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24 Jan 2007, 7:54 am
Jared Paul Stern, the former New York Post reporter whom federal investigators suspected of trying to extort money from billionaire Ron Burkle in exchange for favorable coverage, will not be charged with any crimes. [read post]
11 Jan 2012, 8:49 am
Paul Calvo, Byron Pickard, Marsha Rose, Mark Rygiel and Daniel Yonan were promoted effective Jan. 1. [read post]
2 Feb 2007, 8:49 pm
Apparently, David Stern has been able to broker a deal which goes a long way towards securing the Blazers future in Portland. [read post]
30 Nov 2010, 5:33 pm
"John Paul Stevens, William J. [read post]
9 Jan 2017, 6:44 pm
" Mark Joseph Stern has this jurisprudence essay online at Slate. [read post]
11 Apr 2020, 8:35 pm
Chief Judge Paul Michel, Gene Quinn of IPWatchdog.com, and Robert Greene Sterne of Sterne Kessler Goldstein & Fox will discuss the COVID-19 pandemic, the science, what... [read post]
15 May 2018, 4:52 pm
"At Mueller Probe's First Trial, Expect More Blunt Lectures From the Bench; Judge in Paul Manafort case, who questioned special counsel Robert Mueller's authority to bring it, is known for stern rebukes and emotional asides": Aruna Viswanatha of The Wall Street Journal has an article that begins, "Former prosecutor Gene Rossi learned to expect lectures and humiliation when he appeared before U.S. [read post]
29 Aug 2015, 5:25 am
Paul's school of the charge of rape was "explained" by Mark Joseph Stern at the Slate XX Factor. [read post]
23 Feb 2014, 10:11 am
(A propos of that earlier post today about Howard Stern, I was listening to this great Howard Stern interview with Paul, which ends with some talk about the album and the song "Queenie Eye.")Or maybe that post about adult onesies has you hankering for an adult-sized onesie. [read post]
12 Apr 2010, 7:33 pm
With John Paul Stevens' announcement that he will retire at the end of the Supreme... [read post]
7 Sep 2019, 9:21 pm
Mark Feldstein of Finnegan, Paul Steadman of DLA Piper, and Robert Greene Sterne of Sterne Kessler Goldstein & Fox will address how to avoid pitfalls in district court litigation and PTAB proceedings involving inherency, and also provide important tips for patent prosecution. [read post]
28 Nov 2007, 9:20 am
Paul Stern, Maine's deputy attorney general, argued that states like Maine are trying to protect public health by ensuring that tobacco does not end up in children's hands.Read the article: law.com [read post]
6 Mar 2009, 10:43 am
Paul A. [read post]
8 Jun 2020, 6:45 am
Paul M. [read post]
12 Dec 2014, 9:55 pm
Nicholas Groombridge of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP; Mark Matuschak of Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr, LLP; and Jon Wright of Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox, PLLC will review the estoppel provisions in the AIA law and the PTAB Trial Rules and Practice Guide, and consider PTAB decisions that already touch on estoppel and privity, and discuss the many important questions that remain open. [read post]
18 Aug 2022, 4:52 pm
Keith Paul Bishop reports: SB 260 (Wiener & Stern) is moving forward despite strong opposition from business groups. [read post]
25 Jul 2020, 9:24 pm
Paul Ainsworth of Sterne Kessler Goldstein & Fox; Jennifer Huang of Fish & Richardson, PC; and Stephen Yoder of IBM Corp. will review and analyze the latest judicial guideposts regarding the role and weight of objective indicia in evaluating the non-obviousness of a claimed invention, and focus on recent decisions from the Federal Circuit and PTAB, which have clarified the nexus aspect of this issue. [read post]
27 Oct 2008, 9:22 am
D.C. law firms are gearing up to cherry pick the best and brightest lawyers from the Bush administration, reports the NLJ, and Paul Clement seems to be the belle of the ball. [read post]
13 Sep 2021, 3:13 pm
Political Polarization — And What Can Be Done About It, Paul M. [read post]
4 May 2010, 3:00 pm
Palm Beach County Canvassing Board (3:19), he asked Ted Olson nine questions in a row, and in a stern exchange in a flag burning case, Texas v. [read post]


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Marijuana multistate operator Curaleaf now has been hit with four federal lawsuits in connection with a product-labeling snafu in Oregon that resulted in some customers ingesting high-THC instead of CBD wellness drops.
The case, which involves the Select brand in Oregon, underscores the importance of sound quality-assurance processes.
Curaleaf completed its acquisition of Portland-based Cura Cannabis, which owned the Select brand, in February 2020.
According to the lawsuits filed between Sept. 29 and Oct. 6, at least three people went to hospital emergency departments after suffering adverse reactions.
One elderly man was taken to emergency because of concerns he was having a stroke. He wound up allegedly undergoing an unnecessary surgery to remove what doctors believed was a potentially infected hematoma in his leg.
The Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission, which issued an expanded product recall on Sept. 24, said 13 people reported taking the mislabeled drops.
Massachusetts-based Curaleaf told MJBizDaily on Friday that it doesn't comment on litigation.
But a spokeswoman emailed a copy of a statement the company issued late last month, which attributed the mix-up to an "unintentional human error at our facility that led to the production of a batch of CBD drops that were actually THC drops and vice versa."
Curaleaf said it has worked with Oregon regulators to recall the two batches in question. They were produced in May.
Approximately 500 bottles of CBD-labeled drops that contained elevated THC were sold before the recall as well as 630 bottles of THC-labeled drops that contained CBD but little or no THC, the company said.
The Oregonian reported that some customers who took drops from the mislabeled bottles might have received more than 30 milligrams of THC.
Curaleaf apologized to customers affected by the mistake and said it is "grateful" to regulators and individuals "who brought this serious matter to our attention."
"In response to this event, as initial steps, we are reviewing production practices and controls to improve quality assurance processes, and conducting additional training sessions with our production team beginning immediately and continuing regularly," Curaleaf said in its statement.
Oregon requires marijuana products to be tested, but the testing is done before packaging.
State regulators continue to investigate but, in the meantime, have allowed Curaleaf to continue normal business operators in Oregon, according to The Oregonian.
Each of the four lawsuits against Curaleaf, filed in U.S. District Court in Portland by the same attorney, seek punitive damages up to 1% of Curaleaf's net worth.

subset: commoncrawl


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So, the title of this post is another bit of received wisdom, another oft-quoted catchphrase, another Writer Koan.
But what does it mean?
I first heard it as attributed to Gene Wolfe by way of Neil Gaiman: "You never learn how to write novels. You learn how to write this novel." I have no idea if that attribution is correct.
But the advice is sound.
Undertow is my fifteenth novel. Of those, seven are sold, four in print, four on submittal (two of those written with truepenny: do we each get to claim a whole book for those, or is it half a book apiece? Collaborations are more fun than writing a book by yourself, but not, I must say, appreciably less work.), one waiting its turn to go out in the world (it's fifth in a series), and three are awaiting revision and submittal.
Before I finished the first novel I finished, there were several false starts (No More Than a Star, a bad vampire police procedural kindly trunked, though the best characters--Don, Jewels, Geoff, Daniel--got swiped for the Promethean Age universe; Belladonna, a really, really juvenile spy novel; Seabird, a plot coupon quest fantasy. Word to the wise: some of those early ideas are salvageable in an adult career [The Promethean Age and the Edda of Burdens setting are ideas I've had since college; Jenny dates back to 1994 or so]. The rest are not: pick out what's cool, and let go of the trunk novels. You will do better with new ideas.)
The first finished book was All the Windwracked Stars. And as skzbrust said to me then, when you finish a draft, it doesn't matter if it sucks. You have done something that 99% of the people who set out to write a novel will never do.
What matters is not if it's good; what matters is that it's done. Because chances are, the first one won't be any good.
But if you finish one, you can finish two. And the second one is likely to suck less than the first. (There you go; more received wisdom. Two for the prica.)
But didn't I just say that you don't learn how to write novels, just this novel?
...well, I said it was a koan.
So anyway, when I finished that novel, I was thirty years old. I had started it in mumble-ninety-four. And gotten about fifty pages in, and gotten stuck. You know, like you do. But it was as if finishing it, pushing through that dreaded 35-K wall (most incomplete novels end at around 150 pages. Why? Because that's where it turns into work.) had uncorked something in my head.
I knew how to write a book! And at the time, I thought it was a pretty good book. (It's not; it's a pretty terrible book. But I can rebuild it, make it better, faster, stronger... watch this space.)
And I was unemployed.
So I wrote another book.
And the funny thing was, this one wasn't any easier. It was, in point of fact, both harder and differently hard. It required whole new skill sets, in development as I wrote it, and finding new ways to do things, and it taught me some more mature ways to handle problems I'd either ducked or kicked leaves over in the first book.
And, fortified by earlier success, I finished that one too. It made me cry. Both in frustration and catharsis. It was the very best book I would write at the time, and I was sure it was brilliant.
...it's not. But I can rebuild that one too. It's The Sea thy Mistress, which is entirely devoid of sailing in any form. I would have called it On the Waterfront, but that was taken.
Anyway, that book gave me the idea for a third book, a prequel and a sequel to the first two.
So I wrote it. And at the time I didn't like that one very much--first book I wrote that I wasn't on fire with. I kind of hated it, though I wrote the whole thing in a month. It was in my head, and I just sat down in the morning and put it on the page until my hands hurt too much to go on. That was By the Mountain Bound.
Looking back, it's the least ambitious but also the most successful of the three. That one, just needs its sentence-level fixed, mostly. Because I write better than that now. So that can be patched up too.
The fourth book was Hammered. Which about drove me into a nervous breakdown. And I would do a lot of things about it differently now. (See Carnival, when it comes out, for a more mature handling of some of the same technical challenges. I'm not scared of exposition any more, for one thing. Although it still has a (&*^%(&^ dream sequence.)
...and Hammered I am stuck with for the rest of my life. Which is okay; it's not by any means a bad book, and it's ridiculous to hold 30-year-old me to 35-year-old me's standards of craftsmanship. Not that that stops me: I am in many ways my own worst critic, and one of the reasons I'm taking this week off is to get my head on straight about Undertow, because of course I'm holding myself to an impossible standard on that one, too.
I am the disapproving adult that I can never be good enough to please. It's kind of a daunting thing to learn about one's self.
You would think, as you got older, you would eventually run out of unpleasant things about yourself to labor under the denial of, but that stuff does all the way to the bottom.
Books are broken. It's the way they are. That's not an excuse. But, on the other hand, it's a pretty good reason to cut one's self a little slack, and remember that you can only give the best effort that is in you to give. At the time I wrote it, Stars was the best book I had it in me to write. I sweated every word and every plot decision.
And it taught me skills that I used in Sea, which taught me skills that I used in Bound, which taught me skills that I used in Hammered, which taught me skills that--
...you get the idea.
So now, I have to learn how to write Undertow. Which will be flawed, perhaps badly.
And then, whatever I learn writing this book, I will have to use in Dust and the revision of All the Windwracked Stars, and whatever I learn there will go into Patience & Fortitude.
--novels, novels, novels, all the way down.
Because if I'm not falling off, I'm not riding hard enough. And if I'm not using all the muscles, I'm not really dancing.
Which is why you are always learning to write the current novel. What you learned writing the last one is the foundation for this one; but you have to build another tier, lay another course of stone. And this is why writing is hard, and why it never gets any easier. Because the more you know, the more you are trying to do all at once.
A juggler on a unicycle balancing on top of a pole on a beach ball makes a heck of a more spectacular wipeout than a guy blowing a cartwheel.


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Another long exposure made at West Burton to bring out the patterns made by the swirls of foam on the water's surface. The moss covered stones stood out of the running water like islands in the stream (with reference to the Kenny Rogers/Dolly Parton song) hence the title.
The technical bit:
Location - West Burton, North Yorkshire
Camera - Nikon D800
Lens - Sigma 35mm f1.4 DG HSM Art
Aperture - f11
Exposure - 90 seconds


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A White House official has warned that time is running out for Iran to work with the international community.
Jay Carney, press secretary for the Obama administration, said that "the window was closing" for the Ahmadinejad regime to cooperate over its nuclear ambitions.
"There is international consensus about the absolute need for the Iranians to abide by their obligations, to forsake their nuclear weapons ambitions, to demonstrate verifiably that they can reassure the world that they do not seek to acquire nuclear weapons."
He said that "our bottom line, our position is that Iran must live up to its international obligations including the full suspension of uranium enrichment, as required by multiple UN Security Council resolutions."
Mr Carney's comments came ahead of scheduled talks between international negotiators and Iranian officials.
Speaking on Wednesday, Saeed Jalili, head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council and the chief nuclear negotiator, suggested the Islamic Republic could modify its stance at the meeting.
Mr Jalili told Press TV, Iran's news channel, that representatives of the country planned to "participate in the negotiations with new initiatives".
"We hope that the P5+1 countries will also enter talks with constructive approaches."
Mr Carney also told reporters that the international community was united, while Iran was "isolated".
He said: "The way to change that dynamic is for Iran to live up to its international obligations and to forsake its nuclear weapons ambitions.
"But there is enough time and enough space at this moment to pursue a diplomatic solution - that's why the resumption of these talks is important."


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I recently did what's called "The Big Chop" in the natural hair community. Essentially, I cut several inches of my long (and sadly damaged) curly hair, completely off. The intention of "The Big Chop" was to start fresh without having any damaged ends. Since cutting my hair and now rocking a pixie cut, I have been trying new products in my hair routine to keep my hair healthy and to prevent future damage!
In today's article, I tried three hair products from Evalectric and added them into my daily routine. If you want to see if these products worked for me and how I incorporated the Evalectric Hair Serum, the Evalectric Hair Mask, and the Evalectric Nourishing & Moisturizing Conditioner into my hair regime then just keep reading!
Evalectric Hair Serum
The first product from Evalectric that I tried was the Evalectric Hair Serum. I was honestly so excited to try this product! I hadn't had much luck in the past when shopping for a hair serum, and I had heard great things about this one. I tried this hair serum for two weeks and was quite hopeful about how it was going to work.
What is a Hair Serum?
Hair serums are silicone based products that are meant to seal and protect your hair from heat damage. The goal of hair serums are to typically leave a shiny effect on your hair when the light reflexes against it.
During the two weeks, I found that it was a very versatile product and it always left a subtle sheen to my hair. The Evalectric Hair Serum was so beneficial for my hair and beauty routine because like previously mentioned, there are several different ways that it can be used! I love that I only need a few Evalectric products in my arsenal, to complete my whole hair routine. Below are a few different ways that I put my bottle of Evalectric Hair Serum to the test!
Ways to Use a Hair Serum
- Apply hair serum before shampooing to act as a barrier.
- Hair serum can be mixed with a hair mask to make a deeply hydrating cream.
- It can be added before using hot tools, like a flat iron or curling iron to reduce heat damage.
- After your hair is styled to keep frizz at bay, apply a small amount of hair serum to your hair. (Pro tip: warm up the product in your hand first, before applying it to your hair. This helps your hair absorb the product even more!)
- When mixed with hot oil, Evalectric Hair Serum can be used for a hot oil hair treatment. (Two great oils that can be used for this are olive oil and castor oil)
Hair serum is a great multi use product and I particularly loved using the hair serum from Evalectric! I feel that Evalectric Hair Serum provides unique benefits compared to other hair serum's I've purchased in the past. I have short curly hair and found that many serum's would leave a greasy finish to my hair. The Evalectric Hair Serum felt very fresh and light. I love that the product made my hair shiny, without weighing it down.
One night, I quickly made a "deeply hydrating cream" with the Evalectric Hair Serum and the Evalectric Hair Mask mixed together. This mixture honestly did an overhaul on my hair! I let the "deeply hydrating cream" stay on my hair overnight. When I woke up, my hair felt extremely soft and nourished. This would be a great trick to try if you suffer from heat damaged hair or hair that has been dyed several times. I feel that by adding the Evalectric Hair Serum to the hair mask, my hair benefited so much!
After researching, I also found that there are a few do's and don'ts when it comes to hair serum. These do's and don'ts ensure that you are getting all of the benefits that your serum has to offer!
The Do's & Don'ts of Hair Serum
- DO: Do wait a few seconds to apply the product after warming it up in your hand. This gives the product time to soften up and it becomes easier to work with. Try waiting for about 5-6 seconds before applying.
- DON'T: Don't apply too much hair serum. Use only a pea sized amount of product if you have fine and thin hair. If your hair is on the thicker side, a quarter-sized amount of hair serum is all that you need.
- DO: Do wash your hair before applying a hair serum. Another great benefit of the Evalectric Hair Serum, is its ability to act like a barrier between the outside pollution and your hair. By starting with fresh hair, it allows the hair serum to fight off environmental aggressors to the max!
- DON'T: Don't apply hair serum directly to your roots. This may cause unwanted results, for a lightweight barrier apply hair serum from the middle of your hair and down; focusing specifically at the ends.
Evalectric Hair Mask
Another product I tried from the Evalectric Hair Care line was their hair mask. As a girl with curly hair I am definitely no stranger to hair masks. Although many of them can essentially do the same thing (i.e. hydrate you hair) I was surprised by how unique the Evalectric Hair Mask was! This hair mask not only hydrates my hair but it also helps prevent future damage from happening in the first place. This is because their hair mask contains two key ingredients that are jam packed with benefits: argan oil and panthenol.
Originating from Morocco, argan oil is extracted from argan trees and has been used for centuries for its moisturizing and healing effects. Argan oil has been shown to be rich in vitamin A, vitamin E and antioxidants; all of which are very therapeutic. When argan oil is applied topically, the tocopherol from the Vitamin E helps to not only boost healthy cell production but also promotes healthy hair and skin. Talk about triple score!!
Here are a few ways argan oil is best used:
- Use argan oil as an overnight deep conditioning mask. Apply argan oil to the ends of your hair, wrap it up in a shower cap and go to sleep. In the morning your hair will feel deeply nourished.
- Argan oil can also be used as a leave in treatment. For short hair add about 1/2 a drop of argan oil to your palm, for longer hair add 1 drop. Warm up in the palm of your hands, then rake the argan oil through your hair.
The other key ingredient in the Evalectric Hair Mask is: panthenol. After researching, I discovered that panthenol is a form of vitamin B5 that is often added into products for it's moisturizing and lubricating effects. Scoring a 1, on the EWG Cosmetics database makes this ingredient classified as expected to be non-toxic. Panthenol has been shown to improve the overall appearance of hair. It does this by increasing shine, softness, and strength. Similar to the Evalectric Hair Serum, the panthenol ingredient in this hair mask acts as a barrier between environmental pollutants and your hair. Lastly, one study found that panthenol actually slowed down and hid the effects of thinning hair! After learning about these key ingredients and how beneficial they are I was so excited to give this hair mask a try. After using the Evalectric Hair Serum I felt that my hair was: smoother, easier to comb, more hydrated, shinier, and overall more manageable.
After using the Evalectric Hair Serum I felt that my hair was: smoother, easier to comb, more hydrated, shinier, and overall more manageable.
Hair Mask Tips
- Shampoo and condition your hair after using a hair mask. This way you can remove any product build up.
- Make sure to concentrate on the ends. Since the end of our hair is the most fragile part, it's always good to focus most of your attention on the ends.
- Comb the mask all the way through your hair with a wide tooth comb (they help prevent damage). This way the product is also getting applied to the rest of your hair.
- You can sleep in your mask for a deeper hydration, but it doesn't have to be an all day event. The Evalectric Hair Mask still works great even if you only have a few minutes.
Evalectric Nourishing & Moisturizing Conditioner
The last product I tried from Evalectric was their Nourishing & Moisturizing Conditioner. Again, being a girl with very naturally curly hair I was a little hesitant to try a new conditioner. Often times I find that many conditioners aren't hydrating enough. Since I was on the hunt for an all new hair care routine, with high hopes, I chose this conditioner. The Evalectric website stated that this conditioner was suitable for all hair types and contains a very hydrating oil: olive oil.
After just a few days of trying this conditioner I was already pleasantly surprised at how fast my hair began to feel stronger and healthier. After adding this conditioner to my daily shower routine my hair has become shinier and smoother even without putting additional products on my hair. I truly think this is due to Evalectric's unique nourishing conditioner formula that contains the well known and highly beneficial oil, olive oil.
According to New York Based naturopath, Sally Warren, Ph.D, olive oil has very high amounts of vitamin E, monounsaturated essential fatty acids, and other acids like palmitic acid and oleic acid (emollients). The emollients found in olive oil act as a natural conditioner and the vitamin E actually wards off unwanted free radicals from outside pollution and the sunlight! How cool? After two weeks I was hooked! The Evalectric conditioner helps hydrate my curls and keeps them strong.
After all this, you're probably wondering how my hair care routine has changed since using the Evalectric Hair Care line. I think these products are super easy to use, versatile and are now trusty partners in my hair product arsenal.
My Deep Conditioning Hair Care Routine
I like to do this deep conditioning routine once a week to keep my hair healthy and to prevent future damage.
- First I combine a pea-sized amount of Evalectric Hair Serum with about 2/3 cup of the Evalectric Hair Mask together in a bowl, then I set aside.
- Next I like to use my hair steaming tool to open up the hair follicles. If you don't have a hair steaming tool, a great alternative is to turn on your shower with the bathroom door shut. This allows the steam from the shower to have the same effect on your hair. I do this step for about 10-15 minutes.
- After the hair follicles have opened up, I then apply the "deeply hydrating cream" I made in step one, directly to my hair.
- I usually cover my hair with a shower cap or wrap it up in an old t-shirt, to keep all the heat and moisture in. This mask only needs a minimum of a few minutes to work but I usually let it sit overnight.
- I then rinse out my hair with shampoo (Evalectric also carries shampoo in the hair care line and I think I'll try that product next once my current shampoo bottle is empty).
- Lastly, I apply Evalectric Nourishing & Moisturizing Conditioner to my hair and allow it to sit in my hair for a few minutes in the shower, then I wash it away!
Voilá! That's how I get my hair deeply hydrated and nourished using the Evalectric Hair Care line. These two weeks have been such a fun experience for my hair care regime. My hair has gotten shiner, smoother, and more manageable since incorporating Evalectric products.
I am so glad I've found such an easy to use and effective line of hair care products. I am so glad they are now apart of my haircare routine on my natural hair journey.
Have you tried any products from Evalectric Hair Care? What are your thoughts? Discuss it with me down in the comment section.


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Have you ever wondered how to take a spiritual bath? It is something that everyone should do at least once in their lifetime. And yet, there are not many people who know what this entails. If you want to be prepared for the best possible bathing experience, then check out this blog post! We will explain what it means to take a spiritual bath and show you some of the benefits that come with it. So grab your towel and let's get started!
What's a Spiritual Bath and How Do You Perform One?
Everyone has had a relaxing bath with warm water, some candles, a little alcohol, and some soothing music. It may help heal your body and mind after an exhausting or long day. A spiritual bath, on the other hand, is quite different. It's essentially a ritual that originated in ancient Rome. The crystal set includes two quartz crystals, each with a different effect. One is intended to revitalize your aura, purify your chakras, and leave you feeling as if you're in the present moment with a more positive attitude. This spirit regeneration doesn't happen by sitting in warm water for long periods of time. Instead, it originates from the energies given off by strong medicines, oils, and crystals that are added to the water.
These therapeutic vibrations can assist you in releasing aches, obstructions, pains, and concerns from your life that you don't need anymore.
Why do you need spiritual baths?
Spiritual baths have been utilized across civilizations as a powerful religious ritual for spiritual purification. If you're feeling energetically depleted or excessively sad or worried, your chakras and auric field most likely require cleansing. A spiritual bath is ideal for addressing this problem.
Stress is another big source of worry, and we have a lot of it buzzing around during this period when Covid is having difficulties, causing lockdowns, recessions, and such. We all know how much we appreciate a nice day, and yet it's extremely easy to get caught up in the daily grind. If you've ever been stuck at the office for hours on end without getting anything done, it's time to change your ways! You can't let those frustrations pile up. Regular spiritual baths to get rid of stress or negative ideas can help us remove those blockages and avoid any stress-induced illnesses.
How Do You Prepare for a Spiritual Bath?
Because you are using this time to cleanse your soul and rejuvenate your mind, it's ideal to clean your bathtub before beginning. When you're done, it should be as clean as your body and what you desire your aura to be.
This is a spiritual moment, therefore spend time alone with God. Turn off your phone and make certain no visitors come in. This way, you won't be disturbed by daily life, allowing you to reap the full benefits of a spiritual bath.
To get the best results, you should first cleanse your body. You don't have to rub yourself red or anything like that. Simply keep in mind that there is no soap in a spiritual bath, so you won't be washing the body.
You may fill up the bathtub with water once you've showered. Use a warm temperature, but one that you can tolerate for approximately an hour. Some individuals like to begin with hot water since it stops cooling during the procedure, but this is up to you.
As the water level rises, gather all of your supplies. We'll get more into it later in the article. You may light incense sticks or candles, as well as some relaxing music in the background to relax you throughout this process. Consider it as a spa treatment – you want to be as relaxed as possible. This is the time to let go of your anger, tension, stress, and anxiety.
Soak in the warm water for around 30 minutes before getting into the tub now. Be cautious when doing this so you don't slip and hurt yourself. Soak in the bath for around 30 minutes. Of course, your body should be totally unwound because of the warmth and heat. Concentrate on emptying your thoughts of everything. You don't want any bad vibes or tension to develop while you're soaking. Keep in mind that there is no wrong or right way for this to happen.
Some people find that vocalizing a mantra out loud or in their heads is more relaxing. You might say, "I am at peace. I am calm and relaxed. I'm one with myself." It's also feasible to enhance your self-esteem and confidence by telling yourself you're clever, gorgeous, attractive, amazing, or anything else that comes to mind. You might even say something like, "I'm going to succeed in my career," or anything else you want to achieve.
If you're in touch with your spirit guide, you can inquire about their suggestions at this time. This is the ideal moment to do so because you are already calm, relaxed, and unencumbered by the world.
Remember, though: Spiritual baths are quite powerful, so don't use them too frequently. The majority of individuals begin by taking two a month. If your spiritual guide detects that you require more baths, he or she will advise you.
It's critical to note that overdoing them can wear out the mind and soul. You may still unwind by relaxing your body, but you might need to soak in a bath to relieve tired muscles. However, performing the spiritual bath ritual too frequently may overtire your mind and add additional stress.
If you've never tried a spiritual bath, it's time to try one! It's a one-of-a-kind bathing ceremony that dates back to ancient times—and while many parts of it have evolved over time, the concept itself has remained consistent. A spiritual bath may help you cleanse your thoughts and spirit.
Spiritual baths, unlike typical bathtubs, require you to be present and aware, with specific components added to the water in order to improve the experience with psychic energy. Candles, gemstones, herbs, oils, salts, and other items can all be used in spiritual baths. Spiritual baths may also help to impart certain desired characteristics on the bather or be utilized as a manifestation tool to bring about things like prosperity and invention.
1. Prepare yourself for the bath.
A new moon is all about rebirth, transformation, and laying out plans for the future. It's a time to rejuvenate yourself. You'll want to lay the groundwork for welcoming reinvigorating energy by making sure your surroundings are physically clean when preparing for this spiritual bath. Take a quick preliminary shower or bath to cleanse your body after cleaning and decluttering your bathroom and tub.
2. Fill the tub with water and gather supplies.
Fill your tub with water. Some people prefer to fill their tub with 3 inches of hot water before adding their salts and filling the remainder of the tub with comfortably warm water. You may also use a tub as is, fill it with water at whatever temperature is most comfortable for you, then add your salts when it's full.
Here are a few ideas for what you may use in a spiritual bath during the new moon:
Essential Oils: Lavender, Eucalyptus, Patchouli, Lemon, Peppermint, Sandalwood, Frankincense, May Chang, Clary Sage, and Palo Santo.
Herbs: Juniper berries, peppermint leaf, eucalyptus leaf, angelica root, bay, rose, sage.
Crystals: Labradorite, amethyst, moonstone, smoky quartz, obsidian, citrine, clear quartz, and selenite.
Salts & Other Ingredients: Dead Sea Salt, Himalayan Salt, Epsom Salt, Apple Cider Vinegar, and baking soda.
3. Set Up Ambiance & Stir In Ingredients
Take the opportunity to tidy up any equipment that you believe will improve the ambiance of your bath or put you into a more meditative and spiritual state. Lighting candles, playing relaxing music or nature sounds, and opening windows are all examples of this.
You may also utilize this time to give your bathing room a fast energetic cleanse by burning sage, cedar, incense, palo santo or other herbs in what's known as "smudging." Bring the smoke into the room and around the tub, then set it in a fire-safe dish or burner off to the side.
4. Say A Prayer Or Mantra.
Before you get into the tub or while mixing in your components, you might want to say a prayer, blessing, mantra, or intention aloud. It may be anything you choose as long as it is consistent with your spiritual bath's overall aim.
5. Bathe For 20-30 Minutes.
After you're totally immersed, carefully lower yourself into the bath and allow each part of your body to get used to the temperature. Keep as much of your body submerged as possible by cupping your hands and gently pouring water over your head. Soak for around 20-30 minutes while you bathe. Try focusing on something else during a relaxing bath.
6. Rest Comfortably And Wind Down.
After you've gotten out of the tub, try to air dry naturally rather than using a towel. It's critical to give your body some fresh air while also allowing it to absorb the energy from the new moon. When you're mostly dry, sit and rest for at least 30 minutes. You may wish to lie down and focus on your breathing while relaxing.
What you'll need for spiritual bathing
- red for passion & strength
- white for healing & peace
- black for banishing negativity
- purple for spiritual power
- blue for forgiveness & focus
- green for growth and success
Epsom salt
Essential oil
Baking soda
Sea salt (optional)
Run your bath water at the desired temperature once you've showered. As the water reaches the tub, add in all of the components. 1/4 cup of Epsom salt, 1 cup baking soda, and 2 to 3 drops of your chosen essential oils are all you need. If you want to use sea salt instead, use at least 1 tablespoon.
A Spiritual Bath Requires the Following Ingredients and Items
Now that you know what it is, the next step is to figure out how to do it. There are several different methods to make a spiritual bath, and you may pick and choose the components you want or need at that specific time. Most individuals pick two to three things, but you may choose as many as you like. It's up to you, but your intuition can help you make an informed decision.
We'll cover some of the most effective substances that people utilize, as well as why they're beneficial. As a result, you'll be better informed about what it does. Prepare a golden bath for yourself like you would for the departed. Then, when you're taking a spiritual bath, decide what your aura and chakras need to restore and feel whole again.
Salt is a very effective component for removing negative energy from the body, emotions, and thoughts. In fact, most individuals utilize salt to unclog obstructions in their life. When selecting one, avoid using table salt since it often contains anti-caking additives. As a result, it won't clump together and migrate to the area of your body that requires the most relief. In addition, minerals are frequently removed during the refining process, which is beneficial to both your mind and body.
Epsom salt, natural sea salt, or Pink Himalayan salt are three alternatives. These salts are typically available in grocery shops and maybe had in your pantry or kitchen already.
Baking Soda
Baking soda is included in the majority of homes. If you utilize this product, make sure it hasn't been opened or sealed. Baking soda is intended to absorb the bad smells within your fridge and freezer, so avoid using it to clear your aura.
It can also remove the negative debris from the aura. It also makes the skin feel smooth and soft, in addition to removing the previous buildup.
Lavender is one of those stress-relieving go-to's. It's present in a variety of goods, including baby products. You may also utilize it in a number of ways. You may also add the buds to a bath once they have been dried (or purchase dried lavender buds) and soak them in boiling water before cooling. Alternatively, the pure essential oil will also do the job.
Goat's Milk
Sometimes you'll experience bad luck in life. It may look like nothing is going your way or that you're always a step behind everyone else. Choosing goat's milk for your spiritual shower can be helpful. It is said that goats are fortunate, so you may use some of that good fortune to change your luck.
Take a big mixing bowl and add three cups of goat's milk to it. You'll also need some holy water (about a cup), as well as fresh parsley and sea salt. The parsley is a plant that attracts wealth and good fortune, but it also cleanses and protects. Holy water may be obtained with little effort. Request that a priest or pastor bless some water, which should be enough. You can also buy holy water online, of course, but it's best to deal with a well-known seller.
Allow the mixture to rest for a couple of hours before getting in the bath. Remove the parsley and then pour the remaining liquid into your tub with the rest of the water. This magical spiritual bath may be completed with the addition of essential oils for fragrance. Candles and incense are also effective in this area.
The color of the carnations, red or pink, can help you when you're in a love/romance relationship. They can also assist with the healing of a shattered heart. Place a few carnations in a pot along with water, honey, and coconut milk to make bathwater. Strain the pieces out and add them to your spiritual bath whenever you have a love problem. You may also use fresh carnations to add color and fragrance to the bath.
Sesame Seeds
Are you concerned about your money right now? If this is the case, a spiritual bath may be quite beneficial. To assist with this, you should add sesame seeds to the solution. Add the seeds to boiling water and let them boil for a few minutes. Allow it to steep in the water for about an hour before straining. This water has the ability to bring prosperity into your life as well as remove blockages. This can be really beneficial if you're having difficulties developing a budget or finding methods to utilize your money.
Rose Cologne
You can also use rose water or cologne to improve your mood and sense of self-love. Many women discover that they neglect themselves because they are constantly focused on others. A spiritual bath may help to relax your mind, soul, and body. You might purchase rose water or cologne or make it yourself. Toss some dried or fresh rose petals into the bath while soaking. The environment will be filled with the scent of your tub, which will fill your spirit with renewed self-love and new vitality.
Another ingredient that contains potent healing qualities is eucalyptus. It may be used to protect you from attackers, either physically or mentally, and to drive them away. It may also be used to purify the body, protect it, and cure physical ailments. Some individuals use it to concentrate on emotional balance in their everyday lives.
You may also use this scent in your bathwater. It's also feasible to distill the aroma by simmering Eucalyptus leaves in water. Fresh plants, on the other hand, are sometimes added to the water supply. Consider including various elements, such as mint and rosewater, as well as others.
Essential Oils
Most individuals will utilize essential oils to create the ideal spiritual bath for their own requirements. Make sure you're using genuine essential oils. Depending on how strong you want the scent, what you want to accomplish with your spiritual bath, and how many different scents you wish to use, 10 to 30 drops are required.
If you want to combine two oils, such as Eucalyptus and spearmint, simply use 15 drops of each. 10 drops of one and 20 drops of the other are also possible. Begin with 10 each and gradually increase until it smells good and is the right strength for your nose.
Readymade Sachets for Spiritual Baths
Sachets made from ready-made oils are a wonderful option for busy people or those on a budget who don't want to spend money on a large number of essential oils. They're readily available online at several stores, and they're quite cheap. Sachets include fragrances that are beneficial for you. They're packed with everything you need to unwind and focus your mind and spirit. Simply drop the sachet into a pan of warm water and allow it to permeate your bathwater with the perfect aromas. They provide instructions, so make sure you follow them in order to reap
According to many, it is necessary to exfoliate the skin while taking a spiritual bath. This isn't required, but it won't harm anything if you do so. The ultimate aim is to cleanse your aura. As a result, you should already be free of pollutants. It's perfectly fine to exfoliate toward the end of a spiritual bath since you're sitting in water that will likely have moisturizing properties.
Use a loofah or exfoliating gloves to gently massage the skin (legs, buttocks, feet, arms, etc.). To remove dead skin cells from your body, work in circular motions.
Some people dislike the concept of sitting in their own dead skin cells. As a result, cleaning your body while taking a shower may be an idea. The body may then absorb the moisturizers you put in the water for your spiritual bath once you clean away all of this.
Why Use a Spiritual Bath?
Spiritual baths are spiritual-based bathing rituals. They may be used to bathe your entire body with magic or to cleanse away illness, bad luck, or other unwanted energy. Other baths may be used to attract love, money, success, or other blessings while cleansing tubs are useful for removing negative influences.
Preparing for a Bath
Begin by cleaning your home. Clear away clutter, dust, and stale air; use a cleaning floor wash on your floors; invite your gods or spiritual guides to join you, and play music. Pay particular attention to the nooks of your house, where dust and stagnant energy tend to accumulate. Then, take a regular bath or shower. The goal of a spiritual bath is not to cleanse yourself; therefore, this assures that you are physically clean before you begin.
Drawing the Bath
It's a wonderful notion to use filtered water for a spiritual bath. If you don't have a water filter, there are inexpensive carbon filters that fit on a bath or showerhead. Fill the tub with comfortable temperature water. Prepare your materials while the bath is filling. This might involve placing crystals or candles at the bath's corners, burning incense, and even creating a tiny altar.
Stir the water with a wand or your dominant hand after adding all of the components. While you're doing so, vocalize your goal or ask a deity or spirit for assistance. Visualize the bath filling with golden light until you believe it is no longer capable of holding any more energy.
When the components are added, the bath is activated, and the moment seems right, get in. Make sure your entire body is immersed in water. Cup it in your hands and pour it over your head, beginning at the top and working your way down to your feet.
Allow yourself to enjoy the bath as it cleanses, purifies, and delivers you your desire. Wash with a spiritual soap, such as Uncrossing Soap, if you have one. Do not use shampoo or ordinary soap, however; remember, the aim isn't to clean your physical body. Relax and meditate as much as possible, releasing any negative ideas that creep into your peace of mind. After the bath has completed its job, get out and let yourself dry off.
Disposing of Bathwater
Bathwater disposal is a contentious issue. Many people believe that the best way to get rid of bathwater is to take it outside after a spiritual bath, face away from the rising sun and throw it over your left shoulder before walking away without looking back. Others prefer to look away from the setting sun, believing it symbolically marks the end of your difficulties.
What happens when you take a spiritual bath?
I bathe in the bathtub once a week, and it's an essential element of my self-care, self-fulfillment routine. I attempt to partake in them at least once a week. My spiritual bath session usually lasts 20-30 minutes. I pray, meditate, or prayer and meditation during my session. My main goal in prayer and meditation is to discover solutions to my pending inquiries, express thanks, and self-affirmation. However, each individual may take the session in his or her own way.
3 different types of spiritual baths
1. Herbal Baths
You may use herbs to improve the spiritually healing and purifying benefits of your bath. Consider being in a live-action floral essence, since that is precisely what will happen.
Because flowers are intended to bring forth new life, I propose putting some in the water. The most efficient method to absorb and purify yourself with flower energy is to bathe in their aroma.
The flowers' meanings and functions vary from one to the next, but they all have a similar purpose: to recharge and restore energy.
You are inviting the energy of those in the flower realm to rejuvenate and rebirth your Spirit when you immerse yourself in their energy.
When immersed in the bath, flowers are so delicate, feminine, and tender that they frequently act as the energy of Archangel Raphael.
Pick a flower to use, such as Rose, Jasmine, Honeysuckle, or Chamomile. Dried flowers can also be used for teas. The most therapeutic herb may be the one you have on hand at home.
Strain the tea into a cup and add three full tea bags to each. Add three total tea bags to a bath and staple them shut, as I do. Fill your tub with water as you're adding the bags.
The teabags I use to add herbs to the bath are Finum Disposable Paper Tea Filter Bags for Loose Tea, which are composed of unbleached, biodegradable paper.
What about throwing a bath with loose floral blooms? The stock photos of flowers floating in the water appear appealing, but keep in mind that cleaning up after these baths is far from how most people want to unwind.
You may also use herbal concentrates, such as essential oils, in your bath. If you do this, I recommend combining any oil concentrate with salt to help bind and break it down better.
2. Salt Baths
Sodium chloride, also known as salt, is good for our bodies.
When we soak salt in water, the minerals inside it enter our skin and have a physical influence, which can impact the mind-spirit.
When our pores open via the application of water, we become receptive to receiving the therapeutic qualities of any plant, animal, or spiritual entity. The same may be said for salts.
Salts are important elements for our survival as creatures on the earth, and replenishing your salt balance can be very beneficial to your energy field.
There are many varieties of salts to choose from for a spiritually restorative bath, including sea salt or Epsom salts.
- Epsom Salt for relaxing and drawing out energy
- Himalayan Salt for charging your energy
- Celtic Salts for restoring and grounding
3. Psychic Showers
I used to live in an apartment with no functional bathtub while this website was being constructed.
Know that you can accomplish all of these techniques in the shower even if you don't have a bathtub.
Place your feet firmly on the shower floor, imagine yourself being rooted to the ground, and consider roots emerging from your feet during this grounding meditation technique.
Finally, picture your energy field and any additional energies in your aura.
Then turn the shower on, and close your eyes while washing all of the strange energies away with the water.
Imagine if all of this energy were to wash down the drain, and thank mother earth and mother ocean for allowing you to accept this energy and cleanse it for you.
To build a spiritually purifying shower, add plants:
To further enhance your shower experience, place a sprig of dried herbs beneath your shower head and let the steam of the herbs penetrate the space.
How to take a Spiritual bath
Step 1. Ground
Root yourself and your spirit to the ground.
Imagine yourself in the most beautiful and soothing location you've ever been.
It's all in the mind, and anything is possible. You may picture roots growing down from your body into the ground at one moment, or merely visualizing yourself in a location that makes you feel the most joyful freedom you've ever felt at another.
Step 2. Visualize
Next, close your eyes while gathering supplies for the bath and start identifying and eliminating any foreign energy from your body.
Imagine it floating off your body and being replaced with angelic light.
Clear your energy field and release everything that you need to let go of, then enter the process of forgiveness and letting go so you can embrace self-love again.
Step 3. Amplify
As you prepare to take a bath, call back your energy.
Imagine all of the energy you've released throughout the day returning to you.
Watch as your soul heals and regains its full, most beautiful form. Call in any gods or goddesses you choose, such as the Goddess of the Hearth, Brigid, or Vesta.
What Is the Difference Between a "Spiritual Bath" and a Regular Bath?
Taking a bath isn't something I'm drawn to do, like many people. Showers are my favorite and preference because of their convenience and cleanliness. I also take meditative showers by setting the goal of purifying my energy as the water cascades over me and into the drain. Furthermore, regular baths or showers for physical hygiene provide a sense of relaxation and enhance general well-being, even if they aren't used for spiritual purification. However, spiritual baths are quite distinct. The essential oils are a spiritual practice to cleanse your personal energy body and revitalize your subtle senses, which are intended to be a ritual. A spiritual bath results in uplifting, rejuvenating, and increased inner calm.
If you are feeling spiritually depleted or excessively sad or worried, your chakras and auric field most likely require cleansing. A spiritual bath is an excellent way to address this problem! As Covid has been having difficulties, stress levels have increased in the world around us causing lockdowns, recessions, etc. Hopefully, we can all take a moment for ourselves to relax by taking care of our bodies through the use of a spiritual bath with essential oils that will cleanse out heavy energies from our energy fields while also soothing any emotional pains that may be running amok in our minds.


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It's been a while since I've written about the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), but after I ran into this beauty I couldn't stop myself. Hopefully, you'll enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Our story begins with a bill filed in late December by Oklahoma State Rep. Jim Olsen that would require a poster or framed copy of the Ten Commandments, measuring at least 16 inches wide and 20 inches tall, in all classrooms in the state, beginning next school year.
Olsen said in a news release:
The Ten Commandments is one of the foundations of our nation. Publicly and proudly displaying them in public school classrooms will serve as a reminder of the ethics of our state and country as students and teachers go about their day. It is my prayer that this display would inspire our young people during their formative years and encourage them to lead moral, principled lives.
None of this sat well with PETA fanatics.
In response, PETA is pushing Oklahoma to also display the "Ten Vegan Commandments" in classrooms, which read as follows.
1. Thou shalt regard all animals as individuals who deserve respect and compassion and aren't here for humans to exploit.
2. Thou shalt always come to the aid of an animal in need.
3. Remember to have animal companions spayed or neutered and to provide them with nutritious food, clean water, medical care, and comfortable shelter.
4. Thou shalt not wear any garment or ornamentation made from or taken from the body of an animal.
5. Thou shalt not kill, maim, or injure any animal for "sport."
6. Thou shalt not use animals as conveyances nor for entertainment.
7. Thou shalt not steal or consume milk from animals, as a mother's milk is meant to nourish her babies.
8. Thou shalt not support or conduct any experiment that inflicts pain and fear on an animal nor participate in animal dissection.
9. Thou shalt not buy an animal from a pet shop breeder, leave any companion animal in a hot car or outside unattended, nor chain any animal.
10. Thou shalt not consume an animal's flesh, skin, or eggs nor anything else that belongs to an animal.
If you read through the above more than once, you're not alone. While several of the "commandments" reflect moral and ethical behavior, others are downright foolish. PETA, of course, sees it differently.
In an open letter to Rep. Olsen proposing that he file similar legislation to request that public schools display the organization's commandments, PETA President Ingrid Newkirk wrote:
Dear Mr. Olsen:
I'm writing on behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals—PETA entities have more than 9 million members and supporters globally, including thousands in Oklahoma—with a request: Having filed House Bill 2962, would you also consider filing a bill to request that all public schools display the "Ten Vegan Commandments," an ethical set of principles designed to encourage individuals from all backgrounds to practice nonviolence and lead moral, principled lives? Please allow me to elaborate.
While many of us were raised to believe that slaughtering animals for food or clothing is somehow acceptable, when we reflect, we can come to the realization that none of this violence is necessary and that all killing is reprehensible. Genesis 1:29 teaches us that Eden was vegan and that humans flourished in harmony with animals. Surely, God created us to be caretakers, not killers. As you have said, "None of us would like to be killed," and we believe that extends to all species—sentient individuals who experience pleasure, loneliness, grief, and fear yet are subjected to horrific abuse and slaughter at human hands.
The Ten Vegan Commandments—which include principles such as "Thou shalt always come to the aid of an animal in need"—would instill good values in today's students. At a time when Oklahoma ranks 50th out of 50 in a study of state school systems, partially based on an assessment of the rate of violence or disciplinary actions, fostering empathy in young people for all those we share the planet with would really pay off as they grow up in a diverse society.
The unnecessary violence inflicted on the billions of animals tormented and slaughtered every year for food, clothing, and entertainment depends on a simple lack of empathy for others who may appear different from us but nonetheless share our interest in enjoying life without experiencing undue fear, pain, or violence.
Prominently displaying these principles in all public schools would be a simple way to promote peace, understanding, empathy, and compassion. We'd love to work with you to make this happen. Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to hearing from you.
Very truly yours,
Ingrid Newkirk
Rather than launch into an argument — pro or con — about equating what amounts to political doctrine with theological doctrine, I'll say this:
If the Ten Vegan Commandments were to be displayed in Oklahoma classrooms, shouldn't, for example, the "commandments" of The Red Meat Lovers Club be displayed, as well? Just sayin'.
Anyway, PETA also sent a letter to Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters asking him back the group's push to display the Ten Vegan Commandments in classrooms.
Waters's response was COMEDY GOLD. On Wednesday, he posted a video response to PETA.
Hey @peta, thanks for reaching out. This is a special message for you!
Walters then pulled out a bag from behind his desk, took out a burger, took a big bite, and said:
The burgers are great here in Oklahoma and you're welcome for lunch anytime.
Again, GOLD.
Hey @peta , thanks for reaching out. This is a special message for you! pic.twitter.com/kypqvWOlPA
— Superintendent Ryan Walters (@RyanWaltersSupt) February 7, 2024
Just. Too. Perfect.
The Bottom Line
The Supreme Court has held that posting the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms violates the First Amendment's Establishment Clause, so — and I'm not a constitutional scholar — I suspect the proposed Oklahoma bill will either fail or if it passes, ultimately struck down.
That said, the notion that the so-called "Ten Vegan Commandments" equate with the Ten Commandments is preposterous, in my book. Then again, radical veganism is a religion of sorts, so there's that.
PETA President Cranks up the Crazy, Plans to Donate Her 'Carved-up Flesh' for Post-Death BBQ
To Meat or Not to Meat? The Consummate Hypocrisy of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
PETA Is Indoctrinating Children by Pushing Extreme 'Animal Rights' Agenda in the Classroom


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Table of Content
Chapter 1
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Purpose/Research Questions
1.3 Methodology
1.4 Theoretical framework
1.5 Chapter Organization
Chapter 2 –Literature Review
2. European Foreign Policy Discourse
2.1 Discourse of the European Neighbourhood Policy
2.1.2 Neighbourhood Politics
2.1.3 Revival of geopolitics
2.1.4 Geostrategies of the ENP
2.1.5 Social Construction of Neighbourhood and Norm Reception
2.2 The Eastern Dimension and Ukraine
2.3 Security Sector Governance in the Neighbourhood
2.3.1 European Union energy security in the neighbourhood
2.4 Summary
Chapter 3 - European Foreign Policy Discourse
3.1 Changes in European Foreign Policy
3.1.1 Institutional changes
3.1.2 Enlargement as foreign policy tool and the ENP
3.2 Rational Actors
3.2.1 Ukraine –EU relations
3.2.2 Russia.
3.3 Ukraine as a regional actor; too weak to escape Russia?
3.4 Summary
Chapter 4-Analysis
4.1 The Return of History
4.1.1 Creation of Energy Dependencies
4.2 The Centre –Periphery argument
4.2.1 Benefits and cost- Centre –Periphery argument
4.3 Direct Involvement in Neighbourhood Crises and Politics?
4.3.1 Investment in the neighbourhood
4.3.2 Security and Border Control Dimension
4.4 Schengen border code
4.5 Schengen Information Systems. (SIS)
4.6 Visa Facilitation Regime
4.7 Pockets of Conflicts surrounding Ukraine
Chapter 5-Conclusion
5. Conclusion
List of Figures and Tables.
Fig 1. Situations when several research strategies are appropriate
Fig 1.1: The Pillarization of the EU
Fig 2: Transition and latest development of pillarization
Fig 3 .CFSP Structures
Fig 4: Perception of Public Support –ENP Members
Table 1: Foreign Direct Investment in Ukraine
Table 2: Energy dependence Matrix
Table 3: Selected economic measures related to the ENP
Table 4: Political Elites and the ENP
Table 5: ENPI Indicative Multi-annual Allocations for the period of 2007-10
Map 1: Primary Russian Oil and Gas Pipelines to Europe
Fig 2.2 Ultimate purpose of the CES
Fig 2.3 Categorisation of Partner states of ENP
Fig 2.4 Developing relations with neighbours
Fig 2.5 Energy Policy Index
Abbildung in dieser Leseprobe nicht enthalten
This chapter depicts the structure of the entire thesis; it is the foundation on which the thesis is built.
With a shared border, diverse level of economic and political development alongside the diversities in culture and history. The European Union is continually and consciously alerted of the new neighbours bordering new members. The argument of the role of the European Union revolves in between a Westphalian Structure, neo-medieval empire and a geopolitical strategy shaping spheres of influence in Global politics.
While enlargement, extension of the normative power of the European Union and a new global strategic positioning in global politics is a disguised function or rationale of the ENP.
From the design of the ENP and what the policy main strength is; it is notable that neighbours are guaranteed more economic integration ,something similar to the European Economic Area(EEA) with basic tenets of the fundamental freedoms inclusive; freedom of persons, goods, services and capital in a long term (Aliboni 2005, Landaburu 2006, Gromadzki 2008).
In the same vein , it must be noted that the previous EU initiatives of regional and inter-regional cooperation has intensified or reiterated economic integration , greater integration into an economic zone which in some sense guarantees co-prosperity of the neighbours which are in turn expected to intensify on reforms that would pave way for domestic structural stability and inter-state relations.
The ENP as stated by the European Commission External relations page depicts ENP as an instrument developed in 2004 with the aim of avoiding the emergence of new dividing lines between the enlarged EU and her neighbours which intensifies cooperation and improvement in terms of prosperity, stability and security.
ENP could therefore be incorporated into the definitions of debordering and rebordering, the ENP as a catalyst of convergence, a motive made clear by the communication from the Commission on Wider Europe-Neighbourhood (COM ,2003). The ENP could therefore be seen from a theoretical perspective as a process of transferring European norms and values to Neighbourhood members which explains European Integration as a mix of institution formation mechanism, transfer of norms and spread of interest , and a need to cooperate as demonstrated by State and non-State actors (Leander 2002,p .185,Mattli 1999,p.10,19).
Questions regarding the Unions borders, the beginning and end of European Space in the geographical scope, can not be separated from questions regarding the Unions' security, thus drawing final borders aimed at achieving or promoting stability and security along its borders and neighbouring region makes the carrot of enlargement not available but it is disguised as a probation mechanism by the ENP. A previous research by Albioni (2005) concentrated on the global implications of the ENP, but this thesis builds its findings on regional implications which present a new research field into neighbourhood study and relations.
The cost of these relations as evidenced by the main pillars or contents of the ENP would therefore be explored in the course of this research.
The dynamism of the EU relations with eastern neighbours or neighbours in the ENP has been the centre of attention since the end of the Cold War. In an attempt to depict such relation and its aftermath , the thesis would highlight the rationale behind the EU and Ukrainian relation; the unwillingness of initiating pre-accession negotiations with Ukraine ,rather the ENP served as a basis for relations, the cost and benefits of the relations ,how such relations affects the geostrategies or political dimension of the European Union. The Independent Variable (IV) enlargement and the Dependent Variable (DV) the neighbourhood influence would be the main foundation on which the entire thesis is built and developed.
So the main question for this research would be; what are the implications and benefits of the EU relations under the ENP policy with specific reference to Ukraine?
The research question however generates a hypothesis that would be tested in the course of the research or discourse; which is that the ENP as a policy towards its neighbours would not only have regional implications but also global geopolitical implications considering the Russian Factor and energy politics.
1.3 Methodology
The research would adopt Qualitative study which is made up of journals ,articles, textbooks, EU documents from official websites, research centre publications such as the European Institute for Security Studies (EUISS), Centre for European Forum(CER), Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS) to mention but a few. The secondary sources from the aforementioned research institutions are considered as mainly useful to the thesis as they concentrate on European Affairs and have a constant flow of new information, throughout the year with objectivism and other scientific rules in view.
In Line with Yin (1994) the research strategies adopted in this thesis would be the archival and historical strategy, bearing in mind that the research question for this study, seeks to find out "What" qualifies it for the adoption of such strategy.
Comparing the case study with other methods, according to Yin (1994), the case study should be the preferred research method when "how" or "why" questions need to be answered, when analyzing contemporary events and when the behaviours cannot be controlled. When the research question is "what", the objective of the study is to develop hypothesis or propositions for later testing, so for this exploratory study various other research methods can be used. If the question is "how many" or how much", then a survey or archival analysis should be used. The archival strategy and historical seems appropriate for this research.
Fig 1; situations when several research strategies are appropriate
illustration not visible in this excerpt
Source: Yin (1994)
1.4 The theoretical Framework
Considering the rationale behind actions, interest, and the goal of extending European norms, markets, policies, ideas and democratization or succinctly the pillars of the ENP. The rational choice Institutionalism theory and the Copenhagen School of Securitization would be the basic theories that would be applied in this research.
Rationalism centres on the importance of power and interest in International politics; it is a state centric approach (Hoffman, 1966). Rational Choice Institutionalism (RCI) would be utilized considering the strengths and weaknesses in applying the theory to stand as a basis of the research as regards Ukraine.
Rational Choice Institutionalism theory developed from mathematics, operations research and economics; the theory developed further with focus on institutions in politics, economics and sociology (Shepsle 2005, p. 14). Institutions are humanly devised constraints on actions (Weingast 2002, p.661, North,1990) .Theoretically, this definition implies that the constraining impact of institutions on individuals, actors and groups. The European Union Interaction or relations with Ukraine through the ENP could be explained through the theoretical periscope of RCI.
RCI considers institutions as different from traditional institutional approach that treats institutions as basically organs of government i.e. legislative, judiciary and executive of government; however RCI presents another perspective of viewing Institutions which are basically informal and formal rules (Kobonbaev 2002, p.1). The foregoing emanates as a rationale for the adoption of RCI as a theoretical base for this research. Formal and Informal rules ranging from the ENP, Copenhagen criteria, other rules in the relations are considered as institutions. At the same time the accessions criteria are based on informal institutions like norms and conventions accepted by the European Union member states. The Institutional part of the argument however, depicts how the spread of European norms have been caged under institutional reforms and structural reforms alongside constraints to immediate.
The angle of analysis that deals with the intent of the EU in its relations with Ukraine and the geopolitical implication could be considered from the Copenhagen School, which brings to fore the classical security complex which is originated in power politics which is a social constructivist approach which explains the process through which issues are securitized. According to Buzan et al (1998,p.24,26) The process of security is a self referential practice , which in language theory is depicted as a speech act, it is thus not interesting as a sign referring to something more real however it is the utterance that is the act.
What therefore counts mainly as a security issue depends on how social actors frame or depict the issue, in this approach the meaning of a concept thus depends on its usage.
From the foregoing emanates the basic tenets of the Copenhagen school as categorized by Buzan et al (1998, p.21-26), as a rhetorical structure of the securitizing act which is comprised of; an existential threat to the survival of a kind of object which, requires exceptional measures or act to protect the threatened referent object, and this justifies and legitimizes the breaking free of normal democratic procedures.
The submission therefore brings to fore the variable of human beings, an actor that tries to bring an issue from the realm of low politics which might be bounded by democratic rules,norms and decision making process to the realm of high politics which is comprised of urgency, priority and a matter of fight for continual existence a matter of life or death (ibid).
In this sense , the formulation of the ENP as part of EU foreign policy or CFSP falls under the EU cognizance of preservation of its borders and continual need for energy(Gas) which brings to fore the incessant Russian –Ukrainian disagreements over energy supply . So from the Copenhagen School the ENP is demonstrated in the realm of low politics and high politics showing that several interests abound in the course of relations. It must also be reiterated that the acts of speech comes as a major focus in the political realm, speech from actors regarding issues of security as regards the border and neighbours also fall under the scope of the Copenhagen school. The theory as it relates to the thesis shows the way energy and development of relations with Ukraine and other neighbourhood partners have all of a sudden being securitized.
1.5 Chapter Organization
Chapter one deals with the introduction, which embraces the research objectives, methodology and questions alongside the theoretical framework adopted.
Chapter two continues with the literature review which brings to fore the various ideas and submission about the EU-Ukraine relations, the developments in the CFSP.
Chapter three would focus on a background into Ukrainian Politics, EU-Ukrainian relations which fosters regionalization; which also brings to fore the European Union approach, examination of the rational actors in the discourse, rational strategies and strategic incentives.
Chapter four starts with the examination of the geo-political implications of the ENP, the cost and benefits of the ENP in its relations in Ukraine and a summary of findings from the research and the validation of the hypothesis.
Chapter five concludes with the review of basic findings in the course of the thesis and further reiterates the new dimension in neighbourhood study or research ,demonstrating that more research needs to be done in that specific field.
Chapter two demonstrates that there are existing literatures and discourses in the field of research related to the thesis and seeks to explore the vacuum in the existing research which would lead to generating a new knowledge in subsequent chapters.
Literature Review
2. European Foreign Policy Discourse
Foreign policy is depicted as actions taken by governments which are aimed at the external environment with the main objective of sustaining or changing the so called environment (White 2004, Carlsnaes 2002). Allen (1996) for instance depicts foreign policy as a coherent, coordinated and consistent identification and pursuit of national interests.
European Foreign policy is thus an activity that is not coterminous with the territorial alongside institutional boundaries of the European Union. Hill (1998, p.45) argued that European Foreign Policy is composed of organizations and actors that surpass the European Union members. The argument of Hill (1998) points to the fact that member states pursue their own foreign policies alongside contributing to the European Union's Common Foreign and Security Policy. European Foreign Policy analysis or discourse has been described by Cameron (2007) as possessing machineries of external relations that are highly complicated due to the existence of different systems or pillars for diverse areas of external policy like foreign and security policy, trade and development.
However White (2004) opined that there are two challenges posed by an empirical analysis of European foreign policy. First, is the controversy surrounding the meaning of European Foreign Policy, due to the fact that it can not be easily situated within a state-centric analysis that possesses clear boundaries between an external and internal policy environment.
The second challenge stems from the notion of a European Foreign Policy or Common Foreign Security Policy (CFSP) that emerged in 1993, as it is entangled with a difficulty in understanding whether European Foreign Policy can be treated as the object or subject of analysis differently from national foreign policies. The continual enlargement and enlargement fatigue is another challenge to the foreign policy. It is the idea of a new Europe emerging fostered by the demise of the Cold War and the Moribund Soviet Union. Smith (2001) thus depicts the European Union as a regional actor which fits into post-Cold War analyses of regionalization and globalization. A struggle between national foreign policy and European Foreign Policy emerges, which from a theoretical perspective views foreign policy as a reserve of a State; which is a state centric realist position (White, 1999). Identifying the status of the European Union thus, has been controversial, either as a State or International organization, Lister (1997) opines that the European Union is best understood as an exceptional type of institution instead of an embryonic state.
Allen (1998,p.42) pointed out the dilemma facing the European Union member states , in that they have a strong will of preserving national foreign policies and at the other end of an ambition to create a European Foreign Policy. The foregoing creates a federalist vision of Europe which we might foresee in the future, which thus would lead to a Federal European State (Hill 1993,p.316).
Considering the actors that constitute the making of European Foreign Policy, which is a shared submission of sovereignty of member states mainly in the process of designing and integrating policies to the outsiders.
Hill (1998, p.18) further submitted that the European Foreign Policy is a mixture of the actions of member states of the European Union and their actions in International relations.
In a more elaborate way of explaining the CFSP, Koenig-Archibugi (2004, p.158) depicts the CFSP as a product of collusive delegation; which Moravcsik (1994, 1997, 1998) depicted as vivid considering the following; first is a shift agenda setting power, second is the redistribution of opportunities for participation in domestic decision making and also informal asymmetries and change of ideological justifications of policies.
In the same vein Koenig-Archibugi (2004, p.161) points out the dilemma in the relations of the member State, their reactions to European Foreign Policy and Constitution when he submitted that weaker countries are more likely to accept an integrated foreign and security policy and supranational integration fosters the security of smaller states. The foregoing becomes a reality when the threats of bigger states in the supranational club are reduced by a collective submission and sharing of sovereignty in several areas.
2.1 Discourse of the European Neighbourhood Policy
The continual enlargement episode has eventually paved way for a more conscientious and conscious effort of the European Union in establishing the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP), as a policy guiding its relations with neighbours due to the recent and continuous enlargement in the Union. The ENP which came into being in 2004 , emerged as a foreign policy instrument which carved spheres of influence and relations among the new bordering neighbours as a result of the eastern enlargement.
A more detailed form of the tenets of the ENP is further stated in the Communication Wider Europe-Neighbourhood issued in 2003 (Strategy Paper on ENP, 2004, p.2, 3). The ENP covers Israel, Jordan, Moldova, Morocco, the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Tunisia, Ukraine, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Egypt, Georgia, Lebanon, Algeria, Libya, Syria, and Belarus.
The ENP is depicted as a reaction to the current enlargements with its objective mainly as "strengthening stability, security and well being for all concerned, preventing the emergence of new dividing lines between the enlarged EU and its neighbours and offering greater political, security, economic and cultural cooperation (ibid).
The aforementioned cooperation is fostered by Action plans and some instruments such as European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI) which fully came into being in 2007 and replaces TACIS. The ENP represents the EU in a bid to foster mutual commitments to common values, rule of law, good governance, and promotion of good neighbourly relations, market economy and sustainable development; however from the submission of Prodi , he submitted that the ENP pictures "the EU as sharing everything but institutions" (Emerson 2004, p16, Fraser 2007,p.108-109).
Much focus has been shifted to some countries in the ENP, due to their strategic position to EU member States. The ENP therefore presents another perspective although the Euro- Mediterranean Partnership (EMP) as a forerunner or predecessor of ENP envisaged the territorial delimitation of Europe and a new Paradigm of Europe's Borderlands (Patten &Solano).
A summary of the major tenets of ENP are thus; democracy, market economy which responds to the challenges of crime, migration, health, the environment and terrorism (Fraser 2007,p.109, Overhaus, 2006).
From the submissions and critique of several scholars, the ENP can be perceived as a foreign policy instrument with diverse strengths and weaknesses; Aliboni (2005) considers the ENP as another development in the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) , however despite such submission , he opined that the ENP status is uncertain whether it fits properly into the EU's external aims and finalities and the life span and effectiveness of the policy is not visible considering other moribund policies addressing the same issue of neighbourhood relations.
2.1.2 Neighbourhood Politics
Over the past decade , the European Union has maintained two types of policies towards its immediate neighbour, the rhetorical enquiry remains if these two policies have been in existence , why is the ENP most publicized or gaining much debate ?
The dual types of policies maintained by the European Union are;
First, a policy aimed at stabilization which mainly deals with fostering regional cooperation and broad partnerships which is evidenced by the following ; European Free Trade association (EFTA), Northern Dimension (ND), European Economic Area(EEA), Barcelona Process or European Mediterranean Policy (EMP),Partnership Cooperation Agreements ,(Policy Towards Russia and finally the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) (Gromadzki 2008; Landaburu 2006, Noutcheva &Emerson 2005,;Vahl ,2005, Missiroli 2004, p .12-13).
The other policy is aiming towards integration into the union, which brings countries directly into the European Union through a bilateral process based on strict conditionality which is evidenced by the Copenhagen Criteria and Accession talks (Missiroli 2004, p.12-13).
Based on the foregoing some scholars perceive the neighbourhood policy or politics as revolving in between a stabilization process and integration process (Missiroli 2004, p.12-13; Gault 2004). The former refers to a process aimed at attaining stability in the region which is typical of any regional power which was first utilized by the European Union in the Central European countries and Baltic States through the Balladur pact of 1993-5 (Missiroli ,2004, p.12-13).
The latter by contrast is based on integration as a goal alongside conditionality as a means, with the main reason behind the series of enlargements as a security strategy because the strict conditionality, norms and rules ensure that the probability of insecurity, conflict and instability are reduced significantly (Missiroli 2004, p.12-13,Hänggi &Tanner 2005,p.12,Parmentier 2008).
The integration approach to this discourse as regards the ENP could therefore be termed as a security policy, extending its application reach from integration approach to stabilization approach which is evidenced in the Eastern dimension, which is more applicable to the ENP members that are bordering the Union, suffice it to say that the ENP as a security policy is more notable in relations with Ukraine, Belarus, Morroco, Israel, the Occupied Palestinian territory (Gatev 2004; Cameron 2007,p.1-2).
From the foregoing, a body of argument emerges by Parmentier (2008,p.103-104) that a comparison between neighbourhood policy and enlargement policies have synonymous features especially in their origins with the aim of extending European Internal order which is enshrined in the social preferences through enviable methods of socialization and strict conditionality. A crucial distinction however is the membership prospect offered in one which is fully known and visible to all aspirants or outsiders.
Another growing dimension to the ENP discourse is the political and security interest and geo-strategic interest in the ENP framework and composition; the foregoing stems from the fact that the EU can no longer occupy a passive position towards its semi-periphery, with the semi-periphery assuming a close link to the core which brings to fore issues such as geographical mobility of individuals, economic factors, claims of being European and geopolitical proximity (Kelly 2006 ;Tulmets 2006).
Emanating from the foregoing is the fact that there is a periphery-core relation, as laid out by Prodi (2002) when he submitted that the EU should share "everything but institutions". He further posited that the EU needed to stabilize its periphery via proximity, which connotes the extension of principles, values and standards that define the European Union (ibid).
Despite the rhetorical form of the ENP which is envisaged in Prodi's submission of share everything but institutions, the enlargement fatigue alongside the rejection of the so called Lisbon treaty or European Constitution pushes the policy makers to a subtle play on words by designing the ENP (Emerson et al 2006; EC 2003). Sharing anything but institutions also points to the fact that the EU can share interests or identity with its neighbours, the worrisome fact here is how the neighbours can defend their interest without being a member or part of the institutions, sharing European identity without not being a member State points to the real intent and disguised intent of the ENP (Parmentier 2008,p.105).
2.1.3 Revival of geopolitics
Most concepts have an origin deeply rooted in historical events, geographies, geopolitics is no exception. The inflationary use of the term dates back to the 18th century, the concept has been used to mean several things (Gearóid 1998, Agnew 1998, Merje 2007).
In this discourse, it is not the goal to disclose the inflationary usage of the term but to indicate the relevance to the thesis. From the imperial acquisition of space and sphere of influence to the notorious Nazi foreign policy objective of ' Lebensraum ' (the pursuit of more living space) to the Cold war ear (a contest between the United States and Soviet Union over States and strategic resources of the world) and then to regional integration, ring of friends, neighbourhood strategy, securitization through NATO and the EU. The concept of geopolitics has been revamped in the 20th century with several events in the global polity. Scholars such as (Mahan 1957, Ratzel 1897, Mackinder 1904), viewed geopolitics as a battle for land territory, however other scholars in the cold war era viewed it differently, while Post-Cold war era also had scholars like Fukuyama, Huntington ,Luttwack with their submissions. Thus the term geopolitics is difficult to explain as it is used to mean different things as earlier disclosed.
Merje (2007) opined that geopolitics is the geographic factors that pave way for political decisions. The definition might be faulted by different scholars, but it serves as prelude to the many meanings of geopolitics, but at this moment geopolitics definitely involves power, geography, rational actors, interests, cultural identity, territory and resources.
In the same vein Agnew (1998, p.87-95) submitted that geopolitics went through three main stages that are important in understanding geopolitics; with civilizational geopolitics, naturalized geopolitics and ideological geopolitics.
Furthermore, along with geopolitics comes the incessant and speedy interdependence of the globe in terms of trade, commerce and economic space.
Another twist to the geopolitics conception is the arrival of concepts such as integration, dependency debacle, periphery-core relations, energy politics, and the interdependency of the globe, "the Us and Them" equation in EU –Eastern Europe relations, power and resource politics, spheres of influence in a shadow of imperialism.
The foregoing relations however would produce payoffs, aftermaths which leads to the core of the thesis. This is however organized by considering the Russian Factor, Securitization of energy arguments, the fate of Ukraine and other CIS countries, the EU's diplomatic policy, energy dependence and would also disclose the implications of the European Neighbourhood Policy to the rational actors; especially the Ukrainian –EU relations and the Russian influence.
2.1.4 Geostrategies of the ENP
The ENP has been perceived from several perspectives ranging from a neo-liberal to neo-imperialist, elite construct, post Westphalian, post –modernism to mention but a few (Scott 2005, p.430).
The EU's continual enlargement and the enlargement fatigue present a dilemma of how to promote stability and security in its neighbouring regions; in a context of ensuring stability within the countries bordering the European Union (Browning & Joenniemi 2008, p.520).
The debates about the limit of Europe have been incessant, with several models and theoretical perspectives developed to explain the Geopolitics and the Intent of the European Union. The most crucial models that are employed in this discourse are; the Westphalian, Imperial and Neomedieval perception of Europe. Geostrategies can be depicted as sets of competing and overlapping discourses that deals with how to organize territory and space at the border, and the relationship with the others (Browning &Joenniemi 2008, p.521). From the perspective of Walter (2004) he submitted that geostrategies are aimed at organizing the space of the border, forming an identity of the "inside and outside", issues that confront the border, territorialisation which points to Identity and political aspirations. The European Union is thus on a course of adopting geostrategic or geopolitical strategies in its relationship with the "Others" through the ENP.
According to Browning &Joenniemi (2008) the geostrategies are conceptualized into four parts; the march, line, colonial frontier and networked non-border.
The Westphalian perspective conceives the European Union as steadily coalescing and shaping into a modern state with sovereignty moved away from the states to the Commission in Brussels. Power here is held in the centre but it is applied consistently over the territory up to the border where one sovereign territoriality connects (Ruggie 1993; Zielonka 2001, p.509;Waever 1997).
According to Christiansen (2003, p.73) the continual movement of the European Union towards a Modern Westphalian stand is evidenced by the clamour for a European Constitution among some circles despite the rejection and debate that this has produced.
The imperial logic based on geopolitical drive is thus reflected in the European Union in two respects, first is the perspective of the European Union as an instrument of peace, by trying to ensure stability throughout Europe, which extends beyond the European space as, evidenced by a geopolitical movement of friendship to the Middle East and North Africa countries.
The second point as regards the imperial logic of the European Union in terms of geostrategies an empire with power located at the centre which is in Brussels and power is dispersed outwards in varying and multilayered sequence (Zielonka 2003, 2001, Browning &Joenniemi 2008, p.522).
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- Patrick Agbedejobi (Author), 2010, The Geopolitical Implications of the European Neighbourhood Policy., Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/201530
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After dazzling the entire world with his 1997 epic romance & disaster film that went on to become the first film to gross over a billion dollars on box-office, remained the highest grossing film of all time for over a decade, and also won a staggering 11 Academy Awards including Best Picture, visionary filmmaker James Cameron journeys back to the site that inspired one of the greatest & grandest spectacles to ever grace the silver screen. Ghosts of the Abyss follows James Cameron as he returns to the 1912 wreckage of the RMS Titanic in order to obtain more detailed images than ever before.
Exploring almost the entirety of the ruins from inside-out with the help of newly developed technology, the documentary takes the viewers on an expedition that lies at the depth of 12,500 feet and examines why the vessel continues to intrigue & fascinate the public.
Directed by James Cameron himself and narrated by Bill Paxton who was invited to tag along on the voyage, the two accompanied by a Russian crew dive to the ocean floor to shoot sights not seen since the sinking, and are able to provide us a glimpse of the ship's original appearance by superimposing CGI frames over deep-dive images. But this documentary isn't utterly riveting and may only interest those who share Cameron's fascination with shipwrecks.
Although the extensive research, rehearsal & preparation carried out before every dive, the new technology created to overcome the challenges of this expedition, and the numerous deep-dive feats achieved is no doubt admirable. But the narrative is rather stale and fails to create an added interest in the subject matter. Paxton's voiceover doesn't work at all. And it looks no different from any National Geographic episode you might come across randomly.
Ghosts of the Abyss was purposefully crafted for IMAX 3D showings but I watched it in conventional format so I can't say for sure if the third dimension adds any unique angle that uplifts the overall viewing experience by a great deal but the project nonetheless served as a creative exercise that allowed Cameron to experiment with 3D technology, which he later refined & utilized heavily in his next feature film. All in all, there are few interesting bits in this documentary, not to mention that its contribution to deep-dive research is praiseworthy. Also, if you are one of those who always wanted a Titanic film without Jack & Rose (seriously, what's wrong with you?), then Ghosts of the Abyss is the closest you can get to fulfilling that wish of yours.


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The Northern Neck Master Naturalists will hold the first of four meadow workshops at the Northumberland Public Library on April 13 at noon.
The workshop will feature award-winning landscape designer Betsy Washington and accidental meadow maker Bryna Brennan. Washington will explain the basics of creating a meadow, the overall benefits and steps toward sustainability.
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The Master Naturalists promote the use of meadows to feed pollinators and attract wildlife in the Northern Neck. There is an emphasis on native plants.
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