text:
Source: Link
ODET D'ORSONNENS, LOUIS-GUSTAVE D' (baptized Louis-Gustave-Edmond), lawyer, militia officer, and school administrator; b. 17 April 1842 in L'Assomption, Lower Canada, son of Thomas-Edmond d'Odet* d'Orsonnens, a physician, and Marie-Louise-Adeline Dorval; m. 18 April 1870 Marie-Louise-Adèle Desbarats, daughter of George-Paschal Desbarats*, in Montreal, and they had five children; d. 7 May 1905 in Lac-Mégantic, Que.
Louis-Gustave d'Odet d'Orsonnens belonged to a family of Swiss origin descended from Pierre-Louis d'Odet, the seigneur of Orsonnens in the canton of Fribourg. Protais d'Odet d'Orsonnens, Louis-Gustave's grandfather, came to Canada in 1813 with De Meuron's Regiment, which saw action during the War of 1812 against the Americans. He chose to remain in the country after his regiment was disbanded. Louis-Gustave would follow in his grandfather's footsteps. After completing his education in Montreal, where his family had moved in 1845, he studied law and was called to the bar on 3 Sept. 1863, but he never seriously practised his profession as a lawyer.
In the mid 19th century Canada's militia received an important new lease on life. Since Great Britain was at war with Russia in 1854, there were few British soldiers left here. The Canadian government passed several pieces of legislation in order to remedy this situation. The first, in 1855, authorized the maintenance of an active militia of a respectable size: seven field batteries, five artillery companies, and fifty rifle companies. The next, passed in 1856, created more such units, and the third, in 1859, authorized their organization into battalions. This was the context in which Louis-Gustave d'Odet d'Orsonnens, then only 17, had first served as a sergeant and on 17 Nov. 1859 had been made an ensign in the 1st Battalion Volunteer Militia Rifles of Canada, just formed in Montreal. In 1860 the unit was redesignated the 1st (Prince of Wales's) Regiment of Volunteer Rifles. During the year, however, d'Odet d'Orsonnens transferred to the cavalry and was appointed standard-bearer with the 2nd Volunteer Militia Cavalry Troop. Promoted lieutenant on 3 June 1861, he temporarily left the militia the following year to join the navy and, probably, as accounts state, to pursue his studies.
In 1864 and 1865, during the American Civil War, Anglo-American relations deteriorated to the point that Canada had to reinforce border defences. Hence there was renewed interest in the militia. In June 1865 d'Odet d'Orsonnens, by then a lawyer, enlisted again, this time as a lieutenant in the 4th Battalion Volunteer Militia Rifles (Chasseurs Canadiens). He spent several months at Niagara (Niagara-on-the-Lake), Upper Canada, a border point especially at risk. The following year, with the Fenians in turn threatening to invade the country, d'Odet d'Orsonnens served in Lower Canada at Saint-Jean (Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu), Lacolle, and Hemmingford. Promoted captain (1867), major (1868), and lieutenant-colonel (1869), he assumed various responsibilities, including those of brigade-major.
In 1883 the government, in an effort to raise the level of instruction of its militia units, approved the creation of additional permanent schools [see Richard George Amherst Luard*]. These included three for infantry, one of which, intended to meet the specific needs of the French-speaking population, was established in Saint-Jean. Lieutenant-Colonel d'Odet d'Orsonnens, who had volunteered for the assignment, was appointed by the government to set it up. Along with the officers who would command the other establishments, one in Fredericton [see George Joseph Maunsell] and the other in Toronto [see Sir William Dillon Otter*], he was sent to England in the summer of 1883 to complete his training with the British forces. The infantry school at Saint-Jean received its first students in April 1884. Second Lieutenant Oscar-Charles-Casgrain Pelletier, who would distinguish himself during the North-West campaign and the South African War, was one of the first officers to attend it. He had pleasant memories of his time at Saint-Jean, and in his memoirs, published in 1940, he noted, "The commandant was Colonel Gustave d'Odet d'Orsonnens, . . . full of initiative, a good disciplinarian . . . ; I have reason to think that choosing him as commandant was very judicious."
While remaining head of the school, d'Odet d'Orsonnens was appointed assistant adjutant-general, and on 15 June 1889 he took over command of Military District No.6 (Montreal). He seems to have discharged this heavy responsibility to most people's satisfaction. There is some documentary evidence, however, that in 1892 his relations with his immediate superior, adjutant-general Colonel Walker Powell*, were less than cordial. He presented a required report that prompted Powell to ask several questions. Neglecting to reply, d'Odet d'Orsonnens found himself briefly in a rather delicate situation for a senior officer. However, on 20 December of that year he wrote a letter that apparently settled the incident, which might well have cast a shadow over his noteworthy military career.
D'Odet d'Orsonnens made a name for himself abroad as well. He had visited Switzerland in 1869, probably at the invitation of the president of the Swiss confederation, and taken part in army manoeuvres. On 16 June 1874 the title of count was conferred on him by Pope Pius IX. In announcing this news, Bulletin de l'Union Allet, the official organ of the Papal Zouaves, said, "In 1867 he was one of the first to rouse Canadians to the idea of going to the assistance of the papacy." Later it was even stated that d'Odet d'Orsonnens had been the first to propose, in 1867, the formation of the Zouaves. His title of count was hereditary "to all his descendants, solely of the male line," under certain conditions. His son and heir, Georges-Joseph-Gustave, died in 1908. The title then passed to another son, Yvan, a Jesuit who relinquished it to his brother Henri. Henri died in 1928 without heirs.
Hunting and fishing also interested d'Odet d'Orsonnens. He was vice-president of the Quebec Rifle Association and after he left the militia on 15 July 1897 he retired to Lac-Mégantic, where hunting became one of his favourite pastimes. He seems to have been drawn for a while to writing as well, for in 1874 in Montreal he published a pamphlet entitled Considérations sur l'organisation militaire de la Confédération canadienne.
Lieutenant-Colonel Louis-Gustave d'Odet d'Orsonnens died at the age of 63 in Lac-Mégantic on 7 May 1905. The brief obituary published in the Quebec newspaper L'Événement the next day noted that he had succumbed to pneumonia following a brief illness, that a religious service would be held in Mégantic and a military one in Montreal, and that he would be interred in the family vault in Notre-Dame-des-Neiges cemetery. The interment took place on 10 May 1905.
[Lieutenant-Colonel Louis-Gustave d'Odet d'Orsonnens is elegant and distinguished, handsome with the moustache then in vogue among British officers, in the magnificent portrait which Benjamin Sulte* published in his Histoire de la milice canadienne française, 1760–7897 (Montréal, 1897); he looks the proud, dignified, and noble gentleman portrayed in historical works. j.c.]
ANQ-M, CE1-51, 18 avril 1870, 10 mai 1905; CE5-14, 18 avril 1842. NA, RG 9, I, C4, 8, 183; C6, 19–20; II, A1, 20: 3179; 82: 3081; 132: 9548; 135: 9825; 226: A9094; 281: 13925; 301: 15972; A5, 3: 219; B1, 196: 79365; 491: 42039; 492: 44216; 579: 290, 346; B3, 1–2; RG 38, 27: 7846. Bulletin de l'Union Allet (Montréal), août 1874. L'Événement, 8 mai 1905. La Minerve, 4 sept. 1874. F.-J. Audet, "Odet d'Orsonnens," BRH, 36 (1930): 394–95. E. H. Bovay, Le Canada et les Suisses, 1604–1974 (Fribourg, Suisse, 1976), 29–35. Canadian men and women of the time (Morgan; 1898), 278. R. C. Fetherstonhaugh and G. R. Stevens, The Royal Canadian Regiment . . . (2v., Montreal and London, Ont., 1936–67; vol.1 repr. Fredericton, 1981). J.-Y. Gravel et al., Le Québec et la guerre, 1867–1960 (Montréal, 1974), 34. O.-C. Pelletier, Mémoires, souvenirs de famille et récits (Québec, 1940), 186–87. P.-G. Roy, Les avocats de la région de Québec.
© 1994–2023 University of Toronto/Université Laval
Image Gallery
Cite This Article
Jacques Castonguay, "ODET D'ORSONNENS, LOUIS-GUSTAVE D'," in Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 13, University of Toronto/Université Laval, 2003–, accessed September 25, 2023, http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/odet_d_orsonnens_louis_gustave_d_13E.html.
The citation above shows the format for footnotes and endnotes according to the Chicago manual of style (16th edition). Information to be used in other citation formats:
|Author of Article:
|Jacques Castonguay
|Title of Article:
|Publication Name:
|Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 13
|University of Toronto/Université Laval
|Year of publication:
|Year of revision:
|Access Date:
|September 25, 2023


text:
Vice President
First Lady
Mrs. Cheney
News & Policies
History & Tours | Kids | Your Government | Appointments | Jobs | Contact | Graphic version
Email Updates | Español | Accessibility | Search | Privacy Policy | Help
For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
September 13, 2005
President Welcomes President Talabani of Iraq to the White House
The East Room
In Focus: Renewal in Iraq
PRESIDENT BUSH: Thank you all. It's an honor to welcome the first democratically elected President of Iraq to the White House. I'm proud to stand with a brave leader of the Iraqi people, a friend of the United States, and a testament to the power of human freedom.
Mr. President, thank you for your leadership; thank you for your courage.
President Talabani has dedicated his life to the cause of liberty in Iraq. As a lawyer, a journalist, and a political leader in Northern Iraq, he stood up to a brutal dictator, because he believes that every Iraqi deserves the be free. The dictator destroyed Kurdish villages, ordered poison gas attacks on a Kurdish city, and violently repressed other religious and ethnic groups. For President Talibani and his fellow citizens, the day Saddam was removed from power was a day of deliverance. And America will always be proud that we led the armies of liberation.
In the past two years, the Iraqi people have made their vision of their future clear. This past January, more than 8 million Iraqis defied the car bombers and the assassins and voted in free elections. It is an inspiring act of unity when 80 percent of the elected National Assembly chose the President, a member of Iraq's Kurdish minority, to lead the free nation.
In our meeting today, I congratulated the President on his election, and I thanked him for his leadership on Iraq's draft constitution. The draft constitution is an historic milestone. It protects fundamental freedoms, including religion, assembly, conscience and expression. It calls for a federal system of government, which is essential to preserving the unity of a diverse nation like Iraq. It declares that all Iraqis are equal before the law, without regard to gender, ethnicity, and religion.
The Iraqi people can be proud of the draft constitution, and when an election to ratify that constitution is held next month, they will have a chance to vote their conscience at the polls.
As the Iraqi people continue on the path to democracy, the enemies of freedom remain brutal and determined. The killers in Iraq are the followers of the same ideology as those who attacked America four years ago. Their vision is for an Iraq that looks like Afghanistan under the Taliban; a society where freedom is crushed, girls are denied schooling, and terrorists have a safe haven to plot attacks on America and other free people.
To impose their hateful vision, our enemies know they must drive America out of Iraq before the Iraqi people can secure their own freedom. They believe we will retreat in the face of violence, so they're committing acts of staggering brutality, murdering Iraqi children receiving candy, or hospital workers treating the wounded. We have no doubt that our enemies will continue to kill. Yet we also know they cannot achieve their aims unless we lose our resolve.
Today, Mr. President, I pledge that we will not waver. And I appreciate your same pledge. Iraq will take its place among the world's democracies. The enemies of freedom will be defeated.
President Talabani and I discussed our strategy for the months ahead. America will stand with the Iraqi people as they move forward with the democratic process. We're seeing hopeful developments in places like Fallujah and Ramadi and Mosul, where Iraqis are registering to vote, many for the first time -- well, obviously, for the first time.
At the same time, American troops will stay on the offensive, alongside Iraqi security forces, to hunt down our common enemies. At this hour, American and Iraqi forces are conducting joint operations to rout out terrorists and insurgents in Tall Afar. Our objective is to defeat the enemies of a free Iraq, and we're working to prepare more Iraqi forces to join the fight. As Iraqis stand up, Americans will stand down. And when the mission is complete, our troops will come home, with the honor they have earned.
Tomorrow, President Talabani and I will take our seats at the United Nations in New York. The session will mark the first time in a half-century that Iraq is represented by a freely elected government.
Securing freedom in Iraq has required great sacrifice, Mr. President. You know that better than anybody. And there's going to be difficult days ahead. Yet I have no doubt about the impact of a democratic Iraq on the rest of the world. As Iraq becomes a federal, unified democracy, people throughout the broader Middle East will demand their own liberty. The Middle East will become more peaceful, and America and the world become more secure.
We're proud to call you, friend, Mr. President, and proud to have you as an ally in the war on terror. On behalf of the American people, I want to thank you for Iraq's generous pledge of aid to the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Welcome to the United States.
PRESIDENT TALABANI: Thank you. Thank you, Mr. President, for your kind remarks. It is honor for me to stand here today as a representative of free Iraq. It is an honor to present the world's youngest democracy.
In the name of Iraqi people, I say to you, Mr. President, and to the glorious American people, thank you, thank you. Thank you, because you liberated us from the worst kind of dictatorship. Our people suffered too much from this worst kind of dictatorship. The -- (inaudible)
-- was hundred thousand of Iraqi innocent children and women, young and old men. Thank you, and thanks to the United States, there are now 15 million Muslims in Afghanistan and Iraq liberated by your courageous leadership and decision to liberate us, Mr. President.
We agree with Mr. President Bush that democracy is the solution to the problems of the Middle East. Mr. President, you are a visionary, great statesman. We salute you. We are grateful to you. We will never forget what you have done for our people.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Thank you, sir.
PRESIDENT TALABANI: We have had a good discussion with Mr. President. We are partners. We are proud to say openly and to repeat it that we are partners of the United States of America in fighting against tyranny, terrorism, and for democracy. It is something we are not shy to say and will repeat it everywhere, here and in Iraq, and the United Nations and everywhere.
Iraq is America's ally in the war against terrorism. Our soldiers are now fighting side-by-side with your brave soldiers, now and every day. We have captured many senior elements of al Qaeda. We killed many of them, and we have also many of them in our prisons.
With your support, we could create a society enjoying democracy for the first time, obviously. Now Iraq is a free country. We have all kinds of democracy, all kinds of freedom of expression of parties, groups, civil society, organizations -- that we can say that our democracy is unique in the Middle East.
Our strategy is solvent. We build democracy and defend democracy. We talk about how we could improve our tactics. There is progress in security in our country. The number of the -- (inaudible) -- reduced; the traces which were under the full control of the terrorists are now liberated, and they're now registering their names for the new election.
In the areas which were known that there was any of al Qaeda now became the area of Iraq. And two important signals appeared in that area -- the people started to -- (inaudible) -- and to fight terrorists. Now we have Iraqi Arab tribes, Sunni tribes fighting terrorism and al Qaeda. We have also people who are in -- (inaudible) -- who are cooperating with Iraqi forces, and with American forces against terrorism. It is a good signal that our people start to understand that terrorism is the enemy of Iraqi people before becoming enemy of Americans. They are killing our civilians, or innocent children. They are destroying our mosques -- church, everywhere, regardless of what may happen to the people.
And we are now progressing gradually. Last year, for example -- (inaudible) -- a year ago, Najaf was a battlefield. Najaf is a holy city of Shiites, the Vatican of the Shiites. Now Najaf is being rebuilt, is free, and ruled by the elected committee, elected government.
There are still important security challenges we are neglecting. But we are fighting al Qaeda. Now our fight in Tall Afar proved that the enemy is going to be weakened and low morale. The fighting in Tall Afar was easy to defeat the terrorists and to liberate the town.
The so-called jihadists want to impose oppression and dictatorship and worst kind of society on our people. For that they are not only -- so they are not only the enemy of Iraq, but they are the enemy of humanity, the enemy of real Islam, and the enemy of all Middle East peoples. Together with our American friends and partners, we will defeat them.
Today, American and international presence in Iraq is vital. The American and international presence in Iraq is vital for democracy in Iraq and in the Middle East, and also for prevent foreign interference in the internal affairs of Iraq.
We will set no timetable for withdrawal, Mr. President. A timetable will help the terrorists, will encourage them that they could defeat a superpower of the world and the Iraqi people. We hope that by the end of 2006, our security forces are up to the level of taking responsibility from many American troops with complete agreement with Americans. We don't want to do anything without the agreement with the Americans because we don't want to give any signal to the terrorists that our will to defeat them is weakened, or they can defeat us.
We are proud that one day will come -- as soon as possible, of course, we hope -- that American troops can proudly return home, and we tell them, thank you, dear friends, and you are faithful to friendship. Of course, we are sorry for the sacrifices of American people in Iraq, but I think a great people like America has a mission in the history -- they have sacrificed hundreds of thousands of their sons in the war -- first world war, second world war, and in liberating people in Afghanistan, Kurdistan. And the great leader, Mr. George W. Bush is continuing the same mission of the American people. We are grateful. We are grateful for American generosity, and we honor -- we honor -- sacrifices of America in Iraq -- and everywhere, not only in Iraq.
We also need our neighbors, at least some of them, to stop attacking Iraqi democracy. We want them to join us in fighting against terrorism. We want our Arab brothers -- (inaudible) -- media, at least the official media, to support terrorism. We want them to stand with us against terrorism, because terrorism is the enemy of all Arab and Muslim countries in the world.
But we will proceed, and we will remember those who helped us in our struggle to establish a democracy in Iraq. And you are first those people who supported us for this noble mission.
There is, in Iraq, political progress. We are talking taking the gun out of Iraqi politics, for the first time. Iraqis will have -- speak in peaceful dialogue, not with arms. The majority of Iraqis are committed to political process. Iraq is a diverse country. They are mostly settling -- (inaudible) -- peacefully.
We have agreed a draft constitution. Of course, it is not perfect document, but I think it is one of the best constitutions in the Middle East. Of course, we didn't solve all problems, we have some problems. We are still suffering from many problems. But we are achieving progress on all fields -- economic, trade, education, political life. And we hope that we will remain having the support of the United States, and yourself, Mr. President, and other friends in Arab world and in Europe.
It is true we are a young democracy, but our draft constitution has a bill of rights, ensures the equality of all Iraqis -- regardless of their gender, creed, religion, or ethnicity. It enshrines the separation of powers, and involves many checks and balances on the exercise of power. It is the best constitution in the entire region, as we claim. We hope it will be correct.
We are reaching out to some other Iraqi citizens who were not able to participate in the election -- I mean our Arab Sunni brothers. We tried to be involved with them in the process. When the result of the election was announced, the two main lists of alliance -- the Kurdistan Alliance and the United Front of Iraq Shiite Alliance -- we got 238 votes, and the Assembly was 275. But, nevertheless, we tried to bring our Sunni Arabs to the government, to participate. We elected a vice president, an Arab Sunni; two deputy prime ministers; the Speaker of the House is a Sunni; and six ministers, among them, two main posts, the Minister of Defense and Minister of Industry.
It means that we are anxious to have all Iraqis united, and to solve all our problems through dialogue. We are calling all Iraqis to come to participate in the democratic process and to say what they want, and they are free to decide the government -- decide the President of Iraq, the Prime Minister, the ministers, and they are able to say what they want through democratic process, they can say their -- and demands.
This, of course, constitution is not perfect, but it can be amended in the future, if the Iraqi people want this. But now, compared with others, we are proud to have such a kind of constitution. Some of our brothers, Sunni Arabs, are under the threat of terrorism. We will try our best to liberate them from terrorism and from the violence.
To those in America, in other countries, still ask of war of liberation in Iraq, if it was right -- the right decision. I say, please, please, come to Iraq, to visit the mass graves, to see what happened to the Iraqi people, and to see what now is going on in Iraq. To those who talk of stability, I say, Saddam imposed the stability of the mass graves. To the terrorists, I say, you will never win; freedom will win in Iraq.
Thank you, Mr. President. (Applause.)
PRESIDENT BUSH: Thank you.
A couple of questions. Two a side. Nedra.
Q Mr. President, given what happened with Katrina, shouldn't Americans be concerned if their government isn't prepared to respond to another disaster or even a terrorist attack?
PRESIDENT BUSH: Katrina exposed serious problems in our response capability at all levels of government. And to the extent that the federal government didn't fully do its job right, I take responsibility. I want to know what went right and what went wrong. I want to know how to better cooperate with state and local government, to be able to answer that very question that you asked: Are we capable of dealing with a severe attack or another severe storm. And that's a very important question. And it's in our national interest that we find out exactly what went on and -- so that we can better respond.
One thing for certain; having been down there three times and have seen how hard people are working, I'm not going to defend the process going in, but I am going to defend the people who are on the front line of saving lives. Those Coast Guard kids pulling people out of the -- out of the floods are -- did heroic work. The first responders on the ground, whether they be state folks or local folks, did everything they could. There's a lot of people that are -- have done a lot of hard work to save lives.
And so I want to know what went right and what went wrong to address those. But I also want people in America to understand how hard people are working to save lives down there in not only New Orleans, but surrounding parishes and along the Gulf Coast.
Mr. President, you want to call on somebody?
Q (Question is asked in Arabic.)
If I may, Mr. President, it's been a scathing attack from top officials of your administration on Syria yesterday for allowing foreign fighters to cross the border. We heard yesterday from Ambassador Khalilizad. Is this an escalation on the pressure that you're putting on Syria? And what more can you do when you say that all options are open?
PRESIDENT TALABANI: May I?
PRESIDENT BUSH: Please, yes. You might want to try it English. (Laughter.)
PRESIDENT TALABANI: Well, I say it in Iraqi because the question was in Arabic. (Answers the question in Arabic.)
PRESIDENT BUSH: Oops. (Laughter.)
PRESIDENT TALABANI: (Continues answering in Arabic.)
THE PRESIDENT: I'm not sure if I agree, or not, but
-- (laughter.) The Ambassador did speak strongly about Syria because he understands that the Syrian government can do a lot more to prevent the flow of foreign fighters into Iraq. These people are coming from Syria into Iraq and killing a lot of innocent people. They're killing -- they're trying to kill our folks, as well. And so, of course, he's speaking strongly about that.
And the Syrian leader must understand we take his lack of action seriously. And the government is going to become more and more isolated as a result of two things: one, not being cooperative with the Iraqi government, in terms of securing Iraq; and two, not being fully transparent about what they did in Lebanon.
And so we're going to work with our friends. And this is a subject of conversation, of course, I'll have with allies in places like New York and other times I communicate with our allies, that Syria must be a focus of getting them to change their behavior, particularly as it regards to democracy and trying to prevent democracies from emerging.
Q Mr. President, do you believe at this point that Iran will be referred to the U.N. Security Council to face possible sanctions over its nuclear program? And how will you convince reluctant members like China that this is the way forward?
PRESIDENT BUSH: There is still an IAEA process to go forward. And we will work with our Ambassador at the IAEA, Ambassador Schulte, to continue to press forward with a full disclosure about Iranian intentions so that then the Security Council can make a -- determine the right policy to go forward.
I will bring the subject up with leaders whom I'll be meeting with today and tomorrow and later on this week. I will be speaking candidly about Iran with the -- Hu Jintao, as well as with President Putin, for example. Just had a conversation with Tony Blair and the subject came up.
It is very important for the world to understand that Iran with a nuclear weapon will be incredibly destabilizing. And, therefore, we must work together to prevent them from having the wherewithal to develop a nuclear weapon. It should be a warning to all of us that they have -- in the past, didn't fully disclose their programs, their programs aimed at helping them develop a weapon. They have insisted that they have a civilian nuclear program, and I thought a rational approach to that would be to allow them to receive enriched uranium from a third party under the guise of international inspections that will enable them to have civilian nuclear power without learning how to make a bomb.
Some of us are wondering why they need civilian nuclear power anyway. They're awash with hydrocarbons. Nevertheless, it's a right of a government to want to have a civilian nuclear program. And -- but there ought to be guidelines in which they be allowed to have that civilian nuclear program. And one such guideline would be in such a way that they don't gain the expertise necessary to be able to enrich.
This is a subject of grave concern, and it's something that we're spending a lot of time on in this administration. I want to applaud the Germans and the French and the British for sticking together in developing a common message to the Iranians. And now we'll see how the Iranians respond here on their visit to the United States.
Final question, Mr. President.
Q Mr. President, I hope you will excuse me, since you've never had Kurdish -- spoken Kurdish. I put my question in Kurdish. (Question asked in Kurdish.)
PRESIDENT TALABANI: With your permission, Mr. President, he's from America and his voice, American voice in Kurdish -- I must answer in Kurdish.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Yes. Answer his question -- perfect.
PRESIDENT TALABANI: (Question answered in Kurdish.)
THE PRESIDENT: On that cheery note, the press conference is over. (Laughter.)
Thank you, Mr. President, good job.
|Printer-Friendly Version
|Email this page to a friend

subset: commoncrawl


text:
If you were uncertain that fall has arrived, it definitely has up here in Minnesota! Saturday morning we woke up to frost and today has just been pretty dreary and rainy. We definitely needed something hearty, warming and comforting to fill us up tonight!
Soup was definitely in order... but I needed to find a recipe that had some weight to it - after flipping through some of our options, we both decided this Brat, Beer and Cheese Soup fit the bill, especially since I didn't need to buy anything extra!
Inside of our big Dutch oven, sliced carrots, chopped celery and onion bounce around in olive oil until they were quite tender. A couple cloves of minced garlic were tossed in, and as soon as it's aroma was present, all-purpose flour is sprinkled over the vegetable mixture and allowed to cook out for just a minute to remove it's raw taste. A pound of cubed russet potatoes were added, followed by a combination of chicken broth and a bottle of beer (preference is up to you - whichever favorite kind that you think would add a pleasant depth should do well). After the potatoes were given a chance to become tender, yet still retain some texture, the soup is seasoned with a bit of chipotle pepper for a smoky heat, along with mustard powder for an intriguing background.
For a creamy edge with a bite, milk and just a touch of Worcestershire sauce is stirred it - if you are feeling a little decadent, swirl in some half-and-half instead of the milk... that was my plan at least, until the container I pulled out of the refrigerator was empty (! - and it wasn't me who put an empty container back). A few generous handfuls of cheddar cheese are slowly stirred in, off heat, to melt into the soup for a sharp contrast. A couple cups worth of the vegetables are then removed from the soup and pureed to give the soup a voluptuous body. If you wanted a soup that was more thin, skip this part, but we both agreed that the added texture was worth that step. Cooked and sliced links of bratwurst sausage were added to the soup, along with the puree, and the pot was placed back over the heat long enough to warm everything through.
The beer brought a subtle, but noticeable, background tang to the soup that caught our attention - the soup also definitely benefited from that thicker body with those pureed vegetables. It helped to suspend those remaining chunky pieces so they didn't fall right to the bottom. In this homey and very comforting soup, if the brats don't get you excited, how about using kielbasa or going the more smoky route by crisping up a few slices of bacon to add on top first, then using their drippings to soften the vegetables?
Brat, Beer and Cheese Soup


text:
Please hold CTRL+D on PC or COMMAND+D on Mac and click the link to bookmark it in your browser.
Simply provide the email address on your WeDJ.com listing, and we will email your login information to you!
Email My Info
Multi Camera Live Streaming,
Commercial Photography and Videography,
Fashion Films and Photography,
Food Photography,
Corporate Headshots and Portraits,
Promotional Photos and Videos,
Brand stories,
Interviews and more.
Photo and Video... more photographer info
Award winning photographic artist, Maureen Gates is the heart and soul of Sharp Images Photographic. Best known for her contemporary approach, blendin.......more photographer info
Your Event Matters is a family owned and operated Photo2Go Photo-Booth Rental Company located in the historic Hudson Vally region of New York. We enj.......more photographer info
Candlelight Photography was founded by two of Hudson Valley's most reputable photographers. With over 28 Years experience in the wedding photography b.......more photographer info
Event Imaging & Promlive is the only an event photographer you will ever need. We have been photographing in the Hudson Valley for over 26 years. Our .......more photographer info
Keith Ferris is a professional photojournalist who specializes in wedding photojournalism. With a background in daily newspaper photography he is able.......more photographer info
Classical and photojournalistic wedding photography in the heart of the Hudson Valley........more photographer info
From the formal to the informal, traditional, candid, photo journalistic style - we are here to capture the images that will make your special day se.......more photographer info
Capture Life's Moments! Rose is available for Hudson Valley Wedding Photography (NY,NJ,PA) CT and RI, Block Island Wedding Photography as well as oth.......more photographer info
I am a skilled photographer for hire based in Pine Bush, New York and specializing in children's photos and available for studio portraits, weddings, .......more photographer info
Bringing together passionate creativity and a welcoming personal approach to photography, Jacqueline Pfeffer endeavors to capture the memories and vis.......more photographer info
Please note the website is not currently functional, it is a Temporary place holder while it is being worked on. I am a photographer for weddings, Por.......more photographer info
Non-traditional, raw and romantic wedding photography........more photographer info
Elegant adj. Exhibiting refined, tasteful beauty of manner, or style. But it's also about the emotion. The drama. A picture evoking a story. Catherine.......more photographer info
Stripling Photography specializes in portraits, engagement sessions, and wedding photography… combining contemporary, editorial, and traditional photo.......more photographer info
JOHN DeSANTO is one of America's great photojournalists. He is the recently-retired Director of Photography at the Times Herald-Record newspaper and c.......more photographer info
Like a newspaper reporter covers an event to tell a story, Skye D. Photography combines both traditional portrait photography and photojournalism to t.......more photographer info
Everyone loves a good story. At Pioneer Photography & Design, we believe that a good photographer will capture moments and emotions in time, and give.......more photographer info
Local Wedding Photographer providing professional quality work at affordable prices..Located in the Hudson Valley.Please follow me on Facebook under M.......more photographer info
As low as $175 per hour which includes a custom photo book and an online photo gallery.
We are good at photographing the details.
If you want a phot.......more photographer info
Lucky dogs, unique weddings, fun couples. Located in Rhinebeck, New York........more photographer info
Caitlinn Mahar-Daniels is a fine art photographer based in the United States. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Art degree in Photography. She absolutel.......more photographer info
.......more photographer info
Freelance Photographer
Real estate.......more photographer info
Hiring the right Tivoli, New York photographer is an essential step in planning a wedding or special event. WeDJ.com has thousands of photographers throughout the USA and local Tivoli, New York photographers to choose from. Photos capture life at a moment in time. Hence, its crucial to hire a local professional photographer near Tivoli, New York.
Look for Photographers that have customer reviews integrated into their listing. Many Photographers use the online surveys provided in their Gigbuilder accounts to showcase their past client's reviews. Use our simple checklist below to aid in search for the best Photographers for your Tivoli, NY event!
1. Browse Tivoli, NY Photographer Profiles
Our vast directory of Tivoli,NY Photographers contains information, phone numbers, portfolios, and websites of Photographers near Tivoli, NY and the Tivoli, NY area. Use our tools to create a Tivoli photographer shortlist.
2. Photographer Availability
Use our tools to instantly check availability of photographers near Tivoli, NY. Each thumbs up icon denotes an instant availability since these members use Gigbuilder availability checkers powered by WeDJ.com There is no need to spend hours needlessly contacting numerous companies that may not be available.
3. Consider Overall Value
Most Tivoli, NY photographers have numerous packages which may include negatives, digital copies, albums, time, and more. Each Tivoli, NY photographer will have varied amount of experience which also should be considered in the final quote.
4. Get it in Writing!
Most Tivoli, NY Photographers will require a deposit/retainer fee and signed contract before they will work an event. Make sure to fully read the terms and conditions before signing.
Get your Photographer company listed on WeDJ.com and start receiving more leads for Tivoli weddings, parties, corporate events, and more. Over 20,000 people search our website every day for Photographers in the Tivoli area. Start your free Photographer membership today: Join WeDJ
Google AI has provided the following suggestion for Tivoli Photographer.
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming - Canada, Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Insurance
Home | Site Map | Advertising | Link To UsInsurance | Privacy Policy | Contact Us
Copyright © 1998 - 2023 WeDJ.com - Djs-Photographers-Videographers
Page last updated on 09/24/2023


text:
HPE HP 5y CTR HP 580x-24 Swt products FC SVC (U3KF8E)
HPE HP 5y CTR HP 580x-24 Swt products FC SVC (U3KF8E)
Shipping information
HP Foundation Care Service (HP Foundation Care) is composed of comprehensive hardware and software services aimed to help increase the availability of your IT infrastructure. HP technical resources work with your IT team to help you resolve hardware and software problems with HP and selected third-party products. For hardware products covered by HP Foundation Care, the service includes remote diagnosis and support, as well as onsite hardware repair if it is required to resolve an issue. For eligible HP hardware products, this service may also include Basic Software Support and Collaborative Call Management for selected non-HP software. Contact HP for more information and determination regarding which eligible software products maybe included as part of your hardware product coverage. For software products covered by HP Foundation Care, HP provides remote technical support and access to software updates and patches. HP releases updates to software and reference manuals as soon as they are made available for selected HP-supported software products for each system, processor, processor core, and end user, as allowed by HP or the original manufacturer software license. Updates for selected HP-supported third-party software products are included as they are made available from the original software manufacturer. In addition, HP Foundation Care Service provides electronic access to related product and support information, enabling any member of your IT staff to locate this commercially available essential information. For third-party products, access is subject to availability of information from the original manufacturer. You can choose from a set of reactive support levels to meet your business and operational needs.
Return Policy
Time to Return
Standard Return Policy
Refund or Replacement within 45 days of the delivery date. All products that fall under the Standard Return Policy qualify for our 45-Day Hassle-Free Returns. Please see the section above for more details.
Replacement Only Return Policy
Replacement within 45 days of the delivery date.
Manufacturer Only Return Policy
Covered by the manufacturer's warranty. Please refer to the terms and conditions for the manufacturer's warranty or contact the manufacturer.
Holiday Extended Return Policies
Extended Holiday Return Policy.
Qualifying purchases of products displaying the " Extended Holiday Return Policy ", from November 1st, 2022 to December 25, 2022, are eligible for a Refund or Replacement until January 31, 2023.
Extended Holiday Replacement-Only Return Policy
Qualifying purchases of products displaying the " Extended Holiday Replacement-Only Return Policy ", from November 1st, 2022 to December 25, 2022, are eligible for a Replacement until January 31, 2023.


text:
Through The City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program South African artist Ricky Lee Gordon, aka Freddy Sam, completed a mural at 161 Cecil B. Moore in Philadelphia's Kensington neighborhood. The mural, titled Together Moving Mountains, was completed with the help of one of our art education classes, made up primarily of students from Sayre High School.
The mural shows a springbok (a species of antelope) drinking from a river with a ribbon of the students' geometric patterns at ground level beneath the scene. Freddy Sam's work often features South African animals and scenes from nature.


text:
Learn About the Law
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw's Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you're ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
Mr. R. E. Twitchell submitted the case for appellants.
Mr. Andrieus A. Jones for appellees. [181 U.S. 151, 152]
THE CHIEF JUSTICE: This was a petition filed by appellees in the district court for Colfax county, New Mexico, praying for a writ of mandamus directed to Codlin, chairman, and Salazar, clerk, of the board of county commissioners of the county of Colfax, commanding them to officially sign and execute certain bonds and deliver them to the designated agent of the county for sale, for the construction of a courthouse and jail.
The alternative writ of mandamus was issued and due return made, whereupon, and after hearing, the district court ordered the peremptory writ to issue, which was done, and the writ served, October 23, 1897
The case was carried on error to the supreme court of the territory in June, 1898, and it appears from an affidavit in that court that the mandate of the district court was obeyed and the bonds issued and sold; and from an affidavit in this court, that the proceeds were used in the construction of the courthouse and jail, which were completed on or about January 1, 1899. That affidavit also states that Codlin ceased to be chairman or a member of the board of county commissioners in January, 1899, and that Salazar ceased to be cherk during or prior to March, 1899.
The territorial supreme court affirmed the judgment of the district court August 28, 1899. 9 N. M. 565, 58 Pac. 499. An appeal from the judgment of affirmance to this court was allowed January 2, 1900, and the record filed here March 28.
We think the cause comes within the rule applied in Mills v. Green, 159 U.S. 653 , 40 L. ed. 293, 16 Sup. Ct. Rep. 132, and cases cited, and the order must be--
Appeal dismissed without costs to either party.
Was this helpful?
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw's Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you're ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
Search our directory by legal issue
Enter information in one or both fields (Required)


text:
Sign up for the Kotaku Daily and get one great story in your inbox each day.
Join Kotaku on Facebook. Click "Like" to get the most important stories in your News Feed.
OnLive, a streaming service that hopes to replace both PCs and consoles as the gaming setup of the future, has its sceptics, who say it's too laggy to work. Why listen to them, when you can listen to science?
The boffins at DigitalFoundry have rigged up a PC and some testing units to see just how much lag OnLive really suffers from. At least in the case of this PC and this internet connection (its performance will of course vary on your location and bandwidth).
Don't mind the slow-motion footage. Take heed of the results, using Unreal Tournament III, which in this case show that the time between button press and on-screen action was around 150ms. That may sound like a lot, but it's typical of the kind of delays you'll face playing any kind of networked game, whether online or even locally.
Other games tested included Dirt 2 and Assassin's Creed II, with both of those games recording lag of around 150-216ms. While this is far from ideal, since it's still slower than you'd experience using a locally-based product (as in, a disc spinning in a console or a game installed on a hard drive), considering the nature and benefits of OnLive, they're…not bad.
It's worth noting, however, that the results were far slower than those originally promised by OnLive, who reckoned lag would only be between 35-80ms, proving perhaps that conditions in the real world are never as ideal as those in a testing environment.
OnLive Latency: The Reckoning [DigitalFoundry @ Eurogamer]
Send an email to the author of this post at .


text:
With the recent spate of attacks on climate science and evolution it should not be a surprise that traditional defined benefit pensions in the public sector are now also under attack. There are powerful political actors in this country who are anxious to build a bridge back to the 19th century; taking us to a time where working people enjoyed few protections and could not count on sharing in the gains of economic growth.
The effort to weaken or destroy public sector unions and take away their pensions is the latest battle in this larger war. As usual, the right has been busy making things up to push its agenda, confident that the media will not expose untrue claims.
At the center of the right's story is the view that governments are somehow being reckless or irresponsible when they provide guaranteed pensions for their workers. They tell us that these guaranteed benefits will bankrupt state and local governments, imposing impossible burdens on future taxpayers.
This story can be easily shown to be untrue. While the right has been scaring the public with talk of a trillion dollars in unfunded liability in state pensions, this sum can also be expressed as about 0.2 percent of state income over the time-frame in which the liabilities will have to be paid.
In other words, if states raise 20 cents in taxes or cut 20 cents in other spending for every hundred dollars of future income, they will be able to meet their current pension obligations. This is not a trivial sum, but it doesn't seem likely to bankrupt our youth either.
Furthermore, the vast majority of this shortfall was due to the plunge in the stock market that followed the collapse of the housing bubble. Overly generous pensions were not the problem. The problem here were the greedy Wall Street types who profited from the housing bubble and the incompetent economists who did not see it. Of course the market has recovered much of its losses, so future years' pension reports are likely to show that most of shortfall has already been eliminated.
But it is important to understand the basic logic of defined benefit pensions, since many are trying to eliminate them altogether. Defined benefit pensions are in effect a form of insurance. They guarantee workers a level of retirement income based on the years that they work.
This guarantee of future income is more valuable to workers than getting the same amount of money in salary since it would be very expensive for workers to buy the same insurance from the financial industry. From the standpoint of the government, the insurance is virtually costless.
State and local governments will survive into the indefinite future. If the stock market is down any given year or set of years there is little consequence for a government offering a pension fund. Of course, a down market would be devastating for an individual worker if it happens at the point where he/she retires.
This simple logic means that governments can give workers something that is of great value - a guaranteed retirement income -- at very little cost. (Research shows that even after adding in pensions, health care and other benefits, public sector workers are paid slightly less than their private sector counterparts.) This means that because governments offer defined benefit pensions they can either attract better workers at the same pay, or the same quality workers at lower pay, than if they did not offer pensions. This is as basic as economics gets.
Not offering pensions would be comparable to a company that had beautiful grounds, with a lake and woods, and then telling workers that they could not use them. Obviously workers would value being able to bring their families to swim at the lake and hike through the woods.
When considering different job opportunities many workers would be willing to forgo somewhat higher pay to work at a company that gave them access to such facilities. If there was little cost to the company to make its grounds available, it would just be shooting itself in the foot by closing them to its workers. This is the story with defined benefit pensions; although the issue is far more important since it involves the retirement security of workers and their families.
Most private sector workers formerly enjoyed defined benefit pensions, but these pensions in the private sector are now a fast dying relic. Rather than bring about a downward leveling by eliminating defined benefit pensions for public employees, it makes more sense to take steps to re-establish defined benefit pensions for all workers.
Defined benefit pensions did not create this economic crisis. Citigroup, Goldman Sachs and the other giant banks did. It says a lot about the state of politics that these too-big-to-fail banks seem likely to survive the crisis, while defined benefit pensions may not.


text:
Danish police find head, other body parts in submarine case
COPENHAGEN, Denmark — Danish divers found the decapitated head, legs and clothes of a Swedish journalist who was killed after going on a trip with an inventor on his submarine, police said Saturday.
The body parts and clothing were found Friday in plastic bags with a knife and "heavy metal pieces" to make them sink near where the 30-year-old Wall's naked headless torso was found in August, Copenhagen police investigator Jens Moeller Jensen said.
Moeller Jensen said there were no fractures to Wall's skull and he declined to comment on the discovery of the knife.
Peter Madsen, the 46-year-old Danish inventor who is in pre-trial detention on preliminary manslaughter charges, has said Wall died after being accidentally hit by a 70-kilogram (155-pound) hatch on the UC3 Nautillus submarine, after which he "buried" her at sea. But police have said 15 stab wounds were found on the torso found at sea off Copenhagen on Aug. 21. Her arms are still missing.
Wall's cause of death hasn't yet been established yet.
The detention of Madsen, who has denied manslaughter, expires Oct. 31 when a court will decide if he will continue to remain in custody ahead of a possible trial. He is also held on preliminary charges of the indecent handling of a corpse.
Police have said the submarine only sailed in Danish waters Aug. 10-11.
Police believe the pair didn't know each other beforehand. Wall was working on a story about Madsen, who dreamed of launching a manned space mission. She was last seen alive Aug. 10 aboard the 40-ton, nearly 18 meter-long (60 foot-long) submarine as it left Copenhagen.
The following day, Madsen was rescued from the sinking submarine without Wall at his side and was arrested the same day. Police believe he deliberately scuttled the vessel.
During their investigation, police have found videos on Madsen's personal computer of women being tortured, decapitated and murdered. The videos were considered to be real, according to prosecutor Jakob Buch-Jepsen.
Investigators believe Madsen killed Wall between Aug. 10 and 11, cut up the body and attached a belt with a pipe to the torso with the purpose of making it sink, officials said, adding that her head, arms and legs had been deliberately cut off after her death.
Marks on the dismembered torso indicated that someone had tried to press air out of the body so it wouldn't float, police had said.
A court-ordered psychiatric evaluation of Madsen is pending.


text:
Cross-posted from JohnFeffer.com. John is currently traveling in Eastern Europe and observing its transformations since 1989.
So, you arrive in Canada and you make a decision not to pursue journalism…
I thought about becoming a journalist in Canada. But I was told at the National Institute of Broadcasting that I would have to take a training course. It would cost about $10,000. That was a lot of money for me, basically all the money that I'd brought with me. I had to think of my daughter and the cost of her education. But I said, okay, if I take this course, then I will be able to get a job as a journalist here in Canada. And they said, no, there was no such guarantee. They would try to help me. I thought that I just couldn't take that risk. Same thing with teaching English as a second language in Toronto. One has to spend years to get their credentials acknowledged. Professionals trained outside of Canada, including teachers, have a very hard time to get certified to become even supply [substitute] teachers, to get their foot in the door. And still there is no guarantee you would get a steady job. However, I really needed to get a job. And, of course, the other experience I had in Bulgaria was driving a bus, so…
The very first year, before I joined the Toronto Transit Commission as a bus driver, it was difficult. I didn't have money. The $10,000 in my pocket melts very quickly. The rent alone is $1200 a month. If you don't work, you can spend it on rent alone in less than a year. Toronto, it's not as expensive as New York, but it's close. I worked two jobs for a year. One of them was as an interpreter for the Immigration and Refugee Board in downtown Toronto, and sometimes I was sent to courts or the airport. Lots of people wanted to immigrate to Canada, and Canada has a somewhat loose immigration policy. They need people, but being Canadian, they do not openly say, "we'll take anybody because we need young blood to support the pension plan, decent people who will work and pay taxes." They can't do that, so instead they have a system of criteria and evaluation.
Some people are eager to get to Canada sooner rather than wait 2-3 years. They also maybe don't clearly meet the criteria — the point system where you have to have education or language skills or be in one of those occupations that are required. If you don't meet those criteria, you don't have a chance. There were lots of people from Bulgaria who wanted to escape ignorance and chalga, from the late 1990s until 2007 when Bulgaria joined the EU. Hundreds of people from former communist countries would arrive and declare themselves political refugees or seek refugee status. Canada in that respect is very generous. You're given social support, housing, medical support, until your case is heard. It goes to a kind of tribunal.
You know that a lot of these people are lying, and the judge knows that they're lying and the ministry of immigration knows they're lying. Many claimed that they were persecuted for being Roma (and organizations were regularly writing reports about the condition of the Bulgarian Roma). Or they said they were gay. Some people were obviously not Roma or gay. They had to pay tens of thousands of dollars to corrupt lawyers and interpreters who wrote them a story and worked with them on how to present the story, and produced counterfeit photographs or facts. I interpreted cases where the judge humiliated them by telling them that s/he didn't believe them, and then the judge allowed them to remain in Canada anyway because they were needed.
I had a case where two pilots and a stewardess arrived together. They said that they were Roma and had been deprived of education. The judge told them, "There's no way you're not educated and you fly a plane!" At the same time, these people would probably find a job, get a good salary, and pay a lot of taxes.
So I spent a year working there. When I wasn't working there, I was a mover, moving furniture and driving a truck, I learned the province of Ontario. Then I went to the Toronto Transit Commission, a.k.a. TTC, and they hired me first as a driver. You can become the chief general manager one day, but you have to start at the bottom first.
Two years later, I became a route supervisor where my job was to "keep TTC on track." In a nutshell, if and when one or more of the thousands of vehicles moving Torontonians around fell behind schedule due to construction, an accident, traffic or the weather, thus resulting in bunching on a line, and/or when delays to service happen during bad weather conditions or because of construction or traffic congestion, a decision is made and instructions are communicated, accordingly, by supervisory staff to make a service adjustment. A typical and easiest example of a service adjustment would be a short turn. That is when a vehicle will not continue to the end of the scheduled route but will be turned to travel in the opposite direction to balance service on the route.
There are dozens of other tricks, a.k.a. service adjustments, that route supervisors have up their sleeves to expediently ensure the provision of consistent service and uninterrupted flow of vehicles along all routes. One could compare the job of a route supervisor to that of air traffic controllers. Additionally, supervisors are middle management and are in charge of supervising the performance of hourly-paid staff (union positions, almost all operators – a total of some 10,000 – and maintenance workers). They are also first responders to all accidents, incidents and occurrences throughout the system, such as collisions – both property damage and personal injuries, all possible kinds of medical emergencies, assaults, fires, vandalism, loitering, sleepers, thefts, robberies, lost and found articles, lost children separated from their parents, lost and disoriented elderly, inebriated persons, mentally disturbed persons, counterfeit fares, various mishaps, all imaginable kinds of technical issues and equipment failures. It would take a multi-volume book to retell all the "usual, normal stuff" and weird things I have seen and dealt with as a supervisor.
My last position at the Toronto Transit Commission, which I held for some 7 years until I retired, was an instructor with their Operations Training Centre, which is a sort of vocational adult training facility where new hires are initially trained and the unionized workforce are regularly retrained in customer service, professional communications, safety at work, vehicle operation, defensive driving, various work skills and qualifications, etc. If I had stayed, I might have possibly become the chief general manager someday in the 22nd century, but I just got too old and tired and decided to return here: back to chalga and ignorance.
Varna, September 29, 2012
Interview (1990)
Vihar Krastev is an editor of Vek 21 (Century 21), the newspaper of the Radical Democratic party, which is a founding member of the UDF. The paper has a circulation of 40,000 and caters mostly to intellectuals. Krastev was recently chosen to participate in Tuft's Fletcher School journalism program and will spending six weeks in the U.S. working at a local paper. Although quite busy, he was eager to sit down and tell me what distinguishes the Radical Democrats from other parties.
What does the Radical Democratic party stand for?
The RDP actually was reorganized 42 years after it was demolished by the Communists. The party branched from the Democratic party in 1904 by some famous intellectuals of that era who had decided that the Democrats were too close to the King's regime. They were for a parliamentarian type of republic. They decided not to go deep into government: you should create the laws and not go into executive power. It happened that most of the people who founded the party at the beginning of the century were intellectuals–poets, playwrights, critics–it was considered to be a party only of intellectuals, too small in membership. When a year ago this party was reorganized by Elka Konstantinova, people again started thinking that this will be a party of intellectuals and it would not be easy for common people to be members of the party. This is not so true. The RDP does insist that members all have their own personal performance in society, to be good enough to stand by themselves without being a member of a large group of people, taking strength from a large party like the Communists do. We stand for radical democracy, for democracy that has no alternative, that makes no compromise.
How large is the party's membership?
Difficult to answer. Maybe because everyone is too personal in this party, we haven't made a serious effort to find out our membership. We view the party in horizontal principles. There is no hierarchy. There are branches based on the local principle. Some are even organized on a professional basis. There might be a club of doctors or a club of musicians in the RDP. We don't want hundreds of thousands of members who are officially coordinated, who have cards, etc. Approximately, to my knowledge, somewhere between 25,000 and 40,000 members in the country right now.
The difference between RDP and other parties?
Again, the idea of the role of the personality in the process of democratization. The Social Democrats, for instance, work to make society democratic but they have the socialist idea that society is something organic and you should made the organic body democratic. We think that society will be more democratic when everyone of us is happy.
I need a concrete example of this.
Our party has never wanted to grasp, as I told you, executive power. We would like to make society more democratic through taking part in parliament, by making more democratic and just laws. We don't want to become ministers.
A perpetual opposition?
Are there any particular pieces of legislation that the RDP is pushing for?
Perhaps because of our tradition and the fact that most of our members are highly intelligent people, people believe that it is the RDP's job to reorganize all the laws having to do with education, culture, law. More or less, we like this sort of work. We also have ideas about reorganizing the military. For example, our president, Ms. Konstaninova has been chosen to be chairman of the committee dealing with education, culture, and science.
What relations does an ostensibly intellectual group have with a trade union like Podkrepa?
I'll tell you about something which will come out in the next issue of Vek 21. It is an interview with the president of Podkrepa, Mr. Krenchev. He says, and I totally agree: in times like ours, any kind of social organization, even a trade union, cannot help but be involved politically. If you are politically honest, you can't be but anti-Communist. And if you are anti-Communist, you should be involved on the political level. Right now, we are all together. But when the Communist idea is gone, we will go our separate ways. A trade union will do trade union work and we will do our job in culture and the Social Democrats will try to organize society in smaller groups.
I ask because, in the region I'm travelling, intellectuals are the first to benefit from the changes in terms of culture and freedom. Austerity packages, meanwhile, hurt workers and farmers disproportionately. And the workers are now saying, heck, reform was great when we were all anti-Communists but now it seems that reform only helped intellectuals and we are the ones who have to pay for it.
This is a difficult question but this process is still in front of us: we have not come to the bottom of the crisis. The workers have not come to see the situation as the sin of the intellectuals.
In the elections, the intellectuals supported the opposition and the rest of the country voted for the BSP. Whether the workers blame the intellectuals or not, they certainly voted that way. Are intellectuals trying to bridge this gap?
Personally, I myself have been a worker as well as an intellectual. I started as a teacher, then I worked in TV. Then I was not allowed to do anything in the field of ideology any more. I was good enough to do ideology because I did not have the right thinking. So I had to do other work. My last work was as a city bus driver. I wouldn't say that I know completely the psychology of the worker. But I more or less think that the mounting crisis will open the eyes of the worker because what has happened in Poland will be felt here in time, in the next couple of months. They have not come to see who their real enemies are. The Communists have managed to make them the spoiled children of the nation. They were given more care, more attention. Now, they will come to realize what they were being used for. They will now come to realize that the artificially created large industrial cities were needed to reproduce the proletariat.
Everyone in the opposition says that they won't compromise with the Communists. Then, sotto voce, they say that some form of coalition will be formed although no one will call it a coalition.
I think that the Communists are not fit for negotiating because they have never negotiated in their past. If you talk with a Communist on a matter on which you don't agree about. He might listen to you and not agree. The next day, he'll come out with nearly your version of the matter as his own. This is their favorite style.
Let me be cynical, for a moment. What you describe as the Communist style could be called, simply, the style of a politician. It is the style of a politician to be manipulative, dishonest, to steal the opinion of others to make it their own.
I get the point. But, I'll tell you one thing. Politicians in America and Western Europe are actually politicians and try to make the cosmetic effect on a beautiful or healthy body. They will oppose each other to make the surface look better because the body is strong enough. Here, we have to change something much deeper. We have to make the foundations healthy and strong. It's not politics here.
At first, it seemed as though the opposition was united on the issue of equal rights for ethnic Turks. Now we have two separate movements. Do you think reconciliation is possible?
I think reconciliation is possible though it won't be soon. You know, when I was a small child, growing up in a region where many Turks lived, we knew in school that some of our classmates were Turks. They got some additional lessons: they studied Turkish, they had Turkish books, they even had a culture house. They knew they were Turks and we knew they were Turks. We studied history and we knew about the Turkish yoke but we did not say that it was the most tragic period of our history. But sometime in the late 1960s, for the first time, the Communists had to do something after Czechoslovakia. They thought that what had happened in Poland and Hungary might happen here. So they tried to do something to release the tension here. Someone here actually created the problem then, here. It was not difficult to make a nation that has suffered under the yoke to feel angry. It was a small beginning, hardly noticed, but the virus was implanted. 1984 when they forced the name changes–this was the final move, the final recourse. They didn't know what else to do so they used this card. This makes reconciliation difficult: a virus is a virus.
Why did the Bulgarian opposition fall for it? The Polish opposition learned not to be anti-Semitic after 1968 expulsion of 20,000 Jews by the government.
The opposition here was not so undoubtedly popular within the nation. The opposition was not so certain that it was popular within the nation. It felt unsafe, it felt that it might lose position if it stuck to it. Last year, on New Years Eve, the opposition was actually bound together. But the nation responded and said that the opposition was a traitor to the nation. And some people in the opposition did not feel certain enough that they could persuade the nation. We did not have any one of the opposition leaders so popular that he or she could come out in front of the nation and the nation would forget its hatred of the Turks because of their love of this person.
So you didn't have a Vaclav Havel.
At that time, there wasn't this someone who could say, "you shouldn't believe what's happening" and you should believe the nationalistic demonstrations.
Someone in the opposition told me that they didn't want Bulgaria to be the path by which Islamic fundamentalism enters Europe.
That's nonsense if you ask me. I don't think Europe will need a road for Islamic fundamentalism: it won't take it. And the best way, actually, to hold Turkey, if at all Turkish fundamentalism is aggressive, is through NATO. My personal opinion is that this nationalistic and chauvinistic remains in our way of thinking in this part of the world is directly proportional to the level of development of our country. Quarrels come with poverty.
And the Macedonian situation?
When Yugoslavia and Bulgaria become normal, well-developed economic countries, there will be no problems. Macedonia will become just another part of the world.
Economic reform will necessarily affect different parts of society differently. What kind of social guarantees, given your individualistic bent, do you support, if any?
It seems to me that the situation as it is depicted at times–with people dying in the streets and mass unemployment–is a portion of the Big Lie. When I am sick, I don't want the cure to be slow. I want it to be quick. If it has to come, why can't it be faster. I think everyone will find his or her best way to cushion the crisis.
End Part 3.


text:
Welcome back to Midweek Madness, in which we take a walk through the celebrity weeklies, in search of entertaining gossip. This week: Britney's beach wedding; Katie's leaving Tom; Angie and Johnny are planning to make out and shower together. Naked.
"Oops, I Did It Again!"
Justin Trawick was tucking in Britney's boys when Sean blurted out, "Good night, daddy!" Britney's heart "simply melted," says a source. It was then that she realized how good a father and husband he would be! Britney wants a "real" wedding this time — the white dress and the wedding cake — but she doesn't want it to be a spectacle, says a "friend." The mag says Britney and Jason will wed on the beach in Costa Rica, Hawaii, Mexico or Australia, which really narrows it down! Brit will fly in 200 guests, including Madonna, Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan. Also, Britney is hoping "Jason can give her something else she's never had: A baby girl." Next: A source says that Jennifer Aniston will only date guys who are approved by her close friends, and she has rules: He has to be over 40, never married, no children, not a player, not a musician and not an actor. Producers are ok, as are writers and directors. But he has to be financially stable and emotionally stable. Finally: Robert Pattinson has a Christmas "surprise" for Kristen Stewart: He's planning a secret getaway to a cottage in the English countryside; then they'll spend Christmas in London with his parents.
Grade: F (stress fracture)
In Touch
"Katie Moves Out."
Katie's been telling Tom that she needs her space, but he keeps showing up to the set of The Romantics on Long Island. They had a fight in her trailer, and she said she's had it with his domineering ways and can no longer relate to his movie-star lifestyle. (?!?!) She's decided to stay in New York alone after the movie wraps. Tom was furious — they'd talked about purchasing a home in NY but Tom had never considered the idea of Katie living there alone. Katie's "embracing" their differences by shopping at the Gap instead of the designer boutiques her husband prefers — and hanging out with her parents, who don't like Tom. Two awesomely ridiculous sidebars: "Does Katie Have The Dawson's Creek Love Curse?" and "Tom's Exes Have Broken Free." (See image 7.) Moving on: "Celebrity Cellulite Wars" alleges that Rihanna and Beyoncé are "constantly pitted against each other." Now Beyoncé is "getting her revenge" because Rihanna "has embarrassing cellulite" while Beyoncé is "smooth and sexy." The copy declares: "Rihanna was spotted with lumpy thighs. It's been a rough year all around." Angelina Jolie is "ruining the holidays" by informing Brad that she plans on taking their six children to Vietnam. The accompanying caption reads, "No yams in Ho Chi Min city." Sob! Angie says she won't go to Brad's parents' house in Missouri because they don't get along. Brad's mom is "always telling Angie that the kids should be in school, and have a routine, and that they look messy." Also, when he's with his parents, Brad gets lazy — he lets them take care of the kids and "just sits around drinking beer." Brad and Angie had a fight about all this stuff, so he packed his bags and headed for the chateau in France, but as soon as he got there, Angie called and begged him to come home, "confused and trapped in a dysfunctional cycle of fighting viciously and making up, he agreed," an insider says. Next: A two-page story breaks down John Mayer's lyrics from his new album to illustrate how he's dissing Jessica and Jen. The song "Half Of My Heart" is about how John only loved Jessica with half of his heart — the part that liked her hot body! In Nicole Richie news, she has pneumonia, but hasn't been feeling great since she gave birth to Sparrow, is having a tough time handling two kids, fainted once and is too thin. "Their Real Bodies Revealed" features the freaky physical problems of the stars: Megan's "clubbed" thumbs! Denzel Washington's crooked pinky! Etc. (See image 8.) Finally, the best part of this magazine was a picture of Willow, an English terrier mix, reading My Son Marshall, My Son Eminem, a book by the rapper's mother. (See image 9.)
Grade: D- (plantar fasciitis)
"Stuck On Mr. Wrong."
So basically Jennifer Aniston "can't let go" of John Mayer — there's something about him she can't resist. But John is "still in love with" Jessica Simpson. "He can't get over her — all of his friends don't get it." This despite the fact that John used to make fun of Jess — putting the phone down when she'd call and walking away while she rambled. When it comes to the ladies, John has system: "He charms them for weeks over e-mail, impresses with his intellect, and seals the deal with his prowess in bed." Jessica loved how John would educate her about music and life, and would listen like love-struck schoolgirl." Moving right along: Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes were at dinner party, when Tom turned to Katie and asked, "Where did you go to college? You went to Columbia, right?" Katie had to say: "I got into Columbia but I never went." Awkward! Ashlee Simpson spent over $20,00 on Pete Wentz's credit card and acted like it was nothing; "he's over it." Robert Pattinson has "secret demons" — Margaret thought he maybe killed a man or something, but no: "He's so unhappy," a source says. "He's grateful for the success, but it'd be great if he could just walk away from it all now. He feels completely trapped!" Lastly: Celebrities with shaggy bangs are clearly inspired by canines. (See image 10.)
Grade: D- (bunions)
"48 Best And Worst Holiday Beach Bodies"
What's the difference between a regular beach body and a holiday beach body? Guess Star is hoping Americans waiting in airports and train stations this weekend want to know. There are 17 pages of male and female celebrities in swimwear. FYI: America Ferrera has "killer curves" and Jennifer Lopez has a "big red caboose." Kelly Bensimon has "patches of crepey skin" and Ryan Seacrest has a "jelly belly." Moving on: Joanna Krupa changed her implants, says a plastic surgeon who doesn't treat her (See image 11.) Taylor Lautner gave Taylor Swift a $200 sterling silver heart "commitment" ring from Tiffany. Blind item! "Which sexy celebrity chef was overheard bragging loudly about her fling with a famous singer? The crooner's known for lovin' and leavin', but she has a clueless husband. Burn!" Snoop Dogg almost didn't ring the bell at the NYSE — he slept through his alarm! Britney's kids drew all over the walls of her home, causing thousands of dollars in damage, but instead of teaching them to draw on paper, she put up plain wallpaper and let them go at it, because she wants them to explore their creativity. "Inside Jen & John's Twisted Romance" alleges that Jennifer Aniston planned her trip to Cabo for the two of them — but John Mayer never showed up. In October, she flew to NYC to visit him, only to have him ignore her calls for 3 days. "She was just waiting in her hotel room," an insider says. Then she flew home broken-hearted. "One minute he'll tell her he's not feeling in, and then the same night, he'll drunk dial her, telling her she's the love of his life. He tells her they're star-crossed lovers, and their romance is like a Greek tragedy." Who gets to poke out their eyes? Once Jen found a lacy thong in his bedroom, but John said it was hers. They argued about it, a source says, and "finally she gave up and said it might actually be hers — it's as if he has the power to brainwash her." And "After he flaked out on her in Mexico, she started emailing him photos of herself in a bikini and writing stupid stuff in the subject line, like "2 good 4 u." Next: Beyoncé and Jay-Z have been "working overtime" to conceive a child but have not had any luck, and Beyoncé is heartbroken. Shauna Sand says Chace Crawford was her "teen lover." She's 14 years older and says four years ago when he was 18, they had a "steamy, sex-filled romance." He was a virgin when they met and the first night he came over, she checked his ID to make sure he was really 18. When they first started hooking up, she had to show him a thing or two, but by the end, they were having "wild" sex with whipped cream and so on. Is Tiger Woods cheating on his wife with someone named Rachel Uchitel? They met in May and have been sexting. Allegedly. Teresa Guidice from RHONJ was filming a guest spot on Mercy and could barely remember her lines and kept cursing. When someone asked if she was the housewife who flipped a table, she said: "Don't effing bring that up." Carey Mulligan's best friend Keira Knightley has become a "La Beouf-blocker." Carey told Shia that Keira warned her that he's a player, which enraged Shia, because he's really genuine. Finally: Nicole Richie is in talks to star with Joel Madden on an at-home talk show where Nicole's famous friends pop by to be interviewed by the couple. She's turned down roles because she doesn't want to be away from her kids, but this way, she'd work from home.
Grade: D (corns)
Life & Style
"It's On!"
The editors of this magazine got a draft of the script for The Tourist, a new flick that Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp have signed on for. And there are sexy scenes! For instance: "The outline of her naked body is visible in the shower," the script teases. "Frank walks to the shower and opens the glass door. Walking in, he lifts Kara against the glass, clutching at her slithery body, kissing her frantically. She kisses him back with ardor, wrapping her dripping legs around his back." Since Angie has hooked up with costars before (Jenny Shimuzu, Jonny Lee Miller, Billy Bob Thornton, maybe Colin Farrell, definitely Brad Pitt), and they're both Geminis, it is clear that they MUST fuck while filming. There's a great sidebar about how Angie and Johnny have so much in common: They both love France! Their kids love Pirates! (See .) Next: Janet Jackson has talked to ABC's Robin Roberts why she gained 60 lbs: "There are people that — if there's something that's stressful, whatever it may be, they don't eat. I'm the opposite." She discusses this in her upcoming book True You, which will be released in 2010. She told Robin: "It was originally about weight loss, but I wanted it to be more about my triggers. [My emotional eating] started when I was very little. My brothers were gone on tour a lot, and I would miss them so much. I wish I had a book like this when I was that young." Moving on, Lindsay Lohan is in counseling. She goes two or three times a week, and it's not a program or substance abuse thing, or a police officer watching her. It's someone to talk to in a confidential setting. A friend says: "Her problems are all about Daddy. If Lindsay had a stable dad, none of this would be happening." And this is an actual sentence in the magazine:
"Is seeing a therapist twice a week enough? All I can say is maybe," says Marc F. Kern, an addiction specialist in Beverly Hills who doesn't treat Lindsay.
In a sidebar, we learn that Lindsay posed for pictures for an upcoming issue of the French magazine Purple in which she's topless and simulating a threesome with a male model and a female model — the guy is lying on top of her. Is it a ploy to make Sam Ronson jealous? America's Next Top Model Nicole Fox says: "If there is any opportunity for me to model — I'll take the job." Lastly: Check out these weird courtroom sketches of Nicole RIchie, Amy Winehouse and Paris Hilton. (See image 13.)
Grade: D+ (callouses)
From In Touch
From In Touch
From In Touch
From Us
From Star
From Life & Style
From Life & Style


text:
The German Chaos Computer Club said Wednesday that it has added to its legal complaint about U.S. spying on German citizens evidence that the NSA allegedly snooped on at least one of its Tor servers.
The CCC filed a complaint with Germany's federal prosecutor, Harald Range, in February, demanding an investigation into the German government's alleged involvement in the U.S. National Security Agency's mass surveillance of German citizens.
However, while Range started an investigation into the alleged tapping of Merkel's phone by the NSA in June, he said there wasn't enough evidence to start a similar investigation into the widely reported mass surveillance of German citizens.
The CCC hopes that new publications exposing data collection explicitly targeting servers that are used to connect to The Onion Router (Tor) network, a network that encrypts data traffic through random servers in order to obscure users' identities, will change Range's mind.
An investigation by German broadcasters revealed in early July that an NSA spying tool called XKeyScore is used to snoop on Tor users. A Tor server operated by computer science student Sebastian Hahn was identified as one of the NSA's targets by the broadcasters.
He's not the only Tor server operator who was identified though. The publication of parts of the search pattern code used in XKeyscore also "provides proof that data traffic to and from a CCC-operated server of the Tor network was explicitly collected and stored," the CCC said Wednesday.
"While other documents from the Snowden publications show that currently even the NSA isn't able to entirely de-anonymize Tor, the fact of the now documented surveillance of the CCC server demonstrates beyond doubt the aggressive surveillance with which the NSA targets German citizens," the CCC said. It is expanding the legal complaint filed in February to include this new evidence.
The organization called it "beyond comprehension" that Range started an investigation of the wiretapping of Merkel's phone while not acting on the mass surveillance of large parts of the entire population.
"For this reason we're urging the Federal Prosecutor General to stop blocking investigations and start doing his job to avoid public ridicule," the organization said, adding that his refusal to investigate is irresponsible and enhances suspicion that Range is "bowing to German as well as international intelligence services on judicial grounds."
Range's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.


text:
Download Google Family Link for children & teens Latest Version APK
Family Link for children & teens is the companion app to Family Link for parents. Please only download this app to a device being used by a child or teen.
Whether your children are younger or in their teens, the Family Link app lets you set digital ground rules to help guide them as they learn, play, and explore online. For children under 13 (or the applicable age of consent in your country), Family Link also lets you create a Google Account for your child that's like your account, with access to most Google services. You can:
Guide them to good content
• View their activity – Not all screen time is the same. Help your child make healthy decisions about what they do on their Android device, with activity reports showing how much time they're spending on their favorite apps.
• Manage their apps – Handy notifications let you approve or block apps your child wants to download from the Google Play Store. You can also manage in-app purchases, and hide specific apps on their device.
• Feed their curiosity – It can be hard to figure out what apps are right for your child, so Family Link shows you teacher-recommended apps on Android that you can add directly to their device.
Keep an eye on screen time
• Set limits – It's up to you to decide the right amount of screen time for your child. Family Link lets you set time limits and a bedtime for their supervised devices, so you can help them find a good balance.
• Lock their device – Whether it's time to go play outside, have dinner, or just spend time together, you can remotely lock a supervised device whenever it's time to take a break.
See where they are
• It's helpful to be able to find your child when they're on the go. You can use Family Link to help locate them as long as they're carrying their Android devices.
Important Information
• Family Link's tools vary depending on your child's device. See a list of compatible devices at families.google.com/familylink/setup
• While Family Link helps you manage your child's purchases and downloads from Google Play, they will not need approval to install app updates (including updates that expand permissions), apps you have previously approved, or apps that have been shared in Family Library. Parents should regularly review their child's installed apps and app permissions in Family Link.
• You should carefully review the apps on your child's supervised device and disable those you don't want them to use. Note that you may not be able to disable some pre-installed apps.
• To see the location of your child or teen's device, it must be powered on, recently active, and connected to the internet.
• Teacher-recommended apps are only available on Android devices in the US to parents of children of certain ages.
Google Family Link for children & teens first release.
>>>Download Google Family Link for children & teens flh.release.1.4.0.I.223603083 APK<<<
>>>Download Google Family Link for children & teens flh.release.1.4.0.I.223603083 APK<<<


text:
United Airlines - PR Crisis at 20,000 feet
19 May 2020 13:49
- Media monitoring
- Risk Management
- Economic
- Reputation Management
- Aviation
- Media Analysis
- PR & Marketing
- Due Diligence
PR Crisis at 20,000 Feet
Crisis management is the kind of PR skill where companies learn more from bad examples than good ones. Your department or agency should, therefore, be taking notes concerning United Airlines and the way it handled the forcible removal of a passenger from one of its overbooked flights. It's important not to look away at times like this - learning from missteps and errors is a sure way to make sure you don't repeat them. As the consequences of United's bad week become clear, the message to other PR departments will be equally plain.
Apology Not Accepted
The PR lessons have come fast and furious in the wake of the taped incident on the United flight. Nearly all of these insights have been of the "what not to do" variety. PR Daily contributor Hinda Mitchell, head of Inspire PR Group, recently gave an analysis of CEO Oscar Munoz's reaction to the incident, focusing on both the timing and content of his first pair of statements - one to the public and another to United employees.
In a crisis, a PR team has two weapons: speed and resolve. The fact that Munoz waited for a day to say anything is the first warning sign. Today's media cycle moves at a frantic pace. Online publishing becoming the standard means of news dissemination has meant that stories can develop in well under a day. Even if mainstream outlets have yet to pick up on a controversy, it can be a hot topic between individuals on social media. If a PR team waits a day to respond in any way, it risks losing control of the narrative. Mitchell sees that happening in United Airlines' case.
Once the responses came, their content and tone did little to defuse the wave of criticism. The public apology statement opened by describing the event as upsetting to the airline's personnel. As Mitchell specified, people reading a response to a brand's crisis don't want to hear that the company is sorry for itself. Munoz's public statement about standing behind his employees missed the mark because it failed to connect with the audience. It may have been acceptable for an internal communication, but to the masses it simply shows that United is only looking out for themselves - something that should be an obvious no-no as both a customer-service company, and a publicly traded company. Those who watched the video footage of the passenger being dragged off the plane naturally won't sympathize with the organization behind the act, meaning the apology has alienated its audience from its first sentence.
Launching a tone-deaf statement a day into a PR crisis is not going to bring the situation back under control. Being late to respond is one major problem in communications. Making a public address that goes over poorly is another, independent mistake. Put them together and the effects are potentially massive - as United has demonstrated.
An International Incident
Brands that have reach around the world - such as, say, an international airline - must be extremely conscious of how crises are developing in multiple countries. Digital communication is not only fast, but it crosses borders. Even though there is little connection between China's mainstream social media presence and the U.S. equivalent, the video and apology made their mark, according to PR Week. In the days since the crisis unfolded, the airline's brand value has taken a severe hit in the sizable Chinese market.
The discussion of the incident in China has been nothing short of scathing. The news provider pointed out that some users of Chinese networks such as Weibo have posted photos of their United rewards credit cards cut to pieces. Hilton + Knowlton Strategies' Alec Peck told the source that the social media storms in the U.S. and China had very little contact with one another. Instead, the crisis grew simultaneously and organically in both places.
Shanghai AtComm Consulting's Shirley King told PR Week that the criticism on the Chinese internet focuses on a few particular elements of the incident. The video shows an elderly person being harmed, it represents an abject failure of customer service and, as the victim is of Asian descent, it appears to have a racial component. These traits have fueled the negative sentiments, as the video and "patronizing" United statements have been criticized harshly.
Staying aware
Your department or agency doubtless wants to avoid ending up in the kind of situation that has engulfed United over the past few days. Preventing incidents from becoming flashpoints for outrage today means having a view of media that is constantly updated and internationally clear.
Stories can break quickly and develop their own characteristics across the globe. Organizations need to remember that speed and resolve are the two tools in their arsenal when a crisis hits, and need to make those core to their response plan. Additionally they need to remember the PR101 tip of knowing their audience.
- You can't find an answer to your problem on this website
- You would like to request training
- You would like a product demonstration
- You are having trouble logging in or have a technical problem