text:
Haze - C'est la Vie. 1984 England
Fast forward to 1992, now touring my own country, and we're in Greensboro, North Carolina visiting a record store (as if I'd be doing anything else...). And there (of all places), staring me right back, was the ever elusive Haze album, with its unique blue vinyl cover design. It was there, I was there, and it was $2. Mine. Finally. Eventually arrived back home, played it probably twice, filed it.... and haven't heard it since...
...Since today, 24 years later. The vinyl still has its comfy spot in the collection, but now the CD just walked in the door. Time for a serious headphones listen.
To be honest, I was almost afraid to listen to it. I figured perhaps my quest had added a point or two to the overall rating, in my often fits of nostalgia. The good news is, I enjoyed it more now than I remember. The album very much reminds me of the cassette tape culture that was prominent at the time. So yes it's true, the production quality is lacking, and the performance is amateurish. The band weren't ready for prime time, and yet that's where its charm lies. In addition, Haze weren't your typical Genesis/Yes fixated neo prog outfit, but rather they represented a variety of English bands - anywhere from Iron Maiden to Duran Duran to Van der Graaf Generator. No, they weren't metal or synth pop in the slightest, but the songwriting was reflective. The other major influence that emerges obvious is that of Rush, which gives the band the surge of energy they most certainly needed.
The CD decided to reverse the sides of the LP, so the first track you hear is 'Mirage'. This composition goes back to 1979, 4 years before anything else on the album, and demonstrates that Haze started out far more progressive minded than they ended up. The other standout track is the now-closer 'The Load' which is where VDGG becomes the lead influence. In between are subtle prog tracks, a ballad, a bit of hard rock, and just general no-budget-but-cool sounding 1984 rock.
The liner notes inform us that the song, and record label, Gabadon comes from a translated form of the license plate of a Land Rover the band usurped from a friend to help with touring.
With history now in place, Haze were an early dropout in the neo prog sweepstakes. They were quick to move away from progressive rock, and made their stab at more commercial offerings. A typical failed strategy. The band has reemerged for one last recording, but I have yet to hear it as I write this.
Personal collection
LP: 1984 Gabadon
CD: 1996 Cyclops w/The Ember EP
Last listen: August 9, 2016
Amon Duul II - Carnival in Babylon. 1972 Germany
Personal collection
LP: 1972 United Artists
CD: 2007 Revisited/SPV
The original album was released around the world, including the United States (which was my first copy). Because of the large amount of supply, I don't think this title requires an LP reissue. Eventually I secured an original German LP and that was my only copy for years, not bothering to get it on CD until the 2007 release. The latter comes with a fine history and is housed in a nice digi-pak . However there are 2 lengthy bonus tracks to consider, both modern, that are not attributed anywhere. I found these tracks far more interesting than what Amon Duul II has been releasing in modern times, and it shows the band could have continued in a relevant manner past the 70s.
Last listen: December 3, 2016
Ash Ra Tempel - s/t. 1971 Germany
Germany. 1971. Underground. Those three terms evoke images of the Berlin Wall, intensity, angst, freedom.
Very rarely is a moment so well captured just through music. Yet this is just what happened on Ash Ra Tempel's self-titled debut. The opening piece 'Amboss' (Anvil), is one for the ages. Starting with dark sounds that seem like shadows, created only with primitive electronics and guitar, the piece seems on the verge of falling into a black abyss to never return. Slowly the tension builds to a deafening crescendo, and without warning, Klaus Schulze begins his definitive piledriver drumming pattern. What could be possibly more intense and more chaotic? The listener is pounded into submission. Only to be equally mutilated by Göttsching's furious jamming, certainly the most intense, psychedelic, heavy guitar ever recorded. After a few minutes of this sort of violent cosmic blues jamming, there is a sequence of free-jazz drumming and electric guitar polka-dots that just burst into another firestorm, and along comes Schulze even more furious than before with Göttsching and Enke trying to subdue the entire German nation with their blistering guitar work. The Berlin Wall must fall! It doesn't - but certainly the musicians must have. One gets exhausted just listening to it! This 19 minute opus is followed by the exquisite 25 minute 'Traummaschine' (Dream Machine). Again, the mood is somber but slowly the sound gets louder. The band manages to achieve an electronic cadence while the guitars and electronics swirl. Hand percussion enters in and Göttsching turns up the fuzz for another biting solo. There is a period of rest and again the rollercoaster begins for yet one more jam. To this day, there has never been an album of music that sustained this kind of intensity for 40 minutes. How they were able to so without a moment of wasted time is a testament to the brilliance of one of the greatest albums of all time.
Personal collection
LP: 1971 Ohr (556 label)
CD: 2004 Arcangelo (Japan)
This album had been my Holy Grail for about 3 to 4 years. I first discovered Ashra / Ash Ra Tempel back in 1985 from a store called The Record Gallery in Dallas when I was midway through college. I've spoken about this store in the past, and if you click on the Ash Ra Tempel label, you'll find it in one of those entries (and I learned the proprietor Steve Stokes recently passed away in Portland where he had relocated many years ago. He was a very good man who I will never forget). The odd thing about Ash Ra Tempel, is that all of their albums starting with Seven Up (Seven Up for Pete's Sake!) were reissued by Pop Import in the early 1980s. Those are the copies this store had. In Dallas, in 1985, I can assure you no one else did, not even Metamorphosis by then (locals will know what I mean). So with that, finding the first 3 albums became my determined quest. I found the PDU copy of Join Inn in 1987 as I was wrapping up my degree. And scored Schwingungen in early 1988 (I will tell that story when I get around to reviewing that album again). And finally, after years of searching, I scored the PDU version of the debut in late 1988. From the late great Jeff Baker. It was $55. Where the hell did I get $55 for a record? I have no idea. But I did and never regretted a second of it. My first listen was an unforgettable experience. Right around Christmas in fact.
Let's talk about the physical product for a minute. The original comes in an extraordinary fold-out-of-the-middle gimmix cover. There is no difference between the 56 and 556 releases except the catalog number. I've had both, but sold the 56 copy since it wasn't really in great shape. Today I would have kept it anyway as an extra. The PDU version is a single sleeve, without the gimmix. I kind of want it back too just for the memories, but it's not inexpensive. The Spalax releases are cheaply made and not worth the money. There is a convincing bootleg out there that mirrors the original, so watch out! In this day and age where the LP is once again treasured, I find it disappointing no one has bothered to reissue the LP in its original glory (legally that is). I'd buy one just for the heck of it. Gottsching himself owns his own catalog now, so maybe he'll do it right. Though in general he doesn't have too much regard for his early works, which is too bad. The CDs all come from vinyl as I guess the masters are lost or are in bad shape. The Arcangelo CD I own comes in a box set (somewhat cheaply made, unusual for Japan), that opens up to 3 mini-LPs, which also includes Schwingungen and Inventions for Electric Guitar (why not Join Inn? Who knows?). The packaging of the CD itself is outstanding and replicates the original in every way.
* So how did that silly moniker of ashratom come about anyway? I first signed onto the internet on January 1, 1995 via America Online (AOL). I tried numerous handles that were continually rejected as they already existed. Frustrated I jotted down ashratemp, and it took it immediately without validating that's what I wanted! Oh well.... When I started posting on chat boards, folks started calling me ashratom. And it stuck. So there you go.
Last listen: April 2005
KOM Quartet – Jazz-Liisa 4. 1975 Finland (archival)
So back to KOM Quartet. No, thankfully, none of this recording recalls polit rock in the slightest. What I hear most is the avant wing of the Canterbury movement, most notably early Henry Cow. But at their most accessible. The female vocal and intonation, along with the composition style, all have a similar vibe. Combine that with Jukka Hauru's fiery jazz rock guitar solos, and you have quite an intriguing mix of styles. Quiet Sun's Mainstream is also entering my mind. This may be one of the better surprises from this series, up there with Taivaantemppeli and Taivaanvuohi. Well worth getting on its own or on LP, or even better combined with Jukka Tolonen on CD.
Personal collection
CD: 2016 Svart w/Jukka Tolonen Ramblin' Jazz Band
Logos - L'Enigma della Vita. 2014 Italy
None of which deters this writer in the slightest. Logos seem more like a band of the 90s, that next generation of exciting Italian groups that blended the classics with a more modern sound. From a composition perspective, Logos certainly do look back further to the golden age.
The first impression you'll hear is one of mid 70's Pink Floyd, that peculiar deliberate and methodical songcraft, mixed with heavy spatial atmospheres. It isn't until 'In Fuga', that Logos demonstrate their Italian heritage (beyond the language of course). And the followup track 'Alla fine dell'ultimo capitolo' is where it becomes apparent that Logos came of age during the 90s. In particular I hear the influence of Consorzio Acqua Potabile coming through here. And the third ingredient is a healthy dose of space rock jamming, which provides that spicy kick to take off the implied rigidness. When Logos mixes their ingredients just right, the results can be divine.
One track that will certainly raise your head from your smart phone is 'In Principio', a title that holds a clue. Indeed there is a noticeable pastoral flavor here, reminding one of - yes - Celeste. Midway through there's a splendid space rock jam, as if Sensations' Fix walked into the studio with a bag of psychedelics. I've never heard anyone mix these two styles so splendidly.
On the other hand, L'enigma della vita can drag on occasion, and the rhythms can often be more perfunctory than creative. Personally I found the vocal style to be very good, perhaps not to the standard that Italian prog often brings forth, but if from any other country, Logos would fly high.
There's an enormous amount of music here to absorb, and given that much of it requires one's full attention, the relistenability factor is high. I was torn between 3.5 and 4.0 here (Gnosis 10/11), but given my predilection for the style, I'm staying with the higher score.
Personal collection
CD: 2014 Andromeda Relix
Last listen: December 27, 2016
Happy the Man - s/t. 1977 USA
USA Midwest / Ontario Progressive Rock (1970's/early 80s). Even if one considers major labels, 1977 is late to the game.
With that out of the way, Happy the Man is entirely unique. If nothing else, the placement of tracks is extraordinary. Opener 'Starborne' is about as beautiful and tranquil a song as has ever been put on vinyl. Hardly the blast-out-of-the-gates hyper complex prog song that was even the norm back then. This is then followed by the complex and quirky 'Stumpy Meets the Firecracker in Stencil Forest', yet another instrumental. It's clear at this point, Happy the Man has no commercial potential whatsoever. And yet here they are on a major label, and best I can tell, the album sold relatively well in its day. 'Upon the Rainbow' is the first song that will at least sound familiar, with vocals tacked on at the end of the recordings. Why? Because once again the label owner wanted something to promote beyond an audience that in effect were a small cabal. From here, the blueprint had been drawn, and the other tracks more or less fall into the 3 buckets above. Those who are bellyaching about the vocals, clearly didn't hear the album close, as there's only two tracks total with them in place. Personally I find them quite good considering they were stand-ins to begin with.
Happy the Man is an album that stands clearly on its own, and has aged very well because of it. There's really no other album like it, even if its British prog influences are obvious.
Personal Collection
LP: 1977 Arista
CD: 1988 Edison (Japan)
With that out of the way, Happy the Man is entirely unique. If nothing else, the placement of tracks is extraordinary. Opener 'Starborne' is about as beautiful and tranquil a song as has ever been put on vinyl. Hardly the blast-out-of-the-gates hyper complex prog song that was even the norm back then. This is then followed by the complex and quirky 'Stumpy Meets the Firecracker in Stencil Forest', yet another instrumental. It's clear at this point, Happy the Man has no commercial potential whatsoever. And yet here they are on a major label, and best I can tell, the album sold relatively well in its day. 'Upon the Rainbow' is the first song that will at least sound familiar, with vocals tacked on at the end of the recordings. Why? Because once again the label owner wanted something to promote beyond an audience that in effect were a small cabal. From here, the blueprint had been drawn, and the other tracks more or less fall into the 3 buckets above. Those who are bellyaching about the vocals, clearly didn't hear the album close, as there's only two tracks total with them in place. Personally I find them quite good considering they were stand-ins to begin with.
Happy the Man is an album that stands clearly on its own, and has aged very well because of it. There's really no other album like it, even if its British prog influences are obvious.
Personal Collection
LP: 1977 Arista
CD: 1988 Edison (Japan)
Estes Brothers - Transitions. 1971 USA
Personal collection
CD: 2002 World in Sound (Germany)
Original LPs are extremely rare (4 figures). And both reissues are now long OOP and hard to find as well. I was fortunate to snap up the World in Sound CD recently at a good price. Second photo is the Rockadelic LP. The CD has the single version of Tomorrow's Sunlight as Track 7. There are also 4 live tracks and 3 "at home" recordings appended as bonus tracks.
Korai Orom - s/t. 1995 Hungary
Personal collection
CD: 1995 private
I bought the CD not long after release, and have picked up every new album since. So yes, definitely a fan here.
Barcelona Traction - s/t. 1975 Spain
I learned that trying to find something interesting about this band, which I failed to do, other than they started life as "The New Jazz Trio", which is telling. Well, Barcelona Traction is an interesting name then, isn't it? What does it have to do with the sound of the namesake band? Absolutely nothing.
In fact Barcelona Traction were a very early entry for jazz rock in Spain. They favored the sunny and the tropical, predicting a type of sound that would dominate the landscape for the next few years. Acoustic piano dominates the proceedings, while bass, drums, and percussion fill out the lineup. Rhodes and Mini-Moog provide much needed texture. Given that it is early in the continuum, I found this one to be a tad rawer than the usual slick cruise ship sounds. A very strong 3.5 (Gnosis 10), and a pleasant way to watch the sunset on a beach with a frozen margarita.
Personal collection
CD: 2009 Picap
Last listen: January 13, 2018
Ozric Tentacles - Spice Doubt Streaming. 1998 England
What a smoker. This is probably my favorite Ozric Tentacles album, only in that it filters what I like best by them. And I have to say, I enjoy all of their albums! So there you have it.
Personal collection
CD: 2003 Snapper
For some reason, I did not buy this when it first came out. I can recall having an opportunity to buy it at Tower Records in the SF Bay Area not long after release. I think I was suffering from Ozricitis at the time and passed. Apparently the unique oil based packaging of the private release is now a mess (first scan), so it's a good thing I did pass. A few years later I bought the Snapper reissue in a traditional tri-fold digipak (second scan).
Napoli Centrale - Mattanza. 1976 Italy
Personal collection
None... sold the CD (2001 BMG)
Goat - Requiem. 2016 Sweden
So the above represented by quick scratch off review. In listening again, I don't have that much more to add. Clearly the band are about indigenous ancient traditions, mixed with the psychedelic. Mostly African, but also the original inhabitants of South America too. My initial 3 bands listed above all have history with recording music with African musicians, and/or at least focusing on the continent exclusively. I would also add Los Jaivas to this mix as a good representation of South America. Then I'd add a bit of Flasket Brinner, when Goat turn on the psychedelic aspect of their sound. The album runs the gamut of the 1970s, where the first part of the decade is psych oriented, and the latter half of the decade was more into the exploratory spirit of World Fusion. While I'll maintain my 4 star rating, I have two small complaints that hold it back from being an even higher rating. 1) Some of the instrumentals have an excellent premise that they do little with. 'Temple Rhythms' in particular is just screaming for some guitar soloing. The tribal drums and wood flutes provide the perfect backdrop. But rather it just repeats itself rather than progress. I'm sure that's the point - to create a trance like state. But for this listener, it would have been devastating to hear it developed. 2) The female vocals here sound like annoying wails rather anything associated with singing. To be honest, it sounds bitchy as opposed to transcendental. Fortunately the album isn't dominated by them.
Small gripes to an otherwise excellent release. I love that modern bands are revisiting these musical areas that were abandoned all too quickly back in the day.
Personal collection
CD: 2016 Sub Pop (USA)
El Reloj - s/t. 1975 Argentina
The 4 bonus singles show that El Reloj could capture their unique sound in a tighter frame. Just as good as the album proper.
Personal collection
CD: 1996 Record Runner (Brazil)
The aforementioned 4 bonus singles were first introduced on the Cronologia CD (2nd scan), and all other reissues have maintained those (best I can tell anyway). As mentioned, I wasn't too keen on this album initially and sold the LP well over 20 years ago. Glad to have revisited the CD, and worth keeping for certain. As for the covers, the Cronologia introduced arguably the better artwork (essentially blowing up the upper left corner section), and the reissues have used either the original or that new one.
Gold - No Class What So Ever. 1980 USA
This is an album that I first heard via my research for the CDRWL. It was provided by this gentleman (a year prior to this posting), who is still at it after all these years. In any case, I'm thrilled to have finally found a vinyl copy, and thus it makes its first appearance here on the UMR. It's a really great album.
Personal collection
LP: 1980 Alpha
BTW, Gold's first album, Night Ride, is best forgotten. My notes: It's hard to imagine this is the same band that released the excellent No Class What So Ever album. Especially the first half of the disc which is really no more than boogie shuffle rock, and is quite hideous in fact. By Track 5, the band started to turn to more intriguing instrumental guitar fronted fusion, and foreshadows the much better sophomore album to come.
You - Wonders From the Genetic Factory. 1984 Germany
Personal collection
CD: 1996 Cue
Syd Arthur - Apricity. 2016 England
Personal collection
CD: 2016 Harvest (USA)
Sun Dial - Zen For Sale. 2003 England
Personal collection
CD: 2003 Acme
This album proved hard to source upon release, and was somewhat obscure. I didn't secure a copy until 2010 myself, and I had been looking for some years.
Promenade - Noi al Dir di Noi. 2016 Italy
Personal collection
None... sold the CD (2016 Fading)
Too bad it has to be sold, as the CD is housed in a wonderful thick tri-fold digi-pak. The album was released on Alt Rock's Fading label, which is geared towards more traditional progressive rock. IMO, this should have been on the parent label.
Zhaoze (The Swamp) - Intoxicatingly Lost / Yesternight, Yes Tonight. 2015 China
Personal collection
CD: 2016 Trail (USA)
Bandhada - s/t. 1984 Chile (archival)
** - Ah, what the hell... Despite this potential shortcoming - it's still a classic.
Personal collection
CD: 2004 Mylodon
After doing some research, I don't believe there is an original LP of this title. It appears this is an archival release. The online discographies still mention the existence of the LP, but I couldn't evidence of that.
Agusa - Katarsis. 2016 Sweden
Personal collection
CD: 2016 Sound Effect (Greece)
As with all Agusa releases to date, the album was originally released on vinyl from Kommun 2. Which makes sense of course, since the owner of the label is the bass player. As noted above, the CD is from Greece, and comes in a nice over-sized cardboard mini-LP styled cover. It's available in two colors. Mine is blue, and that's my sole copy to date.
Amon Duul II - Phallus Dei. 1969 Germany
which happens to be the largest German national subscription daily newspaper according to Wikipedia: "Amon Düül II is a pop band that needn't shy away from comparisons with Pink Floyd or the Velvet Underground, but they are much better, more influential and more progressive than their English and American counterparts." OK then, my work is done here I think....
Personal collection
LP: 1972 Sunset (UK)
CD: 1993 Repertoire
CD: 2006 Revisited
German originals, while hardly common, are actually much easier to find than the UK copy (2nd photo). This is the desired copy among collectors, and is by far the most expensive. I've never owned either. My first copy was the UK Sunset version, that also features a unique cover (photo #3). I found this new in a record store in the mid 80s. I sold it when I first got the CD (1993 version). But I realized recently I had to have it back. It's not terribly expensive either. What's great about this version is the back cover (photo #4), which is hilarious. Sunset was known for releasing adult pop music. What on Earth were they thinking when they put Amon Duul II on the label with the not-too-disguised title of Dick God? I always imagined some old codger with a pipe, getting excited at the strip-mall record store "Look Edna, a new album on Sunset! I got to get this!". Imagine the scene back home. ROFL. As for reissues, they are plentiful,and it's just a matter of preference. I prefer the digi-pak and liner notes of the 2006 release, but I thought the sound of the 93 CD was better. So I kept both.
Last listen: June 14, 2016
Tusmorke - Fort Bak Lyset. 2016 Norway
Personal collection
CD: 2016 Svart (Finland)
Moogg - Italian Luxury Style. 2016 Italy
Personal collection
CD: 2016 Mellow
For some odd reason, this album was only available as a download for the longest time. A disturbing trend. Provide us physical assets please!
Eye - Vision and Ageless Light. 2016 USA
Personal collection
CD: 2016 Laser's Edge
The CD comes in a fine single sleeve mini-LP format. Glad to see this packaging format taking off for new albums as well.
Ingranaggi della Valle - Warm Spaced Blue. 2016 Italy
Personal collection
CD: 2016 Black Widow
Corsair - One Eyed Horse. 2015 USA
Personal collection
CD: 2015 Shadow Kingdom
Flight - s/t. 1975 USA
Personal collection
LP: 1975 Capitol
Originals are easy to find, though obtaining one without marks and in mintish condition can be a challenge. I finally managed that, and it still cost me all of $7. For some reason Eastworld decided to only reissue their second Incredible Journay, and thus this self titled remains without any reissue.
Opossum - Bear's Banquet. 1974 Germany (archival)
Personal collection
CD: 2003 Garden of Delights
Four Levels of Existence - s/t. 1976 Greece
Personal collection
CD: 2005 Lion (USA)
Originals are hyper rare and expensive. Even the LP reissues are going for decent money now, though I don't recall getting that much for mine which I sold off less than a decade ago. The CD version comes with excellent liner notes penned by the band.
Food Brain - Social Gathering. 1970 Japan
Personal collection
CD: 1998 P-Vine
Originals come in a fine gatefold as do the CDs in the mini-LP format.
Tetragon - Stretch. 1971 Germany (archival)
Personal collection
CD: 2009 Garden of Delights
Gotic - Gegants i Serpentines. 1978 Spain (archival)
Personal collection
CD: 2016 private
There are a couple of releases for this album (legit that is, not counting bootlegs), the first as a CD-R, and the second as a fully pressed CD (which I own). The latter has the catalog number of CDR-001 (oh brother!). Be sure to inquire first, as obviously the factory pressed CD is the better asset for the long term. The tri-fold digi-pak is fantastic, no matter which version you buy.
Purson - Desire's Magic Theatre. 2016 England
Post psychedelic, proto progressive with female vocals list – though this time they border outright Jefferson Airplane/Savage Rose-like psychedelia at times. 'Electric Landlady' is not only a funny title, but it is indeed Hendrixian. And while I do like the album, I would hope for some more creativity the next go 'round. This one plays it too safe, and the songs aren't memorable enough to sustain interest over repeated listens. Purson certainly have the potential for better.
Personal collection
CD: 2016 Spinefarm/Universal
Personal collection
CD: 2016 Spinefarm/Universal
Galactic Supermarket - s/t. 1974 Germany
Personal collection
LP: 1974 Kosmische Musik
CD: 1994 Spalax (France)
Last listen: June 3, 2016
Tabletom - Mezclalina. 1980 Spain
Personal collection
Still not on CD as I write this entry.
Last listen: June 29, 2009
Von Zamla - No Make Up. 1983 Sweden
Personal collection
LP: 1983 JA&RO (Germany)
Still no CD as I write this.
Last listen: 2008
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Skywhale - The World at Mind's End. 1977 England
Skywhale's sole album is one of the rare non-Canterbury UK fusion albums that sound more in line with what was happening over the Chan...
Yokota was the flutist on the Love Live Life + 1 album (I always presumed he was the "+ 1" but I'm not sure of that). He was ...
Skywhale's sole album is one of the rare non-Canterbury UK fusion albums that sound more in line with what was happening over the Chan...
The Freeborne represents some of the finest songwriting of the 60s psychedelic movement. There's echoes of the Doors, but in general, ...
My original review is here, and I'll leave it up . It is interesting to note that the band does indeed credit Return to Forever ...
As with Magic is a Child, I hadn't actually heard Down to Earth until now. Or I probably did in snippets and walked away in disgust....
Well... now. I think we have something here, don't we? I never heard of Reggie Lucas prior, but seeing he's the guitarist in the g...
Epitaph were a German heavy rock band, typical of the 1971 genre, with a UK vocalist in tow which is always a plus (if persisting with th...
Cosmic Debris were a band from Oklahoma City that married electronic sequencer based music with rock instrumentation such as guitar and ...
Both albums by the French band Murder in the Cathedral are fine examples of the sort of neo psych Nick Saloman has been pushing all these ...
Poobah are perhaps the best example of the hard working, musically competent – but unsigned – 1970s Midwest rock group. Hailing from Young...


text:
Joint raid on dormitory with poor living conditions
27 June 2011
Prior to a tip-off from a member of the public, MOM's Housing Enforcement Branch officers had started covert surveillance to assess the conditions of the dormitory at 16 Woodlands Industrial Park E1. Following field observations, MOM and URA then decided to mount an inspection on the dormitory.
On 16 June after 10pm, more than 20 MOM and URA enforcement officers swooped in on the said dormitory for a late-night surprise inspection.
|A surprise inspection was conducted at 16 Woodlands Industrial Park E1.
Bicycles parked haphazardly along the pedestrian walk.
There were tell-tale signs of overcrowding even before we stepped inside. Bicycles were parked haphazardly outside the premises, making it impossible for pedestrians to walk along the pavement.
|Peeled onion skins, prawn shells and other leftover food ingredients were strewn all over the kitchen floor.
|Litters surrounded the rows of lockers.
As we entered the dormitory, we were greeted by a strong stench, possibly originating from the dormitory's kitchen on the ground level. It was a sight to behold – peeled onion skins, prawn shells and other leftover food ingredients were strewn all over the floor. Utensils for raw and cooked items were not separated, and the woks were stained with grease from overuse.
With only nine functioning toilets and no shower points, these were hardly enough for all the workers during the morning peak hour when they prepare to go to work.
|MOM officer recording the particulars of a foreign worker.
|Foreign workers showing their work permits.
While some of our officers inspected the area, others begun to cordon off the premises and started checking the work permits of all foreign workers living within the building. This is part of MOM's routine to ensure that the foreign workers all held valid work passes. Our officers also interviewed the workers to find out if there were any instances of salary arrears and to understand their individual situation better.
|Narrow passage in between the partitioned rooms
|All rooms are equipped with double-decked beds
|Rules for the foreign workers set by the dormitory
|MOM officers counting the number of foreign workers staying in each room
As our officers maneuvered through the narrow corridors along the second and third floors, we also witnessed the cramped living conditions and the safety hazards the foreign workers had to put up with as live wires dangled from the ceilings. What caught our eye was also a notice put up on every room door listing the 19 fines to be levied on any worker who violated the dormitory rules.
On each floor, there were about 17 to 19 room partitioned out of wooden boards. Foreign workers of various nationalities were staying in this dormitory. Rows of double-deck beds filled each room. Workers clothes hung from their bedside. In some rooms, the workers had TV and DVD despite the cramped conditions. Although this is not the worse case, this joint inspection uncovered a total of 466 foreign workers from 37 companies residing in this overcrowded dormitory – more than double the 215 it was allowed to house. Employers of foreign workers found at the premises have been asked to relocate the foreign workers to proper housing by 21 July 2011. The MOM is investigating the case and will also take appropriate enforcement action against those established to be responsible for failing to ensure acceptable accommodation for the workers.
Last year, MOM enforced against more than 1,700 employers for failing to ensure acceptable accommodation to their foreign workers. So far this year, MOM has taken action against more than 260 employers for the same offence.
"Since 2009, MOM has successfully relocated more than 21,000 foreign workers to proper accommodation. Such housing inspections are a collaborative effort, involving not just MOM but multiple Government agencies such as the URA (land use), SCDF (fire and safety standards) and NEA (environmental health requirements). Employers who fail to ensure that their foreign workers have acceptable accommodation can be warned, offered composition or prosecuted under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act. Members of the public with feedback on the housing conditions of foreign worker dormitories may write in to MOM at email@example.com. All tip-offs will be kept strictly confidential."
MOM's Housing Enforcement Branch is a small team with less than 30 officers. In the photo essay, the faces of our officers are not shown as they conduct covert surveillance and night inspections at dormitories regularly. At an hour where most Singaporeans are turning to bed, our officers worked till the wee hours to record particulars of the foreign workers living at the inspected premises. Their work exposed them to a side of Singapore that is not seen by the public eye.
Working on a mantra of an 'acceptable home away from home' for foreign workers, our enforcement officers ensure that employers who brought in these workers house the workers in accommodation with proper sanitation and basic amenities.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Asian Tribune is published by World Institute For Asian Studies|Powered by WIAS Vol. 12 No. 2305
President signed the Gazette Notification to operationalize the Office on Missing Persons
Government has taken necessary measures to operationalize the Office of the Missing Persons and the Act is to come under operation effective from 15th September.
Today, the 12th September 2017, President Maithripala Sirisena in his capacity as Minister of National Integration and Reconciliation, signed the Gazette Notification to operationalize the Office of the Missing Persons.
The Office of the Missing Persons (establishment, administration and discharge of functions) Act No. 14 of 2016 and amended by Act No. 9 of 2017 comes into implementation and operation with effect from 15th September, as the President has placed his signature for the Gazette Notification.
Accordingly, the OMP will be established and its functions, duties, and mandate will come into operation with effect from 15th September.
This initiative comes one week immediately after the discussion the President had with the family members of the missing persons.
The operationalization of the OMP marks another significant step taken forward in Sri Lanka's path to reconciliation by the Good Governance Government said Mr. V. Sivagnanasothy, Secretary Ministry of National Integration and Reconciliation.
- Asian Tribune -


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The last day of April and I wonder if it'll be the last day of this crazy weather. Sun, snow, hail, thunder and everything else in between - it's been rather exciting!
Jamie re-potted the grafted bell pepper plants. They're looking good at the moment. Britney, the red one, is in the lead. Orange, Milena, is next with the yellow, Chelsea, not far behind.
The greenhouse is getting interesting. That's the Victorio florence fennel. The mangetout I sowed a couple of weeks ago are just emerging - the yellow-podded are Golden Sweet and the purple-podded are Shiraz. But this is the Boltardy beetroot.
Jamie has sowed the Durango Bee marigolds. They're in the hallway under a grow-light. They'll go to the greenhouse once they've developed. We didn't make it to the plot today (hence the over-dramatised post) because the weather stopped us, but we bought some multi-purpose compost and seed trays so I think a bit more shelf-space will be needed in the greenhouse by the end of the long weekend!


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Review: The Trial of Ubu, Hampstead Theatre
Published on Culture Wars, 27.01.2012
Simplicity of premise provides the beauty of Simon Stephens's The Trial of Ubu, but it also proves the biggest constraint. There's great satirical potential in wrenching Alfred Jarry's overblown despot Pa Ubu back into the real world to face the consequences of his grotesque actions in an ICC-style trial. However, the purity of the central concept is such that, with only a basic understanding of the original, one can grasp Stephens's overarching ambition from brochure copy alone. The risk is one of triteness.
However, those that avoid the Hampstead on that basis will miss the craft with which the subject's surrounding intricacies are explored in Katie Mitchell's production. Admittedly, The Trial of Ubu has less to chew on than the superior Wastwater, which gave chase to a greasier pig, but there is nonetheless an awful lot to keep one's mind occupied, both during and after proceedings, if you let it.
For starters, following a Punch and Judy-style synopsis of Jarry's original, Mitchell presents the trial not as is, but at one remove, through two interpreters, who translate and repeat the words spoken inside the courtroom itself.
There will be those that cry tedium; that the commentary box has nothing on the match itself. They are wrong. This is a chance to engross oneself in the minute details that would otherwise go unseen. By refracting rather than simply representing the trial, Mitchell better reveals its component parts. Her production sees clearer precisely because it does not look directly at the sun. So dazzlingly grotesque is Pa Ubu that his presence would outshine any nuanced reflection.
Certainly, the text is delivered with all the tonal variation of Morse code. Reported back, it is stripped of emotion and, to a certain extent, intention. Punctuation becomes garbled, replaced with a steady, but stuttering, flow of words; pauses are scrapped as they struggle to keep pace; language warps. But do we not learn more from a fingerprint than from the lines on a palm, even though the contours offer less contrast?
Rather than the performative behaviour of a trial, in which everyone is aware of being watched, Mitchell can present genuine – often involuntary – reaction. Words send shivers and draw gasps, but can't be fully digested or registered, such is the speed of their task. While Nikki Amuka-Bird's interpreter is ever professional, getting the job done with a stony-faced, machinated aloofness, Kate Duchêne is entirely human. She fits with giggles, wells up with tears and succumbs to a cold. In the contrast – both sides of which are familiar responses – lies the production's heart.
As such, The Trial of Ubu is not so much about the nature of such regimes themselves – though, of course, it can't completely sidestep that subject, no matter how broadly Stephens treats it. Rather, it concerns the impossibility of a proper, fitting and just response in the aftermath. How, Stephens and Mitchell combine to argue, can we possibly begin to assign responsibility, let alone conduct a fair trial, given the enormity of expectation, of prejudice (in the strictest sense of the word) and of suffering. How, in other words, can we humanly respond to the categorically inhumane?
Paul McCleary's Pa Ubu is both intensely human and, at the same time, not at all. He is a frail old man, whose jailor must help him smoke, let alone stand, so the maximum security that surrounds him seems ludicrous. "Is the architecture all for me," he asks the Judge. However, made up with the same soaked clown face as Heath Ledger's Joker, Ubu becomes a cartoon villain. Certainly, he's tried as such; as a scapegoat, the very opposite of a puppet leader. "J'accuse," the witnesses cry, shifting the blame from their own shoulders. "He told me to." "He said I'd be killed." In punishing him, they absolve themselves of any responsibility. Ubu is their Get Out of Jail Free card.
Interspersed with scenes outside the courtroom – Ubu in his cell, two lawyers in conversation over a cigarette – The Trial of Ubu becomes a fascinating indictment of the international justice system. The neatly packaged narrative belies a web of responsibility and reduces complexities into grim folklore – which perhaps explains the filmic quality of Lizzie Clachan's individual box sets. Its central case is no less vengeful than the stringing up of Benito Mussolini or the uncivilised disposal of Muammar Gaddafi. If it lacks the horror of such hellish ends, Ubu's trial is instead purgatorial: "I think I'm losing track of time a little bit," he says to the judge. For all its criticism of the system, The Trial of Ubu isn't so perverse to entirely undermine it and endless assessment comes to seem a fitting punishment in itself.
Mitchell's production is characteristically well-drilled and precise, but the masterstroke is to re-invent Stephens' play for the nuances around its edges than its straightforward centre. As such, The Trial of Ubu needs watching from an angle, with a willingness to make connections and grapple, rather than head-on, waiting for answers to be dished out.
Photograph: Stephen Cummiskey
No Comments
- After us, a gentle king: Declan Donnellan | Matt Trueman - [...] Hague, on trial for civil atrocities at the International Criminal Court in Simon Stephens's play The Trial of Ubu. …


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Over the summer holidays, 32 students, 4 staff and 2 expedition leaders embarked on a month long adventure to Madagascar with World Challenge.
Students had spent the previous 2 years hosting a whole range of events to fund their once in a lifetime expedition.
The teams departed from Newcastle to make the 28 hour journey to the Madagascan Capital, Antananarivo. As they made their way down the country the challengers
experienced the unique culture and wildlife that Madagascar has famously become known for.


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Former Baltimore Ravens Running Back Ray Rice who has been released from the team last year following a case of domestic violence after video of him punching his then fiancée Janay Palmer emerged, hopes for a second chance to resume his career and play in the National Football League.
His interview with ESPN's Sports Center comes in the wake of Dallas Cowboys' Greg Hardy's case of 2014 after images surfaced of his girlfriend, Nicole Holder severely bruised. Hardy was convicted but his case was dismissed on appeal after Holder could not be located to testify. Hardy was suspended by the NFL but was given a second chance by the Dallas Cowboys in 2015.
"I would be very grateful for a second chance," Rice says.
Working to stay fit at a local gym in Connecticut, Rice says that he has no preference for a club as long as he gets to play.
Understanding that being forgiven is not an easy task for such a grave crime, Rice now hopes to raise awareness about domestic violence.
"To never be forgiven, I understand those things, and I take full responsibility for my actions. The one thing I can say is… I have made a lifelong decision to raising awareness about this", says Rice.
Rice aims to use the platform of NFL and help spread the message at a global level. Speaking on this he says, "I think the NFL has such a huge platform…so if I never played a down again, why not see if I could use their platform to go out there and make a difference."
Unlike Hardy, Rice's case has drawn minimal interest and no offers. One team though considered giving an offer to Rice. However the team ownership became uncomfortable at the last minute amidst concerns of public reaction regarding signing him.


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There's no doubt that Chelsea need a striker, and they're odds-on to sign Atletico Madrid's Diego Costa, but here's why this would be a huge mistake for him.
First of all, let's just establish what an extraordinary campaign he has enjoyed; 36 goals in all competitions. With Atletico Madrid he is going for a treble; a draw would win them the title ahead of Barcelona and Real Madrid, they're set to play their Madrid rivals in the Champions League final (having humiliated Chelsea 1-3 at the Bridge in the semi-final second leg), while they clinched the Spanish Super Cup earlier in the season.
If Costa were to stay at Atletico, he would win countless trophies in one of Europe's toughest leagues, he would be revered by his fans and be rated as one of the finest strikers on the continent. He would also play exciting football. However, can he really expect the same at Chelsea? No.
Chelsea, whilst being a superb defensive team, do not have the quality to win the Premier League title, or indeed any trophies, as they found out this season. They attempted defensive anti-football, and Costa's Atletico Madrid, despite being cancelled out in the first leg, simply outclassed Mourinho men in the away game. So why would Costa join a club that are, quite frankly, nowhere near his standard?
Chelsea may be one of the best English teams, but I can't see them offering a genuine title challenge unless they uproot their entire playing philosophy, and Mourinho will not do that; defensive is his speciality.
Besides, who is to say that Costa will retain his form? He will have gained confidence from his stellar season, and staying at Atletico he will likely retain his class, but Chelsea have a history of ruining top players that they signed for big money. To name a few; Andriy Shevchenko, Adrian Mutu, Ricardo Quaresma, Fernando Torres, Demba Ba, Shaun Wright-Philips, Juan Sebastian Veron, Yuri Zhirkov, Yossi Benayoun etc.
How do we know that Costa won't join that list? Will Costa take that risk? Does he truly have any motives, other than financial, to leave Atletico? Or indeed, any to join Chelsea?
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Announcing the New Prestige Pack!
Today, a brand-new pack is available exclusively in the L2 Galleria! The Lineage II Prestige Pack is a recurring pack designed to deliver a selection of new and exclusive items to help you in your adventures.
Not available anywhere else, these items are designed to help you make the most of your time in Lineage II. And, for a limited time, you can get a bonus of 400 NCoin for signing up! Learn more about this fantastic new item, and the promotion, here. Promotion expires August 7th. For Honor and Glory!


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See360 is a unique Virtual Reality app that let's property developers and agents showcase their new builds by placing the customer in the middle of the action with stunning realism.
Users can move from room to room simply by looking at an object in the scene, and the experience can be enhanced with music, commentary and other material. See360 is a revolutionary app that adds another dimension to off-plan selling.
Your app will be compatible with a wide range of Virtual Reality headwear including the popular Google Cardboard viewer, but can also be viewed through a smartphone or tablet in 360 ° splendour for those who do not have access to a viewing device.
Virtual Reality is at the cutting edge of visual communication and is set to enjoy the strongest growth of any media type in the coming months and years.


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Pounced.org offline due to controversial sex-trafficking billPosted by Equivamp on Sat 24 Mar 2018 - 02:31
Similar to Craiglist's decision to shut down its personal ads section, Dallas-Fort Worth-hosted furry dating service Pounced.org is down, pending interpretation of the Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act (FOSTA), which passed the U.S. Senate Wednesday.
FOSTA is intended to assist victims of sex trafficking, by allowing them to sue websites that facilitated their abuse. This gives previously undue liability to the platform for actions and content of third-party users; so Pounced.org is shutting down as a preventive measure while Kelar, the site's founder, seeks legal counsel.
The website, launched 15 years ago this month, hosted more than 13,000 ads from furries seeking friends, dates, or casual encounters within the fandom. Visitors are now directed to criticism of the bill from the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a digital rights organization.
Update 03/26/18: The message on Pounced.org has been updated. Users can now read a much more in-depth explanation of the motivation for the shut-down, and concerns over the meaning of the bill:
Judge rules on Motion for Judgement in Peter S. Beagle vs. Cochran casePosted by Equivamp on Tue 21 Nov 2017 - 20:47
As previously covered, furry author Peter S. Beagle has been in the throes of the American court system for nearly two years now, fighting his former publishing agent Connor Cochran for damages and restitution for 15 causes of action including fraud, defamation, and elder abuse. I won't rehash all the details, but Cochran's history of sharp practice is long and appalling. Mr. Beagle deserves an end to these proceedings as quickly as due diligence will allow, but Cochran would rather drag things out in a war of attrition.
One example of the Conlan Press founder's meandering through convoluted legal roadblocks was his filing of a Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings, on the basis there were no issues of fact to support the allegations in not just one, or a few, but in all 15 causes of action. Initially given a tentative ruling on October 24, this was contested by Cochran. After arguing the matter, the tentative ruling was affirmed. The result? All but one of Mr. Beagle's causes of action were sustained.
The full story of the lawsuit involving Peter S. Beagle, author of 'The Last Unicorn'Posted by Equivamp on Mon 8 May 2017 - 18:02
At the end of April, I posted a Newsbyte regarding a charity art drive to benefit "lifelong furry" and renowned fantasy author Peter S. Beagle, in order to fund his legal costs and living expenses as he litigates a suit against his former agent.
That was the first I had heard of the troubles of The Last Unicorn's author. Upon seeing that Uncle Kage had tweeted about this situation in 2016, however, I learned this suit had been going on for longer than I realized, and I took the time to look deeply into the situation.
What I found was horrifying, and the rabbit hole seemed to go deeper the more I looked. Today I'm going to go into more detail about this shameful situation, bringing it to light in the hopes that the more people who know, the more help Beagle will receive.
Get ready, this is gonna be a long ride. If you don't want to read every single detail, I implore you to scroll down to the "How you can help" section, or at least spread this message as far as you can. Beagle needs as many friends as he can get right now.
Peter S. Beagle is suing his former agent for elder abuse, fraud, defamation, and breach of fiduciary duty, among other related allegations, which you can read in full here [PDF].
Hacked repeater brings furry podcast FurCast to FM radioPosted by RingtailedFox on Thu 7 Apr 2016 - 12:57
Are furry podcasts unsuitable for breakfast? FM listeners in Colorado sure thought so!
On the morning of April 5, Denver-area FM station KIFT 106.3 "The Lift" suffered a broadcast signal intrusion on a relay station serving a remote valley. Instead of Bruno Mars, listeners in Breckenridge, Colorado were treated to Paradox Wolf, Fayroe and friends.
Denver station KCNC-TV "CBS 4" contacted The Lift for an explanation, and were told they send programing from their studio to four transmitters via the Internet. Somehow, the Breckenridge repeater K258AS (99.5 FM) was compromised, and someone had spliced in Furcast Episode 224 in place of The Lift.
Thankfully, the primary FM and webcasts of both The Lift and Furcast.FM / XBN were unaffected, but a large amount of NSFW programming, including swearing, was broadcast without censorship for several hours, with The Lift's engineers unable to kill the studio/transmitter link remotely.
On FurCast's end, their server saw a gradual rise in connections to its podcast archive (used on its website and iOS and Android apps for listeners) from 06:00 AM EDT onwards, until they were able to temporarily disable access at 02:30 PM EDT. The archives have since come back online at a new address, with a long list of blocked IP addresses to prevent a recurrence.
Review: 'The Face in the Mirror' and 'Chained Reflections', by T. R. BrownPosted by Fred on Fri 25 Jul 2014 - 00:52
These are the first two volumes of T.R. Brown's Reflections series. Amazon.com has a special subcategory for them: Genetic Engineering Science Fiction. They should be required reading for every furry author who plans to write human-into-anthropomorphized-animal fiction. They are also good reading for everyone else.
The two are narrated by the protagonist, Todd Hershel. The setting is an unspecified future, but there are automatic/robot cars, artificial islands ("Libertarian Colonies") for dissidents, personal computers that unfold from pocket-size, artificially-grown organ harvesting, references to a second American Civil War in the recent past and "the Vatican in exile" and bioengineered animal people grown for soldiers in wars. For legal reasons, these humanoid "neos" are required to look like the animals they are based upon.
I was driving back from a meeting with a supplier and there was a semi pulling a load of scrap metal slightly ahead of me in the next lane. My car alerted me to be ready to take over manual control, pulling me away from the e-mails I had been working on. I saw the reason immediately. An accident a couple of miles ahead. An ambulance and other emergency personnel were already on site. That probably saved my life. […] the semi next to me had a blowout in the front wheel. […] Autopilots are good, but they can't handle an emergency like that and, before the operator could take over, the semi jerked into my lane […] (p. 1)
Todd wakes up in a hospital two months later. His body was completely crushed by the scrap metal. Since this was an unplanned medical emergency, no substitute body has been prepped for him. The only suitable usable body that can be found on emergency notice is a brain-dead felis neo – a female, at that. Todd's wife Colleen is not happy about that, but she agrees that the important thing is to save his life. They can worry later about getting a new human body, or at least a sex-change operation back to male and cosmetic surgery to make him look more human, later.
The first 50-odd pages are filled with the details of Todd's exploring his new body, bioengineered from a panther to be a brawny feline soldier.
"We considered just putting your head on the new body," Walt [a doctor] continued, "but, in addition to the aesthetic problem of a human head on a felis body, there would also have been tissue rejection to deal with." (p. 9)
The Face in the Mirror; A Transhuman Identity Crisis, by T. R. Brown, Seattle, WA, CreateSpace, August 2012, trade paperback $17.40 (501 pages), Kindle $2.99.
Chained Reflections, by T. R. Brown, Seattle, WA, CreateSpace, August 2013, trade paperback $19.99 (558 pages), Kindle $2.99.
The FIRST Foul-Mouthed Teddy?Posted by Mink on Thu 17 Jul 2014 - 01:10
Word is spreading fast that the creators of the Ursa-Major-nominated film Ted are facing a lawsuit. "The creators of web series about a foul-mouthed teddy bear with a penchant for drinking, smoking and prostitutes have filed a copyright infringement suit against Seth MacFarlane, Universal Pictures and the producers of Ted, the 2012 film about a foul-mouthed teddy bear with a penchant for drinking, smoking and prostitutes. Bengal Mangle Productions claims that Ted 'is an unlawful copy' of its own animated teddy, who was featured in two different web series, Charlie The Abusive Teddy and Acting School Academy. The suit, filed today in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, states that those web series aired in 2009 and 2010 on You Tube, FunnyOrDie.com and other streaming websites." Any merit to this? So far the targets of the lawsuit haven't responded, but you can visit Charlie's official web site and check things out for yourself.
FurryCon mark registration proceeds after initial denialPosted by GreenReaper on Wed 18 Jun 2014 - 19:34
Soron's application to register the FurryCon logo as a service mark is proceeding, but only after the addition of a disclaimer of exclusive use of the term "furry con".
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office declined to register the New York state furry convention's name as a mark in August 2013, after identifying the terms 'furry' and 'con' as "merely descriptive":
"Furry" refers to "fictional anthropomorphic animal characters with human personalities and characteristics." - "Con" is a "common abbreviation for convention".
At that time, a "furry" was also cited by the examiner as:
someone who is part of a subculture interested in fictional anthropomorphic animal characters with human personalities and characteristics
Various Wikipedia and WikiFur articles were used as references, as well as George Gurley's "Pleasures of the Fur" in Vanity Fair, the Anthrocon, Furry 4 Life, Furry Fandom Infocenter, Furry Connection North and Georgia Furs websites, and a con report on SoFurry.
Do you know the difference between copyright and trademarks?Posted by Kakurady on Mon 3 Jun 2013 - 01:52
FurBuy adds classifieds, mulls closure over social auctionsPosted by GreenReaper on Mon 25 Mar 2013 - 03:20
Furry auction site FurBuy has added a classified listings service, among other updates, positioning it as a "furry Craigslist". Listings so far include furry identification badges, a skunk suit for sale, and a request for a sewing partner. However, ongoing competition from social art sites has lead to a threat of closure later this year, reminiscent of those made over a decade ago.
M.C.A. Hogarth e-book blocked, reinstated by Amazon after Games Workshop trademark claimPosted by Higgs Raccoon on Sun 10 Feb 2013 - 02:12
M.C.A. Hogarth is a furry artist and writer whose works have appeared in several publications. A guest of honor at Midwest FurFest 2003 and 2009, her short story In the Line of Duty was the winner of the 2003 Ursa Major Award for Best Anthropomorphic Short Fiction. Recently, Hogarth's e-novel Spots the Space Marine was the target of a claim of trademark violation by Games Workshop, developer and publisher of tabletop wargames Warhammer, Warhammer 40,000, and The Lord of the Rings Strategy Battle Game.
It was on December 13 that Hogarth received an e-mail from online retailer Amazon.com, informing her that they had stopped selling Spots the Space Marine. The explanation given centred around the use of the phrase "space marine". Although an archetype of science fiction dating back to 1932, Games Workshop holds trademarks on the phrase in the United States, United Kingdom, and Europe.
Artist depicts 126 ACME Corp. products on giant posterPosted by Fred on Thu 20 Dec 2012 - 08:01
Wired reports that Chicago artist Rob Loukotka has created an advertising poster for fictional ACME Corp. that shows 126 of its products that Wile E. Coyote has ordered in his attempts to catch the Road Runner, including the jet-propelled tennis shoes, rocket-powered pogo stick, and tornado seeds.
The giant poster (24" x 36", or 2' x 3') is not quite ready to order. Loukotka has a Kickstarter project to raise $3,000 to print it. Considering that the project is still going and that he has $79,110 pledged so far, this looks assured. Loukotka is asking for $30 pledges; each pledger will receive the poster. Non-pledgers can buy it for $30 after it is printed; $40 outside the U.S
Loukotka has other posters, but this is the only one with an anthropomorphic tie-in.
Update (21 Dec): The Cartoon Brew reports that Warner Bros. trademarked the ACME logo, too, though Loukotka was careful not to mention WB or Wile E. Coyote on the poster. [Ed.: The USPTO cancelled the trademark in 2010 as they failed to file a 10-year renewal.]
U.S. government petitioned to drop drug war, create cat girlsPosted by Rakuen Growlithe on Sun 9 Dec 2012 - 06:48
The U.S. administration created We The People to provide a place for any of its citizens to petition the White House, which has promised to provide an official response to all petitions reaching 25?000 signatures within 30 days. While some cover serious political issues, it's doubtful that they expected Matthew H's petition for domestic cat girls. [Yahoo!]
Matthew contends that the War on Drugs is pointless, and that money would be better spent by genetically engineering cat girls for home services.
While reports by the Global Commission on Drug Policy suggest the war has been a dramatic and costly waste of money, lives and society, and has harmed the fight against HIV/AIDS, it is unlikely that the U.S. will abandon it any time soon. Both Colorado and Washington have legalised non-medicinal marijuana, but its possession is still a federal offence.
Motion picture: 'Escape from Planet Earth'Posted by Fred on Sat 3 Nov 2012 - 01:31
If Avatar could win the Ursa Major Award for Best Anthropomorphic Motion Picture in 2009, then Furry fandom should LOVE Escape from Planet Earth. More blue aliens! Furry aliens! A plot that will remind you of Planet 51! Lots of 7-11! Originally scheduled for a 2010 release but now due out from the Weinstein Company and Rainmaker Entertainment in Vancouver on February 14, 2013.
Maybe. The Weinstein Company is being sued for $50,000,000 over this movie, and a judge has ordered an advance private screening of it. Watch the trailer while it's available.
Counterpoint: Health care law threatens U.S. fursPosted by Squirrel on Thu 5 Jul 2012 - 22:46
We are young and strange. By tendency, at least, furries are non-conformists with many years ahead of them. That's why the new health care law is a poison pill for our community.
Right now there are people dangling "free" drugs and other medical care in front of us and promising there's no cost; it'll all be paid for by some rich guy. Just let this law stand, they say, and help elect the people who will protect it.
But what are we actually signing away? Our freedom. All of it.
[Ed.: This will be the last story on this topic. A separate piece addresses topic suitability.]
Opinion: Supreme Court decision a good deal for U.S. fursPosted by GreenReaper on Wed 4 Jul 2012 - 18:25
Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Many laws have little practical impact on furry fans one way or another. But this is one we should pay attention to, because it applies especially to us.


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A new study shows New York City is doing better than Los Angeles in the battle against childhood obesity, at least for low-income children.
From 2003 to 2011, obesity rates for poor children dropped in New York to around 16 percent. But they rose in Los Angeles and ended at about 20 percent.
The researchers focused on children ages 3 and 4 enrolled in a government program that provides food and other services to women and their young children.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released the study Thursday.


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Molecular Regulation of MS Susceptibility Genes. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by dysregulated T cell responses to antigenic components of myelin in the central nervous system (CNS). Although mechanisms leading to initiation of dysregulated T cell responses to myelin-derived antigens are poorly understood, discovery of a new subset of effector CD4+ T cells, Th17 cells, has transformed our understanding of MS disease pathogenesis and promises novel approaches to therapeutic intervention. In recent studies of the role of Th17 cells in CNS inflammation, we have discovered a novel mechanism by which production of the immunomodulatory cytokine, IL-10, is regulated. Specifically, we have identified an important transcriptional repressor that governs the production of IL-10 by CD4+ T cells - growth factor independent-1 (Gfi1). We find that in mice with T cell-specific deficiency of Gfi1 disease clinical disease and CNS inflammation are significantly ameliorated in an EAE model. Blockade of IL-10 signaling largely reverses protection conferred by Gfi1 deficiency. This strongly suggests that suppression of disease occurs via a mechanism linking Gfi1 to repression of IL10 gene expression in CD4+ T cells, and perhaps other immune cells that can produce IL-10. Importantly, in some individuals at increased risk for MS, the extended locus surrounding the GFI1 gene contains two single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), homozygosity for which leads to increased expression of GFI1 by activated peripheral blood cells. Further, GFI1 expression is elevated in peripheral blood of patients who later develop MS, consistent with the possibility that dysregulated GFI1 expression is an important risk factor for MS. While the data linking altered GFI1 expression to MS are only correlative at present and it is unknown how elevated expression of this factor might contribute to heightened susceptibility to MS, our preliminary studies have identified a mechanism that could explain a major component of Gfi1's linkage to MS and will be explored in this proposal. Specifically, we hypothesize that GFI1 is a major transcriptional repressor of IL10 gene expression and is central to IL10 gene regulation. Further, elevated expression of GFI1, as is found in association with MS susceptibility SNPs in the GFI1/EVI5 locus, confers impaired IL10 expression by immune cells that predisposes to, or exacerbates, CNS inflammation. To test this hypothesis, the role of Gfi1 in regulating human IL10 expression will be delineated in the context of CNS inflammation and we will define the function of cis-regulatory elements (CREs) in the IL10 locus that are targeted by Gfi1. These studies will employ a novel gene-targeting system that we have recently developed and implemented to enable site-specific, single copy integration of the human IL10 gene locus into the mouse genome. This represents a substantial technical advance with which to critically examine, for the first time, the function of distal CREs in chromatin remodeling and gene regulation. Using this model, we will be able to define the function of Gfi1-binding CREs in the human IL10 locus by examining the effects of mutation of these elements on IL10 gene remodeling, expression and protection in the EAE model.
Molecular Regulation of MS Susceptibility Genes. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease of immune dysregulation mediated by CD4 T cells that have poorly restrained reactivity to components of the central nervous system. This proposal will address mechanisms by which cytokines control the maintenance and pathogenic potential of effector CD4+ T cells that contribute to MS pathogenesis. We expect that results from these studies will provide a basis for new interventions to curb pathogenic immunity to cellular components of the CNS that cause MS.
|Singer, Jeffrey R; Weaver, Casey T (2015) Daughter's Tolerance of Mom Matters in Mate Choice. Cell 162:467-9
|Li, Minghua; Ablan, Sherimay D; Miao, Chunhui et al. (2014) TIM-family proteins inhibit HIV-1 release. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 111:E3699-707


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Tularemia Found in Dogs in E. Mountains
June 23, 2015
The City of Albuquerque Environmental Health Department and the Bernalillo County Health and Protection Section want to advise citizens living in the East Mountains area to be aware of a potential risk to public health from tularemia after two dogs were recently confirmed to have contracted the disease.
Tularemia is a highly infectious bacterial disease that is similar to plague. The organism commonly occurs in rabbits and rodents, and can kill large numbers of rabbits quickly. Symptoms in humans include chills, fever, severe headache and occasionally skin lesions, and transmission can occur from the bite of an infected tick or deer fly, or from close contact with an animal that is infected with tularemia.
'Rain & Increased Vegetation'
"The rain and increased vegetation we have seen over the last several months has provided extra food and harborage for rodent and rabbit populations," said Dr. Paul Smith, a manager for the City of Albuquerque Environmental Health Department. "A larger number of rodents and rabbits often leads to more occurrences of both tularemia and plague."
Although there have been no human cases of plague or tularemia so far in Bernalillo County in 2015, five dogs and one rabbit have been confirmed with tularemia infection. The two most recent confirmations in dogs were made on June 22. Plague has been confirmed in one cat in 2015.
"Dogs and cats can become infected with plague and tularemia through hunting rodents and rabbits or by exposure to their fleas or ticks." said Dr. Mark DiMenna, Deputy Director for the City of Albuquerque Environmental Health Department. "People are often exposed when their pets bring these infected fleas or ticks into the house or through direct contact with the sick or dead rodent."
Risks of Plague & Tularemia
Reduce the risk of Plague and Tularemia:
- Keep your pets from roaming and hunting
- Talk to your veterinarian about using an appropriate flea and tick control product on your pets as not all products are safe for cats, dogs, or your children.
- Clean up areas near the house where rodents could live, such as woodpiles, brush piles, junk and abandoned vehicles.
- Don't allow children or others to handle sick or dead wildlife
- Sick pets should be examined promptly by a veterinarian.
- See your doctor about any unexplained illness involving a sudden and severe fever.
- Put hay, wood, and compost piles as far as possible from your home.
- Don't leave your pet's food and water where mice can get to it.
- Avoid mowing over dead animals when cutting the grass, etc. as this can potentially aerosolize the bacteria.
- Bernalillo County citizens living east of Tramway Boulevard should report sick or dead rodents and rabbits to 311. Rodents or rabbits with obvious signs of injury (gunshot wounds, bite wounds, etc.) do not need to be reported.


text:
Mon, 21 December 2015
Thanks for downloading Plane Safety Podcast - Safety from the Flight with Pilot Pip.
In this episode I'm joined by Captain Al of 'Royal Jet', an A320/321 skipper. We talk at length about the evacuations and Just Culture following the firing of an Allegiant Air captain, we also discuss appropriate use of autopilot, Heathrow's third runway and much much more.
Of course, as usual we have some feedback in the Squawkbox.
Andrew has a question regarding te use of undercarriage.
Mattyfab has an audio squawk regarding sterile cockpit/
Sjoert Bakker has a question about scheduling.
Please check out my London Marathon 2016 appeal. If you would like to donate please click right here
The Squawkbox hotline is email@example.com
You can find more information about the show at www.planesafetypodcast.com, twitter (@psafetypodcast) and on Facebook.
I hope you enjoy the show.
Merry Christmas one and all.
Direct download: ep21final.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:35am EDT
Wed, 9 December 2015
Thanks for downloading Plane Safety Podcast with Pilot Pip.
This is a podcast all about aviation and being a pilot.
In this episode we're taking a look at 'Just Culture' as well as well as the usual flying related idle chit chat and gossip.
Don't forget, if you'd like to donate to my London Marathon 2016 appeal then please click this link.
You can send your thoughts and questions to the squawkbox hotline firstname.lastname@example.com
Thanks for listening,
Fly safe
Direct download: ep20final.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:55pm EDT
Fri, 6 November 2015
Thanks for downloading and listening to the Plane Safety Podcast with Pilot Pip. In this episode we're looking at aeroplane upset and recovery in Topic of the week. Plenty of great squawks in Squawkbox and some info on Pip's 2016 London Marathon appeal.
A huge thank you to all of those who have already donated. If YOU would like to donate please either go to the website where you'll find more information or the direct link to the donations page is here
In squawk box this episode we have :
Luiz Cesar Dias from Brazil has some thoughts on intersection take offs and a question on differences in aviation protocol in different countries.
Captain Al has sent some audio feedback with his thoughts on intersection departures.
Chris Marsh says hi and asks about the Farnborough 2016 APG meet up. You can check out Chris' professional photography business here
James Chen in Toronto has a question regarding Angle of Attack gauges.
Edward Steinfeld from New England, USA says hi
Matt Fabricus has an audio report on his recent PPL check ride.....he passed ! Well done Matt.
If you would like to contact the show please either go to the Squawkbox page on the website, www.planesafetypodcast.com or email firstname.lastname@example.com
Thanks for listening,
Fly Safe !
Direct download: ep19final.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:07pm EDT
Thu, 22 October 2015
Hi all. Thanks for downloading the Plane Safety Podcast. Here's another tour diary recorded at Paris CDG. This time we have some technical niggles with the aeroplane, rubbish hotels, crazy Italians, marathon running and more. Enjoy.
Please consider donating to my London Marathon charity run by visiting my donations page here.....I'll be very grateful. Thank you.
Fly safe,
Direct download: diary22final.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:37pm EDT
Fri, 16 October 2015
Hi everyone
I'm very excited to have secured a charity runners entry in the 2016 London Marathon. This will be a huge challenge for me to train, prepare and then run the 26.2 miles (42km) through London on 24th April 2016.
I am running on behalf of the Huntingdons Disease Association and am aiming to raise at least £2000 (approx $3000). Every single penny, pound, cent, dollar, yen, shilling, euro and buck raised will go to the HDA charity, whose aim is to aid those affected and to develop treatments and ultimately find a cure. Whilst this is a UK based charity, their work and research helps people all over the world.
I am asking for YOUR help in raising as much as possible. Every donation will help inspire and motivate me. In return for your kind donation you will get personal recognition and thanks on the podcast PLUS I am planning to produce a special Plane Safety Podcast episode recorded live from the marathon just for you !
So, if you can afford to, please consider donating to this very worthy cause….. every penny counts. Please follow the link below which will take you to my donations site, managed by Virgin Money.
or the full address is :
You can also visit www.planesafetypodcast.com to find more details.
Many thanks,
Direct download: marathonappeal.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:39pm EDT
Tue, 13 October 2015
My latest diary recorded in historic Edinburgh. I talk a little about what I've been up to, silly cockpit games, stress relief, losing things in hotel and more.
Direct download: diary1210fin.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:40am EDT
Wed, 30 September 2015
Hello listener
Thank you for downloading the Plane Safety Podcast - Safety from the Flightdeck with Pilot Pip. I hope you enjoy this latest episode. Today we're taking a look at Density Altitude in Topic of the Week. There's lots of good squawks in Squawkbox as well as other aviation related banter.
Squawkbox :
Ryan Lloyd has a question on Flap Over-ride/EGPWS
Mirko Novakovic says hi from an ATO
Erica Siwo also says hi
Captain Al has some thoughts on the pilot life and sends a neat article on checklists which can be found here
Sjoert Bakker has some thoughts and questions on runway 36L at Amsterdam, VOR's and missed approaches.
James Plumridge has a question on visual approaches at large airports
Jim Howard say howdy from Texas and has a question on TCAS.
Here and here are a few pictures of airborne weather radar returns so you have an idea of what I'm talking about towards the beginning of the show.
If you'd like to contact the show then please visit www.planesafetypodcast.com and use the Squawkbox/feedback page or email firstname.lastname@example.com
We're also on Twitter @psafetypodcast and Facebook where you'll find lots more content. Please consider leaving a review on iTunes.
Thanks for listening. Fly safe !
Direct download: ep18final.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:02pm EDT
Tue, 25 August 2015
Thanks for downloading the Plane Safety Podcast. This is a very special episode, recorded live from the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) at RAF Fairford, UK on 18/19 July 2015.
I teamed up with Carlos and Matt from the Plane Talking UK Podcast to record interviews with some of the pilots and aircrew from many of the aircraft on display at the airshow.
If you'd like to see some of the photos from the airshow then please go to the Plane Safety Podcast facebook page. Don't forget to follow me on twitter @psafetypodcast or if you're feeling generous you can leave a review on iTunes
This is a time index list of all the interviews on this episode (though there is much more content than just the interviews).
8.35 Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF) P1 Kawasaki, Commander Osawa
12.38 USAF P8 Poseidon, Lt Cmd Patrick Mitchell
18.44 RAF A330 Voyager, Flt Lt Jase Ore
27.15 British Airways Airbus 318, Captain Tony Payne
35.05 Chat with listener Matty Fab
41.30 RAF E3 Sentry AWACS, Sqn Ldr Kev Simpson
50.46 USAF CV-22 Osprey, Cpt Tony Belviso
1.04.23 US Army AH-64 Apache. Lt Hall
1.12.22 Royal Navy Sea King, Lt James Wallis
1.23.37 Royal Netherlands Air Force KDC-10, Major Andy Van Elfon
1.33.30 Royal Navy Merlin MKII, Lt Richard Knight
1.44.13 RAF A400M, Sqn Ldr Phil Cavey
Enjoy the podcast. I'll be back soon with another episode of the Plane Safety Podcast. If you like to contact the show then please go to www.planesafetypodcast.com or e-mail firstname.lastname@example.com
Fly safe,
Direct download: ep17riat.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:19pm EDT
Fri, 7 August 2015
Another audio diary from my latest tour, recorded from the island of Ibiza. In this installment I talk about wet runways in Ireland, Chinese people singing, drunk taxi hijackers and much more.......
Direct download: diary3.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:09pm EDT
Sun, 2 August 2015
Thanks for downloading Plane Safety Podcast - Safety from the Flightdeck with Pilot Pip. In this episode we're taking a look at SEP equipment in Topic of the week, we have plenty of great squawks and listener feedback in Squawkbox and of course the usual aviation safety related chat and news.
Tony Ingari in Somalia has a question regarding cockpit practices.
James Plumridge has a Piper Cub.
Derek Rowan has a question regarding flying in IMC.
Matt Fabricius has a question on his upcoming PPL cross country flight.
Milad in Libya asks a question about part time flying.
Heath Gleason in the USA has a TotW suggestion - Density Altitude.
David Hogan also has a TotW suggestion and some questions - Turbulence.
If you would like to contact the show, ask a question or share an opinion then please either email feedback@firstname.lastname@example.com or use the feedback page on the website www.planesafetypodcast.com.
We're also on Twitter @psafetypodcast and Facebook where you'll find lots more content. Please consider leaving a review on iTunes.
Thanks for listening. Fly safe !
Direct download: ep16final.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:42pm EDT


text:
Choosing to Teach
Working Paper Abstracts
Visions of Good Teaching and the Development of Teacher Identity
Karen Hammerness
- Abstract: While developing an identity as a teacher involves learning practices, strategies, and skills, ultimately, this identity is not simply the sum of these parts. Rather, developing a sense of oneself as a teacher involves a sense of personal commitment and purpose-a sense of vision. Indeed, vision may be a key element in developing a productive identity as a teacher. In this paper, I argue that whether intentionally or not, teacher education programs play a role in the visions that teachers develop. However, in current literature on teacher preparation, the relationship between program vision and individual visions remains unexplored. To that end, drawing upon data from 30 interviews with graduates of three different teacher preparation programs, I examine the relationship between program visions and the visions that their graduates articulate. In particular, I look for consistencies as well as any absences, in order to understand the role these interactions play in developing a productive teacher identity. I find that graduates of programs with clear visions have purposeful identities as teachers (and a strong sense of future plans), while graduates of programs with vague visions expressed a lack of clarity, and struggled to develop a strong identity as a teacher.


text:
Gunfire erupts as man tries to steal pot plants near Sacramento
A 26-year-old Sacramento County man was arrested after allegedly shooting at a would-be thief who tried to steal marijuana plants from his yard.
Miguel Granados had a sign on the lawn of his home in North Highlands that read: "No trespassing, armed, you will be shot," according to Fox40 in Sacramento.
Across the street, neighbor Maria Vidican said she heard "pop, pop, pop, pop, really loud" Saturday morning.
"I was the first one that heard the gunshots," said her niece Rebeca Aldea.
Vidican and Aldea peeked through their living room blinds.
"I was terrified," Aldea said.
Police told Fox40 they believe a man tried to steal pot plants out of Granados' backyard. The plants reportedly were visible from the street.
Granados yelled at the trespasser, "I'm gonna shoot you, I'm gonna shoot you," said neighbor Ted Pangel.
The intruder ran down the block as the two fired shots at each other.
Granados was arrested on two felonies, one for negligent discharge of a firearm and a second for child endangerment.
President in Southland, road closures expected
Hikers discover 40-year-old handwritten note on Sequoia peak
CicLAvia encourages Angelenos to rediscover their city, mayor says
-- Martin Austin, Fox40 Sacramento


text: Vanislru 10 Report post Posted December 14, 2004 This is good to know because not everyone here has an engine lift. My garage has so little space that I have to move sideways on both sides of it and the bumper is almost touching the garage door. No room for lifts and stuff. I guess removing and reinstalling the power steering lines would be a pain in the butt. Looks like on a scale of 1-5 (1=easy, 5=Master Subaru Tech needed), this would be a 3. When you have to lift engines and shim/drill/scrap/sand down parts, people get squeamish. This is the 'printer wire with pic is blue - plug in blue port on computer' age. Did anyone have any trouble with rerouting inlet/outlet lines going to and from the turbo? Plus, our turbos are water cooled too right? If the aftermarket turbos aren't water cooled too, then the inlet/outlet turbo coolant lines would have to be plugged or connected together. Just something to think about if you are considering tackling this. No trouble with the lines, you will likely want a longer oil return line, the rest you don't have to mess with at all. It's really not all that bad, it's just a bit of messin ps line wise, they;re easy to dent, mash, or kink. If you are strong and think it out they can be bent to the right shape by hand in place. Don't be afraid to get a bit rough just don't clamp down on them with pliers and wrenches, I pulled a little extra slack from the other side to 'i think. Check your flange on the up and dp for square, gaskets can't do much for removing gaps. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites


text:
Chicago's Franz Jackson
His legacy keeps huffin' & puffin' along.
Improvised Music in Chicago
Clubs presenting the latest underground free jazz.
John Corbett interview
Producer of the improvisational and experimental.
Muddy Waters' Harmonica Players
A survey by Scott Dirks
Sleepy John Estes
The legend continues.
Candy Johnson
Tenor Sax & Bandleader. Still on LP!
Interview with Kahil El Zabar
Multi bandmember and instrumentalist.
Michael Frank's Earwig Records
The story of one of Chicago's most authentic blues labels.
The Blues Essence of King Oliver
Confessions of a Mail Order Manager
Steve Dawson reveals the links between the Jazz Record Mart and Dolly Varden.
Defending Ken Burns -
from the abuse of music critics.
Frank Youngwerth's Early Jazz - a supplementary look at how it all began.
Jazz on Video - Liked the clips? Most of the films, shows & concerts are available in their entirety.
A great place to read some debate about the series is the Jazz Institute of Chicago website.
There's also an interesting interview with Burns done by the mostly-humor magazine The Onion.
Bruno Johnson & OkkaDisk
An interview with the owner and operator of Chicago's leading source of improvised music.
Henderson Smith
A JRM employee remembers his great grandfather, and important Chicago bandleader.
Blues Amalgamated Reunion
60s Blues enthusiasts back together.
Anthony Braxton for For Alto
The artist's original liner notes for his first album.
Chuck Nessa and the AACM
Delmark producer and Nessa Records founder talks about the first recordings of Chicago's great avant-garde organization.
Malachi Thompson
A mature voice in Jazz.
Where The Blues Were At
A look back at Chicago's Blues Clubs.
Lester Bowie Celebration
News from the recent concert.
Sun Ra's Earliest Albums
Two views of the man from Saturn.
Early Arhoolie
The early recordings of the foremost folk & blues label.
Birth Of The New Thing
Avant Garde jazz recordings of the '60s and '70s.
Obituaries & Remembrances
Bob Koester recalls recently passed music-makers. Updated 6/1/04.
Video Reviews
Taking a look at jazz & blues on video. Updated 6/1/04.
Blues Book Reviews
What we're writing about what they're writing about the music. Updated 6/1/04.
New Chicago Blues
Blues Reissues
Jazz Guitar
Drummers Which albums feature the best drumming?
Country Blues Guitar
All-Time Best Jazz Vocals: How words were best put to jazz.
10 Quintessential Jazz Bassists: Masters of the low notes.
Top 10 Blues Albums Since
Dave's Faves Some of the best of what's
new in jazz. Updated 9/29/98.
Blues Clubs R&N's guide to shows
you where you can hear blues in Chicago. Updated 6/18/2001.
New Experimental Music New releases
of an experimental nature. Updated 9/29/98


text:
WellPoint Inc., the second-biggest U.S. health insurer, picked a new CEO from outside the industry who says his work with hospitals and doctors will help smooth the insurer's path in a time of change.
WellPoint named Joseph Swedish, 61, CEO of the nonprofit Catholic hospital system Trinity Health Corp., as its next leader after a six-month search. He replaces Angela Braly, who left WellPoint last year amid investor discontent over the Indianapolis-based insurer's performance.
The insurer fell the most in three months in New York trading, with analysts saying the pick wasn't likely to go down well with shareholders. Swedish lacks the extensive insurance experience that investors were looking for to turn around a company that has struggled to control medical costs and meet profit forecasts, said Carl McDonald, a Citigroup analyst based in New York.
"Swedish may ultimately be viewed as the best CEO in the history of managed care," McDonald wrote in a note to clients today. "But it's likely going to take the market some time to figure out if that's the case," he said.
The concern with picking a hospital CEO to run WellPoint is that almost all of the company's earnings and "problem areas" come from the health insurance business, McDonald wrote.
Shares Fall
WellPoint, the top seller of small business and individual plans, fell 3.4 percent to $63.78 at 9:56 a.m. New York time, after dropping as much as 4.4 percent in its biggest intraday drop since November. The new CEO will be under pressure as the U.S. health-care law transforms insurance markets starting next year, said Sheryl Skolnick, an analyst at CRT Capital Group in Stamford, Connecticut.
"I don't think this is the time to experiment," Skolnick said in a telephone interview. "Bringing a little hospital knowledge to a health plan won't hurt. But not hurting, in my view, isn't enough."
Swedish headed Livonia, Michigan-based Trinity Health, a system of 47 hospitals in 10 states, since December 2004. He said his hospital experience and financial results were plenty relevant to the health-insurance industry.
'Fundamental Shifts'
"There are some very fundamental shifts going on that represent a convergence of the provider and payer sectors," Swedish said yesterday in an interview. He plans to focus on tighter coordination with doctors, investing in information technology to help consumers learn more about their care choices and working to bring medical costs down.
Swedish said his first job when he takes over March 25 is reassuring WellPoint's investors.
"What I'll be working on in the coming weeks and months is developing a significant, credible, strong story regarding the growth and performance of this company," Swedish said. "That's what the investor community wants to hear. I think they want to get a strong sense that we are in fact predictable and reliable."
Before Swedish's selection yesterday, investors and analysts had focused on industry candidates, including Ronald Williams, the retired head of insurer Aetna Inc., and James Carlson, who ran the Medicaid insurer Amerigroup Corp. and engineered the sale of his company last year to WellPoint for $4.9 billion. Also rumored was interim CEO John Cannon, who served as WellPoint's general counsel and will remain with the company.
Surprising Choice
WellPoint shares had gained 2.9 percent over the past 12 months through yesterday, as the top U.S. insurer, UnitedHealth Group Inc. of Minnetonka, Minnesota, rose 6.9 percent.
Swedish said his lack of recent for-profit experience wasn't an issue. "We may have been non-tax, but that doesn't mean we were nonprofit," Swedish said of his time at Trinity. "Our performance statistics rivaled most organizations, even the investor-owned. I'm not going to hide from that fact."
WellPoint will pay Swedish a salary of $1.25 million, with a bonus of as much as $3.75 million more, according to a company filing with U.S. regulators. He will also get stock options this year worth as much as $8 million and $3.56 million to compensate for leaving Trinity.
It's not clear whether Carlson, of Amerigroup, will stay after not getting the top job. He signed a two-year contract to remain with WellPoint after the deal closed in December. The contract allows for the two sides to part under "changed circumstances," Citigroup's McDonald said.
Top Talent
"In any combination of companies some turnover is inevitable, we are pleased that Amerigroup's top talent has remained to lead the combined Medicaid business," said Kristin Binns, a WellPoint spokeswoman. "Dick Zoretic heads Medicaid for WellPoint, and has an outstanding team of leaders to assist him," she said, referring to another Amerigroup executive who joined WellPoint. "Any additional organizational details will be determined at a later date."
As Trinity's CEO, Swedish helped engineer a merger with Catholic Health East, which will make the new hospital group the fifth-largest U.S. based health system, WellPoint said in its statement. Trinity also runs a health insurance program called Mount Carmel Health Plan, which proves a Medicare Advantage program in Ohio.
"This is a guy who knows how to manage, with intense experience, at the provider level and he's a great spokesperson and advocate," said Michael Stocker, former president and CEO of WellPoint's east region, who served with Swedish on the board of directors of Coventry Health Care Inc. "I think it's a good choice."
Industry Praise
The selection of Swedish also was praised by Richard Umbdenstock, chief executive officer of the American Hospital Association, an industry trade group, who also has worked with the incoming WellPoint CEO.
"We're seeing real pickup in the number of insurers and providers getting closer together to try to figure out how to marry their respective strengths into better management of care and better outcomes at lower cost," he said in a telephone interview. "I think it's a bold move on their part."
Prior to joining Trinity, Swedish served as CEO at Centura Health, a faith-based nonprofit and Colorado's largest family of hospitals, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. He has been a board member at Coventry, in Bethesda, Maryland, since February 2010.
Braly, appointed WellPoint CEO in 2007, was ousted last year after investors expressed discontent with her management. She resigned on Aug. 28, a month after the company missed analysts' profit estimates for the second time in three quarters. It was the latest misstep in a tenure marked by difficulties with predicting medical costs and setting premiums.
WellPoint traded at a 2 percent premium to the Standard & Poor's 500 index of the top six health insurers when Braly took over as chairman on March 1, 2010. When she departed, it changed hands at a 17 percent discount, suggesting investors' waning confidence. The company lost about $9 billion of its value during that time, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.
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Nettle is a perennial flowering plant, which is growing up to 1 and 2 m tall in the summer, and dying down to the ground in winter. It has green leaves and bright yellow rhizomes and roots. Leaves and stems are covered with tiny hairs that release stinging chemicals when touched.
Both leaves/stems and roots/rhizomes are used for medicinal purpose, but for two different reasons. Be sure to check which product you need before buying.
Urtica dioica
Common nettle, stinging nettle, Bichu, Ortie, Urtica
Root and rhizomes
Which format is best for you? How often should you take it? Let's have a look.
Capsules: take 1 capsule 3 times a day.
Choose capsules if you need to carry the herb with you during the day (at work for example). That's the best format if you don't have time to do an infusion, or if you don't like the herbal taste of infusions.
Infusion bags: Drink 3 cups per day. Infuse one bag 3 minutes in hot water
If you like drinking infusions, infusion bags are the most convenient choice. The right amount of herb has been put in the bag to allow you to do one cup of infusion, without having to spend time measuring the quantity of herb to add in the cup.
Bulk format: Drink 3 cups per day. Infuse one tablespoon in one liter of hot water for 3 minutes. For smaller quantity (such as a mug), use one teaspoon.
Bulk format is a little less convenient to use because you need to put the correct amount of herb in the water, and have a filter to remove it after 3 minutes (otherwise the infusion will have a very strong herbal taste that some people do not like). This bulk format is yet still useful if you want to prepare a larger quantity of infusion, notably when you want to use the infusion topically, by applying it to the skin with a compress (for bruises and hematomas or example).
Nettle is considered safe to consume.
You may be concerned by the stinging effect of nettle when touched, and wonder how one can eat it. Don't worry, when the plant has been dried, nettle's sting is neutralized.
Avoid to use during pregnancy. Nettle could stimulate uterine contractions and cause a miscarriage.
Shipping is available for all Chile. Products are sent by CorreosChile.
Most products are shipped on the next day. Some products that we do not sell frequently (such as essential oils in bottles of 10mL or 30mL) require an extra day. This is due to the fact that they are made to order by the manufacturer, so that you get the freshest product possible.
For more information, you can click here to view the FAQ, or contact us by mail or chat.
We are an online retailer. Therefore, the address mentioned at the bottom of the website is not a shop and no products are sold there.
However, free delivery is possible near station Tobalaba. We are usually available for our clients on Tuesday and Thursday between 6:00pm and 7:30pm, and on Wednesday and Friday between 1:30pm and 3pm.
You must first confirm and pay your order online. We will then send you an email when your order is ready (usually the next day), so that you can come to pick your order.
We plan to start shipping in Latin America from first half of 2016. If you are interested, feel free to contact us for more information. So that we can better assist you, we recommend you to create an account, then add to your cart the products you want us to ship to you. This will allow us to give you a more precise quote quickly.
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