other | Mother Jones
No Resolution in Sight to Government Shutdown- VOA News
Veterans Plot To Expand Revolt Against Government Shutdown- Buzzfeed
Please use this as an open thread, it has been a very long day for me…I am beat!


text:
PriMoThemes — now s2Member® (official notice)
This is now a very OLD forum system. It's in READ-ONLY mode.
All community interaction now occurs at WP Sharks™. See: new forums @ WP Sharks™
drbyte wrote:use custom include headers in your theme.
How can I prevent s2Member Pro from loading it's default CSS?
You can create this directory and file: /wp-content/mu-plugins/s2-hacks.php
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add_action ("ws_plugin__s2member_after_loaded", "remove_s2_pro_css");
function remove_s2_pro_css ()
remove_action ("ws_plugin__s2member_during_css", "c_ws_plugin__s2member_pro_css_js::css");
Or, you could remove only specific action Hooks; based on Payment Gateway.
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add_action ("ws_plugin__s2member_after_loaded", "remove_s2_pro_css");
function remove_s2_pro_css ()
remove_action ("ws_plugin__s2member_during_css", "c_ws_plugin__s2member_pro_alipay_css_js::alipay_css");
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By: Dr. Robert Moghim
If you are considering quitting the medical profession, then you may take some comfort in the knowledge that a large number of America's physicians considering the same thing. While job burnout is a factor in any profession, it is has become a serious issue in the medical profession as long hours, undersized salary and diminished job satisfaction strain the healthcare industry. According to recent studies, the difficult conditions in most medical settings have led to various stages of burnout among almost half of all physicians. Dr. Tait Shanafelt, who conducted the study for the Mayo Clinic, found that almost 45.8 percent of physicians—especially those primary and emergency care—were exhibiting at least one symptom of burnout; more importantly, this number is higher than in years past when the numbers were between 30 and 40 percent.
What is driving this mass dissatisfaction?
Long Hours
There are a multitude of factors which have pushed medical professionals to throw in the towel. The Shanafelt study found that while long hours is a major contributor to job dissatisfaction both in the medical profession as well as other professions, the high levels of burnout in healthcare are related to issues unique to the practice of medicine. A 2012 study by the Urban Institute found that almost 30 percent of physicians aged 35 to 49 in primary care were planning to leave their practice within five years and, among those over 50, almost 52 percent were planning to retire or change professions.
Too Much Paperwork
A Medscape 2013 survey found that the most important factor in job dissatisfaction was too much paperwork. The practice of medicine has become inundated with bureaucratic red tape, in large part due to a proliferating number of health insurance organizations and oversight requirements. In many cases, almost one-third of the work day is devoted to paperwork. This has serious implications for the quality of care as physicians allocate less time to individual patients and consultations. This declining interaction with patients is also a major factor in demoralizing caregivers.
Insufficient Income
Among the top five reasons for professional exhaustion was insufficient income. While there are, of course, high-paying specialties like orthopedic surgery, cardiology and urology with salaries from $461,000 to $519,000 on average, most front-line doctors earn about $189,000. These primary care physicians are often the most beleaguered with oversized caseloads and constant demands from accountable care organizations, which is sapping their enthusiasm for clinical care and encouraging them to switch to a more lucrative specialty.
To the typical person, a six-figure income may appear to be more than generous, but the increasing financial burdens of school loans (accrued over a lengthy education), business overhead and growing malpractice premiums are crippling the professional independence of many new doctors. Many of these physicians would leave the profession if they could find a career that was as lucrative and less demanding.
Quality of Care
The most compelling cause of disillusionment in medicine is the reduced quality of care for most patients. The vast majority of physicians chose this profession to help those in need, but in the high traffic environment of the modern managed care system, the standard of care is quickly eroding. Too many cases and bureaucratic hurdles are frustrating even the most generous of caregivers and diminishing their ability to effectively treat patients.
Modern quality of life is utterly dependent upon medical science and its practitioners. Without physicians millions of man-years of life would be lost, along with its accompanying productivity, technological innovation and cultural improvements. One of the most pressing challenges of our day is to convince the healthcare industry, government and the public that there is an ongoing crisis in the medical profession, one that requires immediate action.
About the Author: Dr. Robert Moghim is a board certified physician specialist and founder of Onyx Healthcare (D.B.A Onyx M.D.), an award-winning healthcare staffing firm. His extensive medical background, entrepreneurial vision, and business acumen provides a unique perspective on the ever-evolving and dynamic healthcare industry. Dr. Moghim is also an executive director and co-founder of Colorado Pain and the founder of Moghim Medical Consulting, Inc. Aside from his business leadership, physician and consultative duties, he also sits on the Colorado Medical Board, an esteemed position appointed by the Governor of Colorado. Most recently, Dr. Moghim was recognized as a finalist in the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award.


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The biggest heist in history: The botched raid on the Brink's-Mat that claimed 20 lives
WHEN one of the security guards at Unit 7 of the Heathrow Airport trading estate turned around to see a man in a balaclava pointing a pistol in his face and telling him to hit the floor he assumed it was a colleague playing a practical joke and carried on making the tea.
It was only when he was coshed, cuffed and bound that he realised it was no laughing matter.
Not that the six robbers were an impressively slick outfit. They had been expecting to find £3million in cash at the Brink's-Mat warehouse but they discovered nearly 10 times that amount in gold bars along with some cash and rough diamonds.
It was a bonanza but it presented the problem of how they were going to move it all.
A job that was meant to be in and out in a few minutes ended up taking the best part of two hours as someone had to get a bigger van, which was later seen wheezing through Hounslow with its chassis nearly scraping the road.
Bumbling as it sounds the robbery on November 26, 1983, was the biggest heist in British history and in real terms it remains so.
The gang doused the two guards with petrol and threatened to set them alight
The price of gold has trebled in the meantime so the value of the haul at today's prices would be around £90million. About 70 per cent of it was never recovered and the criminal underworld is still fighting and killing each other over the spoils. The robbery has claimed as many as 20 lives so far and gang members who weren't even born at the time of the theft have started "breaking a few arms" to locate the hidden treasure.
As one senior detective tells Wensley Clarkson, the leading writer on the case, in his recent book The Curse Of Brink's-Mat, "Nothing really surprises us any more when it comes to Brink's-Mat. These villains were out of control. Many of them were off their heads on drugs bought with their newfound riches.
"The trouble was that when that money either ran out or in the case of some of them, never materialised, there was only one way to respond and that was to kill people to show others that even 25 years after the robbery was committed if they dared to cross the gang they would still pay for it."
The theft itself was a violent affair in which the gang doused the two guards who had security codes for the vault with petrol and threatened to set them alight if they didn't give them up.
Its execution depended on an inside man in the shape of 31-year-old guard Tony Black. Detectives were suspicious that he had turned up 10 minutes late for work on the morning of the robbery and he quickly confessed that he had provided information and a key to a team including his sister's boyfriend Brian Robinson and two other men, "Mad" Mickey McAvoy and Tony White.
McAvoy, who had planned the raid for six months, was arrested when he moved shortly after the robbery from his south London council house to a Kent mansion and named his two rottweilers Brinks and Mat.
That was symptomatic of the shambolic aftermath to the heist.
The gang had been planning to split the cash between them but turning that amount of gold into cash was a very different matter. It had to be smelted, disguised and sold back into the gold industry and there was no one in their immediate circle who knew how to do that. They were forced to look for help further afield and every organised villain in London wanted part of the action.
One of the men they turned to was Kent crime boss Kenneth Noye, a volatile businessman with strong police connections from his Freemasonry activity, who was friends with a Bristol gold dealer called John Palmer, nicknamed Goldfinger.
Noye's idea was to introduce copper into the gold during the smelting process, altering its carat rating and making it untraceable. He immediately started generating money for the gang but aroused suspicions when he withdrew £3million in cash from a single bank branch in Bristol.
He was placed under surveillance but when he discovered undercover detective John Fordham hiding in his garden wearing camouflaged clothes he stabbed him 11 times.
He and fellow crook Brian Reader were acquitted of murder after pleading self-defence but 11 gold bars were discovered hidden beside Noye's garage wall. The pair of them were jailed for conspiracy to handle stolen goods.
In the meantime McAvoy and Robinson had been sentenced to 25 years and Black to six. Another of the gang, Brian Perry, was eventually given nine years for money laundering.
Meanwhile the cash itself swirled around. Clarkson says: "The Brink's-Mat villains' epic conversion of gold into cash brought more money into this country than any other gang of 0criminals in history. And when they spent it they often helped keep legitimate businesses afloat."
Some of the money went into property including the London Docklands boom and construction projects on the Costas but it also helped nudge organised crime in a new direction.
Financial backing from Noye and other Brink's-Mat gang members was key to setting up some of the main supply routes into Britain for the fledgling ecstasy trade. This new wave of recreational drugs, which became a key part of social life for a generation of young people, became a good way of keeping gang bosses wealthy as banks and security companies stepped up their procedures and bank robberies became all but impossible.
Released from prison in 1994 Noye and two other members of the gang also spent months in negotiations to buy huge quantities of the narcotic leaf khat from African drug barons.
In 1996 the temperamental Noye stabbed 21-year-old Stephen Cameron to death in an unprovoked incident, completely unrelated to Brink's-Mat, on the M25 in Kent.
He fled to Spain from where he was extradited and jailed for life at the Old Bailey in 2000.
Now 66 he failed earlier this year to get his minimum 16-year term reduced.
Meanwhile the legacy of the Brink's-Mat robbery has been continued underworld carnage. Perry was shot dead in Bermondsey, south London, in 2001 having been accused of taking McAvoy's share of the money.
A Hatton Garden jeweller called Solly Nahome, who had handled some of the gold, was shot dead in a north London street in 1998. Another enforcer is said to have become part of the foundations of the Millennium Dome. And in 1990 Great Train Robber Charlie Wilson had been gunned down in Spain, in trouble after £3million of Brink's-Mat investors' money went missing in a drugs deal.
Things got so bad that former Kray twins' associate George Francis said: "It's a curse because everyone connected to Brink's-Mat stands to get topped." And sure enough he too has since been shot dead.
The case inspired the TV film Fool's Gold starring Sean Bean as McAvoy. It's claimed that most people with gold jewellery made in the UK after 1993 are wearing Brink's-Mat gold and Clarkson adds that in a sense it marked the end of an era for British crime.
Robbery was overtaken by far more lucrative enterprises such as drugs, arms dealing, racketeering and people smuggling, often led by a massive influx of foreign criminals as the traditional "faces" of London's old-style criminal fraternity slipped out of the limelight.
But the main legacy, Clarkson insists, is clear. He concludes: "The UK remains in the grip of organised crime mainly fuelled by drugs, which first got a stranglehold, in part, thanks to that massive influx of Brink's-Mat cash."


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RoboCup Logistics League – Carologistics
The RWTH and FH Carologistics team is taking part in the major league competition "RoboCup Logistics League," which aims to advance research in the field of robotics. At the annual competition, teams from around the world must prove their ability in various disciplines. During the RoboCup Logistics League, always two teams with three mobile autonomous robots each compete against one-another in an intralogistics scenario.Copyright: Tobias Neumann
The subject matter of the competition thus essentially portrays the idea of industry 4.0. Intelligent machines are to be able to take on production of complex products in a dynamic manufacturing environment. The students must develop suitable software and hardware for mobile robots, which can be employed to master logistics activities.
To show they are qualified for such tasks, the robots must be able to negotiate several obstacles during the competition. One of the tasks, for instance, includes the exploration of a previously unknown manufacturing environment or the independent identification of available machines in order to guarantee optimal flow of material among several assembly stations. Software development is subdivided into the components planing, skills and basic components.
The students are able to develop the appropriate hardware with the help of the mobile robot platform Robotino provided by Festo Didactic Ltd. Among others, a laser scanner and 3D sensors, which allow robots to perceive the manufacturing environment, can be mounted on this platform and integrated into the control system. On this basis, the students may then design a special "gripping system", which will allow the robot to pick up various goods in transit from conveyor belts.
The development of the software constitutes the greatest challenge for the students. Particularly the autonomous and efficiency-oriented scheduling of separate processes within different areas of taks to be accomplished by the mobile robot is extremely complex. In 2017, the Carologistics were able to defend their world champion title.
Carologistics, which became the world champions for the fourth time in a row this year, is made up of researchers and students from the Cybernetics Lab IMA/ZLW & IfU (RWTH Aachen, Mechanical Engineering, Professor Sabina Jeschke), the Knowledge-Based Systems Group (RWTH Aachen, Computer Science, Professor Gerhard Lakemeyer) and the MASCOR Institute (FH Aachen, Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, Professor Alexander Ferrein).
Supported by the Hans Hermann Voss Foundation.


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«Wow, GP was great! Good job on the directing too! »
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March 17, 2012
Happy St. Patrick's Day 2012
If you are looking for something to watch tonight, check out your local Wal-mart's bargain bin where you will find the first four "Leprechaun" movies in one pack for only $5.
You can also get the same thing from Amazon for only a couple of dollars more.
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KidsTLC Leadership Team
Dr. Erin Dugan
President & CEO
(913) 324-3609
Erin joined KidsTLC in May of 2018, after serving as Assistant Superintendent for General Administration for the Olathe Public Schools where she played a key district-wide leadership role. During her career, she has consistently focused on serving students with disabilities, facilitating specialized services for students with autism and supporting children and families struggling with mental health challenges. Among many civic leadership positions, Erin served on KidsTLC's Board of Directors and Executive Committee. She holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Vermont, as well as a Master's Degree in Child Psychology and PH.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Kansas.
Mary Lynn Thomas
Chief Financial Officer
(913) 324-3681
Mary Lynn has many years of experience working with the revenue cycle in health care, most recently working with a Kansas City area company called Claims Professionally Reviewed. Prior to that she worked with another company called EvolveMD, providing revenue cycle services to physician offices around the region. Mary Lynn also has experience with implementation of Electronic Medical Records, which is extremely valuable to us here at KidsTLC. She has been heavily involved in our conversion to ICD 10 coding since 2015.
Mark Siegmund, MA, LPC, LCPC
Chief Clinical/Operations Officer
(913) 324-3608
Mark Siegmund has been a counselor for more than 35 years in Missouri, New Hampshire, and Kansas working extensively with children, adolescents and families. Mark has presented locally and nationally on Trauma-Focused Care, Youth with Sexual Behavior Problems and other topics such as Peaceful Parenting and Adolescent Development and Sexuality. Mark has worked with foster families and in residential care for over 20 years. He has formulated KidsTLC Autism Program which opened in 2012, and continues to work with a variety of distinguished experts in the field throughout the country.
Shannon Wickliffe
Chief Development Officer
(913) 324-3630
Shannon joined KidsTLC as Chief Development Officer after 16 years with First National Bank of Omaha where he led the Treasury Services team in the KC Metro market. He is currently President of the Olathe Public Schools Board of Education and serves on numerous community boards. Shannon enjoys running, cycling, cooking and all things Jayhawks.
George Thompson, Jr., MD, FAPA
Chief Medical Officer
(913) 324-3636
Dr. George, as the staff and kids call him, is a board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrist with a long history of successful treatment of children with complex mental illnesses. He earned his medical degree from the University of Texas, Southwestern Medical School in Dallas, and studied child, adolescent and adult psychiatry at the Karl Menninger School of Psychiatry in Topeka. He was the Director of Residency Training at Menninger when the clinic moved to Texas. He is an associate professor of psychiatry and medical education at the UMKC School of Medicine, where he teaches medical communication skills to future doctors. Dr. George is an innovator when it comes to guiding adolescents and children to exploring their own behaviors and giving them and their families the tools to modify the behaviors they want to change.
Roy Rotz, PhD
Senior Vice President of Clinical Services
(913) 324-3625
Dr. Roy Rotz is responsible for the clinical supervision and oversight of the daily work of the KidsTLC team of therapists and case coordinators who work through our psychiatric residential treatment facility (PRTF). He is also guiding the KidsTLC program for outpatient services which opened in 2012. He earned his doctorate from Kansas State University in Family Life Education and Consultation, 2003 Roy has a background of marriage and family therapy. He has diagnosed and worked with children and adults with a variety of issues including anxiety and depression, PTSD, ADHD, Oppositional Defiance and Narcissistic Personality and Borderline Personality. Roy has extensive experience with therapies designed for children who have been traumatized. Roy has presented to numerous groups nationally and locally on a variety of topics that address marriage and family issues. He has been instrumental in starting a graduate program for marriage and family therapy and professional counseling at MidAmerica Nazarene University in Olathe, as well as starting the post-master's certification in Play Therapy at MNU.
Kelly English, LPC
Vice President of Clinical Operations
(913) 324-3611
Kelly English is a licensed professional counselor, with more than 10 years of successful experience in both residential and outpatient clinical therapy settings, as well as program development and administrative work. Kelly received her undergraduate degree from St. Louis University in Psychology with a minor in Education, and her Master's Degree from the University of Kansas in Counseling Psychology.
Kelly oversees half of the Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility, as well as the Sanctuary and Intensive Outpatient Program at KidsTLC. Within these programs, Kelly provides support and consultation to the therapists and program managers, as well as direct care staff. In addition to overseeing psychiatric programs, she provides individual, family and group therapy to adolescents with severe mental health and attachment issues through the outpatient program.
Christine Fuhrman, LCSW
Vice President of Lotus Clinics Outpatient Behavioral Health
(913) 324-3811
Christine has been with KidsTLC since 2007 and is a licensed Clinical Social Worker who received her Master's Degree in clinical social work from the University of Denver. She has been in the field more than 15 years working with children, adolescents and families experiencing complex trauma and behavioral health issues in a variety of residential and community-based settings. Christine is also an advocate and experienced clinician in serving LGBTQ adolescents and young adults as well as their families. She is a highly dynamic, skilled, and experienced clinical social worker with diverse knowledge of leadership approaches coupled with proven success in non-profit program design, professional development and other administrative functions. Christine's key responsibilities include serving on the agency's Senior Management Team in addition to administrative and clinical oversight of our Outpatient Behavioral Health Program, which provides an array of therapeutic and psychiatric services including: Individual Therapy, Family Therapy, Group Therapy, Medication Evaluations & Medication Management and Parental Education and Support groups. She is incredibly passionate about serving others and promoting professional development throughout the work that she does.
Dan Lash, MS, LCMFT
Director of Risk Management and Compliance
(913) 324-3867
Dan started at KidsTLC in 2013 as a therapist on the Willow Unit in our Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility. After serving there for 3 years he made the transition into the world of continuous quality improvement, where he works to provide benchmark data for our programs and grant requests, as well as coordinates with outside licensing and accrediting agencies. He has also worked very closely in the implementation of our new electronic health record. Dan holds a BFA in Music Education/Music Therapy from the University of Kansas, and an MS from Friends University in Family Therapy. He enjoys painting, cheering on the Chiefs, Royals, and Jayhawks, helping out on the farm, and spending time in the woods.
Brandon Mock, ATR-BC, LPC, LCMFT
Vice President of Clinical Programming
For more than 20 years, Brandon has worked in clinical and administrative capacities for organizations serving youth in psychiatric residential, intensive outpatient, and outpatient behavioral health. In addition to overseeing psychiatric residential programming, he provides individual, family, and group therapy as well as consultation, education, and training for parents and mental health practitioners in working with youth who suffer from the effects of childhood trauma such as mood dysregulation, disrupted attachment, and challenging behaviors. Brandon received training and direct supervision by Daniel Hughes, PhD, the originator of Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP) and is a certified DDP practitioner and consultant. Outside of work he spends most of his time enjoying his children's sports activities. When time allows he likes to bike, run with his dog, and write/record music in his home studio.
Molly Pomeroy, MS, BCBA, LBA
Clinical Director of Autism Services
Molly Pomeroy received her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Central Missouri State University in 2000. She later continued her education at the University of Kansas and in 2006 received her Master's in Special Education with an emphasis in Behavior Disorders. Molly returned to school in 2007 and completed post-graduate coursework in Applied Behavior Analysis at Saint Cloud State Minnesota and plans on completing her doctorate in the near future. Molly obtained Board Certification in Behavior Analysis in November of 2007 and became licensed in the state of Missouri in 2011. She has more than a decade and a half of experience working with families of children with special needs, adolescents in residential placement, and adults with developmental and mental health disorders. Molly has presented at numerous workshops and conducted extensive trainings for both parents and professionals working with individuals with disabilities in both Kansas, Missouri and throughout the Midwest. Molly has helped to develop and participate in a 3-year autism training summer workshop series with the Department of Mental Health and has partnered with numerous area school districts and military bases in order to improve the quality of services their children receive. In addition to this, she has helped to design and oversee private educational settings for individuals needing ABA services. Molly has conducted research in and written a parent training manual for the reduction of behavior based feeding issues and expansion of the dietary repertoire of individuals on the Autism Spectrum and well as social development skills. Molly is a member of ABAI, HLABA, MOABA, APBA and CEC among other organizations.
Andy Spruill
Director of Facilities
(913) 324-3838
Originally from Olathe, Andy enjoyed living briefly in South Carolina before returning in 2008 and joining KidsTLC. He began his KidsTLC adventure working directly with the kids as milieu staff and later transitioned to a facilities maintenance roll. In 2014, Andy grew into his current position as the Director of Facilities. He prides himself in always going the extra mile for clients and staff, maintaining the belief that KidsTLC should be a place he'd feel good about having his own children reside or receive services. Andy now has three children of his own, and in addition to spending time with them, he enjoys watching Clemson football, golfing, mowing the yard and spending time outdoors.