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Wednesday, March 4, 2009
San Francisco Tribal & Textile Art Show
Fort Mason Center, Feb.13th to 15th, 2009.
Every February I exhibit at the San Francisco Tribal & Textile Art Show held at the Fort Mason Center. I really look forward to this event because in my opinion this show is the best Tribal Art venue in the US and possibly the world. There are more exhibitors than any other show (100 or more) with considerably more variety of material, unlike the big European shows which tend to focus on African art. Also, sales have typically been strong and consistent each year. There is always an interesting display in the lobby at the entrance to the venue and this year was no exception. Featured were a series of fantastic and powerful paintings from famed Miami artist (and tribal art collector) Jose Bedia.
Even with the constant drumbeat of economic Armageddon each day on the news, I was cautiously optimistic that buyers would dust off their checkbooks to take advantage of this once in a year opportunity to acquire great tribal artworks. There were plenty of good pieces for sale and attendance was high, certainly it appeared to be no less people walking the aisles than last year.
However, most people I talked to were not in a buying mood, even the ones that were not directly affected by the economic slowdown. Everyone appeared nervous about spending any serious money. With fewer sales to collectors, most dealers were backing off buying as well, so in the end overall sales were down considerably from previous years. This seemed to be the case with the majority of exhibitors, with the exception of a few dealers who did quite well. This was disappointing of course, but not unexpected considering the circumstances. Despite lower than usual sales this year, I believe this will not be the norm and look forward to exhibiting at this venue next year.
One side area that I want to address is the vetting at the show this year. Vetting, prior to the public opening, is a necessary step to insure the quality and authenticity of the material offered. This is usually done with the intention of removing only those items that are obviously or very likely to be problematic (fakes, reproductions, or overly restored items). In a perfect world, people selected to do the vetting would be recognized as experts in their fields and have no personal interest in the items on display. Admittedly, this is difficult to achieve as finding outside experts who are willing to do this job is not easy and often impossible. As an alternative, the show organizers usually have to select a group of dealers that are also exhibitors.
Unfortunately, this can (and often does) lead to allowing certain dealers, with less than honorable intentions, to have the power to remove any item from a competitor's booth. This is supposed to be remedied by that fact that a small group has to make these decisions and no piece can be vetted out by a single person. However, it is not unusual for other members of these committees to either have their own agendas or not be qualified to make those decisions in the first place. In addition there can be a sheep-like mentality amongst some members of a vetting committee who prefer to avoid confrontation, so they just go along with the opinion of the most forceful personality.
I personally know of several authentic old Borneo sculptures (including a pair of male/female territory markers) that were vetted out of the show. These particular pieces were so clearly and unequivocally correct, that I was in shock when I found out they were removed. To be blunt, certain key members of that committee, who voted to remove these pieces (as well as others), were either extremely ignorant of the material or chose to do so because of a personal agenda.
This business is hard enough without the moronic and virtually criminal behavior of certain dealers. The real shame is these same dealers actually believe they will look better to their clients if they pull down their colleagues, when in fact it only causes distrust and insecurity in the marketplace. We need more cooperation, not more competition amongst our community if we want to see this business flourish.
2 comments:
- TribalArtery said...
Thank you for the report. I have always respected the SF show and regret missing it this year.
I was very interested in your estimates of market interest. But even more so in your comments about vetting.
I have recently blogged about authenticity, including suggesting the potential buyers get second and third opinions. I also mentioned that it is important to get more than one corroboration simply because there are some dealers who don't have the purest motives.
With your permission, I will excerpt from your blog and post it on mine with a link to the remainder of your blog.
Thanks for this. - March 5, 2009 at 1:43 PM
- asiaart said...
I have no problem with anyone quoting from this blog.
Mark - April 3, 2009 at 7:19 AM
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It's time to give away the five fabulous cupcake prizes. This giveaway was a little more involved. More prizes and more winners. But, I finally have it all pulled together for you. One side note. There were 2,231 comments to the giveaway post, but several of you found your way to my flickr photostream and left your answers there. So, I copied the eligible comments from flickr and added them to the last comment in the giveaway post for a total of 2,306 entries. I don't think I'll be that nice next time. (Too much extra work.)
Now, let's see who won what. And who won what they wanted. Hope this was fun for you guys. Let's get started.
The first winner (selected by random.org) is comment # 2013.
Now, let's see if Robert and Hannah got what they want. Underneath cupcake number 6 is:
The super fabulous Cup-A-Cake Container. Sorry, no cutter. But at least you can protect your cupcake from harm's way.
The second winner is comment # 279.
Okay, let's see if you get lucky craftydiane. What's behind cupcake number 8?
Not the shirt, which I'm glad you like by the way. You win the Sprinkles Cupcake Mix. Yippee!
Moving on. The third winner is Comment # 617.
Alright Kiersten, that's easy…any it is.
And in this case, any equals brown baking cups. Congrats.
Now, for the fourth winner. That's comment # 45.
Sorry Carly. The Cakespy art wasn't actually up for grabs. But, I'm glad you're easy to please because as we saw above, Cupcake 6 is the Cup-A-Cake Container and I think you'll like it.
Hmmmmm. I was hoping for five different winners for each of the five prizes. Guess, I'll need to buy more containers.
The fifth and not so final winner is comment # 2256. Oooh…this is one of the flickr ones I mentioned earlier. It's a good thing I copied those comments over. Now let's see who you are and what you wanted.
Another 6. I'm not sure if I should be happy or sad. On the one hand, we finally have a match. On the other, I still have two more prizes to give away. So, let's keep going.
The next winner is comment # 1416.
And finally, a new number. Cupcake number 5 is……well………we know it's not the sprinkles mix.
It's the Cupcake T-shirt. An excellent score if I do say so myself.
The next winning comment is # 401.
Okay, let's see what's behind cupcake number 2.
Yay, it's the cutter and even better Jodie is getting what she wanted. It must have been the fingers.
That's it. Five prizes and seven winners later, the guessing is over.
And in case you're wondering what's underneath the other cupcakes, here you go:
I'll be contacting the winners soon.
Thanks for playing everyone!

subset: commoncrawl


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Contrary to what is taught in economics school by lesson plans financed by the military industrial complex, economists are now saying that war is bad for the economy. It seems common sense that destruction of property couldn't possibly be a net gain. Yet we are led to believe that $1 invested in the military industrial complex will result in an output of $2. If this were the case, it is not consistent with history that many empires have bankrupt themselves financing foreign wars. From Washingtonsblog.com:
Nobel-prize winning economist Joseph Stiglitz says that war is bad for the economy:
Stiglitz wrote in 2003:
War is widely thought to be linked to economic good times. The second world war is often said to have brought the world out of depression, and war has since enhanced its reputation as a spur to economic growth. Some even suggest that capitalism needs wars, that without them, recession would always lurk on the horizon.
Today, we know that this is nonsense. The 1990s boom showed that peace is economically far better than war. The Gulf war of 1991 demonstrated that wars can actually be bad for an economy.
Stiglitz has also said that this decade's Iraq war has been very bad for the economy. See this, this and this.
Former Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan also said in that war is bad for the economy.
In 1991, Greenspan said that a prolonged conflict in the Middle East would hurt the economy.
And he made this point again in 1999:
Societies need to buy as much military insurance as they need, but to spend more than that is to squander money that could go toward improving the productivity of the economy as a whole: with more efficient transportation systems, a better educated citizenry, and so on.
This is the point that retiring Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) learned back in 1999 in a House Banking Committee hearing with then-Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan. Frank asked what factors were producing our then-strong economic performance. On Greenspan's list: "The freeing up of resources previously employed to produce military products that was brought about by the end of the Cold War." Are you saying, Frank asked, "that dollar for dollar, military products are there as insurance … and to the extent you could put those dollars into other areas, maybe education and job trainings, maybe into transportation … that is going to have a good economic effect?" Greenspan agreed.
Economist Dean Baker notes:
It is often believed that wars and military spending increases are good for the economy. In fact, most economic models show that military spending diverts resources from productive uses, such as consumption and investment, and ultimately slows economic growth and reduces employment.
UC Berkeley economics professor and Former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich said last week in response to a question about striking Syria:
Every time the United States has got into this tinderbox in the Middle East … we deflect attention from what is going on here in the United States in terms of widening inequality, what needs to be done here in America. We use resources that could otherwise be used on our poor on infrastructure, on education.
The New Republic noted in 2009:
Conservative Harvard economist Robert Barro has argued that increased military spending during WWII actually depressed other parts of the economy.
(New Republic also points out that conservative economist Robert Higgs and liberal economists Larry Summers and Brad Delong have all shown that any stimulation to the economy from World War II has been greatly exaggerated.)
How could war actually hurt the economy, when so many say that it stimulates the economy?
Because of what economists call the "broken window fallacy".
Specifically, if a window in a store is broken, it means that the window-maker gets paid to make a new window, and he, in turn, has money to pay others. However, economists long ago showed that – if the window hadn't been broken – the shop-owner would have spent that money on other things, such as food, clothing, health care, consumer electronics or recreation, which would have helped the economy as much or more. If the shop-owner hadn't had to replace his window, he might have taken his family out to dinner, which would have circulated more money to the restaurant, and from there to other sectors of the economy. Similarly, the money spent on the war effort is money that cannot be spent on other sectors of the economy.
Indeed, all of the military spending has just created military jobs, at the expense of the civilian economy.
As Austrian economist Ludwig Von Mises pointed out:
That is the essence of so-called war prosperity; it enriches some by what it takes from others. It is not rising wealth but a shifting of wealth and income.
We noted in 2010:
You know about America's unemployment problem. You may have even heard that the U.S. may very well have suffered a permanent destruction of jobs.
But did you know that the defense employment sector is booming?
As I pointed out in August, public sector spending – and mainly defense spending – has accounted for virtually all of the new job creation in the past 10 years:
The U.S. has largely been financing job creation for ten years. Specifically, as the chief economist for BusinessWeek, Michael Mandel, points out, public spending has accounted for virtually all new job creation in the past 1o years:
Private sector job growth was almost non-existent over the past ten years. Take a look at this horrifying chart:
Between May 1999 and May 2009, employment in the private sector sector only rose by 1.1%, by far the lowest 10-year increase in the post-depression period.
It's impossible to overstate how bad this is. Basically speaking, the private sector job machine has almost completely stalled over the past ten years. Take a look at this chart:
Over the past 10 years, the private sector has generated roughly 1.1 million additional jobs, or about 100K per year. The public sector created about 2.4 million jobs.
But even that gives the private sector too much credit. Remember that the private sector includes health care, social assistance, and education, all areas which receive a lot of government support.
***Most of the industries which had positive job growth over the past ten years were in the HealthEdGov sector. In fact, financial job growth was nearly nonexistent once we take out the health insurers.
Let me finish with a final chart.
Without a decade of growing government support from rising health and education spending and soaring budget deficits, the labor market would have been flat on its back. [120]
Raw Story argues that the U.S. is building a largely military economy:
The use of the military-industrial complex as a quick, if dubious, way of jump-starting the economy is nothing new, but what is amazing is the divergence between the military economy and the civilian economy, as shown by this New York Times chart.
In the past nine years, non-industrial production in the US has declined by some 19 percent. It took about four years for manufacturing to return to levels seen before the 2001 recession — and all those gains were wiped out in the current recession.
By contrast, military manufacturing is now 123 percent greater than it was in 2000 — it has more than doubled while the rest of the manufacturing sector has been shrinking…
It's important to note the trajectory — the military economy is nearly three times as large, proportionally to the rest of the economy, as it was at the beginning of the Bush administration. And it is the only manufacturing sector showing any growth. Extrapolate that trend, and what do you get?
The change in leadership in Washington does not appear to be abating that trend…[121]
So most of the job creation has been by the public sector. But because the job creation has been financed with loans from China and private banks, trillions in unnecessary interest charges have been incurred by the U.S.
And this shows military versus non-military durable goods shipments:
[Click here to view full image.]
So we're running up our debt (which will eventually decrease economic growth), but the only jobs we're creating are military and other public sector jobs.
PhD economist Dean Baker points out that America's massive military spending on unnecessary and unpopular wars lowers economic growth and increases unemployment:
Defense spending means that the government is pulling away resources from the uses determined by the market and instead using them to buy weapons and supplies and to pay for soldiers and other military personnel. In standard economic models, defense spending is a direct drain on the economy, reducing efficiency, slowing growth and costing jobs.
A few years ago, the Center for Economic and Policy Research commissioned Global Insight, one of the leading economic modeling firms, to project the impact of a sustained increase in defense spending equal to 1.0 percentage point of GDP. This was roughly equal to the cost of the Iraq War.
Global Insight's model projected that after 20 years the economy would be about 0.6 percentage points smaller as a result of the additional defense spending. Slower growth would imply a loss of almost 700,000 jobs compared to a situation in which defense spending had not been increased. Construction and manufacturing were especially big job losers in the projections, losing 210,000 and 90,000 jobs, respectively.
The scenario we asked Global Insight [recognized as the most consistently accurate forecasting company in the world] to model turned out to have vastly underestimated the increase in defense spending associated with current policy. In the most recent quarter, defense spending was equal to 5.6 percent of GDP. By comparison, before the September 11th attacks, the Congressional Budget Office projected that defense spending in 2009 would be equal to just 2.4 percent of GDP. Our post-September 11th build-up was equal to 3.2 percentage points of GDP compared to the pre-attack baseline. This means that the Global Insight projections of job loss are far too low…
The projected job loss from this increase in defense spending would be close to 2 million. In other words, the standard economic models that project job loss from efforts to stem global warming also project that the increase in defense spending since 2000 will cost the economy close to 2 million jobs in the long run.
The Political Economy Research Institute at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst has also shown that non-military spending creates more jobs than military spending.
So we're running up our debt – which will eventually decrease economic growth – and creating many fewer jobs than if we spent the money on non-military purposes.
High Military Spending Drains Innovation, Investment and Manufacturing Strength from the Civilian Economy
Chalmers Johnson notes that high military spending diverts innovation and manufacturing capacity from the economy:
By the 1960s it was becoming apparent that turning over the nation's largest manufacturing enterprises to the Department of Defense and producing goods without any investment or consumption value was starting to crowd out civilian economic activities. The historian Thomas E Woods Jr observes that, during the 1950s and 1960s, between one-third and two-thirds of all US research talent was siphoned off into the military sector. It is, of course, impossible to know what innovations never appeared as a result of this diversion of resources and brainpower into the service of the military, but it was during the 1960s that we first began to notice Japan was outpacing us in the design and quality of a range of consumer goods, including household electronics and automobiles.
Woods writes: "According to the US Department of Defense, during the four decades from 1947 through 1987 it used (in 1982 dollars) $7.62 trillion in capital resources. In 1985, the Department of Commerce estimated the value of the nation's plant and equipment, and infrastructure, at just over _$7.29 trillion… The amount spent over that period could have doubled the American capital stock or modernized and replaced its existing stock".
The fact that we did not modernise or replace our capital assets is one of the main reasons why, by the turn of the 21st century, our manufacturing base had all but evaporated. Machine tools, an industry on which Melman was an authority, are a particularly important symptom. In November 1968, a five-year inventory disclosed "that 64% of the metalworking machine tools used in US industry were 10 years old or older. The age of this industrial equipment (drills, lathes, etc.) marks the United States' machine tool stock as the oldest among all major industrial nations, and it marks the continuation of a deterioration process that began with the end of the second world war. This deterioration at the base of the industrial system certifies to the continuous debilitating and depleting effect that the military use of capital and research and development talent has had on American industry."
Economist Robert Higgs makes the same point about World War II:
Yes, officially measured GDP soared during the war. Examination of that increased output shows, however, that it consisted entirely of military goods and services. Real civilian consumption and private investment both fell after 1941, and they did not recover fully until 1946. The privately owned capital stock actually shrank during the war. Some prosperity. (My article in the peer-reviewed Journal of Economic History, March 1992, presents many of the relevant details.)
It is high time that we come to appreciate the distinction between the government spending, especially the war spending, that bulks up official GDP figures and the kinds of production that create genuine economic prosperity. As Ludwig von Mises wrote in the aftermath of World War I, "war prosperity is like the prosperity that an earthquake or a plague brings."
Military Leaders Say Endless War Is Bad For the Economy
We noted in 2010:
All of the spending on unnecessary wars adds up.
The U.S. is adding trillions to its debt burden to finance its multiple wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen, etc.
Two top American economists – Carmen Reinhart and Kenneth Rogoff – show that the more indebted a country is, with a government debt/GDP ratio of 0.9, and external debt/GDP of 0.6 being critical thresholds, the more GDP growth drops materially.
Specifically, Reinhart and Rogoff write:
The relationship between government debt and real GDP growth is weak for debt/GDP ratios below a threshold of 90 percent of GDP. Above 90 percent, median growth rates fall by one percent, and average growth falls considerably more. We find that the threshold for public debt is similar in advanced and emerging economies…
I also wrote in 2010:
It is ironic that America's huge military spending is what made us an empire … but our huge military is what is bankrupting us … thus destroying our status as an empire.
As an economist told me:
War always causes recession. Well, if it is a very short war, then it may stimulate the economy in the short-run. But if there is not a quick victory and it drags on, then wars always put the nation waging war into a recession and hurt its economy.
(and remember Greenspan's comment.)
But it's not just civilians saying this. The former head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff – Admiral Mullen – agrees:
The Pentagon needs to cut back on spending.
"We're going to have to do that if it's going to survive at all," Mullen said, "and do it in a way that is predictable."
Indeed, Mullen said:
For industry and adequate defense funding to survive … the two must work together. Otherwise, he added, "this wave of debt" will carry over from year to year, and eventually, the defense budget will be cut just to facilitate the debt.
Former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates agrees as well. As David Ignatius wrote in the Washington Post in 2010:
After a decade of war and financial crisis, America has run up debts that pose a national security problem, not just an economic one.
One of the strongest voices arguing for fiscal responsibility as a national security issue has been Defense Secretary Bob Gates. He gave a landmark speech in Kansas on May 8, invoking President Dwight Eisenhower's warnings about the dangers of an imbalanced military-industrial state.
"Eisenhower was wary of seeing his beloved republic turn into a muscle-bound, garrison state — militarily strong, but economically stagnant and strategically insolvent," Gates said. He warned that America was in a "parlous fiscal condition" and that the "gusher" of military spending that followed Sept. 11, 2001, must be capped. "We can't have a strong military if we have a weak economy," Gates told reporters who covered the Kansas speech.
On Thursday the defense secretary reiterated his pitch that Congress must stop shoveling money at the military, telling Pentagon reporters: "The defense budget process should no longer be characterized by 'business as usual' within this building — or outside of it."
While some might want to start another war, America's top military leaders and economists say that would be a very bad idea.
Indeed, military strategists have known for 2,500 years that prolonged wars are disastrous for the nation.
War Causes Inflation … Which Hurts Consumers
As we noted in 2010, war always causes inflation … which hurts consumers:
Liberal economist James Galbraith wrote in 2004:
Inflation applies the law of the jungle to war finance. Prices and profits rise, wages and their purchasing power fall. Thugs, profiteers and the well connected get rich. Working people and the poor make out as they can. Savings erode, through the unseen mechanism of the "inflation tax" — meaning that the government runs a big deficit in nominal terms, but a smaller one when inflation is factored in.
There is profiteering. Firms with monopoly power usually keep some in reserve. In wartime, if the climate is permissive, they bring it out and use it. Gas prices can go up when refining capacity becomes short — due partly to too many mergers. More generally, when sales to consumers are slow, businesses ought to cut prices — but many of them don't. Instead, they raise prices to meet their income targets and hope that the market won't collapse.
Libertarian Congressman Ron Paul agreed in 2007:
Congress and the Federal Reserve Bank have a cozy, unspoken arrangement that makes war easier to finance. Congress has an insatiable appetite for new spending, but raising taxes is politically unpopular. The Federal Reserve, however, is happy to accommodate deficit spending by creating new money through the Treasury Department. In exchange, Congress leaves the Fed alone to operate free of pesky oversight and free of political scrutiny. Monetary policy is utterly ignored in Washington, even though the Federal Reserve system is a creation of Congress.
The result of this arrangement is inflation. And inflation finances war.
Blanchard Economic Research pointed out in 2001:
War has a profound effect on the economy, our government and its fiscal and monetary policies. These effects have consistently led to high inflation.
David Hackett Fischer is a Professor of History and Economic History at Brandeis. [H]is book, The Great Wave, Price Revolutions and the Rhythm of History … finds that … periods of high inflation are caused by, and cause, a breakdown in order and a loss of faith in political institutions. He also finds that war is a triggering influence on inflation, political disorder, social conflict and economic disruption.
Other economists agree with Professor Fischer's link between inflation and war.
James Grant, the respected editor of Grant's Interest Rate Observer, supplies us with the most timely perspective on the effect of war on inflation in the September 14 issue of his newsletter:
"War is inflationary. It is always wasteful no matter how just the cause. It is cost without income, destruction financed (more often than not) by credit creation. It is the essence of inflation."
Libertarian economics writer Lew Rockwell noted in 2008:
You can line up 100 professional war historians and political scientists to talk about the 20th century, and not one is likely to mention the role of the Fed in funding US militarism. And yet it is true: the Fed is the institution that has created the money to fund the wars. In this role, it has solved a major problem that the state has confronted for all of human history. A state without money or a state that must tax its citizens to raise money for its wars is necessarily limited in its imperial ambitions. Keep in mind that this is only a problem for the state. It is not a problem for the people. The inability of the state to fund its unlimited ambitions is worth more for the people than every kind of legal check and balance. It is more valuable than all the constitutions every devised.
Reflecting on the calamity of this war, Ludwig von Mises wrote in 1919
One can say without exaggeration that inflation is an indispensable means of militarism. Without it, the repercussions of war on welfare become obvious much more quickly and penetratingly; war weariness would set in much earlier.***
In the entire run-up to war, George Bush just assumed as a matter of policy that it was his decision alone whether to invade Iraq. The objections by Ron Paul and some other members of Congress and vast numbers of the American population were reduced to little more than white noise in the background. Imagine if he had to raise the money for the war through taxes. It never would have happened. But he didn't have to. He knew the money would be there. So despite a $200 billion deficit, a $9 trillion debt, $5 trillion in outstanding debt instruments held by the public, a federal budget of $3 trillion, and falling tax receipts in 2001, Bush contemplated a war that has cost $525 billion dollars — or $4,681 per household. Imagine if he had gone to the American people to request that. What would have happened? I think we know the answer to that question. And those are government figures; the actual cost of this war will be far higher — perhaps $20,000 per household.
If the state has the power and is asked to choose between doing good and waging war, what will it choose? Certainly in the American context, the choice has always been for war.
And progressive economics writer Chris Martenson explains as part of his "Crash Course" on economics:
If we look at the entire sweep of history, we can make an utterly obvious claim: All wars are inflationary. Period. No exceptions.
So if anybody tries to tell you that you haven't sacrificed for the war, let them know you sacrificed a large portion of your savings and your paycheck to the effort, thank you very much.
The bottom line is that war always causes inflation, at least when it is funded through money-printing instead of a pay-as-you-go system of taxes and/or bonds. It might be great for a handful of defense contractors, but war is bad for Main Street, stealing wealth from people by making their dollars worth less.
War Increases Terrorism … And Terrorism Hurts the Economy
Security experts – conservative hawks and liberal doves alike – agree that waging war in the Middle East weakens national security and increases terrorism. See this, this, this, this, this, this and this.
Terrorism – in turn – terrorism is bad for the economy. Specifically, a study by Harvard and the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) points out:
From an economic standpoint, terrorism has been described to have four main effects (see, e.g., US Congress, Joint Economic Committee, 2002). First, the capital stock (human and physical) of a country is reduced as a result of terrorist attacks. Second, the terrorist threat induces higher levels of uncertainty. Third, terrorism promotes increases in counter-terrorism expenditures, drawing resources from productive sectors for use in security. Fourth, terrorism is known to affect negatively specific industries such as tourism.
The Harvard/NBER concludes:
In accordance with the predictions of the model, higher levels of terrorist risks are associated with lower levels of net foreign direct investment positions, even after controlling for other types of country risks. On average, a standard deviation increase in the terrorist risk is associated with a fall in the net foreign direct investment position of about 5 percent of GDP.
So the more unnecessary wars American launches and the more innocent civilians we kill, the less foreign investment in America, the more destruction to our capital stock, the higher the level of uncertainty, the more counter-terrorism expenditures and the less expenditures in more productive sectors, and the greater the hit to tourism and some other industries.
Terrorism has contributed to a decline in the global economy (for example, European Commission, 2001).
So military adventurism increases terrorism which hurts the world economy. And see this.
The Proof Is In the Pudding
We noted in 2011:
This is a no-brainer, if you think about it.
We've been in Afghanistan for almost twice as long as World War II. We've been in Iraq for years longer than WWII. We've been involved in 7 or 8 wars in the last decade. And yet still in a depression. (And see this).
If wars really helped the economy, don't you think things would have improved by now?
Indeed, the Iraq war alone could end up costing more than World War II. And given the other wars we've been involved in this decade, I believe that the total price tag for the so-called "War on Terror" will definitely support that of the "Greatest War".
Postscript on Iran: Well-known economist Nouriel Roubini says that attacking Iran would lead to global recession. The IMF says that Iran cutting off oil supplies could raise crude prices 30%.


text: On December 11th 2014 was the Kick-Off meeting of the interdisciplinary I4D project, which was started by IML in October together with the Chair of Engineering Design and CAD (KTC) and the Chair of Distributed Control Engineering (PLT). The goal of the project is to create an integrated information and interaction space for industry 4.0 in Dresden. The Meeting was a whole success in the eyes of every participant, so that the way has been paved to implement prototypes of the planed concepts and to acquire additional research and industry partners during the next two years.


text:
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Remote HD also doubles as a remote for Mac, and this is just the beginning!
Check out the extensive list of cool and convenient features Remote HD has to offer, view some screenshots or get started using it nows


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Entirely Equal but Defiantly Different!
Today is International Women's Day which is a big thing in parts of the world like Europe. The first time I heard about this celebration was when Deb and I lived in Russia back in the mid 90s where IWD is a huge deal. The roots of this movement began in the early 1900s on the heels of the industrial revolution where women experienced great oppression and unfairness. In 1908, some 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding shorter hours, better pay, and voting rights. This movement continued in other countries and the first official day of celebration was held in Austria in 1911 and followed in the US with the 19th Amendment in 1920. On this day of celebration I'm remembering some influential ladies in my life and am thankful for them, but I'm also a bit saddened at the agenda of the modern feminist movement. Is this because I'm opposed to women's suffrage and really am a chauvinist at heart? No. Rather, it's because I am totally for women and sense that what has arisen out of this healthy and right call for equality has now morphed into a recipe for tears. The problem that many may not grasp is the mistake of equating equality for sameness and thus a drive to purposefully remove any difference between the genders. (more…)


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Classic banks take days to weeks to get you approved for a loan. We understand here at Florida Title Loans that you need money quickly so after your application is approved the funds are transferred directly to your account within 24 hours.
Common Questions
Here are some questions that are often asked about our title loans. If you have any additional questions or simply just have a concern please don't hesitate to reach out and call or team of friendly agents who would be glad to assist you.
How long does it take to get the money?
Once you have submitted your application your money will be transferred directly to your bank account within 24 hours.
How big of a loan can I receive?
Your loan amount is dependent on the value of the car that is being used as collateral for the loan. Once the paperwork has been submitted we will evaluate the size of the loan that you qualify for. Generally, we don't offer loans larger than $50,000.
What if I have poor credit?
Poor credit is completely fine and we don't even look at it when determining your eligibility for a loan. We also do not look at your debt history. The only thing that we check is if you meet the requirements and the value of your vehicle.
Are there any hidden fees?
There are never any hidden payments with our car title loans. We aim to make your loan experience clean, quick, and easy.
Apply Today!
If you are in need of a loan please either apply online or call our agents and they would love to help you get the loan that you need. We have made our application a super simple 3 step process that can get you approved for the loan you need today.


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Longevity largely depends on choosing the right medium. The majority of old data has been preserved till nowadays on paper copies. It is surprising because paper catches fire easily, can be damaged by floods, and chewed by rats. The main secret is that, usually, there were many copies of same book or manuscript. Many of them perished in time but some of them survived, because they had been kept in archives, libraries or private collections. "Secret of safe backups is making multiple copies and keeping them in different locations." Based on described examples, there are two factors which determine longevity of any data: the number of copies made of original data, and how widely they have been distributed between different locations. For example, printing a book in 50,000 copies gives a very solid ground for saving it for 100 years. Having many copies of texts published in Internet may or may not be sufficient for preserving it with the same success. Internet sites usually require more resources than having a paper book somewhere. Our culture has, also, a deep respect towards books, and no electronic medium has yet achieved such status. Any Internet server takes energy, hardware needs replacing and software requires maintenance. The tradition of keeping texts in Internet is new and we can not really be certain that our files will last for 100 years on the net. There seems nothing wrong with keeping your important data in the same way it has been done for centuries, i.e. in printed form. Some file formats, like .txt, .rtf and .doc, will probably have a pretty long life, too. The most burning question is where should we save those files to still have them available after 100 years. Make many copies and distribute them Having important data just in one computer is a certain recipe for disaster. Hard drives are the most vulnerable parts of any computer and they will most certainly not survive more than 10 years (which is about 10 times shorter period than we need). Distributing copies between different computers helps a bunch: if one hard drive crashes, data is still available in other locatons. "Both CD's and DVD's are still very good mediums for data backup nowadays." The problem with keeping data in computers is that they wear and tear, and need to be replaced after a certain period of time. Programs become more massive and need new operation systems as well as more powerful hardware. One solution to this is to use an online storage provider, who takes care of the maintenance of servers and software necessary for keeping your precious files safe. It is certainly a convenient way to make automatic backups and keep them in another location. It means that you do not need to worry about hard drive crashes, fire, flooding, theft or any other local disaster. Online data storage services are pretty new. They are definitely worth looking at as one element of your data backup plan. Yet, the longer future of online storage providers is unknown, and you should also look for other options on your own, in order to keep your data safe. One day I was cleaning up my drawers and found 15-year old CD-R disk with my old articles on it. I took a look at the content of this CD and discovered my old works, which were perfectly stored and in very good condition. I have been doing backups in various forms but using CDs seems to be one of the easiest and cheapest ways to store data safely. In my recent article "Are CDs and DVDs Still Good for Data Storage?" I compare CDs and DVDs, and came to a conclusion that they both are still very good mediums today. We all would like to have our data safely saved for a long time. Today, it is hard to name any other mediums that are universally useful and probably also readable after 100 years beside CDs. Recently I made a really cool discovery: I found a CD brand called "Archival Gold for 300 years". I tried these disks out and found them pretty solid for archiving my important data. It is well known that gold resists oxidation, and, apparently, that extra layer protects also against scratches, scuffs, dirt, chemicals and fingerprints. Easy recipe to keep data for 100 years Save your data in multiple formats onto the medium which is the most probably readable in the future. Use only the best quality disks, which are designed for lasting long. Make multiple copies and keep them all in different places (at home, fiend's house, office and rented vault). |
What is Data Backup
Valuable data needs protection. That means backup plan, which helps you to survive all kind of emergencies and recover data without interruptions.
Best Online Storage
The essential of good backup plan is to make backups regularly and store your data outside of your office. Keep data backups in safest online storage.
Good Backup Plan
Most effective data backup plan is suited for data structure, updates and real life risks. See what is best for you with little help of professionals.
Data Backup Advice
SafeBACKUP Consult Ltd.
Data Backup Advisory Office
Phone: (617) 2360-4002,
118 Franklin St, Boston, MA
Safe Online Data Backup and Online Storage helps to ensure that your data is always safely backed up, SafeBACKUP Consult Ltd. © 2015 | Please note that the online data backup providers mentioned in any article are independent firms, with | Disclosure: Some firms stipend us, however we mention them only because they are leading providers featuring excellent quality and offering safest possible online data backups. |


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Website Terms Conditions
This web site is owned and controlled by SudestConsultoria Social SL as SPANISH OPPORTUNITY. If you use this web site you agree to the terms and conditions set out below. Sudest Consultoria Social SL is a Spanish limited compoany registered in Spain with CIF B43969567. Our registered office is Avda/ Tancat de la Plana, 24, PD:43.700, El Vendrell, Tarragona, SPAIN.
This website describes services provided internationally by Sudest Consultoria Social SL and a network of associated entities or practices (whether or not having juridical or legal personality) offering professional, commercial and residential property services. These internationally based firms, together with Sudest Consultoria Social SL, trade under the name SPANISH OPPORTUNITY.
While SPANISH OPPORTUNITY makes every effort to ensure that everything on the website is accurate and complete, we provide it for information only, so it is indicative rather than definitive. We thus make no explicit or implicit guarantee of its accuracy, and, as far as applicable laws allow, we neither accept responsibility for errors, inaccuracies or omissions, nor for loss that may result directly or indirectly from reliance on its content. Users of the website should not take or omit to take any action that relies on information on the site. SPANISH OPPORTUNITY may correct or update the website without prior notice.
In making the website available, SPANISH OPPORTUNITY does not imply or establish any client, advisory, financial or professional relationship. Through the website, neither SPANISH OPPORTUNITY nor any other person is providing advisory, consulting or other professional services.
SPANISH OPPORTUNITY neither guarantees that the site will be uninterrupted or without delay nor that it will be error-free or virus-free. The website is provided 'as is' without warranties of any kind.
SPANISH OPPORTUNITY will not be responsible and will not accept any liability whatsoever for any viruses which may infect your computer by reason of your use of or downloading of applications (including .exe applications) from this web site.
Important Information relating to properties displayed on the web site
- Particulars: Any property particulars are not an offer or contract, nor part of one. You should not rely on statements by SPANISH OPPORTUNITY in the particulars or by word of mouth or in writing («information») as being factually accurate about the property, its condition or its value. Neither SPANISH OPPORTUNITY nor any associated agent has any authority to make any representations about the property, and accordingly any information given is entirely without responsibility on the part of the agents, seller(s) or lessor(s).
- Photos etc: The photographs show only certain parts of the property as they appeared at the time they were taken. Areas, measurements and distances given are approximate only. Any computer generated image gives only an indication as to how the property may look and this may change at any time.
- Regulations etc: Any reference to alterations to, or use of, any part of the property does not mean that any necessary planning, building regulations or other consent has been obtained. A buyer or lessee must find out by inspection or in other ways that these matters have been properly dealt with and that all information is correct.
- VAT: The VAT position relating to the property may change without notice.
Information on the web-site about a property is liable to be changed at any time.
- VAT: The VAT position relating to the property may change without notice.
Copyright Notice
This website is owned and controlled by Sudest Consultoria Social SL. Unless otherwise noted, all information featured on the SPANISH OPPORTUNITY website, (whether text or images), is protected by copyrights and trademarks, and is owned or licensed by SPANISH OPPORTUNITY. You may not download, display or print any part of the content except to your own computer for your personal use and not for business purposes. You must not change frame or inline (mirror) any of the content of our website
Links on this site may lead to servers maintained by individuals or organisations other than SPANISH OPPORTUNITY. SPANISH OPPORTUNITY makes no representation or warranty regarding the accuracy, timeliness, suitability or any other aspect of the information located on such servers and neither monitors nor endorses such servers or content.
If you link to our website we may require you at any time at our absolute discretion to remove the Link.


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25 Deleted Tweets Celebrities Desperately Wish We Never Saw
With 140 to 280 characters and an unfiltered platform comes great responsibility, and no one has learned this lesson faster than celebrities who survived (or didn't) the backlash of a tweet gone wrong.
Screenshots are a heedless tweeter's kryptonite, and while most stars have tried erasing their Twitter transgressions, the internet forgets nothing. Celebrities like Jeffree Star, Miley Cyrus and Lindsay Lohan are just a handful who've faced heat for problematic tweets.
Below, check out famous offenders whose infamous tweets have come back to bite them.


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I've had a very strange day. I have a lot I'm supposed to be working on, but I've found myself in the middle of this tragedy playing out in Columbia, SC today. You hear about shootings and tragedies on the news, maybe you, like me, find them disturbing and fascinating and horrifying. Sometimes even those distant horrors can seem personal, like Columbine, and people who weren't even close to being involved have to get through the grief of the event.
I certainly didn't think I'd ever know someone at the center of something like that. Why would I? It seemed like something that happened in other worlds. Certainly not in Columbia, SC, and definitely not in the whitebread, middle class neighborhood of Shandon.
I woke up early this morning and couldn't quite go back to sleep, so I checked my Facebook. One of my FB friends wrote that they'd heard shots outside their house, and they live in Shandon. My mom lives in Shandon, but all I really thought was, "Now I can get back at her for all the paranoia when I lived in Echo Park." And I went back to sleep.
After I got to work, I read a little about it, and the information was sparse: a police officer had been shot in the protective vest, a suspect with an AK-47 had been killed, suicide by cop, and it all happened within sight of my mother's house. That was a little bit too freaky, so I texted her to make sure she was OK. She didn't reply for a long while, and when she did I was really flummoxed.
"It was Blake Jernigan."
And here was my thought process: Blake Jernigan. Was the shooter? That can't be right. Does she mean he was the officer who is OK, no, he's too young, that doesn't make sense, she must mean he was the shooter. He did get in trouble a couple years ago for drugs or something, but he's like 22, he's a kid! He went to high school with my little brother! He used to hang out at our house, he's friends with my little sister, clearly she's got something mixed up or is talking about something else…
So I texted my little brother, hoping that he'd say something like "Oh, no, she just meant it was at his house, it wasn't him, he's fine." He didn't say that.
Then the news caught up with gossip and reported that the shooter was Blakely Jernigan. They even found a picture of him from Facebook. He looks exactly like he did when he was 12.
If you ever know someone involved in some sort of story, don't read the comments. Really, do not, it will only make you angry and sad and doubtful of the worthiness of humanity. I don't begrudge the cops for shooting him, they did what they had to do and shooting at cops is basically a death wish, but I don't understand the people crowing about the death of a 22 year old troubled kid. Calling him names, discussing which more terrifying weapons the police should have used to destroy him, and of course the one guy who says he'd wished it was Obama that got shot instead.
Then my brother FB IMed me, he seemed really freaked out. No one was surprised that he came to a bad end, but no one thought he'd be at the center of a police shoot out either. Apparently his personality had drastically changed since going to college, he started doing and selling drugs, and he got a fully automatic AK-47 because people were robbing him. Not really a story that's going to have a happy ending.
I dunno, maybe this is one of those bleeding heart liberal things, where I just can't make anyone into a cardboard cutout bad guy. I can't help but see people in these stories, even when I don't know them. I just don't know why anyone is happy at the death of another. I have no distance from this, so I guess I can't really say.
I am very glad that the officer is going to be just fine, I only wish the same could be said for the Jernigans.


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3 Beds 2 Baths 1,415 Sq.Ft.
Christina and Karla have represented a broad range of properties and clientele which has given them a vast amount of industry knowledge and expertise, in turn providing tremendous results for those they represent. They are well-acquainted with the marketplace and easily able to gain knowledgeable insight on inventory for their buyers.


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- Not to be confused with Snoligoster.
The Snallygaster is a mythical dragon-like beast said to inhabit the hills surrounding Washington and Frederick Counties, Maryland.
The area was settled by German immigrants beginning in the 1730's. Early accounts describe the community being terrorized by a monster called a Schneller Geist, meaning "quick spirit" in German. The earliest incarnations mixed the half-bird features of a siren with the nightmarish features of demons and ghouls. The Snallygaster was described as half-reptile, half-bird with a metallic beak lined with razor-sharp teeth, occasionally with octopus-like tentacles. It swoops silently from the sky to pick up and carry off its victims. The earliest stories claim that this monster sucked the blood of its victims. Seven-pointed stars, which reputedly kept the Snallygaster at bay, can still be seen painted on local barns. It has been suggested the legend was resurrected in the 19th century to frighten freed slaves. Newspaper accounts throughout February and March 1909 describe encounters between local residents and a beast with "enormous wings, a long pointed bill, claws like steel hooks, and an eye in the center of its forehead." It was described as making screeches "like a locomotive whistle."
A great deal of publicity surrounded this string of appearances, with the Smithsonian Institution offering a reward for the hide. U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt reportedly considered postponing an African safari to personally hunt the beast. In 2008, author Patrick Boyton published a book about the history of the Snallygaster entitled Snallygaster: The Lost Legend of Frederick County. The Snallygaster has one widely known enemy, called Dewayo. The Dewayo is reported to be a mammalian biped with features similar to a wolf, but the stance and stature of a human. The sightings of Dewayo are primarily reported in West Middletown, Maryland, but sightings have also been reported in the Wolfsville, Maryland region. The Dewayo and the Snallygaster have reportedly had vicious encounters dating back to early settlement of the Middletown valley.
In 2021, Sarah Cooper, a cryptozoologist in Maryland, opened The American Snallygaster Museum in Libertytown, MD.
Further reading[]
"The Snallygaster and its Abominable Friends" from A Field Guide to Fearsome Critters


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In this—the world's largest human rights event—we use letters, cards and more to demand the human rights of individuals are respected, protected and fulfilled. We show solidarity with those suffering abuses and work to improve people's lives.
Those are some pretty amazing reasons to participate, but in case you need more, here are my top ten reasons to Write for Rights:
TEN years: the number of years Mahdi Abu Dheeb, the former president of the Bahrain Teachers' Association (BTA) was sentenced to by a military court in Bahrain, after supporting a teachers' strike amid widescale pro-reform protests in Bahrain.
NINE years: the amount of time Shaker Aamer has been detained without charge at Guantanamo Bay, and also the number of years Indigenous Mexican women Inés Fernández Ortega and Valentina Rosendo Cantú have awaited justice from the Mexican government for the heinous crimes perpetrated against them by Mexican soldiers.
EIGHT prisoners released following the 2010 and 2009 Global Write-a-Thons, from Ethiopia to Myanmar.
SEVEN days a week, 52 weeks a year, for more than 20 years: how long Shin Sook-ja and her daughters have been held in Yodok political prison camp in North Korea, where inmates—including children—are tortured and forced to work in dangerous conditions.
SIX months: the length of time the already-lengthy prison sentences of Behareh Hedayat and Majid Tavakkoli were extended after the two youth leaders issued a joint statement from prison, encouraging others to continue to push for change in Iran.
FIVE Tamil students, including Ragihar Manoharan, shot dead by Sri Lankan security forces on January 2006, whose families still await justice or at the very least recognition of this atrocity. Those who actively pursue justice in this case have been subjected to harassment, death threats and intimidation.
FOUR in ten urban households in Nigeria do not have secure housing tenure; over 200,000 people living in around 40 informal settlements in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, are at risk of losing their homes and livelihoods as part of the states' urban renewal program for the city. Up to 17,000 people have already been forcibly evicted.
THREE years: the amount of time Jean-Claude Roger Mbede has been sentenced to jail in Cameroon on a conviction of "homosexuality".
TWO countries—Somalia and the United States—are the only ones not to have ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which prohibits the sentencing of juvenile offenders to life imprisonment without the possibility of release. At age 16, Christi Cheramie was sentenced to life in prison without parole and has spent more than half of her life in a Louisiana prison.
ONE person can make a difference for the human rights of all these individuals (and many more), just by taking part in Write for Rights.


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Privacy Policy
Effective October 1, 2010
We recognize and respect your need for privacy and security as you visit our site. When you visit our site to view any pages, read service or product information, or use our on-line tools, you do so without telling us who you are and without revealing any personal information. While we do not collect identifying information about visitors to our site, we do use standard software to collect information for the strict purpose of tracking activity on our site. This allows us to better understand how many people use our site and which pages and features are most popular. The only information we normally collect and store is:
- The name of your Internet service provider.
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- The date and time the pages were accessed.
- The page or pages you requested.
There are instances where you may elect to provide us with personal information. If you fill out one of our feedback or request forms or send us email, you are transmitting the information that appears to you in the form or the message. This will typically include information like your name, mailing address, email address, the kind of request you are making, and any other information necessary to fulfill your request. You never transmit personally identifying information that you do not enter yourself. And this is always your option; this information cannot be collected unless you specifically elect to send it to us. This information is used internally only for the purpose of fulfilling the request or for contacting you directly and is not given or sold to any other organization.
When you submit personally identifying information via one of our feedback or application forms, that information is also encrypted, or scrambled, by your browser before it is transmitted back to our web site. This effectively prevents anyone from intercepting and reading any personal information about you. Note that this encryption does not take place if you send us email, but only when you use your web browser with one of our site's forms.
We hope you find our website useful and informative and are always willing to answer questions and receive suggestions. If you have either, please e-mail the webmaster at . Thank you.
* We reserve the right to change our privacy policy. A revised policy statement will only apply to data collected subsequent to its effective date. Any revisions will be posted at least 30 days prior to its effective date.


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A Small Tree in the East - Sakura - Harvest - Journeyman (Preserved Plants)
- Price
- $99
Cute | Vibrant - Florals
Preserved - Zero Care - Made to Last. Click here to learn what is preserved plants
* Ready on display at our Singapore studio (406B Joo Chiat Road)
** Worldwide shipping available - FREE SHIPPING in Singapore for orders above SGD 50
*** You will receive the EXACT piece shown in the pictures - each entry is unique
Delivery & Collection
- To learn more about how delivery is done, please click here
- 🛫 Deliver from Slow Green Studio (406B Joo Chiat Road, Singapore) to arrive at your door-step within 3 working days if inside Singapore, and 7 - 14 working days if internationally
- FREE SHIPPING in Singapore for orders above SGD 50; SGD 5 shipping charge in Singapore for order below SGD 50.
- SGD 10 shipping charge for shipping to Malaysia; SGD 15 shipping charge for shipping to other Asian countries (except Japan, Australia, New Zealand); SGD 25 shipping charge for shipping to rest of the world.
- 📞 To check on your order status and progress, kindly drop us a message via Whatsapp at +65 9613 8309 or DM on Instagram (@iamslowgreen)
📏 Width: 10cm / Depth: 10cm / Height: 13cm
- Plant: preserved real moss (Netherlands import), preserved dry bush wood, preserved snowflake hydrangea flowers (Japan import)
- Base: ceramic base
Preserved Plants & Moss
- The flowers and moss are real and grew in the nature before harvest.
- The flowers were imported from various parts of the world into Japan, and were preserved in Japan by our trusted suppliers with track-record
- The moss was imported from Netherlands into Singapore directly, and was live and fresh when entering Singapore
- The moss went through a preserving process in Singapore - the process retains and prolongs its natural appearance, giving it no need for watering and light
- Completely safe - it does not contain any harmful substance.
Caring & Life Expectancy
- ✋ Please AVOID watering & strong sun. Otherwise, this pieces requires no caring at all - 100% maintenance free. Helpful Keep them in well-ventilated & dry place.
- The wood & stone components would last indefinitely, while the preserved moss & flowers would roughly 3 years under room conditions - the shape and form of the moss & flowers would stay the same, but the color will become lighter over the years.
- We offer 'Maintenance Service' to restore the piece back to its original conditions
Maintenance Service
- We offer maintenance service - at 15% of original purchase price, at any point in the future after purchase, we will be happy to replace the moss, flowers & leaves components of the piece, with the view to restore the piece to its near-original conditions.
- Please bring the piece to our studio in Singapore for maintenance service, if you are unable to bring the piece to Singapore, we will ship the required materials to you and will provide detailed written guidance to help you DIY.
Exchange Policy
- After order, if you saw & decided you prefer another piece from Slow Green, you have the option to exchange for that piece, provided the original piece was returned to us in undamaged conditions
- Please inform us no later than seven days after placing order, and conduct physical exchange no later than fourteen days after order
- Additional top-up applies if exchange for an item of higher value. Unfortunately, we would not be able to provide refund for exchanges to items of lower value. To exchange, please bring the piece back to our studio at 406B Joo Chiat Road, and conduct the exchange on the spot. Unfortunately, we would not be able to accept courier for returns to prevent damages during transport
- Please note that the exchange policy is only valid inside Singapore for now, due to logistical hurdles for exchanges internationally.
If Sold Out, and Want to Pre-Order
- You can place a pre-order for this item if it's currently sold out
The item will be ready to be delivered/shipped 10 - 14 working days after a pre-order is placed
- For all pre-order, we collect full payment upfront, and once it's finished, we will show you pictures. If you like it, you can claim it, and if you don't like it, we issue full refund
- Once pre-ordered, please Whatsapp your delivery details and payment screenshot to +65 9613 8309
- For payment, please via PayNow to 9613 8309, recipient Connor S. For buyer outside of Singapore, please contact +65 9613 8309 for details
- The pre-ordered item would be characteristically very similar but will not be an exact replica as the sold out one, as each of the material is naturally formed and is unique in shape.


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NEW YORK (AP) — After growing cobwebs for nearly a year, movie theatres in New York City reopen Friday, returning film titles to Manhattan marquees that had for the last 12 months instead read messages like "Wear a mask" and "We'll be back soon."
Shortly after noon at the Angelika Film Center on Houston Street, Holly Stillman was already feeling emotional coming out of the first New York showing of Lee Isaac Chung's tender family drama "Minari." "My mask is drenched," she said.
But she was equally overwhelmed by being back in a cinema. Though Stillman feared the experience would be too restrictive because of COVID-19 protocols, she instead found it euphoric.
"It was just you and the movie screen," said Stillman. "It was wonderful to smell the popcorn as soon as I got into the theater — even though I don't eat popcorn."
Less than half of movie theaters are open nationwide, but reopenings are quickening. Theaters in many other areas reopened last summer around the release of Christopher Nolan's "Tenet," but that attempted comeback fizzled. Throughout, theaters remained shut in the five boroughs. For a year almost to the date, one of the world's foremost movie capitals stayed dark.
For a theatrical business that has been punished by the pandemic, the resumption of moviegoing in New York — is a crucial first step in revival.
"It's a symbolic moment," said Michael Barker, co-president of the New York-based Sony Pictures Classics, which on Friday released the Oscar contenders "The Father" and "The Truffle Hunters" in Manhattan theaters. "It says that there is hope for the theatrical world to reactivate itself."
For some moviegoers who consider the big screen the only way to see a movie, the long-in-coming day had almost religious significance.
"Moviegoing for me is like going to church," said JM Vargas, who had tickets Friday to "Minari," "The Last Dragon" and "Chaos Walking." "I've been waiting a year to go back to church."
Cinemas in the city are currently operating at only 25% capacity, with a maximum of 50 per each auditorium. As in other places, mask wearing is mandatory, seats are blocked out and air filters have been upgraded.
Many theaters were caught off guard when Gov. Andrew Cuomo said cinemas could, under those conditions, reopen. Some of the city's prominent theaters, including the Film Forum, the Alamo Drafthouse, the Metrograph and Regal Cinemas were targeting openings in the coming weeks. Some needed more time to prepare. After sitting dormant all winter, the Cinema Village in Manhattan two weeks earlier burst a pipe, flooding the lobby — one last bit of bad luck in a grueling year.
"This was the worst horror movie. I don't think any Hollywood director could have dreamed it up," said Nicolas Nicolaou, owner of the Cinema Village and theaters in Queens and New York. "We didn't realize we'd be 100% shutdown for this long."
New York, along with Los Angeles (where theaters are still closed), is one of the top movie markets. For smaller films, it's a vital epicenter of word-of-mouth. For blockbusters, it's a lucrative necessity. Without New York or Los Angeles open, Hollywood studios have pushed most of their larger productions until more theaters are open, or they've steered films to streaming services.
"The New York opening is very significant to the theater business in New York, in the nation and in the globe," says John Fithian, president of the National Association of Theater Owners. "We in the movie theater business live off of movies that play all around the country and all around the world. We keep seeing those movies leave the theatrical release schedule to move to later dates because there just haven't been enough markets. New York is the most important of those markets."
Lately, with President Biden's prediction that every adult can be vaccinated by the end of May, the outlook for theaters has been brightening for the first time in a long time. Last weekend, "Tom & Jerry" overperformed at the box office with $14.1 million in ticket sales, even while it streamed on HBO Max. Though Universal Pictures pushed the "Fast & Furious" sequel "F9" from late May to late June, other movies have moved up on the calendar, reversing the postponement tide.
Sony Pictures said it will release "Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway" in May. Paramount Pictures' "A Quiet Place II" moved into the May 28 date vacated by "F9." The Walt Disney Co.'s "Black Widow" currently remains slated for May 7. Adding to the optimism: Southern California theaters are expected to reopen over the next few weeks.
"It's not that we're going back to record-breaking business this summer," said Fithian. "We're going to crawl, then we're going to walk and then we're going to run. It's going to take into 2022 before sustained profitability comes back into the business."
But at least on Friday, New York's cinema lobbies were, if not crowded, again bustling. Sold-out signs for the evening adorned box-office windows. Even a little star power returned. Liam Neeson was to stop by the AMC at Lincoln Square to introduce "The Marksman."
At the IFC Center in Greenwich Village, masked moviegoers flocked to films to play catch up — even if the movies were streaming. IFC is hosting a four-week "What'd We Miss?" series of movies the theater couldn't play over the last 12 months, including "First Cow" and "MLK/FBI."
"We're used to being present for the birth of these movies for New York audiences when they move into the public realm," said John Vanco, senior vice president of the IFC Center. The circumstances, he granted, weren't ideal. But they were better than nothing. "I don't look at 25% as being not good enough," said Vanco. "I look at it as better than 0%."
At the IFC, Tykon Herman settled in for "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom," and had tickets for a 5 p.m. of "The Trial of the Chicago 7."
"I'm one of the very few that don't have Netflix," said Herman, laughing. "I'm just old-fashioned. I've loved the theater experience from the time I saw 'E.T.' It's not going to be the same but sitting down in front of this screen makes me feel like things may be getting back to normal soon."


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Welcome to my Poser Home...
I'm Exnem... Professional 3D artist and DieHard Video Game player and Modder...
I love modeling,... 3D mesh modeling that is, not standing in front of a camera and posing :P... I have been modeling for more than 15 years now and I have been modding games almost that long. I also like making textures and I think I'm a fairly talented texturer also.
I have known poser for some time now, but I never got around to really using it or making any stuff for it until very recently.
I'm a very, VERY shy person and I'm really not very social for the same reason, but I'm a peaceful person and I love LOVE. I have always stayed away from social networks and I don't really like posting at forums except when necessary, but I'm trying to force myself into being a bit more social because sometimes I feel like an alien and I don't being that way... so if anyone out there wants to be my friend and help me get out of my shell I'd welcome and thank you for your help ;)
Anyway... I hope to be here a long time and make some friends in the process, and also sell a bunch of my stuff and hope that you all like it ;)
Over and OUT...
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Super Bowl 50 Recap: Defense Leads Broncos Over Panthers, 24-10
The Denver defense had seven sacks and forced four turnovers, and the Broncos beat the Carolina Panthers, 24-10, in Super Bowl 50 in Santa Clara, Calif. on Sunday night. The victory gave Denver quarterback Peyton Manning his second Super Bowl title and the franchise its third Lombardi Trophy in eight Super Bowl appearances.
Super Bowl MVP Von Miller forced Carolina quarterback Cam Newton into two fumbles, both of which led to Broncos touchdowns.
Malik Jackson recovered Newton's first fumble of the game in the end zone with 6:27 to play in the first quarter to help Denver to an early 10-0 lead.
With the Panthers in position to rally, Miller forced another Newton fumble late in the fourth quarter. C.J. Anderson scored on a two-yard touchdown run a few plays later to all but clinch the win for the Broncos.
Manning finished 12-for-23 passing for 141 yards with two turnovers in what could have been his last game.
Newton completed 18 of 41 passes for 265 yards with an interception and two fumbles. He wasn't responsible for any offensive touchdowns in a game for the first time all season.
Carolina (17-2) never held a lead in the game, committing four turnovers and 12 penalties in their franchise's first Super Bowl in 12 years.


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You Were Planning to Move. Then the Coronavirus Hit. Now What?
The coronavirus hit America hard and with little warning. If you were planning to move or buy a home anytime during the first half of 2020, it's possible your plans were forced to change. Below we're discussing how COVID-19 has forced a shift in the housing market and what this may mean for hopeful homebuyers.
How COVID-19 Affected the Housing Market
The onset of COVID-19 brought about one of the worst market downturns in over a decade, sending us into a bear market. Though the market has since seen a big upswing, the economy is volatile, small businesses globally are suffering and millions of people have been laid off, furloughed or forced to work reduced hours.
As a result, unique factors affecting the housing market amidst the pandemic have arisen. These include:
- High levels of unemployment across the country
- Sudden financial uncertainty for families previously looking to purchase a home
- A lack of willingness for buyers and agents to attend open houses
- Sellers having second thoughts and pulling their original listings off the market
While these factors may impact the housing market in a negative way, it's important to note that the recent market downturn has actually produced some favorable conditions for buyers. Mortgage rates are at a low right now. According to Freddie Mac, a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is at 3.32 percent, compared to 4.14 percent in early May of 2019.1 If you are in a financially stable position and looking to buy, this may still be an opportune time to purchase a home. Before you do, check in with your financial advisor to go over the impact of this important decision first.
How Are Real Estate Agents Able to Sell Houses?
Just like most other business owners or public-facing professionals, real estate agents have been forced to either get creative or miss out on opportunities to make an income. For example, some agents are offering virtual showings and video house tours in order to show properties to buyers while keeping everyone comfortable and safe.
Others may still be offering in-person meetings, but with extra health and safety precautions in place. For example, all parties may be asked to wear masks and gloves, and offices or houses are extensively cleaned and disinfected between visits.
While virtual or limited-contact showings are a challenge, they offer serious buyers a chance to continue on their homebuying journey during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Additional Considerations
It's fairly common for the seller of a home to cover the closing costs. But with the market down and limited inventory available, buyers may be expected to pay both their downpayment and additional closing costs. If you're a buyer in the market, be prepared and budget for these additional expenses.
Maybe you were initially looking to move, but you've since changed your mind as a result of COVID-19. If you've decided to stay put for the foreseeable future, you may still be considering taking advantage of these low mortgage rates to refinance your home. Before you do, you'll want to make sure the costs involved with refinancing are worth the potential monthly savings. Remember, the cost of refinancing can reach a few thousand dollars once you factor in fees for appraisals, title searches, etc.
These are difficult times for the entire country, but if you feel confident in your finances and job security, then now could still be a good time to purchase a home with low-interest rates. Be prepared for some bumps in the road, as times are uncertain, and we don't know for sure when things will return to normal. Speaking with a financial advisor in conjunction with your real estate agent is a smart start to making a decision and determining your next move.
This content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information, and provided by Twenty Over Ten. It may not be used for the purpose of avoiding any federal tax penalties. Please consult legal or tax professionals for specific information regarding your individual situation. The opinions expressed and material provided are for general information, and should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security.


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Forrest Gump has turned 20 and is celebrating its birthday with a week-long IMAX release. It's a significant milestone for the six-time Academy Award winner. Today, 1994 is as far away from the present as the Vietnam War was from it. Forrest Gump was a fable without a moral, the key to its maddening success. At the end of the movie, the idiot-who-always-failed-up tried to make sense of the story himself. Was his life a tribute to destiny or accidents, he wondered, in a moment of striving depth. Then he shrugged off the question: "Maybe it's both."
But dumb ol' Forrest was right. (Like always.) Both theories boil down to fate, and Forrest Gump may be the most curiously fated film in modern history. This sweet-as-mass-produced-chocolate mega-hit adored by everyone's grandma was based on a novel about a mentally challenged giant who lived with cannibals, blasted off into space, and was great in the sack. And what signifies movie Forrest's success couldn't be more '90s. Instead of tumbling around with Raquel Welch, our sanitized Gump unthinkingly invests in Apple stock.
Original author Winston Groom was staggered. He thought the adaptation should star John Candy, not the boyish and reedlike Tom Hanks, who ran six miles every day during filming. (Groom's Gump preferred to wrestle.) Cheated out of millions by Paramount until he filed a very public lawsuit, Groom wrote a sequel, Gump & Co. "Don't never let nobody make a movie of your life's story," it began, before chugging into a bleak comedy about failing downwards. Forrest loses his fortune, bungles the recipe for New Coke, gets embroiled in Iran-Contra, and wrecks the Exxon Valdez. Shockingly, it was never green-lit.
I'd watch that sequel. I'd also watch the alternative movies you can't help imagining as you re-watch Forrest Gump, ones about his mama or Jenny or Lieutenant Dan. For every blessing that falls at his feet like a feather from the sky, karma punishes his loved ones, not that he notices. (And the film can't look them in the eye either.) They live complicated, big-screen lives we only glimpse in the margins beyond Forrest's myopia. His jilted mom prostitutes herself to get her boy into a better school. His crush sleeps her way through the era where misogyny cloaked itself in peace and love, all while being stalked with Jason Voorhees relentlessness by her flat-topped childhood playmate. His war buddy drinks to forget his survivor's guilt and screams in anger that while he lost his legs protecting his men, the moron who just winged it won the Congressional Medal of Honor.
Actually, that last movie had already been made by Oliver Stone five years before. With two decades of perspective on Forrest Gump's triumph, you get the sense that '90s audiences were relieved to see a film that said it was okay—even honorable—to ignore all the bad stuff about war. So, too, were the Oscars, who 12 months after lauding Schindler's List decided, "Screw it, let's give the awards to the movie that sells cookbooks."
Forrest doesn't kill anyone. He doesn't get PTSD. He doesn't even have a clue why he's in Vietnam. The film is so afraid to dredge up debate that when Abbie Hoffman hands Forrest the microphone at an anti-war rally, someone unplugs the speakers so we can't hear him—fitting for a movie with nothing to say.
It's understandable that in the Clinton era Americans were tired of being bludgeoned by the grand truth that war is hell. The older generations knew that too well, and the young had grown up in a time where war didn't seem that bad. Our troops might pop over to Grenada or Panama or Iraq, but we expected them to come home victorious and intact. As Forrest shrugged, these deployments were simply trips to "a whole other country."
Now that we're once again welcoming home traumatized veterans, Forrest Gump's blithe solution that ignorance is bliss rankles. (Even at the time, the military itself refused to support the film, grumbling, "The generalized impression that the Army of the 1960s was staffed by the guileless, or soldiers of minimal intelligence, is neither accurate nor beneficial.")
Yet Forrest Gump has persevered, still celebrating 20 years of ignoring the tragedies that lurk beneath our lives like great whites in the dark waters below his shrimping boat. Let us not forget that the Bubba Gump fortunes only came after a hurricane took out all of Forrest's competition. Post-Katrina and post-recession, even his seafood riches now have a rotten aftertaste.
It's unhip to like Forrest Gump, but the film's $677 million box-office haul makes it impossible to deny that it once struck a chord. It will be interesting to see if its weeklong re-release tanks. The year it came out, George W. Bush was elected governor of Texas. He was arguably Forrest Gump as commander in chief, a cheerfully oblivious 7-minute miler who you could almost imagine would press his muddy, sweaty face to a shirt and leave an imprint of a smiley like a sanguine Shroud of Turin.
Still, not everyone mistook Bush's malapropisms for wisdom while we, the Academy voters, and the film ascribed brilliance to Forrest Gump even when he said nothing at all, like the pack of joggers who join him on his coast-to-coast marathon, panting behind him patiently waiting for their messiah to speak. Finally, he opens his mouth. "I'm pretty tired," he says. "Think I'll go home now." He leaves them lost in the middle of nowhere. Two decades later, it's still not clear if the joke was on them or on us.


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Cash: $12 million. Decoration of a dining hall and tea room: $2.3 million. Statue of a wild boar: $115,000. "A bribe": $4,000. These are some of the expenses detailed in financial documents found in President Viktor Yanukovych's abandoned residence, which was occupied by protesters after the leader fled the capital. As thousands of Ukrainians continued to tour Yanukovych's opulent estate outside of Kiev on Sunday, evidence was uncovered of lavish spending in an economy that is teetering on the verge of default. Yanukovych left Kiev on Friday night after opposition protesters took control of the capital and the national parliament in the wake of deadly clashes with police last week. More than 70 people were killed and hundreds were injured. While visitors gawked in awe and outrage at Yanukovych's luxurious mansions, ponds and exotic animals, journalists combed through heaps of documents that appeared to show a leader who basked in extravagant wealth while his country sought bailouts from both the West and Russia. Many of the financial and other documents were burned, while others were dumped in a lake before Yanukovych fled his closely guarded residence, flying to the eastern city of Kharkiv, where his support base is strongest. Divers were able to retrieve many of the documents, and activists laid them out to dry. Photos of the documents were posted online by Mustafa Nayem, a top Ukrainian investigative journalist for the Ukrainska Pravda website and Hromadske.tv online news channel. Other respected Ukrainian news outlets also reported on the documents. One was a receipt for $12 million in cash. Another invoice was for a payment of $10 million. Some 80,000 euros (about $110,000) went for curtains in a room called the "knight's hall." Another 1.1 million euros (about $1.5 million) was spent on plants. Wooden decor for a handful of rooms cost $2.3 million. Notably, $115,000 was spent for a statue of a "running boar," possibly intended for Yanukovych, who is an avid hunter. One page listed expenditures, and next to item No. 47 on the sheet was a payment of 32,580 hryvna (nearly $4,000) for what was described as a "bribe" used in a bidding process. The documents were sure to fuel more anger among protesters. Yanukovych's whereabouts were unknown Sunday. An aide said she last spoke to him Saturday night and he considered himself the legitimate president of Ukraine and did not intend to leave the country. His residence in the Mezhygirya Park, about 140 hectares (345 acres) of forested hills along the Dnipro River had become for many Ukrainians a symbol of a corrupt administration. The president refused to answer questions about the estate, saying he lived in a modest house on a small plot of land on the grounds. Journalists' investigations traced the property and buildings around it to Yanukovych's allies. After Yanukovych's departure from Kiev, the estate was taken over by the opposition's self-defense units, which opened it to visitors and deployed activists to maintain order and prevent any looting or property damage. Ukrainians, many bringing their children, rushed to tour the parks. They reacted with wonder and revulsion at the opulence, including Yanukovych's private golf courses, pig farm and a small zoo with ostriches and peacocks. Some have called for turning the site into a hospital, sanatorium or even a "museum of corruption." The Verkhovna Rada — Ukraine's parliament that is now controlled by the opposition — voted Sunday to turn over control of the estate to the government. Yanukovych's lifestyle was on the minds of some in the crowd of thousands who flocked Sunday to the epicenter of the protests in Kiev's central square, known as the Maidan. The people paid their respects to those demonstrators who died in the unrest. Yaryna Mosur, who left her two children in western Ukraine to take part in the protests, stood on the square wrapped in the Ukrainian flag as a black-robed Orthodox priest led prayers from a stage. She said she was infuriated by the wealth on display in Yanukovych's estate. "We are all in shock, but he will pay for it all dearly," Mosur said. |
乌克兰总统亚努科维奇已于21日晚离开首都基辅,示威者随即占据了其豪华住所。据美国媒体2月23日报道,在亚努科维奇宅邸找到的文件显示,他的日常开销非常奢侈。 文件记录包括:1200万美元的现金收据;1000万美元的发票;"骑士大厅"的窗帘花了8万欧元(约11万美元);110万欧元的各种花木;房间的木质装饰品花了230万美元;一尊"野猪"雕像花了11.5万美元;投标中的"贿赂"花了3.258万格里夫纳(近4000美元)。 这些文件是潜水员从湖底打捞出来的,另有大量文件已经被烧毁。乌克兰知名调查记者穆斯塔法•纳耶姆将这些文件的照片传到了网上,势必在示威者中激起更多的愤怒。 示威者陆陆续续围观了亚努科维奇的豪华宅邸。据悉,这座乡间别墅连同广阔的庭园,占地约为140公顷,约为摩纳哥一半大小。人工湖,高尔夫球场点缀其间、稀珍动物园、码头和直升机停机坪应有尽有,大量古董名车,停泊在湖上的仿古游艇尽显奢华,游艇餐厅金碧辉煌,水晶吊灯,摆设和餐具精致考究,餐桌摆满洋酒,其中一瓶印有亚努科维奇的肖像。即便是洗手间也是金光闪闪,水龙头和马桶都用上镀金装潢。 "我们很震惊,但是他(亚努科维奇)会为此付出代价的,"示威者莫舒尔说。 乌克兰反对派和警察上周发生激烈冲突,造成70多人遇害。反对派目前已经控制了基辅和国家议会,截至23日,亚努科维奇仍然下落不明。 相关阅读 (玉洁 编辑:信莲) |


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Tip Tuesday Linkup Party #8
Welcome to Tip Tuesday Linkup Party #8!
Helping others is something that I like to do. I am a firm believer that knowledge, of any kind, must be shared. And that is the idea behind the Tip Tuesday Linkup Party.
Know an easier version of some recipe?
Got some social media skills that will help others?
Learned about a new workout technique?
Found a hack that simplifies life?
Discovered a different parenting tip?
[Tweet "Got articles with tips? Then Tip Tuesday Linkup Party is for YOU! #linkparty #tipTuesday"]
Starting this week, we will be featuring the most clicked link from the previous week.
And last week's most clicked link was…
Congrats, Debbie! Here is your badge:
I would like to invite everyone to stop by Holly's post if you have not done it yet.
And our top 3 most clicked posts were:
My most deepest thank you to everyone who participated and is helping our link party grow!
Want to be featured too?
Would you like to be part of our top 3?
Then join us every week on Tip Tuesday and boost your post!
If you wrote blog(s) with tips to make the life of others easier with less stress, here is what you have to do:
- Before adding joining link back to the host (feel free grab the NEW button here)
- Link up any family-friendly blog with tips (ANY subject is welcome)
- You can link up to 3 blogs that had NOT been linked before each week
- Please be kind to inform readers if your tip involves a paid/sponsored review
- No sales or Etsy links allowed
- Visit at least 2 links from the linkup (we all love comments and shares, don't we? 🙂 )
- By linking up here you are giving permission to possibly have your photo(s) featured at next week's party and/or included in a collage graphic, as well as being shared by me on social media
- Spread the word and have FUN!
[Tweet "Come and join Tip Tuesday Linkup Party! #linkparty #tipTuesday"]
Do you have any questions? Did I miss something important? Please leave me your feedback.
Also visit the Pinterest board with all posts from this and all previous Tip Tuesday Link Parties:
Follow Debbie in Shape [DiS]'s board Tip Tuesday Link Party on Pinterest.
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Have an awesome Tuesday!
* You can also find me on:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DebbieInShape
Instagram: http://instagram.com/debbieinshape
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DebbieInShape
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/debbieinshape/
Google+: https://plus.google.com/+DebbieRodriguesPlus/
Google+: https://plus.google.com/+Debbieinshape/ (em português)
Disclaimer: The ideas, experiences and suggestions shared are the author's own. Debbie In Shape and the host(s) of the linkup does(do) not own or is(are) not responsible for the contents of the participant blogs. No advice should be taken that go against your beliefs, practices or medical condition.


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Street View Portrait #09
Michael Wolf's photographs feel like voyeuristic observations as well as records of architectural standards in different cities and cultures around the world. From his unique perspective, Wolf produced a body of work which deals with the complex reality of contemporary city life in a way that defies categorization, in direct response to the particularities of the places he captured.
Photographs are printed using archival materials, mounted to an archival aluminum substrate, and framed in black behind acrylic; frames measure 0.75 inches wide and 2 inches deep.
Prices are subject to change as editions sell.


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For immediate release: July 16, 2008
Boston, MA – Menthol cigarette brands have been rising in popularity with adolescents, and the highest use has been among younger, newer smokers. Researchers at Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) explored tobacco industry manipulation of menthol levels in specific brands and found a deliberate strategy to recruit and addict young smokers by adjusting menthol to create a milder experience for the first time smoker. Menthol masks the harshness and irritation of cigarettes, allowing delivery of an effective dose of nicotine, the addictive chemical in cigarettes. These milder products were then marketed to the youngest potential consumers.
The paper, "Tobacco Industry Control of Menthol in Cigarettes and Targeting of Adolescents and Young Adults," appears in the online "First Look" section of the American Journal of Public Health in advance of publication in the September 2008 issue.
"For decades, the tobacco industry has carefully manipulated menthol content not only to lure youth but also to lock in lifelong adult customers," said Howard Koh, Professor and Associate Dean for Public Health Practice at HSPH and a co-author of the paper.
Lead author Jennifer M. Kreslake, a research analyst, and colleagues from the Tobacco Control Research Program at HSPH reviewed internal tobacco industry documents on menthol product development, conducted laboratory tests to measure menthol content in U.S. brands, examined market research reports and drew data from the 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, an annual nationally representative survey among U.S. residents aged 12 years and older. The industry documents revealed that tobacco companies researched how controlling menthol levels could increase brand sales among specific groups. The companies determined that products with higher menthol levels and stronger perceived menthol sensation suited long-term smokers of menthol cigarettes while milder brands with lower menthol levels appealed to younger smokers.
The companies then positioned and marketed milder menthol products to appeal primarily to new menthol smokers and also introduced new, milder brands. For example, Marlboro introduced Marlboro Milds in 2000, with a lower menthol concentration while raising the menthol content in Marlboro Menthol, favored by older smokers. Menthol brands with the greatest market share growth among young adults had the lowest menthol levels (Marlboro Milds and Newport) among the brands tested by HSPH.
The 2006 national survey showed that a significantly greater proportion of adolescent and young adult smokers used menthol brands compared to older smokers. In 2006, 43.8 percent of current smokers aged 12 to 17 years reported that they used menthol cigarettes as did 35.6 percent of current smokers aged 18 to 24 years. By contrast, 30.6 percent of smokers older than 35 years reported menthol use.
The researchers noted that race was also a factor in use and brand choice, with African Americans as a whole more likely to use menthol brands. African-American adolescent and young adult smokers used menthol as frequently as did older African-American smokers, but they were more likely to choose a lower-menthol variety. Earlier HSPH research described industry efforts to target African Americans with menthol brands.
A bill before Congress (HR 1108, S 625) would for the first time give the FDA the authority to regulate additives such as menthol. At present, no regulatory agency has the authority to address the issue of menthol in cigarettes.
The HSPH researchers suggest in their paper that the rapid introduction of new milder menthol brands in the past decade is a violation of a provision in the Master Settlement Agreement of 1998 between tobacco companies and state governments that prohibits the companies from directly or indirectly targeting youths. The authors recommend that "to protect the public health, tobacco products should be federally regulated, and additives such as menthol should be included in that regulation."
"This is another example of the cynical behavior of the tobacco industry to hook teens and African Americans to a deadly addiction. This is after the industry told the American public it had changed its marketing practices. The FDA bill provides the vehicle to end the hypocrisy and save the lives of the young and a targeted minority group," said Gregory N. Connolly, Professor of the Practice of Public Health and a co-author of the American Journal of Public Health paper. Connolly is Director of the Tobacco Control Research Program at HSPH.
Tobacco use is the largest preventable cause of death globally. According to the National Cancer Institute, in the U.S. smoking-related illnesses account for an estimated 438,000 deaths each year. An estimated 25.9 million men (23.9 percent) and 20.7 million women (18.1 percent) in the U.S. are smokers, according to the American Heart Association.
This research was funded by The American Legacy Foundation and the National Cancer Institute.
Kreslake et al. "Tobacco Industry Control of Menthol in Cigarettes and Targeting of Adolescents and Young Adults," American Journal of Public Health, September 2008, Vol 98, No. 9.
For further information contact:
Robin Herman
(617) 432-4752
Harvard School of Public Health is dedicated to advancing the public's health through learning, discovery, and communication. More than 400 faculty members are engaged in teaching and training the 1,000-plus student body in a broad spectrum of disciplines crucial to the health and well being of individuals and populations around the world. Programs and projects range from the molecular biology of AIDS vaccines to the epidemiology of cancer; from risk analysis to violence prevention; from maternal and children's health to quality of care measurement; from health care management to international health and human rights. For more information on the school visit: https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/.